Reckless – Episode 85&86

RECKLESS

Reckless – Episode 85&86

→ Out•Of•Control ←

[Book 1 in The Untamed Duet]

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a BOLDLY written permission from ME.

Copyright © 2025

Naomi Cindy B.

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★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

[Next Morning, Montana Family Hospital]

The ward was dimly lit, the lighting carefully adjusted by the doctors to keep the patient safe.

Unlike the other wards, it carried none of the sharp scent of antiseptics or disinfectants.

Every trace of odor had been stripped away to prevent irritation.

A single bed occupied the room—private and isolated.

Stacy lay motionless upon it, her hair pulled into a rough bun. A tube was fixed to the back of her hand, feeding IV fluids steadily into her veins.

Her face was puffy, flushed in places. Even in sleep, she looked as though she were grieving—like her body hadn’t yet realized the crying had stopped.

Trinidad is beside her on the right side, holding her right hand with a deeply worried look on her face.

On the left side, Kehlani is there, holding her left hand too with a sorrowful look. It’s obvious she has been crying with her red eyes.

At the foot of the bed, Tania and Tasha are pacing back and forth, their hands on their heads like they’re experiencing pain whis is true. Just that this pain is emotional.

If they’re feeling this way, how would Stacy feel when she wakes?

Stacy’s eyes opened eventually, and thanks to the dim lights, her eyes didn’t blurr before getting clear.

She drew a sniffle and didn’t bother studying her environment before attempting to close her eyes back.

But…

That was when it stuck.

The memories from OphChem Cellar. Meal, bleeding, forced abortion, sleeping off….

She sat up in bed immediately, but she instantly grabbed her tummy as it hurts a little.

Her bun came loose, and her curled hair fell roughly over her shoulders, making her look mad.

“Barbie!” Kehlani spranged up.

“Babe!” The twins gasped.

She swept her hot eyes over all of them, wondering if they’re real or not. She dreaming?

She clutched her tummy tighter, deciding to follow her instincts.

“Where is he?” She asked breathlessly, and the weakness of her own voice even scared her.

Knowing who she’s talking about, Trinidad answered… “He went back to Australia yesterday in a red-eye flight, and he landed there this morning. He has been arrested by the Australian government and has been thrown in a solitary penitentiary. The news is everywhere.”

Stacy’s body shook….”yes…. yesterday?” A tear fell from her eyes, hot against her cheeks she could nearly see the steam.

“I suddenly got a text from that bastard yesterday,” Trinidad explained. “So I went to the cellar and found you in bed, bleeding and asleep. I took you here, but you never woke up. You’ve been sleeping since yesterday and this is 12pm today….”

“I’m a fool, aren’t I?” Stacy laughed at herself, lips dry and face sick. “My first time in love, but I behaved like a total fool…. like I wasn’t loved at home enough by my dad! I ignored his red flags and—no, he’s a black flag! Red is too good for that devil!!! I ignored his black flags and this is what I get in return? He only wants control, a self-obsessed man who doesn’t only kill adults but also killed his own child! He killed my first baby whom I was already so eagar to meet! He killed my first fruit!!!!”

As she was saying that, she was getting down from the bed, her tears overflowing.

“Where do you think you’re going!” The twins held her back.

“Let go of me I need to get outta here!!!! I can’t stay here!!!!” She screamed violently, throwing the door close stubbornly.

The glass cracked.

“Stacy!!!” Kehlani yelled.

“What!!!!!” She screamed again, pushing everybody away from herself angrily.

Her IV tube has left the back of her hand completely. Now she’s screaming and shaking.

“You have to calm down,” Trinidad spoke softly. “Not only for yourself, but also for your baby.”

Stacy’s body felt like it was drenched in cold water immediately. Her eyelids came down, and her palms unfolded. Her eyes moved to Trinidad as she breathed out.

“What are you talking about?”

Trinidad came closer to her before explaining clearly…

“According to the doctors, there were clinical indicators that someone tried to abort your pregnancy, but no actual termination occurred. The bleeding you experienced was due to induced uterine contractions, likely triggered by the syrup you were given. Your pregnancy is intact, but the doctors warned that the uterine distress could cause potential complications in the future if not carefully monitored.”

Stacy swallowed, bringing her hand to that tummy. She touched slowly, letting a tear out of her eyes.

“I guess the ultra-genius failed for the first time ever.” Kehlani said.

“And which is why I’m begging you,” Tasha came closer. “Babe, the doctors confirmed that if you lose this pregnancy, your chances of ever getting pregnant again is zero cos the syrup he made you drink altered your fertility so bad. You have to do everything you can to keep this child…. Don’t forget you have us.”

“Yeah, you have us.” Tania added.

“We’ll never leave you.” Kehlani said.

“I’d rather die than actually abandon you,” Trinidad nodded.

Stacy looked up at all of them, her hands still on her tummy.

“My dad, why’s he not here?”

Immediately she asked that, the girls exchanged glances.

“Wait why?” Stacy gasped. “My dad is fine, right?”

“Stacy, you should rest first.” Kehlani tried to get her to sit.

She resisted.

“Where’s my dad!!!”

No answer, so she pushed them out of her way and ran out of the ward.

They followed, calling her name, but she didn’t stop till she saw the head doctor who’s just coming out of the hospital morgue.

She ran to him, holding the man by the sleeve of his coat.

“Stacy!” He gasped.

“Doctor, is my dad in—”

She stopped talking, and her eyes snapped to the open morgue.

In there, there’s a covered body labelled as Albert Montana.

Her hand slipped away from the doctor’s sleeve.

“Miss Montana,” the doctor said, his voice sorrowed too.

Stacy’s steps were slow, as if trying to convince herself that she’s seeing wrong in that label right now.

The smell of body preservatives and embalming fluids flooded her nose, corroding her senses.

She flipped the cover on the face of the dead body away, and the second shock slammed her in the face.

Right on the stretcher is her dad’s body. There’s a hole in his face as a result of the bullet he received.

The hole is so big he’s unrecognizable right now, but he’s her dad anyways. He’s Ophelia’s husband.

“D….ad….” Her voice shivered, face turning pale completely as she touched his cold skin with her fingers as if testing death.

“D…add!” Her voice rose.

“I’m sorry, Stacy. It was the cleanest shot ever at his public appearance yesterday. He was shot by an unknown Sniper despite his Glock of guards, and he died on the spot. I’m very deeply sorry.” The doctor sympathized genuinely.

“Dad…..” Stacy smiled, her tears falling on him as her fingers behaved like they’d fall off with the trembling that’s reaching her bones.

“I promise I’ll change. I’ll go back to that cheerful, obedient girl you and mom loved. Now, I’ll always listen to you and fulfil your wishes. Please… please don’t leave me at this point. Please…. don’t abandon uoir sweetheart…. Please don’t leave me….. please don’t leave me…please!!!!!”

What started as a low cry graduated to a pained, anguished yell. She lost herself totally, banging her head on the stretcher metal.

“Dad don’t leave me! Dad!!!! Dad why aren’t you opening your eyes!!!! Dad!!!!! Dad you can’t just go!!!! You can’t just go!!!!! Dad!!!! Dad!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The whole morgue turned upside down as she screamed out her lungs, crying, throwing herself around, rolling on the ground and hurting herself mindlessly.

She lost her mind, completely.

The doctors called for held, and she had to be injected back to sleep. She fell into Trinidad’s arms.

“Oh my gosh.” Kehlani cried.

—

[Young Mansion, Scott’s Room]

There are many well-pressed suit in Scott’s closet, but he’s not planning to wear anyone of them on his body today despite the fact that it’s his dad’s wedding with Owen today.

He’s still too consumed by grief to step out of this room.

Smokes formed around him as he lit a cigarette and dragged it, holding his head in a palm.

He’s sitting on the floor, back on the wall and eyes puffy like he has been crying since a week ago.

Touché.

He has really been crying. It’d be odd not to cry after finding his pretty sister’s skeletal parts in a well in San Francisco. Lynn is gone.

Now, only a magician can probably wake her for him, but do they even exist in this lifetime?

Who’d add flesh to dry bones?

He took another drag, straight to his lungs again.

His father met with Kaylee, and they both talked to the government. According to the law, Jeremy has been sentenced to twenty years imprisonment.

But who cares?

Even if he gets death sentence, that won’t wake his little Lynn up.

He took another long drag, and the door bursted open, letting a new presence into the room.

Remo, and Frank.

Scott ignored them and just continued puffing his thing.

“Predictable, aren’t you?” Remo scoffed, sliding his hand in his pocket. He wore suit, same as Frank. “This is why Max refused to come with us. He didn’t wanna see your tears, but here you are, springing.”

“Are you both supposed to step this house like nothing happened after you kidnapped me in Vegas and nearly killed me?” Scott looked up, lowering his cigarette.

“I really don’t care, Scott,” Frank said. “Remo wanted to come, and he dragged me here. Also, don’t act like you aren’t at fault for betraying the brotherhood for a maniac who stabbed us all.”

“And that’s enough reason to kidnap my arse?” Scott scoffed, pointing his cigar butt at the door. “Get out.

“Why not calm down and listen to this new secret first,” Remo sat in bed uninvited, leaning close to Scott with a knowing smile. “So dad wanted a video from me, and in return,I told him to do something for me. I told him to investigate Kane’s roots cos I wanted to know if he was high-profile just like Cove, and you won’t believe what I found out.”

Scott looked up.

“His real name is Martin. Kane is his undercover name. In fact, Owen’s real name ain’t Owen too. That’s also her own undercover name. They’re not mother and son, they’re undercover agents against women violations who actually came to this house to investigate your father! Oh… Reid is part of them too, just that he doesn’t have an undercover name… Reid is Reid…” Remo explained.

Scott stood slowly, his height towering Remo’s, and his eyes darkening so much.

“What did you just—”

“And oh! Another thing…” Frank said from the other side. “Kane ain’t gay, I guess he acted as one to get words outta your arse.”

Scott gasped, his eyes coming so wide he nearly fainted.

His eyes went from Frank to Remo repeatedly, and he gasped again.

Before he could take in the shock better, they heard a commotion outside, and they all rushed out.

Owen is already in her wedding dress, and Kane is in his suit too. Even Reid, but they’re all trying to open the door which is impossible.

All doors and windows in the house have been automatically locked.

And now they’re trying to get them open, running around.

“The fûck is wrong? Is someone gonna blow this house up?” Reid said.

“Why isn’t anything opening!” Owen pounded the door.

Kane wanted to slam his body on it, but seeing Scott made him stop.

Scott came down with Remo and Frank, trying to open the door too, but it wasn’t opening.

“What’s going on?” He muttered.

“I shouldn’t have come here. Now we about to get bombed by a psychotic father,” Frank muttered.

“Silas!!!” Remo yelled boldly. “I swear if I get barbequed with this house today, I’ll hunt you down!!! My ghost will get your arse!!!”

“It’s your luck that you’re gonna die with the rest of the sinners today!” Silas’ psychotic voice came from the mahogany staircase as he appeared on top with an hand in pocket and glasses on top of his nose.

His second hand held a gun which he’s scratching his temple with as he descended the staircase one by one.

“Silas?” Owen frowned.

“Yunno I was gonna spare your life for few more years, but your son is so annoying he wouldn’t stay off my son, and you know I gate disobedience most, so I’m gonna end it here. I’ll kill you, kill your son, kill Scott himself so he’d go meet Lynn in hell. Then I’ll kill your friends too… I’ll shoot myself in the arm as a sign of my struggle with y’all. The story will be that y’all ganged up to kill me for my properties,but I escaped after killing y’all instead. Once again, I’ll be a loved hero!” Silas laughed.

He’s not standing in the middle of the staircase, his gun aimed.

“Just the way you did to your late wife and your late daughter?” Owen spoke up, stepping forward and dragging her wedding dress.

“My late wife was annoying, but not as much as you. At least, she knew when to enter the white room after sinning. She knew how to keep quiet while getting beaten. She knew how to cry silently while walking on glass. She knew how to pretend not to see when I made Scott sleep on glass and when i whipped him with thorny canes. She knew how to look away when I made Lynn wear murderously tight turtleneck sweaters!!” He laughed monstrously, the sound echoing deeply in the mansion.

“Holy dîck,” Remo muttered unbelievable.

Scott has never for once mentioned all of these.

“What the hell,” Frank added.

Tears rushed out of Scott’s eyes again.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Kane said, losing his patience.

The way Silas said WHEN SCOTT SLEEPS ON GLASS AND WHEN I WHIPPED HIM WITH THORNY CANES made his sanity pull.

“Motherfucker!!” He yelled, jumping up the staircase.

“Kane!!” Owen and Reid yelled, but he wasn’t hearing a thing.

“Blame yourself for being dumb!” Silas spat, finger curling on the trigger, but as he pulled it was blank.

No bullets in the gun.

His eyes widened, and he tried again and again but it kept blanking.

Till Kane got to him and dragged his head down the railings, hitting it mercilessly.

Silas’ head broke, blood oozing. Kand went down with it again, and gone railings got wet with blood.

“Rascal!!!” Silas groaned, kneeling him off himself.

Kane staggered back.

“Idiot!!!” Remo yelled, getting his pen gun from his pocket.

He carries it everywhere.

“No don’t shoot him!” Owen shouted, but Remo already shot.

Silas avoided the bullet by going down, and Kane got hit on the arm instead.

“Shit!” Remo gasped.

Taking the opportunity, Silas threw himself at Kane, wanting to flip him down the railings.

Owen and Reid started running upstairs.

Remo and Frank started running there too to help.

But Scott was faster than them. In few long steps, he was on top of the staircase, bypassing the running four.

He took Silas from Kane, leaning him low against the railings.

His eyes bored into his father’s, and Silas’ glasses crashed to the floor.

“Seeing the light of another minute would be too generous for you! You won’t suffer enough with the corruptive connection you have, so just go! Go to hell!!!!” Scott yelled, pushing Silas off the rails.

But Silas was smart enough to hold Scott’s shirt in the front as he fell.

He dragged Scott with himself,but Kane and Remo quickly held Scott back till Silas’ hand slipped off.

Silas fell alone, and his scream was deep as his body crashed at the railings base.

His head further broke, and blood pooled around him as he gave up with wide open mouth and eyes.

Again, Scott bursted into hot tears, squatting behind the railings and resting his head on it.

“Lynn….mum….” He lamented, sniffling snot.

Kane made to touch him, but he shifted away.

“Don’t touch me with your fake-gay hands! Stay off me! Now that Silas is dead, your work is over, right? Leave me alone!!!” He yelled.

Kane’s hand fell, and his shoulders went down. His bleeding arm means nothing, but the words that just came out of his mouth?

He knew?

Kane looked at Reid, and Reid shrugged.

An hour later, cops have surrounded the house, and no unneeded questions were asked.

Thankfully, Owen’s hidden camera in the living room has a voice recorder attached to it, so it recorded Silas confession too about his abuse.

With it, Silas’ late mum’s name will be cleared, and she’ll finally rest in peace.

Owen’s wedding dress is out of her body, but Reid and Kane’s suits are still on as they prepared to leave.

They left the rest of the case for the cops to do.

But Kane was so reluctant to leave he kept staring at Scott.

“We have a new mission waiting in Germany yunno? We can’t miss the flight.” Owen pulled him.

“Dude,” Reid gave him a pull too, and Kane finally moved.

But getting to the door, he looked back, and his eyes met with Scott’s teary ones.

Kane shed a little tear too before the door closed after him.

Remo sat with Scott, consoling him with pats as Silas body was cleared.

“That was…the most rigorous two hours of my life.” Frank commented.

—

[Next Day, No Sleep Garage]

For the umpteenth time, Trevor checked the gate for Trinidad, but there’s no sign of her.

He has been waiting since noon, and it’s dusk already.

She promised to come see him cos he has been lonely as fûck these days.

No Cove, no Matteo.

He has been sleeping and waking alone in the garage.

Though, he has the credit card Cove gave to him and the one Stacy gave to him, and he could easily buy a house for himself, but who’s he gonna leave the garage for?

He can’t just leave Matteo’s property.

He rested his back on the gate, checking the news again.

Thiago X got caught immediately he entered Australia yesterday, and now he’s in jail.

Is that even true?

No pictures or videos of his capturing. Just articles and the speech from his half-sister Shelby.

But why is he badly wanting him to be jailed even if it’s for few years?

Jail won’t hurt that heartless monster, but at least it’d keep him grounded.

He deserves hell for what he did to Stacy. How could a man be that cruel?

The poor girl has no chance of getting pregnant again in the future, and now the baby in her belly might be born with sickle cell cos the abortion syrup would definitely affect it.

How does Cove’s fucked up brain even work?

Trevor pocketed his phone after reading enough, and he finally heard a honk in front of the gate.

He turned and opened the entrance with a smile, but the smile fell when he saw a car instead of Trinidad’s Ducati bike.

A woman came out of the car, looking impatient.

“I need to fix my car tires. I gotta be in the airport to catch my flight back to Italy in twenty minutes!” He said in clean Italian.

“I’m sorry but the garage ain’t open for work right now.” Trevor replied in Italian too.

The woman frowned, his eyes softening. “You’re… Italian?”

“We’re not open for work, madame.” Trevor insisted, not wanting to see anyone that’s not Trinidad.

“Are you Italian? How old are you?” The woman pressed on, coming closer quick.

“I might be Italian with my accent, I dunno. I was five when I walked into an orphanage. They said the only thing I could saw was my name and age—Trevor. I don’t know my parents, dunno where I’m from. And I’m 16 now…” He said.

The woman finally got to him and brushed his hair apart behind his ear. Right there, there’s a deep scar line on his scalp.

The woman gasped, throwing her palm over her mouth as she held Trevor’s shoulder.

“It’s really you….it’s really, really…you. it’s you…how…how are you still alive? How are you still…. alive?” She cried.

With a frown, Trevor looked him up and down, sighing.

“I dunno what you’re talking about?”

“Trevor Morana, that’s your given name. You’re my long lost son, baby. The long lost heir of Morano Group Of Companies down in Sicily. You’re Sicilian.” She explained, rubbing his face, hair, shoulders.

Her tears kept running.

Trevor shook her off and stepped back, shaking his head.

“I don’t wanna do this right now, seriously.” He shook his head, then he went for the gate.

But before he could enter, his neck was thrusted with a pin from behind, and his body went slump.

He fell in the woman’s arms…

“I’m so sorry, but I can’t lose you again after finding you… We’re going home right now.” She sniffled.

She guided his body to her car alone, and in one more minute, she drove off speedily.

Thirty more minutes whisked past before Trinidad could show up, and immediately she got down from her bike and saw Trevor’s phone on the ground, she panicked.

“Trevor!!” She shouted, running inside the garage fearfully.

—

[Zendaya’s Place]

Anita’s tears hasn’t ceased.

She hasn’t been allowed to leave this place since she got knocked out last week, and the craziest part is that her daughter is one of her captors.

She has been on the ground, tied up and restricted by ropes.

No food, no water.

She’s dying soon, and she’d have killed herself if not for her son.

She deserves to die a hundred times for doing that to Albert.

Now, Albert is dead.

She’s the one who told Zendaya the freest, easiest angle to enter through at the fundraiser, and that’s why the Sniper was able to shoot that precise.

Now Albert is dead, and here she is, wretched like a dog!

Her crying went up as gold bars and money bags landed heavily on the table in front of her.

Zendaya is the one stacking them on the table, and she looks overjoyed as she did the stacking.

Roxy and Elmira are also here, but they’re seated silently, watching and smoking like tyrants.

Elmira is smiling though. She’s getting wet just seeing the gold bars and cash bags.

The bars are 34 in total, and the bag is three, so the table is full.

“34 gold bars, two bags of money containing 2 billion. If you spend it wisely, it’s enough for you to get richer and live rich for the rest of your life. I never go back on a deal.” Zendaya said, sitting.

Anita shed fresh tears, and Zendaya leaned forward.

“Wait…you weren’t actually expecting to take Albert’s wealth, were you?” She laughed. He’s so fuckin holy when it comes to making his money, so there’s nothing to dirty him with. He could only die, and I’m fine with that. Now, Kaylee automatically becomes the President candidate, and Stacy herself has no parents alive anymore. She’s also carrying a bastard in her. I’ve won!”

“And cheers to that!” Roxy raised a toast.

“Cheers to that, bîtch!” Elmira raised a toast too.

Zendaya picked her glass too.

“Cheers!” They chorused, drinking.

“Bîtch, now you can go back to Elmira Wolfe since you mother is rich now.” Roxy said.

“Thanks for letting me borrow your surname for a while.” Elmira hugged her tightly.

“I should have met you both instead of those whores!” Zendaya grinned.

“You have us now,” Roxy smiled. “Let’s soar higher together!”

“You know that!” Zendaya smiled.

“I’m so fuckin happy!” Elmira blew kisses at Anita who’s still crying on the floor. “Now mama, you’re worthy of being my friend!”

The doorbell came, and Zendaya rushed there to answer.

Seeing it’s her dad, she screamed and rushed into his arms….

“Dad!”

“Best daughter!” Mr. Brown grinned, hugging her fondly.

“Wasn’t expecting you back home!” She pouted.

“My jailer is dead,of course I was released, just like that.” Mr. Brown grinned again, too happy.

“So glad to have you back!” Zendaya gushed excitedly.

“See how we kill Albert without stress?” Mr. Brown shrugged.

“I knoooow… you’re the best! And now it’s Tania’s turn… That bîtch slapped me to support Stacy, and I’m gonna shatter her dreams.” Zendaya said diabolically.

“Do whatever you like, Zenny. You have me!” Mr. Brown nodded.

“Daaad!” Zendaya chuckled, hugging him again.

—

[Burial Site]

Trinidad and Kehlani had to support Stacy by each side as she was guided to the graveside where her dad’s coffin lay cold inside the wood.

She looks worse than yesterday.

Insanely dark circles, frail body, paler skin, overall sickly appearance.

She looks ghosted by her own soul. She’s a shadow of herself, and she lost flesh so fast cos her gown us falling slightly on her shoulders.

Her tears hasn’t stopped even after she woke up from the sedation. She just resumed her tears and no one has been able to console her till now.

The site is full of fellow media Moguls from across the country and beyond. Staffs of Outright Medias and political aides. Kaylee Wesley is in attendance too with Dorian and Angela beside her.

Dorian is still at the hospital,but he was discharged to come for this burial. He wore black shades, and under the shades, he’s smiling.

This the first time he’s seeing her in person, and she looks like the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on all his life.

Actually, she doesn’t look like it.

She’s IT.

She’s insanely gorgeous, and he’s sure she won’t look as gorgeous as this on a normal day.

Tears look too good on her. Sorrow must be her best accessory.

Which means…in the future, he’d have to hurt her always and make her sorrowful to see the best of her.

He can’t fuckin wait.

His mum found him a little mouse, and he’d use her well.

Angela’s mind is all about Jeremy who’s in jail.

She can’t even concentrate on the ongoing burial.

And Kaylee? She wore black shades just like her son, and she’s smiling too under the shades.

Who knew her plans would be fruitful like this?

Now she’s automatically the Presidential candidate.

May Albert rest in pieces.

Does he really think she was gonna be vice for him?

It’s laughable that he didn’t even know her enough.

She’d never settle for less.

The sorrow ongoing in here isn’t her cup of tea, but she has to be here to buy more votes from people.

No woman is as virtuous as her right now in this country, but deep inside, she can’t wait for Stacy’s punishment for wanting to chose Thiago over her own precious son.

She removed her glasses and broke down in fake tears.

The guards had to hold her so she won’t fall, but she kept going.

“He was the gentlest, smartest man I’d ever met. He was also a very good father to his daughter. I swear to this nation with my breaths to catch whoever did this! Albert didn’t deserve to die like a hen! Albert didn’t deserve to die!!!”

“Mum… You’re making me cry too…” Dorian removed his glasses and joined her fakery.

Staffs who had stopped crying before resumed their tears, and Stacy placed her head on her dad’s coffin.

Camera shuttles from reporters snapped, and lights flashed the site as they fed their lenses.

Stacy didn’t move for them to lover the coffin into the grave.

She kept her head on it, saying…

“Dad, don’t leave me.”

“Dad, don’t leave me.”

“Dad, don’t leave me.”

That’s what she has been whispering in repeat since thirty minutes now.

“Where’s Tania?” Trinidad asked Kehlani in a whisper.

“Her ulcer was acting up so she made a detour at the clinic to get drugs and promise to meet us here. Dunno why she’s not here yet.” Kehlani said.

And Tasha entered their middle immediately, looking at the two of them with high hiccups and wet tearful face. She looks like she’s dying

“Tasha?” Kehlani frowned.

“I just got a call,” Tasha hiccupped again. “Tania had an accident on her way here, and she….she lost a…leg.”

“What!!” Kehlani and Trinidad chorused loudly.

“What should I do? What do I do?” Tasha broke into heavier tears.

“Go with her to see Tania, Kelly!” Trinidad told Kehlani.

“But… Stacy…” Kehlani said.

“I’m here with Stacy, go with Tasha to see Tania!” Trinidad pushed Kehlani.

Kehlani and Tasha rushed out of the site immediately.

And that was when Kehlani noticed “Dad, don’t leave me” isn’t coming from Stacy anymore.

Her head is still on the coffin, but she’s now silent.

“Stacy!” Trinidad pulled her, and she went slump.

She’s not breathing!

“Stacy!!!!!!!!!” She screamed out, and others ran closer immediately.

“Ambulance! Get an ambulance here!” Kaylee yelled.

“Stacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Trinidad screamed into Stacy’s ear again.

No movement.

“Ambulance please!!!” Kaylee shouted at her guards.

At the same time, the site workers are lowering Albert’s coffin into the grave

“Stacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Trinidad screamed into Stacy’s ear again.

She’s crying loud.

“Stacy…. please please please…” She shook her very hard.

“Stacy…. please….”

—

[Penitentiary]

The penitentiary hummed suffocatingly like a living thing.

Concrete walls stretched endlessly in dull greys, stained by time, and the air carried a sterile sharpness, layered with rust and despair.

Overhead lights flickered with an inconsistent hum, and footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Guards moved with practiced indifference, keys clinked softly at their waists.

The visiting area stood behind a thick barrier of reinforced glass and steel partitions. Metal chairs were bolted to the ground, leaving no room for comfort, no allowance for warmth.

Everything was deliberate—distance, restraint, separation.

Anita sat upright at the visiting area, her posture tense, hands clasped tightly in her lap as though holding herself together.

The weight of anticipation pressed heavily against her chest, making each breath feel hard.

Matteo is right beside her, looking just the same.

Elmira is also present, her hands tapping on the table impatiently as if she doesn’t even wanna be here.

Right in front of them, sat Jeremy who looks too comfortable in his inmate uniform like he was made for this place. Though, his face is blue with sadness, but he still doesn’t look the littlest form of distressed.

He was sentenced to twenty years behind bars, and it began since there days ago. He has been caged here like the other criminals like a monkey, and if there’s one thing he’s glad about, it’s the fact that he was allowed to bring his insects box.

They’re his only friends now, and he wasn’t expecting visitors, but he couldn’t say no when he was told he had visitors here.

A mother who’d do anything for him.

A father who abandoned his mother and is just showing up now.

And a sister who hates him.

There’s nothing to smile about.

“How’re you doing in there? They’re not bullying you, right?” Anita finally found her voice.

“I promise to get you out even if it means I’ll die trying, I promise. Please you have to stay alive till I’ll be able to get you out.” Matteo sniffled.

“Why would you even bother?” Elmira scoffed. “When he was rich acting like Dorian, he remembered nobody. Let him suffer!”

“Mira!” Anita slammed.

“I only came here to tell you to rot in jail, twin!” Elmira stood and walked out of the room.

Then, Jeremy shifted forward on his chair, gaze clouded.

“I only have one request,” he said slowly, clearly though.

“Anything!” Anita nodded.

“I need both of you to be parents figure to Stace. Protect her for me pending when I’ll get out. She wants to keep the beast’s pregnancy? So be it. She’s stronger than you think, she can do it. I trust her.” He said.

Matteo and Anita exchanged glances.

Anita pinched herself under the desk. She’s the main reason Stacy’s dad died anyways, so what right does she have to act like a mom to her?

Outside, Elmira was fuming, and her shoes pounded the gravel as she marched towards her car.

She can never understand this family of hers. Now that her mum is rich, she’s gonna spend all that fortune to get Jeremy out of jail?

Not happening.

She opened her car door to hop in, but a force slammed against it from behind, and it closed.

“What the—”

She whipped back to see who, but she was getting kissed before she knew it, and her body recognized it immediately.

She pushed him off, and Max grinned, his battered face still carry few plasters and patches.

“What do you take me for? You think you can come and go whenever you please? Fuckface!” She spat.

“You’re a slut, I’m your homeboy… Leaving each other is never a choice no matter how far we saunter.” He sneered at her.

Elmira pulled him closer by the polo, their faces nearly slamming.

“Then… know that from now on….I call the shots! You can’t end us unless I say so!” She threatened.

“So be it,” he shrugged.

“Sheesh,” she said and kissed him back, demandingly.

Max pushed her into the car, getting on top of her greedily.

—

[Montana Family Hospital, Five Months Later – Stacy’s Ward]

The southern window of the private ward beside the window is open, and the sift breeze kept lifting the see-through curtain slowly, nearly hitting Stacy’s face as she faced it.

She’s sitting in bed, staring crazily at the open window without blinking.

Her protruding stomach is so big now, and she looks lean even with the pregnancy.

It’s like the pregnancy is eating her up cos she doesn’t talk to anyone.

For the past five months, she hasn’t said a word to anyone.

All she does is sit beside this window and stare out all day and night as if the world deserted her.

Her hair curls looks rougher and messily tangled cos she has refused to let anyone touch her too.

If anyone does, she gets violent, so before Trinidad is able to bath her always, she has to be sedated.

Only thing she does for herself always is brush her teeth and eat or go to use the bathroom herself.

She’d never talk no matter how much they try to get words out of her.

First-class Depression.

Her spark is totally gone.

And why would she even talk to anyone? Why?

Her mum died when she was 10. Now she’s 21 and her dad is dead too.

She nearly lost her first baby, and now after this child, she might not be able to conceive again cos her womb has been messed with by the abortion syrup and her fertility is altered.

Trinidad is looking for Trevor with no success.

Tania lost her ability to work in the accident and now her dream of becoming a world famous footballer is crashed to the dust.

Tasha is sad, Kehlani is sad.

So…How would a smile come?

What’s there to smile about?

Another blow of breeze brushed her oily face, and she still didn’t blink.

Her face just got sadder.

She folded her legs up from the ground, resting back on her pillow.

Trinidad and Kehlani are in here with her, but she said nothing to them as usual before shutting her eyes on them.

Trinidad adjusted her socks for her, and Kehlani quickly covered her with the blanket.

“What did the doctor say?” Kehlani asked in a mutter.

“That we should stop trying to get her to talk. She’d talk when she wants.” Trinidad replied.

Kehlani sighed.

—

[Four Months Later, Delivery Room]

Even as Stacy got wheeled to delivery, she didn’t say anything to anyone despite the labor pains she’s already feeling all-over her being.

Her water broke when her friends and the female doctor were there, and that’s why they detected it was time. All Stacy did was grunt, squirm, squint and sniffle.

Her stomach looks too tall on the stretcher as it was wheeled by nurses towards the delivery room.

Trinidad, Kehlani and Tasha are present. Even Tania came on her wheelchair, and Tasha is pushing the wheelchair as they all rushed after Stacy’s stretcher.

She was finally wheeled to the room door where her friends are required to stay outside, but she grabbed the door, refusing to enter…

“I’m not going inside without my friends!” She spoke her first word in eight months, and they all gasped.

“Oh my gawd, Stacy!” Kehlani started crying emotionally.

“Stacy, thank goodness!” Tasha breathed out.

“Stacy…” Tania smiled gladly.

“You’re finally speaking…” Trinidad smiled, stroking her hair.

“I’m not going in without my friends,” Stacy repeated.

The nurses and female doctor didn’t argue with her preference.

She was wheeled in with all her friends but they had to cover uo and even wear masks.

The delivery room felt too bright for the kind of pain Stacy carried in with her right now.

Cold white lights flooded everything, and the air smelled faintly of antiseptic, but beneath it lingered something heavier… fear, sweat, and the metallic hint of blood.

Machines hummed and beeped steadily, tracking her pulse, her contractions, her struggle.

Stainless steel trays gleamed under the light, neatly arranged with instruments she didn’t want to look at.
Stacy lay on the bed, her body bare cos she has been stripped.

She feels vulnerable in every sense of the word. A thin sheet had long been pushed aside as the contractions took over. Her skin glistened with sweat, her hair clung to her face and neck, and every muscle in her body tensed and trembled with the force of what she was going through.

Deep pain ripped through her in waves.

“Breathe, Stacy… breathe,” Trinidad urged, gripping one of her hands tightly as the contractions turned killing, unforgivable, murderous.

“I can’t… I can’t do this!” Stacy cried out, her voice breaking into a scream as another contraction hit.

“Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmm!!!!”

“You can,” Tasha said firmly, standing on her other side, brushing damp strands of hair away from Stacy’s face. “You’re already doing it.”

Kehlani hovered close, her voice softer, trembling with emotion. “We’re right here. You’re not alone, okay?”

Not alone.

Those words struck something deep inside her.

For a moment, through the pain, through the chaos, her mind flashed back to him…

The betrayal.

The bitterness that had settled in her chest like poison.

The syrup.

The abandonment.

The cold certainty that she had been poisoned to break wickedly.

Her face twisted, not just from the pain, but from something darker.

Anger. Hurt. A hatred so sharp it almost gave her strength.

“I hate him…” she choked out between breaths, tears spilling freely down her temples. “I hate him so much I wanna kill him…”

Another contraction slammed into her, stealing the rest of her words and replacing them with a raw, guttural scream.

“Agghhhhh!!!!! No no!!!!! It hurts!!!!! Mmmmm!!!!!!!!”

“Push, Stacy! Push!” The female doctor instructed from between her legs, voice steady but urgent.

Stacy’s fingers tightened around Trinidad’s hand as she bore down, her entire body straining.

Sweat dripped, tears fell, her voice cracked from screaming, but she pushed.

Again.

And again.

Time blurred into pain, voices, and the overwhelming need to be done.

“Babe you’re almost there!” Tania encouraged from her wheelchair, her own eyes glossy now.

“I see the head!” the Doctor called out, and Stacy cried out. A broken sound pulled from somewhere deep inside her, and with one final, desperate push…

“Agghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!”

A sharp baby cry filled the room.

Everything stopped.

For a second, the world held its breath.

Then the baby’s cries grew louder.

“It’s here! He’s here!” Kehlani gushed, wiping her tears.

“It’s a boy! A boy!!” Tasha gushed too.

“I’m so proud of you, Stacy! So fuckin proud of you!” Trinidad sniffled.

“Stacy has always been that girl,” Tania chuckled happily. “I’m so fuckin glad.”

Stacy’s chest heaved as she collapsed back slightly to the mattress, her tears streaming freely now, but different this time.

Not just pain—something else.

Something fragile.

“Your baby,” the Doctor said gently.

She placed the baby boy in Stacy’s arms. He’s still so gently warm, still smeared with the evidence of the battle it took to bring him here.

Stacy didn’t hesitate.

She pulled him close against her naked chest, wrapping her arms around him as if the world might try to take him away.

Her shaking body curved instinctively around his tiny form.

His crying softened as he settled against her.

And just like that, something inside her shifted.

Her grip tightened—not out of fear, but out of need.

Out of love.

Out of something that felt dangerously close to healing.

Through the tears, her lips trembled into the faintest, broken smile as she pressed her cheek against his head.
“My baby…Louis.” she whispered.

The pain was still there. The anger hadn’t vanished.

But in that moment….holding him close to her…

Stacy found something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Hope.

Hope to live again.

TBC

RESTLESS is another compelling story you should read. I’m confident you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.