Paint Me Claimed - Book 2

Where demons hide

Leonardo

Zemira was a ball of worry and nerves by the time we flew down to Miami. Not that she ate a lot before, the news about her dad made her give up on any nourishment till she saw him hooked onto tubes at the hospital.

Grant Ford had a minor cardiac arrest, which given the workload he had taken up against the doctor's advice had proven fatal. Almost.

The moment we landed in Miami, Kiera drove us out. Sam, Kiera and Jake had taken rounds on checking up on Grant while Haley had taken up the task of managing the entire workload which now fell upon her shoulder.

Throughout the drive, Zemira remained quiet. Not that I expected her to talk or be her usual self, her constant cuticle chewing and distant looks rendered the confirmation. My girl was worried for her father, more than ever.

"Hey," I held her clutched fist, unwrapping her fingers from the tight knot she held onto. The pad of my thumbs rubbed her knuckles, my eyes slow-blinked to assure her - everything would be fine. "I'd talked to the doctor before we left. Your dad is stable now."

A fake smile was all she could give.

A fake smile that stabbed me. I felt useless.

Kiera kept monitoring her best friend through the rearview mirror, holding onto her words. My phone chimed, mom's message appearing one after the other.

Are you coming?

Is Zem okay?

I'm leaving soon.

By the time we arrived at the hospital, Zem rushed out before Kiera could part.

"Zem," I tried calling out but all I could address was her darting back.

"Let her go," Kiera said, parking the car. Even the blight-smiling Kiera looked like a paler version of herself. It was then that I understood how important Grant Ford was for both the girls.

Over time, Zemira had mentioned how Kiera's homosexuality was never accepted by her father but by Grant. It wasn't rocket science to understand Grand Ford may have only one biological child, he had adopted Kiera with his deeds upon accepting her.

"How are you doing?" I asked, watching Kiera's back face the closed door of the car. It was a futile but obligatory question. Sometimes, a simple question could unlock the door to heavier, built-up emotions. "I know Grant played an important role in your-"

My words diffused over my tongue as soon as Kiera turned over. Tear stained cheeks and gasping for air, she fell into my embrace.

"He's like a father to me, Leo." She heaved for air, cried into my coat. Whispered a prayer to whomever she believed in before holding onto my lapel. I held onto her trembling body tightly, patting her back. "I don't even want to imagine if something-"

"Hey hey hey... look at me."

Kiera nodded, unwilling to listen. Over the covering of my coat, she wiped her face. Air entered her lungs in short bursts, refusing to fuel her pent up emotions to flow.

"Kiera." I straightened her body, grabbing her shoulders and rattling. "Look at me. You're a brave girl. Look at me. I've to tell you something."

She looked up. The strong girl that I'd witnessed - the girl who held her true self hidden, the girl who married for her family and the girl who supported Zemira through her worst times, crumbled before my eyes.

Grant Ford was a great man. At that moment, I knew he was a greater father. Not just to his daughter but also to Kiera.

"Is he going to be okay?" Kiera asked, her eyes blinking away the hazed vision from tears. Her lips trembled, awaiting a reply. "I don't want him to..."