Feasting on them
Leonardo
“Hello, dear.” I greeted her with a smile, watching as she opened her eyes.
Cheryl already regained consciousness. Her stitches were healing slowly and she looks more okay and glowy by the day.
Our son, Bryan, also regained consciousness. But he still cries a lot like he's in pain so the doctors put him under close watch. They wouldn't let him out of their sight so we haven't gotten the chance to really be with him.
“Baby,” She cooed, stretching her hand to touch my face. I leaned in closer, and she caressed my cheek. Her smiles were heavenly. They were healing me.
A tear rolled down my face. “How you feeling, love?” I asked with a smile.
She cleaned the tear with her thumb. “I'm good.”
I kissed her hand, sniffling back my tears. “That's great.”
“Have you been here all night?”
“Yeah.”
“Why? You weren't with Vince?”
“I was. He left. Had to go take care of something.”
It'd be wise not to tell her about Vince's decision to take on the dark path. She's still recuperating and it might worsen her condition. I'd hate to put her through such agony.
“And you stayed behind?” She asked, her cautious gaze was scrutinizing me. She knows just when I'm lying. Or hiding something.
“He didn't need me there. He went with Luke.”
Her brows furrowed. “What about Richard?”
“He's here in the hospital. Claire woke up. He's with her.”
She beamed. “Oh, thank God.”
“Yes.”
“So Richard's here, and you're here. Vince is out with just Luke. What's going on?”
I chuckled nervously. “What do you mean?”
“Vince only goes out with Luke when he wants to do something drastic. That man fuels his bad decisions. So what are they up to now?”
She's such a shrink. My God.
“Nothing, love. They're just trying to find ways to rescue Elena. That's all.” I kissed her forehead and stood.
“Where you going?”
“To check on Claire. Get some rest.”
Actually, I'm running away. Before she reads me bare like a damn book.
“Okay.” She smiled, watching me leave.
I left the room and headed to Claire's room. Richard was sitting next to her and they seemed to be having a conversation.
The poor man was giddy and crying at the same time. He's going through a rollercoaster of emotions seeing her talking again.
He glanced at me and laughed. “She's so funny.”
“Yeah. Good thing she has a good sense of humor. Unlike her grumpy father.”
“Why you talking about my father?” She pouted, darting her gaze to me.
I was speechless for a second. And then it hit me that she doesn't know me. We've never really officially met.
“Hi, I'm Uncle Leo. I'm your father and grandfather's friend.” I waved at her.
She looked at Richard for confirmation and he nodded. “He's your uncle Leo.”
She looked at me. “Nice meeting you, Uncle Leo.” This time, she smiled.
Okay, she's sweet. Just like Elena. Vince's blood didn't rub off on her a lot. Thank God. It would have been a disaster if she took after him.
“Grandpa said you were with my Father. Where is he?” She asked, with the sweetest smile I've ever seen.
Richard's guilty gaze was begging me to play along. I did instantly.
“He went home to get something. He'll be here soon. Don't worry.”
She beamed. “Is he gonna get me a present? It's been so long he gave me one.”
“I…don't know, Ma'am.”
“Ma'am?” She giggled. “That's sweet.”
Nah she's cute. But I need to get the fuck out of here so I don't keep lying to her.
I winked at Richard before leaving the room. A minute later, he was out too, catching his breath.
“I hate lying to her. Makes me feel horrible.” He was slightly panting. You'd think he finished a marathon.
“You hate lying to anyone. It's not just her.” He's such a saint.
“True.” He rubbed his exhausted eyes. “Where exactly did Vince go, man? How long does he plan on staying? He should be here, by his daughter's side. She wants to see him.”
“Of course, he'd be here if he could. You know he adores the girl. It's just sad he adores your daughter more.”
Richard shot me a look. I shrugged. He shook his head, silently accepting his defeat. Damn yeah, I'm right.
Vince loves Elena more than his own daughter and that's pathetically sad. I mean, I love Cheryl but I love my son just as much. With Vince, it's different. You could see the big difference between his love for Elena and Claire.
The little girl is getting crumbs, for real. While Elena gets the real deal.
The approaching footsteps of Miguel and a few of his men got Richard and me feeling slightly anxious.
“What's going on?” I asked Miguel as he bowed.
“We're here to guard the girl.”
“Vince's order? He contacted you guys?”
“No. It's our duty.”
Right. She's Vince's daughter after all.
“Sure. Make yourselves comfortable.”
He assigned the men to the spots where they should be standing. And then he returned to where we were standing. He was looking at Richard.
“I just thought you should know. We have Liam Roosevelt in our custody. If there's anything you wanna ask him or get from him. You should do it now. I can't guarantee he's gonna be alive for long.”
“Vince's order?” I asked, because Richard seemed too speechless.
“Yes.” He bowed and left.
Richard and I exchanged glances.
“Do you really think Vince is gonna kill the man?”
“I have no doubt about that. Liam went too far. Ain't no way Vince is gonna spare him.”
Richard seemed like he was feeling some kind of sympathy for the man. But I couldn't feel the least sympathy for him. They caused my family so much agony. They deserve to die. All of them.
My phone began buzzing. I took it out of my pocket and was giddy to see it was Luke. I haven't received a call as quickly as I did this one.
“Yo. Where are you guys at?”
A vapid vibration traveled through my veins instantly, at the howling sound in the background.
Primal fear clenched my nerves and my heart was already pounding even though I wasn't sure what the heck was going on.
“Luke?!”
He wasn't saying anything. My hand was becoming shaky at his prolonged silence and at that beastly howl. The piercing cries of its victims made me wanna melt.
“What's going on?” Richard asked, getting closer to me. He looked just as terrified.
“I have no idea.”
“He's…he's…” Luke was stuttering now. We could barely hear him over that beastly howl.
“He's what? What's going on?” I asked. The morbid fear in his voice made me even more anxious.
“He's feasting on them. He's literally feasting on them.” Luke blurted out.
“Who's feasting on what? Use your damn words correctly, man.”
“Vince. He's a bloody rogue.”
I went pale. Richard did too. We both heard him loud and clear.
I looked behind Richard and Miguel was staring right at us. Even he heard it. And all three of us were giving the same reaction to those words.
Pale. Dumbstruck. Scared.