Night Fury: Second Act Part 12

I nudge Xavier with the tip of my toe. "Oh, nothing. Just that Xavier is possibly overdosing and I can't find Tomas."

I flinch and pull the phone away as Bob roars, "f.u.c.k!"

"What do I do?"

Bob answers a curt, "Put the a.s.shole on his side and monitor him till I get there. I'll call an ambulance."

I'm suddenly scared. "Bob..."

"If need be, I'll pet.i.tion for custody of Tomas."

I close my eyes in relief. "Thank you."

A pause. "You're welcome, sweetie." A sigh. "Make sure the d.i.c.khead doesn't kill himself in the meantime. He owes me. And I'm going to collect."

I'm almost scared to ask. But I don't.

Instead, I do as I'm told, and wait for the ambulance.

Chapter Eighteen.

The ambulance arrives just as Xavier begins to wake. The medics walk into the house as I kneel by his head and stroke his hair. As he looks up at me, he smiles distantly. "I like this dream."

I scowl and knock a knuckle onto his forehead. "This isn't a dream, bonehead. You were pa.s.sed out cold. I couldn't wake you so I called an ambulance."

He blinks a moment before his eyes widen in fear. His body stiffens. "Where's Tomas?"

I want to be cruel and tell him Tomas is dead. I want for him to have the life scared out of him so maybe he thinks hard the next time he picks up a needle, or joint, or even a bottle. Instead, I look down at him and mutter, "I couldn't find him when I got here. He wasn't in the house."

He tries to sit up but I hold him down by the shoulders. One of the medics holds out a hand. "Easy there. You're okay now."

But he booms in panic, "Where the f.u.c.k is my brother?"

I stroke his forehead in a soothing gesture. "He's okay. He was at the library. I called. Clark picked him up and they're at the church." My fingers pause. "By the way, Father Robert wants a word with you."

The smaller male medic asks, "Sir, can you tell me if you've taken any non-prescription substances today?"

Xavier looks at the medic. His breathing heavies and his eyes dart back and forth. He looks up at me, distressed. "I couldn't sleep. I just wanted to get some sleep. I was so tired."

Running my thumbs down his temples, I ask, "Okay. What did you take to help you sleep?"

"I smoked some pot. That's all. I swear." From the pleading look in his eyes, I can tell he's being honest.

The medics aren't so convinced. They eye each other when one asks cautiously, "Sir, if you've taken anything else, we need to know about it. Anything we give you could have an adverse effect if you've taken something more. You need to be honest with us. No one here is judging you."

Speak for yourself.

He doesn't bother looking at them. He seems to only have eyes for me at this moment. "Nothing more, Cat. I swear."

"I believe you." He breathes a sigh of relief, but I don't let him get away that easily. "But it's not me you have to convince."

A medic states, "Sir, we'd like to take you in, make sure all your vitals are normal-"

Xavier's eyes flash. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm awake now. I'm fine. You can leave now."

The other medic starts, "Sir, you have the right to refuse treatment, but for the sake of your own safety, I'd advise you to come with us-"

"No," is said so harshly, I still.

The medics look to me for support. I suppose I should at least try. "Xavier, you worried me. For a second there, I was scared you were dead. Please let them look you over."

He suddenly looks torn. After a moment's contemplation, he utters to the medics, "You can look me over right here. I'm not going anywhere."

Stubborn mule of a man.

I watch the medics measure his blood pressure, s.h.i.+ne lights into his eyes and ask him questions. As they're packing up to leave, Xavier reaches out to touch my hand. Unconsciously, I move closer to his now seated position on the sofa. We look into each other a long while before he mutters, "You were scared."

I don't respond. I was more angry than scared. But, yes, I was scared. For a split second.

He continues, "If you were scared this time, how many other times has Tomas been scared? No wonder he was always so angry at me. If I die, he goes back into foster care. If he goes back into foster care, he'll slip through the cracks of a system that would rather place him in an old folk's home than provide home care for him."

My eyes widen a little.

Oh Lord. I think it's happened.

I think Xavier has finally had his epiphany.

A smile threatens to escape, but I urge it down. Now is not the time to celebrate. "Yes. If he loses you, he's just another number in the system. He won't have a face or name. He'll just be another file."

He grips my hand tighter. "I can't let that happen. I won't."

I squeeze back. "Then fight for him."

The medics are packed up and ready to leave. They try one last attempt to have Xavier come to the hospital. "Okay, well, if you don't need us, we're heading off. Nice to see you on your feet, son, but lay off the weed. I'd still like for you to come have a full exam..." Xavier is already shaking his head. The medic sighs, "All right then. Good luck to you, son."

The ambulance leaves soon after. Xavier sits there, holding my hand, looking out the window. "I f.u.c.ked up. Again."

I'm at war with myself. My emotions are confusing me. From wanting to beat the ever-loving s.h.i.+t out of him, I now want to comfort this mixed up man. "You're allowed to f.u.c.k up every now and again. You're only human. But you have to want to be a better person. Not just for Tomas, but for yourself, too."

He blinks. His expression turns intense. "I'm going to do it. I'm going to be a better person. For me." He turns to me. "I need to get Tomas."

I cringe. "Well, there's a slight situation there." I shrug. "Father Robert said you owe him."

Confusion mars his face. "And?"

I pat his hand and utter a sympathetic, "Oh, boy. You just put yourself in a situation even I never want to be in. When Father Robert says you owe him, he means it."

Still confused. "I don't understand."

I stand and pick up my cell phone. I dial the number and hit send. Placing the phone to my ear, I turn to Xavier and respond in all seriousness. "Sorry, bub. He owns you now."

Chapter Nineteen.

Xavier doesn't say much on the drive back to the church. And I'm not sure why. This angry man has yet to say a word since I called Father Robert to come get us. As soon as he crossed the threshold of the front door, I knew this was not Father Robert.

This was Bob.

And Bob was p.i.s.sed.

Uh oh.

He pointed at Xavier and curled his lip. "This is how you repay me for taking you in? Scaring the s.h.i.+t out of Cat and your brother?" Surprisingly, Xavier didn't lower his head. Even more surprising was when he lifted his chin and said in a steady voice, "I know I f.u.c.ked up. There's no excuse. I'm sorry."

Bob placed his hands on his hips and eyed Xavier. "Pack a bag, one for you, one for Tom. You got ten minutes to get your s.h.i.+t together or I'm leaving without you. Then you can find your own way back to the church. You're staying with us indefinitely."

No argument.

Xavier stood, walked down the hall and started packing.

I look up at Bob who was cursing under his breath. When he gained composure, he looked up at me "Looks like you're getting your friends back, girl."

I tried not to let my excitement show, but due to my fidgeting and attempt to suppress my gigantic smile, Bob could see right through me. He rolled his eyes, turned and walked out onto the porch muttering, "What have I gotten myself into?"

We drove in complete silence. No radio. No small talk. The tension in the air thickened with every single second pa.s.sed.

When we pull up to the church, Bob stops the car. He looks at me from the rear-view mirror to where I sit in the back seat. "You head on in. We'll be there in a while." He side-eyes Xavier, his voice low. "I need to have a talk to Xavier here."

Oh, c.r.a.p.

I've heard that tone before. And if history is anything to go by, Xavier's in deep s.h.i.+t. As in, a mountain of it.

Knowing better than to argue with Bob, I exit the car, but before I do, I reach over and squeeze Xavier's shoulder in what I hope is a rea.s.suring gesture. I step out and close the door. The car drives away and I sigh out loud. With a shake of my head, I turn and head up into the church. Suddenly, I smile and walk faster. I need to find Tomas.

We have soggy cereal to eat.

Chapter Twenty.

Ari, Clark and I stare, mouths gaping in shock.

"Bob..." I say weakly, but I can't even finish my sentence. This... this just doesn't feel right.

Let's rewind here.

After Bob and Xavier returned from there little car ride when I say little, I mean they were gone for close to three hours... not that I was counting or anything Xavier walked right past me, went into the room he stayed in previously and didn't come out till sometime after dinner. Bob retreated to his office for about the same amount of time before he walked into the kitchen and quietly asked, "Tomas in bed?"

I went to work was.h.i.+ng our dishes from dinner. "Yeah. He had a long day. He went out like a light."

He tapped a finger on the counter in a nervous gesture. "Okay, good. I'm calling a meeting. Real soon."

My body went rigid. "What's wrong? Is it Frankie?"

His face soft, he walked over to me and placed his hands on my shoulder. "Oh, no, sweetie. She's fine. I swear."

I almost pouted. Almost. "Then why hasn't she called me back?"

He gripped the back of my neck and pulled me close, not caring about my wet hands. I wrapped an arm around him as he rested his chin on my head. "I know her leaving has been hard on you, but you need to think about how she's feeling. You have us. She's alone. And pregnant. I'm confident in saying that she's feeling a little worse than you are."

My anger at him began to rise. I near growled. "Then let her come home."

But he ignored me, placed a kiss to my forehead and walked away uttering, "Meeting. Half hour. Right here."

Half hour pa.s.sed quick enough. Soon Ari, Clark and I sat around the small table and waited in silence. Whatever was coming, we knew it wasn't good.

Bob and Xavier came in from the back door. Xavier had his hands in his pockets wearing a face of stone.

That's when Bob announced, "Meet the newest member of our team. Xavier. Codename: Mad Hatter."

No one said a word.

All I could think to myself as I stared at Xavier was, "You sold yourself. Now you'll never be free."

May G.o.d have mercy on your soul.