Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

RAFAEL

I know something isn't right when I try to call Omari three times, but he doesn't answer. He usually has his phone on him and I never have to repeatedly call to get in touch with him. He knows how I am when it comes to him and Little Raf's safety, so he humors me and makes sure he answers, even when he's in the bathroom.

When he doesn't answer the third time, I scoop up my helmet and keys, throwing on my jacket and my cut. I'm speed walking when I call a fourth time. I'm all out running when the voicemail kicks on for the fourth time.

Zeke calls after me, but I ignore him, throwing my leg over my chopper and lifting the kickstand. I start her up and I'm backing up when my enforcer reaches me. "What's going on?"

"Can't get ahold of Omari," I say quickly.

Zeke doesn't question it. He knows I've been through this dance too many times— something happening and I have to rush off. I'm honestly fucking sick of it.

"Prospect, go get my helmet," Zeke says to Donovan, who is picking up leaves from the rock piles around the courtyard. He rushes off with no questions. "Prez, give me a second and I'll go with you."

I start to tell him no, but every time I've had to rush off, I either had someone with me or wished I had someone with me. Sighing, I nod, tapping my foot, impatient to get going.

Donovan comes back quickly, handing Zeke his keys and his jacket. Zeke hurries over to his bike and climbs on, starting it quickly. The prospect rushes over to the gate and opens it up and Zeke and I take the hill down to the main road. This is one of the times I wish the clubhouse wasn't built so far from the road and away from town.

Luck is on our side because we only hit one light and it's the one as soon as we get into town. From there, Zeke and I gun it. My heart rate kicks up the closer we get to the house. I put on speed, trying to get there as quickly as I can to check on my family. No cops are around, so we're able to get within a few miles of my house going about thirty over the limit.

Jace calls when we're only a few blocks away. I answer through the Bluetooth in my helmet. "What happened? Donovan said you rode out of here like a bat out of hell."

Yelling to be heard over the wind, I say, "Omari … I can't … something's wrong."

Over the breeze blowing past me, I hear hustling and soft voices. "I was at home, so I'll be there a few minutes after you." He hangs up and I swallow past the lump in my throat, hoping I'm just being paranoid. I'm hoping I'll get home and storm in and Omari will scold me for scaring Little Raf with my stressed-out energy. He said he had to go to the mall. Maybe his phone is in Little Raf's diaper bag on vibrate or some shit. I try to think of any excuse that I haven't heard from my man and my baby.

When we get within eyesight of the house, my stomach plummets to my feet as I see the door hanging wide open. I pull up to the curb and put my kickstand down, then run across the lawn, not even bothering to turn my bike off.

I push through the door and take in three things all at once. The house is a mess—the television knocked to the ground, the table turned over, the pictures Omari took great pains to arrange on the walls on the floor in a heap—Little Raf's cries that can be heard loud and clear from his room, and Omari lying unconscious in the Little Raf's doorway, his head surrounded by blood. Déjà vu kicks in, thinking of how I found my mother when Raul attacked and killed her. Is this the same thing? Is my Omari … is he …

"Oh fuck," I croak, hustling over to him. "Oh baby. Who did this to you?" With trembling fingers, I press two to his neck, checking for a pulse. I let out a sharp, relieved breath when I feel it thumping under my fingers.

"Go," Zeke says, pushing me into the room. "Let me check him and you get the baby."

I want to lash out, to tell Zeke to leave me the fuck alone and let me be with Omari, but I need to check on Little Raf. If Omari were conscious, he would tell me to do the same thing. I rush into the room and look down at the crib, but I don't see the baby. Eyebrows dipped, I look around the room but don't see him anywhere.

Another loud cry sounds and my head whips to the closet. I open it carefully and find Little Raf on his hands and knees, as if he crawled over to the door. His face is wet, red, and blotchy. When he sees me, he stops crying and start sniffling, crawling over to me.

I scoop him up, patting his back and kiss the top of his head as I rush back to Zeke and Omari. They're in the same position I left them, with Zeke whispering to Omari.

"Is he awake?" I ask, calming the baby more.

"No," Zeke answers angrily. "Who the fuck did this?"

"You know who," I growl. "Here," I say when he stands up and I hand him the baby. "I'm taking him to the hospital. Get Shane here to help you with Little Raf. Call the prospect and tell him to stand guard over the door while I'm gone."

I look for the keys to the SUV, finding them on the floor by the front door. After I grab them, I bend and scoop Omari in my arms. He doesn't move. "Fuck, baby." I mutter as he flops loosely in my arms. "I'll take care of you, I promise. I'm sorry. So fucking sorry I failed you, too."

Just as I step outside, Jace pulls up. He turns off his bike and flicks down the kickstand, and rushes over to me. "What the fuck happened?"

"I don't know!" I scream. "Take the keys and get us to the emergency room now!"

Jace snatches the keys from my hand and opens the door for me and Omari. I slide in, settling him on my lap and wipe the blood from his face with the cloth Zeke handed me.

He's in such a terrible state. There's blood everywhere—his nose is bleeding, so are his lips, and blood pours from his mouth. His eyes are swollen, black and blue already and his nose is crooked, suggesting it's been broken. Omari's clothes are ripped and dangling, the neckline of his shirt stretched so far, I'm surprised it hasn't slipped over his head. Through the space, his light brown skin is turning shades of red and purple, the bruises prominent.

"Hang on, precioso," I whisper as I wipe the blood from his face. "I'm getting you help. Just hang on for me."

Every few minutes, I check his pulse to make sure he's still alive and I won't have to add him to the tally of my dead. I don't think I would be able to put myself back together if he left me. My soul would rip at the seams, never to be stitched back together. The edges are already wearing thin the longer he doesn't open his eyes. I'm not sure what I'll have left.

About ten minutes later, Jace is pulling up to the emergency room entrance. "Go. I'll park and meet you inside. "

As quickly as I can without jostling Omari too much, I pull him from the SUV and jog to the doors. When I step inside, the nurse behind the desk takes one look at Omari, his bloodied and bruised face, his ripped clothing and his unconsciousness and snaps into action. "Dr. Reynolds!" he yells, coming from behind the desk and pulling a gurney from a room close by. "Set him here, sir."

The only thing that has me setting Omari on the bed and peeling my fingers from under his back and knees is knowing they can't help him if I'm still clutching him.

When the doctor comes over, before he touches Omari, I grab him by the collar and bring him close to me. "You better fucking fix him, you get me? You make him better."

The doctor gazes at me evenly, not flinching away from my wrath. "What's your name?" he asks, in such a calm way I'm almost in shock.

"Rafael," I growl.

He puts his hand over mine where it's locked around his scrubs and pats it gently but doesn't try to move my hand. "Rafael, I promise I'll do everything I can for him. But I can't do that if you're holding on to me. I'll take care of your friend?—"

"He's my boyfriend," I snarl.

Dr. Reynolds doesn't flinch. "I'll take care of your boyfriend. But you have to let me go so I can help him."

Blowing out a long breath, I drop my hand and step back, running my hand through my hair. Dr. Reynolds snaps into action, moving over to Omari and checking him over quickly. "Let's move him to bay one now!" he shouts and everyone moves quickly.

I try to follow, but a nurse puts his hand on my arm. When I turn around and push him against the wall, my hand on his throat, it takes me a few beats to realize it's Hector .

"Fuck," I say, dropping my hand and stepping back. Hector coughs and rubs his throat. "I'm sorry, hermano."

"No big deal," he says in a raspy voice. "It's not like you're the first person to choke me out over their family." He doesn't say it as a joke and I don't take it as one. "I'll stay with him as long as I can and update you, okay? I just got on shift, so I'll watch out for him for the next twelve hours."

I nod, pulling at the ends of my hair, my heart thumping and my hands shaking with the need to do something. "Thanks, man."

"Don't worry, we'll take care of him. Fill these out as best you can." He hands me a clipboard with a bunch of papers on it. "I'll be out as soon as there's any news." Hector rushes off, his limp barely noticeable as he pushes into the room and takes his place beside Omari before the door closes.

I pace back and forth, waiting for news, the clipboard forgotten in my hands. I can't even focus enough to fill anything out. Jace rushes in and comes over to me, but he doesn't try to get me to stop or sit down. He just stands and looks in the direction of where my eyes are.

After another five or so minutes, Hector rushes over, talking fast. "We have to get him to the OR. The doctor thinks he has some internal bleeding. If he has family, call them."

"Are you saying?—"

"I'm not saying anything, brother. I'm saying he'll want his family here while he goes into surgery. I'll update you when I can. Some nurses will escort you up to the surgery suite waiting room." Then he takes off, following behind the other doctors and nurses rushing back with Omari's gurney.

"Here," Jace says, as I take two steps in the direction of where the doctor and nurses disappeared with my heart. I look down and see a cell phone in my vice president's hand. "It's Omari's. It was in the cupholder. He said to call the family. He has a sister." He takes the clipboard out of my hand and starts filling it out. "I'll add you as next of kin for now."

I nod, taking the phone from him in my bloodied hands. Hazel. Omari told me his sister's name is Hazel. Omari and I shared our phone passwords with each other weeks ago, so I open his phone easily. I scroll through it and locate her contact.

Exhaling roughly, I press the call button and put the phone to my ear. It rings three times before she answers with a cheery, "Hey, Mari. We miss you."

Swallowing hard, I clear my throat and say, "Hazel?"

She pauses for a beat then says, "Yeah. It's Hazel. Who is this?"

"Rafael. Listen, you need to get to the emergency room now. Omari was?—"

"I'll be right there." She hangs up and I pull the phone from my ear and stare at it for a few moments before I slide it in my pocket. Then Jace and I follow the nurse who takes up to the third floor and shows us the waiting room. I resume pacing the floor. Other people line the chairs of the room, their faces drawn with worry just as I'm sure mine is.

Thirty minutes later, a woman that looks like Omari rushes into the waiting room, dragging a little boy and girl. They must be his niece and nephew. We were supposed to have them at the house with Little Raf this weekend.

She scans the faces in the waiting room before she locks eyes with me. She hurries over, hugging her kids at her side. "What happened?" she whispers as her eyes fill with tears.

I quickly go through what I know, not going into details about his injuries since the kids are listening too.

Hazel wipes the tears from her cheeks, her face drawn. "Do you know who did this?"

My jaw tenses. "I think so, yeah. "

She opens her mouth, but looks down at her kids, then shuts it, shaking her head.

Jace comes over, kneeling within the eyesight of the little boy and girl, smiling at them. Unlike me, Jace looks friendly, probably owed to his boy next door looks, having kids, and knowing what puts them at ease. "Hey. I'm a friend of your uncle's. I'm Jace." He shakes their tiny hands. "This is my boss, Rafael." He points up at me. I try to smile at the kids, but from the way their eyes widen, it's probably more of a bearing of teeth. "How about you let your mommy and my boss talk and we can go over here and play with those toys?" He points to the pitiful display on the table near the back, but the kids don't seem to care. They nod quickly and run over.

"Thank you," Hazel whispers. Jace nods and walks over to where the kids are, going around the table opposite them and making some shooting noises when he picks up a tiny rocket launcher made for GI Joes or some shit.

Hazel eyes are hard when she asks, "Was it Brock?"

I raise an eyebrow. "He told you about him?"

"I met the sonofabitch," Hazel seethes. "He said some slick shit to Omari one day about his weight and I threatened to shoot him. Guess my warning wasn't enough."

Despite the situation, I chuckle. Omari told me about that incident.

I sober quickly though, my blood boiling anew that Brock had the fucking nerve to hurt my property. "Yeah, I had my brothers beat his ass, but he still came after what's mine. So, he must have a death wish."

Hazel glances over at her kids, then steps closer to me when she sees they're not looking over at us. She drops her voice as she says, "What do you plan to do about it?"

There is a lot I have planned, but I have to make sure it really was Brock. But who else would have the desire to beat Omari so badly? Omari has no other enemies. After I sent Zeke and Jace after him, I should have considered he'd want to get some revenge.

Keeping my voice low, I meet her gaze head on. "If you really want to know, I'll tell you. But you would be a party to whatever happens. I'd rather keep you and Omari in the dark, but I can give you a promise. I will fucking avenge him. Understand? I will make sure whoever hurt him fucking pays."

Hazel searches my face, biting her lip as if considering if she wants to ask, but finally she shakes her head. "No, I'll … don't tell me." She places a hand on my forearm. "But do what you have to do to make sure whoever hurt my little brother gets what's coming to them." I nod. She cracks a small smile. "This isn't how I wanted us to meet. I'm Hazel."

I try to return her smile, but I'm sure I fail. "Rafael. Omari calls me Big Raf."

"I see why. You're a giant."

A real smile graces my face. She's just like Omari. Her quick wit and friendliness make my heart squeeze for the man I love.

Fuck, I didn't tell him I love him. What if something happens? What if, like Elena and Mama, he dies before I can tell him how I really feel? What if?—

"Don't do that," Hazel whispers vehemently, reading my panic on my face. "Don't think the worst. He'll be fine. My brother is the strongest man I know. He won't want you to break down when we don't know what's going on. Let's take a seat and wait. Don't think the worse for nothing."

Nodding, I walk closer to where Jace and the kids are playing and have a seat. Hazel pats my hand and sits on the floor with the kids to join them. Jace dips his head in her direction and comes to sit beside me.

Hector comes out a few minutes later, saying they just put Omari under and are beginning surgery. He tells us they found some internal bleeding but don't know where it's coming from, so will be doing exploratory surgery. I don't like the sound of that, but Hector assures me it'll be as non-invasive as possible, using what he calls a laparoscopic scope to check his belly. He can't give me more information because he doesn't know more, and hurries back to the room. Since he's an emergency room nurse, I'm not sure how long he'll be able to stick around and give me updates.

After I sit back down, Jace sighs and crosses his ankle over his knee. "How you holding up, Prez?"

"If I could, I would rip this whole fucking hospital apart to get to him to make sure he's okay. I would burst in that room and make sure the doctor did his fucking best or I'd tear his fucking head off. But I can't. All I can do is sit here and wait, like a useless piece of shit." I lean forward and put my head in my hands. For the first time in over two decades, tears brim in my eyes, but I hold them back. I'm not going to break down. Omari needs me to be strong for him.

"You're not useless. You're doing what you can, being here for him."

I grunt, but don't believe shit he's saying. I'm fucking useless. I should have told Omari I would send someone to him. I should have had someone on him until we fucking found Brock. I didn't do what I was supposed to do to protect him. I fucking failed.

Omari's nephew skips over to me and points to my hands. "Did those hurt, Mister?"

My lips twitch. "A little."

"I'm going to get some when I'm big."

"Come see me when you're old enough. I'll make sure you get the best ones."

"Okay. Are you Uncle Mari's friend?"

A lump forms in my throat for some unknown reason, but I clear my throat to dispel it. "I am. "

"Is he okay?"

"Not right now, peque?o, but he will be once the doctors fix him up."

He nods sagely, wise beyond his years. "Okay. I hope he is. I really love him." Then he runs back over to his family, sitting on the floor to talk to his mother and sister. I lean back in the chair and close my eyes, breathing in and out deeply to hold myself back from rushing into the surgery room. It's amazing how a little kid is able to express his love so freely. I need to take notes.

After a few hours that felt like an eternity, a doctor steps into the waiting area. "Mr. Orozco?"

A chill runs over me. I'm reminded of going to see Elena but finding out she died. Please don't let this be the same situation.

I stand on shaky legs and walk over to him, crossing my arms over my chest, as much to keep the edges of my soul intact as to give off a casual stance. "That's me." Hazel sidles up beside me, pasting herself to my side.

The doctor mirrors my pose. "Mr. Williams has three broken ribs, a broken nose, a fractured orbital bone, a tear in his tongue, a tear in his liver and we had to remove his spleen. It's an important organ, but not vital and the liver will pick up the job of the spleen. He will be at risk of getting sick and having infections, but he'll live without it relatively normally. We don't have to treat the liver, as it is a level one laceration and will heal on its own. We operated on his eye and placed a few plates, set his nose, and sutured his tongue. "

My breath freezes in my lungs, but I force myself to speak. "But he's alive? He's … good?"

The doctor nods, but his face still looks grave. "He's alive, but he's not good. Not by a long shot. He'll have weeks of recovery ahead of him. He'll need around the clock care for the next few weeks."

I step closer to the doctor. "And he'll have that," I growl. "Just tell me what I need to do and I'll take care of him."

The doctor swallows roughly. "The nurses will give you instructions before he's discharged."

Hazel places a hand on my chest and I step back from the doctor, though it takes a few beats. "Is he awake? Can we see him?" she asks, getting the doctor's attention.

"He's coming around from anesthesia. When he's alert, a nurse will come get you. Only two visitors at a time."

Hazel sighs. "I have twins. Can I take both of them with me to see him?"

He nods. "That shouldn't be a problem, as they're minors." She blows out a long, relieved breath.

"Thank you," she whispers, tears dripping down her face. He nods at us both and hurries down the hallway.

When the doctor is out of sight, Hazel rushes over to the kids, pulling them both close. "Uncle Mari is okay." Both kids smile at her and give her a long hug.

When the nurse comes back to tell us Omari is awake, it takes all my self-control to allow Hazel and her children go ahead of me to see Omari. Jace sits beside me to keep me in place because all I want to do is rush to his side.

Twenty minutes later, Hazel comes back, her eyes red rimmed, holding on her kids' hands tight. "He's tired, but he's hanging on for you." I walk over to her and she collapses into my arms, sobs wracking her body. "He's hurt so bad, Rafael. So bad. He beat him horribly." She sobs more, then stands on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. "Kill that motherfucker for what he did to my brother." She steps back and looks at me, her eyes flashing with anger. I dip my head and she releases a long exhale. "Come on, kids," she says, wiping her face and looking at the twins. They're both subdued, their eyes red as well. I wish they hadn't seen him like that, but I know it's what Omari would want. He would have just asked me to bring them anyway.

With one more long look in my direction, Hazel leaves.

Jace walks beside me, clapping me on the shoulder. "Go ahead, Prez. I'll come see Omari some other time. You need to be alone with him."

I nod and head in the direction of his room.

When I step inside, I sag against the door, all my strength leaving me. Half of Omari's face is purple from his bruises. His eye is covered with a patch from his eye surgery. There's gauze covering his nose where it was cut from whatever Brock did to him. A slice I didn't see is on his forehead, knitted together with a row of stitches. "Oh, precioso. Oh, sweet baby." For the first time in twenty years, tears flow from my eyes. "Dios, what did he do to you?"

Omari's lips twitch, but he hisses. "I'm okay." He lifts his hand, beckoning me over. "Come here, baby."

I step over to him, sitting in the chair beside him and taking his hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was … hit by … a Mack truck." His words are halting and his voice sounds raspy. "Little … Raf?"

"He's fine, baby. You did good, hiding him away. He was a crying mess, but safe."

Omari smiles, eye closed. "Good." He opens his eye and turns to me, his smile fading. "It was Brock. You know that, right?"

"I fucking know. And I'm going to fucking bury him. He fucked with what's mine and I will have his fucking head." I snarl the last words, putting as much conviction behind them as I can.

"I know you will. Give him my regards before you do, yeah?"

A small chuckle leaves my lips and I know Omari cracked a joke for my benefit. "You got it, baby." I drop my head to his hand, tears still leaking from my eyes. "I failed you, Omari. I fucking failed. All I do is let everyone down. I'm so fucking sorry, baby."

"Rafael," Omari slurs in an exhausted voice. "Look at me, baby." I lift my head and meet his uncovered eye, wiping tears from my face. "You have never failed me. You didn't fail your mother. And you didn't fail your sister." He inhales and his breath hitches as his opposite hand goes to his ribs. I growl in anger, planning how I'm going to make Brock hurt before I put him in the ground.

He continues. "Your dad was a monster and you ended him before he could hurt anyone else. Elena trusted you enough to leave you her only child, knowing you'd do right by him. You've had the guys looking for Brock all week, but he's a sneaky fucker. And you tried to give me a bodyguard, but I thought I was okay. You've taken care of everyone, baby. You have. You're the best man I know. What do I have to do to convince you of that?" He opens his eye and says, "I'll compliment your sexy ass everyday if I have to."

I kiss the back of his hand, a smile tipping my lips again. Letting out a long breath, I go for it, the words pushing from my throat before I can think twice. "I love you, Omari. You know that, right?"

He closes his good eye and sinks deeper into the pillow. A small smile spread across his lips. "I know." He lets out another long breath and drops off to sleep.

I watch him for the rest of the night, vowing to get the revenge he deserves.