Page 39 of His Sweet Torment
Opening a browser, she resisted the temptation to look up her family and friend or any news in Seattle and instead concentrated on her immediate problem. She typed in “Abortion in The Maldives” into the search engine, then saw with a sinking heart that it was prohibited, and in any case the spouse or significant other had to be informed.
“Shit.” She held her head in her hands for a moment then slid a hand over her belly. This was real, it was happening. “It’s not that I don’t want you, little one,” she said, her voice breaking, “it’s that Ican’twant you right now.” She sighed and scrubbed the browser history.
The weight of responsibility was crushing her, and she gave into her worst instincts, and google searched Severin, Harpa, the Forrester’s, and then finally, Dale.
The shock was icy cold. F.BI. Agent found beaten, near to death on city landfill. A photo of Dale in his graduation uniform. She read the whole article.
Only a year into his fledgling F.B.I. career, Agent Dale Fortuna, 33, has been found almost beaten to death on a Seattle landfill site. He was rushed to hospital where he underwent a thirty-hour brain surgery to save his life and while doctors were successful, the Tacoma native lies in a deep coma in a Seattle hospital and doctors say it is too soon to know if he will ever come out of it.
It’s not the first time tragedy has touched the young agent. Just over eight months ago, his agency partner, Padme Kaur was shot protecting tech billionaire Enver Toscano as he gave evidence against the mighty Ingles Corporation. Miss Kaur survived the attack despite being shot three times, but was recently the victim of a savage murder.
Padme was shaking, trembling so hard that when she stood to go to the bathroom to throw up, she slammed into the walls and doors as she staggered. She barely made it to the toilet before she threw up and up and up. She sobbed out all her pain, every microbe of it, from since before she came here, leaving her friends, her mom, the horror of being shot, the separation from Enver…who had lied to her. She knew without a doubt that the news about Dale was what Lisa had told Enver yesterday – and he had kept it from her.
She cried for seemed like hours, but when she felt Enver’s arms go around her, she fought him off, screaming at him not to touch her, and ran from the house, passing a shocked Lisa. She ran and ran down the beach. Enver caught up with her, but she screamed at him to leave her alone and kept running before collapsing into the sand and gasping for air. Enver had lied to her. About something as big as this, about Dale being nearly killed. What else was he keeping from her?
All she knew, right now, was that she had Enver’s child growing inside her – and a lover who she didn’t know if she could trust…and a best friend who was lying in a hospital bed because of her.
Enver, shell-shocked, returned to the house to be greeted by Lisa carrying her laptop. “Enver…she used my laptop.”
Enver felt his heart sink. Padme knew about Dale.
Severin wondered at the sheer tragedy of it. Eight months ago, she was sitting by Padme’s hospital bed; now she was here with Dale. Another soul who had no-one else in his life. She held Dale’s hand as she had Padme’s and willed him to survive.
“Hey there.” Henry Jones pushed the door open. “The nurse told me you were with him. I thought I’d bring you some hot coffee and a Danish.”
Severin smiled at him. “You are a sweetheart, thank you.” She took the coffee from him and sipped it.
Henry went to Dale and place his hand on his forehead. “How is he?”
“No change.”
Henry shook his head. “God.” He sat down opposite Severin. “You visit often?”
“Every day,” she said softly, reaching out to take Dale’s hand again. “He doesn’t have any one else.” She smiled at Henry. “Sorry, I mean, apart from you.”
“He and Pad were like children to me. Both brilliant, dedicated…even if Padme chose a different path eventually.”
“He’s still alive,” Severin said softly, not looking at Henry.
“What?”
She smiled a little reprovingly. “You said ‘he and Pad were like children to you.’ Dale is still alive.”
“Yes, of course, sorry. A slip of the tongue.” They sat in silence for a moment. “How are you dealing with Padme’s loss? I mean, is there anything I can do for you?”
Severin shook her head. “No.” She debated whether to tell him Dale and her theory, that Padme was alive but she didn’t want to put Henry in a difficult position. Dale had been so adamant that they should keep it to themselves. “No, thank you, Henry.”
He stayed a little longer, but when she was alone, Severin felt more at peace. She went to stand at the window, looking out over the city at night.Where are you, Pad? Wherever you are, I hope you’ve found peace, safety, love. I miss you. I love you.
Come home.
Enver was sitting in the living room with Lisa, his head in his hands when Padme came back. Her face was expressionless, but her whole body was tensed. Enver knew not to touch her as much as he wanted to. He waited for Padme to speak, as she sat in the chair opposite him.
“I’m pregnant.”
Enver felt a rush of joy but seeing Padme’s pale, stern face, he had to once again restrain himself. “That’s the best news, Pad, I’m so happy.”
Padme shook her head. “Enver…no. It isn’t. We both have targets on our backs. Do you think I would put a child in danger like that?” She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Have you any idea how long I’ve dreamed of having your child? But I don’t even know if I can trust you. Why didn’t you tell me about Dale?”
