Troubled Indeed

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

That turned out to be quite a wedding. Never ever did I imagine that anything like that could happen. The officers are taking their time interrogating all of us involved, the rest of the guests are expected to show up at the police station sometime during next week.

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" mom approaches me, worry lines on her face deeper than before. She takes a seat next to me.

"I'll live, they told me it's just a flesh wound," I respond. The paramedics insisted they take me to the hospital to get my wound treated properly, but I refused. I promised that I would get there myself as soon as my mom got married. But most of all, I want to talk to Anthony. So, they just shrugged and gave me some painkillers to get by.

"Where's Benji?" I ask hazily. I feel the painkillers kicking in.

"He's fine. He's eating ice cream with Betty. Don't worry, he's in good hands," mom reports.

"I'm sorry this happened on your wedding day."

"Yeah, I'm not sure if it even is a wedding day anymore. This isn't the way I pictured getting married. Half of the guests are gone by now and my fiancé is somewhere in the building, giving statements to the police," mom sighs heavily.

"But the important half of the guests are still here. It could be an intimate wedding, just family and close friends," I drag out my words. These painkillers are stronger than alcohol.

"Yeah, I'm not sure it's enough. I'll talk to Alexi as soon as he's back," she replies in the saddest tone.

"Mom, if you love the man, just get married. That's all that matters," I manage to say, but my eyelids feel heavy.

"May I talk to my girlfriend?" I hear Anthony's voice from several feet away.

"Sure," mom responds, then adds, "I have to find Alexi, anyway."

Hearing his voice alone gives me a little energy boost. I pull myself together and try my hardest not to fall asleep.

"How are you, babe?" Anthony asks as he sits on the vacant seat and slips his arm behind my back to support me. I rest my head on his shoulder immediately.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I say and yawn.

"Because you got shot. And we're worried."

"Oh. But I don't feel a thing," I reply.

Anthony looks at me, his expression unreadable. Sometimes I wish I could see inside his head or read his mind. The way he looks at me sends shivers down my spine and right now I can't tell if the feeling is pleasant or scary.

"What happens to Simon now?" I ask Anthony because I think he knows more than the police said to me.

"He'll be locked away for a very long time."

"Because he kidnapped Benji and now threatened and shot someone?" I ask, sounding naïve even to myself. I can't think straight with the painkillers' impact on me.

"No. He's going away for far worse things he's done," he gives me the shortest answer possible.

"Why do I always have to pull words out of you? Why can't it ever be easy with you?" I say lazily, yawning again. I'm not even trying to start a fight, I'm simply curious.

Anthony sighs, then gently starts stroking my side with his palm, still holding me close. He looks around the room, where guests are getting their food and drinks. All of them, at least those who didn't leave yet, are horrified because of what just happened.

"I'm sorry I kept you out of the loop. I know you feel a certain way about it. I never intended to break your trust," Anthony says softly. "I've said to you a thousand times before that all I ever wanted to do was to protect you and Benji, but somehow I seem to fuck things up."

"You didn't fuck this up, Simon did," I say slowly.

"Yeah, he did. But that could have been prevented."

This piques my interest and I straighten myself to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

Anthony looks at me but doesn't say anything at first. I'm not sure if he's ignoring my question or looking for the right words to say. So once again, I give him time.

"Did you believe him?" he asks me out of the blue.

"Who?"

"Simon. When he told these bits and pieces about my past. Did you believe him?" For once he looks worried. The king of poker face has lowered his mask at last.

"Oh. Yes and no." I look at Anthony, trying to get a reaction out of him, but the same worried stare is pointed at me, so I go on.

"I knew a lot of stuff before. I had a feeling you and Alexi had something to do with the club. I'm not sure about the rape, though. I'm not trying to get an answer out of you, because I know how respectful you are to me. So, I didn't believe that part of his story."

"I didn't rape anyone. All of my sexual relationships have always been mutual," he says without blinking.

"I'm not sure I want to know that. I don't care about the past anymore. I know I have been a pain in the butt about your life before we met, but now I know enough to let it be. You can tell me whatever you feel comfortable telling me. But I won't ask any more questions about it. I know this is hard for you."

"Thank you," he replies.

Finally, we agree on something. But there's one thing he said that is still nagging me.

"What did you mean when you said that this could have been prevented?"

Anthony thinks for a moment too long, still keeping me on my toes, but I'm too tired and drugged up to protest, so I just let him take his time.

"Simon didn't differ from his brother, you know. He is involved in several transactions that lean towards the darker side and past the law. He was envious of the club since day one when I took over. He was always on my back."

"Why didn't you tell me you knew him? Why did you keep it a secret?" I squint at him, but it feels more like a slow blink.

"I don't know. I thought the less you knew the safer you were. I was hoping it would never come out. I didn't want you to see me as a member of some fucked-up gang."

"And yet you were. And I already knew that since I met you and saw you with Blame," I state the facts.

"I know. I'm sorry. Anyway, we dug up some more shit about Simon, but we didn't have enough time to get all the evidence about his actions to the police. We should have been faster and taken action sooner, so all of this wouldn't have happened." Anthony looks defeated. I think he blames himself for what happened here today.

"Who's we?" I realize he wasn't doing this alone.

"Me and Alexi."

"Of course."

"We never thought Simon would be this resentful that he would show up at the wedding. And now that Tonya revealed herself it all makes sense. I understand now why Simon was always two steps ahead of us. He knew what we had on him and what our intentions were because Tonya kept informing him. We discussed turning him in after the wedding, so that's why he didn't let the wedding happen. He knew he was done."

I nod. At last, all the missing puzzle pieces have fallen into place. Everything makes sense now. Simon wanting the club back was just one reason of many to get rid of Anthony and Alexi. And this was his perfect opportunity to take them both down, except I was in the way. Again.

I notice mom and Alexi approaching us, hand in hand, their faces peaceful and happy. Seems that they've had enough time to reach some sort of decision.

"We decided to get married anyway," mom says as soon as they're close enough, "It's even better this way, fewer people to entertain."

"Good! I'm so happy for you!" I try to stand up to hug them but fail. I feel lightheaded. "I think I need a cup of coffee. Or three."