Her Ravaged Life

Ch. -24-

 “Gianna, my wife Gianna,” Barraza tries to bring his uncle back from the murky state he is in, “Andy? I am getting worried here. Do you need me to call the doctor?”

 Eventually his uncle manages to tear his gaze from me and looks at Barraza while shaking his head. He takes few seconds to collect himself before speaking. “I am sorry,” he says and then looks at me, “You are the spitting image of my late wife, I just couldn’t believe my eyes. Again, I am terribly sorry, I didn’t want to upset you,” he apologized to me with great sincerity.

 “That’s okay,” I tell him as my mind is trying to understand what he just said. So, I had a doppelganger and her husband found me, cause he is the uncle of my current husband. Isn’t that something that happens in telenovelas? I am starting to feel that I’m a puppet in some twisted play that has no resolve and no ending.

 “Her name was Maya? You have never mentioned her before,” Barraza asks his uncle as this whole situation needs to calm the heck down. 

 “Yes, but this is a story for another time. I just wanted to come and see who managed to make an honest man out of my Niko,” he said jokingly, probably trying to ease the tension that he caused.

 “Gianna Hayes, or just Gia.” I reach my arm out to properly introduce myself and show that his statement didn’t shake me. It did, definitely did, but he doesn’t need to know that.

 “Andy Fontaine,” he says while accepting my hand and looking at me with disbelief still present in his eyes. I try to understand his bafflement, but it is hard to put yourself in a situation where you think you meet someone you thought was gone forever. I can understand the gist but not the real feelings that could emerge.

 Barraza is observing our interaction, here and there giving me ‘the look’ to remind me of my duties like I could forget when he is just few feet away.

 “Hayes? He is letting you keep your name. Interesting.” He raises his eyebrows when he speaks and keeps looking between Barraza and I with a surprised look.

 “We didn’t have time to deal with that yet, but she’ll be Barraza of course.”

 What?

 I clean my throat to get him to notice me, “Honey, we talked about this, I will keep my name as it is,” I say with innocent smile on my face although my eyes are shooting daggers at him. 

 “You talked, I said! Anyway, this is not the time nor place to discuss that. Uncle, shall I lead you out, I need to speak with you.” He just ran me over with his words and humiliated me. I hope he knows that I won’t be his ‘yes sir’ girl. If he wants to be an ass, then I’ll treat him accordingly.

 “It was lovely to meet you dear! And again, I am very sorry if I scared you,” Andy said as he squeezed my hand before turning around to walk out.

 He seemed sincere. I didn’t make the best first impression, but I was basically dead little while ago, so I think I can be forgiven. And if it wasn’t for him, I would definitely be dead. 

 Then it hit me. s**t! He saved my life!

 “Thank you!! I forgot to thank you! So, thank you,” I rambled like a lunatic, but I needed to say this. I need him to know that I don’t take this kind of help for granted. I will be forever grateful.

 “Don’t mention it. Anything for a family!” He gave me one last smile before leaving the room with Barraza.

 It was actually very heartwarming to hear someone call you family, after mine turned out to be coldhearted criminals who gave up their child to get away with murder. Even if he said it just to be polite, it was nice and right now I appreciate every positive feeling I can get.

 And as it seems, he is not expecting me to give him a kidney in return for his help. I might be wrong but for now I can continue my life enjoying two kidneys. I laugh a little at this thought, who would have guessed that one day will be happy to have my kidneys all to myself.

 “You look happy.”

 And with that, he killed the tiny positive vibe I had.

 “You should get your eyes checked,” I say while rolling my eyes, he is the last person to ask or assume anything about my happiness. The man only knows how to suck happiness out of people.

 I hear him letting out a sigh before he takes few steps toward me. “Look at me!” He says when he stops at my bedside, but I am not going to give him the pleasure to boss me around like he owns me. “L o o k  a t  m e,” he repeats slowly before he grabs my chin and forces me to face him, “I know you hate me, I know you hate this situation and you can keep showing your hate in every which way you want, but it is what it is and this whole thing will be easier on both of us if we find common ground to walk on.” 

 I just stare at him while he performs his little monologue on how much he knows about my feelings. Our faces close enough that I can smell his cologne and I have to fight my senses to keep my mind clear and not to give in to the lust he ignites in me. 

 I need to break this little stare down before he allows himself more than I am willing to give. I act on instinct and slap his cheek to get him away from me. I see from his face that I managed to surprise him, and evidently piss him off as well. Oh joy.

 “There is no common ground because you are forcing me to walk on YOUR ground. You are forcing me to adapt to your life. You are not making any compromises and I think the name thing earlier was a very good example of that,” I tell him what I think little to loudly as I am unable to keep my frustration under wraps.

 He stares at me while running his hand over his stubble. I really wish I could read his mind cause his face isn’t giving away anything that’s going on in his head. He is like iron gate with no hinges so it is impossible to open and see what’s behind.

 “Fine, keep your name. I am not going to remind you what happened the last time you were that stubborn. If you don’t want the protection my name gives you, then so be it,” he finally speaks with earie calmness that makes me question my decisions.

 I try to remind myself that he is just trying to manipulate me. He knows that what happened scared the hell out me and he is taking advantage of my f****d-up state of mind.

 I am not going to answer him, I am going to let him think he got to my head and I am considering taking his precious name. I am not going to say I will never take it, but for now, I will remain Hayes.

 “Excuse me, I came to check on you and make some final preparations for your discharge,” said the nurse who has been taking care of me today. She removed sensors checking my vitals and disconnected the machinery. Then I answered her questions, and she wrote everything down on my chart.

 After she finished with my chart, she looked at Barraza, who instantly nodded at her and she turned to me, “And lastly, we will check that you don’t have any infections due to the transfusion,” she said and gave me a polite smile.

 Why did she need his approval? Did this really happen or am I seeing demons where there are none. I really need to chill; at this rate I will be in the madhouse no later than a week. 

 Just as I was overthinking things, she closed the curtain to give us some privacy and helped me get dressed into gray hoodie and pants with Cheruton logos on them. And this reminds me of how pathetic I am, no one even cared to bring me change of clothes and I have to walk out of here like a charity case. Married to the richest guy in this zip code and wearing hospital handouts. Great.

 When I was dressed, she held my hand for a moment, then opened the curtain and left without a word.

 “Ready?” Barraza asked while extending his arm so I could lean on him.

 “Would it matter if I wasn’t,” I ask in return as I take his hand to pull myself up from the bed and he guides me towards the wheelchair. I may have battered face and butchered body but my spirit is not broken yet.

 “Not really.”