by Suzie Nelson
Blake lifted one eyebrow and looked at Shelby. “Black?” He wasn’t opposed to Shelby adding her own personal flair to the room but he had not imagined she would paint the walls black.
“Not all the walls, just those two and it’s just a base color so that some local artists can graffiti over the top of it. It will be very tasteful and creative. Something inspiring that the kids can help to design.” Shelby easily explained her idea with no concern that Blake would struggle to understand the bigger concept. He nodded not worried in the slightest with Shelby’s plan and turned back to María.
“María, I gave Miss Perez my full consent that she could make this room her own. After all, this is going to be her design room. I understand your concerns, but Shelby… um... Miss Perez, has my confidence and I’m sure the room is going to look great once it’s finished.” Blake patted her shoulder as Shelby tried hard not to look smug.
“I don’t know, señor Ramsey, I don’t think your brother is going to like this.” María made a last attempt to win Blake over and pulled out the disapproval of his older brother as a desperate shot but Blake was completely unconcerned by the mild threat.
“I’m sure it will be fine and if he’s not happy about it, I will sort it out.” Blake winked at her to try and lighten the situation but María was too busy staring at Shelby to notice.
“Okay, señor Ramsey, you are the boss.” Maria gave Shelby a cutting look before she turned around and waddled away out of the doors muttering to herself that the walls would look shameful with graffiti.
“Thank you, señor Ramsey, for letting me paint the walls.” Shelby brushed up against Blake as she teased him with her María impersonation.
“Ha-ha, Shelby. You may have won the battle but I have a feeling María would win the war.” Blake slipped his arm around her waist as they made their way over to the exit.
“You know, I think you’re right. I would not want to cross María in a dark alley.” They both chuckled as they made their way down the stairs and out to the car park. “Are we going to dinner now? I could eat a whole cow.”
“Yes, let’s forget about María and the painting and everything else. I just want to enjoy a tasty meal with my tasty woman.” Blake kissed the top of Shelby’s hand as they jumped into their black SUV and headed away to downtown.
***
The restaurant that Blake had picked was a little secret gem, hidden away in one of the nicer parts of Mexico City. The entrance was low key with just a very simple sign that led into an old converted house that had been renovated to have an entirely open-plan layout. The back of the building was covered in glass which gave the illusion that the outside and the inside were one which was helped along by the shrubbery and flowers that adorned the inside of the restaurant. The floor was dark hardwood and all the tables matched giving the place a sleek and modern feel.
“Oh, wow, I had no idea this place existed here.” Shelby had been through this part of town on numerous occasions but she had never seen this unique restaurant.
“Isn’t it something? I knew you would like it.” Blake took her hand in his as their waiter showed them over to a table on the terrace. Although the restaurant had clearly done it’s best to conceal as much of the city as possible, the back of the restaurant still spilled out onto a busy courtyard that was easily accessible from the back entrance.
They took their seats opposite each other at a table that overlooked the courtyard but still had some shelter provided by an array of green trees and plants. “I don’t even feel like I’m in the middle of the city anymore.” Shelby looked around amazed at how a little clever landscaping had completely changed the perspective from her seat.
“It’s really something what they have done. They have mixed the natural beauty of Mexico with some fine dining and enhanced it with greenery. It really creates a great atmosphere.” Blake was pleased that Shelby liked the restaurant and he sat back in his chair relaxed after his long day of meetings.
“Yeah, I feel like we are in our own private bubble where we can see the world carrying on as normal but in some way we are detached from it.” Shelby continued to look around as the waiter poured water into their glasses.
“Would you care for some wine?” The waiter looked at Blake for instruction while Blake glanced over the wine list.
“Yes, please bring a bottle of the house red and a selection of your starters to get us going. Thank you.” Blake handed back the menu and then smiled at Shelby. He seemed to be in his element, calm, relaxed and completely at ease in her company.
“Are we having a feast?” Shelby lifted her brows in surprise that Blake had ordered an unknown amount of food.
“I’m absolutely starving.” He leaned over the table and took Shelby’s hand in his. “Last night’s activities really took it out of me.” He gave her a cheeky smile as she flushed pink thinking about the amazing night of lovemaking that they had shared. “I’m thinking that we will need to carb up if we are to repeat it all again tonight.”
“Blake!” Shelby was embarrassed at his proposition while, at the same time, happy to know that their physical relationship would be continuing. The waiter suddenly reappeared with the wine and soon the table started to fill with little plates of various delicacies. Everything tasted incredible and both Shelby and Blake happily gorged on the endless provision of tasty local food.
“I’m glad we finally have a chance to be alone, Shelby.” Blake put down his fork and pushed his plate aside as he looked over at Shelby with serious eyes. “We never really finished the argument that we started yesterday, not that I want to continue it, but you said a lot of things that I thought we should talk about.”
Shelby instantly felt on edge as nervous butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She didn’t want to think about all the horrible things that she had said; she could barely think about them without feeling ashamed of herself. “We really don’t need to talk about it, Blake. I said some things that I regret and should never have said.”
Blake squeezed her hand and he was clearly happy to hear her apology but he still wanted to make a clean slate between them. “I meant everything I said last night and I think that we could have something really special but I want us to start off right. I don’t want there to be any unresolved grievances between us that will eventually come back to bite us.”
Shelby looked up at Blake as the evening light made his skin glow. Everything he was saying was mature and wise, a side that she hadn’t really appreciated about him until this moment.
“I didn’t pick up on everything that you said last night as you were shouting and some of it was in Spanish but you said something about me not wanting you here,” Blake spoke delicately, careful not to cause another argument.
“I don’t even remember what I said myself but I guess I felt that it was Jordan that invited me here, not you. I was offended that you didn’t ask me yourself and then you implied that I was only coming to keep Danica a company. I just overreacted, that’s all.” Shelby could still feel the pain she felt when she was rejected by Blake, even though it was all a mistake.
Blake reached over and took her hands with both of his and gently kissed the top of her hand. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way, it was all because I was nervous. When I’m around you I can’t think clearly and I didn’t know how to invite you without it seeming like a romantic ploy. I never thought you would be interested in me so I just tried to bury my feelings.”
Shelby knew exactly what he meant as she had done the very same thing. She was about to ease his conscience when they suddenly heard the loud screech of a car. They turned and looked out into the courtyard where a silver sports car had pulled up alongside a truck that was parked just at the side of the road. People were shouting in Spanish and then two Mexican men jumped out of the sports car dressed in black vests and bandanas.
“What’s going on?” Shelby mindlessly asked the question as one of the men lifted his hand brandishing a gun. Fires s
hot and the loud crack of gunfire echoed through the courtyard and the restaurant.
“Get down!” Blake dived onto Shelby, pulling her down from her chair and they crouched beside each other next to the glass panel of the terrace. Car doors could be heard opening and slamming and heavy footprints stomped through the courtyard followed by more rounds of gunfire. Blake and Shelby clung to each other in a tight ball with their arms covering their heads when the glass panel next to them suddenly shattered and Blake gave out a little cry.
He collapsed down onto Shelby and she could feel the warm flow of blood trickle down her face and neck as Blake passed out like a lifeless doll.
“Blake! Blake!” Uncontrollably, Shelby screamed out his name until her words became a blurred animal-like noise. All she could see was blood drenching his white shirt and as she shook him and tried to find the source of the blood all she could think was, “Don’t die. Don’t die on me now.”
Chapter 9
“Hank! Hank!” Blake lay motionless in Shelby’s arms as she shouted for their bodyguard who suddenly appeared beside her. All around the courtyard people could be heard screaming and crying as the chaos of the shooting played out.
Hank dropped to his knees and immediately started to check Blake for his vitals but Shelby couldn’t tell from Hank’s concerned expression if there were any signs of life.
“We have to get him to the hospital right now.” Without consulting Shelby, Hank swooped Blake up into his arms and carried him through the restaurant as other patrons were still cowering behind their tables. Shelby followed behind in a daze, her eyes focused on Blake’s dangling legs that hung down from Hank’s strong arms.
The two black SUVs pulled up in front of the entrance and Hank laid Blake down inside the first car and then crouched over him holding him in place. Hank looked up at Shelby who was still standing on the street. “Follow us behind in the other car to the hospital and we’ll meet you there.” With that instruction, Hank slammed the door and another bodyguard came up beside Shelby and ushered her into the second car.
Everything was a blur. How had they gone from a romantic moment, revealing their inner feelings to each other to a complete nightmare? Shelby had wanted to jump into the SUV with Blake, to hold his hand as they raced to the hospital but her body was still in shock. She had stood on the street watching as Hank had taken control, willing her body to move but she was paralyzed by fear. The two drivers were communicating back and forth via their walkie-talkies about the traffic and how they could cut through the city to avoid the congestion but it was all just background noise to Shelby as she remained in a trance.
Eventually, the cars pulled into the emergency lot at the hospital and Shelby’s door flung open. One of the bodyguards was holding out his hand for her to take but she just stared at him with a blank expression.
“Miss Perez, do you want to come inside?” He looked just like Hank with his tight fitting clothes, thick neck, and short hair but his eyes held slightly more emotion than Hank’s.
Shelby’s mind was running in every direction. She didn’t know if Blake was alive or dead and she wasn’t sure if she could face the prospect of losing him. Mindlessly, she took the bodyguard’s hand and followed him into the hospital all the while keeping a look out for Blake.
“Where’s Blake? Where’s Hank? Hank?” Like a scared child, Shelby scanned the waiting room looking for her injured love but she couldn’t see him. Faces with broken limbs, cuts, and pains glared back at her as she wandered around the large waiting area. “Blake?”
Suddenly, Hank appeared with his neck and arms covered in Blake’s blood. “He’s been taken in for an emergency operation.” Shelby rushed over to him in despair that his arms were empty. She wanted to clutch his arms, to hold onto him in the hope that she might feel some comfort but she couldn’t bring herself to touch his bloodied skin.
“Where is Blake? What’s happening Hank – where is he?” Every thought that came into her mouth came out as a question and she bombarded Hank with the same reiterating questions.
Finally, Hank’s cold exterior melted as he saw the desperation in her eyes. Shelby stood in front of him desperate for any information about what had happened to her man. Everyone in the waiting room was watching them and Hank thought it best to be gentle with her in the hope that they could avoid any hysterics.
“He’s okay, Miss Perez. They have rushed him in for an emergency operation. The bullet went through his shoulder and traveled up to the side of his neck. He’s lost a lot of blood and is unconscious but they are doing everything they can.” Hank was not the type to give extra detail or make his account frillier. He provided all of the facts as plainly as he knew them although he had tried to show some sensitivity.
“I have to see him, Hank. They can’t… I must see him!” Fear quickly filled Shelby as she heard that the bullet had struck Blake’s neck. She thought about the blood which had gushed everywhere and wondered how he could possibly survive such an injury. Shelby lost control of her senses and grasped Hank’s shirt. “Take me to him. I have to see him now, Hank. Now!”
Hank tried to stand back as he was surprised by her sudden outburst. It was clear that Shelby wasn’t going to quiet until she had her way. He removed her hands from his top and placed one hand on her shoulder. “Okay, calm down. I will take you to the operating room but you must calm down otherwise the doctors won’t let us anywhere near. Understand?”
Shelby nodded her head in agreement and would have complied with anything just to be near Blake. “Yes, fine, just take me to him.”
They turned and walked down a yellow corridor that led to an elevator. They came out at another floor where all the wall were blue and Shelby quietly followed behind Hank as he took turn after turn until they reached a set of white double doors. There was no way Shelby would ever be able to find her way back but she didn’t care now that she could sense she was near Blake.
“Is he in there?” She pointed at the doors and wondered why Hank wasn’t going through.
“Yes. The operating room is just through there but we can’t go any further. It’s best that we wait out here for the doctor, we don’t want to interrupt them during surgery.” Hank turned his back to the door and prepared himself for another outburst. He was ready to hold Shelby back if needed.
Shelby looked from Hank to the door and she could see that the door was locked and required a swipe card. She pushed her hands against the handles hoping that it might be open but it remained firmly shut. Everything inside her told her to break the door down, to do whatever she could to get to Blake, but she knew that wasn’t the right thing to do, no matter how much she wanted it. Blake was being cared for, he was in the hands of the doctors now and all she could do was wait.
***
Hours passed as Shelby waited outside the doors to the operating room furiously praying that Blake would survive. She could barely look at herself as her clothes were covered in blood stains so she spent most of the time curled up on a hard bench that lined one of the empty corridors. For what seemed like an eternity, she had waited patiently, expecting a doctor to walk through the doors at any moment with news of Blake but no one came. Every time the door opened or she heard footsteps her heart would race and she would sit up hoping that someone would say something but they always walked straight past her.
When she couldn’t bear it any longer, Shelby had run to the nearest bathroom and frantically washed her arms and face to remove any trace of Blake’s crusting blood. She couldn’t remove the visible red stains on her dress but the cold water offered a slight relief from her mental anxiety. Hank had stayed nearby in the beginning but at some stage during the night, Shelby realized that she was alone; even Blake’s paid bodyguard couldn’t handle the endless waiting.
Shelby tried to rest her eyes and stretched her legs along the cold hard bench but her mind was too caught up for sleep. All she could think about was the loud crack of the gunfire and how Blake had thrown
himself on her as a shield and now he was paying the ultimate price. If Blake didn’t survive, Shelby knew that she would never be able to forgive herself.
Wracked with guilt, she ran her fingers through her hair and rocked back and forth unaware that she looked like an escaped asylum patient.
At some stage in the early hours, she had eventually drifted off, physically and mentally drained from the night’s drama.
“Shelby?” A soft voice broke the silence and awoke Shelby from her sleep.
Shelby tried to lift her heavy eyes but she assumed she was dreaming when she saw Danica standing beside her. “Danica? Is that really you?” She rubbed her eyes and made some space for Danica to sit down beside her.
“Oh Shelby, what are you doing out here in the corridor?” Danica looked over Shelby and horror flickered across her face when she noticed the dark blood stains.
“No one will talk to me or tell me what is happening. Where is Blake? Have you seen him? Is he okay?” Shelby had no idea how Danica had come to be with her or even what time it was but she had to know about Blake.
