Victoria Justice as Haila Sudlow

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Stuck on You: Kapitel Elf

I heard so many voices in so many days.

"Anthony, my love, please come back to me. You don't understand how much I need you."

I felt kisses raining down the back of my hand.

~

"What are you doing here!? You lost your privilege to see my son the night you left him!" I heard an angry voice and my fingers flinched, eyes moving under the lids. Who was that yelling? Why was it hurting my head so much? Why can't someone hold me? "I love him just as much as you do, Mr. Thorpe," I heard another equally angry voice as I felt the tremors of chairs moving. "In all due respect, I want to make sure he is well and he is safe. I will not leave until I know so and when he wakes up," I could sense the tension in the room and my heartbeat started to increase, trying to figure out what was going on. "He can tell me if he wants me to stay or not." 

Then it was silent.

"Daddy, please be okay! I need to tell you about how your cookies made everyone in the class happy!"

Then a hand touched my left one. It was soft and small, enclosing in on mine. "I'm sure he will be okay, sweetheart," Then a large, rough and calloused hand engulfed my right hand, rubbing on it softly and I could feel droplets of water hitting my palm. I wanted to speak, comfort this person, but I couldn't move or speak. It hurt.

~

"I can't stand the thought of not seeing you ever again, seeing your eyes, your smile. It breaks my heart to see you laying here like this. I want you to know that I never stopped loving you and that you always will have my heart. I left it with you when I had to leave that night." I heard snapping fingers and doors closing as kisses padded down the back of my hand. "You ask every time I see you why I left, and I know you need to know. I don't want there to be any regrets should anything happen," Water fell down my arm and I wiggled my nose. Someone was crying. "Damn, only you could make me cry this much. Only you would have me sitting in this chair nonstop, day after day. Only you could make me worry endlessly."

My hand was intertwined with some fingers, long and thick and squeezing mine. "I know you were expecting some big secret like me cheating on you or something but it's nothing like that," Then there was a sigh like it was life or death. "I left because I would've died if I didn't. You would have been killed if I didn't inherit the Zonglovia syndicate. I didn't want to, but my mother made me. She threatened the safety of you and there's nothing else that anyone can say or do. No one lays a fucking finger on what's mine. But now, I know that she didn't do it to be evil. She was only protecting me and now, I'm going to protect you." 

Then I felt a soft kiss on my forehead. 

I was pondering this person's words. I recorded everything that they said, knowing that it would be a life changer. My memories were blank and I couldn't for the life of me, put together who was speaking to me. I liked their voice. It was deep, mellow and sexy. I wanted to feel their face, their lips, everything.

Unconsciously, I knew who it was.

~

"Open your eyes and come back, man." I felt fingers flicking the hair out of my eyes, though I couldn't see anything. All I saw was darkness, reaching for the light that never seemed to come. I was burning, all of me was on fire. It hurt so much to even flinch and it was sad because I heard everything. "I can't do much without my partner. I hate that you took the brunt of everything." A person whispered and I wanted to scream, tell them that I heard them but my voice just echoed in the emptiness.

"Captain sent flowers and told me to tell you that he needs his best man. We're all trying to figure out who could've done this to us. It had been done with a dagger as Gustafson analyzed the particular cut of the hose. We got a lot of work to do."

Well obviously, I can't up and out of the bed while I'm in a coma.

~

"It hurts me to see the pillar of our group laying here like this. Brad, we need you." I heard sniffling as shuffling noises echoed inside of my brain. Who was talking to me? Why was it still dark? Why couldn't I open my eyes? Was I dead? "It's been so lonely without you. Derek and Micah almost got into a fight because they're so depressed." I heard a somber sigh and I felt my arm hairs bristling as the cool air waved over it.

Ew.

"Raymundo told me to tell you that he hopes you get better and that he'll come to see you in downtime. He said not to die though because he still has to kill you for eating his apple pie two weeks ago." Then there was a laugh and the atmosphere of the room lifted. I could tell because it felt like there was glitter raining down on my body. "Santiago, how long have you been here? Don't you have, I don't know, mafia shit to take care of?" I heard a hostile voice and I stifled a laugh. "That gets put on hold when my baby is hurt." Then I heard some swooning and Internally smirked. Whoever this man was, he was really devoted to me. It felt like the angels were speaking to me, trying to help me open my eyes. Their fingers caressed my skin as I looked around, the darkness slowly but surely fading away.

~

"I believe Anthony here is just very tired. Surgery was quick. He just needs to heal his broken arm and other wounds but overall, he's a fighter. We almost lost him but he came through in the end. He should be back to work in the next couple of days or a week at that."

True, because I wasn't going to stop working just because of some damn injury. I busted my ass harder than this. The pain was starting to go away and I could feel my legs and toes wiggling underneath the blanket. My mind was racing as my body healed. I just wanted to open my eyes and see whoever it was holding my hand. I knew it was the same person, that rough and calloused hand that rubbed my palm and whispered sweet nothings to me, wanting to get better so that they can see my beautiful green eyes. I had never heard so much sorrow in a person's voice like I did these last few days.

~

"Daddy! I miss you! This strange man here is very nice, but I miss you reading to me at night." I heard a little girl's voice, the same one. She was grasping my hand and talking about her day at school. "Is this your daddy?" The same rough tone from the right of me piped up. "Yes! He's the best daddy ever! No one can take him from me, not even you, mister!"

Hm, I liked her and it seems I raised her right.

"Daddy, please wake up."

With the squeeze of her hand, my eyelids slowly drifted apart.

The first thing I saw was how white and bright the ceiling was. I stifled a groan and mildly winced at the pain. I looked around the room as slowly as I could, focusing on the right. "You look like shit," My voice was croaky as I looked at the dark hand holding my right, following the bulging veins up the muscles to meet with wide honey brown eyes, stained with tears. "Fuck. You're actually awake!" There was a smile on his face, almost puppy-like as he stood to his full height, leaning down to cradle my face in his hands. 

"Hey!" I heard a little squeeze on my left hand and I turned to see the apple of my eye standing there with a pout on her face. "No using bad words!" Ivory pointed at Santiago in a scolding manner and he kissed my forehead, his tears falling onto my cheeks. "Yea," He whispered, his beautiful eyes looking into both of mine with relief and joy written on them. "I'm sorry, little one." His gaze softened as he let out a sigh. How long had I been out? Why was he here? Ivory pressed the button to call for the nurse as she peppered my cheek with soft kisses. "I know you don't want me to be here after all this time," He murmured, sitting back down and holding my hand up to his lips. "But I couldn't keep still until I knew you were okay."

Then memories from our lives long ago flashed through my eyes, reminding me that my heart still beat for him, reminding me that this was the Santiago Luzardi I fell in love with.

So, no, I wasn't mad that he was here. I vaguely recalled seeing him hovering over me as he carried me out of the flipped car. "Thank you for saving me." I squeezed his hand, forgetting momentarily that Ivory was here. He had heard her calling me daddy and I was not in the mood to answer questions. 

Then I looked back onto the times that people visited me, remembering the things they said. "Were you," I coughed a bit, having a little dust stuck in my throat and he leaned over with some water. "Were you telling the truth about what you told me?" I had to know. If he didn't leave me because of me, I had to know. I had to know that it wasn't just me who still felt the same way, even after all these mothertrucking years. "You know me," Santiago shrugged, looking defeated and sad in his chair as his eyes twinkled. He looked so depressed, so sullen. "I didn't lie to you all those years ago, and I'm not going to start now." He finished and it felt like a weight was taken off of my heart. 

All these years, I just wanted to know why he left me that night.

And now I do.

I didn't know how to feel or think because he looked panicked just a bit. "Now that you know," Santiago fixed his black suit jacket as one man in black entered the room, nodding to him. "Things will start to happen but do not worry," What things was he talking about? Was I going to be targeted? Was this what Emilia was referring to? "I'll protect you with my life." He asserted in a deep and dark tone, promising me. I stared in confusion, watching as more men in black entered my room. It seemed that he had a lot to do and he put it all on hold. "Go ahead," I nodded to him and he grabbed my hand, standing. "I'll be okay." I muttered, putting a grin on my face and it felt like old times. He walked to the door, his gun in the back of his slacks as he blew a kiss to me.

"Anthony, you don't have to forgive me now that you know," He winked before saying back to Ivory, a faraway gleam in his orbs as he took in her figure. Then he looked at me once more, a soft look on his face; fondness, I should say. He made me smile and I wasn't sure if I should keep holding on to my bitterness. He nodded before smirking, slipping on his black Raybans and before closing the door, he said words that changed my life.

"I'm not done chasing after you."

Then he left.

"Daddy, that man was so nice. He bought me a ham, bacon and egg sandwich this morning from the bakery down the street!" I looked at my daughter's beautiful face, internally wincing. Santiago wasn't dumb and it wouldn't be long before he put it together. The question was, did I want him to? Did I want to risk my life the way that it is now? 

So many questions and no answers.

Knock, knock. "Mr. Thorpe, I hear you're awake!" I watched as a tall, tan man stepped in with his lab coat, smiling at me. "How are you feeling?" He sanitized his hands before walking over to me. "I'm feeling fine. When can I get this thing off of my arm?" I pointed down to the arm that was in a cast. I didn't know Ivory held my hand but she did. "Give or take 2 to 3 weeks. Your other wounds should be healed in a matter of time but keep from pulling the stitches around your stomach. You had a lot of glass there," The doctor commanded me and I smiled, knowing that I was going to work.

"Hey, doctor, I've heard all of my friends when I was out," I turned my head to face him. "But I didn't hear one. Did a Luzia Cardenas come to visit?" He pondered his thoughts before he gave me an answer. "Huh? I don't believe there was a Ms. Cardenas on any of the visitor logs. You only had the same eight people visit," The doctor smiled. "I'm sorry about that." I waved a hand at him, wondering why Luzia didn't come to see me, but everyone else did. "But someone else is here right now," He smiled, checking my vitals as my partner walked in, bandages wrapped around his arms as he limped.

"Hey, partner. Great to see that you're awake. I held down the fort for you," He smirked and I motioned for Ivory to go take a seat in the chair that faced the television as the doctor promised to come back later.

"Did they ever figure out who did it?" I questioned, moving around to get comfortable, glancing at my daughter who was still engrossed in her game. "No, but they have clues," Alex pulled up a chair to my bedside and pulled out files. "What did they find?" I folded my arms and he clicked his tongue. "They were deliberately cut and Gustafson said the cut looked distinct like it was one from India. It resembled the cut of the Kukri, a Nepalian knife," He explained and I furrowed my brows. "It wasn't anyone from the station because no one there has a license to have one and their lockers were checked. Is there anyone who wants to hurt you, hurt us?" He inquired and I sighed, leaning back. I had to think about this very carefully. 

"I've been in Manhattan for all of six years and I never had anyone target me like this until now," I could see my clues and evidence being like on the board with rope. "This person intended to kill me, not scare me," This wasn't the works of my mother and her creepy writing. This was much more and I could sense the malicious intent burning. "Someone was trying to shut me up and get me to stop looking and I have a feeling it goes back to Mr. Luzardi's victims. It appears that I'm getting too close," I smirked, knowing that our killer was now going to act impulsively and stray from their M.O. They were going to act out of character and leave clues.

That's how we were going to get them.

"About that," Alex grimaced before he looked at me and I raised a brow, wondering why he looked so crestfallen. "There was another murder, a day after we were hit. I'm sorry but the man we talked to, Jacien Montrue, is dead now." My eyes widened as he handed me the file on him. "He was killed the same way. Mr. Luzardi accounted for everyone there that night except for Terrence Evermoore," He concluded and I hissed. "He hasn't been there in days, Brad. He could be the suspect." He had a point. Someone who was always absent from the crime came to return when no one else was present. 

But something was amiss.

"Hey, Alex, can you do me a favor?" I murmured as he opened up his computer, case file on the table next to him. He looked up at me and nodded, waiting for further instructions. "Last week, I got Haila to tell me where she went to school and I can infer when she graduated since we went to the same place. It's been bugging me but I just need to know something for sure," Alex nodded once again. "Go into the department's database and look up the class of 2014 at Louisiana State," "look up a Haila Sudlow, please," I asked, sitting up in my bed.

I watched as his fingers clicked away at the keys. I needed to know if this suspicion in my stomach was right or not, and then I needed to make sure she could be eliminated as a suspect.  I needed to make sure that it was just me being paranoid.

"Sorry, but there isn't anyone on the university roster with that name coming from that year, so I did a ten-year span," Alex piped up, a look of confusion on his face. "There still isn't any Haila Sudlow in the system. Do you think she could've been lying about going there?" Alex furrowed his brow and I narrowed my eyes, trying to process this information and what it could possibly mean. "No," I spoke, shaking my head, staring at night. "She seemed very sure that she went there. Her eyes lit up when I asked her where she went for undergrad. No one's eyes light up when they lie about something. She looked as if it was her passion so I'm sure she went there." I tilted my head.

Alex pondered a bit before questioning me. "Then what does that mean?" He raised a brow and I chuckled. "One thing's for sure," I smirked, knowing I had my fly caught in the midst of my spider web. Alex frantically took notes as spoke, revealing my innermost thoughts. 

"Her name isn't Haila Sudlow."