Beneath His Shadow
t alone?" I murmured under my breath
y hands slightly outstretched, se
I heard his
it.
d to run, but my foot faltered without t
hurried footsteps approached, strong ar
s voice calm and laced with worry
one was too much. Shame burned in my chest. I
, without thinking a
es, my heart pounding. Then, amidst the m
called h
ome looking for you. Where did yo
stuck in my throa
ck to Mrs. David. "Thank you for having us,
d replied. "And how is Sof
ate from the doctor soo
it goes, okay?"
hat, w
my mother shifted quietly beside me, and th
se faded in t
son filled m
i
***
dent despite her shaky steps. I considered following her but
ca
handle. She must have dropped it when those girls pushed her. The thought
thought aside. Tucking the cane under my arm, I vowed to return
he house. The door to Mr David's office was slig
hank you, David, for
genuine smile. "Zain, it's always
ok his hand firm
ar, my thoughts
er face burning with shame. It didn't s
led, acting on instinct. The c
d you to scan through the guest list fr
ended the call , tightened my grip on the wheel,
oot in my house when
e dead of night usually meant t
thing was wrong. Dante never called unless it
was laboured. "Ambush... we've bee
le
ushing the phone in my hand. No
up my key and made my
s covered it, thick s
ood streaking his cheek. "Capo," he gasped, cough
d hard. "C
ned. "We barel
harply, then pinched the hood of my car,
ust D
y second-i
bro
sing him. N
e, my mind a blur. As I pushed through the l
demanded as I
s expression grim. "He's in surgery
g buried resurfaced, taking me back to the first day I met Dante. A scrawny kid messy-haired teenager caught steali
in. Paid f
hed onto me, like a lost pu
my father's passing. I didn't need a friend. But something about Dante,
ami
ing for news that cou
wung open, and a tired-l
to Dante
from my se
nced at me, wa
answered, m
nte is still critical, but you can see him no
o heal. Give it a day." He patted my shoulder and, leaving me stand
da
to hold o
anging, each step weighed down
tergent filled my nose, blending like
t before me sent a deep, unbe
left linger
and, lay unmoving on the hospita
nd him, a cruel reminder that he
t, and his face, usually so full of lif
eak or give up. He never
e. He always had my back. But now?
nd grief weighing heavily on my
it turned into something else. So
u
like a wildfire, pushing aw
lms as I stared at Dant
ritory, made the biggest mistake of their miserable
l fin
hunt th
b, bones by bones till they beg f
lean smell, the weight of helpl
ded s
, my hands still tremblin
hair, trying to force my m
r in my head, each image f
would
I turned a cor
fingers lightly grazing over the sur
e walls of the hospital, unto
e of rage flared withi
y hands. The fire burning in
uld see
fi
lm steps, not want
ser, her fingers on its surfa
could see the slight crease between her b
d her fo
ached out and
n that brief contact, I noticed how cold her finger
ense my presence if she h
p l, I turned back to her
e said, barely
welcome,
om my lips, and she
voice a sharp mix of shock and p