Chapter 5

ISA POV

My mind reeled with all sorts of thoughts as I tried to figure out what the hell was happening. Finding an injured person drowning in blood on my white couch seemed to be a signal that the glorious, merry days of me slithering around were well and finally over. Now it was time for me to get to work. 

Although I didn’t understand even a single thing about what was happening. What had been in that mail van? Why didn’t Xander just bring the lad straight away to the clinic instead of dumping him at the house? I really wished he could be here right about now to answer some of the bothering questions I had.

Deciding to expel him and his vendetta from my mind, I focused on the old lady who was being discharged after staying over for 3 days. The poor lady broke her leg when she tried to take a walkout in the park. Stepped into a hole covered by grass, and the next thing she heard was a sickening crack as her ligaments and bones detached. How sad. 

But I was able to stitch her all back and put on a cast over, then let her stay a while to monitor the blood pressure and all other stuff. It was just so hard being old. You battled with all sorts of illnesses and it was just so disheartening.

“Remember to come in for the check-ups so that we can see how well you’re recovering.” I smiled at her as I placed a hand on her shoulder. Her wrinkled hand rose from her lap and landed on mine before she nodded and attempted a smile. But she was just so wrinkled and the smile was hidden by the loose flesh hanging on her face.

Right on the cue, the black Benz stopped right behind my Kia which was parked in front of the clinic, then out came the very same man I was planning to yank his head from his neck. He was dressed neatly in black pair of jeans, a black polo neck that hid his tattoo, a black leather jacket, and a black hat. So much black with that pale skin. His feet were covered in a pair of low black and white sneakers, and he sashayed towards the door with no care in the world. It was as if all was so well that he just came to check on a relative maybe. I felt my blood boiling at the sight of his care-free self, and I wanted to do nothing but bash in his face and wipe that sickening sinister snicker he always wore when his eyes landed on me,

 “Thank you, doctor. We will be on our way.” The lady’s grandson said before wheeling her out in a wheelchair. I waved them goodbye, my mind no longer focused on them, but on the man who nodded to them and squatted in front of the old lady to say something. His rich laughter boomed around the walls as he gave the lady a pat on the shoulder before stepping aside. Just how did he manage to be an ass, an invisible ninja, and a caring man all at once?

He waved them goodbye before stalking towards me, the laughter all wiped from his face, leaving room for a stoic, stern face as he glared at me. 

“Hey, mama.” He said rolling his shoulders backward while staring at me intently, with his head tilted slightly to the side. I fought the urge to lunge at him and knock him over, more so because I knew it wouldn’t work well for me. So I just puffed out the hot breath I have been holding and yanked him by his arm before proceeding down the hallway.

“Whoa, mama. I know you want it but calm down. It’s all yours, ya know that?” He called out loudly in a raised voice causing some janitors who were parading the halls with their cleaning crates to let out soft giggles. My insides screamed so loud, but all I could do was increase my pace until we arrived at his lad’s ward.

Pushing him inside before getting in behind him, I glanced around before slamming the door shut, then locked it and turned to find him walking towards the chair beside the wall. He lazily dropped into it before watching me. 

Calm down, Leigh-Ari. Calm down. 

“Xander, are you out of your mind?” the words left my mouth way before my mind could register them. But that was all I could say to him right now. And then he had to go and snicker, opening the hell gates. Damn him.

“Just what the hell were you thinking? He…” pointing on the lad lying unconscious on the bed. “-had a gun wound on his abdomen. Had I not arrived home at that time, he would have bled to death, and died… In my living room. Can’t you use your fuckin’ mind for even once?” I fumed unleashing hell on him. He just watched me without moving, not even blinking. The way he gave me his undivided attention was almost creepy.

“And the damn chewed van? What in the hell was in there? Do you know that I found neighbors crowded around it because of how disfigured it looked? Do you know what I went through at that moment alone, trying to find a quick explanation to get them off my case and definitely, off my front yard with their bombarding questions?” At this, he let out a small chuckle, and oh fuck. I couldn’t believe it. 

Did he just laugh? Like he laughed at me?

“So you find this funny? All of this, it’s all a game to you? You know what Xander whatever your full name is, I was willing to be a good girl and stay on the sidelines until I figured out what the hell I was brought to this place in the first place. Or why you gave me a house, a car, and a job. But finding a bloody body in the house undid all the restraints. I need to know what the hell is going on, Xander. Or else I will find myself in an orange suit behind the bars and so help me God.” I huffed placing my hands on my waist. And he just gave me a casual shrug, without even saying a thing.

I wanted to scream. Or to cry. Just anything that would match the turmoil inside of me. Xander was going to make me age. I hated wrinkles and loose flesh, and that's exactly what Xander was going to give me.

Just when I was fixated on my hatred for this hot piece of ass in front of me, I felt bile rising deep from the pits of my stomach and settling in my mouth. My eyes widened as my hand shot out in reflex to cover my mouth, and in a split second, I was out charging for the washrooms. As soon as I arrived at one, I dropped to my knees and worshipped the gods of porcelain. All the contents of my stomach came out spilling as I heaved and heaved, coughing along to get rid of the foul taste in my mouth. 

A hand came around and held my hair up as I emptied my breakfast in the toilet, and I found myself thankful to him, for the first time since the stunt he pulled. We stayed quiet for a few moments as I hollered and heaved out everything I had eaten, to the point where I felt like I was going to spit out my intestines. 

“I… am... fine.” I groaned as I tried to get up from the sit, only to heave out yet again and go down spilling the remains. The hand which was clamped in my hair tensed, before the voice called out:

“You’re pregnant.”

It was not a question, but a statement. And I found myself ashen and shocked against the bathroom floor wondering what a sick joke was the universe trying to crack upon my life.