Chapter 38 Deja vu
Cole Ryder’s POV
My imagination was eating at me. Having a field day showing me different variations and occurrences that would have happened if I had not gotten to her in time.
Even as she bounced back into her joyful, joyous self, running around and organising food for the kids in the orphanage, i could not bear to join the celebration.
I did not believe in coincidences. In my world, there was no room for multiple chances given to fate. Coincidence did not just happen to people like me.
Someone targeted my kitten.
Nonetheless, I was happy.
I was in so much pain, but very happy. Well, as happy as my bleak heart could be. Even though I ate pain for breakfast and bloody horror for lunch, my shoulder was going crazy, swollen and red. It was all worth it as I watched Celene walk out of the orphanage doors with the kids.
It didn’t take long for them to notice what I had laid out for them. The children's mouths hung open as they tugged on the sleeves of the nuns, begging to be released so they could run into the open field. I brought everything...all of it...for Celene. The lucky kids just got to enjoy it in her stead.
Looking at the wide spread of food, I remembered how the head chef at my mansion had asked,
“What kind of food do we prepare, Sir?”
And my only reply had been,
“Everything.”
I looked at the dirt on Celene’s jeans, the dull pain in my shoulder reminding me of what could have happened to her if I hadn’t been there.
I had been watching her smile, watching her eyes light up as every piece of furniture was removed from the trailer.
Someone wanted to kill her. To take her away from me.
My mind snap back to the life altering event of a few hours ago.
When the first cry of worry from the staff reached me, I noticed immediately what was wrong.
The iron beam headed toward Celene was easily the largest, heaviest of all the beams. It was one of the large, hefty ones meant to hold up the miniature stage that would be created. After Celene looked up and yet remained frozen and unmoving, everything went into slow motion for me.
I had planned to be in the car, overseeing everything from there, but that idea had been a lousy joke at that point.
Running toward her gave me a stunning realization, I was actually going to her. I wasn’t avoiding her, despising her presence like I did everyone else all though my life. I was running to her...and I would continue going to her. All she needed to do was stay right there.
The metal beam hit my left shoulder with a welcome pain. I could have sworn I heard something crack, but I couldn’t dwell on it. It was worth it. The pain was worth it. I would rather be in pain for saving Celene than suffer the kind of pain that came from the dangerous craziness of my life.
Soon the staff worked together to pull the beam off me, releasing the pressure from my shoulder but making the pain sharper, more intense.
I couldn’t see my face at the time, but I knew I looked crazy. My eyes shining, nose flaring, mouth locked into a tight line. Even my voice came out as a low wasp of words when I said,
“Cee, are you ok?”
I couldn’t hide the panic in my voice even if I tried.
She stayed quiet, her eyes squeezed shut.
“Celene!! Snap out of it!!”
This time she squeezed her face tighter. I worried she was stuck in panic mode or still feeling phantom pain. My mind ran in every direction, imagining what she might be feeling beneath me, her body curled tight. My imagination wasn’t kind.
“Goddammit, Celene!”
With that last violent push, she opened her eyes and looked at me. Her bright brown eyes were muddy and hazy, but they were open. That was enough.
I wasn’t religious, but I could have prayed in thanksgiving.
I watched her search my face the same way I searched hers—for pain, for shock, for something wrong.
I pulled myself off her, and the pain in my shoulder exploded into a blinding furnace.
I had been so focused on her that I’d forgotten about my injury until I moved. I couldn’t hide the grimace fast enough as I pulled her up.
We had already gathered an audience. Staff members bored with their lives or broke enough to sell any fascinating story about the newly unveiled Cole Buenaventura to cheap blogs hovered nearby. Any hint of weakness was unacceptable, especially in public.
I could treat my wounds in private.
And I wouldn’t make Celene worry like that.
I straightened, still fawning over her, my eyes roaming her body for any sign of harm while expertly hiding my own.
“You’re hurt,” she said finally, staring at me with that knowing look before walking closer.
I avoided looking at the forming crowd. I needed to deflect.
“I’m fine. Do you feel ok? Do you need to get to the hospital? I’ll get a car ready...”
I turned to leave, but she grabbed my burning shoulder and pulled hard. I had to choose between yelling or begging her to let go. Instead, a sharp hiss tore out of me. I was grateful my back was to her.
“Oh my God!! Cole, you’re hurt, let me see.”
The one time I didn’t need her attention—the one time. She always picked the worst possible option.
I wiggled my arm free before turning to face her.
"I should be saying that to you instead... You froze!!"
I didn’t mean to yell at her... but all i could see at that moment was Celene’s body, lifeless under the heavy metal beam.
“I’m fine, really. You're the one who's hurt, not me.” her voice sounded so soft, like she was trying not to anger me. I did not like that, soni took a deep breath, hoping to calm myself down. It worked... a little.
"I'm good" I answered after I took another deep breath.
“Well thank God, you gave me quite a scare back there, Chika. Let’s get on with this, shall we?”
I had never been more grateful for Rose than in that moment. I turned and walked away as the reverend mother, sisters, and staff rallied around Celene, apologizing and checking on her.
I shook my head to dispel the memories. This was the 20th time I had remembered the incident while sitting in this car.
I didn’t know if Celene noticed that the staff member responsible had been conveniently removed from the premises, awaiting punishment.
I didn’t care if it had been truly been a mistake, but in the mafia workd were life and death hung in the balance, mistakes like that were not ignored.
I gathered my thoughts as I watched Celene.
She was my beacon. My ray of light...
While the chefs and kids dished out food, laughter and conversation filling the air, my eyes followed her. Her smile lit everything. Her giggle rang like church bells in the morning. When she spoke, it echoed in my head.
I closed my eyes, letting the sound sink deeper.
I felt the warmth of her laughter bloom through my skin and into my bloodstream. It bubbled and sizzled, moving closer until I hummed without meaning to.
The laughter stopped when my passenger door opened.
My eyes snapped open. My body went taut as I looked at Celene settling into my car.
"Have we met before, Cole Ryder?"