BLOODBURG Page 23

  He chuckled. “Still…still numb, but…but…it’s getting a little easier to breathe, so that’s a plus,” he slurred, taking a deeper breath to demonstrate. “See? No problem.”

  The nurse locked Kevin’s bed in place and turned to Allie. “He was jostled around quite a bit. We had to give him a little extra pain medication to help him get through the last few tests,” she whispered loudly.

  “I can tell,” Allie stifled her giggle.

  “You’d better make your visit quick,” the nurse hinted. “It won’t be too much longer before he’ll be out like a light.”

  Allie nodded as the nurse left the room.

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Allie said quietly, her eyes welling with tears again as she looked at each bruise on his face where Palencio had repeatedly punched him. She tenderly took his hand and rubbed her thumb over the top of his fingers.

  “I…I have to say,” Kevin muttered through a groggy haze. “You still look…look pretty hot in that dress.” He tried to smile slyly and wink, but the effects of the medication made the wink look more like an odd squint.

  Allie couldn’t help but laugh, feeling her face blush at his compliment, when she realized that he didn’t have any other clothes to change into either. She also realized she didn’t even think to offer to let Kevin’s family know he was in the hospital, being that she was so preoccupied with her situation with Joseph. “Did you need me to go get you some clothes or something? You know, for when you get released? I could try and get a hold of your brothers if—”

  “No,” he interrupted. “They’re still pissed at me…because…because I wanted to come to Bloodburg to see you…instead of staying at home…to help…help with my dad.”

  “Oh,” she replied, feeling a slight guilty pleasure about being considered more important than his family. “Well then, I guess I’m stuck taking care of you,” she said with a long, sarcastic sigh.

  Kevin laughed goofily as the medication made him drowsier by the moment. “Oh, shit. You’re right. Maybe I should call my brothers,” he replied playfully.

  “Go ahead.” She smirked, tossing her hands dejectedly in the air. “I was going to go out and pick up one of those sexy nurse Halloween outfits, but if you really insist, I’ll give them a call.” Allie casually picked up the phone. “What’s the number?”

  “Put it down. Put it down,” he slurred, fighting to keep his eyes open. “You know…I’m only kidding. I would be honored if…if you would help take care of me. I can’t think of…of anyone else I’d rather be around.”

  “You’re sweet.” Allie leaned over to kiss his forehead.

  “Allie?” he mumbled on the verge of giving in to the sleepiness.

  “Yeah? I’m here,” she said, leaning in closer. “What is it?”

  “You…you were serious about that…nurse outfit…weren’t you?” Kevin leered and chuckled.

  “Oh!” Allie gasped with a flirty giggle. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

  “Awesome,” he answered slowly. “Thank you, Allie…for being here for me. It…it really means a lot.”

  “Get some sleep,” she replied, patting his hand softly and replacing it on the bed. “I’ll stop back later to see how you’re doing, okay?”

  “Okay,” he mumbled before sleep took him under.

  Allie stood for a few moments, silently watching him. They had been through so much. She was amazed by the strong connection that was developing between them. She didn’t want to leave, but she needed a shower. She called Joseph to have Marcus pick her up.

  ***

  Joseph meandered around his half-empty store, fondly remembering how he’d acquired many of the items he was leaving behind. Each one held a bit of history, both from the world and from his own life. Although he was sad to have to part with a large portion of his collection, he’d already decided what held the most value for him personally, and there was no turning back.

  The rest of the inventory would be left behind for Christoff to use as one of his few legitimate businesses. And although Joseph knew that his lost treasures wouldn’t be valued or cared for as he had done over the years, he hoped that someone who would appreciate them as much as he did might come along and make a purchase.

  “Is that it?” Marcus asked, slapping a layer of dust off his clothing as he walked into the main area of the store.

  “The last box is on the counter…by the register,” Joseph replied, lost in his own thoughts. “You know, I think this has to be the most we’ve ever collected in one place.”

  “Well, we’ve stayed in Bloodburg for a long time,” Marcus clarified. “At least three or four times longer than any other city so far.”

  “Which only makes it harder to leave.” Joseph sighed heavily. “But it’s the right decision. If we stay in one location too long, they’ll catch me…eventually.”

  Marcus nodded, picking up the small box on the counter. As he turned to walk away with it, he stopped as he looked down into the box. “Umm, Joseph?” Marcus asked, putting it back down on the counter. He reached in and pulled out a small salt shaker with a little orange sticker on it. “Why are you taking this? It’s not an antique.”

  Joseph stood silently for a few moments, staring at the salt shaker in Marcus’s hand. “Don’t worry about it, Marcus,” he replied dismissively. His tone had become noticeably somber. “Just put it back in the box, okay?”

  “I will…after you tell me why.” Marcus stood defiantly.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing, Joseph. I can tell when you’re lying. Why won’t you just tell me what’s so special about it?” Marcus snapped.

  “It’s the salt shaker Allie grabbed for me at the restaurant on the day I gave her back all of her memories of me,” Joseph explained dejectedly. “I decided to take it…as a memento of her.”

  “Then why don’t we just bring her with us?”

  “Nothing would make me happier, Marcus,” Joseph admitted. “But you and I both know that she’s safer here.” There was a distinct tone of regret in his voice. “Her sister is here. Kevin is here. It’s where she belongs.”

  Marcus carefully put the shaker back in the box as the cell phone on the counter began to ring. He looked over at the screen and grimaced when he saw the name. “It’s Allie,” he said, picking up the phone to bring it to Joseph.

  “Answer it for me, Marcus,” he said, blowing out a long, somber breath.

  “Hello, Allie.”

  “Marcus!” Allie said. “It’s good to hear your voice again.”

  “Oh, you’re too kind.” Marcus laughed. “Shall I pick you up?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll be there in about…fifteen minutes,” he answered, looking at Joseph for confirmation.

  Joseph nodded, turning back to the items on the shelf next to him.

  “Okay,” Allie answered with a hint of sadness in her voice. “Is…is Joseph coming, too?”

  Marcus looked over at Joseph to ask him, but Joseph continued to stare at the shelf, ignoring him. “No, just me.”

  “All right,” she replied, disheartened. “Well, it’ll give us a good chance to talk…just you and me.”

  “Sounds good, Allie. See you soon,” he replied, setting the phone back on the counter. “I’ll be back in an hour or so, and then we can get on the road.”

  “Thank you, Marcus,” Joseph muttered gratefully through a forced smile.

  Marcus returned the smile, picked up the box and silently walked away.

  As Joseph heard the door close behind Marcus, he took one more sentimental lap around the store, relishing every last moment with his collected treasures. As he picked up his phone to put it back into his pocket, it began to ring. He took a long look at the caller’s name before answering.

  “Byron! How are things on your end?” Joseph asked, hopeful for some good news to lighten his mood.

  “I’ve reached out to
everyone in the Network over the last few days, and you’ll be happy to know all are safe,” the metallic voice said. “They’ve all been advised to lay low for a while until we can find out who those bounty hunters are here for.”

  “Well, you can give them the all-clear.”

  “Seriously?” Byron gasped. “You managed to kill them on your own?”

  “Yes,” Joseph said confidently. “Well…I had a little help, but all three bounty hunters are taken care of. It’s over.”

  “That’s great news!” Byron cheered. “When I saw the nuclear explosion on that island, I thought they might have gotten you.”

  “It was close, but you know me,” Joseph boasted.

  “Yes, I do…considering you’re the one that keeps putting the rest of us in danger,” Byron teased with a sarcastic laugh.

  Joseph chuckled. “Well, that’s why I built the Network in the first place. It helps keep us all safe, right?”

  “I know. I’m just giving you a hard time,” Byron admitted. “You know each of us wouldn’t be where we are right now if it wasn’t for you. You’ve made it possible for everyone to have a place to hide and feel protected. That was all you, Joseph…remember that.”

  “I will, my friend.”

  “Anyway, I’ll sound the all-clear. Just give me a call if you need anything.”

  “Thank you, Byron.” Joseph smiled and slid the cell phone back into his pocket.

  ***

  Allie peered through the hospital lobby window and grinned when she saw Joseph’s car pull up. She hurried outside and made her way toward the car as Marcus emerged from the driver’s side and walked around to open the rear passenger door for her.

  Allie gave Marcus a long hug. “It’s so good to see you!” she cheered, holding him tightly.

  “It’s good to see you, too, Allie.” He patted her back to break their embrace.

  Marcus motioned for Allie to get in, and as she climbed inside and sat down, a thick cloud of dust on the seat puffed into the air and she began to cough.

  “Sorry about that, Allie,” Marcus apologized as he entered the car, watching her fan the air in front of her face.

  “Why is it so dusty in here?” she asked. Then she saw a large rip in the back of driver’s seat. Allie traced the outline of the torn leather and exposed padding. “What happened to the seat?”

  “That was me,” Marcus chuckled as he pulled the car away from the curb. “While I was loading one of the larger statues, the damn thing shifted the wrong way. Part of it ended up going right though the back of the seat. I’m sure Joseph will make a fuss about it…you know how he is,” he said lightheartedly.

  “Yeah, I do.” Allie laughed. “Well, if he gives you any shit, just tell him I said to take the money out of my account. Got it?”

  “Works for me!” he laughed.

  The ride home flew by for Allie as she and Marcus made small talk, enjoying each other’s company while they could. Finally, the car pulled up in front of her apartment building.

  Allie exhaled a long, deflated breath as she stared at the drab building. “You know, it’s been an absolutely insane couple of weeks, but I’m definitely going to miss you guys,” she said, reflecting on what they’d been through together.

  “Then why don’t you come with us?” he urged, turning around in the seat to face her.

  “I can’t,” she replied sadly. “Joseph’s right. I need to be here for my sister, and Kevin needs someone to look after him right now. Besides, I still feel responsible for what happened to him last night.”

  “So, I guess it has nothing to do with the fact that you’re enamored with this young man you have only known…for what…just over a week now?” Marcus teased.

  “Of course not,” she replied, her face flushing.

  He smiled. “Sure, sure.”

  “Okay, maybe a little,” she admitted as she smiled, blushing even more.

  Marcus chuckled as he got out of the car and walked around to the other side to open her door.

  “Well, I’m happy for you, Allie. You really deserve it, especially after all you’ve done for us. I mean it.”

  “Thank you, Marcus.”

  “You’re welcome.” He nodded. “You know, I honestly think you’re the first person to bring out a real semblance of humanity in Joseph. It was something I could never do.”

  “How come?” she asked curiously.

  “I’m not entirely sure,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Until you came along, he was more withdrawn…more isolated, and he didn’t like interacting with anyone. For Joseph and me, it was more of a working relationship, but now, he’s started to reflect on his own life and the consequences of his actions. It’s a complete change in his personality.” Marcus shook his head slightly. “It’s just something I’ve never seen before.”

  “But isn’t that a good thing?”

  “Let’s hope so,” Marcus replied.

  “Where are you guys going?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know,” Marcus admitted. “He never tells me. I just drive and follow his directions until we arrive wherever he’s decided we need to be.”

  “Well, when you get there, let me know you’re safe, okay?”

  “I will.” He nodded.

  Allie sighed, knowing this was most likely the last time she’d ever see Marcus, and she did her best not to cry as she hugged him one last time.

  “Goodbye, Allie.”

  “Goodbye, Marcus,” she said, letting go of him and turning toward her apartment. Forcing herself not to look back, she heard the car door shut behind her and the sound of the engine fading down the street.

  When she walked into her apartment, Allie looked around and began to wonder how this whole recovery situation with Kevin was going to work. How long would he be in the hospital while she traveled between work and taking care of him? Would he want to go back home to his family? What if things went so well over the next few days that she’d have to figure out how to convert her place to accommodate him until he was fully healed? And then what? She’d never been in a position like this before. Plus, when Patience found out she was helping to take care of Kevin, Allie knew she would insist on using her healing crystals and teas on him. Allie wasn’t quite sure she was ready for that kind of chaos. She didn’t want to scare him away.

  Allie laughed as she suddenly realized she was becoming like her overprotective sister, now that it was her turn to take care of someone for a change. Allie took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and decided all the scenarios would be better handled later. For now, all she wanted to do was rest for a little while before heading back to the hospital to see Kevin.

  It’d been a long time since Allie was able to fall asleep without the burden of her overactive mind thinking about the negative things going on in her life. Allie realized things wound up to be much better for her overall since she’d met Joseph. She’d grown much closer with her sister, she wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore, and she felt as though she might have finally found the right man.

  Little did she know everything was about to change.

  ***

  She’d been asleep for about an hour when she was jolted awake by her cell phone ringing. The first thing that popped into her head was that it might be the hospital calling.

  “Hello?” she answered, not bothering to look and see who it was.

  “Allie?” Joseph asked urgently. “Where are you?”

  “I’m at home. Why?” she replied, suddenly feeling all her anxiety come rushing back.

  “Where’s Marcus?” Joseph snapped.

  “What?” Allie asked, confused.

  “I said, where’s Marcus?” he growled.

  “How should I know?”

  “He brought you home from the hospital, right?”

  “Yes,” she said, looking at the clock. “A little over an hour ago. Why?”

  Joseph didn’t respond.

  “J
oseph?” Allie pressed. “What’s going on?”

  “Marcus hasn’t come back yet.” Joseph sighed. “He’s not answering his phone and the tracker in the car isn’t working anymore,” he explained grimly.

  “What do you need me to do?” Allie offered.

  “For now, stay where you are,” Joseph instructed. “I’m going to make a few calls and see if I can track him down…something’s not right,” he muttered ominously.

  Allie dropped the phone on the bed, instantly sucked back into Joseph’s chaotic world. She knew she’d never get back to sleep. With a sigh, she got up and got dressed while she waited for him to call her back.

  Ten minutes went by as she paced the floor of her apartment, and there was still no word from Joseph. She couldn’t wait any longer. She was about to call Joseph to find out what was going on, when there was a knock at the door.

  -23-

  “Hello?” Allie asked cautiously as she inched toward the door. “Who is it?”

  “It’s Patience. Stop fooling around and open the door!” she moaned. “These bags are getting heavy.”

  Allie rushed to open the door for her sister. “What are you doing here?”

  “I brought you some groceries and lunch…Chinese…your favorite,” Patience replied as she walked past Allie and put the bags on the kitchen table.

  “H-How did you know I was even home?” Allie asked, dumbfounded by her sister’s sudden appearance at her apartment.

  “Well, when I called the hospital, they said you’d already been released. I thought I’d surprise you with lunch and some company,” Patience said and hugged Allie tightly. “I’m so glad you’re okay. How’s Kevin?”

  “He’ll be fine,” Allie replied somberly as Patience pulled back. “The doctor says it’ll take a little while for his body to fully heal, but he was lucky his injuries weren’t more severe.”

  “Well, that’s a good sign, though, right?” Patience said, putting the groceries away in the refrigerator.

  “Oh yeah, absolutely.” Allie tried to sound cheerful, but the truth was, she still felt guilty about Kevin’s injuries.