Marci Wellington's POV

Am I the only that likes to sleep in the same room with their boyfriend when they are under the same roof?

"Marcella! If you take one more step to that room, I'm calling out the big guns."

As you can see, my older cousin is not on board with the plan.

Figures.

"Mateo, I promise I will be in and out before you know it."

"What if Abuela comes to your room tonight?"

I facepalm. "Come on, bro. What's it gonna take?"

Mateo grins sheepishly and rubs his chin, "Let's see. What do I want?"

I glare at him and eye the door behind him. Maybe I can make a quick getaway?

All I want is to cuddle with my boyfriend. Is it too much to ask?

"If I let you into this room, you'll help me with my chores for a month."

I frown, "A week."

"Two months." His grin grows by the second. He is enjoying this way too much.

"Two weeks."

I clench my jaw and scowl at him, hoping he wouldn't make me go to the market with Abuela.

No offence to any cashier out there, but Abuela has this habit of doing math while paying for her stuff. Now, this won't be a bad habit if it didn't take about three hours for each trolley of goods to be calculated.

"You know how bargains work, right?"

I huff in annoyance. "Fine. I'll help you with your chores for three weeks. Now beat it."

Mateo chuckles quietly and steps out of my way. I push past him and open the door quietly to a dark room.

The adults of the Lealtad clan put Nate's room in the same hallway as Diego's and Mateo's rooms. This wouldn't have been a bad idea if it weren't three hallways, one flight of stairs away from mine. Also, Abuela's wine cellar is beside this room, so a bottle of Jack Daniels rests in my hand as I tiptoe to Nate's bed.

He's sprawled on the bed like a starfish. His glasses rest on his nose in a crocked form while a book rises and falls with his chest.

I smile and drop the bottle of alcohol on his dresser and walk closer to him. Removing the glasses and book from his body, I slide into bed with him. I prop my body sideways and rest my chin on my arm as I admire his form.

His bruises have faded completely, leaving only a few scratch marks on his face. The bandages on his foot and arm have come off, but he is still required to use his wheelchair to relieve pressure from his foot and allow it to heal properly. I eye the white gauze on his abdomen, and before I can stop myself, I reach out and caress it.

I was so concentrated on it that the feeling of another hand covering mine almost made me scream.

I turn my attention to my boyfriend. His forest green eyes shine in the dark, and seeing them without purple eyeliner almost brings tears to my eyes.

Almost being the keyword.

"Hi," I whisper.

"Hello, Marci. How are you?"

"Holding on by a thread. You?"

"Likewise."

We said no words after that. I continue to caress his knife wound and stare at him while he stares at me.

Nathan Pierce has lost his family, his home and probably part of his sanity. He surprises me by removing my hand from his abdomen and kiss my knuckles.

"Sometimes, I dream of her." He kisses my ring finger before looking me in the eye. "My mom."

The information piques my interest, and I shuffle closer to him.

"She tells me to eat my vegetables, brush my teeth before I go to bed and care for the people that saved me."

He wipes the corner of his eye and caresses my cheek. "What happened that night, Marci?"

I sigh. Deep down, I was hoping I would never have to tell him what happened on the night he almost died. It forced me to see the life drain out of Mr Pierce's eyes, and that was why I found myself out of my room towards him like a bat right out of hell.

It's selfish of me to keep such information away from him, but I don't want to hurt him. He's already gone through so much and I'm dammed if I will add to his pain.

"Are you sure?" I stall.

Nathan bites his lips and indecision covers his features. "Positive."

"Can I have some liquid courage?" I tilt my head towards the bottle on his dresser.

He laughs and plays with my hair. "We have school tomorrow, Marci. Having a hangover will do none of us any good."

"Honestly, I don't want to hurt you. I think if I tell you what happened, you'd have a heart attack."

"I am healthy; that's one thing I'm sure of. Besides, I'd have to know at some point. There's no harm in telling me and if I break down, I know you're here to catch me when I fall. And I'd catch you right back."

His courage warms my heart, and I lean forward to press a light kiss on his mouth. Nate caresses my cheek, and nibbles on my lower lip before placing his hand on my hip and pulling me closer.

I break away and sigh. "Lucas and I had just ditched the Spring Gala his dad hosted. We were on our way back when I decided to check up on you. Your stepdad was having a go at you and when he left, Lucas and I snuck into your room and tried to sneak you out. Unfortunately, Mr Pierce walked back and tried to stop us. Your mom comes in with a shotgun and tries to stop her husband from almost strangling Lucas. She killed your stepdad, made us promise to cater for you, and ran us off the property."

Nate frowns and stays quiet. I study his face as his eyebrows pinch and relax many times. After some time, he sighs and looks at me.

"Thank you, Marci."

I throw my hands around his neck and hug him while avoiding putting pressure on his stomach.

"I'm always here for you, Nate."

He returns the hug and pulls me closer. The sharp intake of breath from him makes me pull away.

"You really shouldn't put too much pressure on it." I scold him and examine the injury.

The lack of blood shows that the stitches are still in place.

"Meanwhile, Abuelo wants to perform an interpretive dance for him tomorrow. Giá and I have the routine covered, so I'll need you and Lucas on recording duty." I say.

Nate thinks it over and nods. "Sounds doable. You ready for school tomorrow?"

I turn away from him and sigh. "I wish."

"Is Xena still on your tail?"

I shake my head firmly. "No, she isn't. I just feel sad for her. She tried her best to bring her friend group back together, but it only made them single her out."

The thought of Giá, Nate and Lucas not wanting to have anything to do with me is just as painful as my dad not waking up.

Nate's hand caresses my cheek as he speaks, "I can see the wheels in your head spinning, Marci. Giá is the perfect definition of her last name. She won't throw you under the bus. As for Lucas -the wet blanket- I doubt he'd find another bunch of friends that can get used to his negativity."

"Nate, can we do a pact?"

"A pact concerning?"

I bite my lip and rack my brain to come up with how to explain what I want to ask. Sucking a breath, I go right ahead and ask.

"If we ever break up, can we still be friends?"

I didn't dare to look at him after my question. Thick silence followed my question.

Why wasn't he speaking?

I peek at him through my lashes and find him frowning at me.

"Really Marci, really?" He throws a hand towards me and pulls me closer. Placing a hand on my head, he holds eye contact with me. "If it were up to me, I'd want to marry you. I was serious about what I said on our anniversary, and I'm still serious now."

His words make me hold my breath and I barely manage the next words to leave my mouth. "A pact that signifies that we are kindred souls?"

I don't know why it sounded like a question or why it took a cringe-worthy turn, but it made Nate laugh.

He sobers after seeing my glare, but a small laugh leaves his mouth. "If I agree to this pact, will you stop thinking that I will one day wake up and stop wanting to be with you?"

I nod wordlessly. He offers his hand as a fist bump and I connect mine with his.

We spend the rest of the night cuddling and recalling fond memories. When I fall asleep, I don't see my dad's limp body; I don't see the life leave Mr Pierce's eyes, and I don't see myself ending up old and alone.

-

"I'm telling you, those boys were acting like video vixens from Lil Nas X's music video."

The image of Gia's technical drawing classmates having fun like that has me abandoning my lunch.

Lucas tilts his head to the side. "So just because they didn't pay attention to you, you think they are gay?"

"I don't think it, I know it. This isn't me acting me self absorbed-"

"Sure it isn't." Lucas tosses his fries into Giá's open mouth, successfully shutting her up.

Gia frowns at him, swallows the fry in her mount, and goes to open her mouth again, but Nate cut her short.

"Giá, everybody has their preferences. If they stopped chasing you, why are you so bothered?" He asks the obvious. "Besides your brothers won't let any of them near you, especially not after what happened with Felix."

"If I knew how much you lot loved to discuss me, I would have come sooner."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Felix drags a chair from a nearby table and sits between the boys. He has an assured smirk on his face as if his reason for coming here will happen in his favour.

Smart ass.

"What do you want, Felix?" I ask him.

He examines his nails in an uninterested manner. "Xena sends her regards. Only one more sports game left and it's for the football team. It's the last game of the season, and the principal wants a big performance. Since the winner of the Stuart scholarship will be known, he's going all out with the preparations. Next week Friday on our soccer field."

Lucas grunts, "You've done your work lapdog. Now beat it." He juts his chin to the side.

"Would it be bad if I asked for a favour?"

"Unless you plan to continue using your legs, I suggest you don't."

Felix raises his hands in mock surrender, "You haven't even heard want I want to say."

"I already know it's going to be bullshit. Besides, just because we paid your debt doesn't mean we tolerate your presence." Lucas announces the theory that we both share.

Felix sighs and looks at me for help. With furrowed brows, I say, "If you think I'll listen to you, you're higher than usual."

He glances around the table, and his gaze lands on my best friend. He shares eye contact with Giá, but she looks down and pokes her food around on her plate.

Lucas and I glare at the duo, not letting their interaction go unnoticed. My boyfriend speaks on our behalf, not trusting Lucas and me not to curse the boy or commit murder.

Although the second option is more appealing.

"What are you getting at, Felix?"

The man of the hour didn't dare to look at any of us as his eyes stayed fixed on Giá. "Is there a way that I can ask for your forgiveness?"

If I thought that this new year was going to be full of surprises, I didn't know what limit it was going to have.

Felix threw Giá under the bus in middle school to earn a place in the Editorial crew. He does drug deals for the smokers and druggies of the school. And finally, I'd rather wear coloured clothes that let him anywhere near my best friend.

With the above reasons of mine, I hope I have been able to convince and not confuse you about why I must keep Felix away from Giá. Although the distance I was hoping for would land me in jail charged with homicide.

I guess not all wishes come through.

"Guys, I know this looks bad, but Felix has changed." Giá finally speaks since Felix arrived at our lunch table.

"What do you mean, Giá?" Lucas asks as he glares at the boy beside him.

"We talked and worked out our issues. Besides, you only live once. Why can't I enjoy the only life I have?"

I inhale deeply to stop myself from launching across the table and strangling the moron to death.

"Gia, sweetheart, are you sure you want to follow through with that plan of yours?" I ask as a sickly sweet smile coats my lips.

Nate mutters under his breath, but it was loud enough for us to hear. "Here we go."

I raise my palm towards myself and aim it at Felix. "First off, he's a stupid ass bastard that betrayed your trust and sold the secrets between Diego and his friends to the heads of the Editorial crew to get a place on it." I drop my thumb finger.

"He's associated with the most suspicions people in school, which means he's on our principal's radar and I don't mean in a good way." I drop my pinky finger.

"He stuck his nose into my business and allowed everyone to know about the divorce." I drop my ring finger.

"And finally, my personal favourite. He manipulated you to believe that he's going to change or whatever bullshit he fed you, that has you thinking he's sorry." I drop my index finger.

I flip Felix off and scoff. "I don't know what angle you're playing here, but you're screwing with the wrong people."

"What can I do to make you guys believe me?" Felix pleads.

If you look closer, you could see the tears gathering in his eyes. I resist the urge to roll my eyes at the show he's putting on for us.

"Felix, why are you doing this?" Nate asks. "I understand that you two have feelings for each other that weren't resolved. But is it worth causing a rift between Giá and us for you to be with her?"

The pessimist among us glowers at the Editor. "So, what's the scoop on this one? Checkmate the ex? I don't see why you are sitting here and asking for forgiveness when you will do it again."

Someone slams the table so hard that all of us jump away from it. I turn to the culprit and the sight has me frowning.

With tears in her eyes, Giá says. "I thought the pact we made included accepting each other despite our flaws. Guess you guys lied to me."

She shakes her head, gets up and leaves. Lucas and I reach for her, but she ignores our protests and walks away.

I glare at the culprit of what just happened, hoping he'd end up six feet under or if I can stuff him there myself.

Felix wipes his eyes and sighs. "For the record, I'm sorry for what I put her and her family through. I'm also sorry for what I did to you, Marci. Expecting you to forgive me at the drop of a hat isn't possible. Honestly, I want to make amends; that's why I talked to Giá in private before talking to you guys. She said you guys would see reason and hear me out, but I guess she was wrong."

After he said his piece, the bell for the next period rings and he gets up to leave.

"Why do I feel horrible now?" I scrub my hand down my face.

"It's what happens after you tell your best friend that her idea of a boyfriend sucks." Lucas quips.

I remove my hand from my face to glare at him. "Not helping."

"You have the last period with her. Try talking to her; maybe you can find out where this is all coming from."

I think over Nate's words and nod.

"Come on, let's wheel him to his next class." Lucas nudges me.

We get up and wheel Nate out of the lunchroom to his English class.

"You know, now that your parents are out of the picture, you can finally pursue a degree in International Relations," Lucas says.

"That's true. I'll talk it over with Abuelo and decide where to go from there. Thanks, bro."

Lucas fist-bumps with Nate and smirks. "Anytime. Now go have fun and try not to break any more bones."

"Don't be an ass." I hit the back of Lucas' head and bend down to kiss Nate's cheek. "Enjoy your class."

His blush is instant and makes the teaching assistant that comes to take him away from us grin sheepishly.

"So the grudge is still going strong, right?" Lucas asks as we make our way to our Economics class.

"Yep." I say, popping the 'p'.

I walk into my Home management class and notice the absence of my seatmate.

I drop my bag on the chair and tap the girl in front of me. "Do you know if Giá has come in yet?"

She shakes her head and turns away from me. The worry brewing within me grows as the class continues to fill up, and Giá still doesn't show up.

Our teacher walks in and locks the door behind her. She heads to her table and starts with roll call while I hatch out a scheme to leave the class and find my bestie.

Something tells me a certain editor might be in her company.

"Giá Lealtad?"

I raise my hand to speak, which makes my teacher frown. "I'm very sure you're not Giá, miss Wellington."

I put on a bright smile. "Afraid not. Please, can you excuse me to find her?"

I hold my breath, hoping that she won't decline my request and start her class. The clock ticks loudly in the quiet classroom, making the wait seem painful.

"Fine, you can go find her."

I was up from my seat and out of the classroom before she could finish her statement.

I walk down the hallway and head straight for the stairs, taking them two at a time to the floor above. The door to the mathematics lab is slightly open, and I take a peek before I barge in.

Felix holds Giá to his chest as he consoles her. "I understand why you are upset Giá, but you know they are looking out for you."

She sniffs and continues crying quietly as if Felix's words weren't consoling her at all.

"I quit the crew today. Walked into Xena's office and put in my resignation letter. I really want to be with you, and I plan on making amends starting now."

The words echo out of the empty laboratory and into the emptier hallway. I never knew I'd live to see the day this would happen.

Felix quit the Editorial crew?

Giá's cries stop as she raises her head from his chest and closely looks at him with red puff eyes.

"Are you serious?"

He raises his hand to caress her cheek. "I'm serious Gia. I was a fool to give you up for a stupid reason, and I'd be damned if I can't get you back."

Gia throws herself at him in a kiss as tears fall freely from her face.

I push myself into the wall beside me to avoid being seen and slide down the wall until I'm in sitting on the floor. My memories assault me as it plays the aftermath of Felix's betrayal like a 90s film.

While I calmed Gia from having a panic attack in school, Mateo and Diego went under the rain like lightning and ran towards Felix.

They beat him to a pulp and left him under the rain before taking both of us home. I have never seen the boys as angry as I did that night. The sight of their children looking like walking zombies made Abuela call for an emergency family meeting.

I never knew what was the outcome of the meeting. But I know that no matter what happens to Gia, I've always wanted her to be happy.

After all, she doesn't have a broken family, and she has always been a ray of sunshine in our little group.

Frustration runs deep in my veins as I prepare myself for the next course of action. I can damn myself for it later, but my best friend's happiness is not something I take lightly.

-

"So, what do you want to talk about? Abuelo is waiting for us downstairs with his writer's group."

If I wasn't present for her meltdown earlier, I'd believe that the dissing of Felix didn't affect Giá.

I close the door to my room and rest on it. "I was there Giá."

Her brows furrow, "For?"

"When you didn't come in for Home Management class, I went looking for you. I saw something."

"Whatever you saw happened. That's that."

I shake my head and move closer to grip her shoulders. "Gia, you can't blame us for being sceptical about Felix's sudden change of heart. If it didn't go against my morals and everything I stand for, I'd have jabbed my fork into his eye."

"Is this supposed to make me feel better?" Gia cocks her hips to the side and crosses her hands on her torso.

"I think what Marci is trying to say," Lucas mutters from my bed. "Even though Felix is a prick of another species, he makes you happy. We will suck it up if he stops trying to stick his nose in our businesses."

I mentally thank the being up there that made me tell Lucas and Nate what I saw earlier.

Marci eyes us sceptical. "Does that mean you guys forgive him?"

"Nope. We will tolerate his presence for now. We can take it one step at a time, but if he steps out of line..." I trail off as a knock on the door sounds through.

Maya pops her head through the door and smiles at us. "Sorry to interrupt your group huddle, but the people are waiting."

"We're coming, mom."

Maya bobs her head and shuts the door to give us some privacy.

"I'm not kidding, bestie. If he hurts you, he's better off leaving the country." I tell her with seriousness"

A grin breaks out on her face as she launches herself at me and I fall to the floor. She giggles and I hug her back just as tight.

We walk downstairs to the waiting crowd. Lucas and Nate stand at certain angles in the spacious living room and start recording the interpretive dance Gia and I came up with.

After our performance, Abuelo's co-workers commend us and say how inspirational our movement was.

The gang and I were drinking lemonade in the kitchen discussing how to edit the video and post it on YouTube when Santiago walks into the house with a grin on his face.

"Valentiá sends her regards. She says that Marcel has come out of the coma and is waiting for us."

My emotions crumble my form, but I walk towards the garage while shouting over my shoulder. "What are waiting for? Let's go."

The drive to the hospital has me bouncing in joy at the thought of my dad finally being awake. It has been a torturous couple of days, but seeing him awake will be the best thing that has happened to me this year.

We crowd the hospital reception and demand entrance to my dad's hospital ward. They threw Spanish discussions as we wait for Aunt Valentiá. She's among the people Abuelo and Abuela welcomed into their home and helped them back on their feet.

Aunt Valentiá smiles warmly at us from her place behind the desk. "Buenas tardes famillia."

Translation: Good afternoon family.

The excited relatives drown her voice out, making her grin grow bigger. She raises her hand to silence the crowd. "I know we are all excited about Marcel's quick recovery, but I have to follow protocol. You can all see him one by one, starting from his closest blood relative."

All eyes turn to me as Aunt Valentiá smiles warmly at me. She gestures for me to follow her into the elevator and to the top floor.

"You must be very excited, Marci."

I rub my finger nervously as I glance at one of my aunts from the generous Lealtads. "I am. Is he okay?"

Valentiá raises her thumb. "His vitals stabilised this morning, and he woke up around noon. He said to get his family the moment he could speak properly, especially his little girl."

A few tears escape my eyes as her words calm my racing heart. We walk out of the elevator, towards the only door on the floor, and stop outside it.

"When you finish, come back to the reception. Alright?"

I nod at her and go to open the door. The elevator doors open and her eyes narrow at the person inside it. Her knuckles turn white from how hard she grips the clipboard by her side while her features turn murderous.

Before I can ask her what the problem is, she rears her hand back and hits my head with her clipboard.

-

"Would it kill these people to use black coloured lights instead of white?" are the first words to leave my mouth when I wake up.

The constant pain in my head won't get better if the blinding lights are here. Cleaning chemicals assault my nose, making me sit up straight from my bed. It was a bad idea because goose flesh assaults my skin and I rub my hands up and down my forearms.

I groan and use my hand to rub my eyes while trying to get past the headache.

Isn't my room supposed to be all black and hints of grey?

They planted my ass on a bed that is as white as snow, along with the walls and the ceiling. An open window by the corner of the room allows me to see an empty parking lot being drenched by rain.

The last time I checked was here to see my dad, not get myself checked in.

The door opens and Peyton's head sticks out. She sighs in relief. "Thank Walt, you're awake."

She let herself into the room with Danny coming in after her. His soulful green eyes stay fixed on me as he looks at me from my head to where the sheets drape on my body.

"You okay, Marci?"

Let's see; my dad's in a coma from an assassination attempt in his house. My mom has lost her mind, and if my memory doesn't fail my aunt almost gave me a concussion.

Really peachy.

"What do you think?"

"Don't sass me, Tiana."

I roll my eyes and level the two with a blank stare.

"You know, since you two showed up, weird stuff has been happening. Mind telling the reason for your visit, or am I going to wait till the next bizarre event?"

The two share a look and their eyes narrow at each other. Danny's vein bulge out while Peyton's eyes get more heated by the minute.

Damn, where's popcorn when you need it?

Danny scoffs and rolls his eyes before turning to me while Peyton smile victoriously.

"Marci, how much do you know about your dad's past?"

I shift in the bed. "My mom said something about him coming from a violent town. Apparently, he escaped the place and Abuelo and Abuela found him, took him in, and raised him as one of their own."

Danny rubs his chin and walks closer to me. He leans on the railing of the bed and inhales deeply.

"Marci, where your father is from is a place of violence. It's a place where deals are done and lives are used to play a twisted game of chess. What we say in this room dies in this room. Comprender?"

Peyton eats the distance between herself and us and hits the back of his head. "You can't make her promise the vow of the dealership. She's way too young, and Sam would have our asses faster than Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo."

"There can always be exceptions, Penny." He tells her.

I nod my head for him to start the explanation. "We come from a place called the British Empire, which is in the UK. We call ourselves dealers because we make deals to meet our selfish needs and to protect the ones we call dear. The current leader of the Empire is Sam Griffin, her grandfather and my granduncle."

I tilt my head to the side and give the duo a once-over. "Okay. How does that concern me?"

Danny glowers at me but continues to speak. "It has everything to do with you, Marci. Dealers are supposed to obey Sam's order without complaint. If you step out of line, you and the surrounding people will pay the price. There was a secret marriage between your father's first lover and his best friend. Feeling heroic, your dad told the bride-to-be the plan, by doing so he ruined the matrimony. That was the beginning of a snowball effect. Sam found out and killed Marcel's family in front of him and planned to kill him with the gun that was handed to Sam by your dad's best friend. His lover saved him by submitting herself to Sam's wishes, but Marcel had to leave the Empire to set an example."

They weren't joking when they said he had a violent past, were they?

Peyton takes over the explanation, "As you know, the Lealtad found your dad, but they also took in a woman named Valentiá Duenas. Valentiá has a score to settle with some dealers back home, and she plans on destroying your family before she does that."

I feel my brows climb up to join my hairline. Why would my aunt have beef with my family, especially my dad? Last time I checked, she and dad were the closest among the adoptive people of the Lealtad clan.

"Why should I believe what you say?" I narrow my eyes at the pair.

Their explanation makes sense to an extent. I mean, I always knew my dad's past was sketchy since I couldn't know any of it.

"Your Aunt wants you and your dad dead."

"Why?"

"Because she has a score to settle with-"

I cut her off. "You said your people wronged her. What did my dad do to her?"

They resort to their silent argument instead of answering my question. I scoff and get off the bed.

"While you guys get your story straight, I'm going to see my dad," I tell them and rest my feet on the icy floor.

I mentally cringe and hop from foot to foot while looking for a pair of slippers. When I get out of this hospital, I'm going to write these people a review.

Penny comes to block my way and push me back down on the bed.

"Marci, we can't tell you everything because it'll put you in danger."

"Aren't I already in danger?"

"Well, yea but-"

"My ignorance isn't helping my case if you haven't noticed it yet. Can I know what's going on?"

They have another silent argument.

"You know, if you keep doing that, I'll throw myself out of that window and go look for my dad myself."

To make my bluff appear real, I roll on my back across the bed and land on my feet. I ignore the biting cold that quickly crawls up my legs and put my palms against the window, readying myself to jump out of it. The sight of the rain would have spiked fear into the hearts of pirates, but it didn't deter me one bit.

"Threatening the people here to protect you isn't good either," Danny says as he eyes my figure close to the open window.

"Then tell me why I am in danger."

"You could pass off as a Griffin with that kind of stubbornness." He mutters under his breath. "Your Aunt is Caleb's mother. She gave him out to save her life from the dealers. She's out of control and on a path to destroy every form of happiness around her."

I tilt my head to the side, "Are you sure the two of you shouldn't be in a nuthouse?"

Danny scoffs and walks closer to me. He grips my shoulders firmly and gives me a shake.

"If you believe we would waste money and fly all the way here just to play a charade, you are highly mistaken." He says. "The plan is simple. We capture Valentia and take her back with us. While you stay clear away from her and if you need to go anywhere, don't go alone."

I shake away his hands and glare at him. "I want to help you. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the damsel in distress kind of girl."

Peyton snorts, "Yes, and I'm best friends with Olaf. Marci, you're a kid and ripe for the picking, as far as Valentiá is concerned. She took you out with just a clipboard. We promised your mother we would keep you safe, and we can't do that if you purposely put yourself in harm's way."

"What about my dad? Valentia has been the head nurse in charge of him. You obviously can't just leave both of us defenceless."

Dany rubs the space between his eyebrows and leans on the wall.

"We've done a background check on all the medical personnel in the hospital. Jacob will bunk with you tonight while Shawn stays with your dad. We're going back to the Penthouse to keep Caleb safe till Jacob gets back after dropping you with the Hispanics tomorrow. You're lucky that the concussion was mild and you can go home tomorrow."

"What about my dad and the Lealtads?"

"We told them you fainted from excitement. It's hard to lie to that grandmother of yours when she points that roll of newspaper like a deadly weapon. We had you put in this room while we watched them see your dad one by one for their safety. They don't know that Valentiá is out for blood and it has to stay that way. Meanwhile, your dad has come out of the coma. You can see him before you leave tomorrow."

I huff and walk back to my bed. "Can't I just get a break?"

I feel a hand rest on my shoulder. I follow them to see soulful green eyes. They search my face and dilate, displaying many emotions simultaneously, with uncertainty being prominent.

"Trust me, Marci. No one likes to watch their back against their own family." Danny tells me as he keeps eye contact with me.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think he is trying to tell me something without talking.

"Knock knock." Jacob's head appears in the doorway.

"Who's there?" we answer.

"The hottest bachelor in all of Miami." He struts into the room with a lopsided grin and a sleeping bag in hand.

"You're right on time, buddy." Danny moves from me to have a private conversation with the Joker in the room.

I look from Peyton to Danny and cock my head.

"Spit it out, Marci."

"If you people are as dangerous as you claim, then why did you want to be a babysitter last year?"

Peyton's smile looks pained as her eyes move from me to Danny. "It's a long story. One you will hear after you get some rest."

I huff a stubborn lock of hair from my face as she and Danny make their way to the door.

"Remember, don't take your eyes off her," Danny calls over his shoulder as they leave.

"Are you ready for the best slumber party of your life?" Jacob asks.

I rest on my palm on my chin, "If I can't have alcohol, I'll manage your humour."

He frowns for a second, but a grin returns to his face. "Do you want to hear a joke about paper? Never mind. It's tearable."

"Why are there fences around cemeteries? Everyone's always dying to get in."

"Why don't oysters donate to charity? They're shellfish."

"From now on, my name is Monica because I have a car and money."

"What's the difference between a piano and a fish? You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish."

Jacob's humour was enough to drown out the worry etching deep into my psyche.

All I wanted was a simple year with my family and friends; was that too much to ask?

-

"Look what the tide dragged in." His raspy voice bounces off the white walls as I walk into the room.

I hold back tears and run to him. Wrapping my hands around his neck, I hug him fiercely as he welcomes me into his arms.

"Hi, Dad," I say into his neck.

"My sweet girl. Are you going soft on me?"

We stay like that, holding each other as if it's our last.

"Did they tell you?" His dreaded question cuts the moment short.

I remove my arms from around him and stand close to his bed.

"Mom or Peyton and Danny?"

He scratches his beard to think. "Peyton and Danny are in town?"

"Yep. They're here to keep us safe, courtesy of the British Empire."

"So you know about my origin."

It was a question, but he said it as a statement.

I cock my hip to the side and cross my arms across my chest. "It would have been nice to know this before I was in the middle of a shootout."

He sighs and hugs me once more. "The life I lived before was all I knew. It was what I thought I would always know. I derived joy from making deals and working with them, but I paid a price more expensive than any album I could ever make. After I became well acquainted with the Lealtads, I knew how wrong my thinking of my former life was. I swore to protect my kids and ensure that they will never receive such treatment from me or those around me."

He release me to look me in the eye, "I knew it would come back to bite me. I saw the signs but refused to see reason. From now on, I'll start being honest with you."

"What's your take on Nate being your son-in-law?" I ask sheepishly.

He frowns, "Don't push it."

I let out a small laugh. "We still have the Stuart dinner to attend next week. And you have some talking to do with your wife; I think she's lost her mind."

My dad lets out one of his belly laughs. His eyes crinkle at the corners as tears slip out. The smile lines on his face are more prominent and his eyes look brighter than I've seen them all year.

Even though I have been avoiding him and mom, that's not the point.

He drapes his hands around my shoulders and kisses my forehead.

"We can worry about the problems later. I just want to enjoy my time with my daughter."

My heart warms at his words, and I kiss his cheek.

"I love you, dad."

"I heard you the first time in my sleep."

My glower has him laughing. "I love you too, Marci."

Thoughts? Theories? Comments? Votes?