“Where's Rick?”
“Tommy, you’re pushing your luck. So, don't expect me to show any mercy!”
“I'll leave this guy to your hands. Do whatever you want. No need to inform me.”
The piercing pain made me break out in a cold sweat.
The doctor wiped my sweat and shouted, "Hurry, the anesthetic's wearing off! The patient's awake!"
The pain was too much and I blacked out. When I opened my eyes again, I was already in a ward. My younger brother, Greg, was in the room. He went forward to support me.
“Tommy, you’re awake! Are you okay?” he asked. “Lizbeth really went too far this time. Why didn’t you let me that you're the one having surgery? If the anesthesia wears off, you could die from passing out because of the pain!”
“What difference does it make if I were to tell you?” I forced a smile.
Greg asked with worry, “She didn't notice you left that abandoned warehouse, did she?”
“No. We took another mountain road,” I replied.
Redness slowly creeping up to Gerry's eyes. “You risked your life to save Lizbeth back then. You even stabbed ten times. Now you’re dealing with just one person instead of many, why not just kill her?”
I shook my head. “If we kill her, we’ll all die. She’s not the Lizbeth she used to be.”
“Do one thing for me. After it’s done, leave the country, never come back,” Greg said.
I got the message that my passport was ready two days later. During those days, Lizbeth did not send me a single message.
My chest tightened with a thousand pricks of pain; I could not breathe. When I got home, I felt like I had no strength left.
Before I could relax, I heard the clear click of a gun being loaded. I snapped awake and gripped the dagger at my waist. At first, I thought it was one of Lizbeth’s enemies. But my body fell to the ground before I could even control myself.
I didn’t know what exactly happened other than terrible pain swallowed me whole. My body felt torn apart and then sewn back together.
Then, the smell of blood woke me. Upon opening my eyes, I noticed I was lying on a big hotel bed and everything else I saw made me sick.
My body had whip marks, there wasn’t a single part of my skin unmarked. My stomach churned and soon I vomited.
From the hallway Lizbeth’s voice came. “How is it? Did you record the video?”
“We recorded it, but… Mr. Randall has been with you for eight years. Isn’t this a bit too much, ma'am?”
“What are you trying to say?" She replied, unamused. "Remember who you belong to. If he hadn’t insisted on bothering Rick, I wouldn’t have had to do this. He was pushign it, he deserved to be taught a lesson.”
“Tell the men to guard Rick well. If Tommy shows up again, we’ll release those videos, no matter what,” she added.
“Yes, ma'am!”
One second before she opened the door, I fell back on the bed and pretended to have just woken up.
A nail then dug hard into my palm; the familiar pain kept me barely in control. Her expression immediately changed into that gentle, caring face from the past.
“How are you? Are you okay? I've caught the person who did this. If anyone dares hurt you, I will not forgive them,” she said softly.
I couldn’t hold back tears and stared straight at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lizbeth frowned. “Relax. I know you're short tempered. I've kept the culprit—so you could deal with him yourself.”
“Let’s go. He probably won’t live long.” She held me in her arms.
Her hug felt as warm as before. Yet, my whole body was as cold as biting ice.
On the way, she still did not let go of my hand. I could see her caring expression mixed with guilt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t protect you well. I promise, it won’t happen again,” she cooed.
When I stayed silent, she kissed the corner of my mouth.
