I can’t tear my eyes from Carlos, my heart racing at his request, my head needing to hear it again. “That’s a good choice. We’ll tell your brother when he joins us.”
“Tell me what?” As if on cue, the wall opens and Stefan walks in, looking impeccable in his slacks and another button down.
“I’d like some grape Gatorade,” Carlos informs him.
My speeding heart lurches in my throat, and I have to fight like hell to keep my reaction from showing. I didn’t imagine it; he specifically asked for grape. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but my gut instincts are screaming at me it’s not. Outside of modern medicine, Mathis believes in the powers of grape Gatorade. He swears it was one of the only things that helped Nick when he was sick. Only a few people know this fact.
“Sounds reasonable. Claire, do you approve?”
My gaze drifts to Stefan, and I pray my emotions are under control. “Yes, I think it’s a great idea.”
“Anything else? I’ll have a staff member pick some up immediately.”
Staff member. I knew there were others somewhere around us, but the thought of staff roaming freely around on the other side of that wall while I’m kept like a caged animal sears through my bloodstream.
Do they know about me? Does anyone have a clue that I’ve been taken from those who I love and trapped in a maze of hallways and sterile rooms with a sick young man?
I push away my growing irritation and paste on a small smile. “Carlos? Anything else?” I repeat, wondering if he has any additional cravings, which may result in a clue that he’s spoken to Mathis.
“What do you think?” he asks me weakly, his color slowing fading.
My fingers curl around his wrist, and I stare at the clock on the wall counting the seconds to the beat of his pulse. “Rocket?” He tries to grin at the use of his nickname, but it resembles more of a grimace. “I’ll order some things I think will help. You try to rest.” I check his IV, place his hand on his stomach, and back away as his eyelids get heavy. Right before they close, there’s a spark that tells me what I need to know.
“Talk,” I mouth to Stefan, pointing to the door that leads to the lab.
He surprises me by tilting his chin to his wall entrance, swaying his arm forward in invitation. He senses my hesitation and says lowly, “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I scan his face, trying to read his mood, and decide to trust him. The instant we pass to the other side, two large monitors on a desk catch my attention. They are split-screened, monitoring the hospital room, lab, my hallways, and my door. What I don’t see is the inside of my room.
“Shocking you’re not spying on me.”
“I respect your privacy.”
I bite my cheek to keep from lashing out. It’s in my best interest to attempt civility.
“I didn’t lie. I’m not going to hurt you. You can say what’s on your mind.”
“I highly doubt you mean that.”
“Unleash the sauciness. I’ve missed it.” He grins smugly, crossing his arms, and watches me expectantly.
“You’re a dick,” spills from my mouth before I can stop it.
His grin widens. “So I’ve heard. That’s the best you can come up with?”
“Considering you threatened to kill me, I’ll stick with the basics.”
His smile falters, and a flicker of regret crosses his features. “I apologize for that. It was never my intention to kill you, but I had to make myself clear to earn your respect.”
“I don’t respect you; I loathe you.”
“That’s unfortunate, considering I’m quite fond of you.”
My blood boils at his calm demeanor. “We need to talk about Carlos.”
“I figured since that’s the only thing you ever talk to me about.”
“He needs a real doctor in a hospital. I’m not qualified to carry on with his care without proper guidance. We’re playing Russian roulette with his life.”
“We seem to be doing fine.”
“Stefan, he’s about to hit bottom. All the supplies, drugs, and whatever else you’ve stolen aren’t enough to cover the fact he needs professional medical attention.”
“Aren’t you a medical professional?”
“You know what I mean! You saw his labs this morning; you see the lethargy setting in. His pulse is slow, his color fading. The worst is yet to come. You’ve forced me to follow a treatment regimen that’s typically monitored by a team of highly skilled and educated doctors. Mathis had over thirteen years of schooling and training.”
I brace for his reaction at the mention of Mathis, but his face remains impassive. “How bad is it going to be?”
“I can’t give you a definitive answer, but prepare for the worst. He told me you’ve been taking care of him at night when he feels sick.”
“It hasn’t been too bad, a few vomiting episodes, which was expected.”
“In the brief time you spent pretending to be an intern, you were exposed to what can happen. Denial is not a smart choice right now.”
“I’m not in denial, Claire. I counted on you to be able to handle it. He’s taken to you, as I knew he would.”
“What was your plan? Being trapped down here couldn’t be the long-term solution.”
“No, it is not my long-term solution.”
“Do you care to share what we’re going to do next?”
“No, but I will tell you that this was a last ditch experiment that has turned out well.”
“Experiment!” I semi-shout then close my eyes and take a few deep breaths before opening them. “Please, tell me you have a better agenda than experimenting with your baby brother’s life.”
I know I’ve hit a nerve when his eyes grow stormy and his jaw visibly tenses. “I’d do anything for Carlos. The doctors he was working with were a joke. Our mother sunk all her faith in them, telling me to give it time. But time wasn’t something I was going to rely on. My only choice was to take matters into my own hands. They left me no other option.”
“Why didn’t you bring him to us at the hospital through conventional methods? Why go through all this?”
“There are a lot of answers to that question, but mostly, it was for the safety of my family.”
“Safety of your family? That doesn’t make sense.”
“My name is Stefano Martinez. I suspect, one day soon, you’ll understand.”
“The plot thickens,” I mumble.
“Tonight, I’d like to introduce you to our mother.”
My head snaps up, and I rock back on my feet. “Your mother? She’s here?”
“She’s here. I thought Carlos would have told you about her.”
“He’s mentioned her, but I didn’t know she was here.”
“I think the two of you will find a lot in common. She hates me at the moment, too.”
“Does she know I’ve been kidnapped and am being held against my will?”
“She’s aware and is unhappy with my decision.”
“Then why hasn’t she helped me?”
I know the answer without him saying. His eyes move to the screen on the wall to a sleeping Carlos. “My mother has a pure heart and soul. She also has a sense of loyalty. I’ve disappointed her tremendously with my decisions, but she knows my devotion to Carlos. Their safety is the top reason I didn’t follow conventional methods. People will do anything to get to me, using my family as leverage. You must promise me something, Claire.”
He pauses, bringing his attention back and spearing me with his glare. “You must promise me not to blame her for my actions. She’s struggling.”
“Seems ironic she’s struggling when I’m the one being kept as a prisoner.”
He quirks an eyebrow. “Prisoner? Are you living behind bars with slop for meals?”
“Metaphorical prisoner. I don’t even have a television.”
“That’s going to change tonight. You’re moving here. I want you close in case Carlos needs you.”
“I’m not staying with you.”
He chuckles, the sound grating on my skin. “I didn’t think so. I’ll make arrangements somewhere else. As long as Carlos is taken care of.”
“I’ll do my best, but please consider getting him to a hospital.”
He nods, rolling his bottom lip through his teeth and staring at me thoughtfully. A few seconds pass before he speaks. “I’ll walk you back to your room now, so you can pack some things.”
“I can find it myself.”
He doesn’t acknowledge my resistance, pushing a button to open the door. I go to check on Carlos again, noting he’s sleeping peacefully, then head through the lab to my room.
Stefan walks closely beside me in an uncomfortable silence. I begin to get jittery the closer we get. My usual escort, Bob, is nowhere to be found. Something feels off about the situation.
When we get to my door, I turn, blocking him. “This is as far as you get.”
His eyes grow warm, into a liquid glittery brown, and his hand comes to my cheek. I stand frozen and horrified when his lips sweep across my forehead. My hands ball into fists, ready to fight him off, when he steps away.
“I wasn’t kidding you earlier. I never planned to hurt you. You’re too special of a woman. I think, if I was capable of loving a woman, she'd be exactly like you. Thank you, Claire, for what you’ve done for Carlos. He trusts you, and you’ve given him a chance we didn’t think possible.” With that, he pivots and walks away.
When he’s halfway down the hall, I thaw out of my stupor and yell at him, “I never told you a list of what we may need.”
“Taken care of,” he calls back.
“When will my escort be here?”
He stops, twisting his neck and looking over his shoulder at me. “There is no more escort, Claire. You can come and go as you please.”
I suck in a deep breath, my body quaking with the news. Before I can question him more, he’s gone.
I let myself into my room and see a bag already packed, sitting on the bed next to my backpack. Out of the corner of my eye, there’s movement, and I spin in time to catch the stranger leaping toward me. His hand covers my mouth, stifling my scream as his mouth goes to my ear.
“I’m here to get you out. Is this room wired?”
The thundering of my heart and ringing in my ears are almost too loud to understand him so I shake my head. He lets me go and steps back. It’s then I notice the gun at his hip and vest.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Jay. Mathis hired me. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Are you with the police?”
“Hell no, those assholes are still volleying over political jurisdiction and a bunch of bullshit. I’m contract for hire.”
I’m not sure what he means, but explanations can come later. My mind travels back to Stefan’s monitors. “He’s got a camera on the hall. He had to see you coming in.”
“He didn’t see me.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I scrambled his feed.”
“Did you pack these?” I wave to the bags on the bed.
“No. I saw a man in a black suit leaving earlier and took a chance it was your room.”
That means Bob must have packed them. “I’m supposed to move to a new room.”
“Not happening. I’ll have you out of here before then.”
A flood of relief washes through my system, and my knees buckle. I land on the edge of the bed and drop my head to my hands. The relief is short-lived as Carlos’ face fills my mind.
“There’s a very sick young man here with me. Carlos.”
“I’m aware of him. Is he mobile?”
“Not today. Yesterday yes, tomorrow maybe, but today, he’s weakened by his treatments. There’s not a chance he can walk any sort of distance.”
“Let’s get you out of here and we’ll worry about him later.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Claire, you’re my priority here. Let’s get you to safety, and then we’ll come back for him.”
“I’m not trying to sound unappreciative or rebellious, swear. But he’s in bad shape and needs help. He’s depending on me.”
“How many others are here?”
“I’m not sure, my contact has been limited.”
“Can you guess?”
“I’m certain of five, but there was mention of a staff.” I name off the people I know are here.
“Any of them armed?”
“Not that I know of, but I wouldn’t underestimate Stefan.”
He lets out a huff, his eyes going to the ceiling. After a few seconds, his face comes back to me. “I need to scope out this place.”
“Why don’t we call the authorities?”
“Because they’ll come in blazing and who knows what we’re facing. Stefano Martinez is an unpredictable man. We’re trying to avoid gunfire and loss of life.”
“I can draw you a map of what I know,” I offer weakly, trying to ignore the gunfire and loss of life comment.
“That’ll help.”
“Do you have a phone on you? Can I call Mathis?”
“Phones are disabled. The second I broke in the back door, lost signal.”
“What now?”
“As much as I’d like to get you out of here right this instant, it’s time to be smart.”
“How can I help?”
“Go back to Carlos and try to act normal. Take your things to your new room. In the meantime, keep this pen on you. It has a chip in it letting me know your location. If you sense danger or need me immediately, click it twice. There’s a sensor that vibrates on my vest.” He hands me a pen that I shove into my shirt pocket.
“If it helps any, I’m not sure Stefan wants to hurt me.”
“No, I heard the motherfucker through the door. To the outside world, that man is feared. Who would have thought he had a soft side.”
“He’s very fond of his brother,” I add without thinking.
Jay’s expression goes hard. “Captor infatuation,” he rumbles.
“I’m not infatuated.”
“I think it’s the other way around. Let’s roll.” He jerks his head. “You go first. I’ll follow in a bit.”
I take the bags, shoot him one last look, and go to the door. “Be safe,” I whisper and slip through, praying I didn’t just fuck up my chance for rescue.
With each step, I mentally tell myself things are going to be okay. Jay found me. He’s going to take care of me and hopefully get Carlos the medical attention he needs. It’s my job to stay calm, collected, and do what is asked of me without letting on that there is a mercenary somewhere in the vicinity planning to get me out.
By the time I reach the lab, my stomach is a bundle of nerves and my body is shaking. I close my eyes and think of the last morning I was in bed with Mathis. If things go well, I’ll wake up with him tomorrow morning. The realization kicks in, and my adrenaline spikes. I can do this.
The instant I open the door to the lab, the air changes. There’s wailing coming from the other side of the wall, which sends my instincts into overdrive. I drop the bags, run through the door, and take in the scene.
A middle-aged woman is sobbing, trying to hold a small trashcan up to Carlos, who is viciously ill. From the looks of things, he’s vomited everywhere but into the container. I rush to her, take the trashcan, and gently nudge her aside.
“Bring me some wet cloths,” I order her.
Carlos heaves up, and I use this position to my advantage, leaping behind him, so I’m straddling his back and can better control his body. At this angle, the trash bin fits under his chin. He doesn’t fight me, retching a few more times until he’s exhausted and reclining into me.
The woman returns, handing me a warm washcloth, and I wipe his face gently. “You’re okay,” I try to soothe. “This is normal.”
“It hasn’t been this bad before.”
“You have me now, and I assume this is your mother?”
“Yes, this is my mother, Ina. Mama, this is fairy Claire.”
The woman attempts a smile, but her expression is torn with anguish.
“I’m sure Stefan will be here soon with the Gatorade, which should help.”
It’s obvious I’ve said the wrong thing when Ina gasps, her face falling apart, at the same time Carlos flinches in my arms. He squeezes his eyes tight, but a flood of tears streams down his cheeks.
“Rocket?” I nudge him. “What’s happened? Where’s Stefan?”
My heart thunders in my chest with possibilities. The first thought is he’s discovered Jay and is somewhere in this building acting out the evil he’s capable of.
“He’s gone. He came to say goodbye and then locked us in the room. We couldn’t stop him.”
“Gone where?”
“Gone, gone. He said it would be a long time before he could see us again, if ever. He kissed us both and disappeared behind the other door in the room.”
“He left you like this?!?” I scream, uncaring that I sound like a lunatic.
“He said you’d take care of everything.”
“How the hell am I supposed to take care of you alone?”
“That’s not all, Claire,” Ina speaks up, her throaty voice cracking. “He told us to tell you to do everything you have to do, and that a medical transport is on the way.”
“Does anyone even know where we are?”
Ina shakes her head. “I’m at a loss. He brought me here at night.”
“Shit!” I hiss.
“There’s more,” she goes on, “Stefano said to tell your friend there’s no need to stake out the place. It’s clean, and we’re the only ones here. He also said he’s sorry, but he’d do it all again to save his brother’s life.”
Tilting my head to Carlos, I find my calming voice. “Rocket, be honest with me. Did you talk to Mathis?”
His red-rimmed eyes grow wide and pool again with tears as he nods.
“It’s okay, buddy. But do you think Stefan found out?”
“I was careful. But you were so sad, and I had to let him know you were okay.”
“That was brave.” My own eyes sting as more tears slide down his cheeks.
“What my brother did was wrong.”
“Yes, it was, but he loves you very much. Let’s focus on how to get you help.”
“He gave up everything for me because he trusted you.”
“That’s what you do for love.”
The convulsing beneath my hands begins before the first seize takes over. Ina screams in terror when Carlos’ eyes roll into the back of his head, and I go into emergency mode.
The pen!
I press and depress the pen over and over, yelling at her, “Get over here and take my place. I need to act fast.”
She does as I say, maneuvering behind him and wrapping her arms around his chest. I run to the medicine cabinet, snatching what I need and rushing back to his IVs. On autopilot, I load the medication, tilt his head back while instructing her to try to keep him from biting his tongue, and then I take his temp. He’s clammy, his blood pressure monitor is going crazy, and I can hear signs of distress in his lungs.
A door flies open, and Jay rushes in, gun drawn. Ina screams, and I wave my hand frantically for him to put it away.
“There’s a motion sensor to that wall!” I point to the closed quarters. “Go inside and find a phone that works. Call Mathis and tell him to meet us at the hospital. Medical transport is on the way!” I shout. “Stefan is gone!”
Jay takes one look at the scene and moves quicker than any other human I’ve ever witnessed. The medication works quickly. Carlos stops jerking, his body going into a sleepy state, which is what I hoped for. Slowly, his blood pressure lowers, but it still remains higher than I’d like.
Ina’s pale and on the verge of passing out when I finally look back to her. “You did well.” I try to calm her.
“Is he going to be okay?”
“As soon as medical transport gets here, we’re taking him to the best doctor I know.”
“Will you stay with him until then?”
“Absolutely.”
Jay walks in with a phone held out, his own face pale.
I take the phone, moving my hand to Carlos’s wrist for his pulse. “I’m okay,” is all I can get out before my throat clogs.
“Jesus fucking Christ, baby, we know where you are. I’m coming to you!” Mathis yells.
“No, meet me at the hospital. I’m going with Carlos.” I spout off his vitals like a robot that’s done this a hundred times.
“Fuck that shit. You stay put. I’ll be there soon.”
“Mathis,” I attempt to sound grounded, watching Ina run her fingers through Carlos’s hair. “I swear to God, I’m okay. Please, help him.”
There’s a lot of swearing, followed by instructions to whoever’s driving to go to the hospital. “There will be a team waiting for your transport. But, let’s be clear, I’m waiting for YOU!”
There’s desperation, fear, rage, and a mixture of terror in his tone. Only one thing comes to mind to try his soothe his overwhelming anxiety. “I’m counting on it.”
The line goes dead, and I see the phone has lost connection.
“Claire, tell me what to do.” Jay is at my side in an instant, his hand on my elbow.
“He knew you were here. It’s a long story, but do you know where the front door is?”
“I do.”
“Go to it, open it, and scream when you see a transport team. I need to prep him.”
“Is he going to make it?”
I reach out blindly, finding Jay’s hand. “He has to.”
There’s a squeeze and then nothing as he vanishes again. I go to Ina, offering my arm to help her out of the bed. “Can you quickly pack a few things for him? I’d like to clean him up and get him prepped.”
She doesn’t answer, scurrying to the cabinets at the far side of the wall and throwing me a new pair of pajama pants.
It’s excruciating, but I close my mind and go into nurse mode. Stripping his body delicately, cleaning him, continuously taking his temp, ripping the dirty sheets from under him, and redressing his pajamas. He moans, the medicine still working.
Jay reappears from the hallway we’ve been using for our walks, shoving apart walls that I didn’t realize were retractable. A team of medics rushes in, and I bark orders. No one questions my insistence of being with him. It isn’t until we get to the actual transport, me being outside for the first time in a week, that I think of Ina.
“Do you want to come?” I ask stupidly, knowing she does.
She doesn’t hesitate, jumping in.
The ride is hectic, the paramedics trying to take his vitals until they finally understand I’m the one in control. Ina sits stoic, her body trembling, hands in a praying position in her lap.
We ride and ride, the siren blaring, confirming we are outside of Miami, and our trek is long. After I’m sure Carlos is stable, I move to her side.
“He’s going to get the best treatment in the city.”
She nods, her eyes welling up.
“I’m going to help.”
She nods again.
“Ina, I need you to be strong here. Rocket needs you to be strong.”
At this, she jolts, her hand coming to grip mine. “I lost one son today. A son who made bad choices earlier in life and I didn’t agree with. Everything Stefano did was for Carlos. I’m coming to terms with that,” she explains.
There’s no time to dissect her statement because the EMTs shout our arrival.
I go back to Carlos, whisper in his ear, and prepare.
The van stops and chaos ensues. The doors open and I see him.
Carlos is transported out. I briefly notice Dr. Cross waiting at the entrance, Ina scuttling out, and the police vehicles skidding in.
My eyes are on his.
Unshaven, blue eyes boring into me, his body strung tight. I try to take a step down, and the adrenaline high I’ve been riding vanishes.
My knees give out, my vision goes dark, and the last thing I feel is Mathis’s arms catching me.