by Ann, Bry
All my face muscles tighten and immediately my eyes well up. Damn it! My body’s too trained to show him everything in me, but right now I have to keep him safe.
“Hey, Danny.” I force my voice to be bright as I pretend to shuffle through papers.
“Why don’t you try that again looking at me, G?”
Damn it, he knows me too well!
I feel his large presence behind me. Although it doesn’t feel so big after having Seven’s arms around me. I swallow down the lump in my throat. Taking a deep breath, I turn.
Pleaseeee, be cool about this, Danny. Pleaseee.
… But he’s not. And I mean, come on. I knew he wouldn’t be. I know him better than that.
He gasps. “No.”
Without giving me a moment to take him in or revel in the comfort of my best friend, he has my arm in a tight hold—apparently everyone thinks they can manhandle me lately—and is dragging me across the floor, muttering to himself.
“That fucking son of a bitch. I can’t believe I let him freak me out. I swear to God—”
“Danny,” I whisper.
He stops, lightly tugs me into a patient room, and shuts the door. When he turns back to me, he’s lost his anger, or forced it away for me as always, ‘cause he’s smiling a little.
“Hey, bug.”
Bug. That’s what I need right now. Just my friend.
I launch at him at full speed, wrapping him up so tightly you’d think I was trying to squeeze him to death.
“I know, G. I know. I shouldn’t have left your side for one single minute in all this. I thought… well, I thought that you not flipping your lid over my safety was best for you with all the stress you are under, but now… you look like shit, Isla.”
“What is it with you men saying that? You can’t just say that!”
He grins. “Still the prettiest woman I know.”
“I’m the only woman you know,” I mutter.
“So, by default, the prettiest.”
I can’t help the giggle that escapes. God, I missed him. It’s literally been one evening, but an eventful one. One where I needed him, and for the first time in my life, he wasn’t there.
“I hate you, Danny boy.”
He smiles, but it falters.
“Seriously, what happened to you, bug? Did that man…? Tell me he didn’t…” Danny winces.
“No, he didn’t-he didn’t hurt me.”
Well… that’s a stretch. But I can’t tell him the truth without him flipping out and I still don’t know what hurts worse: my head or my heart. How can he just get rid of me after our talk yesterday? Am I being naive and stupid? Is my lack of normal relationships showing?
“Isla, something happened. You look sick. You look miserable.”
I am miserable.
“My cut may be a little… infected.” I grimace. He’s gonna…
“What?” Danny shrieks.
He grabs my hips and hauls me up onto the patient table.
“Lift up your shirt right now.”
“Ooh-la-la.”
He gives me a flat stare, clearly unamused.
“I’m not laughing, Isla.”
“Sorry,” I murmur, lifting the top of my scrubs up and looping the bottom of my shirt through the top so he can get easy access to the infected area. I’m not shy in front of Danny. One, he’s seen me naked as the day as I was born before. Two, well, he has zero interest whatsoever in my body, other than if it’s bruised, bleeding, sick, or injured. So, this is really not a big deal.
“When were the dressings changed?” he asks, feeling his way around the area.
“Last night. Seven had a doctor brought in.”
Danny scowls at my tummy, but I appreciate the effort not to show his outright disdain for Seven right in front of me.
“Good to hear,” he mutters. “I’m gonna change these so I can take a look.”
He flips through cabinets, slamming each one as he brings out an array of supplies.
“I have a patient in ten minutes, Danny.”
“I’ll go cancel that for you.”
“No, Danny, wait—” … and he’s already in the hall.
This is the only thing about Danny that annoys me. If he thinks I’m in trouble, or not making smart choices, he takes on a big brother role and ignores my very capable voice. I’ve earned the right to be heard, so it pisses me off when he doesn’t listen.
When he comes back in the room, I can see he’s fighting with himself. His eyes are flickering and his hands twitching. I let him be. I let him gather the supplies without pestering him.
Dutifully, he gets to work unwrapping the bandage. He goes so slowly ‘cause he doesn’t want to hurt me.
I place my hand over his.
“You’re not gonna hurt me. I’m fine.”
“Alright.”
He picks up the pace a bit, unwrapping the gauze one layer at a time.
“I didn’t want to tell you this, Isla,” Danny whispers, staring a little too hard at my stomach, “but… we’re best friends. Brother and sister. I know you’re lying to me about things…”
When my lip trembles, he squeezes my hand.
“I don’t blame ya, bug. But I just don’t want to start that between us. Especially now. You’re the only one I fully trust and I assume it’s the same for you.”
I nod enthusiastically. “I just don’t want anyone to hurt you. I love you.”
“I love you, too, G. I love you, too. Now, for the shitty news.” He looks at me a moment. “Brace yourself.”
“Oh God.”
“Yeah. Trevor came to see me last night. Frank answered the door.”
Trevor is Danny’s racist, sexist, homophobic, asshat, douchebag, scumbag, bastard of a father. Is that enough for you? I hate him. I hate him!
I scowl.
“What the hell did he want?” I growl. Losing some of my anger, I gasp. “Aww, is Frank, okay?”
“Frank’s fine. A little surprised,” Danny mutters. “Every gay boy thinks they relate to my tale of the unaccepting father, but they don’t have Trevor,” he mutters. “So yeah, even though I’d warned Frank about my father, that if we ever had the displeasure of running into him somewhere, he’s a monster, seeing him in person is a whole different ball game.”
Yeah, ya think? Trevor cussed me out and called me a “lowlife whore” for hanging out with his… I can’t even say the words he used to describe Danny. It was too awful, what he referred to Danny as. I’ll let you imagine it.
“What did he want? He hasn’t seen you in, what, ten years now? How did he even find out where you live, the miserable old bastard?”
Danny smirks faintly. He likes when I insult his father with curse words. It brings him joy, so I’m sure to do it every time he comes up.
“Isla…” Danny takes my hand and squeezes. I can’t squeeze his back. My body is still feeling really bad. “Trevor knew you were wrapped up in something. He was there to ‘recommend’ I stay away. He said a few other things about you, but I’d really, really prefer not to repeat them.”
I want to ask, but Danny’s ocean blue eyes are pleading so hard that I resist the urge.
“You don’t have to.”
“Thanks, G. So yeah, Trevor knows. Meaning that these people you’re running from, Isla, they’re close. Should we run, get a hotel, live off the grid for a bit? Do you trust these men you’re staying with, Isla, even though they’re also clearly sketchy? I trust you with my life, Isla Grace. What do you want to do here? I don’t even know what’s going on, to be honest, but my gut says it’s bad.”
“I don’t know, Danny. I’m— I’m scared.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you, bug. Promise.”
He lightly bops my chin and goes back to work on my cut. When the last of the gauze is pulled from my body, Danny’s eyes widen.
“Isla! Why aren’t you at the hospital? This is… this is bad, Isla. Jesus Christ. You’re not a martyr! I’m taking you to the ER.�
�
“No, Danny!”
“Yes!”
“Listen to me, for once in your life! Does anybody care what I want?” I scream at the top of my lungs. “No! No one cares! What good is the safety of my body if I’m not happy! Huh? What good, Dan?”
My chest is heaving by the time I’m done. I’m so mad I could punch someone. This isn’t just about Danny. It’s about Seven, too. How dare he open up to me and boot me out of his life like some bad decision?! How dare he do that?!
Danny looks a little flustered.
“Isla, I never meant to make you feel not heard,” he whispers.
“Well, you failed. ‘Cause I feel very strongly like my opinion doesn’t matter. I’m a Goddamn doctor. If I thought I was gonna die of septicemia, my ass would have been in the ER yesterday. Should I have been there? Yes. For sure. But there are extenuating circumstances and I feel the pros of staying away outweigh the cons. My body, my choice.”
Danny’s quiet for a while, thinking that over.
“I’m sorry, Isla. I worry about you. That’s all. I swear. You’re so smart. So much smarter than me. I just worry. I can lose everyone in the world, but I can’t lose you. Your friendship means the world to me. You’re my family.”
Aww, softie.
“Come here and give me a hug, you controlling butthead.”
He hugs me, keeping a safe distance from my stomach.
“Alright, I’ll get this clean. Ew, by the way, it’s disgusting.” I smile at his attempt at lightheartedness. “Then I’ll redress it. You can look at the medication side of things. Just… promise that if you need to go to the ER, you will.”
“I swear on my life.”
He locks pinkies with me and gets to work.
Chapter Sixteen
Isla
The last ten minutes of work are awful. I’m in so much pain. My head. My body. I’m weak and tired. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this bad. Not to mention, Danny keeps looking at me with puppy dog eyes and gesturing with his hands like, “Whatcha wanna do? Run or trust these other mafia men to keep us safe?”
I don’t know. I don’t know!
I want Seven to hold me again and tell me he’ll protect me. That’s what I want.
I’m gathering the last of my papers when a shadow comes up behind me.
“Danny, I…” The words get lodged in my throat when I find myself face to face with Seven’s boss. The head mafia boss. I know I’m just staring at him with wide eyes, mouth agape.
“How— how did you get back here?”
“Relax. I’ve told you I’m not gonna hurt you.”
His eyes flicker down to my neck briefly. It was a subtle attempt, but since I’m already self-conscious about it and have been checking my makeup every twenty minutes so no one else will see my bruises and flip even more than everyone already has, I catch it.
Oh my God, did Seven tell him? Where’s Seven? Panic rises in my throat. I know nothing about the mafia. Could he be… oh my God, did he… is he dead? Did he die ‘cause of this? Oh my God. Oh… no.
I don’t realize I am on the verge of a full panic attack until a voice like honey starts ringing through my head like an expert psychologist.
“I need you to breathe for me. I’m not gonna stop talking until you do. One, two… what number is next, Isla?”
Is that the mob boss being so patient and good at this?
I’m gonna die.
“I need an ice pack,” he barks out like our doctors and nurses are just more of his soldiers. Of course, someone listens and no one questions his presence.
What the hell?
Ice is placed in my hands.
“Feel it between your fingers and tell me what’s after two.”
I open my mouth to speak, ‘cause the ice is helping, when Danny comes running in.
“Who the hell are you?” he demands.
“A friend,” the boss offers casually. “You must be Danny.”
Danny yanks me into his side.
“Stay away from her. You’ve done enough. Until Isla decides she wants whoever the hell y’all are to help, shoo.”
Oh God, he did not just tell the mafia boss to shoo. That did not just happen.
I peek up at the boss through my hair. He looks amused.
“Can’t say I’ve ever been told to shoo before. Isla,” he says as he turns to me, “is that what you want? For me to shoo?”
He’s so damn powerful. No book could have prepared me to be in the presence of a real-life mafia boss. He’s human, but like, not.
“I-I don’t know.”
“Let’s talk. Then you can decide.”
“I’m coming,” Danny demands.
“I thought Seven talked to you. For your safety, you stay with the men I have generously guarding your life. You won’t help things being by Isla’s side 24/7. That just makes you a target.”
“Fuck this! Your men suck, then.”
The boss narrows his eyes.
“Explain.”
“Include me in the talk, then I will.”
DANNY. Oh my God!
“Fine,” the boss clips. “Outside when your shift ends.”
Seven’s distinct presence suddenly feels alarmingly absent, which brings me right back around to my panic attack. As the boss turns to leave, to wait outside for us, I leap forward and grab his sleeve. He turns, cocking an eyebrow at the hold I have on him. I quickly release him, fidgeting.
“Sorry,” I mumble. “I… Where’s Seven?”
He’s okay. Please say he’s okay. Oh my gosh, he has to be okay.
“It’s a long story. Working, for lack of a better word.”
“Oh, thank god.” I slump back so far that I nearly slip, and I would have if it weren’t for the desk behind me.
Boss tilts his head. “Did you think something happened to him?”
I fidget more. “I— well, I saw you look at my neck,” I blurt.
“Ah, you thought I eliminated him for choking you.”
“Maybe. I don’t know how your world works.”
My voice is high and whiny even to my own ears.
“Choking you?!” Danny screeches. Shit.
“Welp, I’ll let you handle that,” the boss says, smirking at me. “See you outside.”
With that, he leaves me with my fuming best friend. I wince, afraid to turn around.
“He choked you, Isla?!”
“I can explain. I swear it’s not what it sounds like.”
I turn to him, flashing my earnest hazel eyes.
“I’m giving you the floor, then,” he grumbles. “Explain away. Can’t say I won’t still try to beat his ass, though.”
I like how he said try.
He can’t beat Seven. If Seven was invested, no one could beat Seven. I really believe that and that’s the problem.
* * *
Seven
Somehow, Boss got Isla to come back to the mansion for a few hours while we work out the security situation for not only Isla but Danny and his boyfriend as well. Danny’s father showed up at his house, throwing threats about staying away from Isla or his life would be on the line. Danny also got Boss alone to say that his father made a lot of sexual threats toward Isla and we couldn’t let anyone we didn’t know near her.
Apparently, Danny and Isla considered running, but Isla decided against it. So, she’s here. With all the kids. And Nia. Probably mostly with Nia. Nia opens like a flower around her. I opened some of Nia’s heart, but Isla brings out the little girl in her. It worries me for when she leaves.
I glance over at Frances, Boss, and the sixteen other soldiers in here. The reason for our meeting is mainly the safety of Isla and her friends, but we also got Ben. Yep. Dagger, he’s called. He’ll die by my hand, but Boss wants it to be strategic. As much as I want to go downstairs and make the asshole suffer, I have to wait. My sword tingles next to me, desperate to be used.
Yeah, a sword is my weapon of choice. Not only to scare people off easy, but it’s t
he weapon that was used to kill one of my brothers in the war camp. I watched it plunge through his heart and I’ve used it ever since.
Forty-five minutes into the meeting and my body needs to go kill. Has to. I need blood to distract me from Isla. How much I miss her. How bad I feel for all this. Just… her. She’s weaved her way in and I can’t get her out without taking a chunk of my humanity with her.
I stare at the clock. There’s gotta be only ten minutes left. Come on. Come. On.
I fight the urge to tap my feet. It pisses Boss off, so I don’t do it. I’m resisting hard when—aaaaaah!—a hoarse, high-pitched scream snaps all of us to attention. We all push to our feet and reach for our weapons. We turn to the doorway, where we’re met with only 3’9 of human. Soft, dark skin and terror-filled eyes.
Nia.
I run forward and shove the door open.
“Nia!”
Her demons are dancing in her eyes the same way mine do. Her mouth opens, but this time, silence doesn’t follow. She meets my eyes. Hers are full of horror.
“Help.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nia
Hear me. Daddy, hear me!!!
My little hands push harder on the door, trying to open it, trying to make sounds with my knuckles. I knock until they start to turn colors.
Dad. Help. Help. Help.
I see them through the glass, but they don’t see me. Dad looks sad. He won’t see me when he’s like that. I have to get his attention.
I’m shaking so bad.
I take a deep breath and open my mouth, immediately closing it. I can’t.
What if my voice doesn’t work anymore and they never hear me?
No. No, I can’t wait for the big men to finish talking.
For her. I have to do this for her. The first person to call me princess. I believed in princesses once. And princes. And fairytales.
But this little princess realized people only want your words to do bad things.
Old Daddy wanted my words so he could hurt Mommy.
Mommy wanted my words to hurt Old Daddy.
Old Daddy’s friends wanted my words so they could get Old Daddy to give them their money back. He never did. Old Daddy never paid his money and they always hurt me for it.
