I probably looked like a crazy person running in in my pajamas to the hospital. These people have only really seen me during official events when I am more professionally dressed. But I had very little care for that.
The director was waiting in the lobby to bring me up. He much like myself seemed very disheveled to be at the hospital at this hour. "Who is with her right now?" I walked a bit ahead of him anxious to see her.
"Her father is with her but I believe her other family members will be coming soon. He let me know they are bringing the things they need for the time being. Aside from that the charge nurse informed me a young man is also there right now."
There was only one person who that could be but as to why he was there. I did not know. As we entered the ward I mentally prepared myself to remain calm. Regardless of whatever state she was in my anger was not going to magically make her better. I needed to be calm for her sake. However when we stepped in, her father was berating Dante. They did not even notice we stepped in.
"Let me make myself clear boy. You are to never and I mean never be near my daughter again. You not only knew she was in danger and knowingly kept it from us, you have no respect for her to the point you left her to die. That woman gave my daughter lethal amounts of caffeine which she is highly allergic to. You left her gasping for air in such a sorry state that had my daughter not had the hindsight to ask me to come she would have died."
My blood ran cold at his words. 'He left her... by herself...when she was... dying.' I clenched my fists so hard I felt my palms bleed. It took every last bit of willpower to not pummel the guy right then and there. Her father was there, I needed to be mindful for her family.
I remember the first time it happened. I was coming back from the sports locker room from a meeting with the head coach. He had called me over during our break time to ask again if I would reconsider the recruitment offers for playing baseball. I was annoyed because I already said no and nothing would change my mind.
I had deep ties to my family so I could not abandon them. So as I hated not being able to control my life to that aspect I let it go as I also had others things I cared more for. As I walked back to the classroom I heard screams and saw Celeste running at full speed to me. Her face was swollen and her neck bleeding profusely. She was gasping for air and her skin was flushed red with hives and overall irritation.
She collapsed onto the floor. I immediately ran and removed my cardigan to pick her up. Our school had us wear uniforms and the girls wore skirts so I used my cardigan to cover her lower body as I carried her to the nurses office.
I guess the students had called an ambulance already as sirens were heard from outside. The nurse had me set her down on the bed and she grabbed her epipen and lifted her skirt to jab into her thigh.
I kept my gaze at Celestes face and held her hand tightly to reassure her, tears formed in her eyes from the pain of the pen. There was nothing I could do to help her pain I could only comfort her until she was taken away. I was forced to stay as the paramedics took her. That memory haunted me for months after it happened.
So hearing the fact that not only it happened AGAIN but this piece of shit LEFT her when she was suffering nearly sent me over the edge.
I did not even catch was her father said next. I was pulled out from the memory of the past as the director nudged me a bit and that fucker spoke. "What if it was Dean Cortez?"
That small thread of sanity I had left snapped.
"And what about it?" I stormed forward and shoved him to the side. He fell to the ground not expecting my force. I kicked him down as he attempted to stand up. "I did not say you could get up." I pushed down harder into his back as he hissed in pain.
As though I was not doing anything crazy I faced her dad and smiled stiffly. "Hi Mr. D'Angelo. Sorry for dropping in unexpectedly. As the owner of the hospital I was informed about your arrival. How is she?"
He looked a bit taken aback before relaxing and smiling back at me. "You can let him go. He won't be bothering her for the time being. He was just leaving. Right?" He glanced down at Dante who nodded immediately. I lifted my foot and before he could get his bearings I leaned down and grabbed him by the neck pulling him up. "Let that be a warning that unlike others I don't care about playing in the dark or saving face."
I released him and he left crawling in a pathetic state. "Sorry about that, I did not mean to listen in but I heard what he did and it brought about memories from before." I did not need to elaborate as he understood what I meant.
"Honestly I wanted to do that from the minute he walked in but I am not as young as I used to be." His eyes flashed with mischief. "As for your first question, she is thankfully ok. Due to the amount the doctors pumped her stomach just in case and gave her medication to help calm her reaction. She is stable but I will warn you, she looks worse than how she is."
My hands itched to go to her. But I was scared of what I will do when I see her. "I approved the security detail to be here during her recovery period and I had the ward closed off so no one will enter. Aside from her care team and approved visitors that is."
I could see how exhausted he was. "Thank you kiddo I truly appreciate it." His phone buzzed and he sent some texts. "I ask that you keep this under lock and key. We have kept her image, name and all other identifiers away from the media so I ask that you also do the same and not breathe a word of this."
"Of course. I will have my contacts at the police department have this handled discreetly and quickly. I will also have my media team keep an eye out and assist. Considering our families history this is the least I could do."
He gave my shoulder a strong squeeze. "You have a good head on your shoulders. I would have you come in to see her but right now she is passed out. Her treatments made her knock out deeply so she won't even wake up for a while. Come back in the morning or whenever you have time, I am sure she would appreciate it."