“Every good meal ends with dessert.”
“Grilled cheese, fries and tomato soup. Mmmm.”
“Comfort food.”
Faith looked up at Cliff. He was so sweet and now she wanted to cry.
Cliff noticed the expression change on Faith’s face. “Faith, are you alright?” Cliff walked closer.
“You just reminded me of Ryan for a minute. He used to bring Alex and I ice cream and pizza when we were upset.”
“I can go and grab a pizza and some ice cream if it will help?”
“No, this is perfect. Thank you.” Faith hugged Cliff.
When she looked up Cliff kissed her and Faith allowed him. She knew he wasn’t Ryan but he could help her from feeling so alone.
Three days later…
FAITH AND ALEX CHECKED in at the gym. Faith saw Cliff working out across the way. “Alex, I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“I want to go say hello to Cliff before I get too sweaty.” Faith took off and was half way across the gym before Alex had a chance to reply.
Cliff put down his weights when he saw Faith heading toward him. “Good morning.”
Faith leaned up and kissed him on his lips. “Good morning.”
“Are you coming or going?”
“I just got here a few minutes ago.”
“Could I interest you in breakfast in about an hour?”
“I’m with Alex and we usually grab coffee together after.”
“How about dinner?”
“Dinner sounds good.”
“I’ll text you later.” Cliff leaned over and kissed Faith.
Alex watched from across the gym and her heart sunk. All she could think about was Ryan and how devastated he would be if he lost Faith.
Faith came bouncing back over to Alex. “Faith, what the hell is going on with you two?”
Faith knew Alex was going to say something but wasn’t expecting her to jump down her throat. “We’ve gotten…close.”
“Close? I’m pretty certain that his tongue was just down your throat.”
“I’m trying to move on.”
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“I don’t know. What difference does it make?”
“I thought that you loved my brother?”
“I do, I did, but he’s gone now.”
“What if he wasn’t?”
Faith looked at Alex almost as if she was willing her to say more but when Alex didn’t say anything else Faith replied. “But he is.”
Alex looked down. She wanted to tell Faith the truth but she promised she wouldn’t, so she remained silent.
Miguel walked into Ryan’s bedroom and found him lying on the floor. He bolted over to him thinking that maybe he had been assaulted. Miguel called out. “Craig, Ronny, come in here.”
Craig ran into the room first. “Was he hit?”
“I don’t know. I found him like this.”
Craig leaned down and helped Miguel lift Ryan up onto the bed. “Last check in he was asleep.”
“What’s up, Miguel?”
“Ronny, ask the doctor to come up.”
“Sure Boss.”
“Craig, did anyone come or go?”
“No, the last visitor was Alex and that was a few days ago.”
“I’m going to hang here and wait for the doctor. You go and review all the surveillance tapes for the last twenty-four hours and make sure that nobody was here.”
“I’m on it.”
The doctor came in and walked over to Ryan. “He’s burning up.”
“Do you think he has an infection?”
“I know that he hasn’t been eating much and he’s been tired the last few days.”
“Then why didn’t you do anything about it?”
“Because I know how depressed he’s been so I just attributed it to that. He didn’t have any pain and until now he hasn’t had a fever.”
“I’m sorry, Doctor.”
“I’m going to draw some blood and start him on antibiotics.”
“You think he passed out from the fever?”
“A hundred and four will do that. I’ll be right back; I need to grab the antibiotics and a syringe.”
The doctor left and Miguel walked over and held Ryan’s hand. “You’ve fought too long and hard to give up now. Fight, Ryan, fight.”
Alex finished dressing and sat down to put on her shoes while she waited for Faith. All she could think about was Faith kissing Cliff. She pulled her backpack from her locker and felt the vibration from her phone. She reached in and saw that Miguel had called her twice and left a text message. She started to panic and quickly dialed his number.
“Hey Baby.”
“What’s wrong? Is it, Ry…”
“Calm down.”
“Did something happen?”
“Alex, calm down and give me a minute to talk.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The doctor…”
“Doctor, oh my God…”
“ALEX! Listen to me. He has a fever. Probably from an infection. The doctor started him on antibiotics.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Where are you?”
“At the gym.”
“Go home and I will have Craig come for you.”
“I’m on my way. I love you.”
“Love you too, Baby.”
Alex hung up the phone and looked up and Faith was staring at her. “Ready to go?”
“Alex, who’s sick?”
Alex pretended she was looking for something in her backpack so that she could look away from Faith. “One of Miguel’s men.”
“Funny, I thought I heard you say Ry.” Faith studied Alex’s face.
“I need to get going, Miguel is waiting for me to meet him.”
“I’m ready.”
“Let’s go.”
Faith followed Alex out of the gym. She didn’t want to push it but she knew that Alex was lying to her but about what? She wasn’t sure…but she was going to find out.
Miguel opened the door and Alex hugged him. “How is he?”
“He still has a fever but…”
“I want to see him.” Alex pulled away and ran up the stairs to Ryan’s room.
Miguel followed her. “Alex, you need to calm down.”
“Calm down? I thought I lost him once, I can’t go through that again.”
Miguel reached the top of the stairs and pulled Alex into his arms. “I know that. He’s asleep and the doctor said rest is the most important thing.”
“I will just sit there quietly.”
“I’ll sit with you.” Miguel followed Alex into Ryan’s room.
Alex leaned down and kissed Ryan on his forehead. “He’s on fire.”
“Baby, he’s going to be ok.”
“What if he isn’t?”
Miguel took Alex’s hand and led her over to a chair and sat her down. Then he knelt next to her. “He will be. You need to give the antibiotics some time to do their job.”
“I almost told Faith today.”
“Alex…”
“I didn’t but…”
“That would just make this all the more dangerous for everyone involved.”
“I know and that’s why I didn’t tell her. I don’t think she believed me when I lied and said that one of your men were sick.”
“Miles and Craig think that all of this will be over very soon and then you can tell her.”
“I just hope it isn’t too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“I saw her kissing Cliff this morning at the gym and when I asked her she said that she’s trying to move on.”
“Shit!”
“It broke my heart seeing her with someone else. Ryan will be devastated if he loses her.”
“I’m sorry, I did what I thought was best. Maybe there was another way.”
“You kept Ryan alive and that’s all that matters right now.”
Miguel kissed
Alex. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Craig was on the phone with Miles when he saw someone on the security camera.
“Miles, I have to go. There’s someone without clearance on the security camera.”
“Keep me posted.”
Craig hung up and alerted the guards that someone had breached the compound. Then he called Miguel.
Miguel answered. “What’s up?”
“We have a breach. Someone without clearance is on the compound.”
“I’ll stay up here with Alex and Ryan.”
“I have the guards out looking. I will update you when we have them in our custody.”
Miguel pulled his gun.
Alex jumped up. “What’s happening?”
“Stay inside this room and away from the windows. There’s someone without clearance…”
“One of the Grimaldi’s people?”
“My men are apprehending them now. Just do what I said. I’m going to be right outside the door.”
Miguel leaned down and kissed Alex. Then he walked out and closed the door behind him. Alex sat back down and started praying.
The door opened and in came three of Miguel’s men dragging a kicking and screaming Faith.
“LET ME GO! I’M GOING TO HAVE YOU ALL ARRESTED. I’M AN ATTORNEY. HOLDING ME AGAINST MY WILL IS ILLEGAL!”
Craig walked over and pulled back Faith’s hood. “Fuck!”
Faith looked. “Craig, tell them to let me go.”
“You can let go of her.”
Faith turned around and kicked one of the guys in the shin. “You, big dick!”
“Faith, what are you doing here?”
Miguel heard screaming and knew right away it was Faith. He ran down the stairs. “Faith.”
Faith turned around. “Miguel, where’s Alex? I know she came here.”
Miguel walked closer to Faith. “How did you get here?”
“I know Alex is lying to me about something.”
“Answer me, how did you get here?”
“When Craig got out of the car to get Alex, I climbed into the trunk.”
“FAITH!”
Miguel and Faith turned around and Alex was standing there. She too heard Faith screaming.
Faith walked around Miguel and over to where Alex was standing. “What’s going on? I want to know. NOW!”
“Faith, I…”
Miguel walked over and wrapped his arm around Alex’s waist. “It’s ok, you can tell her.”
“I’m not sure I even know how…”
“He’s here isn’t he?” Faith started to cry.
Alex nodded.
“Where is he?”
“Faith, I need to explain.”
“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say right now, Alex. I just want to see him.”
“He’s upstairs but…”
Before Alex could finish, Faith raced up the stairs and started opening doors until she opened the one with Ryan inside. She swallowed hard and then her hands started to tremble as she approached his bedside. He was pale, dripping with sweat and had a full beard but she knew it was her Ryan. Faith climbed onto the bed and hugged him. “Ryan, oh Baby, it’s me, Faith. Wake up.”
Alex walked up behind Faith. “He has an infection and a high fever. The doctor said he needs his sleep.”
“I want him to know I’m here.”
“I’m sure he knows. Why don’t you come downstairs and I’ll make you some coffee and we’ll explain?”
“I’m not leaving him.”
Alex stepped back and watched as Faith pushed Ryan’s hair back from his forehead and nuzzled her cheek against his chest. Now if he’d only wake up.
RYAN STARTED MOVING AROUND and Faith woke right up. She leaned up on her arm and looked down and Ryan’s sparkling blue eyes were staring at her.
Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Oh, Baby.”
“I thought I was dreaming. I was afraid to move for fear that I’d wake up and you’d be gone.” Ryan’s voice was crackling and tears were welling up in his eyes.
Faith reached her hand up and placed it on his cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you.” Faith gently kissed Ryan on his lips.
“Marry me.”
Faith pulled back and her eyes opened wide. “Wwwhat?”
“Marry me. I love you, Faith Marie, and I never want to spend a minute without you by my side.”
“Yes.” Faith grabbed Ryan and kissed him.
Miles showed up at the house to tell Miguel his news in person. Craig opened the door and shook his hand. “Miguel will be right down.”
“It’s been a busy twenty-four hours.”
“Yeah, Man.”
“Miles.”
Miles walked over and shook Miguel’s hand. “I have news.”
“Good news, I hope?”
“Jakey and one of his other agency associates, Beck, took down the Grimaldi and the Notelli families.”
Miguel grabbed Miles and hugged him. “Thank God!”
“Hey, Miles!”
Miguel grabbed Alex, picked her up and spun her around. “It’s over.”
“I have to go tell Faith.” Alex kissed Miguel before she darted off to tell Faith.
Ryan pinned Faith against the bed and was grinding against her while they kissed.
Alex came flying through the door and stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh God!”
Ryan pulled away and looked over at Alex. “We’re getting married.”
Alex felt Miguel walk up behind her as she stood there in shock.
“Did you tell them?”
Alex shook her head. “No. I wasn’t expecting to walk in on them…”
“His fever broke and we’re getting married.”
“Congratulations!”
Alex had a bunch of feelings running through her. Faith was kissing someone else yesterday and now today she was marrying Ryan. She knew Faith loved Ryan but how would Ryan feel if he knew she had moved on so quickly?
“Alex, are you alright?”
Alex looked at Ryan. “I’m just so happy that you’re feeling better.”
Miguel leaned in and whispered. “What’s going on?”
“Later.” Alex kissed him on the cheek and then she walked closer to the bed.
Ryan had rolled off of Faith and they were both sitting up in the bed now.
“Miles came over to deliver us some good news.” Miguel smiled.
“It’s over. Miguel’s people and their people took down the Grimaldi family.”
Faith squealed and hugged Ryan. “It’s finally over. We can go home now.”
“You can’t go home just yet.”
Faith frowned. “Why not?”
“I want to make sure all the loose ends are tied up and that there isn’t any form of retaliation from anyone else out there.”
“I’d have to agree with Miguel on that.” Miles walked into Ryan’s room.
“Miles, are you heading out now?”
“Yes, Eden and Cruz are waiting for me.”
“Thank you, Miles, for everything you’ve done for me.”
Miles smiled at Ryan. “I’m just happy it all worked out.”
Miguel turned around to Alex. “I’m going to walk Miles out. I’ll be downstairs.”
“I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Miles and Miguel walked out.
Alex smiled at Ryan. “I’m relieved that you’re doing better. I was so scared.”
“Me too. I’m so happy I feel like it’s Christmas or something.”
“Faith, do you think we could talk before I go?”
“Ok. I’ll come down in a bit.”
Alex nodded before she walked out.
Faith waited for Ryan to fall asleep before she went downstairs to talk to Alex.
“Hey.”
Alex looked up from her book. “Faith, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you…”
“Ryan told me that you just found out and that you were sworn
to secrecy. I guess I just felt hurt that you didn’t feel that you could trust me enough to tell me.”
“It wasn’t about trust. It was about fear. I was so afraid that they’d find Ryan that I…” Alex started to cry.
Faith walked over and hugged her. “I’m sorry too.”
“Oh Faith, I wanted to tell you. It killed me not to tell you.”
“Let’s just forget about all of this. We have a wedding to plan.” Faith wiped her eyes and smiled.
Alex wiped her eyes as well. “Faith, what about Cliff?”
“Oh my God. I forgot I was supposed to have dinner with him last night.”
“Are you sure you’re ready to marry Ryan?”
“I have no doubts. I love him.”
“Then you need to tell him about Cliff and you need to end whatever it is you have going on with Cliff.”
“You’re right.”
The doctor was taking blood when Faith came back in to talk to Ryan.
“How is he?”
“His temperature is back to normal, he’s eating and his color is coming back. I’d say that maybe what he needed all along was a dose of you.” The doctor winked.
“Now you’re talking, Doc.” Ryan smiled. “Come here, Love.”
Faith walked over and climbed up onto the bed and kissed Ryan.
“I will leave you two alone now.”
“So did Alex leave?”
“She did.”
“You ok?”
“I need to tell you something.”
“Faith, you’re scaring me.”
“I love you. Please remember that.”
“Yeah, now you’re really scaring me.”
“I thought you were dead. I was so alone and…”
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?”
“I thought you were dead…” Faith burst into tears.
Ryan hugged her. “I’m sorry. I just got so jealous.”
“I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt you.”
“Do…do you love him?”
“No. I love you.”
“Did you have sex with him?” Faith started to get up from the bed. She could feel the tension radiating off of Ryan. Ryan grabbed her wrist. “Faith…”
“I did. I had sex with him…but only once. You were gone and I was so alone and…”
Sex & Lies Page 10