The door opens, and we step out, walking down the hall to her room. Right as we get to her door, we hear laughing. We glance at each other as we sit there for a few seconds and listen to her and Naomi giggling back and forth.
“That’s a sound I never thought I’d hear again,” Reyes says as he grabs the handle and pushes the door open.
“Me too, brother, and damn, it’s like music to my ears,” I whisper, following him in.
Walking in, Raven is sitting on the bed, and Naomi is right beside her. Raven apparently went rogue while we were gone, disconnecting her IVs and wires. One of them changed the bandages on her wounds, but left a few of them uncovered. Seeing the healing wounds on her perfect body has me ready to cut people up.
“Hey, boys,” she cheers, her and Naomi still giggling about something.
“Hey, Babe. What’s got you two laughing so hard?” Reyes questions as he walks to her bedside and kisses her head.
“Don’t worry, we're just catching up on all the girl talk,” Naomi replies, and I raise a brow at her.Lord only knows what those two have up their sleeve.
“Alright, go get that doctor. It’s time to break me out of this place,” Raven demands as she starts to swing her leg off the bed.
“Don’t worry, we will call him. Slow down. You haven’t really been up and walking around much since you woke up,” I command, moving to help her plant her feet on the tiled floor.
Reyes reaches over and pushes the call button, the nurse instantly coming over the speaker. “Yeah, can you send the doc in please?” he replies to her.
“Have either of you seen Marco? It’s been a few days, and that’s not normal for him. He doesn’t miss work, and he damn sure answers when I call,” Naomi questions, looking at us.
“He helped me clean up Raven’s bike off the road. Other than that, no, I haven’t seen him at all,” Reyes replies, looking over at me with a look I know all too well. The guy that was described last night, thinking about it now, looks a lot like Marco.
“Have you talked to Eddie? Maybe he’s seen or talked to him, or got him on a job?” I reply, looking back at Naomi.
“I don’t know, I’ll ask him. It’s just weird. Like, he hasn’t even checked on her,” she says, pointing at Raven.
Running my hands through my hair, I spin on my heels and pace the floor.Where the fuck would he have gone? Could he have really been the one to get that drug? I mean, he’s always been there for Raven.Wait a damn minute. He’s always there for her, helping her. That guy was with him the day she dropped her bike off. No.No, no, no.I spin around and pin Naomi with a stare and can feel all eyes on me as I walk up to her.
“Would he hurt her? I mean, he’s been with the enemy before. Who’s to say he’s not playing both sides of this? Now, all of a sudden, he’s missing when she’s supposed to be dead and my best friend was taken,” I seethe, clenching my fists.
Naomi stands, walking up and getting right in my face. Raising her hand to slap me, I catch it before it makes contact with my face. “What makes you think that? He would never! He was her friend and loyal to Eddie,” she shouts as I release her hand and scrub mine down my face.Nothing makes sense anymore.
“Surely not. I mean, I trust him and Eddie does too. I don’t think he’d betray us. Would he?” Raven says, limping up to me and Naomi, Reyes hot on her heels. Looking over her head to my best friend, he looks just as confused as me. Neither one of us knows what to think or believe.
The doctor walks in, pulling all of our attention to him.
“Ahh, Ms. Martinez, I see you’re up and about today,” he states, looking over her chart. “How are you feeling? I see the IV has been removed.” He looks at her with a raised brow, like he knows she took it out herself.
“I’m feeling fine, still sore in places. I can walk, but maybe with a slight limp from the bruising and wounds,” she replies, trying to act all innocent. “So I can go, right? I mean, these guys can help me out there. I’m just really ready to be at my house to finish healing,” she asks, laying the charm on thick.This girl could probably talk herself out of almost anything.
“If you think that would be better, I’ll let you go home. You still need to take it easy though. Your ribs are healing, and make sure to change out those bandages. I’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to check that wrist again,” he states, and the grin that spreads across her face lights up the entire room. “Give me a few to get your discharge paperwork,” he says before he turns to walk out of the room.
“Fuck yes, finally. Now to go find our boy,” she cheers.
“I’m going to talk to Eddie. Let me know when you make it home. Be safe, okay,” Naomi says, wrapping her arms around Raven. She looks between me and Reyes, then turns and walks out the door.
Stepping out of the main entrance after getting her discharge papers, Raven takes an audible inhale, almost like she’s missed the fresh air and the sun on her face. Looking at me, she gives the biggest grin. Turning to Reyes, I assume she does the same.
“Alright, boys, home. Let’s go fucking home. I’m ready to set this plan in motion tonight,” she says, walking over to the truck. Opening the front door for her, I pick her up and sit her in the seat. “Always the gentleman. Don’t think I haven’t noticed your hands either.” She chuckles, and I shut the door and climb into the backseat. Getting in and starting the truck, I watch as Reyes just stares at her for a second before turning forward, putting the truck in drive, and pulling out of the parking lot into traffic.And to think we almost lost the one thing that gives us light in our life.
Chapter 15
Luis
“Come on, Big Brother, fight harder. She needs you, they all need you. Stay alive.”
I jolt awake at the sound of my little sister's voice. It seemed so real, like she was laying right beside me. Looking around and taking in the scene, I realize I’m still in the same hell hole I have been in.Thank god she’s definitely not here with me.Reaching up to my neck, it’s then I realize I’m still wearing this stupid metal collar that’s chained to the wall. I decided days ago that I wasn’t going to give up. Even though she’s dead, my brothers need me. So, every day that I’m hooked up to this fucking wall, I attempt small workouts to at least keep my muscles from withering away. I’ll escape this place, with or without any help.
