You're safe in my arms
Shark who had arrived earlier enough to witness trouble in paradise, walked into the drawing room and his father signaled for him to sit beside him.
"Life is like a piano, the white keys represent happiness and the black show sadness. But as you go through life's journey, remember the black keys also create music." Almond gave nuggets of wisdom to his son who knew what that only meant. He was fully aware that his parents had scuffles all the time and it was not his place to salvage what the two had left in their marriage.
"I'd love to hear you play it and perhaps you can teach me later." He requested.
"It's this simple," he muttered while placing his two hands on the piano. Then played the piano chords with a song.
"That sounds familiar." Shark acknowledged.
"Run to you by Lea Michele." Almond responded.
"Right," he nodded.
"So, what do you think of that? Knowing the piano is one-way to surprise your girlfriend, that beautiful soul you love so much." Almond teased his son being aware of how he had a strong liking for Yara.
"She loves playing piano and I'd love to surprise her."
"Wow, you better keep that one. I hope she's all better now."
"Yeah, she was discharged yesterday itself and she's recuperating." Shark sighed deeply. Almond was worried about her but he never got to show his son how stressful it could be taking care of a terminal patient. He didn't want to stand in the way of his son's happiness. No way could he let what happened to him years ago happen to him. Definitely there was no such thing as history repeating itself.
****
"Agggh!" Yara screamed her guts out when her fragile fingers couldn't strike the piano chords.
"I'm sorry Miss Banks, I don't think you'll have enough time to compose a song for the orchestra concert. Give it up already. People with your condition don't wander around looking for opportunities, they spend their last days in bed waiting to die." The music instructor and voice coach from the music theatre spoke relentlessly. Yara swallowed hard but remained still, she was already used to people's mean words and resentments.
"Can I at least have the piano to myself for a while?" She begged of her.
"I'm sorry, you should have your own. If you can't afford it then don't waste your fucking time showing up here. I think you should leave." She cast a scornful look at her and impatiently tapped the base of the piano perhaps wanting her gone.
"Just a sec, that's all I ask for," Yara jolted and started to play the piano on a slow tempo. She closed her eyes and recalled the song her mother used to sing for her before bedtime. It was a short verse and she felt like giving it a shot with another addition of the same. She hummed softly and then the words came out of her mouth.
You're safe in my arms
When the sky turns dark
When the moon and stars shines
And when the cold wind blows...
"Don't give it another thought, it's too early for those lullabies." The woman with the heart of a stone startled her. She opened the door for her to make her way out. Yara lifted her silhouette and glanced at her once and then left. A tear rolled down and fell to the ground as she carried on, not knowing that great danger was awaiting her. Rocco and his hunk henchmen were standby watching the fragile Yara crossing the streets before they could launch an attack on her.
Yara unaware of what was ahead of her, neared the Rocco's Van but stopped in her tracks when she saw blood on the floor. The heat of the day had made her swollen and she had no heavy clothing on. Her palms inflicted pain and her joints followed suit leaving her faint.
A pair of hands were quick to grab her before she could swirl round and hit the hard ground.
"You're safe in my arms." A deep cold voice muttered as he carried her in his arms to his Jeep.
"Change of plans, dash seven digits to my account for wasting my precious time. If you can't do it, get ready for seven rounds." Rocco burned with fury as he sped off with his men. He couldn't believe how things turned out to be when the prey was so close to her perpetrators. What angered him the most was how Vanessa's son rescued the little lamb from slaughter.
Shark Griffins had Yara on his laps like a baby as he cleaned off the blood before it could soil her clothes. He was so careful not to wake her up and the chauffeur couldn't help it but peek at them.
"I'll take her home." Shark said and the chauffeur didn't wait for another command but stepped on the gas. Shark caressed her fluffy hair gently as he recalled how he saw her coming out of the music theatre. He was always on the lookout, watching her from a distance. He called after her but not until he saw stains of blood and knew she needed protection. He was fully aware of the men waiting for her, a man of his Calibar knew the baddest bidders and losers in Aston. He had his men to take care of those rascals and soon he would have answers as to who was after his precious love and why.