Page 94 of Cursed Encounter
Little by little, Donovan has been receiving information about tonight’s tragedy and the cost that came with it. His expression remains stoic every time he answers his phone, but behind his eyes, I can see the damage each one does to him.
Donovan Falco isn’t a monster. He’s not exactly a teddy bear either, and anyone who would think so would be a fool. He’s a man with many things on his shoulders, and knows the pricefor the life he’s built. He’ll take that burden and deal with it, which I think makes him a better man than most people.
“Carlos didn’t make it,” he tells Torrin after he gets off the phone.
That brings the body count to four of his people. Three were already dead on the scene. Three were brought to the hospital in rough shape, and now one of them is gone.
Donovan has been getting information from someone who works here. I want to know who, but I don’t ask. Not because I don’t feel bold enough, but more because it’s not what’s important right now.
A big man shuffles into the room, his eyes scanning the area. Donovan straightens from the wall and nods to the man. His face is black and blue and bloody. There’s a sling across his body, cradling his left arm, and as I look closer, I can see there is a splint holding two of his fingers together. I try to hold back a cringe. He winces slightly as he makes his way over to us.
He was with us tonight, I know that much. Even if the suit didn’t give him away, I recognize him. I’m positive his name is Lion since I’d heard Donovan use that when addressing the man a couple of times tonight. I also seem to remember hearing something about a casino, like the man worked there. Which left me to wonder if the casino is Donovan’s.
Now that we’ve made it through the curse, I really need to ask more about Donovan’s… life? Business? I have no idea what to call it, but I want to know. I don’t want to sit home like some clueless housewife or whatever. This is my life now, and I’m fully committed to it… tohim.
“Glad you’re okay,” Torrin says, carefully cupping Lion’s good shoulder.
“It’s gonna be a rough few weeks commin’, but I’ll make it,” Lion says, trying to smile, but I can tell it hurts. We all hearthe unsaid part about being lucky to be alive, but no one says anything.
“I’ll get someone to drive you home,” Donovan says after a long moment of silence passes.
“Nah,” Lion tells him as he slowly lowers into the empty chair beside Fabien. “I killed three men tonight. Need a minute before I go home and see my son.”
He leans his head back against the wall and closes his eyes as if to shut the world out for a moment.
That one line breaks me. I don’t know how to hold it in. It hurts. It all hurts.
“Astra.” Donovan says my name, sounding closer than he was before. I blink away whatever it is that is clouding my vision to look at him. “Stay with me, My Beauty. I’m here. Give me your pain, your hurt. Let me take it for you.”
His voice is a low rumble, meant only for me to hear.
The room around me murmurs, the sounds having a panicked edge to them. I don’t have to ask. I know it’s because of me. I hate that I’m an uncontrollable emotional bomb that can go off at any second. I really need help figuring out how to control my abilities… and maybe a lot of practice too.
“No,” I shakily say. He’s strong enough to carry it, but I won’t burden him like that. Besides, I don’t think I’d like myself if I couldn’t feel. The good and the ugly, all the emotions shape us into who we are, and I’m finally starting to see who I am. “I want them. I just need to learn how to feel them.”
In a crowded room, full of people who know who he is and the power he holds, he grabs my hand and doesn’t let it go.
“I love you,” he reminds me before he leaves me with a kiss on my temple. I smile through the sadness, through the pain, seeing the good things that can also come with this life.
Fabien refuses to leave Andre’s bedside.
And against Donovan’s wishes, I’ve stayed here in case Fabien needs someone.
We’re going on two days now. Andre made it through surgery, coding twice, they said. But it’s going to be a long road to recovery. He had been pinned under the car that ran into the building, and it took them a while to get him out. I don’t know all the details, but from the look on Donovan’s face, it’s bad. He’s unconscious, breathing through a tube, and most of his body is covered in bandages. The doctor said he’s truly surprised Andre is still alive with all the damage his body has taken. I still don’t know what to say to that. I’d call it a miracle, but something feels off about using that word. I can’t put my finger on why.
“Fabien,” I call his name softly as I slowly cross the room. He blinks but doesn’t look my way. With his legs up in the chair, he looks like he’s trying to make himself seem as small as possible. “Let us take you home so you can get some sleep. Torrin says he’ll stay here, and he’ll call if anything changes.”
Though it’s likely the only kind of change we’d see any time soon would be for the worse. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen.
“This is my fault,” he whispered, eyes unfocused. “I’m like her. I’m a monster.”
I have no idea what he’s talking about. There’s no way the sweet, gentle person in front of me is a monster.
“When I was ten, I saw a bird fly into a window,” he says. I crouch down in front of him, but he still doesn’t look at me. Not even as I put my hands on his knees. “It was on the ground, unmoving.”
The pieces start to click into place. I swallow hard.
“I didn’t want it to be dead, but it wouldn’t move. I… I touched it and thought about it moving again. About it flying again. And then… it flapped its wings and flew away.”
