A Dangerous Woman

Chapter 12

Blaise Taylor

Getting back to England had provided to be the challenge that I had previously predicted it to be, with the Italian Mafia controlling almost everything within the country.

I ditched the car at the side of a random road, knowing it would be hunted down easily. I then walked a few miles until I came across a motorbike which I stole along with the helmet that sat on top of it.

I was aiming to get to the airport but I knew the police had been alerted to find me due the Mafia's large influence in the force.

My motorcycle's engine roared down the simple yet beautiful streets of Italian while police cars loudly screeched around me. The helmet gave me the help I needed to go unnoticed.

I ditched the motorbike, knowing it would not take long for it to be worked out it had been stolen and walked to the airport, staying off main streets.

I made the smart move of not booking a seat, as not only did I not have any fake passport on me, my face was being tracked by authorities.

I stowed away upon a busy plane, lying in the shelf usually used for carry on cases. The ingenuity of the plan failed to consider the uncomfortable nature of my hiding place. My injuries kept me conscious for the entire flight and the incredibly extensive pain that I felt, only added to the rapidly increasing hatred I held towards to Aidan.

I left the plane in an orderly fashion alongside the crowd, getting out of the rack when no one was watching. As I left the plane, I was blown away by the ironic pathetic-fallacy weather that was England's. The miserable nature and the heavy rain reminded me that I was home. My amusement was only short-lived once the realisation struck, that I didn't have a way to get home that wasn't in the rain.

The night was setting and I didn't have money to afford public transport and being able to successfully get on without being noticed was something that was near to impossible. My only option became walking all the way home. The trek was miles upon miles and my torn dress was the only item I had to keep me warm.

My injuries, tore away at the last of my will to keep going and my only company became the unwelcome, haunting thoughts of my failure.

The thoughts became torture, as I kept reliving my cowardice, reliving the moment where I threw a lifetime of training out of the window, in a fit of anger. I was stupid and arrogant. I should not be able to have the opportunity to lead the Mafia, if I couldn't control my emotions.

Near-death, shivering and deflated, I finally arrive back home.

I timidly press the buzzer to the gate entrance and Hunter storms up to me. He had not recognised me until he came closer, when his eyes suddenly met my face, his hard expression dropped and a worried one was swift to replace it.

He allowed the gate to open for me and rushed me into his arms, holding me tight. As well as when he realised, I was frozen and gravely injured, he took his jacket off and placed it around my shoulders.

He gathered me into a hug once more and leaned down so his mouth was next to reach my ear.

His breath warmed the side of my face, while he tickled my numb ear. In a low whisper, he spoke, "I thought I'd lost you. When you didn't come home that night, we thought that Aidan had killed you."

I feel tears brimming in my eyes as I saw tears dripping down his face, hardly distinguishable from the rain.

"Hunter it's so much worse, it would have been better if I had just died!" My voice broke as tears finally burst free, "I f..f..Failed!"

My legs gave out from under me but Hunter caught me before I fell to the ground. He lifted me into his arms, in a bridal style and proceeded to walk back to the house, all the while hushing me gently.

Tears rolled off my face as they remained hidden in the rain. But my hysterical screaming started and definitely couldn't be hidden by the rain.

"My f*****g brother's MURDERER is still ALIVE because I was UNABLE TO f*****g COMPLETE MY f*****g STUPID MISSION! I...I...I'm just a little girl trying to fill her brother's shoes even though I know I can't! I know I'm not f*****g good enough. I should have died, not Jordan!"

Hunter held me closer, whispering things that my panicked state shut out.

My eyes began to close as the exhaustion rapidly set in, "Aidan should have killed me, not Jordan. Not... Jordan."

I gradually and reluctantly, opened my eyes.

Instantly, I was aware of where I was. The malodorous disinfectant smell and boisterous lights were the identifying features of the hospital ward in the house.

Quietly observing the room, I noticed Hunter scrunched up in a chair, that resided in the corner of the room.

My dad was missing from my side, as he always was.

In an urge to create a distraction of my mind taunting me with my terrible father figure, I pulled my hand up to my face, to be able to see a small scar running horizontally across my hand.

I immersed myself in my memories and the scene of Aidan stabbing my hand played out in front of me. The need to scream out in pain for the me that was tied to that chair, was faint upon my lips.

A need to get my day started, forced me to yell out Hunter's name and he immediately jumped to his feet. A signature smile infectiously spread across his face, "Finally decided to wake up then!"

I smiled back, "How long have I been out?" My statement was casual as I expected a reasonable answer to be said in reply.

Hunter began to scratch the back of his neck, a clear sign of his building anxiety. He had never been good at hiding his emotions, "3 months, they saw a medically induced coma as your only option considering the extent of your injuries."

Getting to my feet, I scrambled out of the room, Hunter was close behind. His inaudible warnings following me down the corridor but I needed to find my father. I had to explain everything, I had to fix my mistakes.

Reaching my dad's office, I threw the door open. As it flew back and crashed against the wall, my muscles all tensed at once. The sight that lay before me, crushed my last hopes of redemption.