Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Bloody Fight Within the blink of an eye, Eason has come near us. He grabs Zack’s collar and hits him right into the face. Zack yells out in pain covering his nose and staggers back. Blood oozes out between his fingers. Eason doesn’t give him time to react as he raises his leg and kicks him down to the ground again. I stumble and fall, struggling to breath. I think I’m having a panic attack. Some passers-by gather up and try to help me up, but my legs feel so weak that I can barely stand. “Oh my god!” someone suddenly gasps. “I think he’s killing him…should we call the police?”

I’m whipped back to reality. Through my blurry vision I see Eason nails Zack’s body down to the ground as he keeps pummeling him. Blood covers both his hand and Zack’s face. The sound of his fist hitting against the flesh makes the hairs on my arm to stand up.

Zack is begging for mercy, whining and crying. He is a huge guy and he can easily take me with one hand. But he doesn’t stand a chance against Eason’s brutal beating. I have no doubts that Eason wants to kill him right here and right now. “No…no! Eason! Stop!!” I pull myself up from the ground and run to them with my shaky legs. “You are killing him! Please stop!”

I wrap my arms around Eason and try to drag him away. But his muscles are hard as rock and I can’t move him even one inch. Now looking at him within such a close distance, I’m even a little scared by his rage-filled face. “I’m killing this fucking son of a bitch!” Eason shouts as his face twists in fury. And he squeezes both his hands around Zack’s neck. Zack’s begging grows lower and he’s barely conscious.

I’ve never seen Eason like this before. He comes from a very prestige family and people like him never get their hands dirty or get involved in bloody street fights like this.

But now he is doing this for me. Getting his knees down in the dirt and beating the shit out of Zack with his own fists. He must have thrown away all his educations and manners in anger.

Yet I have to stop him. I couldn’t care less about Zack’s life. But I can’t have Eason commit such a huge mistake because of me. “Stop, please! I-I’m so scared,” I clench on to his clothes and beg. “I’m shaking…please…I need you.”

That works magically well. Eason’s body freezes and he turns to me immediately. His fingers loosen dropping Zack onto the ground. I lean in and wrap my arms around his chest. He holds me back, really tight, and lowers his head to plant kisses on my forehead.

“Shh, it’s OK.” I hear his soft voice whispering beside my ears. “I’m here. Nobody can hurt you anymore.”

His comforting voice is the last straw breaking my nerves. I finally burst into tears within his arms, venting out all my fears and anxieties.

***

The chaos ended with people calling the police. Ambulance arrives the scene shortly after to take the unconscious Zack away. I vaguely hear a few words like “concussion” and “broken ribs.”

My mind is clouded the entire time. Those buzzing noise, the crowd, the police, everything feels surreal.

The only thing real is Eason’s warm and firm hand and he’s holding my hand the entire time.

I was so scared that the police may take Eason away and throw him in jail. But that never happens.

Eason made a call and a man in sharp suit arrived thirty-minutes later. After a short negotiation with the police, he tells us that we are free to go. For now. “Thank you, David,” Eason shakes hands with him.

“Natalia, this is David Brown, our family lawyer. And please meet Natalia Moore, my sister.”

“My pleasure, Miss Moore. Sorry that we have to meet like this,” the man smiles at me. He seems very sophisticated. I’m a bit relieved that a professional like him is taking care of the issue.

“Let’s go home and talk then,” David looks at his phone. “Mr. Ramirez is expecting us.”

I gulp. Of course, with something huge like this, of course Mr. Ramirez will be involved. I feel guilty and partially responsible for everything. On the drive home, I can’t help but ask our lawyer, “Umm…Mr.

Brown?” “It’s David please.”

“Yes, David. I know it’s probably too soon to say anything, but do you think Eason will get into any troubles because of this?” “Well then, that depends on how badly that boy was injured and whether he wants to press charges against us. So we don’t know anything for sure right now,” he says. My heart sinks. Ah-oh, that sounds bad.

SS “Oh come on, Eason whines besides me. “Don’t get her all worried again.”

David laughs and casually shrugs, “But that’s why you have people like me to take care of things. So you can rest assure that Eason will be alright.”

Our car arrives at the townhouse shortly after. Mom is already expecting us outside. She rushes downstairs at first sight of us and drags me into her arms. “Oh my god Natalia,” she sobs. “How can things like this happen? Are you alright? Are you hurt?” “No I’m fine mom,” I pat her back. “Eason is more injured than I am. His knuckles are ripped.” “Sure, I’ll have someone bring over the first-aid kit,” she signs and turns over to David. “And Shawn is upstairs in his study. He said he wants to talk to you first.”

David nods and heads upstairs. Mom disappears into the kitchen making us some hot tea. So that leaves me and Eason alone in the living room.

“Hey,” he moves closer to me and holds my hand again. “Are you OK?”

I bite my lip and nods.

I really want to throw myself into his arms and kiss him and let him calm me down in his own special way.

My whole body is craving him.

But we can’t. We are at home. We have to control the way we look at each other to not let our secret get exposed.

“I’m sorry that our first date ends up like this,” he whispers to me. His beautiful green eyes trail my face, and it gleams with love and gentleness. Right. Our first date!

Hill I almost forgot. If I didn’t run into Zack, we are probably having the greatest time together right now. That makes me hate that bastard even more. I sign and ask him curiously, “what did you originally plan?” He stays quiet for a while and then says in a low voice, “I was going to take you to the Secret Garden.”

Secret Garden? I blink, “what’s that? Like a restaurant?” His body freezes. When he looks at me again, all those love and affections are gone. His face darkens with anger. “You don’t remember?” he asks in a strained voice. I’m startled by his reaction. Should I remember this place? I search my memories but no…I’ve never heard of it in my entire life. “I’m sorry but no,”I’m even more confused. “Maybe a small hint?” He snorts and looks away, taking his hand away from me. There it comes, the mood swing. I have no idea why he is pissed. Did I miss something that’s really important to him? “Eason,” I try to get him to talk to me again. “Don’t be like that. Maybe I forgot. What’s this Secret”

Yet I couldn’t finish because David has come downstairs to get us. “Eason and Natalia? Mr. Ramirez wants to see you both now.”