Ashton's lips flutter slightly making me inhale sharply. Oh thank God. He’s not dead, but his body is limp, lifeless and there is blood dripping from him. I have never seen so much blood.
I nervously walk over to where Calvin carefully rests Ashton’s body. On the side of the road. It doesn’t seem right. What the fuck have them bastards done.
I watch on as Calvin removes his jumper so he can put pressure on the masses of bleeding from Ashton’s wound. I also take my coat off in a hurry to lay it over Ashton.
"Phone an ambulance Olivia, now!" Calvin barks at me but I’m rooted to the spot. I'm staring at Ashton. My hands and body are quivering. "Is he Okay?"
"What the fuck do you think?" Calvin snarls at me again. I’m stood in total shock. I can’t register what’s going on. My mind has gone blank. Why couldn’t they have got me instead, not Ashton, not Calvin’s brother.
Calvin turns all his attention to Ashton trying to talk him, trying to keep him from slipping unconscious.
"Ashton, listen to me, you’re going to be Okay. I’m going to get you help. You know you can’t leave me, we’re the Blake brothers remember. There’s got to be two. It don’t work with one. Don’t leave me brother, stay with me. Keep looking at me." Calvin’s voice breaks as he hovers over Ashton’s body, protecting him, trying desperately to keep him awake. They’re both in physical pain. Calvin's pale face suddenly darts to me, he throws his hand up the air yelling. "Olivia, the fucking ambulance."
I jump to attention. Fuck! The ambulance. I’m shaken up so much my heads all over the place. I run to the car trying to search for my cell. I grab it and get back to where they lay. My fingers tremble as I dial 911 but my eyes are fixed on Ashton. His dilated pupils turn to me. He tries desperately to clear his throat, finding it hard to breath but it’s like he wants to speak. Calvin tells Ashton not to speak, but to keep his energy until the ambulance arrives. But Ashton continues to try his best to speak ignoring Calvin’s pleas. I walk over to him closer and kneel down to face him so I can hear what he’s trying to say.
"Olivia. Promise me..." He breaths but can’t finish off his sentence. I nod drastically promising him anything, while I close my eyes absorbing the pain.
Calvin shakes his head at Ashton beside himself. "She don’t need to promise you she’ll look after me because you will Ashton like you always have. You’re my big brother, you’re not going anywhere." The rarity of watching Calvin shed tears wounds me. They stroll down his face, his voice failing him as Ashton’s eyes close slowly, confirming his passing.
Calvin’s harrowing screams fill my ears. He screams over and over again braking down, clutching to Ashton. I get up from the ground staggering away from the scene clutching at my chest.
His brother is dead. He’s been killed.
God no! Not Ashton!
I turn away crying until my heart hurts, clutching at my chest. Calvin crying from behind me is agonizing.
The person who brought him up, that’s been there with him every step of the way, every step of their unfortunate lives together has been killed. He’s been taken from Calvin by the very same people that done this to his parents. And for what? For trying to get revenge for their parents? For protecting me? The guilt is too much on my behalf. I move away from the scene backing up against the car. There I become violently sick again and again until there’s nothing left. My legs give way as I fall to the ground crying uncontrollably. This can’t be. Please don’t let it be.
Chapter Twenty Seven*
After what seems hours but only minutes, I sit slumped on the floor watching Calvin place his blood saturated jumper over Ashton face and slowly walks around the car away from Ashton’s lifeless body. He’s shirtless, his hands blooded, his face pale and his eyes red raw.
I look down into my lap, away from his hardened gaze as he approaches me. I can’t look him in the eyes. This is my fault he’s dead. All my fault and that complete and utter waste of a human being that is Mauricio.
He snatches my cell out of my grasp and calls 911. All I hear is Calvin arguing with the operator on the line telling them were we are, yelling that his brother has been killed.
When he’s done he walks back over to me.
"Olivia, look at me." Calvin commands calmly. I shake my head continuing to cry silently, not looking up from my lap. I can’t look at him, not after this.
"LOOK at me!" Calvin shouts the demand this time. I clench my eyes shut before looking up at him. He stares hard and vacant into my eyes. I watch his jaw tightening. I stand unsteadily on my feet feeling inclined to. I have a sickening feeling that he blames me for this. The cold way he’s glaring at me, like he wants to kill. I don’t blame him though, I would blame me. I can’t imagine how Calvin is feeling right now. But I can’t lose him now. Not Calvin. Not again.
"Calvin, please, don’t hate me." I whimper shakily entwining my fingers into his limp ones. He allows his fingers to flop out of my reach leaving me devastated.
"Hate you," he snarls, looking down on me. “Why would I hate you? Why the fuck would I be thinking about you when my brother is dead!" he screams inches away from my face. I sob loudly looking down to the floor. "I’m sorry Calvin, I’m so sorry. I wish they took my instead." Calvin turns away from me clenching his fists. He walks up to his car and starts punching the side of the doors, denting it slightly as he does. He’s like a mad man. He curses and shouts to high heaven trying to vent all his anger out. I watch him wrapping my arms around myself and wince at every blow the car receives from him. Eventually his knuckles start to bleed.
The man I love has lost his brother in the cruelest way imaginable. What do I expect him to do? He’s going to act like this. I know he will act cold towards me, he has every right to but I wish he didn’t.
I go to him, trying to take him away from the car grabbing at his hands.
"Calvin please, stop, it won’t help."
"Get off me." He roars in rage pushing me away from him with force. It’s so unexpected I stumble a few steps backwards trying to regain balance to stop myself from falling from the impact of the push. I stare back at him shocked like a dear in headlights. Calvin’s dark eyes widen to the realization of what he’s just done. He would never harm me, and this wasn’t harming me, but Calvin sees it as it is and he instantly regrets it. But I can’t be mad at him.
"Olivia I… I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry". He marches out to me and takes me into his arms. I hug him as tight as I can as he pulls me into him like he’s not ever going to let go.
"No. I’m sorry Calvin. Ashton’s dead because of me. If we didn’t run, if they didn’t have a reason to chase us, this wouldn’t have happened."
He holds me tightly while I cry. He soothes me, trying to console me but I’m not the one that needs to be consoled.
He breaks contact suddenly as we hear the ambulance sirens, he quickly kisses me on my forehead and runs over to Ashton’s body. I turn away not being able to look at Ashton. I feel sick to my stomach that his body has to lie on the cold hard ground until someone comes. It also has just dawned on me that there have been a few cars passing by and none have stopped to help. Why sometimes, are people so ignorant to the rest of the world? But then again I don’t think they could help either way, they can’t bring Ashton back to life. No one can.
The ambulance arrives accompanied by two police cars.
"PC Chummily and DC Fray." The officers introduce themselves coming out from the first car, as the paramedics inspect and tend to Ashton’s body respectfully. They also gift myself and Calvin with blankets. Calvin is shirtless but he throws his while I place mine around myself.
I watch on teary eyed as they put Ashton’s body into a body bag and tell Calvin that they have to call a coroners car for his body to be taken but Calvin goes into a rage. Not wanting Ashton’s body lying there until another car arrives.
"You knew my brother was dead. I fucking told you. Why didn’t you bring him with you? Like fuck are you leaving his body on the co
ld floor, get him up!" He argues and curses until they do what he’s demanding. Calvin looks on stern and hurting.
The scene is harrowing and heart-breaking. I’m in a state of shock. I can’t fully register what’s going on. It all happened so fast.
I try to be as helpful as I can with the cops, but I notice Calvin’s character is totally different around police. It’s no secret he despises the police, but we need to give them answers and get these men behind bars once and for all.
"He got shot god damn it. Why do we have to tell you again and again! He’s dead! By scum you will never find because you choose not too and they’ll get away with it just like they always fucking do. Well, not anymore, not if I got anything to do with it." I try to calm Calvin down before he says something he’ll regret. I know if we give the police everything they need I’m sure they’ll find them.
PC Chummily a tall dark haired middle aged man looks on compassionately but DC Fray a small hard faced blond women, not in uniform, looks at Calvin suspiciously and calculating with her notepad in hand. She then turns to me so I can finish the information I’m giving them.
"We were followed. Calvin tried his best to lose them but they caught up and tried to force us off the road. When then didn’t succeed they shot at Ashton through the side window." I inhale deeply, needing strength to give the detectives the descriptive answers to what they want to know. Calvin continues to be difficult and doesn’t take the slight bit of interest in the cops. He wants to be, quite rightly, by Ashton’s side.
I’ve already tried to help out the paramedics who needed to know what happened and every time I say it, I can’t believe the words I’m saying.
"Do you know who these people are?" Chummily asks while Fray jots things down. Calvin looks on and laughs sarcastically. "Yes and I’m sure you do too, they work for Mauricio Fahoney.” Both cops looks up in acknowledgment. “Yeah, you know him? By the look on your faces you do. He’s the mother fucker who should have died a long time ago, but his days coming." Calvin doesn’t stand still. He’s impatient, cracking his knuckles, walking back and forth on the spot.
"He’s married to my mum." I explain with great guilt.
Chummily frowns not quite understanding all of this. That makes two of us.
"And he’s trying to kill you?" he asks in puzzlement. Calvin butts in again trying his best to stop them doing their job.
"Is this going anywhere?" Calvin doesn’t tone his voice down. Fray raises her eyebrow warning him. "Do we need to take you down the station sir?" Calvin shakes his head in amazement. Then Holds his wrists up for them to cuff him. "Go ahead, take me, because I’m already in hell!"
I walk over to him pushing him away from the police. "Calvin, please try to calm down they just want to help."
"And they’re asking us all these questions for what? Go get the bastards that did this and let me fucking grieve! My brother has just been murdered and they want a fucking novel." He yells so that they can hear him clearly.
"I think we’ll come see you both tomorrow once things have calmed down." Chummily then turns to me with empathy in his eyes. "You wanna ride to the hospital miss? Both of you won’t be allowed in the ambulance and your car needs to be towed, obviously."
I nod, thanking him.
Calvin jumps into the ambulance without saying a word.
I sit in the back of the racing police car leading the way with the ambulance right behind. I stare out of the window feeling numb, cold and empty. I can’t imagine how Calvin is feeling. Mauricio has already taken another part of Calvin’s world away. How could Mauricio do this! How could he!
If he’s doing this to us? What the hell is he doing to my mom? God, I need to get to her and fast but I can’t leave Calvin in this state. I won’t. He needs me right now. And I want to be there for him, just like he’s been there for me.
As soon as I get to the hospital I will call Elise. She needs to know what’s happened.
Chapter Twenty Eight*
"You killed the boy and drove off without doing the other two? You left witnesses behind? You fucking idiot." Fahoney was steaming mad. He had gathered a small meeting in an empty warehouse in Chicago with Leroy and Russell. The warehouse was dark and smelt of damp. There were empty crates scattered around and flickering dim lights.
Russell stood forward in his black suit and tried to explain himself. "I tried to shoot again Fahoney, but Leroy drove off, what was I supposed to do." He shrugged. Leroy shuffled from side to side, sniffed up bravery and held his head high.
"Oh he did, did he?" Fahoney walked over to Leroy and stopped in front of him. He pulled his arm back and then punched him full force in his face, causing his eye to split. Then he punched him again not satisfied with the first. Leroy’s head was forced to the side from the impact of the blow, but he quickly straightened himself up and spat out the remainder of the blood from his mouth.
"I didn’t leave witnesses behind Fahoney, I left your daughter behind, your fucking daughter."
Fahoney glared at Leroy bewildered, blinking a few times not quite believing what he had just declared. If anyone could have talked to Fahoney like that it was Leroy. Fahoney’s best man, but he wasn’t in the forgiving kind of mood that day.
"Oh, so you care about Olivia now? Is that it?"
"No Fahoney, but you do. She’s your step daughter for fuck sake, you can’t do that. Think of your family, your wife. I’m telling you this as a fucking friend."
Fahoney yelled until he was blue in the face making his voice echo around the warehouse.
"I told you I don’t give a fuck for her no more. She chose her path and I’m choosing mine. What is it with you? You feel sorry for her? Suddenly you’re a family man now?" He mocked getting in Leroys face.
Leroy stayed calm trying to make Fahoney think rationally. Leroy would never question Fahoney’s intentions. But he knew how much Fahoney loved his family. He wasn’t thinking straight.
“I’ve known her since she was a little girl Fahoney. I couldn’t do it."
Fahoney turned his back and pushed his hands through his hair deliberating. He tapped his foot restlessly until stiffening. "Then you’ve chose your path Leroy." Fahoney pulled out a gun from his suit jacket and turned. He held it up and pointed it in Leroy’s direction.
Leroy didn’t flinch. He was half expecting it. Even though Leroy was by all accounts an evil man, he had some family morals and couldn’t bring himself to kill Olivia. If he had to be killed for standing up for what he believed in, then so be it.
“Such a damn shame Leroy,” he goaded. “You were valuable to me. You men are all turning fucking soft.” Fahoney then pulled the trigger without hesitation and shot Leroy straight between the eyes killing him instantly.
"Now get rid of the garbage." He spat on Leroy’s body after ordering Russell to get rid of him.
Russell looked down onto Leroy’s body. Even though he stayed impassive he couldn’t believe what Fahoney has just done.
"Leroy was one of your best man Fahoney. What’s got into you?" he stuttered.
Fahoney gripped Russell at the neck. "Are you questioning me?"
Russell closed his mouth remembering who he was speaking to. He shook his head knowing too well of the consequences if he opened his mouth again.
"I’ll put the garbage out." Russell agreed. Fahoney nodded releasing him, as his mouth curved into a callous smirk.
"Now, I gota go take care of something. You know what they say, you want something done you gota do it yaself!" Fahoney murmured to himself as he pulled out his cell phone from his suit pocket.
Chapter Twenty Nine*
I sit in the family waiting room at the hospital. Ashton is the mortuary section being examined. It’s warm, but feels so cold at the same time. It’s clean, basic and sterile. The rooms are white and brown with very bright lighting and fake plants in every corner, there is only one small window in the room making it feel a little confined.
I sit on one of brown leather sofas that�
�s provided and stare at the cold painted walls blankly, listening to the ticking of the wall clock, biting my nails. There is a TV in the room which is switched off and a table full of magazines that look about ten years old.
Calvin hasn’t said a word since we’ve arrived. He does the same pattern. He paces back and forth, then stops to look out of the window at the rain, then repeats. He looks a broken man.
A kind man that works here provided him with plain white t-shirt, seeing as his was used to put pressure on Ashton’s wound. They wouldn’t allow him to walk around shirtless but I suspect he couldn’t give a shit if he was shirtless or not at this moment. His unshaven features and red eyes age him. He looks drawn washed out and heartbroken. My own heart breaks for him seeing him like this. Ashton was everything to him. I can’t even begin to think how Calvin’s grandparents are going to take the news. It will leave them completely devastated.
I keep going around in my mind with questions of how they could do this to him. Why couldn’t they just leave us alone?
I didn’t even realize where we were until we’d arrived here. We are still in Michigan but we seem so far away from everything. I’ve had too much on my mind to even care where we were. I just wanted to be away from Mauricio. Now I’m thinking; why didn’t I just stay. If Calvin didn’t take me away none of this would have happened. If I stayed at home this wouldn’t have happened. Why did I go to see Calvin that day? I should have stayed at home and continued to play the perfect little step daughter then Ashton would still be alive.
I will be forever in his debt. I owe him that, I owe his brother that.
"Mr. Blake, would you like to take a seat?" We both look up to Doctor Jessop. A small very pretty African American lady with braided hair, as she walks into the room. Dr Jessop has been nothing but courteous and helpful since we’ve arrived here.
Confessions and Olivia (Olivia #2) Page 29
