“True,” Kent said with a one shoulder shrug. “Sorry for that, but in my line of life . . .” he trailed off as he looked at me once more.
“You’re worried,” I spoke. “As you should be. I won’t take his money, nor make his life any more difficult than it is. He saved me; I owe him my life.”
“You owe me nothing, Avidya,” Zachariah spoke, a soft look on his face. “And everyone here should know by now that you would never take my money. It was a fight to let me buy you the clothes you have on today.” He laughed at the end, knowing if I knew the price the clothes were, I probably would have certainly put up a fight.
“See, they are perfect for one another,” Julia stated in awe. “Now, let’s eat, shall we?”
“You’re mine, forever,” Zachariah whispered in my ear as the food was brought out to the table. “Your body, mind and soul, Avidya Ray.”
His words went straight to my core, and I flushed as deep of a red as ever.
Chapter 41
Zachariah
So far, I thought everything was going pretty well. Dinner with my grandparents was always an interesting experience. Grandma was always counted on to say what her thoughts were on everything. Unlike most women from her time, she never knew when she took something too far. Grandpa never really cared one way or another, as long as it wasn’t in front of his men that he took charge of.
They were both originally from Sicily, Italy. Grandpa Kent was shipped over here to America when he was merely sixteen years old to do the family business. He had brought his newly wedded wife along, too.
It had started out as simple drug smuggling. Cocaine was one of the deadliest wanted drugs on the streets then and still is now. Slowly with time, Grandpa became his own Don of the family here in the states by trading weapons, drugs, and women as though everything was a piece of property. He knew the ins and outs of not only this town, but the neighboring towns also.
When my father came into the picture, Naomi had demanded to drop some of the women that were being traded for sex and arm candy. She didn’t believe it was the right thing to do. Plus, she didn’t want her only son growing up in a way that women came and went as though they were nothing to the world.
Her view on women was strong, and of course, Kent went right along with it. A happy wife, a happy life, or so he said.
Yes, there are still women today that are used for sex, trades and more. That is just part of my life. But the way I run things, and with the okay of the Don of the family, it is getting better. It won’t be perfect, but it’s better.
So, when Grandpa asked Avidya what she thought of my lifestyle, I was surprised that she was fairly okay with what I do. She didn’t know half of what I do, what I’m capable of. I had no plans to show her just how unforgiving I am. She didn’t need to know that. I’d do anything to make sure she didn’t find out if I could put my life on it.
After years of learning how my grandfather did things, I knew not to talk back or to speak my mind to him. He wouldn’t blink an eye while shooting me in the arm or leg without a second thought. He’d done it before.
Yeah, not one my finest moments. Luckily, there was no lasting scar. I may have deserved the punishment when I was eighteen for thinking I could just walk away and leave everything behind me. My actions caused others to double think on crossing not only my father, and grandpa, but also myself.
“So,” grandpa began before quickly wiping the mouth off with the edge of the napkin. “When do you plan to have children?” his dark eyes bounced between Avidya and me.
“Not anytime soon,” I answered quickly. “You know my view on that.”
“Yes, but don’t you think dear Avidya would want a child? It is after all how Cody brought her up to think,” he said. “Do you?”
I not only felt but saw Avidya stiffen up. Was it because of the talk of children, or from the wannabe father she had?
“Zachariah has clearly stated he has no desire to have any,” she said, her voice slightly quieter as she answered. “Right now, we are just trying to figure out life.”
“No plans for the future, then?” Grandma asked out, her eyes watching. I always thought she could see right through me, much more than grandpa ever could.
“One day at a time,” I answered. “We have preventable measures up to make sure no expected children are created right now.” Or never.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Avidya frown once more. Surely if she wanted children, she’d have told me so. Of course, I would try to persuade her otherwise.
“I want a grandchild,” my mother spoke up, her eyes pleading with not only me but my brother also. I knew Melio and Violet had been trying for a child for over a year now without any success. He’d be the better father out of the two of us anyways. He wasn’t as deep into this family as I was. I knew what would likely happen to not only Avidya but to the unborn child without having to look into the future.
Of course, that was after years of not even wanting any children.
“We are thinking of adoption,” Violet stated, taking the heat off of my and Avidya for now. I sent her a silent thank you. I really didn’t feel like getting into it again.
“Oh? That’s wonderful,” mom gushed.
“It’s likely we’ll get a child that will be a bit older, but we are really looking into it all,” Violet stated.
“I don’t think that’s a great idea,” grandpa stated. “Who knows what kind of blood they have.”
“We will look into any potential child,” Melio responded, keeping his voice even as much as possible. “We know the risks.”
“I can get you one,” grandpa said, his voice taking on a promised edge.
“You will do no such thing, Kent!” grandma nearly shouted outraged. “You promised me.”
“Woman!” grandpa huffed out in outrage. “Would you just shut your trap for a few?”
“Never!” she said, giving him an evil smile. “And you won’t ever make me.”
“Do you think we’ll be like that when we are old and gray?” I whispered in Avidya’s ear as the two older people fought back a forth. Naomi had a small pleased smile on her face, happy that she could rile up the old fart.
“You wish,” she replied with a small smile, entertained by them all the same. “I don’t think I’d talk to you that way, though. It’s not me.”
“No, it isn’t,” I agreed, happy that her sad look from a few minutes ago was gone.
“But yes, otherwise I can see us just like that,” she whispered back before pressing a small tingling kiss to my cheek.
Chapter 42
Avidya
After lunch, while Zachariah helped his mom and brother clear the table, Violet and Naomi made themselves scarce. My hands instantly began to sweat as Carlos moved to sit beside me, and Kent moved to sit across from me.
My heart pounded in my chest a hundred miles per hour, or at least it felt like it.
“Are you sure you want to be in this life? In this family?” Kent asked out, his dark eyes penetrating my own.
Why was he asking? I was here, wasn’t I? I had a few chances to leave and I hadn’t. Didn’t they know that?
“Yes, I’m sure,” I said, my voice only a bit shaky. I never did well with confrontations.
“You want things that Zach doesn't. I can see that need, desire, to want more,” Kent said, not afraid to call me out on it.
“I can live without what I want, as long as he’s there with me,” I said, willing my bouncing knee to stay still beneath the table.
“If you need a way out, come find either one of us. Anytime,” Kent spoke. Then lower, “I helped your mother, and I can help you. No one but us will ever know.”
“Just don’t bring up that little fact with Zachariah,” Carlos stated. “What he doesn’t know won’t kill him.”
“Why? Why are you offering . . .” I was unable to say the words.
“A way out?” Kent finished for me. At my nod, he went on. “Because I know who you are.
I know what Cody wants from you. I know the threats that are out there. What I’m not sure about is if you will survive till justice is served all around. I don’t want to see a young girl like you brought down to your death because of my grandson and his wants.”
“He’ll protect me,” I stated with wide eyes.
“Oh, he certainly will. Don’t you dare doubt that,” Carlos said. “He loves you. Everyone can see that. But because he loves you, that makes you an even bigger target. He’ll die to protect you rather than die to protect me or his brother now.”
“It’s not a bad thing, exactly,” Kent added on. “You just have to watch your back. If it gets too much, know you have a way out when it’s needed.”
They both left, leaving me to my thoughts for a moment. What was I to say about that? I knew Rachael had a way out, I just never would have guessed that Kent was the one behind it. But now, thinking about what she had written in her journals, it made sense. You’d have to know people to have people help you hide away from the world.
Would I need to do that? Would I be willing to do that?
On the way home after a not so bad luncheon, Zachariah was a bit quieter than usual. I thought his grandparents were sweet. A bit overwhelming, but sweet all the same. They meant well.
I was quieter too, but given the men’s talk with me, who wouldn’t have been.
“I noticed my grandfather talking to you after lunch,” Zachariah said, pulling me out of my thoughts as we entered farther into the subdivision where he lived. Where we both lived. It was still hard to call his house my home, too.
“Yeah,” I answered. “Just wondering if I was marrying you because I wanted to.”
“Of course, he’d want to know that,” Zachariah said, not surprised. “He did the same thing with Melio when he married Violet. Given, she wasn’t putting up with anyone second guessing what she wanted.”
Time seemed to freeze as Zachariah gripped the steering wheel hard enough to turn his knuckles instantly white. My eyes widened as I watched out his driver’s window. The oncoming car didn’t stop, didn’t even try to stop as he hurled straight into us.
My heart froze within my chest in fear.
The driver wanted to hit us.
I couldn’t look away as my head, with my body following, fell into the door. I watched as Zachariah cussed as the airbags exploded, cushioning his head as it almost hit the steering wheel. It happened so fast.
The windows cracked, shattering everywhere. Pieces flew around as the car skidded to the left, hitting another car on my side and forcing my body towards the right.
Bam. Crash. Bam. Thud.
My heart beat in my chest. I couldn’t tell if it was too fast or too slow than what was normal.
It felt like hours before the car slowed to a jarring stop. I bounced in my seat.
There was blood splattered on my clothes as I tried to take stock of what happened. Shattered glass was stuck in my hair.
Zachariah groaned in pain, his head laid against his broken window. The door was smashed inward I noticed as I glanced over him. Blood poured from the gash in his head. His arm had a piece of thick glass stuck right below the elbow.
My own arm felt numb, now that I thought of it.
Looking down, I saw my arm at an awkward angle, the pain instantly hitting me like a semi-truck.
“Vidie,” Zachariah groaned out, calling for me.
I couldn’t answer as I sat frozen. What was I to do? I froze in shock and fear.
As the seconds ticked by, my head began to throb in time with my heart. Bile rose in my throat as sirens reached my ears from the distance. Then, there was yelling. Shouting. Lights.
“Answer me!” Zachariah shouted.
The was a pop, like a silencer on a gun would give off. The small little sound among so many others caused my gut to drop to my feet and the bile to completely disappear as the fear took hold of my body.
I could hardly keep my eyes opened as I looked out my window as the mess that was made. Another car that had smoke leaking from under the hood wasn’t all that far away, the front angled towards me. There stood a man in a black mask, hiding his face, holding a gun in his hand, aiming at me. Or was it aimed at Zachariah?
Oh God! Where are you?
Another crack echoed in my ears as the pain hit me tenfold.
Then . . . . nothing all at once.
Chapter 43
Avidya
Beep. Beep. Beep.
With every beat of my heart, my body thumped in pain. Yet at the same time, I felt as though . . . well, nothing. Pain and nothing all together. It was a weird feeling.
Was I alive?
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Flashes of lights, broken glass and a gun kept flashing right in front of my closed eyes.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I think I was alive. It was hard to tell. My thoughts were all over the place as I kept reliving the car crash. A car crash that I think was purposely set up.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Was that beeping speeding up?
Please, God!
My breath began to come quicker, almost so fast that I couldn’t keep up with my thoughts, emotions and breathing all at once. It was too much.
~oOo~
“I’m sorry, sir. You can’t be in here,” spoke a quiet, timid but yet affirmative voice.
“I’m not leaving.” It was Jonas. I’d know his voice anywhere. “I don’t trust those officers out there.”
“Fine,” spoke the woman again, giving in way too easily.
There was a pause as I assume the woman moved around the room, checking things. There was the constantly beeping to my right, along with what sounded like a drip.
“How is she?” Jonas asked out, his voice quiet. I heard him shift in his seat.
“She’ll heal up just fine,” the woman answered. “Banged up, as you can tell. She’ll need a bit of physical therapy after she’s healed. I’ve seen worse.”
“When will she wake up?” Jonas asked.
“When she’s ready to,” was her reply. “She was a bit worked up when my shift started, and the doctor gave her a dose of something to calm her.”
“Thanks,” Jonas said, not saying anything else.
It got quiet again in the room. The only sounds were the beeping noise and Jonas’ breathing. My own was much calmer now. Things made a bit more sense, somewhat. I had no idea for sure where I was at or where Zachariah was. But with Jonas here, I gathered I was as safe as I could be.
What had happened exactly? There was something I was missing. There was a car crash, but there was more to it. Much more.
A slight pressure on my hand made my mind go back to Jonas. I briefly wondered why he was here and not Zachariah. Was Zachariah busy with working? Was he okay?
“Hey,” Jonas said, squeezing my hand slightly. I wanted to squeeze back, but my hand didn’t agree. It stayed there limp as my mind willed it to move. “You’ll be okay, Vidie.”
He paused but didn’t let go of me. It sounded like he was about to cry. Why would he cry?
“You’re in a hospital,” he finally went on after a few minutes. “You and Zach were in a car crash. A bad one. The guy that ran into you on purpose passed away, and it’s probably a good thing that he did. Carlos is looking into the footage that was nearby the crash site to figure out who tried to finish you both off. He had the chance to do so, but you are both alive. Barely.”
He paused again. I could picture him rubbing a hand down his face as he tried to get his words together.
I remembered the masked man with the gun. He could have killed us both. Why didn’t he? Who was he?
“We’ll figure it out later,” Jonas mumbled out. “Julia won’t leave Zach’s side, and I can’t blame her one bit. He’s worse than you are. Zach . . . . he’s in an induced coma. A piece of glass went into his skull and they had to remove it. Plus, he has a bullet wound in his arm. I’m not sure when he’ll wake up. Doctor thinks it won’t be until someti
me next week. He’s prone to infection now because of it.”
He stopped talking once more, lost in thought.
How bad was I then?
Concentrating on my body, everything felt like pins and needles. There was a throbbing in my left thigh. My right arm ached with a dull thud and felt like it couldn’t be moved. My head pounded with each heartbeat and my throat was as dry as a dessert.
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