Page 54 of Mara
The crazed feelings inside me had calmed down, and now I was sitting in a rocking chair in the NICU at the local hospital. It was nothing to write home about, but they’d kept my nephew’s heart beating, so I wasn’t about to comment on it.
He was going to need a few surgeries already. This little boy was a fighter.
I tried calling Gigi’s phone again, but just like the hundred other times, I got a dial tone.
My mind raced as I worried about Gigi, where she could be, and if she would ever get to meet her son. I glanced over at the little fighter, quiet and asleep inside his warm isolette. His world was so tragic already.
Born in blood, alone, and left to die. Now, he was intubated, with only a machine keeping him alive. His little body lay hidden in a nest of cords and IV tubing.
“I’m here, Seph.” I reached my hand into the isolette so I could hold his tiny hand.
The nurse taking Seph’s vitals smiled sympathetically at me and walked over to put her hand on my shoulder.
“There hasn’t been any news yet, Mara. I am so sorry. We are all praying.”
I didn’t believe in God. A god wouldn’t possibly let this happen to innocents. I needed to find Gianna. I had to find my sister and give her a reason to continue in this fucking life.
Her son had to know the answers to what had happened to her.
If only he could speak.
His eyes witnessed so much pain and suffering. He deserved to live a life of nothing but joy and happiness. I knew, despite the circumstances, Gianna would give him that. She must miss her son so badly.
“Okay,” I whispered absently.
Jinx hadn’t answered my calls either. He just sent a rude text informing me he was working. None of my other messages had been read either. How could he say nothing about his son’s horrific fucking situation or that he was fighting for his life? And don’t get me started on his missing girlfriend….
I was so angry, my blood heating, feeling like an inferno. There was no way I was letting this fucker run off just because a monster was after Gianna and his son. He needed to man the fuck up.
I peeked at Sephtis, gently moving my fingertips over his tiny hand and blowing a kiss.
“Hi, little dude. I need to make a house call.”
Jinx’s tattoo parlor was closed, and I felt rage as I stared at the sign in my face. I called Jinx again and again, until finally the phone stopped ringing and went straight to voicemail.
“You piece of shit…asshole! No, coward…you’re a coward!”
I screamed into the night. I didn’t know where the fuck he lived, but I knew his name. After conducting a brief online search, I found his house.
Driving to the middle of nowhere to yell at a man was something new, but I owed my sister this. She was missing, and he should be looking for her.
His house looked ominous, a perfect match for his personality. I wasn’t leaving the doorway without an explanation, and since his motorcycle was in the driveway, I knew he was here.
Coward, hiding away from reality. He had a little one, and he was responsible—a baby who fought for every breath he took in that NICU.
I slammed my fist on the door, fury fueling my blood as my hand nearly went numb.
After a consistent ten minutes of smashing the door, it opened. Jinx was standing inside the doorway, shirtless withloose sweats wrapped around his hips, and his face and hair were wet.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Nirvana. Are you gonna keep huffing and puffing until you blow my house down?”
I flushed. He didn’t look altered at all. He remained completely unfazed by the world around him. He looked relaxed, calm, and peaceful even.
How was that fair?
My sister was missing, and this asshole was smirking at me.
“Ignoring my calls doesn’t change the fact that you are a fucking coward.”
