Chapter twenty

Dedicated to o990T211

Mary....

I woke up not sure how long I was out. I  wasn't sure if I was dead or alive as I squinted at the light.

My eyes adjusted. Oh it's just the sun rays, I thought to myself. Wait where am I? I looked around the room and tried sitting up. I winced at the surging pain that shot through my lower left abdomen.

I looked at the bandage wrapped around. Oh I was shot.... And I'm at a hospital. Regaining my memory I laid back down.

A nurse came in, seeing me awake, she smiled. "Oh you're awake, great. Uh you have some visitors would you like them to come in? " She asked still smiling.

"uh, yeah sure" I said smiling back.

A few minutes later the door opened, Alice walked in with a smile and her parents followed behind. Wait where's John?  Best for last remember? I shook my head smiling at my thought.

"I heard what happened and I took the quickest plane back here" Alice said hugging me also being careful with the wound.

"How are you feeling?" Mrs Patterson asked.

"I'm okay, I guess."

"We're glad you're okay" Mr Patterson said.

I smiled at them gratefully.

"We brought flowers." Alice said putting the beautiful roses in a vase.

"Hi" John said coming in nervously. And there he was....my heart.

"hi" I said smiling back. He's okay.

"okay Mom and Dad let's give these two some time together" Alice said pushing her parents out.

As they left John began.

" I'm sorry, I should have been there, I-"

"No, it's okay"  I said cutting him off.

He walked to me, cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. We kissed with  passion and fear, fear that we would have lost each other. But we were here now..... thank God.

"I love you" he said as we separated.

"I love you too" I said to him and he kissed my fore head.

"you made me worried sick." he said.

"Especially the phone call, I thought something happened to you." he continued.

"well I'm fine now aren't I?"

"well, yeah. But still."

I smiled at him and said."but I'm okay." Then he smiled knowingly.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"well, about two days, but it's important that you're fine."

"okay, but I don't understand how did the cops and Marcus and everything, what happened?" I asked.

"well let's say we had help. I'll be right back."

A few minutes later he came back with Marcus. He sure has a lot to explain. He had a few bruises on his face and arm but he seemed okay.

"you we're an undercover cop the whole time? " I asked a bit pissed he didn't act sooner.

"Well yes, we've been trying to track him for a while. He changed his name a couple of times but some how stuck with Luke. Luke is a smart guy, we had to study him and the people he worked with, he's being doing this for years. I had to show them my loyalty or I'd never get to the roots. We suspected your disappearance had to him but we needed a way in. We didn't just need to get him, we needed to take him out from the inside out."

"wait how did you know about my disappearance?" I asked, I already knew what was coming but I wasn't ready for it.

"Oh yeah, your brother has been trying to look for you."

"Oh" so he did care.

"But.. how, how did you even get to him.... I mean it's Luke" I asked

"The important thing is that you're safe but let's just say the lukeaid lounge was a good lead."

Wow, he was probably going to get caught sooner or later, he just never saw it coming.

"Wait, I heard a gun shot who-"

"After you were shot, I shot him on his leg but he's fine."

"Okay.....what about Jock and huge guy, I mean Damon? Sorry about the questions"

"They tried to escape but they were apprehended."

"He has other branches too, what if-"

"they were all traced down, you have nothing to worry about." John said.

"Emily helped out too" he continued.

I couldn't believe, well of course I had too. I don't have to be dragged around anymore. I can finally be me. It good to finally feel free. It feels great to have justice.

Thank you God, I have a shot at leaving a better life, I just wish Luke could have seen that.

I took a long sigh of relief.

"Wow Martin" I said in retrospect.

"You know what the ironical thing is?"

"What?"  Marcus asked.

"The day I was sent off with luke, he was so nice to me... He told me to call him uncle Matty" I laughed a little shaking my head.

"I completely forgot about that. He told me to stop eventually. But it's over now. Thank you so much Marcus." I sighed.

"Just doing my job" He said with a smile.

A huge realization hit me.

"Wait the necklace!" I gasped I tried sitting up, but the pain on my stomach pushed me back down.

"Careful" John said.

"No the necklace, Luke took it"

"That shouldn't be a problem, we'll get it back." Marcus said assuring me.

"What if he sold it?"

"Mary, it's okay, it wasn't your fault he took it" John said to me.

"But what if he did, money doesn't grow on trees you know"

"Like I said it wasn't and isn't your fault" I sighed.

"Okay..... Thank you Marcus, John, Thank you"

"There's someone else you should thank" John said Marcus nodded in agreement and said.

"A few days ago, I went over to John's house, we needed more details, we needed to know more about Luke and what you were going through. John brought up Emily actually and from there we got to trace every strip club he had. There were other girls held against their will, it wasn't just you. And some one else who Contributed from the beginning, came along."

"Who, who are you talking about?" I asked trying not to figure out the answer.

"It's good to know you're fine, Mary, John would take it from here." with that Marcus left, and John began unsure.

"I think it's best when you get discharged."

"wait what, now I really want to know what's going on"

"Just rest for now okay?"

"Really?"

"Please"

"......fine, okay."

A few days later, Emily, Kelly and Ed came visiting.

"I can't believe you were held against your will and didn't tell anyone" Kelly said a bit pissed.

I sighed "I couldn't really...."

"Well the important thing is that it's over." Ed said.

"Thank God, your okay." Emily said hugging me gently.

I asked Kelly and Ed how they knew.

"well it's all over the news" Kelly said.

"oh, yeah..."

It's over. I thought to myself. I'm free, finally. "Thank you God."

•~•~•

A few weeks later, I was discharged, the doctor said I recovered great. But I had to stay on a wheel chair for the mean time and visit a physician.

I stayed at John's, I pretty much had no where to go. Shannon, Alice, Roland and John where all so caring, their parents also came to check up on me from time to time. They were indeed amazing people. How did I get here..... God is faithful...Thank you God. They necklace was found. Luke had it on him on his arrest. I wore it and haven't taken it off since.

I kept wondering who the person I was supposed to thank was and why everyone kept changing the topic when I brought it up.

I already had an idea but I just didn't want to believe it.

John kept telling me to wait patiently, I probably won't be ready for it. Won't be ready for it? Why won't I be ready for it...could it be..... No, it couldn't it, shouldn't, there's no way.

Alice came upstairs to my room, well the guest's room, helped me get ready and said to me.

"Well, your cliffhanging is no more." I looked at her confused.

"I mean the person you're meant to thank is already here, come on cliffhanger, cliffhanging"

"yeah I get it" I said smiling at her. She smiled back but then her smile fell to worry.

"Just know that it probably won't be what you're expecting." She said.

"okay, it's fine."

As we came out, she carefully pushed me down stairs on a wheel chair ramp.

Everyone looked at me, I was confused, I didn't know he's parents would came but it was cool.

I recognized everyone except one person. He stood up nervously, not sure of him self and walked to me. He swallowed nervously as he stood in front of me. I looked at him closer then stopped at his eyes...... It can't be.

"Jay? Jaden" I asked confused. Is it really him?

"ye-yes.. It's me"

Immediately I  was consumed with emotions. Pain, anger, betrayal I tried to focus on the fact that he tried to help, but at that moment pain from the broken and hurt ten year old girl resurfaced.

I let out a little sob " I'm sorry I can't"

I wheeled myself out through the back door I  heard John call, but I ignored it.

I stopped, staring at the swimming pool.

"Mary? " John called again.

"please not right now,  I can't, I need some time please." I said and wiped my tears but they kept coming down.

"Mary, please just give him a  chance he didn't mean to hurt you"

I shook my head in pain.

"I know it's hard but I've seen him and he's angry with himself for letting you go, you should forgive him. You made me realize that with my Dad, I forgave him, you should forgive your brother too. He loves you. I want you to know that. Give him a chance."

I knew he was right, I was supposed to let the pain go, but it was hard to. I should forgive and I want to, I know I should, but it's hard.

"please Mary."

I sniffed and said "I'll try.. "

"Can you please just hear him out?"

I nodded yes.

I took a deep breath and let it out.

God please help me, I know I'm supposed to forgive him and let the past go. Especially now that I'm here. Please help me.

I heard footsteps behind me, I knew it wasn't John's.

"Mary" He called. I remembered the voice, but its a lot more mature.

I stayed quiet before deciding the right time to reply.

"Finally got that deep voice you wanted huh? " I said as I turned myself around.

"uh, yeah" Jaden said, not sure if he was supposed to smile or not.

He looked at ground then back at me. His face intertwined with worry, disappointment.

"Mary, I'm sorry, sorry for everything I never should have sent you away, I was scared confused, hurt,  I was given a sudden responsibility, but I should have never let you go please Mary I'm sorry, I should have never, I shouldn't have."

He rushed his words but I could tell he meant it. He knelt down in front of me. His voice laced with plea.

"You're right, you should have never let me go, especially to someone we barely knew, to another country, even if he was some what family. You could have at least sent me to boarding school or something."

"I know and I'm sorry, please forgive me. I hated myself for sending you off like that. I tried to reach you and find you,"

"yeah, I heard." I said to him.

I had to forgive him. I was hurt, but it was in the past now. I no longer had to deal with Luke anymore. Plus I probably wouldn't have met John. It's time to let the past go and focus on the new.

"Jaden, as much as I hated you for sending me off,..... You're still my brother and.... I love you. I shouldn't have let my emotions get to me, so........I, I forgive you."

"You...I, thank you" He said as he reached out and hugged me.

God has shown me an amazing love, and I'd like to share that.

"I'm really sorry Mary." He apologized again.

"it's okay."

"Woohoo family reunion!" Alice said a throwing her hands up in the air as they all came outside to meet us. Her mother scolded her for shouting.

"Oh let her be liz" Mr Patterson said to her.

"so I can call you MJay? Like old times?" Jaden said standing up.

"Too soon" I said.

His face drops.

"But yeah... you can Jay." I said smiling. his face grew hopeful again. It's good to see that face light up.

"so I guess we could tell her now?" John said walking to us.

"what? Surprises again? " I said.

"well" John began.

"The Jarius incorporated and Patterson corporations are officially partners." He continued grinning.

"What? No way" I said as Joy steered up within me.

"yes way." John said.

"And which means you get back your half of the company and we'll all work together as partners." Jaden said finally.

"you, you can't. No" I said completely speechless.

I couldn't stop the tears from escaping, I didn't want to. It was tears of Joy.

I couldn't believe it. My life was back together again. My brother is back, an amazing man loves me and an amazing people who consider me as family. Clearly this, this was all God. He heard my cry and delivered me, from all my fears.

Indeed God is faithful.

"I'm sorry, I just, I can't believe it" I said still crying.

"The Lord works in Mysterious ways dear" Mr Patterson said. I looked up at him and smiled.

God did a lot more than I expected. Indeed he does abundantly above, all we ask. This was way more than I expected, way.

"Thank you God."