Dark Love (The Two Sides of Me Book 3) (34 page)

“You told her.”

“Yes, I did.”

“I have just enough time to finish my treatment and help you with the babies.” She clasps her hands together, and my heart swells with love for this woman who is ready to dedicate possibly the last years of her life to helping me raise my children.

“I can’t wait for that.” I move out of Evans's arms and sit on the edge of her bed.

“When do you get released?”

“Two more days of the terrible food in this place and I’m coming home, unless I can escape sooner, do you think you could bring a car tomorrow?” She's teasing, but I would do it, no questions asked.

“Hey I worked in this hospital for ten years and the food is pretty good, nothing like your home cooking of course.”

“Oh, I bet you can’t wait for me to come home and make you a hardboiled egg and some ginger tea.” She says full of sarcasm.

“You make the best ginger tea, but no one is going to let you cook; I’m going to take care of you for a change.” Her face dims, and I realize my mistake she lives to take care of others it makes her happy; she’s been doing it her entire life.

“Well for a little while I mean, when you’re up to it I’d love to have you cook for us again.” Evan pats me on the back.

“Now you have the right idea.”

“We should go and let her rest so she can come home soon.”

“Aw, do we have to go?”

“It’s ok, you go, take care of those babies; get some rest.” She slips her soft hand over mine and squeezes it reassuringly, and I have to admit I could use a good long nap.

“Come, let her rest,” Evan says tugging on my hand, I kiss her on the cheek before standing, he slides in front of me to kiss her on the forehead lovingly and for the second time today my heart expands. The way her eyes brighten under the light of his love is amazing; his addictive magnetism doesn’t end with me.

“I’ll bring a car for you tomorrow,” I say teasing and winking at her

“I’ll be ready to go.” Evan looks back and forth between us suspiciously.

“We’re kidding hijo go. I promise to stay until the doctor says it’s ok to go home.” He scowls and I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle while Cecelia shoos us away. On our walk back to the parking lot, I wrap both of my arms around his waist when we reach the Escalade.

“I adore you, Mr. Lawson.”

“I’m quite smitten with you as well, Mrs. Lawson let’s go home.” Just as Evan places his hand on the handle of the SUV an explosion rocks the hospital behind us, moving the ground under our feet the blast pushes us toward the vehicle in front of us, I squat down and Evan covers my body with his own. My ears ring and I feel Evan’s chest vibrating as he speaks inaudible words while he guides me around to the driver’s side away from the blast, he works fervently to get the door open and when he does, he shoves me inside. I go willingly until it hits me that Cecelia is inside that hospital; I can’t leave until I know she’s safe.

When I begin to fight he grabs my arms to shake me hard twice. He speaks directly into my face so I can read his lips.

“We have to go!” I try to turn away from him and escape through the passenger door but the locks silently slide down and the ringing in my head intensifies, I struggle with the door but he’s already pulling away jerking the SUV from its parking spot and taking the curves of the parking garage at a frightening speed until we are free and speeding in the opposite direction from where I want to be.

I turn and kneel, holding onto the back of the seat to look out the window behind us at the burning hospital getting smaller and smaller as we flee, black smoke is billowing from a floor half way up the main tower, right where Cecelia’s room is. The tears begin to flow and I sink down back against the dash and cover my face.

Evan is swatting at me and I know he wants me to put on my seatbelt and turn around but I can’t hear a word he says, I don’t want to hear him, I want to go back.

“Where are we going?” After finally turning around I realize we aren’t headed toward the house but when I ask I can’t even hear myself speak. I don’t think Evan hears me either, when I turn to him, he’s focused on the road ahead of us. I reach out and tap him on the arm he startles and instinctually grabs ahold
of my wrist.

After a lifetime of abuse and being in the mob he’s been left a little touchy especially when it’s his sense of hearing that’s missing. Immediately I’m released and we pull over onto the side of the road. I watch as he grips the steering wheel, his chest heaving up and down gasping for breath. I think he’s hyperventilating but I can’t help him, I can’t say anything that he will hear.

Texting, we’ve done this before, I need my phone, my purse where the hell is my purse? I feel around until I find it on the floor and dig out my phone to text my husband who is sitting right next to me, ridiculous.
I want to go back! Where are we going? What the hell is going on? Can you hear anything?
I pass him the phone and he reads before quickly texting a response.
Under NO circumstances am I taking you back there, we are going somewhere safe, someone just tried to kill us and I only hear ringing, are you ok?
He jerks the phone when handing it back and looks sternly at me.
Evan we have to make sure she’s ok, no place is safe.
Shaking his head back and forth he replies and hands it back again.
We can’t go back, I’ll have Saint check on her but we have to leave town, now. I have a friend who we can stay with until I figure out what is going on.

I feel the vibration of the engine starting and before I can protest or ask another question we have pulled back onto the road. Thirty minutes later we are traveling through a beautiful residential area. I’ve never been here before but Evan maneuvers every corner as if it
were his own neighborhood. Three turns later we pull into a cul de sac and straight down the driveway to a house set far back from the street surrounded by mammoth evergreen trees that are so thick it feels as if the sun has gone under the clouds. The ringing in my ears continues but softer, less bothersome. Evan side glances at me and I look at him with question, I wish we could hear each other
, damn it. I’d like to know whose house this is. When we stop in front of a professional NBA basketball hoop near the house I give verbal communication another try. “Whose house?”

“Her name is Serena; she worked for me at Dominus for 11 years.” So he can hear me, good because I’m not liking the idea of showing up at an ex-girlfriend's house when our lives are at risk. “She was a performer, Mia, not my girlfriend, and when she got too old for performing she worked in administration. We can trust her; she is as loyal as they come. How is your hearing?” Nice change of subject there.

“I can hear you, how do you know she’s loyal?”

“Mia, just trust me” I turn to look at the quaint A-frame house that is bathed in the unusual sunlight of this cold Seattle winter day. Thick green moss blankets every surface of the woods and a small bridge arches over a tiny frozen stream. When I turn my attention back to him, the look on his face is similar but not equal to begging and as always, I cave.

“Oh all right, whatever.” I say under my breath, I can’t hear my own words being spoken but Evan knows I’ve surrendered and he’s already out of the vehicle and opening my door. I roll my eyes as he takes my hand to help me from the front seat.

“What if she’s not home? Does she live alone?” He leads me along the stone path in front of the house while he gives me a very abridged version of Serena’s life.

“She will be home and no she isn’t married, she has a son but he’s in college on a basketball scholarship. She is wheelchair bound and does not care to leave the house.” I suddenly feel bad for her and wonder what lead a performer to being in a wheelchair. He reaches for the bell but before he can press it the door is opened by a gorgeous exotic African American women.

“Evan?”

“Serena.” He leans down for a hug, her arms circle his neck and her hands clutch the back of his coat frantically. The embrace lasts long enough that I begin to feel like an intruder but when Evan pulls away I notice her eyes are brimming with tears leading me to think these two must share some sort of emotional past.

Holding her delicate hand he turns to introduce me.

“Serena, I’d like you to meet my wife, Mia.” Her face lights up and she’s reaching out to pull me into an equally fierce hug.

“Your wife? Evan Nathaniel Lawson, you did not tell me you were getting married? And I wasn’t invited to the wedding?!” She speaks so softly I can barely hear her and I wonder if she has some hearing deficit or maybe my own is so messed up I’m misinterpreting the volume.

“It was…unexpected and we haven’t had a wedding yet, you are, of course, on the guest list.”

“Oh well in that case, get inside it’s cold out there.” She maneuvers the wheelchair away from the door allowing us to pass. Evan guides me down a short hall that opens into a breathtaking room. The back of the house is all glass that overlooks the forest and beyond it to dock and a lake, it’s like sitting in the woods minus the cold. A fire burns in a wood burning stove to my left making the room seem cozy and a floor to ceiling book shelf covers the entire wall on my right.

“Wow, this is gorgeous.”

“Thank you, I designed it myself, well with a little help from Evan, that is.”

“You?” He nods sliding his hands into his jean pockets and leaning on the door frame casually looking around taking it all in.

“So what brings you to my neck of the woods, pun intended?” She giggles but Evan’s face darkens remembering the seriousness of our visit.

“Oh no, what’s wrong?” she asks all humor gone from her beautiful face.

“We are in a bit of trouble.” He straightens and motions me to join him on a big overstuffed white couch in the center of the room.

“Well of course you are, God forbid you visit an old friend out of the blue just because.”

“I’m sorry, Serena; life has been very complicated lately.”

“Your life has been complicated since the day your mama pushed you from the womb, what in particular has you gracing my doorstep today?”

“
I think someone is…” When he hesitates I but
t in,

“Trying to kill us!” I finish for him sensing that he’s going to minimize the situation but she should know what he’s involving her in.

“What’s new?” She flips her wrist in mock surprise.

“What she means is, we suspect someone might be watching us.”

“And sending death threats, and blowing up hospitals.” I add as her gaze bounces from his face to mine.

“I just thought we could stay with you until I can figure out what exactly is going on.”

“Blowing up hospitals?” she repeats.

“Well we were visiting Cecelia and when we left there was an explosion. I don't know if it had anything to do with us or not.” He’s really irritating me now with his insouciance.

“Ok, wait a minute here, you have had death threats and a close call with a bomb, have you called the police?” No sooner are her words spoken than she seems to realize how stupid they are.

“Never mind, I’ve been away from that life so long I’ve forgotten you don’t involve the police, silly me. You’re welcome here for as long as you need, make yourself at home.” She spreads both arms wide and I’m momentarily relieved to have a safe place to hide.

“I would like to know a little more about the death threats and bombs, though.”

“Thank you, Serena, I need to make a few phone calls. Mia can fill you in.”

“Of course, you can use my office if you like.”

“I will, thank you.” Evan squeezes my knee and pecks me on the mouth before leaving me alone with his friend; I watch his backside disappear into a room opposite the couch. When I look back to Serena she is considering me thoughtfully.

“I have to say before he returns that I don’t know that man, the Evan I knew was never affectionate or…happy. What have you done to him?”

“Oh, I can’t take credit for that, he was my patient after a car accident. He was in a coma for a while and when he woke up he was like this, well not exactly like this, he had brain surgery recently and thankfully it was successful.”

“I did hear about the accident and Cameron, so sad.” She shakes her head and wrings her hands in her lap. I’m not sure what to say at this point, Cameron isn’t my favorite topic.