A Beautiful Heartbreak ( NYC Series #1)

by Alora Kate

  “Where is everyone?” I asked him.

  “I thought it best we had a little privacy.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  Prescot pulled a chair out for me, and I sat; he pulled the other chair around the table and sat next to me, so we were both facing my father.

  “We’ll need another chair and place setting, please,” he told the waiter. He grabbed a chair for my father and he sat. “We have the restaurant for the night.”

  I gasped. “You have that much money?”

  He chuckled. “I have that much money.”

  He really was a big shot drug dealer. He bought out the restaurant for the rest of the night, and that wasn’t cheap. This was New York City. My mind swam with the possibilities. Maybe he owned the restaurant, like you see in those mafia movies I’ve watched too many of. Maybe he expanded his Miami empire to New York City. Maybe this restaurant is one of his ‘legal fronts’ and he deals drugs by the pound out the back exit. Or maybe the owner of the restaurant owned my father a favor and he decided to cash it in tonight. Whatever it was, my father showed me just how powerful he was by this gesture, and I found myself scooting my chair a touch closer to Prescot’s.

  He ordered some fancy wine, and it was delicious. Prescot said no; I wasn’t sure why but that left more for me. He held one of my hands under the table, and the other one held my wine glass. Prescot and I ordered the same thing, spaghetti and meatballs, and my father ordered something with artichokes, yuck.

  “I’m going to be nice and not keep you waiting any longer,” I said relaxing into Prescot, while my father waited for me to speak. The wine was settling my nerves quite nicely. “I’m going to give you my bone marrow.”

  He clasped his hands in front of him. “Ki, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say thank you.”

  He met my eyes. “Thank you.”

  “I think you knew I’d say yes.”

  “After our first meeting, and then a month of silence; I didn’t know what to think.”

  “Well, you can have it.”

  He sat back in his chair. “I appreciate it.”

  I swallowed the rest of my wine and poured another glass.

  Chapter 30 – Ki

  “I’m full,” I said pushing my plate aside, “but I’m taking the rest home to Alexa.”

  My father didn’t talk much but what could he say? Most of his work was illegal, and I didn’t want to know about it anyway. I was pretending he was a nice man, with a great job, and that we had a great relationship. The nice man part was surprisingly true. He had been nothing but nice tonight. He wasn’t pushy or rude; he didn’t rub the fact that he was rich in our faces, and he talked to Prescot about lawyer stuff. Well, he talked and asked questions, Prescot just nodded or said yes or no. My father got used to Prescot quickly and didn’t ask why he wasn’t much of a talker.

  I briefly told him about my childhood and how I ended up in New York City with Alexa. He was attentive, like I was the most important person in the room, and he asked a lot of questions. His questions surprised me, because they were random, like my favorite color, what kind of student I was in school, and how I spent my free time. He was interested in my college career, and he laughed when I told him some of my college antics. His eyes gleamed when I told him how well I did in college, and how I received scholarships. He said he was proud of me, and I believed him. I pushed away the tingle I had in my chest when he said that. It was the first time someone told me they were proud of me, and it was coming from a man that barely knew me. Other than that, we ate and drank wine. Well, I drank wine. But now that I was full, my buzz was slowly fading.

  The waiter boxed up my meal but we never got a check, so I assumed everything was included when he paid for the entire night. I glanced around and felt like it was a waste of money, but it wasn’t my money that was wasted.

  “I’m riding home with Prescot,” I announced while standing.

  My father stood, and his bodyguards moved from out of the shadows. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “Try and make sure I get a few days to prepare.”

  “Of course, Ki. Thank you again for tonight.”

  “And for my bone marrow.” I smiled at him and he dipped his head.

  He walked us out, and we said our goodbyes. He went to his town car, and we stayed by ours, but a part of me felt like something wasn’t finished between us; something was missing. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I found myself asking Prescot for a minute so I could talk to my father. I walked over to him, and his bodyguards backed up enough to give us a little privacy.

  “I know this meeting was more than just a nice way to ask for my bone marrow.”

  “I should have never used the word meeting. I feel the same way you do, Ki. Uncomfortable. Awkward.”

  “I guess with time we’ll feel normal around each other.”

  “I’d like that.”

  I gave him a quick hug and was then tackled to the ground from behind. My father was yelling, there were cracks in the air around us, and I realized that someone was shooting at us. I looked up and saw Lucas was the one who tackled me and was shielding me from the flying bullets, but I only had eyes for Prescot. He kneeled by his car and I could barely look at him because of Lucas’ quick movements that were blocking my view.

  “Don’t move, Ki.” His arms were moving fast and he was shooting in two different directions.

  “No one’s protecting Prescot!” He kept firing, and I kept trying to push him out of the way. “Please help him, Lucas.”

  “I’m doing the best I can.”

  I yelled his name, and he put his hand on my shoulder, telling me to calm down. How was I going to do that with bullets flying around? Prescot couldn’t walk that fast, so I yelled at him to get in the car, but he couldn’t hear me. Why wouldn’t he get in the car?

  I looked passed Prescot and saw a few men shooting from around the corner that leads to an alley. The men were dressed in black suits, and it appeared they were flanking and protecting one man in particular. My father yelled something and aimed for the man in the middle, narrowly missing him. Shots fired rapidly as my father ducked and moved closer toward us. His bodyguards took bolder shots, standing away from the car to get a better angle. My father told Lucas to get me into the car, but he was still shooting. I didn’t want to get in the car.

  “Get in the car, Ki.”

  “No.”

  More cracks and more yelling. Bodies dropped, and I could faintly hear a siren in the distance. Did someone report this? Were they even coming here? What would happen to us if they did?

  I glanced at Prescot and saw his leg give out.

  “Prescot!”

  He gripped his left leg with both of his hands like he was covering a wound.

  “Lucas, help him.”

  “I’m here for you, Ki.”

  Between him and my father trying to push me into the car, I lost sight of Prescot. It was pure chaos, but I knew one thing, I had to get to Prescot.

  I crawled through the car and opened the other door.

  “Ki!” Lucas yelled, and I looked over my shoulder.

  “You’ll save me, but who’s going to save him?”

  “Ki, don’t do it,” he yelled as I slipped out of the car. I crawled to the end of the car and peeked around the hood. There was a body lying on the side of the car, blood seeping out of multiple shots in the man’s chest. I held my breath and stretched my neck a little higher so I could see further. I saw no one and crawled to the other side of his town car and opened the door. A loud smack hit the side of the car and I saw a hole where the bullet went through. My heart hammered in my chest. It was so close. The hole was in line with the center of my throat, and I knew I only had seconds before another shot was fired in my direction. I scurried in the car and shut the door.

  I opened the other one, Prescot looked at me and scowled. “Ki.”

  I pulled my shirt off over my head and wrapped it above his wound. I ignored the blood
and everything around me. I just had to get him into the car. “Get in the car.”

  I glanced at Lucas who had his back pressed against my father’s, still shooting. One of my father’s bodyguards was on the ground, blood oozing out the back of his skull. His other two bodyguards had murderous looks on their faces as they methodically aimed and fired at their targets. Lucas shoved my father down and fired three times in succession. He glanced at me and shot again. “Come on, Prescot; I can’t carry you.”

  He pulled himself into the car, and I went out the side door and opened the driver door. The driver was slumped over with blood over his face, and with a shaky hand, I pressed my fingers against his neck. He had a pulse, though faint. I pushed him over and grabbed the keys.

  “Ki,” he said, and I glanced at him through the small window, “hurry.”

  I peeled out and drove as fast as I could, watching as the police cars were coming from the opposite direction. They passed us, kept going, and I kept going as well.

  “It’s a flesh wound, Ki.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No.” I quickly glanced down. My white bra had blood on it, but it was from Prescot, not me. “I don’t think so.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “I feel fine.”

  I took the corner too fast and heard Prescot grunt in the back seat.

  “Sorry!”

  I slammed the breaks when I got in front of the emergency room doors and ran inside yelling for help and grabbing a wheelchair.

  He gripped my hand. “It’s a flesh wound, Ki.”

  I walked at his side while a nurse pushed him back into the ER. One was asking questions, one was putting an IV in his arm, and one was cutting his pants off. Alexa’s white shirt was tossed aside and I bent down to pick it up. It was destroyed, and barely white, but I held it in my arms like it was the most expensive thing in this world as I watched them work on Prescot. Eventually, I was asked to leave so I could talk to the cops, but I was starting to get dizzy. I asked for a minute to collect my thoughts. The adrenaline was wearing off, and I felt cold. My back hurt, and I was worried about Prescot. He had suffered enough over the last month, he didn’t deserve this.

  I blinked my eyes a few times as the room started to spin.

  “Ma’am, are you okay?” I felt a nurse touch my arm. “Ma’am?”

  “I feel sick.”

  “Get me a chair!” she yelled and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Shit.” I felt her hand push on my back and pain shot through my shoulder. “I need another bed!”

  “Ki!”

  Through the haze of the room, I saw Prescot trying to get out of bed to come to me. I felt my mouth slowly smile at him as I fell to the floor.

  “Ki!”

  Chapter 31 – Prescot

  Blood. Pain. Bullets. Food. Pain.

  Ki.

  I was in the waiting room.

  Ki was in surgery.

  The man who protected Ki sat next to me.

  “How many stitches?”

  “Why were you there?”

  He chuckled and sat back in his chair. “Her father hired me.”

  “You were the one following her?”

  “I was protecting her.”

  “From her father’s enemies?”

  “Yes.”

  Christ.

  She didn’t deserve to be in the middle of his war.

  I’d talk to him.

  Miami.

  I’d ask him to leave.

  Blood. Pain. Stitches.

  Surgery.

  Helplessness.

  I couldn’t protect her.

  “I know about your accident and that your legs are still a little weak from it.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  I had to get stronger.

  For Ki.

  She needed me.

  “Not your fault you got shot.”

  I wanted to tell him to fuck off. Get lost. But I couldn’t. He protected her. The woman I was falling in love with. He was there to help her when I was too weak to do it.

  “I told her to stay in the car, she didn’t listen. Ki does what Ki wants to do, and she wanted to protect you.”

  Christ.

  “I just want you to know that her father is taking care of the situation.”

  I didn’t want to know but I found myself asking, “How?”

  “The men who didn’t die on the street that night will be dead soon.”

  Mob.

  Gang.

  Her father wasn’t someone to fuck with.

  “Her father asked that I say a prayer for Ki. I did. She’s a good person, Prescot; I’m sure you know that by now.”

  Something about him praying for Ki bothered me, but I let it go. It was for Ki. I wouldn’t argue or let my mind overthink the subject any further.

  Scrubs. Green. I had to wear them.

  The doctor told us she’d be fine.

  Recovery. Rest.

  She’ll be in and out during the night.

  They let me stay.

  Now it was my turn to watch over her.

  I stood at her side.

  I kissed her lips.

  Her father came. We didn’t talk. He didn’t want to hear my words.

  He left his number.

  I stood at her side again.

  I told her I would be here when she woke up.

  I refused the medicine.

  I stayed awake.

  Her chest rose with each breath; in and out.

  She was breathing.

  She was okay.

  We would be okay.

  Chapter 32 – Ki

  I’ve been home for a few days now, and it is so nice to be back in my bed. The constant noise from the hospital was starting to drive me crazy while I was there: the beeping of the machines, the sounds of other patients in pain, the constant poking and prodding. Every single time I’d fall asleep, someone would come into my room to check this or that, or to change my IV bags, or to give me more medication. Then, I would be up for a while, and the whole thing would start again. I left the hospital completely exhausted. Unfortunately, I had my own nurse at home, disguised as my best friend.

  “Out of my room!” I yelled at Alexa while pointing at the door.

  “You need to take your pills, Ki.”

  “I can do it on my own.”

  This has been the problem ever since they released me from the hospital. I had to have surgery on my shoulder to dislodge the bullet and to repair torn ligaments and tendons. I’d been lucky, though I’m not naïve to realize that this is common place in my father’s lifestyle.

  When they released me, Alexa wouldn’t even let me get up off the hospital bed to move to the wheelchair they insisted I be discharged in. I understood it was policy, but I felt ridiculous being wheeled around when I was able-bodied.

  Then, she had Prescot bring us home, which I wouldn’t complain about. I did complain, loudly, when Alexa wouldn’t let me use my keys to open the door . . . with my good hand. She helped me to bed, which I really didn’t need, and used way too many pillows to help me get comfortable. No lie, she stuffed every single pillow in our home around and under my body, and then made Prescot run out to the store to get a few more. I frantically begged him to stay, but he smirked and left.

  Alexa filled me in on what happened once I was awake after surgery. She received a visit from the police late that night, asking if she knew me. She said her heart broke because those types of visits rarely held good news. They escorted her to the hospital, where she learned about the shoot-out and the nature of my injuries. I was already in surgery at the time, and she was able to talk with Prescot. He answered her questions, and she nearly attacked my father when she saw him.

  Alexa and Prescot stayed by my side while I healed in the hospital, and Alexa took notes on my care and what to do at home. She brought my otter to the hospital, along with smuggling in food from my favorite vendor. She cried when she thought I was sl
eeping, and I truly understood just how important I was to her.

  Of course, I knew her heart was in the right place. She brought me my favorite foods and snacks, made sure there was a charger within reach of my bed and couch. She made sure there wasn’t a thing I needed while I was healing.

  However, enough was enough. I’m independent, and I want to work my way back to being able to do things for myself. Sure, I snapped at her a few times over the last couple of days. But I think I was justified. I mean, I didn’t need her running on my heels every time I had to go to the bathroom, or her try to brush my teeth for me.

  “I understand you got shot, but that was a week ago, so you better work on that attitude, missy.”

  “I got shot, Lex! I can be grumpy if I want to.”

  She pointed at me while tossing my pills on the bed. “One more day. You’re allowed to bitch for one more day.”

  She stormed out of my room, and I lay back against my pillow.

  “Best friends,” Prescot mumbled from his pillow.

  “Yes, we are, but probably not for long.”

  He put his arm around my waist. “Take the pill.”

  “They make me feel funny.”

  “It’ll help you sleep, Ki.”

  I gently rolled onto my left side, the one without the bandage on it. His blue eyes were soft and kind, probably because he took a pain pill also.

  “I can sleep without it.”

  “Stubborn,” he said closing his eyes and rubbing his hand on my side.

  “Molly’s here!” Alexa yelled from the other side of my door.

  “Christ,” Prescot muttered.

  “Don’t move,” I said kissing his hand. “You’re so comfortable.”

  He pulled my hand to his lips. “I won’t.”

  Prescot and Molly talked about hearings and clients, and I watched his mind work. I watched his eyes blink. I watched his lips move when he spoke. I counted the freckles on his face. Eleven. Eleven small freckles, barely visible.

  Alexa snuck in and took a pill out of the bottle and wiggled it in my face. I took it and swallowed it with the water she handed me. She pinched my cheeks with her other hand and said, “Good little girl.”