2 Lake

"So she beat it? That's great!" Sheldon jumped up to hug me after I delivered the news. On top of Alzheimer's, my grandmother had been diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. Because she was under strict medical care, it had been caught early on, but that small ray of hope was overshadowed by the aggressive growth of the cancer cells. Rather than get better, she had progressed to stage two in under two years.

When her condition seemed hopeless, Jackson and Keiran secured one of the best doctors in the country to oversee her case. It took a year of treatment, but she was finally cleared of all cancerous cells.

"We're going to get tears on the seating chart," I joked to break the emotional tension. We had been going over the last minute details of her wedding in two weeks when I decided to break the news.

"But it's so worth it. So will she be going back to Red Rock?"

"Actually, no. Aunt Carissa decided it would be better for her to spend time in a rehabilitation center specifically for cancer survivors so she could continue to get the aftercare she needed. There's a great one just four hours west."

I noticed Sheldon's expression fall. I was sure she was thinking the same I had thought at first, so I went on to reassure her the same way my aunt had. "I know it's further than Red Rock, but it's for the best."

"That's not—fuck—Lake… what is the center called?"

"Summit Rehabilitation for Cancer Survivors. Why? You know the place?"

Her face had completely lost color. "She's not safe there."

"What? Why wouldn't she be?"

"That's the treatment facility where Mitch is."

"I don't understand. John said Mitch was never cured of cancer. Why would he be at a facility for cancer survivors?"

"Because the center isn't just for survivors. It's also for cancer patients who have given up on treatment and are waiting to die."

I didn't have time to reflect on how horrible the idea of people suffering and waiting to die sounded. I'd just found out my defenseless grandmother was living in the same place with a demented, evil man. My mind was racing with more than one fear, and among them was the most dangerous of them all.

"Anikka doesn't know about the center where Mitch is, does he?"

"John never wanted him to know, and I assumed Keenan is still honoring his wish. We all know what will happen when he finds out exactly where Mitch is."

Anikka wouldn't hesitate to go after Mitch no matter the cost to himself, and protecting my grandmother on my behalf would only be an added push.

"Listen, I need to ensure my grandmother's safety but Anikka can't know about it or why."

"How are you going to explain this to your aunt and keep it from Anikka ?"

"I don't know, but there's got to be a way. There's no other rehab center in the entire state. Any other move would be too big. He'd question it."

"I don't know, saksham. Are you sure you want to risk lying to him? I think you should tell him."

"Sheldon, if I tell Anikka where Mitch is, there is no amount of reasoning that will keep him from killing him. He'll be caught and I'll lose him forever."