Chapter 39

Back to the Present

When Donnie is arrested, I know I have to break the news to my parents. They were livid, to say the least, and immediately called one of the best lawyers to meet Donnie at the jail. It is a chaotic situation, and I am struggling to keep my shit together.

I have anxiously waited in the hospital"s waiting room for hours as Tia undergoes emergency surgery. If I was a smoker, I"d have smoked through a whole pack already. The agonizing wait seems like an eternity, and I am constantly checking my phone for updates on Donnie"s arrest.

The guys are in a perpetual state of restlessness, their movements erratic and their expressions tense. They pace back and forth, unable to remain still for more than a few moments. The air is thick with their anxious energy, and I feel the tension emanating from them. Frustrated and desperate for answers, they alternate between Shorty"s and Tia"s floors.

While the guys are restless and anxious, the girls are calm and composed. At least on the outside, they seem to be calm. But who knows what is brewing inside them. They make sure everyone has enough food to eat and water to drink, even though they wear masks that conceal their true emotions. I notice Lupe emerging from the chapel, which strikes me as odd since I have never seen her express an interest in religion. I can't shake off the thought of what might happen if Tia doesn't make it. And what if they can't find Sophia?

Feeling overwhelmed with frustration, I lean forward, pressing my elbows onto my knees and running my hands in my hair. My restless legs keep bouncing up and down, making me feel like my skin can't hold me together.

Abuela takes my hand in hers and holds it tightly, forcing me to lean back. Her fingers are warm and soft, and her grip is firm but gentle. It is as if she is trying to convey her love and support through her touch.

On my other side is Shorty"s mom, who exudes strength like a warrior.

Together, Abuela and Shorty"s mom form a team, providing all of us with the love, support, and encouragement that we need to get through another fucking nightmare that seems to follow the girls around like cancer.

"Tia is tough," Claudia says, breaking through my thoughts. "She was born a fighter, a force to be reckoned with. And then there"s her loyalty to my daughter. Those two have been joined at the hip since they were kids."

I nod in agreement, thinking about their unbreakable bond. Tia and Sadie are like Thelma and Louise, the perfect duo who always have each other"s backs no matter what. If Tia killed someone, Shorty would help hide the body.

"She"ll survive this," Claudia whispers. "She has to, or my baby won"t," she adds.

I swallow a lump of fear.

I can"t imagine a world without either of them.

I fucking can"t.

The doctor"s voice pierces through the waiting room, causing me to jump in my seat. His eyes dart around the room before landing on me, and a jolt of anxiety surges through my body. "Family of Natalia Morales?" he calls out. I stand up, my legs shaking, and reply hoarsely, "It"s Tia."

The doctor"s eyebrows furrow and he asks, "I"m sorry?"

"She goes by Tia," I repeat.

The doctor"s expression softens, and he offers me a sympathetic smile. "Ah, I see. I was told that her aunt is on the way," he says calmly and reassuringly.

"Yes, she"s on a flight here," Claudia confirms.

The attending physician then turns his attention to me and says, "Tia has come out of surgery, and her condition is stable, but the first twelve hours are critical. You may visit her now in the ICU." The weight of anxiety lifts from my shoulders.

Claudia gently squeezes my arm, offering a reassuring touch. I look down at her and see the warmth in her smile.

I give her a nod and follow the doctor.

The doctor leads me through the labyrinthine corridors of the hospital until we reach Tia"s room. As he pushes open the door, my breath catches in my throat at the sight of Tia lying still on the hospital bed, her face pale and her body hooked up to machines. Everything inside me broke.

I approach Tia"s bed with shaky legs, my hands reaching out to take hers. "Tia, it"s me," I whisper, my voice thick with tears. "If you can hear me, I need you to fight and come back to me."

Tia"s eyes flutter open at the sound of my voice, and a weak smile graces her lips.

"Hey," Tia breathes out.

"Oh, thank fuck," my voice cracked. I reached for the call light and pressed it repeatedly.

"Ash, what happened? Is—" Tia's voice catches in her throat, words halted in mid-sentence.

I gently squeeze her hand, hoping my touch provides her with a sliver of comfort. "Tia, you were stabbed."

Tia"s eyes blink with incredulity as my words sink in.

"The doctors managed to stabilize you, but you"ve been unconscious for hours," I add.

She instinctively touches the bandages on her stomach, wincing at the pain. "Stabbed? Who the—" Her words catch in her throat as realization dawns on her.

"That bitch," she says harshly. "She fucking stabbed me?" she asks angrily.

"Who Tia? Did you see her face?" I asked urgently.

"No. She was wearing a fucking mask." She stops and looks around the room as if she's in search of something or someone. "What about Sadie and Sophia? Are they okay?" she whispers.

My jaw clenches with anger at the thought of someone hurting them. "Sadie was knocked out, but Sophia was taken. When the paramedics found you two at your apartment, Sadie was unresponsive," I explain, trying to contain my fury.

Tears well up in Tia"s eyes. "Taken? But why would anyone take Sophia? And where is Sadie?" Her voice cracks. "Ash, we have to find Sophia," she pleads, a sense of urgency creeping into her tone.

My grip on her hand tightens. "I promise you, Tia, that Javi will do everything possible to find her. He won"t rest until she"s safe."

Tia nods. That her heart is aching is reflected in her eyes. She parted her lips to speak, but at that moment, the nurse entered the room and requested that I step out.

I walk out of the room and lean against the wall for support, feeling the weight of the moment bearing down on me.

And then, I completely fall apart.