Book Two: Adaptation

•22•

•Abel•
At Sal's house, me, him, and Lamar sit in front of Sal's computer on a Zoom call with one of the editors for Marvel comic books. Nava kind of inspired me to write my own story for this album.

Explaining the origin of Starboy and how he came to be, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket but ignore it, figuring whoever it is can wait until the end of this meeting.

"Well, that's one very compelling story, Abel. May I call you Abel?" Ronny asks when I'm done talking.

"Yeah, that's cool. It's my name after all. " I chuckle, and Ronny smiles, picking up his iPad, and that's when my phone starts vibrating in my pocket again.

"That's right, that's right. Didn't want to be rude or anything"

"Nah, of course not." I shake my head, pulling my phone out to peak at it. "No fucking way"

"What?" Lamar leans in to see too but I stand up before he can.

"I have to take this call" I announce.

"Right now?" Sal turns to me, and I nod stepping over to the door.

"I'll be right back, keep going" I let myself out.

"What's the matter with her?" I answer and I hear this loud blaring noise as Dominic yells into the receiver.

"She's hit! She's been hit!"

"What are you talking about?" I frown confused. "Didn't y'all go to the store?"

"She was T-boned, and her car is top side. I called an ambulance and I'm gonna try to get her out!" He goes on and what's happened finally sinks in making me drop my phone.

Without even a second thought I head back in the office for my keys, "I have to go. I'm so sorry, Ronny, but can we pick this up another time?"

"Abel, what are you doing?" Sal tries to stop me.

"Um sure thing, Abel. Everything alright?" Ronny questions.

"No, it's not" I grab my jacket and walk out with Lamar not far behind me.

"What's up? Who was that?"

"Fucking Dominic. Some son of a bitch T-boned Nava"

"What the fuck?"

"Look" I pause just shy of the front door, "I'm gonna meet them at the hospital. Tell Wesley to call her mom, tell her to get here as soon as possible. Send the jet if you have to"

"Okay. What about your mom?"

"Yeah..." I slowly nod itching to get out the door. "Call her too then Cash. I don't want her name in the news until I know what the hell is going on"

"I got you, go. I got the rest"

Hesitating for a minute, I leave out the door getting in my car. Starting the engine I try to breathe as I drive off. This is way worse then Callum kidnapping her. She could actually loose the baby or worse, die.

My mind a frenzy of jumbled thoughts, I race through the streets of LA as I avoid thinking the worse. I'm hopeful they'll both pull through and everything will be alright. Then I'm never going to let her out of my sight again.

Now pulling up on the hospital, I park and rush inside to the front desk where Dominic is already waiting for me.

"Abel" he gets my attention. "She's this way, I can take you"