Chapter Seven
Dante's eyes gleamed with amusement as he stared at the screen of his laptop. He was watching a livestream of a fight that happened not too long ago somewhere around the streets downtown.
"What are you watching? I could hear it from here" Vivianne's voice came from the bathroom, it was followed by the sound of the shower head going off.
Dante closed the screen of his laptop, chuckling softly to himself. He reached out for his phone and dialed Samuel's number. The call rang three time before the other end picked up. The sound of the nightclubs music boomed through the phone's speaker. Dante had to lower the volume of his phone a little before he pressed it against his ear.
"Sup Dan. You need something?" Samuel's cheery voice asked. Dante tapped his fingers gently against his glass desk, he was contemplating the decision.
"Dan?" came Samuel's voice, sounding confused by the empty response.
"Yes, I do need something. It seems like something has gone down Fremont street. I want you to check it out and take the little lamb out of whatever hole he got himself in" Dante instructed, ending the call before Samuel could say anything. He placed his phone back on top of his desk and made his way to join Vivianne in the shower.
On the other hand, at the bar corner of the nightclub. Samuel stared at his phone, bewildered by Dante's request.
"You look like you're constipated" Dom stated, chugging down his large glass of beer. Samuel rolled his eyes and began tapping aggressively on the screen of his phone, searching for any news of something recently happening in the streets of Las Vegas.
"Dante just asked me to take that guy out of trouble he got himself in" Samuel replied, scrolling through dozens of news on his feed.
Dom frowned, confused. Samuel rolled his eyes.
"That new kid that bumped into him?" Samuel explained, making hand gestures in the air. "The one who stumbled his way here and got drugged by me?"
Dom raised his brow. "You drugged a kid"
"Of course not a real kid!" Samuel threw his hands up in the air. Suddenly, a customer leaned on the island, choosing a drink to order and Samuel's moody countenance instantly changed into a bright cheerful one. "Hello, what drink are you having?"
Dom watched Samuel work. He was entertaining the patron and mixing drinks at the same time. Samuel had always been the jack of all trades kind of person. Anything you put him at, he'll learn and be good at it in less time than a normal person. If it weren't for the fact that Samuel kept picking childish fights with him he would've commented his excellence, but since that wasn't the case he'd never hear a praise coming from Dom's mouth.
As Samuel finished, he went back to his phone, tapping urgently at the screen once more. "Ugh what the hell man? I can't find the shit Dante want me to find. I'm supposed to be a number one source of gossip other than news reporters and journalists."
"What exactly are you looking for anyway?" Dom asked, taking his phone out as well. Just as he opened his socials, the first thing on his news feed was a video feed of a livestream that ended a few moments ago. It was quite the show for Dom, three men ganging up on one. For him, nothing's more cowardly than that.
"Is this what you're looking for?" Dom pushed his phone over to Samuel.
Samuel's eyes widened as he snatched the phone none too gently from Dom's hand, earning a sour look from Dom.
"How the heck do you have it and I couldn't even find it?" Samuel exclaimed, a pout forming on his lips as he tried to pinpoint the exact location of the event, but he was having difficulty because of all the heads blocking the screen repeatedly, trying to get a glimpse of premium entertainment.
"Maybe if you stopped stalking everyone on social media for every small details you can milk out of them, then perhaps more important news would show up on your screen" Dom countered, finishing the last few gulps of his beer.
He took his phone back when Samuel was done fiddling with it. As he was about to leave his spot, Samuel grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. It took everything within him to not smash the smaller man's head into the island top.
"Wait! I need to make a trip to a hospital. Accompany me" Samuel asked, mustering up the best puppy eyes he could ever form which in turn made Dom's face contort into disgust.
"Now why would I do that?" Dom asked.
"If you don't I'll tell little Andrea you didn't help his favorite uncle Sammy to slay evil and do good deeds" Samuel taunted though his tone was teasing.
"Using my own daughter against me. You're wicked" Dom sigh, giving up. Samuel threw his fist in the air after winning over Dom.
After calling a replacement to handle the work at the bar. Samuel and Dom made their way to the parking lot. Samuel pulled his car keys out and started the engine, driving over to the exit of the parking lot where Dom was waiting. After Dom got in the passenger seat, the two drove away towards the heart of downtown Las Vegas to begin their search. With how big Vegas is, it's going to be a long night for the two.
. . . . .
The moment Ethan opened his eyes, he instantly recognized that he was in a hospital. The smell of his own bile was gone so he had been cleaned. A heart monitor softly beeped at his left side while on the right was a silver tray full of bloodied cottons and other equipments he didn't recognize. His body felt extremely sore and simply trying to move brought upon an immeasurable amounts of pain racking through every parts of his body.
What a night it was. That was Ethan's first thought. He remembered the way one of the men screamed after he viciously sank his teeth on his arm. The sound of his scream made Ethan felt relief and satisfaction. He may not have been able to hurt all three of them, nor get his money back , but he definitely gave them a something they'd forever remember.
'Serves them right' Ethan thought smugly.
The door to the room suddenly opened, and a female police deputy stepped inside. She was tall, with sharp eyes that missed nothing. Her badge read Elissa Roman, and she wasted no time getting straight to the point.
"You're the guy from Fremont Street?" she asked, her tone brisk.
Ethan nodded weakly, wincing at the pain in his neck. He could see the concern in her eyes, but there was also a hint of suspicion.
'Shit. Police is bad news' Ethan thought anxiously.
"We've got witnesses who saw you jump those men," Deputy Roman continued, flipping open her notepad. "They say you started the fight. That's a serious offense. Charges might be pressed, even if you're the one on a hospital bed"
Ethan's heart raced. The last thing he needed was to be on the radar of the Las Vegas police. He couldn't afford to be caught, not with his situation. He needed to buy himself some time to get out of this situation, so he did the only thing he could think of.
He groaned, letting his body sag into the bed as if the pain was too much to bear. "I… I don't remember much," he mumbled, slurring his words slightly. "I just… I feel like I'm gonna pass out."
Deputy Roman frowned, clearly not convinced but unwilling to push him too hard in his current state. "You're in pretty bad shape. We can talk more when you're feeling better, but you should know that this doesn't look good for you."
Ethan let his eyelids droop, feigning exhaustion. "I… just need to rest… Can we please talk later, officer?"
There was a short pause, and then Deputy Roman sighed. "Alright. Get some rest. But we'll need to finish this conversation soon."
She turned to leave, closing her notepad with a snap. Ethan breathed a quiet sigh of relief, the tension in his chest easing slightly. He'd dodged the interrogation for now, but he knew it wouldn't be the last time she came back.
Just as he was about to settle back into the bed, the door to the room abruptly swung open, startling him. His heart leaped into his throat as he looked up, bracing himself. To his surprise a familiar face came followed by one he doesn't recognize.
"Holy shit dude you don't look so good" Samuel winced, staring at Ethan's current situation. Ethan wanted to sat up but the pain rocketing throughout his entire body made him slump back down.
"Woah there bud we won't do anything so chill" Samuel added. Ethan glanced at the two, wondering what is it that they need from him. Samuel glanced at Dom, then to Ethan, and back to Dom again. It was as if the two were having a telepathic conversation, they just stared at each other and then Dom sighed while Samuel nodded grimly.
"We're taking you with us. Like, right now" Samuel casually blurted, making Ethan's brows furrow.
"Excuse me?" Ethan asked. Samuel stood by the door like a look out as Dom slowly approached Ethan, scanning his whole body to asses how much damage was done to him and from the looks of it, it wasn't good.
"Dante—er, the boss asked us to get you out of whatever rabbit hole you fell in" Samuel explained, head whipping left and right. "Dom coast is clear, might wanna take this chance"
Ethan was still dumbfounded but Dom was already helping him stand up from his side.
"So his name's Dante?" Ethan asked, wincing at the pain coming from his stomach as he stood up. "Why does he want to help me. Because of his offer?"
Samuel shrugged. "I don't have any details or clue about what transpired between you two and whatever agreement you both have but me and my partner—"
"Not your partner" Dom interrupted.
"—will need to adhere to the Boss orders" Samuel finished, ignoring Dom's words.
"As much as I love the idea I could barely walk properly even with this man's help. I'd slow us down and we would get caught before we even make it past five steps outside" Ethan pointed out, limping a little as Dom moved him close to the door.
"Now now don't worry about that. We came prepared" Just as Samuel finished those words, the power suddenly went out and the whole place was enveloped in pitch black. The fire alarms rang all over the hospital floors and the sprinklers could be heard going off followed by nurses and staffs running back and forth to take the patients out of there hospital beds.
Ethan had his mouth open , face full of bewilderment even though the two couldn't see him. Samuel whispered 'now!' under his breath and the three rushed out of the room, plunging themselves into the chaotic mess outside and getting themselves wet from the sprinklers.
Ethan could feel every nerves in his body scream at him for moving around, he tried his best to bit back any noise of pain as he limped and stumbled around, the only reason he hasn't kissed the floor yet was Dom's hand holding him securely. It stunned Ethan that Samuel was able to guide them and maneuver through a dark hallway with flashing lights coming from staffs with flashlights in their hands. No one stood in their way to try and stop them as they were all busy figuring out why the lights went out and where was the location of a fire that may have triggered the sprinklers.
It took a good amount of time for all three of them to exit the hospital building. Dom carefully placed Ethan on the back seat of the car but he was taken aback when Ethan grabbed onto his hand with a sense of urgency.
"W-wait I can't stay in a car" Ethan gasped, trying to worm his way out. Samuel went into the drivers seat, confused that Dom still wasn't inside.
"Well hurry it up!" Samuel exclaimed. Dom looked at Ethan who was shaking his head about the thought of being inside the car, unsure of what to do regarding his behavior. "Dom we ain't got much time!" Samuel groaned.
Dom hesitated as he noticed the fear in Ethan's eyes after getting him into the backseat. Ethan's breaths were shallow and quick, his hands gripping the edge of the seat like a lifeline. Dom felt a pang of sympathy mixed with his confusion and curiosity but he knew they didn't have time for this.
"Kid, we have to go," Dom urged, his voice a mix of firmness and concern.
"Get in already!" Samuel barked from the front seat, his impatience clear as he gripped the steering wheel, ready to speed off.
But Ethan's panic was evident, his entire body tense as if the very idea of being inside the car was suffocating him. Dom glanced at Samuel, then back at Ethan, torn between wanting to help ease his anxiety and the urgency of their situation.
"I'm sorry," Dom muttered, more to himself than to Ethan. With a final, gentle push, he slid into the backseat beside Ethan, ignoring the way Ethan's fingers dug into the leather seat, his body trembling with unease.
The car roared to life, and Samuel pulled away from the hospital, the tires squealing as they sped down the street. Ethan pressed his back against the seat, his gaze locked on the passing lights outside, trying to focus on anything but the walls closing in around him.
Dom kept a close eye on him, his behavior was a clear sign of anxiety. Dom could recall many factors that may have cause it but it wasn't his place to ask, their top priority was to obey Dante's orders as Samuel had already dragged him in on this. Although, Dom was glad he was here. Samuel wouldn't have been able to handle this by himself. The ride back to the nightclub was silent, not that they have much to say to each other. All of them were soaked wet that Samuel didn't bother to turn the AC up, sadly the car he took was one that didn't have a heater so they'd have to suffer a little. Ethan had also calmed down from his previous anxiety, the roads where jam-packed with cars, a long line of traffic was ahead of them and the slowness of the cars movement eased him. As for Dom, he still glanced at Ethan's countenance from time to time. Relieved that he seemed to be in a better condition than the previous. It was definitely a long night for all of them. Samuel could only hope Dante has something good in-store for them after all the risks and effort they put out tonight.