Chapter 125

Victoria's POV

I hated hospitals.

And even more now, because of the person laying on the hospital bed. And said person didn't seem the least bit bothered by the fact that he's been shot. Jason just laid there with the remote in his hand groaning and complaining about having nothing to watch on tv.

"You look like shit." He said giving me a brief look and all I could do was let out a sigh.

"And you're an idiot, who almost died." I said crossing my arms over my chest. "And I don't look like shit."

"I'm not talking about your appearance, but your expression." He said as his lips turned upward. "And I did not almost die."

I shook my head moving my gaze to the window. It's two days and he's been acting as if he didn't receive two bullets.

I still don't know how things happened. Everything is just a blur to me, all I know is that I was panicking the whole time and I didn't even realized when I called an ambulance or when we got here. I just felt like my brain was on auto pilot.

He was shot and all minds just focused on Kevin, but my mind can't stop visualizing the brief image of blond locks and black coat leaving the parking lot that day. I don't know if it was my mind just playing tricks at me. I don't know if I really saw it, all I know is that I was moving on autopilot that night and that I wasn't myself.

I told Hunter and Sebastian all I knew, including my suspicions on Cindy. All I can do is leave things into their hands. According to them, the person who shot wasn't very precise because of the distance from where Jason. That fact caused them to seriously start considering Cindy.

Hunter explained that Kevin would have known what weapon to use for that distance and how to make it precise and not miss the way Cindy did. 

Jason was shot on his arm and another on his side. The latter didn't go as deep as the first to cause significant damage but went deep enough to me.

And it didn't matter who was there anyways, all that mattered was Jason bleeding on the floor. And I reacted according to that.

He could have died.

Someone tried to kill him. 

I clenched my teeth as the aching in my chest came back in full force.

"Why are you crying?" Jason's voice was heard in the silent room and I quickly looked away from the window wiping my cheeks. 

I looked at him. "I don't know. I was just thinking." 

"Come here." He said dropping the remote and beckoning me ever.

I shook my head. "No. You're hurt. I'm fine"

"Come here or I'm coming to you." He said patting the spot beside him.

I sighed heavily before moving to the hospital bed. I sat on it turning my body to face him.

"You cry baby." He muttered before wrapping his good arm around me pulling me closer to him.

"Jason, I don't want to hurt you." I said but he shook his head stopping me.

"I'm fine." He smiled placing a hand on my cheek. "

I let out a breath leaning against his touch closing my eyes. I opened them back after a moment and looked at him placing my hand on his. 

"You really scared me."

"Don't worry. I know you can't live without me. So, I don't plan on dying yet." He said and I looked at him to see that arrogant look on his face.

I narrowed my eyes at him lightly slapping his hand away. "You're so annoying." I said rolling my eyes and he grabbed my hand again. "You're too relaxed. Doesn't it hurt at all."

"Oh, it did. I was crying on the inside." He said lowly as the corner of his lips turned up a little. "But my pride wouldn't let me show it to you."

Seriously?

I just stared at him, not knowing if I should laugh at him and his logic or cry for him.

"Don't look at me like." He said before kissing my palm. "I'm fine. Now give me a kiss."

"No." I shook my head at him. "I don't want to hurt you."

"A kiss isn't going to hurt. It can only make me feel better." He said moving his hand to the back of my neck.

I quickly shook my head moving away and standing up making him groan loudly. 

"Victoria, get back here!"

I smiled sticking my tongue out at him.

"Why don't you come closer and do that again?" He said moving to get out of bed and I quickly moved to his side trying to get him to stay there, but he only wrapped his good arm around me pulling me close.

"Did you talk to Sebastian today?" I asked trying to pry his arm from around my waist.

"I'm sure that fucker was just waiting for a chance like this to sit on my chair."

The door was pushed opened a little and Seb walked in glaring at his brother. "I heard that, you son of a b-" 

I smiled lightly at his horrified expression after he's caught himself, and Jason released to look at his brother with a raised eyebrow.

"Please, finish that sentence and give me reason to beat you up without getting in trouble." Jason muttered causing his brother to narrow his eyes at him.

"Then I'll just apply pressure on your wounds. Until you've recovered, I'm the strong one." Sebastian with a smug look on his face, looking very proud of that fact.

Jason glared at him and was about to answer when the door opened again and Stella walked in holding a big bag with her, probably containing Jason's things. She turned toward her sons with a smile only to find them glaring at each other.

"Is everything alright?" She asked looking between her two sons. "Are you okay baby?" she said looking at Jason.

"Sebastian tried to apply pressure to my wounds when I told him that it was painful." Jason said causing Sebastian to gape at him and a gasp to escape Stella's mouth. 

Very mature, Jason.

"Is that true Sebastian?" She asked placing her hands on her hips. 

"No, I didn't say it like that. He said he was going to beat me up because I sai-" Sebastian stopped himself before frowning slightly knowing that he couldn't repeat what he just said.

He looked at Jason who has a boyish smile on his face.

"Because you said?" Stella urged tapping her foot impatiently on the floor when Seb stopped his sentence. 

"Nothing." He frowned deepened.

Stella shook her head giving him disapproving look before she started lecturing. Jason just had a really satisfied look on his face as he leaned back on his bed watching them. 

"You are a horrible person." I muttered shaking my head at him with a small smile on my face.

A few days after Jason was released from the hospital and Kevin was still out there. But Hunter and Steve didn't seem the least bit worried. It's like they wanted him to keep hiding, which was both confusing and frustrating to me. Jason didn't even seem to care at all.

What was frustrating is that I know that they had something in mind and refuse to share it.

Why would they want Kevin to stay hidden?

And what about Cindy?

Jason just told me not to worry about it for a few days and let things play out.

But let what things play out?

Hunter just said that what was important was Jason's complete recovery and that Kevin could wait. And I agree with that. But I couldn't help but believe that there was more to this.

I glanced at Elena who walked into the living-room of her parents' house holding a few binders in her arms, muttering about orders, deliveries and prices. The frustrated look on her face said it all about her motivation to do whatever she had to do.

"Marco is on his way here. His plane just landed." Jason suddenly said from the couch placing his phone down and a loud sound followed.

All eyes turned to Elena who had dropped all the binders she was holding. She quickly bent down to grab them with slightly shaking hands and a slightly red face. Her eyes were wide as she quickly moved to put the papers that slipped what into the binder.

"Seriously? You're still into that guy?" Sebastian asked narrowing his eyes at her.

"Of course, she is." Jason said shaking his head slightly. "Look at her face."

Elena gasped a little shaking her head quickly. "O-Of course not. I'm not a child anymore." She said as her face only kept getting redder. "You're so stupid."

"Why are you so red?" Sebastian asked again eyeing her curiously.

"B-because your questions are annoying me, now shut up!" She said angrily yelling the last two words placing the binders on the table before lowering her head a little letting her hair hide her red face.

I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing.

No one in this world can make her this flustered and shy, she speaks her mind and is bossy most of the time, but just hearing Marco's name can turn her into a stuttering and shaking mess. 

"Leave her alone, honey." Stella said with a smile slightly placing a hand on Seb's shoulder.

Hunter just sat on his seat looking at Elena, who still had her head lowered, without saying a word and not letting any expression show on his face.

God knows what he is thinking right now.

He then turned to look at me. "Victoria, your father is with your mother, right?"

"Yes." I nodded a little a little as my nails started digging into my palms slightly.

My father.

The one thing I still can't wrap my head around. The one thing I'm still trying to process and accept. I haven't really talked to Steve since that, except when he asked me how I was doing. I wanted to talk to him, I wanted to know everything. I have so many things to ask. But it always feels like there's something holding me from doing so.

I want to know him.

But I'm always hesitant. And he can sense and that's why he doesn't push it. I asked him to give me time to take it all in, and he did. 

I just don't know how to talk to him. It was much easier when I didn't know he was my father. Now all I can do is just watch him interact with my mother. It's easier for her to talk to him. She talks to him as he was never gone, as if she didn't spend years without him.

But I figured that the connection they have was already deep to begin with. Something years of absence can't just erase. A connection way older than me. If my mother loves him that much, I know he must be worth it. All the years of absence didn't matter right now.

He is here.

The doorbell but all eyes went back to Elena as she abruptly stood up and start moving quickly, practically running, out of the living-room and toward the stairs.

"Where the hell are you going?" Sebastian asked in an annoyed tone, already knowing the reason of her behavior.

"I'm not feeling so good. So, I'm going to lay down a little. You guys can work on your things." Elena said quickly disappearing.

He rolled his eyes in annoyance and stood up to go open the front door. 

My eyes stayed on where Elena was just a few seconds ago, wondering how she is ever going to get Marco, if she's always running away, or being scared to meet him alone. Also wondering what I can do to help her overcome her shyness around him.

Sebastian walked back in the living-room by Marco.

"Marco." Stella exclaimed with a bright smile standing up. "It's been way too long." She said pulling him into a tight hug, causing him to literally bent over to get to her height.

Jason chuckled knowing how awkward his friend was when it came to physical display of affection. The man rarely talked more than necessary, except when Jason was around. But I guess he was his best friend for a reason. Jason always said that it was a good thing that Marco didn't always speak his mind because people wouldn't know if they should be terrified or just disturbed.

Marco gave a tiny smile as Stella pulled away.

"It's good to see you again, Mrs. Knight." He said before turning to Hunter who had his eyes on him the whole time. "Hello, Mr. Knight."

"Marco." Hunter said lowly.

"You're right on time. Dinner is almost ready." Stella said with a bright smile.

Marco moved on the same as Jason and moved back to give him a look. 

"Are you still healing?" Marco asked as the corner of his mouth turned up slightly.

"I know you're fighting the urge to press my wound because there are people around, you sick bastard." Jason muttered sending a knowing look toward his friend.

"My hands are itching to do just that." Marco said lowly before turning to look at me. "Victoria, I'm happy to see you again."

"You too." I smiled looking up at him. "You haven't been around here in a long time."

"Yeah. I had to keep track on things there." He said. "Congratulations." He pointed at the ring on my finger. "I was really starting to lose hope on my friend."

"Shut up." Jason muttered snatching one of the folders in Marco's hand. "Is that it?" He asked opening it and his eyes started scanning through it.

"You were right." Marco said handing another document to Hunter. "About everything."

Stella sat next to Hunter looking at the document that were in the folder with him for a few second before her eyes widened. "That bastard." I heard her mutter and Seb looked between the four people confusion written all over his face.

"Why am I confused about this?" He asked looking between his parents and the two others. "I'm never confused. I always know what's going on."

"You were too busy doing your job and Jason's at the company these past few days." Hunter said with his eyes still on the documents.

"I want to know." He narrowed his eyes moving to take the folder from Jason but the latter just pulled it away keeping out of his reach.

"You'll find out when at the same time as Vicky and Elena." He said and Seb stood up angrily.

"Why?"

"Because the three of you are the babies of the family." Jason smirked.

I shook my head and stood up and went toward the stairs, knowing that I'm just going to have to get answers out of Jason later.

"Vicky, could you please tell Elena to come down for dinner?" Stella said standing up and moving closer to me.

"You think she will?" I asked with smile and she laughed softly.

"Make her." She whispered so only I could hear. "I like him, and she's gonna have to talk to him at some point, we're just going to give her a little boost."

"She's stubborn."

"She's made your life miserable when she was teasing you in front of people." She said with a smile. "And It's time for payback." She said shooing me toward the stairs.

I smiled as I moved up the stairs and toward Elena's room. I reached and opened it slightly to find her pacing back and forth in front of her bed.

"Dinner is ready." I smiled and she shook her head still pacing. "Elena, he's gone." I lied looking for a reaction.

She paused and turned to look at me. "He is?" she asked and I nodded. "Already?" She added and I swore that I could hear a hint of disappointment in her tone.

"Would you even come down if he was still here?" I asked and she frowned a little.

"I would have just needed time. But I would have. I think." She sighed sitting on her bed. "I'm an idiot, aren't I?"

I shook my head moving into the room and closing the door behind me. "You're in love."

"Close enough." She sighed giving me a small smile. 

"Why are you so scared of him?" I laughed moving to sit close to her. 

"I'm not scared of him. He just makes me so nervous that I don't even act like myself." She groaned. "But every time I run or avoid seeing him, I end up regretting it. I'm acting like a kid who has a crush."

"Well I lied. He's still downstairs." I said and her eyes widened as she quickly stood up glaring at me.

"You tried to trick me." She said loudly and I snorted looking up at her.

"Yeah and I could have let you go down there, not knowing a thing." I shrugged laughing a little at her outraged expression before standing and moving toward the door. "Now let's go before you regret not talking to him again."

"Hold my hand." She said quickly moving toward grasping my hand in hers. "You better not let go." 

"I won't." I smiled and we walked back down the stairs.

Elena tensed up as soon as we walked in the dining room. Jason sat on his sit with his face resting on his palm as he turned to look at Elena with a blank look. Elena held his gaze, probably to avoid looking at the man across from them. But Marco spoke.

"Hello Elena." He greeted her from the other side of the table causing her to considerably tighten her grip on my hand.

I tried my face to keep a straight as she practically stopped my blood circulation.

"Hi Marco." She said lowly.

"I haven't seen you in a long time." He said and Elena looked at him nodding a little with a small smile. "You were in Rome and didn't even visit me." He said and Elena squeezed my hand even more causing me to bite back a whimper of pain.

"Stop this. She's not interested, Lombardi." Sebastian groaned almost slamming the bowl of lettuce on the table.

He said that knowing that Elena wouldn't have the courage to deny it. I don't know why he always finds pleasure into ruining his sister's love life.

But luckily, Stella appeared beside Sebastian before grabbing his ear and pulling him toward his seat. He groaned in pain and his mother forced him to sit down.

"I'm going to get your father." Stella said walking out. "I don't where he disappeared to."

Well at least this dinner won't end up like the once with Michael, since Marco technically isn't Elena's boyfriend.

Right?