Susan wearily opened her eyes to see she was in a hospital ward. She could see the doors sliding open and shut, policemen discussing in low voices, she could hear squeaky wheelchairs. She could see a low-volume TV in her room.
She took a frightened look around the room hoping not to see Moreno standing there beside her. She could see a nurse busy at the corner of the room.
She was so scared to face Moreno right now?
She knew he would be somewhere within the hospital. Probably with his "Angel of Death" whom he calls a friend. She tried to move but the pain was unbearable.
She could now see the policemen speaking with the doctor and taking notes. She knew it won't be long before she started answering questions herself.
Her mind flashed back to last night's events, her head was still woozy and the memories were slowly coming back.
Why was she in so much pain right now? She was only shot in her left arm.
She was supposed to shoot in the air to attract passersby, but she didn't remember ever shooting, all she remembers was her screaming in agony I'm a pool of blood.
She tried harder to recall the events preceding her arrival at the hospital, but her memory was still a bit hazy.
Something went wrong last night!
Her effort to move again was met with surging pains on her right shoulder and her right thigh, she let out a cry of pain which caused the doctor to come rushing to her aid.
"Please do not move, you were shot three times, and lost a lot of blood. It's a miracle you're still alive... The doctor said as he smiled down at Susie.
"All you need to do now is rest," he said
Suddenly she felt someone's fingers lock into hers, she turned to find Reno holding her hands and looking so worried.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when Reno walked into the room.
He just sat down on the corner of her bed without saying a word staring at her.
He wasn't sure she had the strength to speak so he just wanted to let her know he was here for her.
Susie on the other hand was in a state of pain and confusion.
So many emotions came rushing at once. This is a man she loved with every fiber of her being, yet she now hated him with the deepest hatred ever!
Was it possible to love and hate someone at the same time?
"Why is he just staring at me without saying a word?" She thought to herself... "What exactly would be going through his mind?"
Is he playing mind games with me? or what?
She needed to do something to break the uneasy tension between them.
She tried to open her mouth to speak. At least attempt to explain herself but Reno cut her short with a finger to her lips.
"Don't say nothing My Love" "All you need to do is rest". "I understand everything... And I'm here if you need me," he said lovingly
"He understands everything?" "What does he understand?" She asked herself.
"Some good Samaritans called the ambulance babe". "If not for them, I don't know what would have happened to you".
"They said you were attacked by robbers, you were shot three times. It's a miracle you survived".
The policeman walked in and requested to ask her some questions, she obliged, they spoke for a few minutes before he left.
******************************************
Four weeks had passed since the attack on Reno Jorge's mansion. Antonio De Castillo had spent the majority of this time in the intensive care unit.
Antonio had suffered multiple fractures in several parts of his body due to the severe whacks he received during his battle with the White Angel. His unfortunate slip also caused a fracture to his spinal cord.
This necessitated him to go through physiotherapy sessions for him to be able to walk again.
Jorge was constantly by his side throughout this time.
He was also told about the late-night attack on Susan Boyle, and that she was admitted into the same hospital with him.
About a week after he was hospitalized, Susan Boyle started daily visits to him at his bedside, even though she was a patient herself, she would make the sacrifice to check up on him daily.
He also noticed the emotional connection between Susan and Jorge. There were so in love with themselves and he was happy for them.
He desired to have someone love him as they loved themselves, but he wasn't sure he was capable of loving another human rightly.
On the fifth week, after he was admitted, Susan was discharged.
Nevertheless, she still made it her point of duty to visit three days a week.
All these while she had been spending with them seemed to them as acts of kindness. Whereas she was monitoring them like a predator stalking its prey waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
But instead of executing her plans, Susie B found herself developing a stronger fondness for Antonio. He showed her a side of himself she never knew. A tender side so different from the cold-blooded murderer she knew him to be.
And while she grew fonder of Antonio, she began to question Reno Jorge's love for her. He had been lying to her from day one. And he was still lying!
She had given him several chances to come clean with the truth through leading questions, but he would either evade the answer or tell another lie.
Even with her knowledge of all these she still loved him dearly.
One fateful day, when Jorge had gone to the supermarket to get some groceries. Susan came for one of her usual visits to Antonio.
Antonio had begun to walk around without aid by this time.
" Hey Anton!" she greeted with a beaming smile as she walked into the room.
"Good Morning Susie" Anton replied
"I'm glad to see you're fully back on your feet," Susie said as she gave a nod of approval in his direction
"Yes,! Thanks to the staff here and also to you for bringing me delicious meals" Anton replied with a smile on his face.
"You're welcome amigos, it's was nothing really"
This was her chance! She could work this case from another angle! Reno Jorge had up to this point proved a hard nut to crack. Now she was going to use her strengthened friendship with Anton to get more information.
She never imagined she would be so close to two Watchmen!
"Anton, there is something very important I would love to discuss with you," Susie said.
"What is it," Anton asked with a puzzled look on his face
"Nothing really, it's just that Reno has been acting strange lately". She replied
"Did you guys fight?" Anton asked...
"Not at all!" She replied. "It's just that ever since that night that we both were rushed here...
"Wait a minute!" Anton interrupted her mid-sentence. "Are you telling me we were brought into this hospital the same day?" Anton asked... A confused look on his face.
"It was the same moment" Susan replied... "Before I blacked out, I saw you being brought out of the ambulance"
"Interesting!" Anton thought to himself.
"As I was saying" Susan continued "Ever since that day, Jorge has been hiding things from me, I know it! I can feel it!" Her voice started to tremble as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Nooooo! Don't cry" Anton said. He put his arms around her in a bid to comfort her... "It's not what you're thinking. Remember he's had to take care of both of us during this period".
"I understand that fact, but he should open up to me, if he loves me, he should be able to share things with me!" she said, still sobbing as her head lay on his chest. she could see his chiseled abs through the spaces in his shirt. His masculine scent sent shivers down her spine. His hands instinctively found their way around his waist as she continued sobbing.
"Anton, can I trust you to keep a secret?" She suddenly said as she lifted her eyes to meet his own. Her eyes were filled with fear and sorrow
The look in those eyes made Anton's heart melt... He had never seen Susie so distraught before. He was ready to do anything at that point to make her happy.
"Yes Susie, you can trust me. What is it you want to tell me?" He replied in the most comforting voice tone her could muster
"Okay" She replied
"Anton, the truth is... The thing is that..."
"Oh, Anton! I don't know how to say this!"
"Just tell me what you want to say," Anton said in the most reassuring manner he could. He was beginning to get worried about whatever she might have to say.
"See, Susie, whatever it may be, just tell me and we would find a way around it" He tried to reassure her with his words...
"Are you sure, you will be with me after I tell you?" She asked nervously
"Why not, You, me, and Jorge are in this together" he replied...
"No!" She cut in... "Not Jorge, just you and I"
"Okay, Jorge won't know about this" he sharply replied he was beginning to lose his patience. What was she hiding? What did she find out about Jorge?
"Okay. Here goes..." She replied...
"I'm in Love with you Antonio de Castillo!" She said, looking lovingly into his eyes
It felt as if someone had shot Antonio with a stun gun. He just stood there motionless for some seconds.
"You're What?" He asked...
Here he was holding a gorgeous woman in his arms, who happened to be his best buddy's lover. And this woman had just professed her love to him of all people!
While he was still trying to process her words, she planted a deep kiss on his lips. It was as if she had control over his whole body.
After some seconds of shock, he instinctively held her closer and returned her kiss in double measure.
They stood there in each other's arms with their lips locked in a passionate kiss that seemed to last forever.
When they finally separated from each other's grasp, they both sat down on the bed staring at nothing in particular.
A wave of guilt overwhelmed Antonio. "What just happened?" He asked himself. He had just betrayed the man who had saved his life countless times.
How was he going to look Jorge in the eye after this?
Susan on the other hand was elated on the inside. She battled to hide her grin
She deserved an Oscar award for that epic performance. She wasn't too sure about it initially, but this had gone even better than she imagined.
She could discern from Anton's face that he was distraught by the preceding events.
He slowly turned to her and said... "I agree that it will be best for both of us if Jorge doesn't find about this"
"Find out about what?" a voice asked...
They both turned to find Jorge standing at the door with the groceries in his hand...