5: Story Time!

Dante

The bright rays of the sun travelled through the window and landed directly on my eyes. I squinted in response to the light. I yawned, trying to stretch, and I was suddenly reminded of my health condition as pain travelled through my entire being.

Memories from yesterday's event flashed through my mind and I could only chuckle. A thought suddenly crossed my mind. Ethan! He risked his life. That was unusual. I was too weak yesterday to talk about it and today, I made up my mind to talk about it. Just then, a faint knock, enough to jolt me from my reverie, sounded on the door, and I grunted as I tried to sit up.

"Come in!" I said, clenching my teeth to numb the pain. Ethan walked in slowly. The expression on his face was the same as always. There was something about him that I didn't seem to understand. Something that always pulled me closer to him.

"You are up so early. Did you get enough sleep at all?" He asked in a subtle tone and I could only respond with a cocky smile. The way he talked amused me.

"I am fine...." I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts. It was time to talk about his selfless act of heroics yesterday.

"What was it about yesterday? You came in, despite the heavy exchange of firearms. I watched you move with precision, like you have been in this line of work before. Tell, is there something that I am missing?" I asked in a low tone, and he shook his head outright. I could see the fear that took over his being.

"I was only doing my job. You hired me to treat you. I can't treat you if you are dead so that was why I had to make sure that I keep you in a treatable condition." His explanation was vague and ambiguous. I tried to make sense of what he had just said but no idea was coming to my head.

"Is there any treatment for today? I need to be out. I have some unfinished business." His eyes went wide almost immediately. He seemed to be looking for the right words to use to decline.

"I am sorry but I will have to crave your indulgence on that matter. You can stay without going out just for today. You lost a lot of blood and it's only a miracle...." I didn't let him finish what he was saying before I cut him off with a stern voice, which seemed to have sent fear through his entire body.

"Did you just say miracle?" I asked, squinting my eyes to show how serious I was. "It's a miracle that I am alive?" I asked again and he just stood there with a timid look.

"I just fought, through guns and bullets, to stay alive, and you call that a miracle? Guess what, Ethan?" I paused, looking away from him as he stood there frozen like he was just an ordinary sculpture.

"Dante doesn't believe in luck or miracles," I said and he inhaled deeply, but kept quiet.

"I just want you to be fine. You lost a lot of blood yesterday and you fought a hard battle to stay alive. You should rest for today and recover properly." He said shakily and just then, I felt the need to ask him about his job.

"Where did you graduate from as a medical student?" I asked, and that question seemed to throw him off the bus. He looked around as if he were trying to gather his thoughts, but just as he wanted to talk, I grunted lightly, standing up from the edge of my bed and limping towards him. He gestured vaguely that I sit back down on the bed, but that was no way near what I intended to do.

"I have been in this line of work since I was a child. My father introduced me to this line of business when I was eight." I paused as I halted in front of him. I could hear his heart beating hard inside his chest. But I didn't intend to stop there.

"You are there, at this table of the head of operations. The table was initially headed by my father." I limped away from him, trying to get the tension up.

"I don't understand why you are telling me all this, sir." His voice was shaky but he tried to mask his fear with confidence.

"Shut up and listen to the complete story. It gets more and more interesting as the story unveils. Don't interrupt me again." He nodded, signifying that he understood the instructions.

"You see, my father was everything that I wanted to be except for one thing. He had fear in his heart. Not fear per se, but he couldn't look people in the eyes and tell them what they need to know. That was something that I was born with. Fierceness and agility. I feared no one, right from my young days, and that had grown in me up until this moment." I paused again, walking back to the edge of the bed.

"I couldn't take it anymore. I had to take him out." He gasped in shock. Exactly what I was expecting him to do. I took a deep breath before I continued.

"Yes. I had to take him out but I was nice enough to do it peacefully. It was a painless death. I challenged the people who stood against him, and when firepower was required, I gave it without hesitation and without fear. Look at me right now, sitting at the head of the table." I chuckled subtly as I beckoned him to come sit on the chair beside my bed, which he did hurriedly.

"Why am I saying all of this to you?" I was sure that he wasn't meant to answer that question. He shook his head slightly, looking downwards and I inhaled deeply.

"You should rethink if you think of doing anything stupid. If I could kill my father, there is no one on earth that I would not kill." I finally ended my lecture and I gave him a sharp look. He cleared his throat and I sensed that he wanted to say something.

"The only reason I am here is to carry out a job, and so far, so good, sir. That has been the only thing I have been doing since I arrived, my job." He said. I was marvelled by his charisma. How he spoke and how he didn't hold back his words. It was clear off the path of disrespect and I only nodded.

"Now, if you will be so kind as to let me do my job, sir. You have to take the full day off today. Your body needs the rest." He sounded like it was very important. I tried to weigh my options. I didn't want the case to get cold before I acted on it but I didn't want to be brought home dead because of negligence as well. I took a deep breath as I tilted my head back to look at him.

"What do you expect me to do when I stay at home? I am not used to staying at home." I asked, and for the first time since he arrived, I noticed a slight chuckle on his face, but it faded quickly, and just when he was about to talk, a knock sounded on my door.

"That must be Luca," I murmured as I turned to look at the door.

"Come in!" I said faintly, and my guess was completely wrong as my gaze fell on who appeared in front of the door.

"What are you doing here?" Those were the words that came out of my mouth.