Eleven
1689 Words
“Callum, don’t die," he heard her whisper. "Please, don't die.”
Die? No, I won’t die, my Angel, he thought as he fought to stay conscious. The last thing he remembered was finally fighting back against another brutal attack from Justin. This time, it was because the man found out that Callum had been sleeping with Ambrosia. He tried to move, biting back a scream as pain tore through him.
“What happened,” he asked in a broken whisper once he finally found his voice. He felt the sting of the disinfectant she was using on his back.
Not hearing an answer, he searched his own memory instead. Hissing through his teeth, he remembered how Ambrosia had gotten in the middle. He recalled watching her push Justin over the stairs to save him from the man. She actually tried to protect him, and that was something that both terrified him and made him proud.
Ambrosia let out a ragged breath, her heart hammering in her chest. Knowing he wanted an explanation, she wasn’t sure how to word it. Then: “I know you told me to stay out of it, but he really was going to kill you this time. I think he broke something, so don’t try to move until help gets here. He can’t get into my room with my wardrobe in front of the door, so we're safe for now.”
He groaned, "Lovely.”
She sobbed heavily. “Please don't be mad, Cal. I had to do it to save you.”
Had she been the one to tell her father they'd been together? Was his latest beating because she betrayed him?
No, he refused to believe she would suddenly do a one-eighty like that. She was too cautious, too careful with their time together. She enjoyed it when Justin and Cindy left them alone, always making the most out of their escapades. Their secret relationship was that much more fun because of her, so she wouldn’t… would she?
"I called the man you got saved in your phone as David Marks," she whispered.
He felt the weight of the cold cloths that were keeping the burn from his lacerations to a minimum. David Marks? Oh, right, the social worker.
Callum sighed as her feathery touch bathed his abused flesh, “Why?”
“I know tending your wounds is something, but I can't protect you any more than that,” she replied.
He ached to hold her, knowing that she was trying her hardest to be strong. He wanted to get up and soothe her. He wanted to kiss away her tears and tell her that everything was going to be all right, but his body was unresponsive to his mental commands.
“I love you, Amber,” he whispered. "You're my angel, I could never hate you."
Ambrosia froze as the sincerity of his words washed over her. “I love you too, Callum.”
Outside, the wail of sirens blasted through the night. She could hear the pounding of footsteps echoing throughout the house, and breathed a sigh of relief when she heard her father screaming to be released. A door down the hall slammed open, and she could hear Cindy cussing out whoever it was taking her over the stairs. She could hear the commanding voices of the men and women in blue as each room was searched while she kept treating Callum.
Running over, she summoned the strength to push the wardrobe out of the way. As she threw open the door, she came face to face with the man who had brought Callum to the house. He was flanked by two officers, who looked alarmed at the sight behind her. “Thank you…”
David stumbled as the girl threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face. Although her clothes were splattered with blood, she didn't appear to be hurt. Lifting his hazel-blue gaze to the room she had come out of, dread took over his mind.
"Ambrosia, is he still alive? Is Callum alive," David asked as he sank to the floor with her as she passed out in his arms. Realizing that she was no longer able to help him, David seethed angrily. "I need an ambulance yesterday, people. Don Hans is on his way, and this is not going to end well if his kid is dead when he gets here.”
‘I wouldn’t doubt the entire province would be lost,’ he thought darkly. He eyed the room again, taking note of the first aid items littering the carpet around the boy's body. She did everything she could possibly have done on her own. He gently cradled her against his body, pulling out his phone as he called Hans. “I’ve made a huge mistake, Sir.”
“What is that supposed to mean, David?” Hans growled out.
David felt his blood run cold. “He’s in bad shape, Don Hans. I’m sorry, I didn’t know Justin Kincade’s history with you until after I left the office to resume my search."
"For your sake, I hope you're joking. Kincade swore vengeance a long time ago, but I didn’t tell you the full story, did I?" Hans fell quiet for a moment. "Very well. Where will he be before the end of the night?"
“The local hospital, Sir,” David’s shoulders sagged. He knew Hans would tear him apart because of this. He just hoped that the man would be merciful for once.
Hans cursed, “And Kincade?”
“He and his wife have been arrested. They are currently being transported to the local detachment.” David reported. At this point, he was sure that Hans was seething mad.
"Was there anyone else in the house?"
David bit his lip as he looked at the girls tear-stained face. He knew that he would never be able to hurt her. She'd risked everything to help Callum, so he felt it was only right to do the same for her. Her clothes told him the story clearly: she put herself in harms way to ultimately save the other teen. “Yeah, Kincade’s daughter was also living in the house. She’s here with me.”
“Get rid of her,” Hans answered in a clipped tone.
He swallowed tightly. Defying the Don got you killed, but he had no choice. The girl in his arms was blameless in all this chaos. "No."
"David, did you just defy me?" The deceptively calm voice of Hans echoed over the line turning his blood to ice. All of the people under the Kingpin’s thumb knew the same thing: no one said “no” to the Don.
“Don Hans, let me explain," David begged. "I can't hurt her, Sir. She's the one who called me. She was the one that saved his life.”
Please, let him understand, he thought as he waited for Hans to speak again.
Finally, Hans said, “If you really believe that, then leave her somewhere safe.”
“I will get it done as soon as I can. I don’t mean to overstep, Sir, but I’m going with my gut,” David answered. “Right now, it’s telling me to spare her for Callum’s sanity.”
“You can beg me in person when I get there,” Hans sighed angrily. "Oh, and David?"
The younger man swallowed, "Yes, Sir?"
“You better hope my son lives. As of right now, your life is tied to his,” Hans snapped before hanging up.
David heaved an exasperated sigh, “Kid, if you pull through this, you got my undying loyalty.”
Nearly two hours later, he sat sweating bullets beside Ross, who had driven him and the girl to her mother’s house in the next town over. He could feel Ross’ eyes on him, knowing that the man was thinking about pumping his back full of live rounds as he got out to bring Ambrosia to the door. She stumbled, falling against him.
“Tell me he’s okay? I did everything I could,” she pleaded.
He nodded, “I know you did. Callum’s father is coming to get him. You kept him alive, and I risked death to make sure you got the same chance. Please don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t,” she promised as the door opened and a boy her age met them on the stoop. “I just want to make sure he’s safe now.”
“Amber?” The boy rushed to her, pulling her into his arms. “Who are you? Where’s our father?”
Clearing his throat, David forced a smile, realizing that this teen was Justin’s son. “I’m David Marks. And you are?”
“Declan Reyes, her twin brother.”
“I’m glad she’s back with family that cares. As for your sire, he’s been arrested for aggravated assault on a minor and attempted murder,” David admitted.
Declan glared at him, “He’s arrested? Good riddance.”
A woman walked out, scowling as Ambrosia fought against her brother. Her fist flew out, knocking him senseless for a moment. Taking advantage of his weakened grasp, she moved to the woman, “Mom, please help him. I tried, Mom, I really tried, but I wasn’t enough. Please, he’s waiting for his father, and I need to know he’s going to be taken care of now.”
His heart shattering under the intense weight of her words, David quietly left the porch. Getting into the car with Ross, he was shocked to feel the dampness of tears on his face. Something pricked his arm, and he glanced over at the other man. “Wh… Why?”
“Boss man’s orders. He’s not happy, David,” Ross claimed as he watched the younger man pass out from the Propofol. Yet, glancing at the girl, he mulled over the very real concern that bled from each word. “Then again, with the way she reacted, I seriously doubt my little cousin won’t have your back.”
- Writer
