“Then I definitely think that you should have dinner with me. I’m sure Dirk would want you to celebrate for him.”
“I’m not in a celebrating kind of mood but thank you.”
“Ok, then how about we just grab a pizza and…”
“I guess nobody has ever told you no?”
Dane thought for a minute. “Probably not.”
“Well then I guess I’m the first.” Lacey turned and walked down the hall.
Dane stood there just watching as she walked away as he tried to comprehend what it was about that woman that got to him so badly.
Alex and Faith sat playing cards while they took turns staring at Ryan. When Miles came back earlier to pick up Eden he handed them the deck of cards and told them that time would pass faster if they kept busy but so far it seemed to be standing still.
“I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I just want to go and shake him until he wakes up.”
Faith nodded. “Me too.”
“Ugg…mmm…uuuhhh.”
Alex and Faith bolted from their seats and ran over to Ryan. His eyes weren’t open but he was moaning. He hadn’t made a sound until now.
“Ryan, can you hear me?” Alex held onto two of Ryan’s fingers that weren’t attached to any monitor. “Ryan, if you can hear me move your fingers.”
Faith grabbed onto Alex’s hand. “Please God, please let him open his eyes.”
The door opened and the nurse came in. “His heart rate is up.”
“I think he is in pain. He moaned.”
“Do you think that means my brother is waking up?”
“It could mean a lot of things. I’m going to have the doctor come and take a look at him.” The nurse walked out.
“Alex, do you think something is wrong and she isn’t telling us?”
“I don’t…” Alex looked down. Ryan moved his finger. Then she looked up and he was blinking. “Ryan.”
Ryan looked at Alex and she smiled back at him. “I love you, Ry.”
Faith let go of Alex’s hand and took a step back. She didn’t want to upset Ryan.
Ryan saw Faith step away. He wanted so badly to tell her how much he loved her and that he only lied to protect her.
Alex could see Ryan looking over at Faith. “Faith, come back. Ryan’s trying to see you.”
“I don’t think so. I think he’s trying to tell me to get out.”
“Faith!”
“I have to go. I’ll be outside.”
Alex looked back at Ryan who looked just as upset as Faith. When he was feeling better she was going to lock the two of them in a room until they worked things out.
TWO DAYS HAD PASSED and Ryan was finally off of the ventilator and could speak. Miguel had been waiting to talk to him.
Ryan was still critical but stable. He could barely concentrate from all the drugs they had him on. He looked up when he heard the door open. “Hey.”
“How are you feeling today?”
“No clue. They have me so drugged up.”
“Alex will be here in a bit.”
“I told her she should take a day off. She’s already been here today.”
“Yeah, well, before she comes back…I uh, need to talk to you about something.”
Ryan could tell Miguel was stressed about what he needed to say. “Ok.”
Miguel pulled his chair closer and cleared his throat. “I’ve spoken to Dane and the only way that we can be certain that your family remains safe is if you’re dead.”
“No sugar coating there.”
“Ryan, the Grimaldi’s put a bounty on your head. They’ve killed one of my men and another attorney from the DA’s office just floated ashore, that’s two in three weeks. This is no joke.”
“Then stop wasting your time and money and let Grimaldi’s men fucking kill me. I don’t have anything to live for anyway.” Ryan looked away from Miguel.
“Let me handle it.”
Ryan looked back over at Miguel. “It? Are you asking for permission to kill me?”
Miguel nodded and then he looked down at the floor. “I am.”
As Alex walked toward Ryan’s room she spotted Faith standing by Ryan’s door peeking in.
“Go in.”
Faith turned around. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Alex, I can’t.”
Alex shoved Faith and the two of them tumbled into Ryan’s room. “Oh. My. God. Alex!”
Miguel jumped up and ran over to Alex. “What the hell? Alex, are you alright?”
Alex got up from the floor and kissed Miguel on the cheek. “I’m fine. How about we grab a cup of coffee while Faith visits Ryan?”
Faith stood up and brushed herself off. “I’m not staying.”
“Please stay.”
Faith looked over at Ryan. “Why, so you can tell me how much you hate me?”
Alex grabbed Miguel’s hand and they walked out the door leaving Faith alone with Ryan.
“I don’t hate you.”
Faith walked a little closer to Ryan. “You don’t?”
“I was scared and…”
“Ryan, I still love you.”
Ryan could barely speak. “I want you to promise me that you’ll find someone who will love you…”
“No. Ryan, I want you.”
“It’s too late for me.”
“No. You’re going to be fine.”
“And if I’m not?”
“You will be.”
“Promise me.”
“Fine, whatever, but I’m not losing you, Ryan.” Faith leaned over and kissed Ryan on his cheek. “I love you.”
“I’ll always love you, Faith.” Ryan closed his eyes. He wanted to remember Faith smiling and happy.
“Oh look the hospital is on fire.”
“Huh?”
“Miguel, what’s going on with you?”
“I uh, I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“Try again.”
“Ok, I’m worried about your safety and you brother’s.”
“Ryan’s going to be ok now. We just have to hope that your men or the police catch these guys before…”
“Alex, these people are evil and they don’t care about anyone or anything except revenge.”
Alex was becoming more upset by the minute. “I need to check on my brother.”
“Alex, I promise, I will do everything I can to keep you safe.”
“I know you will.”
Dane handed Ryan a pen. “Sign here.”
Ryan could barely hold the pen but he managed to sign a DNR order and a will he had Miguel’s lawyers draw up.
Dane put the documents back into his briefcase and then sat down. “So you’re sure about this?”
“No, but I don’t think there really is any other option.”
“Miguel will be back soon and…”
“Yeah, I know.”
“I will leave the DNR with the nurses. I know this won’t help much but I’ve used those drugs before and you won’t feel any pain.”
“Dane, would you look after Faith for me after I’m gone?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you awake?”
Ryan looked over at Alex. “Have I ever told you how happy I am for you?”
“Once or twice.” Alex smiled.
“And you know how much I love you, right?”
“I know you love me and I love you with all my heart.”
Ryan knew that this may be the last conversation that he would have with his sister. As brave as he tried to be he knew that if Miguel didn’t come to end things soon that he was going to fall apart.
“I told Faith that I loved her.”
“You did?”
“I want you to promise to take care of each other if anything happens to me.”
“Ryan, you’re going to be ok and Miguel said that you can come home and stay with us. We’ll take care of you.”
“Yes,
we will take care of you.”
Alex turned around and smiled at Miguel. “Did Faith go home?”
“No, she got a phone call that she had to take.”
Alex stood up and kissed Miguel. “I’m going to grab a cup of coffee. Will you be here when I get back?”
“Yeah.”
Alex walked out.
Faith was walking in circles in the waiting area while she talked on the phone. Alex could tell by the way she was throwing her hands up in the air that she was upset about something.
“Is everything alright?”
Faith shrugged and covered the phone. “My paralegal lost an entire case file.”
“Yikes.”
Faith rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to get some coffee; do you want some?”
“I’d love some.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Ryan looked up at Miguel. “Now, do it now!”
“Ryan, you know if I thought that there was any other way…”
“I know.”
Miguel placed his hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a syringe and a vial and walked around to the other side of Ryan’s bed. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
Ryan was too scared to even speak. He nodded his head.
Miguel filled the syringe and then he took a deep breath before he injected Ryan in his neck. “You’re going to feel flushed and then you’ll pass out.”
Ryan blinked a few times. He could feel the rush of heat taking over his body.
Miguel grabbed his hand. “Don’t fight it. Close your eyes.”
Ryan spoke in a very weak voice. “Promise me…”
“I promise I will take care of Alex and Faith.”
Ryan closed his eyes and within minutes the alarms on his machines were beeping.
Alex walked off the elevator and Faith was standing there. “I was just coming to look for you.”
Alex handed Faith her coffee. “You mean that you were coming to look for your coffee.” Alex smiled.
“That too.”
“Let’s go check in on Ryan.” Alex took a sip of her coffee.
As they rounded the corner they saw the doctors and nurses running into Ryan’s room. Then they heard over the loud speaker, “CODE BLUE IN ICU. CODE BLUE IN ICU.”
Alex and Faith started running down the hall. Miguel ran toward Alex and grabbed both her and Faith.
“Let me go.” Faith pulled away from Miguel and ran toward Ryan’s room.
“Alex, I’m sorry.”
“No, no, he can’t be gone. He can’t.”
Miguel hugged Alex even tighter as she cried in his arms.
Faith pushed her way into Ryan’s room. “Save him! Why are you just standing there?”
“Mr. DiPietro has a DNR in place. I’m sorry but he’s gone.”
Faith dropped her coffee onto the floor and ran to Ryan’s side. “NOOOOO!” She laid her head on his chest hoping that she’d hear his heart beating but instead all she felt was his hard, cold chest against her cheek. Tears were pouring from her eyes and she was shaking. “I love you, Baby. I love you. Please come back to me.”
Alex placed her hand on Faith’s back. “He’s gone.”
“No, he can’t be.”
Miguel stood there watching Alex and Faith, he felt sick to his stomach knowing that he was the one who caused all of their pain and suffering.
Alex pulled Faith up and hugged her. “He’s gone.”
“No.”
“Faith, we need to say goodbye.”
Faith turned around and she kissed Ryan’s lips one last time. “I love you.”
Then Alex hugged her brother and kissed his forehead. “Goodbye, Ry.”
Miguel wrapped both Faith and Alex in his arms and together they all took one last look at Ryan and then he walked them out.
FAITH OPENED HER EYES, looked around Ryan’s bedroom and then burst into tears. It had been the same thing she had done for the past two weeks, since Ryan’s death. Aside from his funeral she hadn’t left his house. She couldn’t function knowing he was gone.
“Faith, are you here?”
Faith wiped her eyes and sat up in the bed. “I’m in the bedroom.”
Alex walked in and took one look at Faith and began to cry. Faith reached out her arms and Alex climbed onto the bed and hugged her. “I miss him so much.”
“I keep waking up hoping that this was all a bad dream.”
“Me too.”
“I know that Ryan would want me to be strong but I can’t. I just want to curl up and die so that I can be with him again.”
“You’re right. He’d want us to be strong. If he came in and saw us like this he’d be so angry.”
“How do we go on though?”
“We just do.”
“What if I can’t?”
“We can…together.”
“Alex, I want to find whoever did this and make them pay.”
“Miguel has a team of men making sure that they do.”
“Do you think they will?”
“Miguel always gets the bad guys, it’s what he does.”
Miguel went into his office and called Dane.
“Migs.”
“Can you talk?”
“Yes, I’m in a secure place.”
“Grimaldi’s men have backed down since the funeral. I don’t think that the girls are in danger any longer, however, I’ve left one man on each of them to be certain that they are safe.”
“I have my men in place, it won’t be much longer before we take can take them all down.”
“Thanks, Man.”
“No problem.”
“Keep me posted.”
“Migs.”
“Yeah.”
“How are you holding up?”
“It’s been rough to watch Alex suffer knowing that I am the one responsible for it.”
“Hey, you did what you had to do to protect her.”
“I’m not so sure that she’d see it that way.”
“Simmons is on the other line; I have to go.”
“Take care.”
“You too.”
Miguel hung up the phone, sat back in his chair and looked at Alex’s picture. His guilt was eating away at him.
Miles was in the living room with the baby monitor. He heard Cruz cry and got up to check on him. When he got to the door he saw Eden holding Cruz.
Eden had Cruz in her arms along with his favorite stuffed bunny. “Uncle Ryan got you this bunny when you were born. He…” Eden started to cry.
Miles rushed in and took Cruz from her and then with his free arm pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “I know you miss him.”
“I just can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Poor Faith. If you died I don’t know how I’d go on.”
“Let’s not even think that way.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“I would like to go and visit Faith if that’s alright?”
“Miles, you never have to ask my permission.”
“It wasn’t as much as asking for permission to see Faith but to see if you’d be alright if I left you alone.”
Eden smiled. “So that’s why you’ve been stuck to me like glue and I thought you just missed me too much to go to work.” Eden giggled.
“I know how close you and Ryan were. I know that you’re suffering too.”
“Thank you for understanding and for loving me.”
“I do love you.” Miles kissed Eden. “And you too, Peanut.” Miles kissed Cruz.
“We love you too.”
Alex got home and looked around but she couldn’t find Miguel. She decided maybe he was in the gym. “Miguel, are you down here?” Alex came to a halt when she saw Miguel sitting on the floor. “MIGUEL!” She ran to his side and dropped to her knees. “What’s wrong?”
Miguel had his knees against his chest and when he lifted up his head Alex could see that he had been crying. “
I’m so sorry, Alex.”
Alex hugged Miguel. “Sorry?”
Miguel’s guilt about what he had done had taken its toll on him and now the fear of losing Alex had become overwhelming. Miguel just broke down. “About Ryan.”
“Oh Honey, I’ve been so upset, I haven’t even thought about the fact that you’d be grieving too. I know you and Ryan weren’t the best of friends but you lost Reed too.”
“I can’t lose you, Alex.”
“You’re not going to lose me.”
“You understand that you are the most important person in the world to me?”
Alex placed her hand on Miguel’s cheek. “I know.”
“And I’d do anything to protect you…anything.”
“Miguel, you’re frightening me.”
“Alex, I did something…”
“What did you do?”
“Alex, I…”
“Mr. Cruz, I’m sorry but Detectives McQueen and Kent are here to see you.”
“I have to go.” Miguel stood up, wiped his face and then he hugged Alex.
“Miguel, wait.”
“I love you.” Miguel kissed Alex on her forehead before walking up the stairs.
Miles knocked and knocked until finally Faith opened the door.
“I thought that I was going to have to break in.”
“Come in.” Faith walked into the living room and plopped down onto the couch.
Miles plopped down next to her and grabbed her hand. “I thought I’d come by and hang out for a bit.”
“You didn’t come to read me the riot act and tell me that Ryan wouldn’t want me to grieve for him and that he’d want me to be strong.”
“Nope. Just thought that maybe you’d want some company.”
Faith snuggled against Miles’ chest and he wrapped his arm around her.
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to talk or would you rather we stay like this and chill?”
“I know that being here crying all day and night isn’t healthy but I don’t want to go on without him.”
“You have to go on for you. Faith, you are a young, smart, beautiful woman and I know it won’t be easy but you have a lot of people who love you.” Miles kissed Faith on the cheek. “And you don’t have to do it alone, but you have to do it.”
Sex & Lies (Undercover Love Series Book 3) Page 7