As Leon drove away from the library, the flash back of the Detective introducing herself replayed in his mind "Detective Raina" she had said offering her hands for him to shake "Leon" he replied taking her hands She looked as pretty as she had been when they first met at hotel, except that her face looked stressed "Good to meet you again..." she beamed a smile at him "...thank you too for in there" Leon managed a small smile only “We will ensure we get the Don-glad we have Kendra now the case has traction” Raina explained in a professional tone, nothing compared to the broken lady who had been grieving nights ago when they met Kendra had been handcuffed and taken into custody From there, further investigations will be taken up “Good-Tara’s company was painted black because of Kendra” Leon replied, he only wanted the right thing to be done, justice, but he never expected Raina’s next question “Are you in love with her?” she asked bodily “You mentioned earlier she is your ex

Raina sat alone in her car outside the station The engine was still on, she hadn’t turned it off The car radio was playing soft music It was two in the morning, and she was wild awake Her hands rested on the steering wheel Her mind replaying everything that had just happened The man she met at the hotel reappearing into her life again to save his ex-wife The gunshots at the library The Don and Kendra’s Tara’s empty eyes when she awakened from the injection shot The music on the radio faded suddenly A calm voice replaced it “On the current news this morning” a newscaster voice sounded “Earlier tonight, police units carried out a late night raid at the Central Public Library following an ongoing narcotics investigation…” For the first time in days, Raina’s chest didn’t feel tight They had the drug trail, they had another arrests For the first time since this case began, Raina felt like she was finally winning She leaned her head back against the seat a

The ambulance siren sounded through the night Tara laid on the stretcher with the oxygen mask strapped to her faceHer chest rose slowly, fell quickly then rose slowly again The rhythm was slow but most importantly she was under the care of professionals A machine beeped softly beside herLillian sat at the corner, holding Tara’s left hand like it could keep her daughter aliveWhile her lips kept moving as she muttered words of prayers under her breathe “Dear God please I don’t want to lose my daughter, please…please keep her alive…”Charles sat stiff beside her, his face was paleHe had barely spoken since the ambulance ride. He was just calm Reality had finally caught himTara’s case was serious “She’s cold” Lillian whispered suddenly “Why is she so cold?”The paramedic adjusted the blanket“We’re almost there, ma’am” Tara didn’t moveHer lashes didn’t even move She looked peaceful, like someone drifting somewhere far away from life The ambulance took a sharp right turnLill

“House boy! How is my daughter?”Leon didn’t turnBecause if he did, he might finally explodeHe closed his eyes for a brief second and counted to three under his breath Then he turned to faced themTara’s father stood tall, his expensive apparel and gold cuff links reflected because of the waiting room light Charles was the kind of man who never apologized to anyone.Her mother stood beside him, her face was pale and her eyes swollen from the tears that poured “She’s in surgery” Leon said calmly.“They’re stabilizing her”Tara’s father scoffed.“Surgery?” he repeated “You hear that, Lillian? Surgery.”He stepped closer to Leon as if to intimidate him Leon was not intimated by him one bit “Why was my daughter even near you?” he snapped“Every disaster in her life started the moment you showed up-her company crashing, the narcotics, now this?”Leon’s jaw tightened, the disaster was more than Charles knew but he didn’t answer.Silence only angered Charles the more“She married you

Leon returned to the ICU at exactly thirty five minutes He was five minutes late The doors slid open, then the machine beeping sounded in his ears again The other nurse had dispersed leaving only one nurse who was already moving out Another doctor stood by the monitorLeon’s heart sankTara laid on the bed, pale under the white lightsTubes ran into her arms just like he had left herNow a mask covered half her face, which meant she was aliveShe fought itLeon stopped two steps from the bed.He didn’t rush forward.Didn’t call her name.Didn’t reach for her hand.The doctor noticed him immediately.“You’re back” the doctor said quietlyLeon nodded once.“She stabilized” the doctor added “For now.”For now?Leon had learned long ago that those two words were lies disguised as hopeThe doctor adjusted a monitor“Her vitals are holding” he continued “The serum caused neurological shock, but the brain didn’t shut down completely”Leon’s eyes stayed on Tara“What does that mean?” he a