We take turns until we pass under the large sign that reads ICU. The large doors swing open into a large, bright hallway. Doors line the wall, and we make our way to the fourth one on the left. The large steel door is cracked open, and I can hear the beeping of his machines. “Here we are.” The doctor opens the door, “Push the call button if you need anything.” The doctor makes his way down the broad white hallway.
My movement ceases as Spencer enters through the threshold. He turns to me, as his brown, golden eyes gloss over from fallen tears. He extends his hand, holding it out until I gain the courage to make the step.He’s alive. Thank God.The first time I became aware of my internal thoughts was when I stood here begging for the bravery to see him. While I was out having the best date of my life, being loved endlessly, he was being beaten. Grabbing my chest, a sob escapes me. Spencer pulls me into his arms, hugging me tightly.
“Come on, baby, he’s awake.” Spencer's hug grounds me, and my body melts into his comforting touch. The way his arms wrap about me, securing me. His eyes look deeply into mine, as if he is trying to take all my sorrow. Taking a deep breath, I step out of his arms, turning to find Levi.
Waves of shock crash through me, nearly knocking the wind out of me. My eyes examine every inch of Levi lying in the hospital bed.
The doctor was not wrong; Grant completely sabotaged Levi’s once spotless face. His square, pristine jaw is now swollen, making it seem rounded. His left eye is sealed shut; his tan skin is now dark blue and black, encasing the hidden eye, once shaggy with brown and blonde hair, now stained crimson. Feeling my eyes pool with unshed tears, I walk closer to him.
Levi reaches his uncast arm in my direction. “Letty,” His voice cracks as he speaks.
Inhaling a shaky breath, I wrap my hand around his gently, noticing his busted and bruised knuckles. “Levi?” My words are breathless as I try to calm my nerves. “I thought…” My chin quivers with heartbreak. His thumb rubs along my hand.I thought you had died. I can't bring myself to say the words.
A life without my brother would be a life without my twin flame; my light would burn out completely. When his light dims, I light his way; when my light dims, he lights mine. Without Levi, my world would become bleak; the full life I live with him would turn lackluster. I’d be muted, never to live in peace.
“Never. It’s you and me, Letty.” I want to hug him, I want to squeeze him into me, showing my rapidly downward spiraling mind that he is, in fact, alive.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you, like you have me. Your life could have ended tonight…” I shake my head as he looks into my drained eyes. My voice falls, as a whisper escapes me, “And it would have ended mine.” He squeezes my hand before stealing my eyes with seriousness.
Levi goes to say something when Spencer steps up. Spencer places his hand on the small of my back before placing a hand on my brother's arm. “I’m so fucking happy you’re alright, brother.” Levi gives a soft smile, under the nose bandage.
“What happened, man? What happened to the plan?”
“Change of plans, brother. Your dad saved my life. I owe him.” Spencer shudders after an intense inhale. “I recorded it, Letty. I’m taking that motherfucker down.”
Chapter 52
Bitch In Heels
David
“Hey, sweetheart, yeah, Levi is at Memorial Hospital. Did you call the lawyer? Okay, good, I’m at his house now, just waiting for the motherfucker to come back.” My wife is going crazy on the other end of the line.
“Oh, I’m coming. I’m almost home,” she tells me, leaving no room for arguments. Running my hand through my sweaty hair, I sigh. “Don’t sigh at me, David. He hurtbothour sons. I’m coming.” Before I can plead my case as to all the reasons sheshould absolutely not come, she is bursting through the front door of Grant’s home. Meeting me face-to-face, still holding the phone to her ear. “Honey, I’m home.” She ends the call, walking ferociously over to me, her heels clacking against the hardwood floor with force.
“I see that, I didn’t think I could persuade you to stay home.” She shakes her head, saying "nope," popping the P so hard that it’s basically two words. She paces the hardwood floor, walking through the house, making laps. That’s when we hear Grant’s car pull into the drive.
He storms in, ripping the door off the hinges as he flings it open. He runs right into me. I’m not a small man by any means, standing roughly six feet six inches tall, weighing in at 200 pounds of muscle, thanks to a combination of workout routines and taekwondo training. Grant stands roughly four inches shorter than I, weighing in at over 200 pounds, mostly fat. His darkened eyes find mine. “Sit the fuck down.” My face is stone, muscles pumping with blood turning to rage.
Grant’s smile leaks venom as he rolls his neck. “David. What are you doing in my humble abode?” He chuckles at himself.
“Saving your son.” His eyes grow wide as he looks around. “Forgot what you did to him before you left? Did you forget how you left him for dead on this very floor?” His eyes began to dart around the room, now illuminated by light, revealing the pandemonium he had created. “I said sit. the fuck. down.” My chest heaves as flashbacks of Levi flood my mind. The man who laid his hand on him stands before me, sucking in a breath, calming my want to beat his face into the floor. Grant gives a small laugh before walking to the chair.
“Listen, I know you're close with Levi, but I can assure you, I didn’t do anything. I've just returned from a night out with theteam. I thought you made this mess, if I'm honest.” Grant looks around, taking in the overturned table and broken chairs.
Licking my lips before pressing them together, I glance behind Grant, taking in my beautiful, fuming wife. Breathe, Dave. Breathe. We can’t stoop to his level. Rubbing my hands together, I gain Grant’s attention. “No. You listen to me. Your lies won’t work around here. You beat Levi within an inch of his life. You trashed this house. You caused this mayhem, then you have the nerve to sit there and deny it. It might have worked for you in the past, but not anymore.”
Grant scoffs before he nods his head. “I’m sure that boy has filled your head with lies about his ‘abusive stepfather’, and well, that is what they are; lies. He is a troubled kid, after all.”
“No. Levi has never told us anything about you or your abusive tendencies. This audio recording of what happened tonight, however, did. The things you say, the struggle we hear as you beat him to what you hoped would be the end. This is the end for you, Grant.” Shock waves through his body, as his eyes grow wide and he stands to his feet. “SIT THE FUCK DOWN.” I tower over him. “I hold the fucking power here, and I think it’s time you listened.” Grant looks around until he spots Anna.
“Ah, I get what this is—a power trip. Trying to show off for your old woman, she's not putting out anymore, is she? Nice heels.” I go to step in and shut him up with my fists in his face, when Anna comes stomping around the corner with intensity.
She walks up to Grant, inches away from him, making me on edge at the closeness.You tell him, Mama.“You listen, and you listen good. You are going to sign this house over to Levi, step away from public safety, because you are the last person anyone should feel safe around, and you are going to stay away from them permanently.” Grant tosses his head back and laughs.
“You come into my home, barking orders like this. Accusing me, talking about some audio that is more than likely false. You’re just a bitch in heels.” I hit play on the audio instantly, catching Grant's attention.
Anna leans in. “If I need to be a bitch to save those kids, so be it, and damn fucking right I'll prove to everyone I can do it in heels too. You either agree to these conditions, or your video gets leaked everywhere. Your persona is about to change entirely; it’s time people see you as the monster you are.” I watch Grant closely as his fist clenches and a snarl dances across his red face.
