Reveal (Love & Beyond #2) (2 page)

          
Chapter Two

“How did we get into this room? Is this the room from Rome?”

“Yes it is, this is the first time you finally learned to trust again. It’s a memory of what meant a lot to you.”

“How come it’s just my memory then and not yours?”

“I don’t know, but you can’t keep reliving these memories, you need to make new ones out there, that’s why you need to wake up.”

“I can’t, I prefer it in here and it’s too hard out there. Can I stay in here and be happy? Look, stop worrying about me, how about you wake up? See, you don’t even want too.” The room starts spinning again and now where in a different memory. “Ok where did my clothes go?” I squeak, latching my arms around my cold pale skin. I’m looking around and I recognize this place, I think it’s my room, ooh I know what this is, first time me and Jared made love.

“It was a good night.” He says, raising my head to meet his lips. We keep jumping from memory too memory. Why can’t I stay in just the one?

“Because you’re running out of time Danni, the longer you don’t wake up, the deeper the memories get and sooner or later, you’ll start reliving the bad ones.”

“I’m not blind sighted, Jared. I know I’m not waking up. Therefore, no matter how much you guide me, it’s going to be the same outcome. It’s not too late for you though. I would love for you to stay in my crazy head with me, but you can’t.”

“I’m not leaving till you do.” Grabbing me closer to him he wraps his arms around me tightly, the room is spinning around again, which means we’re switching. Its different this time, I’m looking at a tall man, who looks really familiar and a young girl.  The man has short light brown hair; he only looks like he is in his thirties. He has green eyes, slightly tanned skin. The young girl he is sitting with, how do I know her? Oh my word, I’ve just felt a little jump strike my heart.

“Jared, that’s my dad! See he’s making the famous hot chocolate. This was after some girls at the park decided to be mean to me.  They said I was a spoilt girl and my mummy didn’t love me and they pushed me over. If you see on the left side of my head, it’s has a cut from where I hit the floor. He tells me that mummy does love me and those girls are just jealous because I’m a special little girl, I’m his princess. He also said I will change the world one day.”

“He seems like a great man.”

“He was.” He holds me tight again and the room spins once more. Were just in a black room.”

“Danni, they’re getting deeper, the deeper you get, the harder it is for you to wake. Please fight this. Someone is talking to me in the air, I can’t make it out, I think it’s your sister.” We’re interrupted by a huge bang and someone screams.

“You whore, what’s that?” I know what that is.

“Jared, I don’t want to go back to that memory, please help me.” A gush of strong winds starts howling and I start to take off. Jared’s trying to hold on to my hand, but the wind is too strong. “No, I don’t want to go. Don’t let go Jared.” I’m trying to keep hold of his hands but my hands slip and I’m sucked into a black hole.

                                            *****

“Ok Andi, I’ll probably pop in and see her later, can’t not go and see Miss Shaw now can I.”

“Ha-ha she has that effect on you too? It’s good to know she has so many people that care about her, only if she knew it.” Oh my god, what the hell is that? I’m jumped by someone’s hand grabbing my arm.

“Sir you’re awake.”

“Oh my god Jared, you almost gave me a heart attack, he’s trying to say something, Jared what is it? Andrew, go and get the doctor.” I turn back to Jared and grab his hand; he’s trying to catch his breath like something just caught him of guard. “Jared, are you ok?” He’s nodding yes and pointing to the glass of water. The door slams open with the nurses and doctors, they come rushing in to attend to him and they need to remove the tube that’s down his throat. Yes, now I’m thinking, what an idiot asking him is he ok when he can’t speak. 

They’re checking him over; his wound is on the left side of his chest, his pulse and whatever else they need to do. I turn to Andrew and say. “Andrew, I’m going to leave, let me know when there finished.”

“Stay mam, it’ll be nice for him to see someone other than me.” I roll my eyes to say, oh fine.

After about ten minutes they leave to order some tests, I grab the glass of water that’s on the bedside table and pass it to him, he looks extremely weak. He nods to say thank you. I need to help him hold the glass up because he is that weak, he’s struggling to balance it. “How are you feeling sir? Probably not the best time telling you, but now your awake, you’re going to have to do a statement to the police on what happened and while you’re at it, maybe explain to me what happened?” In a weak tone, he manages to slur out.

“Didn’t Danni tell them? Where is Danni?” Andrew and I, just glare at each other, trying to decide which one of us should tell him, or not tell him. I nod and tilt my head to the side to suggest that Andrew should fill him in.

“Well sir, she in room a, she got shot too. You both didn’t get found till a day later, it’s a miracle you both where still breathing, with the amount of blood loss.”

“What? How? Is she dead?” The worry in his eyes, I can see right through them, the fear of him losing her has scared him.

He starts launching the covers of himself, trying to get up, and he falls out of the bed doing so. Andrew and I run over to help pick him back up and place him back on to the bed.

“Jared, you can’t go and see her, you need to get your energy back first. Do you want to end up back unconscious? And no, she’s not dead, but she’s barely holding on. She got shot at the top of her chest; whomever it was who shot her, was in a rush to get out. Look, I know you’ve just woke up, but who was it?” He looks down in shame and then looks over at Andrew.

“She back Andrew, I didn’t even know she was alive, Sabrina, she back.” Now even Andrew looks shocked.

“Ok, so who is Sabrina?” Andrew looks and Jared for permission to tell me, something tells me I’m not going to like this.

“Mam, Sabrina is his wife.”

“What?” I snap, ok, I did not expect that. I want to so badly run over and smoother him to death right now. “So hold up, you played my sister? Are you fucking kidding me, she trusted you and because she trusted you, she lying there and could possibly die, you bastard.” I launch at him, but Andrew stops me. I’m not going to even attempt to fight him. I am majorly pissed off right now.

“Andi it’s not like that, I thought she was dead.”

“Ok, so how is it you thought she was dead and then out of the blue she not? Do you think I’m a fool, does Danni know?”

“Yes she knows who she is, she shot us, she told her just before she shot at Danni, I jumped in front of her to stop her getting shot. Sabrina must have shot her after I hit the deck.”  This is unreal. Wow, I thought I had a complicated life.

“Ok, so tell me why would she do this then? What happened with you two, for her to target my sister?”

“She went for Danni because of me; she went for the one thing that means most to me in this world, to hurt me. Look, I can’t tell you what happened till I’ve told Danni, once I’ve told her, you’ll soon find out.”

“Well we need to get Danni awake first, she’s not responding to anything.”

“She will come back from this! She’s too strong not too. Can I go and see her?”

“Sure, you’ll have to hold on to Andrew and I, as you can hardly stand. Actually, screw that! Andrew, can he have a wheel chair? We’ll push him on that.”

“Sure!”

“Look, Andi! I know this sounds appalling, but you have to believe that I never meant for this to happen, I really thought she was dead. I would never betray Danni like that. I love her too much. My heart was in the right place, I promise.”

“Jared, I don’t question your love for her, you’ve tried saving her life by jumping in front of a bullet to protect her, even from day one all you’ve done is try to help Danni. So trust me, I know you love her and she loves you, but I do question the fact that you didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth, or for that matter, why you didn’t trust her enough to tell her, that’s the betrayal right there. She trusted you from day one; hey she told you what happened to her, which was hard for Danni to do and for you not to return that trust, is betraying her. You know once she wakes up, she going to want answers and then I’m not even sure she going to want to be a part of your life anymore.” He don’t respond back because he knows there is truth in my words, I actually feel sorry for the guy.

Once Andrew returns with a wheel chair, we head towards Danni’s room, hopefully he can wake her with his words. Walking back to Danni’s room, we didn’t talk, I think I burdened him with guilt; we stay in silence till we reach Danni’s room. I’m watching his facial expressions, he looks like he is dreading seeing her, it’s the look I get every time I see Danni all wired up. Before we go to open the door there is beeping coming from the other side and a heard of doctors and nurses rush in. I leave Jared’s side and rush into the room. “Darla, what’s happened?” She is in hysterics crying, trying franticly to spit her words out.

“She just stopped breathing, her heart rate just keeps dropping down, I think she is dying.” I fall to the floor on my knees, I feel like my heart is being ripped out, please no, no! She cannot die. Darla comes to me, picks me up of the floor and wraps her arms around me, where both are shedding our tears. Jared finds the power to get out the chair and go to Danni and grabs her hand, I can see him cry and I’ve never seen him like that before, I can hear him saying.

“Danni, please wake up, you can fight this.” He’s getting pushed away by the doctors, while they use the defibrillator to shock her back. Darla and I look on in fear. Jared is walking back and forth, Andrew is trying to stop him before he collapse. They do the first jolt, it don’t work, oh my god I can’t lose my sister, please come on, the cry’s from all of us, are echoing around the room, I’m praying please, they’ve just done another jolt and still nothing, she’s not responding. I can hear them saying.

“Shall we call it sir?”

“No, there’s still hope, one more time, after three.” They give her the last jolt, please say it works, I can hear beeping.

“She back, thank god, give her a higher dosage of her medicines and double that drip.” We all look up in relieve. We go to be by her side, I knew I should’ve of stayed here. Jared looks like he’s about to collapse.

“Andrew, sit Jared down over here, before he does more harm to himself, you can sit right next to her, Jared.”

“No, I don’t need to sit, can I have a few minutes alone with her please?”

“Sure, but we have to stay in the room. One, because I’m not leaving the room after what has just happened and two, you need someone here in case you collapse, we’ll just stand next to the door.” We leave him too it, I watch his movements, he sits on the bed carefully so he doesn’t knock into her and he places his hand around hers and he’s glaring at her, he looks around to see if we’re not watching, I turn my head away but I listen in to what he is saying.

“Hey baby, it’s me! I’m here now, I’m so sorry this happened, it’s all my fault, I should have told you. Soon as you wake up, I’ll tell you everything. You need to come back to me, I can’t live without you, even if you want to kick my ass and leave me for this, but baby please wake up, I love you.  Can you feel that, my lips on your delicate hand, if you can feel that, please follow it, a little movement or anything. You know your sister and Darla is here right and also Andrew, so they’re going to take the piss out of me for this, so come save me, my life is not worth living if you’re not in it.

                
 
Chapter
Three

I’m so glad that memory was over with; I was able to get out before it went to bang.

“Jared, where are you?” He must have finally gone. I’m glad he did, although I’m left on a beach now by myself. I’ll just lay down and listen to the sound of the waves, it’s peaceful like that, it will help me move on. I lay on the soft sand, flow my hands through it a couple of times and close my eyes hoping it’ll be the end of it all. What is that poking me? Can’t I rest in peace? I open my eyes slowly as they’re feeling extremely heavy, it’s like a weight is on both of them. The sun is too bright, I see a figure looking over me and there saying.

“Peanut, come on, get up.” Peanut? Who is that? Only two people in the world call me that. Whoever it is, they are picking me up of the floor. I finally can focus; a hitch of over joy seeks upon me. I wrap my arms around him.

“Hey daddy, what are you doing here? I’ve missed you so much.”

“I know, peanut. Come on, let’s sit, we need to talk.” Just like that, we’re back at a house, the house we grew up in, it’s amazing.

“Daddy not that I’m not glad to see you, because I am. How are you here?”

“Well, how about you tell me, as these are your memories; we’re in your head?”

“I guess I really have needed you, these last few years it’s been hard for me you know.” He places a hot chocolate in front of me; it makes me want to well up in happiness, just like when I was a kid. The hot chocolate is over loaded with whip cream, marshmallows sprinkled on top and chocolate shaving to finish.

“Peanut, I’ve seen how things have been for you, I’ve been watching. I wish I could have helped. If I was alive, I would have killed everyone that hurt you. I’ve also seen how much of a strong woman you have become, after everything, I’m so proud of you. But sweetie, you can’t hide in your head forever, you know you’re going to die if you don’t fight this and you have so much going for you. Let’s not forget your new niece and nephew, they need to know there amazing aunt.”

“You know about them?”

“Like I said, I’ve been watching, it’s good to know I’ve got cute grand kids. So peanut, you need to wake up and go back to them.”

“But what if I don’t want too? I’m ready to die, it’s too hard out there and it’s nothing but pain and torture. Everything keeps getting thrown at me, I can’t even be happy because of it. I just want it all to stop daddy.” I start to weep and I cup my face in defeat, my dad folds his arms around me, oh how much I’ve missed him being here.

“I know peanut, but you’re missing the bright side, things are only getting started for you. Yes, you may have hit to the ground, but you always get back up and fight harder. You have a great path coming your way, someone who loves you and I strongly believe he is the one for you. You have your friends, Darla and Carl and your brother and sister. Can you see the bigger picture here? Don’t give up, darling! Can you hear that? Someone is speaking to you and for what I can see, through the sparks coming of you; it is someone whom you have a strong connection with and who you love dearly, they speak to your soul. You should go to them, be brave peanut and remember, don’t let it bring you down. Revenge is sweet and you have that in you, go. I’m always around, love you peanut and tell your sister and brother that too. 

                                           *****

“Please Danni, wake up! Move your finger, or move anything.” He should give up, it’s not going to work. Maybe we should go back over.”

“Oh my god, Andi! She’s moving, she moving her little finger, quick come here.” The hope in his voice is reassuring, we all run over to them. We stand there in hope, waiting for an eye to open. All she doing at the moment is slowly moving her right hand, this feels like we’re all waiting to see if we’ve won the lottery, the anticipation is crowding. Her eyes are rolling. “Oh my god, someone go get the doctor.”

“No!” We all say in unison, including Andrew, we all want to be here when she wakes up. Her eyes are opening, oh god, I could jump for joy.

“Now can someone call a doctor to get the tube out her throat? None of us can go to her till it’s out.” Still no one moves, seriously screw it, I’ll press the emergency button.

Soon as I press it, a loud sharp tone bangs out and within seconds, there all in here like a flash attending to her. Pulling her tube out, checking her pulse, her eyes.

“She okay everyone, a little drained and weak but she okay. We’ll leave you all too it, someone will be in to check on you every hour, encase you suddenly deteriorate. Mr Hall, I strongly suggest you get back to your room, you look exhausted and you only woke up a short while ago. We also have to check on you every hour, so you have ten minutes, then back to your room.”

“Hey baby sis, how are you feeling? It’s good to see you up and running again.” She sheds a smile as if that’s the only strength that she has. I offer her some water to see if it helps, although I don’t think it does, it’s just polite to offer.

“Hey bitch, how about you quit getting yourself in these situations that land you in here? It’s not good for your complexion.” There is still no word from her. She just scoping out the room, looking at everyone.

“Good to see you awake, Miss Shaw.” She trying to get her words out, but she struggling, maybe someone should talk to her, it might help push. I’ll go sit next to her, it might help. Sitting on her bed near her side, I grab her cold sleek hand that’s as pale as snow, to reassure her everything is ok and not to push herself.

“Were all here Danni, it’s good to see you awake again, you don’t need to talk, catch your breath and don’t push.” She builds all her strength up to gasp her words out, very weakly she manages to say.

“I saw dad, he told me to tell you and Adam, he’s watching and he loves you both. It sounds crazy I know, but everything else is a blur.”

“That’s not crazy; I would have loved to seen him. Once you’re up and running, be prepared for all the press and the police will want a statement of you later ok? When you’re up to it, tell me what happened, you know I’m here for you.” Saying them words to her, looked like it pissed her of a little and she just glared straight at Jared. I’ve never seen her look at him like that, it’s like she burning a hole right through him. It’s not hurt, its anger and disappointment. I jump at the grip of her hand as she squeezing it tighter and digging her nails in. “Ouch Danni, that hurts, let go.”

“Tell Jared to come here please.”

“Jared, she wants you, if I was you, don’t let her get hold of your hand.” I warn him as he brushes past me staggered. He goes to place his hand on hers and she pushes it away, that’s like a knife being stabbed in your back. I listen in to what she has to say to him.

“You lied, go get some rest and when we’re feeling alive again, you can count on me coming to you for an explanation, but for know I want you to leave.” That’s harsh, he goes in for a kiss and she turns her head away. I can tell that stung, he does as she wishes and gets up and gesture to Andrew and they leave to head back to his room.” 

“Harsh Danni, don’t you think?”

“Yeah well, if only you knew.”

“I know he jumped in front of a bullet for you, but yes I also know about the wife thing too, but that’s all I know. I don’t know anything else.”

“Wow! Hold up, he has a wife?”

“Yeah Darla, he does! Something he forgot to tell me.”

“He told me he thought she was dead? How can you not know if someone is alive?”

“Well.. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.”

“Well, I’m guessing you’ll need some rest, so Darla and I, will leave you too it, if you want us, make a call and we’ll come straight to you ok.”

“Your right, I should rest, although I have only just woke up, I do have lots to think about though.”

“About, Jared?”

“Pretty much, don’t get me wrong I love him, I just don’t know if I can get past the whole wife thing you know?”

“Maybe talk to him, then make a decision Hun, you’ll only regret it otherwise, because you don’t know the full story. So don’t make any rash decisions.”

“She right Danni, don’t do your usual on this one. Only so many times you can walk out on someone before they give up.”

“Well I’ll think about it, find out the truth.  Andi, I think Alex knows of this secret, before Jared proposed he said only Alex and his sister knew of it. Bring it up in conversation and you can tell him from me, that I’m pissed at him for not telling me.”

“Danni I’m sure he didn’t know, he wouldn’t keep this from me, he just wouldn’t.”

“Fine, ask Jared then or wait till you get back, but trust me Jared told me he did.”

“Ok, I’ll ask, I hope it’s not true.” I walk over reluctantly, with hearing this information; I give her a peck on the head and tell her I’ll see her later. I latch on to Darla’s arm and we head out to find Andrew, as he’s are driver, he’s probably in Jared’s room, good, I can ask him.

“Do you really think Alex knew? If he did, you know he would have not said anything in loyalty to Jared, it wouldn’t have been anything against you.”

“I know, but what about the loyalty to me? And Danni for that matter?”

“Him and Jared have been friends for as long as me and Danni have, if tables were turned and I promised Danni, I wouldn’t say anything to anyone, not even Carl! I would keep the promise. I wouldn’t say anything, not without her permission; just keep that in mind ok.” We head towards Jared’s room and I knock aggressively, I’m feeling rather pissed right now, gritting my teeth to keep myself calm. Andrew opens the door.

“Come in, girls.” There is some tall man in a suit talking to him; he looks to be in his late thirties, blondish, combed back hair. I’m guessing that’s his partner, the young female, her hair badly put up in a pony tail, reddish colour hair, long knee high skirt, shirt and jacket that drains her colour. I’m guessing their the investigate team. 

“Andrew, were ready to leave, are you ok to take us back please?”

“Sure, mam! Sir, are you going to be alright, while I take these ladies back?”

“Yeah sure Andrew, just hurry up back.”

“Jared, quick question, does Alex know about Sabrina? And what the story is behind it?  I don’t care what it is; I just want a yes or no.” He hesitates for a minute to tell me, but I glare at him till I get an answer.

“Yes he does, he’s my oldest friend, I’m bound to tell him, but don’t grill him Andi, I made him promise never to say anything it’s the past.” Disappointment over flows me, I cannot believe he didn’t tell me or at least stop him and Danni being together.

I don’t say a word on the way back to the house, I feel quite thwarted, I’m his wife he should have told me. Well once I hit home I’m not beating around this.

“Thanks for the lift Andrew.”

“No problem Andi, see you later.” We wave bye to him as he roars of down the road, he must be in a hurry and I’m not ready for this conversation.

We walk in and I go straight to my babies, which are fast asleep. I want to wake them and give them a cuddle, I’ve missed them. I won’t disturb them; they need their sleep, they look like angels. Alex comes over, wraps his long arms around me and starts massaging his lips to mine.

“We’ve missed you, Any news?”

“Right Carl, before they get into this, that’s our que to leave, I’ll fill you in on the way home, bye guys.” Carl looks all confused as Darla grabs him by his top and heads towards the door to leave. Once I hear the door shut, I turn back to Alex.

“There awake, both of them. It turns out Jared was shot first, as he jumped in front of a bullet for Danni, then shortly after, Danni was shot, they were left unknown for a day, which now we know that. I have Also found out something that should not surprise you, someone called Sabrina shot them; Jared’s wife?” His jaw drops to the floor to say oh shit, but he looks shocked too.”

“Ahh, right, okay, erm.. Well I thought she was dead?”

“Obviously not, but one question that’s really pissing me off is, why did you not tell me? I’m your wife and why did you let him and Danni get so close, if you knew of Sabrina?  Oh, and the bigger question I want to know is, what is the story behind it and why would you all think she dead?”

“Ok, firstly, calm down please and don’t get mad, hear me out. Firstly, I swore to Jared I wouldn’t tell anyone, he’s my best mate. Come on Andi, you can’t say if it was your best mate you wouldn’t have their back? Secondly, I tried to stop him and Danni from getting together, I warned him loads, but there in love with each other, you know once you’ve made such a connection to someone you can’t part. It’s like me and you; nothing can part us can it? And you know how much they love each other, you can see it every time you’re in the room with them, they let of toxins. Thirdly, I’m sorry I can’t tell you the story behind it, well not yet anyway.”

“Why can’t you tell me? Do you have to wait until Jared gives you permission?”

“Yes, it’s his secret, so I can’t, not till he tells Danni, you know how hurtful that would be to her if other people like yourself knew before she did? You know she deserves to know the truth on what happened, before anyone else does and as her sister you should respect that.”