CROSSROADS

CHAPTER 22 - Home Sweet Home

BRAD

28 March, 2020

07:00 Brandon's Residence

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It was a busy night at the club that's why I got home when the sun is already up. I should feel happy because business is doing really well. But since a certain someone entered my home weeks ago, there's this yearning that left deep inside me that I can't seem to control or stop.

I sighed as I entered my house. Has this house always been this silent? I'm not the type of person who enjoys being at home. I was raised in a big mansion where only housekeepers are the people that I usually see. I got used to not feeling welcome even in my own home. There's no warmth, no love, nothing. Just a big fucking house.

But what has changed?

That night changed everything. It has been haunting me ever since I went home with Iris, all bloodied and unconscious in my arms. Good thing Benson and the doctor was already there.

It was like a whirlwind, no time should be wasted. The doctor did all his magic to make Iris better. She lost a lot of blood and has a bullet lodged in her arm. There was no available blood bag but luckily, me and Iris are both AB+ so I told the doctor that I'm willing to be the donor while Benson tried to find some through his underground connections in hospitals.

The operation was swift. He removed the bullet and patched her up nicely and quickly. He also attached an IV drip to Iris. Aside from the blood lost, the bullet and the bruises, she was overly fatigued said the doctor. She needs complete rest and is expected to wake up after a day or more.

I didn't know that donating blood will also take a toll on my body. I didn't get to go to work the following night as I also did sleep after sharing some of my blood with Iris. But it felt good. I'm not sure if it's pride or something else. I'm just happy that a part of me is within her now and is keeping her alive.

When I woke up, I try to think back what happened at the Red Light District. A lot has been bothering me. Too many information has been running in my thoughts. I pulled out my laptop and tried to Google everything that happened.

I'm still reeling when every little info that I pieced together is all going back to Iris. She Is The Famous Hacker 3Y35! Does Nate know? She has a wider, powerful and more influential connection. Who would have thought! She is dangerous. I'm liking her more.

The Red Light District incident seems like it didn't even happened. Just as that hacker friend of hers told me on the phone. They made it vanish in one snap of a finger. But why was she there and why even risk her life to chase that old guy. And he have backups. Holy fuck! That boxer!

I almost forgot to Google that cunt. Derek Martinez. He was a young welterweight professional boxer that won four title belts. He was shunned from the boxing world for his anger management problems. He is wanted for murder and homicide and is still at large. I can just fucking report him to the authorities then.

But there is something that is still bothering me. I think I saw or heard of him even before but I can't determine when and where.

That's the time when Iris woke up. After thirty one hours, she finally woke up. She was at first dazed and confused especially when she saw me first. I let her have her moment to relax and stay calm before telling her what happened.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry Brad for including you in this mess. And thank you for saving me. I would have died in that alley If you weren't there." She bows at me, "I owe you my life."

"What?! No no no. You don't owe me anything. I was at the right place at the right time. It was instinct that brought me to that place. And I'm glad I was there," I held her hand that was clutching the blanket so tight.