Asia's phone rang and she let the glass of whiskey in her hand land on the counter with a soft clink. Old habits really did die hard.This particular bar had been the subject of a great many lonely nights in her college days and less when she'd started her professional career. When her eyes caught the contact name she fumbled slightly before quickly sliding the answer bar and putting the device to her ear.
"It's done. We have her."
At first Asia was completely unable to believe the news. She sucked in a loud enough breath to startle the elderly fellow beside her at the bar and draw in the curious eyes of a few others. The woman couldn't be bothered to mind.
"Come to my apartment, it's on the fourth floor, room 505."
Asia tried to recall the name and location of his building as she frantically gathered her things from the bar. Purse, keys, cardigan. They had managed to rescue Ivanna and her heart was desperate to see the woman, to be sure that she was okay.
"Alright, I'm coming. It's The Gardens, right?"
Adriel's voice was gruff and strained for a moment before he responded.
"Yes, hurry."
Upon the second bit of his statement, Asia froze with mild horror. Hurry. He had told her to hurry as though she might miss them if she did not.
"Hurry? Is something wrong?"
When the phone dial clicked and the screen went dark, Asia felt chills at her spine and broke into a full sprint for the parking lot. Surely she looked like a mad woman to everyone in the bar but it was of no consequence to her now.
The love of her life could be in trouble.
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Asia pounded on the door a bit harder than she had meant to, in such a way that the italicised numbers shook slightly. Her heart hadn't calmed for a moment since she raced over and her whole world depended on what was behind this door.
The door creaked open to reveal a short, pretty woman with curious brown eyes. It's a woman that she's never seen before and her brain briefly registers this as they take her wrist lightly and welcome her inside. The small woman leads her from the entryway of the house to a bedroom through the hall and towards the back where she finds her brother standing in front of a closed doorway.
The small woman lets go, dark hair tied in a messy sort of bun at the back of her head and Asia realises this must be the Yanire that his brother won't stop talking about. Interesting as it was, this was hardly the time for introductions and Asia moved to push past her brother into the bedroom when he caught her and pulled her back with sad eyes.
"Let me through."
Adriel nods, still not moving from his spot. His dark shirt was stained with a curious amount of blood but judging from the lack of pain in his expression, it likely wasn't his own.
"I will… But I need you to be ready first, Asia."
She felt a brief irritation flush her system as she glowered at him. She knew he only meant to protect her and that he felt it was his job, but she was a grown woman and this wasn't the time for stalling.
"My lover could be dead. Get out of my way."
He nodded, averting his eyes and moving so she could step around him. When the door clicked shut behind his sister, Adriel found Yanire's eyes and held them.
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The first thing she sees when she steps into the room is the rise and fall of Ivanna's sleeping chest. It's a relatively basic apartment room, a king size bed with navy blue sheets and pillows. Surely, it was her brother's. A wave of relief washes through her at the simple fact that Ivanna is breathing and she moves over until she's sitting at the edge of the bed.
Her throat strained with a choked sob as she stared down at her lover's face. The right side of her head is battered and bruised, her lip busted slightly. Asia tugged at the blanket around her shoulders until more bloodied contusions and bruises revealed themselves. She quickly tucked the blanket back up around her lover and planted a flurry of rushed apologetic kisses as she started to cry. Ivanna's sleeping body didn't respond to any of the external happenings and Asia eventually folded her body up beside the woman and let the tears slip until sleep overtook her.
At the very least, Ivanna Vayas was alive.
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