Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Andre’s POV

It was a lot of hours since we got the call from Carol. Anton already had the money ready. The rest of the group had gone to freshen up but I was told to stay back at the hospital.

“But, Mr. Hayes, Carol wants me. That’s the only condition she offered for releasing Bianca, the money doesn’t matter.”

“I will not leave you to her mercies. You are the only link I have to your father and if I must do something right, I will take you under my wings and look after you like a son. But I want you to stay here and look after Siobhan, make sure she doesn’t try to hurt herself again, and talk to her when she wakes up.”

I nodded my head but I was still worried.

“What if Carol doesn’t…”

“I have enough money to bribe her to leave you alone. I can only hope she accepts it and leaves you alone for good.”

Tears filled my eyes as I doved into his arms for a hug. He hugged me just as tight.

“It’s the least I do for what happened to your father. Now stay back and keep Siobhan safe.”

“Yes, sir.”

It was a little over thirty minutes when they left that a nurse came over to tell me Siobhan was awake. I rushed to her ward and sure enough, she was awake staring up at the ceiling. There was an IV tube in one of her hands and the other one was bandaged at the wrist. She tilted her head when I opened the door and smiled.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” I responded tentatively, remembering that the last time we talked she had asked me to leave her room. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

I entered the room and went to seat on the only plastic chair in the room. She reached out her free hand and I held it. It was the hand with the bandage, I touched it, my heart breaking for her. We all fight our battles, every person’s battle is different from the next. Feeling sorry for her I held her hand tight.

“I called Aaron as soon as I woke up, he might come barreling through those doors very soon,” she laughed.

My smile was wobbly. “You love him?”

“I do, surprisingly. I’m such an idiot. It took him getting interested in someone else for me to know just how much he means to me. We were going to date during our fling but I guess I was too blind to see beyond my nose. I thought I was too good for him, got a reality check when he went for Bianca.” She sighed. “I feel so stupid. I hurt my best friend, my sister because I was jealous of what she had.” She cried, her tears spilling on the pillow beneath her head. “Do you think I am just like Edna? I mean I did go after beauty too, look at you, you are handsome, you turn heads wherever you go."

I didn't know what to say.

"I couldn’t help but sink my claws into you even though you clearly weren’t interested in me from the start," she continued.

I raised my brows in surprise. “You knew?”

“I knew. You stared at her and you had heart eyes for her. I thought it was cute but Aaron wanted her and I thought she deserved a good thing so I let Aaron go for her but I guess I got too selfish, I wanted the best of both worlds but I ended up losing not just you two but my best friend too.” She sniffed and rubbed her eyes again. “Where’s Anton and Edna and Cole and Michelle?”

“They went to get her. Carol finally called and told them what she wanted.”

“Carol?”

I sighed and told her the whole story and she listened with a frown on her face. “That was the plan all along?”

I nodded sheepishly.

“I guess a lot of things make sense now. Do you think Carol told Bianca what happened already? Do you think she told her the truth?”

“For her sake, I hope she did. But if Bianca hates me after everything that happens,” I shrugged. “I guess I deserve it.”

Siobhan suddenly squeezed my hand. “Fight for her, Rios, you love her and she loves you too. You fight for what you love.” She looked away. “I was a coward, I thought ending my life was the easy way out and I was ready to end it all but while my life was ebbing away I realized I was just running from my problems like a coward. People face their problems, they fight for what they want. I love my parents and they love me back. Edna may have done something wrong for her own selfish reasons but I can’t deny that she loved me like a mother, Anton gave me everything I ever asked for, and Aaron gave in to me even though he was trying to be faithful to Bianca and Bianca, she sacrificed everything for me. I realized that everything she did, she did because she wanted to make me happy and I repaid her with betrayal. I am a terrible person but if I died like I wanted to I wouldn’t be able to make amends that’s why I fought to stay alive.” She looked at me again. “Do you think she will forgive me?”

I nodded holding back tears of my own. “I just hope she forgives me too.”

"Then you must fight for her."

Just then the door opened and Aaron walked in. He stood at the door for a long time, staring at Siobhan on the bed, I don’t think he even noticed I was right there. She smiled at him and raised her other hand. He stumbled toward her and hugged her.

“You are a coward!”

She laughed. “I know that. I’m so sorry for everything I did.”

“If you died I would have killed you with my bare hands.”

“I didn’t, Aaron. I didn’t.”

He was sobbing into her pillow and so was she. After a while, he leaned back and that was when he noticed me sitting there watching their display. He sniffed and wiped his eyes.

“Rios…”

“Pratt.”

There was some uncomfortable silence between us until Siobhan said, "Do you have anything to say to each other?"

Aaron nodded. "I do," he said. “I am sorry for breaking your trust. You were – are my best friend and I couldn’t tell you I was…playing on your trust. I understand if you don’t forgive me.”

I stood and went round to the other side of the bed. “There are a lot of things I should be apologizing for. You are not the only one with faults here. I should have come clean about my intentions, I should have trusted my friends to understand what I had to do…I know what I’m saying makes no sense to you but in time I hope can tell you everything…I’m sorry.” In time I sure hope I will trust Aaron well enough to tell him all that happened. “I’m sorry man.”

He grabbed me and hugged me tight. “You sure know how to play the charmer. You are a good guy, Andre. You are my best friend and I hope you can forgive me.”

I forgave him. After all, it was my fault that things got messy.

When he released me he looked hopeful. “Bianca?”

“They are going to get her.”

**

I sat in the car beside Carol and Dez. Alex drove the car they had rented from the airport to the exchange spot. We had taken a plane from Mainland which took just about 4 hours. The sun was going down in the sky when we arrived at Hudson we got a car.

I sat stiffly hoping the plan would go smoothly. Alex hadn’t told me his plan he only made me promise to love Andre which I did. I watched him drive wondering what he had in mind but he simply looked ahead driving to the spot. It was 5 in the evening when we got there and soon as we got out of the car in front of the abandoned building site, we walked a few distance and saw the group of people who had come to rescue me.

As soon as Mom saw me she started to run toward me until Carol and Dez pulled out their guns and aimed.

“Come any closer and I will blow your heads off,” she warned. She had to yell since we were still far from them.

I started to cry because relief coursed through my body.

“You didn’t bring the cops did you?” Carol asked.

“No, I didn’t. You told me not to,” Mr. Hayes responded.

“Good. Where’s Andre?”

“I can’t hand Andre over. I’ll give you as much money as you want for you to leave him alone. Alex Rios,” he called out. I saw Alex’s gaze narrow. “You may not remember me but I am your father’s friend. I am the reason his business failed but I tried to pay him back, I swear I looked for Ignacio to pay back all he lost but I couldn’t find him but I promise you, I will do anything to make sure you have a comfortable life. I will protect you and Andre like my sons please just trust me.”

Carol stared in disgust. “What the fuck is going on here?” she asked. “Is this some kind of stupid family reunion? Where is Andre? I don’t have time for your rich games.”

“Alex,” Mr. Hayes called again. “I beg you to reconsider. You will never have to face a life of crime again. I will be your guardian, I will give you the life your father couldn’t give you I promise.”

I looked over and saw Alex crying and right at that moment another movement caught my eye.

“It’s over,” Alex cried. “It’s all over.”

Suddenly a group of armed policemen snuck up behind Carol and Dez throwing them on the ground to pin their hands behind their backs.

“What the hell is going on here?” Carol demanded. “I told you not to call the cops Hayes!”

“I didn’t…”

“I did,” Alex said raising his hand to be handcuffed. “It’s over.”

I let out a cry and ran into Dad’s hands. He hugged me so tight I almost couldn’t breathe. Mom and Edna Hayes hugged me from behind. I saw Mr. Hayes go to Alex, he hugged him tight with tears in his eyes and promised to do anything to get him out of jail. Carol’s eyes were wild with anger as she screamed profanities at everyone. I looked back and saw Alex smiling at me as the cops pushed him into the car.

"Take care of my brother."

I nodded and cried feeling relieved to be safe. Dad lifted me off my feet. “Let’s go home.”

Right at that moment I pass out from a mixture of fatigue, hunger, and relief.