Basement Level 5: Never Scared (31 page)

“
Get out,” Owens growled. “You’ll regret the day you ever decided to mess with me, Leiland.”

“
I don’t regret anything, Clive.” Pop started down the long hallway. “Make sure you sleep with one eye open. You never know what could happen to you in prison.”

“
Guard,” Owens shouted.

Pop smiled, turned, and tipped his head at the livid prisoner. Owens could yell for a guard all he wanted, but no one was coming. He’d paid the guard handsomely to disappear for a couple of hours. He whistled as he inched away from Owens.

***

Over the next few hours, Alexa remained unconscious. Lei had finally convinced Dro to leave her bedside to eat, but he didn’t go too far, only as far as it took to get something to eat from the cafeteria. When he was done, he continued his vigil.

Seeing Alexa, lying so still in her bed, Dro couldn’t wait until this was all over—until he could put all of this mess behind them.

The shrill sound of one of the monitors filled the room. Before he could call Kendrick, the hospital room was flooded with medical personnel. Lei and Pop stormed in behind Kendrick. They watched helplessly as the doctors shouted orders and prodded Alexa with medical equipment.

“
You all need to wait outside,” Dr. Lambert instructed.

“
I’m not leaving,” Dro said.

“
Alejandro, you need to wait outside,” the doctor pressed.

“
Dro, come on. The doctors have to work on her.” Lei grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door.

Outside of the room, Dro paced back and forth. He was going crazy. The doctors had been in there for thirty minutes and he was worried sick. The hospital door creaked open and Dr. Lambert stepped out of the room. They all surrounded him.

“
What’s going on?” Lei asked. “Is she okay?”

Dr. Lambert swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

“
What are you talking about?” Pop bellowed. “What are you sorry for?”

Kendrick cursed. “Right, what are you sorry for?”

“
Lambert, what’s wrong with my wife?” Dro growled.

“
We tried to...” The doctor’s voice was grainy. “I’m sorry, Dro. She’s gone.”

CHAPTER 32

August 13, 2002
:

Dro peeked into the hospital room and was greeted by a smiling Alexa. He grinned at her. “Hi, baby.”

“
Hey.” Her voice was scratchy. She cleared her throat.

He looked down at his wife and his newborn baby girl, Alejandra Kyleigh Martinez. Kyleigh was wrapped in a pink blanket and Alexa was holding her against her bosom.

“
That’s my baby girl?” His eyes filled with tears of joy as he looked at his daughter’s plump, red cheeks. He shook his head in awe. He’d never seen anything so precious.

“
Yes, it’s her.”

He bent lower and kissed Alexa gently on her forehead. Then he looked at the tiny Kyleigh and rubbed her full head of jet black hair. “She’s so small,” he whispered. “So beautiful.”

“
I know. She’s perfect.”

“
I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

“
Shhh. No need to be sorry. Kendrick was here. Although, I’m sure he was scarred for life from the images.”

Her soft laugh caressed his ears. “I wanted to be here,” he told her, his voice shaky. “You know I did.”

“
I know you had business. The important thing is you’re here now.”

He swallowed roughly and reached for his daughter. She placed a squirming Kyleigh in his arms. Kyleigh opened her eyes and he gasped. “She has my eyes.”

Alexa beamed. “Yeah, they’re beautiful like her Papa’s.”

He cradled his daughter in his arms and rocked her. “She’s so beautiful. I can’t believe I’m a father. I’m your Papa,” he whispered to Kyleigh. “
Soy su Papá
,
la nena
.” He picked up Kyleigh’s little hand and swept a finger across her soft skin.

“
Did you take care of your business?” Alexa asked.

He bounced Kyleigh in his arms. “Everything is taken care of. Lei is outside. He can’t wait to see his niece. He’s adamant that you named her for him.”

“
He would think that. I just liked the name.” They had decided to name their first born after him, whether it was a boy or a girl. Alejandra meant “defender/helper.” Alexa wanted to call her by her middle name, Kyleigh, which was fine with him.

His daughter cooed in his arms and he felt his heart open up. “I just can’t believe it.” He glanced at Alexa. “Tell me about the birth. How are you? Are you sore?”

“
You have no idea. But I’m good. My water broke at noon, and Kendrick just happened to be with me.” Alexa had been on bed rest since Paul attacked her. “I’m just glad she is finally here. Getting her here, though, was very painful. It was worse than getting shot.”

She scooted over to clear a spot for him. He climbed in the bed next to her and she nuzzled into his side. “I kind of wanted to shoot the nurse, though,” she continued. “She kept telling me to breathe, and I didn’t want to breathe. I threatened them with bodily harm if they didn’t just pull the baby out. Of course they wouldn’t.” She giggled at her own recounting of the story.

He chuckled and kissed her on her forehead. “I was worried. Kendrick called screaming you had gone into labor and threatened to kick my ass for leaving him with you.”

Her light, airy laugh filled the room. “He couldn’t take it, especially when I broke his finger.”

It was his turn to laugh as he imagined Alexa snapping Kendrick’s finger. “That’s why he had that brace on his finger? That’s funny.”

“
Well, he didn’t think it was that funny.”

He kissed Kyleigh’s forehead. “Thank you, Baby.”

“
What are you thanking me for?”

“
For my life. You and Kyleigh are my life. I never thought I would feel like this. I really didn’t want to. I can’t imagine things any different. I love you so much. Thank you for giving me my life.”

She wiped a stray tear that fell from her eyes. “I didn’t do anything. I just love you.”

“
I know. You love me through everything.”

She reached out and rubbed Kyleigh’s hand. “You do the same for me. But next time I decide to go into labor with your child, be here.”

“
No doubt.”

She rubbed the top of Kyleigh’s head. “I want to give her everything I have. And some things I didn’t have. I never want to fail her. I never want her to feel fear.”

He wrapped his arms around Alexa and held both of his girls in his arms. “I know the feeling.” And he did because that’s how he felt about her—and now Kyleigh. Dro and his two girls settled into the bed. Eventually, they all fell asleep.

***

November 20, 2011
:

Dro closed his eyes and clenched his fists. He opened his eyes slowly, but it was still there—Alexa’s casket.

He sucked in a deep breath and willed himself not to lose it in the middle of the funeral. As the Pastor spoke, none of his words registered, going in one ear and out the other. But that was what he expected anyway. The Pastor, although he’d met her, did not know Alexa. There were certain things the Pastor could say, but he wouldn’t be able to capture her spirit. He wouldn’t be able to describe her smile or the way her hair fell like waterfalls down her back when she wore it curly. The Pastor wouldn’t be able to describe how her voice coated his insides and stilled his fears. Closing his eyes again, he sighed.

Dro never thought this was something he would have to do. He felt his hand being squeezed and looked to his left. Veronica was gripping his hand. Pop flew her, Ari, and Makayla in for the funeral. He didn’t want the kids there, though. He couldn’t stand seeing their crying faces or swollen eyes. The eulogy seemed to go on for hours and Dro wanted to stand up and order it to be done. He was “The Boss” after all. He could have things his way if he wanted. He knew this needed to be done, though, so others could say goodbye to his wife. His love. They needed closure, even though he just wanted it to be over.

He swallowed as he stared at the picture of Alexa standing next to the casket. It was a beautiful picture of her, but it still didn’t do her justice. She was even more beautiful in person. He longed to see her, to wrap his arms around her tight and never let go. He couldn’t.

“
Dro, they are wheeling the casket out,” Lei whispered in his ear. “We need to go.”

Dro rose to his feet and then followed the casket down the long aisle, with Ma on one side and Pop on the other.

At the cemetery, Dro watched as they lowered the casket into the ground and heard the soft cries of the mourners. He felt numb. He saw Chase kneel down by the grave and toss a rose in the hole. Kendrick had chosen to skip the funeral and Dro couldn’t blame him. He would have skipped it, if he could have gotten away with it.

Pop stood beside Dro in silence for a few minutes.

“
Son, it’s time to go,” he whispered.

Dro scanned the area. The cemetery had cleared out. The only people still there were those closest to him.

Ari squeezed his hand. “Let’s go, big brother.”

He nodded and let her lead him away.

***

In the limo, they sat in silence as the car drove them to their destination. “The plane is ready, Dro,” Lei said, closing his cell phone.

“
Did you take care of everything else?” Dro asked.

“
Everything is good. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Dro peered out of the window. “I need to do this for her and for the kids.”

When the limo arrived at the private air strip, the car emptied. Ari and Makayla entered the jet after saying their goodbyes to Veronica and Pop. Chase said his goodbyes next.

Lei kissed his mother’s brow. “Bye, Ma.” He embraced his father. “Talk to you soon, Pop.”

Tears gathered in the corner of Pop’s eyes as he patted Lei’s back. “Bye, son. Take care. I’ll be seeing you.” Lei climbed the stairs into the jet.

Dro turned to his in-laws—his real parents. They were there for him more than his own. “I’ll be in touch.”

Veronica caressed his jaw. “Bye, Dro.”

Pop embraced Dro. “Don’t worry about things here. I’ll take care of everything. Then, I’ll see you again.”

“
I know,” Dro said. “You’ve always taken care of everything, Pop. I can’t thank you enough. I love you both. Thank you.”

CHAPTER 33

November 21, 2011
:

For anyone curious enough to view their flight plan, it would seem like they were headed to Puerto Rico. Instead, they landed in Alicante, Spain—off Costa Blanca.

Since Kendrick hadn’t gone to the funeral, he’d flown to pick up the kids and his wife from Pop’s private compound in San Jose. It had surprised all of them when Pop revealed their location. Pop had managed to build a little haven no one knew about. They were all greatly relieved that the children were safe.

The limo pulled into the circular driveway of a massive estate in the mountains. When Kyleigh was born, Pop had secured the property and charged Chase with renovating it. Chase had spent nearly a year and a half in Spain, modifying the land and putting his own special touch on it.

When they exited the limo, the other passengers stood in awe. The house was just one of five on the ten acres of land purchased in the hills of Alicante. For security reasons, Dro bought all of the homes in the vicinity.

Ari had chosen to stay in the Dro’s villa, in a separate wing. After Alexa died, Ari informed Dro that she was tired of working and was ready to move on. The others pretty much followed suit.

Dro liquidated the Martinez Organization, choosing to leave that part of his life behind. He transferred ownership of Martinez Construction over to Chase. The construction business headquarters were relocated to Spain. Since Chase had practically lived in Spain for over a year, he had already made plenty of contacts and lined up other jobs.

Although Dro sold most of Martinez’s holdings, he chose to maintain ownership of the Martinez hotels, including the one in their home town. Over the years, they’d acquired hotels in various places, including Florida, Las Vegas, Brazil, and Madrid. Alexa had a passion for the hotels and insisted he expand that business. Kendrick agreed to help him run the hotels. The hotel in Canada was transferred to Chase and Kendrick’s parents, The Wilsons, because that’s where they wanted to relocate.

Pop purchased Martinez Security from Dro with the provision that he would change the name of the company. Dro didn’t want to be associated with it anymore. Pop also took over the business interests in Puerto Rico, including the casino and resort.

Pop stayed behind to tie up some loose ends for Dro. Then he and Veronica planned to go to their villa in San Jose, even though Dro wanted them to come to Spain. Pop promised to visit as often as possible.

Lei chose to remain on as legal counsel for all the businesses, but he would live in Spain with the others.

Dro stared at the sprawling, luxury villa sitting in front of him. The home was beautiful and, by far, Chase’s best work. Dro was impressed by the modern architecture. There were large glass windows and all rooms had views of the sea. There was a small gym, which was attached to an indoor pool on the lower level. There was an infinity pool outdoors as well, and a large garden on the grounds. The beach was less than two miles away from the house, and he was looking forward to taking the children as much as possible. He smiled as they walked through their home. He remembered how he and Alexa dreamed of making love on the beach. After he took a tour of the front of the house, he walked back into the main living area. Most of the windows were retractable and offered an intermingling of indoors and outdoors. They were open now, and he could feel the soft gentle breeze.