by Ana Slash
I said to her, “Of course, it’s me. What’s the deal with my Dad and you? Are you getting married to him? Are you insane? I’m locked up here in this facility and…”
I paused, realizing I had to ask nicely. So I continued, “Can you come and visit me please Susan, we must talk about this?”
Silence ensued.
She didn’t say another word, and then I panicked.
I said to her, “Susan, please, you need to stop by. Maybe you can help me out of this mess!”
No one had stopped by until now. I couldn’t stay on the phone much longer, because the resident who owned the phone wanted her device back.
“So are you going to show up?” She paused again and for a moment there, I figured she would not show up.
But then she came back on line and said, “I think I will stop by, scratch that, I will stop by.”
I said, “Great, I’m glad to hear it.”
She said to me, “but are you okay over there?”
I said to her, “I am hanging in there.”
This was crazy.
I had no idea why this was happening.
“Help me get out of here, Susan,” I said.
She said, “I will visit you, but I can’t make any promises.”
I said good but, “how soon will you make it here?”
She replied, “I Will visit today, maybe later on but only for a short while, Myers is taking me out today and we’re going to celebrate my engagement.”
I swallowed and said to her, “you don’t want to do this.”
She said, “It’s part of the arrangement and if I’m trying to get to college, he will pay for everything besides., I have always wanted to be a young wife anyway, I guess it’s for the best.”
I said to her, “I have little time to talk but I expect to see you later on today.” She said, “I’ll do my best.” And with that, I handed over the phone back to the owner. Just a good time too because the nurse walked up to me and said, “well seems like you’ve had enough exercise are you ready to go back in?” I feigned a smile and said to her, “Yes.”
SHe laughed and said, “That’s good. We like our residents to have a little fresh air because it’s required.”
You know to keep the licenses she laughed it wasn’t funny I really want to be here and she knew it too. I figured Susan would help me out.
Hours later, Susan showed up at the visiting time.
She claimed she was there to give me some books from school, and they believed her. They let her in.
The residents recognized her but she acted as though she wasn’t the one on the screen, which was fine by me!
She walked into the room and sat across from me and I asked, “you doing alright?”
The nurses walked by, but they didn’t pay attention.
They smiled and said, “I guess he figured she’s lucky she has a friend who came to visit. Few people get this. It’s over here.
I looked at her and said, “you have to get me out of here! This is ridiculous? Why am I in here because my memory came back?”
She said, “shh you need to keep your voice down you don’t want everyone hearing about this what’s going on.
I said to her, “We’re going to hell. I want to get out of here. I want to be with Max and Killian and Mateo. ‘’
She shook her head and said, “Max and Killian and Mateo doing their own thing I had in Matteo is getting out of town because his father works out some deal so don’t worry about him he will be fine and eventually you’re going to get out of here when everything blows over.
I shook my head and said to her, “I can’t stay here! You can get me out!”
She looked away and said, “it’s not that easy you’re putting too much on it.”
I said to her "how hard is it, how hard is it Susan, after everything we’ve been through. Please...”
She turned to me and said, “you have to think about my future. I can’t do this.”
I pleaded with her she said, “I can see what I can do but I can’t do it alone and I can’t get out there alone I need this to suit Bella I’m not like you you taken care of because of what happens between your mother and “Mr. Myers” it’s not the same for me, it’s not..”
“Susan, help me out here!” I said to Susan.
I held her hand and pleaded with her.
She leaned back the moment as a doctor walked by.
Once he stepped away, she said, “I can see what I can do. But I’ll be honest, I can’t make any promises.”
I nodded and said, “I understand whatever you can do, I would appreciate it.
She slid her hair behind her ears and said, “I have to go. He has dinner planned. I guess I’ll call you soon.”
I nodded and watched as she walked out of the room.
I laid on the bed lost in my thoughts and staring at the ceiling wondering what will happen next. Will she help me get out of this place?
22
Maxim
Weeks past.
We have to get Bella out; we tried to get to the facility but were turned back at the gate only they only allowed certain people in. You must be family. I sighed and watched as the guys looked concerned the last thing we wanted was Bella losing her memory again.
Broken and dejected, realizing there was no way we could get into the facility, we returned home. I got a nasty phone call from my father asking if I was out of my mind staying back and not going with him.
He said he couldn’t protect me if anything crazy were to happen. I assured my father that I can take care of myself.
I stayed at Killian’s place as we strategized on how to get Bella, but then to keep my mind off I worked with the guys to solve the most pressing issue for everyone, stopping the spread of the virus which was now moving faster than expected.
I swallowed and turned to the Killian, as he made calls to a company that needed funding to create a cure. Killian, Matteo and I gave all we could from our trust funds, hoping it will help. So far, so good. The company told us they were close to getting the cure.
We had to worry about Bella and getting her out plus trying to fix the problem. The company let us know that even if they were to find a cure, it’ll be a slow process, but they are hopeful it will be effective.
Add to this we still had to take our finals virtually. I wondered if Bella would take the finals too. It turns out no one will be the valedictorian this year because it’s cancelled. I guess it didn’t matter any longer. What mattered most was life, being alive and staying alive. That’s all. Getting top spot was the least of our worries.
I asked Maxim to call Susan, she’s been distant lately, which comes as no surprise, really. We need her help in getting Bella out of the facility; she has to go against Bella’s step Dad; she has to stand up for what’s right. But Susan let us know she can’t do it. She can’t go against the man who helped her get through school and the man who will soon be her husband.
“Susan you can’t do this, Bella is your best friend,” I barked. Maybe I should have been more reasonable, but the girl I love is stuck in a facility when she should be here safe with us. A lot of our classmates and their parents already left town on the private jets to foreign destinations. We can’t leave because we want to do what’s right and we need to get Bella out. The clock is ticking.
“I can’t. I am sorry, you need to understand that this man made me who I am today. I can’t hurt him.”
I couldn’t believe she said those words, then again I realized she was trauma bonded to him and had no choice but to think this way. We all had our deep emotional wounds from Childhood, hell I had to see multiple therapists throughout my early years until now. We might be rich in the eyes of the world, but we are not immune to pain.
“I just heard the numbers are rising, but let’s hope we can get this under control.” Maxim said walking in. That’s when I decided to put the pressure on Susan to do what needed to be done. She took in a deep breath and exhaled. Then she said, “I still d
on’t think I can do it. I am sorry.” And with that she hung up the line. I panicked, I guess this means Bella will be in there for the long haul? No we’ll not let that happen.
Matteo frowned and said, “We will get her out by whatever means, we will get her out of that place. She deserves to be with us! I will get it done, if it’s the last thing I do!”
Bella
It’s been weeks since anyone showed up at the facility. I had hoped to be out of here by now, but that’s not happening. I heard the divorce between my mom and step Dad was final. I guess now he’s open to marry Susan once she graduates, which to me is so wrong and insane. I think it is not a healthy relationship.
I really want to get out of here, I heard the other residents talking in hushed tones about the young guys who were working to save the city from the black rain virus. I smiled once I found out Maxim, Killian and Matteo were the ones they were talking about. I wished I could reach them, but there was no way to do so.
I gave up on anybody showing up to visit.
I believed I would end up in this place forever. Most times, I cried myself to sleep, wondering why I am stuck here forever.
But then something happened.
My stepfather stopped by to visit.
It stunned me when the nurse called me out to meet him.
He smiled at me.
I frowned.
He forced another smile and said, “you look well.” I sat across from him.
He handed me some papers and said, “your finals are coming up, I figured you use this.”
He sounded really sincere, but we both knew that the reason he stopped by was to see how hurt I was. I said to him, “you really didn’t have to, seriously. I’m fine.”
He laughed. It was sort of wicked and I couldn’t believe this was the same man I thought cared about me, well that’s until I discovered he didn’t when he almost killed me in the process."
I said to him, “I still remember that night.”
He laughed and said, “whatever you remember really didn’t happen, you know that”
I shook my head and asked, “why are you here?”
He said, “I brought books and to check up on you, the divorce is final between your mother and me, that’s something I had to do. But all the while, you were on my mind.”
I looked at him and shook my head.
I thought, “What a crazy guy this person he’s insane.”
I told him “I’m not concerned about what happened between my mother and you in the final divorce all I want is to get out of this place.” He leaned back and smirked. Then he said, “you had your chance, but you didn’t take it. It’s too late now, dear.”
Then he told me I am useless.
He told me I lost my memory and then he added something else to the mix. He said, “you were pregnant when they took you to the hospital but you lost a baby then.” Angered by his words, I stood up and pounded the desk. I watched as he laughed wickedly. He leaned forward and barked, “you will never get out of here ever.”
I cried.
I couldn’t believe the staff completely ignored him. It’s like we were alone.
Then when I figured it was a losing battle, I watched as he got up to leave, but then suddenly I looked from the corner of my eyes and noticed the guys walk in!
I beamed and asked “how did they get in here?’’
My step Dad turned around and looked at them and barked, “how the hell did you guys get in here?”
They ignored him and walked up towards me. They hugged me and turned to look at him.
Maxim said, “She is leaving with us, we’re taking her back home.”
My stepfather barked and said, “not so fast that will not happen. I have documents which prove she must stay here for a long time.”
They told him and let him know it’s already handled. The psychiatrists reevaluated my files and I was free to get a second opinion.
He laughed and said, “there’s no way you can get her tested. She’s stuck here.”
Maxim looked at him and said, “no we have proof of everything you did to her, and this time around Mr.Myers, you will not win, it’s over.”
My stepfather put his jacket up to the side and laughed wickedly.
He said, “I run this place there’s nothing you can do about it.”
But then he turned to see the cops stepping into the room.
They said he was under arrest, he barked and asked, “What for?”
And that’s when Susan walked in with her head down.
The cops said, “we have recordings of insider trading.”
His eyes widened.
He looked at them, then he stared at the guys and then at me.
Then for a moment there, he seemed to accept what was going on. But then he turned around and yelled, “This is wrong, I need my lawyer. This is wrong!”
They ignored his pleas and placed the handcuffs on him.
I cried. I couldn’t believe it, I would soon be out of this place.
The cops took my step Dad away and that’s the moment Susan walked in.
She ran towards me and we hugged.
She said, “I’m sorry I’m sorry Bella for everything I did to you”
I told her it wasn’t her fault.
That’s when Maxim said, “let’s get you out of here, it’s over now.”
I nodded. I turned to see Matteo smiling.
Then Killian said, “I’m just so happy to have you back.”
The doctors walked in. They apologized to me too.
I thought oh my God you were all going to get sued.
And then I did what had to be done.
I signed papers!
I was free to go.
23
Bella
My stepfather struggled and barked at the arresting officers. He told them they had no right to take him away.
The cops replied he was under arrest for selling his shares in a time of crisis. He barked at them and claimed they had no proof. He said they were just making it all up.
He said they won’t be able to prove it in the court of law, plus he knows the judges personally. They respond by telling him the judges he knows are all retired!
Shocked yet still trying to remain controlled in the face of adversity, he yelled out, “I didn’t sell those shares to take a profit before the market fell, you have no proof!”
That's when the cops pulled out a document, an email from him to Susan! Angered he turned to Susan gave her a dark stare and growled, “Stupid bitch you were supposed to get rid of that email. I guess there’s nothing you can do. Hmm I can’t trust you after all I did for you? This is how you repay me. Crazy bitch!”
He struggled to grab Susan but they held him and said, “Lets go, Mr. Myers, you can explain it to the judge and perhaps your lawyer.”
Susan turned to me and placed her head on my shoulder and sobbed like a baby. I held her and told her it was alright. I took in a deep breath and exhaled. I prayed they would give him swift justice for the hurt and pain he caused me and my mom.
“Let’s get out of here,” Killian said, nudging my shoulder. I nodded and Susan turned and walked ahead with Killian. Matteo looked at me, leaned in and kissed my lips. I kissed him back. He pulled back, slid a tender finger on my cheek and said, “so glad to have you back, love.” I smiled up at him and said, “yes.” And with that he turned and stepped out of the room, leaving Maxim and me alone. Maxim stepped up to me and said, “I guess it’s just you and me now.”
I chuckled and said, “I guess so.”
He leaned close, cupped my face and crushed his lips on mine. It was a bold, daring kiss; he parted my lips with his tongue, deepening the kiss,
He slid back breaking the kiss and leaned up and placed a tender kiss on my forehead. He said, “I have dreamt of the day I would kiss you again. I will never leave you, let’s get out of here, darling!”
He slid his hands around my waist. I bit my lower lip and said, “Yes please let’s
get the hell out of here.”
Pleased, he smiled and we stepped out of the facility finally. We got into the car and dropped Susan off at her aunt’s place.
She stepped out of the car, leaned over the front passenger window and said, “I guess it was too good to be true.”
I assured her, “it wasn’t good Susan.”
She sighed, and that’s the moment her aunt yelled out from the doorway. She said, “Hey Susan, you got into the elite. University!”
She couldn’t believe it. She beamed and smiled. “Great!” She said running towards her aunt and hugging her
The guys then said they had a plan for me over at Matteo’s. I was surprised when we got there and they had flowers all over the apartment. That night they made love to me equally pleasing me. Their actions made me feel wanted and desired.
Their deep, emotion filled thrusts into my core increased our closeness.
Maxim kissed my lips, while Killian teased my neckline and Matteo worked the inside of my thighs. All they desired was ensuring my deep pleasure and it worked.
“We love you Bella, you are the only girl for us,” Matteo purred and the others agreed.
I loved how patient they were with me, asking if I lied the way he touched me here and here. And I did, it felt great knowing my memory returned and they made me feel safe.
There was something about our connection that couldn’t be denied any longer.
They promised to protect me forever and that’s when I finally realized as they each let go that I have three awesome guys who desire only me and no one else.
To be honest I felt blessed and I promised to be there for them too.
I laid in bed with them when we looked up at the television screen to notice Flynn’s father speaking. Apparently he donated a lot of money to fight the scourge too. That’s the minute Killian got a call.
He picked it up.
It was a call from Flynn he said he convinced his father to get onboard with the idea and the company has gotten funded with the much-needed cash.