Dance with the Devil Ch. 10

"Marcellus, do you remember the story I told you about Karina when you asked me why I had no children?"

Marcellus could only nod. "I told you she was beautiful and full of life and that I only wanted the best for her. I told you she was dear to me and that I was ready to make her life a fairytale." Marcellus only nodded. "What I didn't tell you is that she was murdered. She was killed while carrying my child, or at least I thought it was mine until I found out about the affair she was having. I found out later that she was having an affair with someone I called friend. She was having an affair with your father." Carlo gave Marcellus time to process the information. Your father took away my one chance at happiness. You doing business with me, took away his. Karina was beautiful. I don't blame him for ruining our friendship over her." The older man continued to ramble as if he was alone in the room. "The car she was driving that day had a bomb attached to the ignition. It was intended for your father, but for reasons unexplained she was driving, and well we all know what happened after that."

Marcellus processed what had just been spat out at him. He went on to listen to the tirade that Carlo continued. Marcellus noticed how his father had been blamed for taking away Karina. She had fallen in love with him on sight. Marcellus remembered his father telling him of his one lost love. He remembered how there were times in unguarded moments his father would be sad. Marcellus remembered one particular argument his parents had and that was the last time he saw his mother alive. She stormed from the house with just her wrap. They later got a visit from the police saying that his mother had committed suicide and left a note. Marcellus was too young to understand and what was going on, and his father rarely mentioned his mother after the funeral.

"Carlo, don't do this. Take me. Let my wife go."

"No more talking!" Carlo raised his gun

Panic started to set in. Marcellus was scrambling for words. "Carlo, wait!" Carlo was moving toward Darien as he continued to speak to Marcellus. "Carlo, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Marcellus spoke with his weapon drawn and aimed at Carlo. Geronimo snatched Rya at the same time Carlo grabbed Darien. Church fired toward Geronimo and hit his shoulder. Marcellus watched as panic began to rise in Darien's eyes. He saw Rya kick the gun out of Geronimo's reach and step on the bullet in his shoulder. The giant screamed in agony and continued to hold his shoulder.

"Put the weapon down, Marcellus. I will kill her."

"Darien, look at me." Marcellus waited for her to make eye contact. "He is not going to hurt you." He said slowly. "Carlo is not going to hurt you. If he does, I will kill him." Darien nodded her head, but Marcellus could tell she was still afraid. Marcellus noticed that Carlo lower his gun just a bit. "Carlo, let her go."

Carlo pointed his gun toward Marcellus and Darien swung her arm back and hit her intended target right between Carlo's legs. This caused a series of gunfire and Darien and Rya's screams ripped through the room. Darien landed on the floor with Carlo on top of her.

Marcellus rushed toward her and screamed for Rya to call an ambulance. Marcellus ran his hands over Darien's body to ensure she had not been shot, and was relieved to find she had not, but he did notice her pants were wet. "Shit!" He screamed.

"Church, take care of this. I have to get her to the hospital now, her water broke."

The color in Darien's face became pale. Marcellus prayed that everything would work out. Rya sat in the back seat with Darien and kept rubbing her forehead as moisture appeared. He knew that if they lost this baby it would be the end for them as well.

When they reached the hospital, the emergency room staff took over. Marcellus and Rya were left alone in the waiting room while Darien was admitted and assigned a birthing room. Marcellus harassed every hospital staff member that walked passed. He had almost lost it a few times with some of the rude attitudes of a few nurses. Finally, the nurse who identified herself as Christine came out and allowed him and Rya to go into the room with Darien. Marcellus took one look at his wife's ashen face and turned away from her. Darien knew the guilt was eating him up.

"Marcellus." Her voice was weak but she could tell by the way his shoulders stiffened that he had heard her. She waited. Once he pulled himself together, he went over to her.

"I'm sorry, tesoro."

Darien shook her head as if to say no. "This is not your fault. You did what you said you would do. You didn't know Carlo would come after me and Rya."

"She's right Marcellus; there was no way to know."

"I was supposed to take care of you and the baby."

"You did. We just have to stay here until our daughter decides to make her grand entrance." Marcellus' head shot up. His eyes met Darien's and she realized he thought she had lost the baby. "They are going to move us to a private room tomorrow if I don't deliver tonight. Christine said that a doctor will be here any minute, and once I have been examined they will contact my doctor and possibly transfer me to the hospital that I already registered at."

Church peaked his head in the door and Marcellus excused himself. "What happened?"

"Everything is taken care of. I called in some reinforcements to help with the clean up, but its done."

"Thanks, Church Boy, I owe you one."

"Naw, we're even. Rya's alive and so is Darien. We are both free of Carlo, and can move forward with our lives. How's the baby?"

"We don't know much right now. Soon though."

"Well, until then we wait. Lets not keep the ladies waiting. My niece will be here any day now."

They waited through the night and nothing happened. Darien was admitted to a private room early the next morning and Rya waited with her while Marcellus went to get her a few things that she would need. It was explained to Darien that her water had broken and after a sonogram it was determined that her amniotic sack was completely empty and that she would be on complete bed rest until the baby was born. Antibiotics and a saline IV were inserted to keep Darien hydrated and to keep infection away.

Marcellus returned just as the doctor was giving her directions of bed rest and why the IV was necessary. She also explained the seriousness of her situation. It was explained to Darien and Marcellus that due to Darien only being twenty weeks pregnant that there was a high possibility that the baby would not make it and if so she may have problems. Darien began to cry and Marcellus crawled into bed with her and held her until she fell asleep.

"Hello, Mrs. Christos." The afternoon nurse was walking into the room with her usual greeting. Marcellus silenced her by putting his finger to his lips.

"She just got to sleep," he explained.

"Sorry," the young nurse replied.

Later that evening Darien awoke. Marcellus still held her in his arms. She gently caressed his cheek and he woke up. "What happened? Is something wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. I was just trying to get up. I have to used the bathroom."

"You are not allowed to get up. I will get the bedpan."

"Marcellus there is too much going on down there for you to take care of me."

Marcellus smiled and kissed her. "You do realize there is nothing down there I have not seen, right?"

Darien gasped, and Marcellus left the bed to get the bedpan. When Darien was done he cleaned her up and emptied the bedpan. He then got back into bed with her and wrapped her back in his arms. "I love you, tesoro." He kissed her temple. "I just want you to know that I love you and that everything will be ok. There is no way we have come this far to lose it all."

Darien looked up into Marcellus' eyes. "You're right everything will be just fine. I love you."

The nurse found them cuddled into the spoon position with Darien tucked safely in his arms; their hands intertwined on her stomach as if to protect their daughter.