Syren's Plaything

by Jennah Thornhill

  “L… Liam?” I voice.

  The guy can barely breathe.

  “J… Ma… John… Max. They’re both out of surgery.” He says, in between gasping for breath.

  “I’m sorry. It sounded like you said they were both out of surgery?” I say to him. Tears of elation start pouring down my face.

  “I did say that.” He stands up straight now.

  Without even giving it a second thought, I leave Allie and Liam outside and sprint back to the intensive care unit, holding my belly the entire way back.

  “Where is he?” I practically yell at the poor nurse when I reach the nurses desk.

  “Karina!”

  I turn from the desk and find Connor standing in the doorway of the waiting room.

  “Come in here please? The doctor wants to talk to us all together.”

  Dread gathers in my stomach as I leave the desk and make my way to the waiting room, my feet feeling like lead weights as I try my best to put one foot in front of the other.

  Johnny

  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’ve been hit by a double decker bus then reversed over all at the same time.

  Even the hairs all over my body hurt, how is that possible?

  I can hear people talking around me, but it’s hard to pinpoint one particular voice.

  I daren’t open my eyes, I have to though, I need to see if she’s still here. I need to see her and tell her how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt her, everything she’s been through is all my fault.

  I try to cough but something’s stopping me, lifting my hand in a sloppy manor I try to pull at the object that’s in my mouth stopping me from communicating.

  “Oh shit, he’s awake.”

  She’s here, she’s actually still here. Not afraid to open my eyes now I’ve heard her voice, I slowly peel them open. When I see her standing at the end of my bed, the panic I was feeling disperses.

  “Calm down Johnny, you have a breathing tube down your throat. If you don’t stop, you’ll choke yourself. Connors gone to fetch someone.”

  Seeing as I can’t answer her with my voice, I just give her a small nod, just doing that causes me pain.

  She’s looking at me like she’s seen a ghost, tears are falling down her beautiful face and it’s killing me that I can’t comfort her.

  Taking my hand in her soft palm, she places it against her wet cheek. It’s like she’s reassuring herself that I’m here and she’s not imagining things.

  What the fuck happened? All I can remember is being in my apartment trying to talk to Karina, to try and explain what I couldn’t all them years ago, and then…. Dominic showed up.

  With Laura.

  Oh god.

  Things got a bit heated, all hell broke loose and then there was the pain, all I felt was excruciating pain, then nothing.

  I try my best to keep my eyes open, but I’m exhausted and it’s taking up all my energy just to try and keep them open. But after fighting it for along as I can, I eventually give in and fall back to sleep. Not bothering to wait for Connor to come back with a nurse or whoever he’s gone to get.

  I can feel a hand in mine, but it’s not just any hand. I’d know who’s hand it was even if I was numb from the waist down. It’s Karina.

  I move my head to the side where I know she’ll be, I manage to do this with ease, but it’s still painful. The tube that was causing me discomfort before is now gone making it easier for me to breathe and move around.

  When I finally get her in my line of sight, I take her all in. She’s asleep on the chair, with her head leaning on my bed and her hand is in mine. She looks peaceful, but uncomfortable all at the same time.

  “P... Princess.” I try my best to speak but my throat is very sore, and it comes out as a croak. Knowing I’m not going to get anywhere vocally, I squeeze her hand in mine. I do this a couple of times before she starts to stir. Then she bolts up right in a panic and in a bit of a state. She looks like she’s lost weight, and like she’s not moved for days, she’s wearing the same clothes as she was wearing the day Laura and Dom showed up. Has she not been home at all, not even to rest? This can’t be good for her or the baby, and it makes me angry, but all that anger subsides when she looks at me.

  “Oh god, Johnny you’re awake, you gave us all a fright, we didn’t think you were going to make it.” She tells me, as the tears start to build in her eyes. All I want to do is make her feel better and I can’t, and that is all but killing me. I try to speak again but I’m still struggling. She sees I’m trying to say something, so she makes fast work of getting me some water from the jug that’s on the bedside cabinet and puts a straw into it, before bringing it to my mouth. It’s like heaven, the cool liquid slides down my throat with ease, I finish the glass quickly, glad that it’s made a difference, my mouth is no only dry or stuck together.

  “Princess… I ….”

  “Johnny it’s fine, everything is going to be ok. Now you’re awake everything is going to be ok.” She kisses my head then sits back down, grabbing a hold of my hand again.

  “How long have I been out for?”

  “It’s been just over a week since you were brought in the hospital, there were a few complications, but it’s ok now, I promise you. And the doctors have been amazing, and if it wasn’t for Max, then….” I cut her off.

  “Max? What does he have to do with any of this?” I’m a bit confused, I don’t know if it’s because I’m still coming around or if it’s just because she’s not making any sense. She looks sheepish, like she doesn’t think she should be saying anything.

  “I’ll give you the short version. You needed a new kidney, so Max gave you his. And so far, your body hasn’t rejected it yet. You’re on the mend.” She smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

  “Max gave me his kidney? Max?”

  “Yes, Johnny. I know it’s a lot to take in, but without Max you wouldn’t be here.” She wipes a single tear that’s fallen from her cheek, I’m not sure if they’re happy tears or sad ones.

  “What the fuck? Now the fucker is going to play on this big time.” I’m half joking but half serious too. She laughs at me now.

  “I’ll tell him you said thank you, and I’m sure it won’t be long till you’re both back with all the banter.” She’s still stroking my hand.

  I don’t get chance to ask her anymore questions, as there’s a knock on the door followed by the doctor walking in.

  “It’s nice to see you’ve decided to join the land of the living Mr. Owens, it was touch and go there for a while. You have your friend Max to thank for you still being with us.”

  “So, I’ve just been informed Doc.” I tell him, indicating with a nod of my head to Karina.

  The doctor then proceeds to tell me everything that happened from the moment I was shot to the point I’m at now, before adding that I need a lot of rest and hands Karina a list of foods I need to eat that would help my new kidney. Once he’s satisfied I’m ok and I’ve taken in everything he’s just told us, he leaves us be. Then everyone does their rounds on checking to see how I am and if I’m doing ok. Starting with the lads, Allie and even Billie-jo made a point of seeing how I was doing. Then my parents come to see me, who informed me that Karina was great with me the whole time I was here and that she’s a keeper. Mum then told her that they needed to meet again under different circumstances. It’s not the way I wanted her to meet my parents but I’m glad that they like her. The last person to come and see me was Max, the doctors weren’t going to let him out of his bed, but he made demands and he got his way, like always. So, he’s sat in a wheelchair the whole time he’s with us. We didn’t say much to each other, we didn’t need to. The lads and me have a bond that will never be broken, he knows what I think without saying it, and so does he, so all we did was shake hands and told each other that we would catch up later.

  Now I’m just lying helplessly in my hospital bed waiting for the day to come where I can get out of this hell hole. I’m just th
ankful that Karina is still here with me, when I could have lost her. But she’s reassured me that everything is going to be ok, she doesn’t need to hear the reasons of why I did what I did. She told me that with everything that’s happened she has realised what’s important in life, and when it was touch and go if I’d make it, she forgave me there and then. And after much debate about whose fault it was, we decided never to mention that night ever again.

  It wasn’t long after that, when we were both starting to fall asleep, that Karina got on the bed with me and we fall asleep together. Her by my side where she was always meant to be, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  Karina

  It’s been over a month since the day Johnny was shot by my father, and what a bloody month it has been. For starters my father is spending life in prison, not just for shooting Johnny, no. When the police arrived at his apartment moments after the ambulance, all the evidence was on the floor. Giving my father no move to fight his innocents, as the evidence was very clear and starting to stack up against him. It had pictures of all his secret meetings with people the police have been trying to take down for a long time, including all the dirty police offices my father had on his payroll, hence why he’s never been caught before. And then there was recordings of all of the conversations my father had in his office, so every shady job his men did for him were know known. Johnny really did think to cover every angle. My father’s past had finally caught up with him. I haven’t heard of him since, and I’m in no hurry to either.

  I’m trying my best to build my relationship up with my mother, she’s been helping me out at the penthouse with Johnny while he was still recovering from the operation. In all honesty she’s been a blessing. We’re getting there, it’s going to take time, but I think we’ll get there one day, I really do. Even though she did leave me alone with my father, I knew she didn’t like the idea of it, but now I’m starting to understand why, she couldn’t live with a man who was capable of so many evil things. And one day she actually told me that if she didn’t leave when she did, then she would have ended her life, and if it wasn’t for Johnny she really wouldn’t be here now. Something else I need to thank him for. He truly is my hero, in more ways than one.

  We also found out the sex of the baby yesterday, we’re having a little baby boy, and we’re both thrilled about it. Johnny’s just started getting his room together, and if you ask me I’d say he’s gone overboard, there’s all these gadgets and shit I don’t know how to use, or if they’ll get used at all. But I love him all the more for it, he wants the best for our baby, so he’s happy therefore I’m happy.

  But when he suggested we got someone in to help design the baby’s room I looked at him like he was bloody nuts, I mean what’s wrong with getting a pot of paint and a paintbrush to do it myself?

  Well let’s just say, I lost that argument. I even tried using my sexuality to convince him I was ok doing it, even that failed terribly. Well… in a fashion it did. He wouldn’t let me nowhere near the brush, paint or a ladder. He said the fumes of the paint weren’t good for the baby. I laughed but let him have his way. I just watched and barked my orders at the poor woman he hired to get everything done. I’m pretty sure she regretted taking us on as clients at one point. Anyone would think the baby is due any time now, I’ve got another four months to go yet. This baby will have more clothes than me by the time he’s born.

  We haven’t told any of the others that we’re having a boy yet, we’re having them all over for a Syren family dinner. It will be the first time we’ve all been together since Johnny and Max have been discharged from the hospital.

  Folding and putting away what feels like the hundredth baby grow, I stare at the blue wall in front of me and thank my lucky stars that I have the life I have.

  I knew when I was a kid that Johnny was special, I just didn’t realise how special he would become to me.

  And like he knows I’m thinking about him, I feel him slip his arms around my waist from behind me, resting them over my bump, as he kisses my neck.

  “Penny for your thoughts, Princess.” He murmurs against my heated skin.

  Resting my head on his shoulder I sigh in contentment before answering him.

  “I was just thinking how lucky I am, I mean we’ve not had the easiest of starts to our relationship have we? But we got through it, we’re still together and now we’re going to be a family.” The whole time I’m talking he nibbles my ear and fondles my ever-growing boobs.

  Typical Johnny.

  “Do you know what I’m grateful for princess?”

  I look up at him from under my lashes, giving him a ‘keep talking’ look.

  “I’m grateful for Allie and Connor, because if it wasn’t for him and his dick I wouldn’t have you back in my life. I was always too scared to come looking for you, but the day I saw you at the airport when I picked you up I knew I wasn’t ever going to let you go again. I walked away from you once, I damn sure wasn’t going to let you go again no matter what it cost me.”

  Happy tears leak from my eyes at his declaration.

  Instead of responding to his words with my own, I lead him to our bedroom and show him just how much I love him.

  “Princess, wake up. Everyone will be here soon.”

  Rolling over onto my back, I open my eyes and see Johnny freshly shaved and showered sitting on the bed beside me. After I finished showering him in my love, I passed out with exhaustion.

  “Shit! What time is it?” I start to sit up, pulling the duvet away from my naked body when Johnny places a hand on my shoulder stopping me.

  “It’s just gone four, you’re ok yet. I just didn’t want you running around like a crazy person ten minutes before they started arriving.”

  Breathing out a sigh of relief, I collapse back on the pillows behind me.

  “You scared the ever-living shit out of me then, you plonker.” I say playfully.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” When he gives me the puppy dog eyes, I can’t help but laugh at him.

  “Your forgiven, now let me up I need to get ready, with the size your child is growing at, it’s going to take me forever to make myself look half decent.”

  Standing from the bed, he places his hands on the pillow either side of my head before brushing his lips against mine and saying.

  “You could wear a garbage bag and still look sexy Princess, now get your fine arse out of bed.” I’ve started panting like a rabid dog, I’ve not long had him between my legs and I want him again already.

  Bloody pregnancy hormones.

  Leaving me in my state of want, he swaggers out of the room knowing full well what he’s done to me.

  Arsehole, a beautiful one at that.

  Two hours later, I’ve showered, somehow managed to shave my legs and lady bits, put makeup on and got myself dressed in a gorgeous red cashmere wrap dress that Allie got me when she went on a shopping splurge with Johnny’s money.

  Pairing it with the most fabulous pair of Valentino ballet flats I’ve ever laid my eyes on, they’re also red with a nude T-bar and trim that have gold studs embedded along the edge.

  Feeling somewhat comfortable for the first time in ages, I leave the bedroom once I’m ready and head out to the main living area.

  Even though I know Johnny’s alive and well, it still kills me to go in that part of the apartment knowing I could’ve lost him for good that day. Each day gets better, it’s just going to take me some time, and I’ve told myself that if I make happy memories in the apartment that they will outweigh all the bad memories. So far, my theory is working.

  When I reach the open plan living room I catch a glimpse at Johnny, he’s in his head I can tell from the tightness in his shoulders, something is bothering him.

  “Johnny, are you ok?” I ask making my way to him, slowly as I don’t want to startle him. He spins around on the spot and is now facing me. His eyes go wide, and he coughs to clear his throat.

  “Erm… wow, you look amazing, beautif
ul in fact. What have I done to deserve you in my life?” He asks as he wraps me up in his arms, getting me as close as he possibly can.

  “Thank you, you scrub up well too.” I laugh, which makes him smirk to. “Are you ok? You don’t quite look yourself.” I ask him again, clearly, he didn’t hear me the first time.

  “What? Yeah, I’m fine, I was thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life, like I’ve just said.”

  “You deserve me because you’re a kind and generous man and I love you with all my heart.” I tell him truthfully.

  “Good, because I love you too, you and our baby are my world and I’d do anything for you, your mine Princess. Always have been, always will be.” I grab his face and crash my lips to his, I pour all my emotions in to it, letting him know just how much he means to me, but we get interrupted as our little boy decides to kick me full pelt in my ribs.

  “Ouch, ok, ok. We know your there, little one, and when you arrive we’ll love you just as much.” I say as I rub my side.

  “I swear this baby is going to be the biggest cock blocker ever.” He says laughing, which makes me burst out laughing as well.

  “Trust you to lower the tone.”

  “What, it seems every time I touch you, he stops me.” I know he’s only messing, his face tells me just as much. I do find it funny though. And just before I tell him that nothing would ever stop me from loving him, there’s a knock on the door followed by the bell ringing.

  “Looks like the baby isn’t the only thing that’s stopping you.” I say laughing as I walk away from him, and as I do he slaps my arse.

  “Sarcasm doesn't suit you Princess.”

  “Ouch.” I say rubbing where his hands just slapped my backside. I look back at him just before I go to open the door and I laugh to myself as I see him adjusting his trousers around his groin area. It’s good to know I still affect him as much as he does me.