Two of Hearts

by Alexa Jackson

  - How did you get to her?

  - Remember when asked to watch Grace? I decided to investigate. I had some pictures of the two together. Not suspected at the time, I thought they were just friends. When Fabiana saw the pictures a few days ago, his reaction was the worst possible. She recognized Allyson from captivity where he was arrested.

  - Aline will be arrested now? - Penelope question - just have to report it to police.

  - Soon - Peter looks away from her and plunges me - It is now that you enter. I need your help. I want to ensure that Aline pay for everything they did to you. Concrete against it, we only know that she changed her identity.

  - What do you want me to do?

  I will go to the last consequences to take this miserable of our lives.

  - I installed some cameras and tapping at her house. Watching a team to twenty-four hours a day. Alysson still as fanatical in his revenge plan as before. I think, in fact, after the death of Nathan, even more lost sanity. She will try to attack here in the hospital, poison you. I need her to confess everything before denounce it.

  - No! - Penelope stands between us - he is unable to face it as well. I will not let that put at risk.

  - Love, I must - seek his trembling hand - Peter knows what he's doing. I do not want you and Ben at the mercy of this crazy. I'll do whatever it takes.

  - And if it does not work? - The desperation in her voice makes me want to give up just to make it more quiet - I will not support ...

  - Listen, dear - Peter pulls at him, touching his face - I've talked to the medical staff about the risks. It has an undercover cop in Benjamin's room and two policemen out there to make sure Adam will be fine. I just need to install the camera and microphones here. I will not let anything happen to him. Trust me.

  - My love - I bring your attention to me - Trust us. We need to trust.

  We are in a position where there are no choices. If Alysson get away, it would be a threat hovering in our minds forever. We can not continue living in fear. Or her or anyone.

  - Think of Benjamin and the baby.

  I played hard, but I have to convince her that this is our only way out.

  - I want to be around - I see in your face that is not easy for her to accept the plan. The fear that something happens to me is visible in his eyes - And if that's too far, should stop.

  - It's all right. I will arrange this - Peter departs. Your predator side begins to speak for him - for now, I will explain how we're going to lure her ...

  ****

  Trying to control the beast that is within me, thirsting for Allyson blood, waiting for her to cross the door, it would be something very easy, but I force myself to stay calm; it's needed. Even with my desire to strangle her with my own hands.

  - You'll be all right - I say to Penelope.

  She walks from one side to another room, hugging herself, trying to find the strength and courage inside. And I should give it to her, but I can barely control myself.

  - Allyson is already in the building - Peter returns, closing the door behind him - In a few minutes, she'll be here.

  When he plays instinctively in the gun holster on his waist, beginning to question the involvement of Penelope.

  - Do the same gun? - Question apprehensively - We are in the hospital. She's pregnant, it may be better than it was ...

  - It is just a guarantee - it stops me - I will not put anyone at risk.

  - And I'm not leaving here! - Penelope is categorical - not with this crazy loose.

  I can only wish that everything goes as rehearsed. This madness ends soon and that Peter has been right and really know what you're doing.

  - Two of my men are in the next room with the equipment, all together - he puts his hand to his ear as he explains - I have a point and will be notified immediately. The cops are out there. You just have to make her talk. We'll be there.

  He leads Penelope to the attached bathroom in the room, but before he shut the door, she runs to me.

  - Promise you will care? - She asks, holding my face.

  There the river of tears or despair that I thought there would be. My girl is strong, brave, and I feel an enormous pride for her.

  - I promise - her lips on my stick for a few seconds - You swear you will not do anything stupid?

  - I love you - she whispers and walks away, ignoring my question.

  Lock all fears and worries about her. Peter will take care of it and will not allow you to do anything that endangers. He knows I would be able to kill him if he did.

  Aware of the time running and that at any moment Allyson would be here, I take my post as sick and helpless. I lie down, I close my eyes and wait.

  The second drag, become minutes. The ticking of the imaginary clock in my head has the company of unsteady my heartbeat, ringing in my ears. Not if I had run a marathon, my body carry so much adrenaline.

  So, I hear the faint creak of the door, followed by the sound of footsteps, the same noise from the tray some nurses carry. I know she's here, I feel his presence in the room.

  - Glad someone came - I murmur, keeping my eyes closed - I do not feel right, nurse. Could you call my wife?

  I hear the heavy breathing. I had managed to hit her where else hurt. Penelope remains mine. Nothing done or what Allyson want to be able to separate the two of us again.

  - No, I can not! - Acidity in her voice is enough to make me open my eyes.

  - Aline? - Simulate surprise when, in fact, wish to advance in their jugular, stick the syringe into the tray on the bed deep in her throat - What are you doing here dressed like that?

  She is dressed in one of the hospital nurse uniforms. Hidden blond hair and a black wig. There is no pretense or feigned surprise on his face. Only an alienated look, full of hatred, and a poisoned syringe in his hand.

  - I should have done it when he had that car accident a year ago - I hear her voice getting closer - Nathan did not. There was time for you to die. That's what he said. I see that was wrong, and now that he is dead.

  I grind my teeth and cloves my fingers on the sheets. Hearing her talk about Nathan, it's just mention his name makes my animalistic side is the edge.

  Keep calm and think about what Peter said, command me mentally. The goal is to get her to talk. And since it had begun to speak, he was pull the trigger.

  - What are you talking about, Aline? -movo me in bed, but stop pretending to feel pain - Nathan deserved every bullet he took. I would be happy to shoot him if he had arrived in time.

  - You deserve to die! - She shouts, spitting out the words - not him. We just wanted justice.

  quickly look at the bathroom door, enough to not notice Allyson and I make sure that Penelope would not come out from inside.

  - Aline...

  - Allyson! - It points the syringe towards me - Allyson Hale. Sound familiar to you? The man you cheated and stole without compunction? The family you destroyed?

  As I had never noticed that look before? This rage and desire for revenge as clear as now. Maybe because before it was not so desperate and Nathan knew guide her perfectly. All were puppets in his hands.

  - I'm sorry about your father, but I did not have any involvement with what he did before or after being arrested ...

  - Lie!

  Your unbalanced hands are close to my face, it would be enough that I turned a few centimeters so that the needle pierce my skin.

  - My father trusted you. The deceived, faked a crime he did not commit to keep the money. I lost my parents, my house, everything, for their greed - it departs a little loose and the breath that was trapped by pure instinct - You and Durant are greedy, unscrupulous, capable of anything. No matter who is reached.

  I do not know what lies and evidence that Nathan had woven for her. But he was efficient in his brainwashing. Allyson can be quite unbalanced, but faithfully believes in everything that he invented.

  - Look, we can find a way, Allyson. All that Nathan did was tell lies ...

  - He saved my life whe
n you took everything - his voice is almost tearful - Sometimes it was harder to me, but now I understand. We had to be careful. He knew who we were dealing with. I loved him, and now he's dead.

  It is much more disgusting than I could imagine. How could anyone love a person so cruel and despicable as he?

  - He loved me too. I know he loved me. Until it took me - she sniffs, wiping her nose with the back of his hand - I failed before when trying to attract you. But the fault was that slut Penelope! If it had not crossed my way, I would have done what was expected, and none of this would have happened.

  - Do not touch the name of it! - Howling, no matter on what my reaction would cause - not dream of getting close to her or kill you.

  - You can not do anything being killed - the uncontrolled and diabolical laughter echoes in the room. I could have sworn that even the walls shook - not now and not before when I tried to poison Penelope to lose the baby. But I have to admit, your blood is as bad as you.

  - You poisoned my son? - Get out of bed, word by word coming out as pure acid from my mouth.

  A little vertigo reaches me. I feel like I tore again at the site of surgery.

  - If I'd had a little more time, he would not have been born - she smiles among the words - but still have time to fix my mistake. Children are so helpless in hospitals.

  The problem of dealing with a madman is that it does not measure any consequence. Allyson had learned from a great master to be inhumane.

  - Damn! - Support me in bed and try to gather all strength to face it - I'll finish you.

  It had been her fault: pregnancy risk Penelope faced, compromised health of Benjamin and the need for transplantation so that he was alive.

  - You know what I have here? Aconite. Cause asphyxia, which causes cardiac arrhythmia, leading to suffocation - she walks away, showing the syringe as his new toy - It is highly toxic to touch the leaves of the plant without the use of gloves is already incredibly lethal.

  Yes, I wanted to rip the syringe and stick in her head. See her die exactly the way you told me, slowly and painfully. But die would be very little. Nathan died in the worst possible way, and still thought it was not enough punishment.

  - I'll do what I should have done long ago. No one will call me to what happened. I can go back to Allyson anytime.

  - There are so many people who must hate you as much as I - it continues, giving a few more steps - and to succeed if they can identify the poison in your body, I'll be far away.

  Kick two steps toward the wall, away from her and her syringe pointing at me while I see the bathroom door being wide open.

  - That's what you think, Allyson. Get away from him!

  Peter points the gun at her, but I'm more worried about Penelope behind him. How much she had heard? Judging by the angry look in her eyes shining, I'm sure you heard everything.

  The red marks on his skin tell me that Peter had work to keep it there. Even my side protective roaring inside me that he had been rude, I have to thank for it to keep safe. We are dealing with a crazy capable of anything. And she had a weapon more lethal than a bullet.

  - What do you do here? - She stares at us in shock - What's he doing here? Wretches! It was a trap.

  Peter moves forward; it departs closer to me. I can try to disarm it, but the stakes are high. One of us can get out contaminated.

  - Solta syringe, Allyson - Peter keeps walking toward her fractionally - There's no way to escape this. Do not make things worse.

  - It's all her fault! - Allyson shouts, shaking the syringe in the air - you, your fucking ruined all my plans. It's your fault. You will see him die right in front of.

  - Do not do it, Aline - Penelope cries, come to the other side of the bed - You can take me if you want. I'm pregnant again. Want a better revenge than this? Adam will never see us.

  - No! - The cry echoes of my throat.

  Where are the shits of police Peter said he would be out there? No way I let Allyson approached her, beyond what is. I was not bluffing when he said he would kill her.

  - Think about it - Penelope remains completely calm - Need a hostage to get out of here. There are dozens of cops out there waiting for you. I'm your only escape.

  - Penelope, for! - I see it desperate - Do not do it, my love.

  Every time I thought I lost, like the day she was run over and months we stayed away, do not compare with the horror of that moment.

  - She may be right - the empty smile back on her lips - Do you suffer might be better than the dead see. That's what Nathan would always say. But I still want you to pay with your life. A life for another.

  Allyson makes me have targeted. I stare at Peter for help, the instant his lips gesture, sending me jump. It all happened very fast, but for me, seems to have lasted hours. I crossed the bed seconds before Allyson plunge the syringe into the mattress.

  I heard the sound of the shot. The Penelope cries when you joined me on the floor. And despite the excruciating pain in my abdomen, I pulled her into my arms.

  - You shot me!

  Allyson crawls up the wall next to the door, repeating the charge without ceasing. The hand deformed by bullet is pressed into his chest. She cries and groans of pain, like a snake that has been trampled upon. Peter had been accurate to hit the shot in his fist; the damage would hardly be remedied.

  Still, I think very little for what she did and intended to do. No remorse, I would be pleased to see it slip away in blood before me.

  - Allyson Hale is arrested for attempted murder ...

  The two plainclothes police finally appear. They read all the charges against her as the lift from the ground.

  - Waiting! - Penelope breaks free from my arms and stands.

  Levanto also supporting me against the bed, and I see her walk to where they are. The sound of the first slap it strikes in Allyson ricochets around the room. Following another and another. The cops face, surprised. Peter folds his arms, smiling, and I'm worried that it will get hurt.

  - That's for trying to separate us! - She pulls the hair Allyson, who had tried to lower his head to protect yourself - That's for my son!

  Is that like a lioness protecting the puppy. Penelope hits hard and will. All the stored anger inside desferida being in Allyson, who can do little to defend themselves. The face quickly gains the marks of an angry mother.

  - Peter, that's enough! - I tell him, asking that away from there - She could get hurt.

  He undoes the smile and walks to the two, Penelope away, trying to reach Allyson again. The other retreats to near the police, quite frightened.

  - I was enjoying the scene - Peter brings back to me.

  - Yeah, but Hale I want to see prey - mutter invoked - not my wife.

  He understands the message and go after the cops just left with the accused. Peter would find a way to taint anything Penelope. He always gives.

  - Hey - I pull away a little small crying, which was again placed in my arms - It's all right. All over now.

  I reach out a hand to the emergency button beside the bed and hope that one of the nurses do not take to arrive. After the heat of the moment, I notice that she is in shock. This is not good for the baby.

  - I was so afraid - she mourns, hugging me stronger - Thank God you're okay.

  - I just - I lead her to the chair, making her sit - No one will hurt us.

  I wish I could put it in my lap. NINA it as he did with Ben when he woke up early, to ensure that it felt good and safe again.

  - Sorry about the delay, Mr. Crighton - the young nurse comes in the door - There is some confusion out there. Are you feeling anything?

  I can say that my guts are jumping out of my body, before the lacerating pain I feel. I have broken a few points when I jumped out of bed to the other side. But my biggest concern is with Penelope and the baby.

  - She's not very well. You can call the doctor?

  I turn away so she can take care of Penelope. It is red and sore hand that worries me, but your emotional side.

>   - My God! - Penelope stares at me anxious - You're bleeding, Adam.

  - Do not worry - try to see it through the blur in my eyes - I'm fine ...

  Everything was dark then.

  Chapter 53

  Penelope

  Even with all the nurses and the doctor himself has assured me that Adam is right, just desgrudei the headboard of his bed for two moments: when Adam was attended to refresh the points that had broken out and when we switched room. Both times I was with Ben. These last hours were tense and frightening, nothing would make me stay away from them.

  I still feel adrenaline sparks running through my body. I do not believe I was able to move about Aline actually Allyson, that. But when I heard the bathroom proudly reporting all he had done against us, completely lost my mind. I would have left bewildered and ripped her face with my nails if Peter had not silenced my lips and held me tight against him.

  When I remember that I almost lost my baby, that Benjamin is in this hospital and that because of that witch the two most important people in my life had gone through a huge risk to do the transplant, I feel something very close to hatred.

  All this could have been avoided if the damned woman had not crossed our lives. I could never forgive what she did. It was cruel, cowardly and inhumane. It is a vicious and heartless monster. I wanted to kill her. I did not mind that was already hurt, and probably will be deformed, yet the punishment would be too little. I wanted her to shed all the tears she shed to see my baby suffer and for all that Adam lost his life.

  Certainly, it is not good that I nourish in me feelings so bad. But it's too late so I can forget. I know that time will heal all wounds open. Love, love and support of all who love, will make these moments just a bitter memory, like a bad nightmare. And that's all that matters at the moment: be happy with those I love. This is what I have to dedicate myself now.

  - Hi, leoazinha - Adam flashes cilia sometimes even get your eyes focus on me - Remind me never to leave angry.

  - I'm just not fumbling with whom I love - I defend myself - How do you feel, darling?

  I take his hand, that all the time been stuck in my hands until my lips. My heart finally calmed down when she saw him open his eyes, and I swim in the depth of your look.