15 The hours that followed

Unknown POV

"So you're telling me," I gritted out, eying the fidgeting man in his fifties, with barely contained rage.

"that the two of your supposedly trained men and the driver got their asses handed to them by the dwarf of a girl—"

"That was a mis—" he stuttered, but I went on like I haven't heard him speak.

"—letting people witness their foolery, and letting all of them walk away alive."

My words ended on a snarl, but I took a deep breathe, my calm mask slip back in its usual place.

Noles patted his forehead, before stuttering, "everything else is taken care of, sir. The car is disposed and the men are camouflaged well enough that they won't be recognised or apprehended."

"Good. I knew I could count on you, Noles. I trusted you to not mess up your last assignment, atleast."

"L-last, sir?"

I fixed my eyes onto him, letting him read his fate into them rather than voicing it out loud.

"P-please sir, I have a family," he begged, falling onto his knees in front of me.

Relaxing back in my leather chair, I sighed pensively, "Ah yes. Family. That's what its always about, isn't it?"

"Please dont kill me, sir. I—"

"Tsk tsk. Kill? You know better than that, Noles. I'm no killer. You will not die at my hands or command, of course."

As the tension eased a bit from his face, I smirked, adding, "but that doesn't mean... that anyone will ever see you again."

***

Caleb's POV

Even though the heart monitor beeped steadily, I kept her holding her small palm between both of mine.

Its warmth was comforting, making me believe she was alive, even when the rest of her so motionless and pale.

My eyes swept over her for the thousandth time in the last 3 hours, looking for any injury that the doctors might've missed and needed tending to.

Please wake up.

Of course, I could only look so far as she was covered till neck in hospital blanket, leaving her just arms and face visible to my scrutiny.

My fingers traced the deep, red marks on her wrists caused by the rope and a few particular vicious, red ones that distinctly looked like finger marks.

My blood boiled at the sight of them, and I involuntarily tensed, ready to pound my fist right through the person who had left these marks onto her.

It was a nasty feeling, wanting to hit something so bad, but not being able to, but I still welcomed it.

It was better than gut-wrenching guilt and agony I felt looking at the near lifeless body of the woman I had once witnessed glowing with her inner fire.

I had been holding onto it ever since I had watched her getting abducted this morning. And I had a feeling it wasn't going to go away any time soon.

Closing my eyes, I replayed the scene in my head, once again torturing myself to all the 'what if' and 'if only' I had been playing since then.

**

7:55am

I smirked as I finished up my breakfast. 5 minutes to 8:00am and Ms. Brooke was nowhere in sight. Yet.

She would make it in time, of course, come hell or high water. I was sure of it because, well, she just cannot be late.

I chuckled, eagerly waiting to witness her reaction to our plane ride here.

Even though I had genuine good intentions when I had slipped her half a pill of a generic muscle relaxant last night, I had to admit, it had done more than its share of service.

At the time, I could see she was about to go into an anxiety attack, just like in the elevator, recognised the signs leading upto it, and thought I really was helping her out.

And it had helped, for a little while, making her languid, even getting a smile out of her.

What I hadn't anticipated, though, was her falling asleep right then and there, or that I would end up carrying her all the way from the Boston Logan airport to her room. Not that I was complaining.

I chuckled, remembering the looks I had gotten when I dragged a near - unconscious girl along with me, imagining her face in the morning if - god-willing - she remembered the journey.

As enjoyable as the experience was, I was still concerned for her. It was just so I could be sure the pill hadn't affected her negatively, I had told myself as I lowered her on the bed.

Just so I could be sure she was just sleeping. Right. So after making a quick trip to my room just to drop my luggage off, I had pulled up the chair next to her bed and sat. Just watching her sleep.

I knew it was creepy of me, considering our previous history and that we were on a professional trip, but I just couldn't pull myself away from her without knowing without a shadow of the doubt that she was okay.

I imagined her reaction if she ever found out about my creepy thoughts and actions and couldn't help but smile.

So after spending majority of the night sitting next to her bed, I had left the room at 6am, expecting her to up waking up soon.

As I walked back to my room, it came to me that I had never seen a girl sleep before, and the experience was... Interesting, to say the least.

I had been with women before of course. But mostly, it consisted going straight to the business, and moving on. Or pass out next to her and sneak off before she woke up next morning.

But watching Ruth sleep, it had done something. Softened something that had been frozen for a long time now. Even if I wasn't ready to acknowledge it.

And thanks to that very feeling, 10 minutes before making my way to the breakfast buffet, I had passed by her room, pressing my ear to her door, trying to listen for any movement inside.

When I had heard the sound of things falling - or being thrown- around and her loud curses, I was satisfied that she was infact alive and intact.

I walked away, shaking my head at my own annoying antiques and I pressed the button to ground floor.

*

7:58am

I got up from my chair, deciding to be ready at the gate for Ms. Brooke's appearance in exactly 2 minutes.

As I made my way to the exit of the restaurant, a familiar voice calling my name out froze me in surprise.

"Caleb?"

I turned, my gaze landing on the brawny guy with a head full of vibrant fake-blonde hairs, waving a hand high up to get my attention.

"Leo? What the fuck are you doing here?" My question sounded rude, even to me.

But Leo simply raised his brow and formed a ridiculous pout that didn't match his thug-like appearance before saying, "aww, is that any way to greet your favourite cousin?"

Rolling my eyes, I walked over to his table, right next to the door. Pulling me into a man-hug, he thumped my back, before eying me with glowing eyes.

"Look at you, little brother! All grown up and wearing a tie! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you!" Leo gushed like a fucking teenage girl.

"We met just two months ago, Leo," I reminded him, putting an effort into not sounding rude this time.

"Pfft! How are you, little bro? Not outgrown your patent death glare I see," he chuckled, noting the glare I was giving him when he went to reach over and mess my hair.

It always felt exhausting being around Leo. For a guy who looked dangerous enough to be a mafia, he really was a huge marshmallow on the inside.

I liked him well enough, really. It was just that, well, his mother-hen cross sunshine attitude for just about everything was draining.

8:00am

"Gotta be at somewhere?" He asked, noticing me glance at my watch.

"Yeah, work stuff. I'm supposed to meet my assistant actually." I purposely kept our work stuff vague, trying to avoid further probe that would come if I elaborate.

Leo opened his mouth to comment, but at that moment my gaze landed on a severe looking knot of dark brown hairs making its way towards the front desk.

Leo followed my gaze and let out a low whistle, instantly pissing me off.

"That bite-sized munchkin's your assistant? She's certainly gotten that naughty librarian vibe down to the T. Introduction?" He elbowed me like a horny, college boy and I tensed, gritting my teeth.

Barely swallowing a growl, I let my stoic face and cold eyes do the talking and Leo's brows shot up in a delighted surprise.

Though I could see where Leo was coming from, I'd be damned if I let another man be anywhere near this 'bite-sized munchkin', favourite cousin or otherwise.

Choosing not to give a verbal reply to his last comment, I instead said, "I should get going. We have some work that needs to be done. See you later?"

I shook his hand, but instead of letting it go, he clutched it tighter. I knew that look. Damn.

I looked at my assistant, and saw her sashay towards the gates in those sexy as hell heels she was tottering around in. Damn, I wanted to be there to greet her at the door. Fuck Leo, really.

"And just where do you think you're going, young man? While I can overlook that weird, possessive streak you just displayed for your assistant," he paused dramatically, making me narrow my eyes in warning, before continuing.

"I would certainly like to know why we missed you at Anna's birthday party last week."

Fuck. So not the moment for this conversation right now. I could feel my insides freezing up at the mention of her name and decided I've had enough of 'Leo moments' for now.

"Look, I really don't have time for this right now. Maybe we can meet after hours for drinks?"

Without giving him time to reply, I left the restaurant and headed towards the gates.

But as my fucking luck would have it, Leo stepped up beside me, sounding like a goddamned grandfather.

"She needs you, bro. She needs us all. And since her accident few months back, it's really important that we all be there for her. She's your—"

I rounded at him just inside the gates, and gritted out, "I will be as involved into her life as I wish to. She has her close ones to take care of her, afterall. Her birthday is not my problem. Her fucking miscarriage was not my problem. Get it?"

"We are all a family, Caleb," Leo sounded angry and resigned all at the same time.

"Well, with the way things are going, who knows how many 'family' we really do have."

With that, I turned away from him and marched out just in time to see Ruth climbing into a black SUV parked few feet away from the gate.

What the hell?

Where was she going? According to the measly information I was given by the Board of Directors I knew that our destination was a newly built business park few minutes of walk away. Who even ordered us a ride?

Before I could move a muscle though, the car started, peeling off the drive way, taking Ruth along with it.

Just as it passed by me, I got a glimpse of her face through open window of driver's seat, white as a sheet and terrified. That image snapped me in action, making me run behind the car. Something was wrong.... Very wrong.

But before I had taken 3 strides, a heavy hand fell on my shoulder, making me halt in my place.

I turned, ready to punch whoever it was when Leo, noticing my expression, held his hands up in surrender and said, "follow on foot if you like, but my car is parked right out front if you're interested."

**

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I opened my eyes, and gazed up at Leo. He wore a sympathetic expression, but his eyes seemed wary.

"The cops are here, waiting outside to record your and, if possible, her statement."

I sighed, gazing hopelessly at Ruth's face, my eyes taking in the bruise on her cheek.

I felt Leo take a seat beside me, as I debated whether to let the cops in when she was still unconscious.

"Ruth, is it?" Leo asked gently, getting a nod from me.

"She must be pretty amazing, to turn you into a lovesick growlie." That earned him a glare.

He chuckled, before getting serious again. Ruth's eyes moved restlessly behind her lids, but the sight had lost its excitement after repeatedly occuring in the first hour.

"Doctor says she's probably dreaming," referring to her eye movement.

"Would probably have one hell of a headache when she'd wake up though. Might need someone to stay by her side. Need volunteers?"

"I suppose we could use someone to clean-up if she gets nauseous," I grumbled without much heat.

"I specialise in sponge baths too, just so you know," he smirked before getting serious again.

"Why don't you finish up giving your statement to the cops while we wait? You can use a little break from all that brooding you've been doing for the past few hours."

I rolled my eyes, but nodded, deciding atleast that wouldn't make me feel so damned helpless.

Two uniformed men with shiny BPD plaques entered the room, taking in all the things Ruth was hooked up to. We greeted each other with a nod and a bit of an introduction.

I didn't miss the officer's raised brow when he found out that Ruth was my assistant and I noticed him not-so-subtly taking in my hands holding hers.

I ignored them, unable to bring myself to care whatever they thought of this and instead offered them spare chairs to sit.

Just as the officers settled in their seats with a recorder and notepad at ready, I felt Ruth's fingers clench around mine.

My gaze snapped to hers making my heart beat a little faster to finally see her eyes flutter open, only to clench shut back and try again.

I vaguely heard Leo rush out the room to call the doctor as Ruth eyed her surroundings and the cops in confusion before her gaze came to rest onto my face.

My face lifted into a smile, watching the recognition flash across her face.

"You're awake.." I spoke in awe.

I brought her hand to my lips and sighed in relief, "you have any idea... God Ruth, you scared me!"

"And you," she paused and I went to cup her face, but my hand paused mid-way when - in front of the cops, no less - her words finally came out.

"You drugged me!"