Scandalous Heroes Box Set (20 page)

***

Eight hours later –

Kyra felt as if her face was on fire. Her head felt as if it was swollen to the size of a watermelon. It was so heavy she couldn’t turn or lift it from her pillow.

“Hi, sweetheart, it’s Mama,” she heard a voice. Meek with fear, it sounded like her mother. Kyra’s gaze dropped over to her left. Her mother’s face came into focus. She looked as if she’d been crying.

Kyra tried to move her hand. Thankfully she felt her fingers move. When she tried to move her toes she registered feeling in her feet as well. “Ma?”

“Yes! Yes! It’s Mama,” her mother wept. She picked up her hand and kissed it. Her father stepped from behind her mother and smiled down at her. He was a tall serious man, and in her life she’d never seen him weep or look uncertain. His face was etched in pain. His eyes glistened with tears.

“We have been so worried,” her father said.

“Where?” she closed her eyes as a monstrous bolt of pain hit her in the skull. The aftershocks made every muscle in her body rigid and she began to grit her teeth. She heard her mother yell for someone to come. Then darkness returned and her suffering ended.

***

The Next Day –

Kyra opened her eyes. The room was dark. She stared up at the ceiling confused as to who she was, where she was, or why she was in bed. Slowly coherent thoughts began to meld. She turned her head and it didn’t take much effort. Her mother was asleep in a wheeled in bed. Her father slept in a chair. Both of her older sisters were in the room. They slept together on opposite ends of a sofa with a shared blanket between them. The vigil began to make sense.

She was attacked.

Kyra remembered running outside in the snow. She wanted to stop Renaldo from leaving. And then Cezar showed up. Her body began to shake as the trauma flashed in her mind with acute vivid recall. Fighting. Screaming. Begging. Being hit. Pain. Gunshots.

Kyra nearly sat upright in bed. “I’m shot!” she cried out.

Her mother stirred awake. She was the only one who slept as light as a bird. She sat up and focused in the dark. “Kyra baby? Mama’s here.”

“Ma? I’m shot?” she wept, shaking with fear.

“No. No, sweetheart. You were attacked.” Her mother scrambled from the bed. Her sisters stirred and her father last. She had woken the room. It was her mother who came to her side. “Oh sweetheart, you weren’t shot. You’re okay. You’re safe. Oh my baby.” Her mother hugged her. Kyra clung to her, weeping into her breast.

“He was going to kill me,” she wept.

“It’s over, Kyra. It’s okay. You’ve been out of it for four days.”

“Four days?” Kyra stopped crying. She didn’t understand. To her it felt as if only a day or two had passed. 

Her mother stroked her. “The doctors said there was bleeding and swelling on your brain. They thought they’d have to operate. Thank God they didn’t. We feared the worst. But you opened your eyes two days ago and I knew God was great. He’d protect you. You had a seizure. But you’re better now, baby. Much better!” her mother said. “I’m so sorry, Kyra baby, I should have never left you to live alone. It was my fault for being so hard on you.”

“Ma. No. It wasn’t. None of this was your fault. Please don’t blame yourself.” She looked to her father, her sisters were at his side. “I’m okay now. I am.” She tried to reassure them. Her mother let her go and Doe came over to her. She hugged her sister tight. They couldn’t let each other go. “It was Cezar,” she said as she pieced the incident together. No one seemed surprised by her announcement.

“He’s dead, Keek,” Doe replied. “Someone killed him. A stranger. The police are hunting for the shooter. Your friend Jamie has been here every day. She’s helping the police. She convinced the stranger to drop you off to the hospital but he fled afterwards.”

“Stranger?” Kyra frowned.

“More like a hero,” her father spoke up. “The witnesses said that boy would have killed you if the man hadn’t arrived.”

The news made no sense to Kyra. Who was the man that helped her? She didn’t recall seeing anyone but Cezar. “Where is Jamie? Can you call her to come and see me?”

“We have to call the police.” Her father spoke. “They asked that we call them the moment you woke up.”

“Why?” Kyra asked.

“They want to talk to you.”

“I’m not ready. I just want to see Jamie,” Kyra said.

“There’s something else, Kyra,” her mother stroked the top of her head. “A man who wants to see you.”

“Renaldo?” she asked. The hope and surprise in her voice made her parents exchange a curious glance with each other.

“No, sweetheart. His name is Dominic Battaglia. He wants to pay all of your medical expenses. He’s been very generous.” Her mother glanced over to the beautiful blue roses that filled several vases. Kyra had never seen blue flowers before. Let alone roses. They caught her breath at the mere sight of them.

“He brought those?” she asked. Wondering if the flowers were from Renaldo instead.

“Yes,” her sister answered.

“I think…” Kyra winced. Her mother soothed her discomfort and then she spoke again.

“Relax. Doe, get her some water,” her mother said. Her sister hurried away.

“The man, he owns the company you work for? He’s your boss?” her father asked.

“I think so,” she guessed. They said his last name was Battaglia so it was possible that he worked with Mirabella in some capacity. What Kyra wanted to know desperately was why Renaldo hadn’t reached out to her instead.

“He asked your father to call him personally when you woke. He wants to see you. He made it clear that he wants to help. He arrived with two men who looked… your father didn’t get a good vibe from them. We told the police.”

“What?” Kyra blinked at her family. “Why did you tell the police?”

“They wanted to know about anyone who has visited you. Kyra, sweetheart we didn’t know what to make of these people,” her mother reasoned and her father nodded his head in agreement.

“I want to see him. Can you call him for me? And Jamie? Please, Mama, it’s important.”

“Yes, baby,” her mother smiled.

Kyra relaxed. By nature her parents were very cautious people. If Renaldo was the one who saved her then things may not be good for him with the Battaglias. Either way she had to know the truth about what happened that night. Dominic Battaglia may have the answers.

***

The next day Kyra underwent a battery of tests. They poked and prodded her everywhere. She endured the exams, hopeful that soon the doctors would say she was well enough to get out of the hospital. Her nurse was named Mary and very sweet. She spoke about her grandchildren and her daughter in-law who she swore looked like Kyra. Through it all Kyra smiled and nodded. Her thoughts constantly drifted to Renaldo.
Where was he? Did he return to Italy or stay in America? Were the police out searching the streets for him?
Even now she couldn’t recall if it was him that saved her life. But deep inside she knew the truth.

Kyra was wheeled back into her room, and to her surprise a man waited for her. He was strikingly handsome. He was possibly the same age as Renaldo. He wore a dark wool trench coat over a tailored dark suit. He nodded his head in respect when the nurse wheeled her inside. “Your mother and father are meeting with the doctors. They granted me this visit with you,
signorina
Kyra. My name is Dominic Battaglia.”

“I know who you are,” she answered. The nurse helped her stand from the wheel chair and walked her over to the bed. Without the assistance she would have dropped to her knees. Her limbs felt so weak. But the doctors said moving a bit would help.

Dominic observed her in silence. He waited until the nurse fixed her sheets and then wheeled the chair out of the room before he spoke again. “Please accept my family’s deepest sympathies for your accident. Donna Mirabella sends her personal wish that you recover quickly.”

“Donna?”

Dominic smiled. “It means lady, in Italian. It’s a term of respect when referencing her.” He stepped to the bed. “I’ve spoken to your parents. They say you will recover. Fully!”

“I want to see Renaldo,” she blurted. “Where is he? Does he know I’m here?”

Dominic stared at her.

“Please. Whatever happened that night he didn’t do anything wrong. I think he saved my life. That’s why I told my parents to not call the police on your family. I just want to talk to him.”

“Unfortunately that won’t be possible. I have sent Renaldo back to Sorrento.”

“What?” Kyra gasped.

Dominic gave her a patient smile. “For his safety. The laws here in America are quite different than the ones at home. His act of chivalry could be taken as an act of murder. I am impressed with you, Kyra. That you were brave enough to protect him.”

“Can I talk to him?” Kyra asked.

“I have an offer for you instead,” Dominic said.

“Offer?”

“Yes,” Dominic stepped closer to the bed. He had the kindest amber brown eyes. They were cast under a dark ring of lashes and a half-lidded stare. Sleepy-eyes are what came to mind, but sensual in the way they matched his soothing voice. “Catalina tells me you are quite the talent. You make shoes?”

“Yes, I make them.”

“And you wanted to move to Paris to make them for Mirabella’s?” he asked.

“I interviewed for a job but didn’t get it,” she said.

“Consider the job yours. The Donna insists. We will cover your expenses to move and give you a year’s salary in advance to ensure you adjust. When you are well the attorneys will contact you for an employment contract and help you with your work visa.” Dominic picked up his scarf he had dropped over the chair. He tied it into a knot around his neck.

“There are two of us. My partner. Her name is Jamie Collins. She’s a designer too. I ah. This is awkward. But I have to ask. Is it possible that she too can work for Mirabella’s?” Kyra asked. It wasn’t the best way to introduce Jamie to the Battaglias but she had the sense that they were negotiating for something Dominic Battaglia wanted in return.

“Renaldo mentioned Jamie. She was with him when they brought you in,” Dominic said.

“Yes! And she’s really loyal to me. She is very trustworthy.”

“I’ve spoken to Jamie,” Dominic said, his warm stare now piercing. Kyra wasn’t sure what he meant by that so she kept silent. He continued. “If she wishes a job she too can have one. I’ll inform the attorneys. They’ll make an offer.”

“What about my request to call Renaldo?” she asked.

“He sends his regrets that he could not be here with you. And if you wish to see him again, you will,” Dominic smiled. He removed a card and handed it to her. Kyra reached for it but Dominic held to it, which forced her to look back up into his eyes. “There is only one favor the family asks of you, Kyra.”

“Yes?”

“Silence,” he winked.

She nodded that she understood. The door opened and her mother returned with her father following. They looked to Dominic. He nodded his head. “
Grazie
, for letting me visit your lovely daughter. Again let us know if anything is needed.”

Her father shook his hand and walked him out. Her mother came back to her bedside. “Is everything okay?”

“I got a job, Mommy. In Paris!”

Her mother’s face froze. “Job?”

“A good job. My dream job,” Kyra said and prayed her mother would be proud of her. “Say you approve. I need your approval, Mommy.”

“Of course I approve. I am so very proud of you, Kyra. So proud!” her mother kissed her brow gently and then her cheek. “So proud,” her mother repeated.

“Thank you, Mom.”

***

Later that day –

“Knock! Knock!” Jamie pushed the door open with a hand full of balloons. “Hey squirrel! Look at you, honey! Love the turban!”

Kyra grinned. She dropped her magazine and stretched her arms. “Hi!”

Jamie put her balloons and gifts on the desk and rushed her for a gentle hug. She kissed her face and smiled. “Shit you look a mess!”

“I haven’t looked in a mirror. Been too afraid,” Kyra said.

“Well don’t worry. In a few weeks this will all be healed.” Jamie turned her face with the pinch of her chin from left to right. She then smiled into her eyes. “I’m so glad you are okay, kiddo. You scared the shit out of me.”

“I don’t know what happened? I still can’t understand how I got here. Mom and Daddy said it was you? Was it?”

Jamie glanced around the room as if she expected to find someone else there. “Where are your parents?”

“Gone home. Finally! My sisters convinced them. They’ve been here for a week straight. Mama is exhausted. She needed some rest. She’ll be back here before sunset I’m sure.”

“You’re her baby. That’s to be expected.” Jamie winked.

The door opened. A detective and two other officers walked inside the room. Kyra froze at the sight of them. “Mr. Collins, I had no idea we’d be seeing you today,” the detective said to Jamie. Jamie didn’t respond. She hated when people addressed her as a man. The detective obviously did so to irk her. Jamie walked away and sat over in the chair grandly with the cross of her legs and the toss of her blonde locks. Today Jamie was a blonde. She wore a green turtleneck and jeans with platform knee-high boots that looked as if they were dipped in green glitter. She looked one hundred percent woman.

Jamie had several run-ins with the law in the past. She loathed the police. Most of her arrests were due to fights with men who turned violent on her when they discovered who she was. Jamie always ended up bloodying a nose or blackening an eye. She could handle her own and the detectives knew it.

“Hello, Ms. Okeeno. I’m Detective Muncie. I’ve been waiting to speak to you. The hospital called and said you were receiving visitors. Are you up for a conversation with me?” he asked.

Kyra glanced to Jamie who winked to reassure her. She then looked to the detective who had a piercing stare focused solely on her. “Okay.”

“Can I ask what your relationship was to Cezar Lupei?” he asked.

“He and I dated. We ended things last week. He’s been harassing me,” she said.

The detective’s left brow winged up. “Did you file a report on this harassment?”