“Just this sickness that is going around. She works at a daycare center, so she assumes she picked up one of the many bugs,” Travis said.
I could picture him shrugging on the other end of the phone as he sat in his car.
“I’ll let you know when she’s up to seeing you, though,” he went on. “When I came back, I’ll give you her location and you can come see her. Talk to her.”
“Alright,” I sighed out. That, that I could handle. I’d go and beg her to fucking take me back. I couldn’t live without her any more. “You sure she’s okay?”
“Yeah,” Travis answered. “Her friend got hurt, so she’s worried about that. But she’s okay.”
“Okay. Keep me posted,” I sighed.
“Will do,” he said, ending the call.
Well, at least things couldn’t get any worse, could they?
~oOo~
I had spoken too soon.
Things did get worse. Much worse.
An hour later, as I pulled up to the club, I couldn’t help but let a round of cuss words fall from my mouth. I thought Avidya leaving me was bad, but this topped the list. I no longer knew what the fuck to do. My life was falling apart everywhere I looked.
Firetrucks. Police tape. Sirens. Lights. Smoke. Water.
My heart couldn’t take anymore. I was done with everything.
My club was burnt to ashes.
Only thing left standing was the walls, but even they were covered in water and soot.
Smoke billowed up into the sky as if it was finished destroying the rest of my life that was worthwhile.
Someone set my place on fire. And they would pay for doing so.
Cooling my pure rage and fury, I stepped out of my parked car, drawing attention to the nearest firefighter and cop as they stood back, watching to make sure the place was as safe as it possibly could be in its current state.
“You the owner?” the cop asked, tipping his head up to meet my eyes.
“Yes. Zachariah Melendez,” I answered. “What happened here?” I nodded my chin towards my building.
“We got the call about three hours ago for the fire, and by then the place wasn’t salvageable. No one was in there, but from the looks of it, the fire started in the back room,” the firefighter answered. “I believe this fire was started by an arsonist.”
“Just fucking great,” I mumbled to myself. I ran a hand down harshly over my face, willing life to just let something go right for once for me.
“Do you have anyone that would want to burn this place down, or someone who wanted to hurt you?” the cop asked.
“Everyone wants to hurt me and my family,” I deadpanned.
He must have been new to the task force, as it was pretty common my family was either hated or looked up to.
“Alright,” the cop said, fear starting to make its way through his body. “We’ll check the cameras and see if there’s any video showing who started the fire.”
“Why didn’t my fire alarm go off?” I asked. I had every safety measure in place, there shouldn’t have been any way a fire could have been set unless someone knew the inner workings of my building.
“Not sure, sir,” the cop replied. “Could it have been one of your employees?”
“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “Only three employees know how to disarm it. One of which is not in town right now. The other I trust to keep this place opened if I’m not here.”
“If you think of anyone, give the station a call,” the cop said, making his way to his car. Yeah, he was new.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I called Jonas. I knew he wouldn’t do this, but he may have an idea who did. I would hunt who burned my club to the ground and they would pay for doing so.
Luckily, Jonas picked up on the first ring. “Sir?”
“The club is closed. It’s burnt down to the ground,” I said, making my way to my car.
“What? No way!” Jonas said, sounding appalled and pissed at the same time.
“Yeah. Some fucker set it on fire,” I said.
“Any idea who?” Jonas asked, still trying to process what I had just told him.
“That’s why I called you,” I stated, my voice hard. I was not in the mood to play around.
“I’ll look into it,” Jonas said. “No one was there when I left last night. Possibly could be one of the men that wants in but wasn’t allowed a membership.”
“Most likely,” I huffed. “Just not sure which one. There’s a few of them I won’t ever allow in.”
“Well, at least you have the casinos,” Jonas said. “It’s not like you’re losing money. Insurance will kick in and you can rebuild or buy a new place.”
“The casinos are all under the Don’s care,” I explained. “But yes. I will restart it up after the fucker is caught. You know what to do you when you find him.”
“Got it, boss,” Jonas said, hanging up with a click.
I could easily get into the casinos and help run them, but my father had that handled without me. We protected our own, and I wouldn’t hesitate to step up if needed. But I wanted my own well known business outside of the Las Vegas strip. I wanted to have my own say on how I could do things.
And now it was burnt down to the ground.
It wouldn’t be for long. Oh no.
First thing first, file a claim, then start looking for a place that would be bigger and better.
No one would bring me down this way. I would be coming back, stronger than ever.
Chapter 20
Avidya
Two days later, I was released from the hospital and in my own clothes. I didn’t want to be released, exactly. I couldn’t walk in that door and know that Taylor wouldn’t be coming home after me. The house would be empty, cold of the man I had grown close to over the past six months.
It was a love hate relationship.
I wanted to sleep in my own bed. I wanted to take my baby home with me, too. But I couldn’t.
Joshua was doing very well, despite everything. He was still in the NICU with oxygen and a feeding tube. I had high hopes that he’d be able to get off of all the machines in as little as a few weeks. He certainly put up a fight against every little thing already.
The only thing that I was looking forward to was that I wouldn’t be interrupted every hour by a nurse. And I would be getting to hold Joshua today for the very first time. I couldn’t wait for that, even with all the cords hooked up to my little baby.
Right after being released, and making sure I had everything I needed, I made my way to the NICU, that was luckily a part of the maternity ward. I was still sore and not able to walk as fast as I normally would have been able to, but I still walked from my room to the nursery at least three or four times a day.
What else did I have to do?
No one ever told me how tough the after-birth process was. It was almost nearly as bad as giving birth over and over. Okay, maybe not that bad, but the cramps were not fun, that was for sure. I couldn’t take a bath to help ease the pains, and Advil only dulled it. Not nearly enough to help, though.
I was certain I was not going to have any more children for many years. Experiencing all this, alone, was more than enough for me for a lifetime.
“Hello, Miss,” greeted one of the nurses.
I gave her a small smile as I sat down my overnight bag by the wall.
“Which one is yours?” she asked.
“She’s Joshua’s mom,” stated the nurse I had first met here. She had been a lifesaver. Since I had first sat next to my son, she had told me she had been in my shoes, and that helped more than any other nurse here could ever say to me.
“Oh,” replied the first nurse. “He is so cute. He’s doing very well today.”
“You ready to hold him?” Nurse Hope asked.
“Yes,” I answered with a bigger smile.
“Perfect. Go have a seat in the chair while I get him ready for you,” she said.
I took a seat in the chair I normally sat in
when I came to see my son. It was just like the rocking chair that went unused in my hospital room. The cushioned cover was green and blue, matching the colors of this part of the hospital.
Once I was sitting, the nurse was there, opening the compartment that my son was in, being careful of all the cords and wires he was hooked up to.
“You ready?” she asked.
“So much so,” I breathed out.
I couldn’t wait to hold the little one in my arms. I was ready. For a new start in life with my little baby. It was really all I had now.
Within minutes, Joshua was in my arms laying his head on my chest. He was so little against me. So small and warm. His little lungs took in air as he breathed in the scent of me.
My heart swelled being able to hold him finally. I would never put him down.
“I’ll be back in a little while,” the nurse smiled before making her way back to check on other little babies.
I so hoped that everything would go smoothly and I could take him home sooner rather than later. I was literally holding my reason for everything in my arms, and I silently promised him that I would do everything in my power to make sure he had a happy, safe, life.
~oOo~
“You ready?” Travis asked as he shut the car off in front of the house.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I sighed out, wishing the past week couldn’t have happened. I glared at the house, willing it to change things from how it all happened.
“It’s okay,” he said, patting my knee. “Everything’s been cleaned up. And Krissy was determined to set up a nursery, sorta. She’s a determined girl.”
“She usually is,” I laughed. I don’t know what I would have done without her by my side.
I was glad I had a friend here. She was possibly the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. She had come to visit me every day so far, although she wasn’t allowed into the NICU because she wasn’t the father. Travis was allowed in, since the nurse felt bad that the father wasn’t there with me, and he was my brother. He wasn’t able to hold Joshua, but he’d get the chance to soon enough.
“Come on,” he said as he began to get out of the car.
I slowly followed him. My heart sped up, fearing that I’d relive the horrible thing over again. It was the shock of it all, mostly. I don’t think I’ve fully processed that Taylor was no longer alive.
Travis was patient as I slowly made my way up to the house. I almost would have rather walked back into Zach’s house.
Almost.
I wasn’t quite ready to step over that small, but huge, hurdle quite yet.
Once I reached the step, the door was opened, a smiling Krissy on the other side. Before I could react, she had me wrapped in her arms, giving me a hug that I didn’t know I needed.
“Please don’t be mad,” she whispered in my ear. “Travis made a few phone calls.”
“I can’t promise that,” I muttered as she pulled back, but then she took ahold of my hand. “What did you do?”
She gave me a small, encouraging smile before dragging me into the house. Once inside, Krissy came to stop, and my breath left my lungs. I could have collapsed in shock and joy if Travis hadn’t been behind me.
Inside the house, there stood Carlos and Julia. I probably should have expected Carlos to show up because of what happened, but I never expected Julia of all people.
“Julia,” I cried, rushing to pull her into a hug. I was so happy to see her after so long. Talking to her on the phone was good, but seeing her in person was so much better.
“Hello, dear,” she said, returning my hug.
We held onto one another for a few more moments before I pulled back, wiping away my tears. Damn my stupid hormones.
“How are you?” she asked, looking me up and down.
“Better now that you’re here,” I answered truthfully.
“You look tired,” she stated.
“I am, but I don’t think I can sleep,” I said.
“Sit, sit,” she said, taking a seat on the couch, that I noticed was brand new. And so was the carpet and painted walls. Looking around, no one would be able to tell that two people were shot and killed in this house. Everything was clean and almost brand new.
At that thought, a shiver ran through me.
“So tell me, when does my grandson get to come home?” Julia asked.
“A few weeks,” I shrugged. “Hopefully. He’s doing well, considering he was born so early.”
“I don’t doubt that he’ll be just fine,” she said. “I’ll be here for a while to help, if you’ll let me.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised. Would she really be able to stay and keep Zach from finding out?
“Yes,” she smiled. “Carlos wouldn’t have offered to bring me along if he thought otherwise. You’ve been through so much. It’s the least I could do to help. And I’m sure you won’t want Zach here, or for him to find out, yet. Do you?”
“Not yet,” I said, shaking my head. I did want him to show up, but with so much going on lately, I just wanted a few more weeks to myself. “If he finds me on his own, then I can handle it. But I’m not ready for more stress just yet.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Julia said. “Let me help you. We are all here for you. I know that being a new mother is hard, even with help. So, please, let me stay a week or two.”
“I will only be able to be here for another day or so before I have to get back,” Carlos stated. “But there shouldn’t be any more threats against you. Ever.”
“Good,” I said, my voice hard.
Maybe things could start being better now that Aaron was no longer alive. Maybe life would be on the right path now as things calmed down and I got to figure out how to live a life of less threats.
I knew that Taylor didn’t want a funeral, or anything for that matter. There would be no goodbye for him. I knew that life would keep on going, no matter what had happened in this house. But, everything would be fine in the end.
I could do this mother thing. I had family that was willing to help, and a few good friends. So things would work out, one way or another.
Chapter 21
Avidya
Five weeks.
Five weeks seemed so pass extremely slow.
Five weeks my baby was in the NICU.
Five weeks to the day, I was finally able to bring him home.
Five weeks.
I never knew how horrible five weeks would have been, or how wonderful it was at the same time. So much had changed in such a short amount of time. So much so, I didn’t know how I lived as I had before becoming a mother.
All my thoughts had been on my son, worrying about things that probably didn’t even need to be worried about.
Julia was a constant presence in the house, helping me clean and buy clothes for the baby. He had more than enough clothes to last for many years, all ranging from different sizes.
In the bedroom I had taken over, there had been a few changes to fit the small portable crib that Taylor had bought me not all that long ago. It fit into the room perfectly, and would work until Joshua was about six months or so.
He had taken to feeding from a bottle like a pro, and was off the oxygen without any issues. Surprisingly, he was doing very well still being so early. It was still a week away from my official due date, but Joshua was cleared and ready to go home.
I had spent every day at his side, helping the nurses to care for him. The only reason I ever went home was to sleep and get some needed me time before I had no more time to do that.
I was ready for my son to be home. I was ready to introduce him to the world. I was ready to be a full-time mother that came along with having my child at home with me.
Yes, Julia would still be around for another week, mostly because she wanted to hold and spoil the little man. That I couldn’t agree more on.
I knew that when Travis and Julia would return back home, it would only be a matter of time before Zachariah showed up. And I was okay w
ith that.
I was ready for him to come find me. I was ready for him to know why I hid this secret from him for so long. I was ready to be a family of three.
I was ready to face him once and for all.
It didn’t take that long to get the car seat secured into the car that Travis was currently using, and the same car that would be left for me to use after he went back home. Julia had gone with us, having Travis drive us all to the hospital to get my baby and then back home.
Krissy had wanted to be home, but she had to work. She promised that she’d stop by later, though. Catrina also couldn’t wait to meet the baby, as she wasn’t allowed to be inside the hospital due to all the sickness going around.
Having Julia with me the past few weeks was nice, though. Having someone to talk to and knowing I wasn’t left alone was a blessing. She even went to church with me every Sunday.
“How long do you think it’ll take Zach to find me?” I asked after we got back home and settled in.
“I’ll give him maybe two weeks tops to get here,” Travis joked. “At the moment, he’s a bit busy. But once he gets the issue taken care of, he will be here as fast as possible.”
“And you won’t tell him the exact location,” Julia said, giving him a look that said not to try.
“Just the town,” Travis said with an eyeroll. “And nothing about the package.”
Travis had mentioned that my husband was busy with something, but didn’t tell me what. At least Zach seemed to be in a better mood after so many months. Maybe he finally started to act his age and get things done.
“He has taken time to cool down, so I’m sure he won’t do something stupid,” Travis said, not taking his eyes of my son sleeping in my arms.
I had no idea what to expect when he showed up, but I was ready. I was ready to hear his side, and hopefully explain my side as well as I could. I did expect him to be mad at me and not let me explain. I could understand his anger that would no doubt come along with his reappearance.
That I could handle.
I just didn’t think I could handle him wanting nothing to do with me anymore because I had a kid. Would he demand I give him up? Because I would never do such a thing.
His to Know (His to Own Book 3) Page 9
