Chapter 13
Thaddeus was the only one in the Gardenia family who was decent to Lizetta.
Hans was a boozing gambler who beat his wife, and Jolin was a selfish jerk who only looked out for number.
one.
At ten, Thaddeus was Lizetta’s lifeline, and when they couldn’t escape, he’d just hug her tight and take the beating with her.
One blizzardy night, Hans lost big at gambling and, drunk as a skunk, beat Lizetta to within an inch of her life.
Thaddeus, hearing the news, hopped the school fence and raced home to find Lizetta had chomped off one of Hans‘ ears but was also nearly beaten to death herself, with blood everywhere.
Thaddeus carried Lizetta on his back and scampered to the Hawthorne family mansion for help, yet the latter were busy throwing a fancy shindig on a yacht for Evelina’s first violin gig.
With no other choice, he trudged three hours in the night to the Dashiell family villa, kneeling outside that was how Lizetta ended up getting taken in.
Time flew, and fourteen years zoomed by. Back then, Thaddeus fought for a chance at life for Lizetta, and now she wasn’t about to give up on him.
“Don’t sweat it, your brother’s stable, and Astoria’s setting up a lab specially for waking coma patients. I’m thinking of sending your brother there, especially since you aced Master Dories‘ interview and you’re heading. to Astoria too.”
“Being a medical guinea pig?” Lizetta hesitated.
Hogan nodded, “The lead prof, Professor Cohen, is a brain whiz. I swear, your brother won’t be worse off there. And I wouldn’t dare pull a fast one on you, tough girl.”
Hogan feigned fear.
Lizetta thought back to when they first met in the first year, taking shelter from the rain under an eave. She mistook him for a creep copping a feel and slapped him hard, telling him to get lost.
He didn’t even explain, just walked off into the rain, and only then did she realize a broken sign was to blame. for the “assault“.
The next day, she ran into Hogan again, and they were both wearing the same hoodie by coincidence. She rushed over to apologize, but he backed off defensively, pointing at his clothes..
“I’m really not a creep.”
Lizetta was mortified, even thinking about it made her face turn red. She covered her face, “Hogan, let’s not bring that up.”
Hogan chuckled, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses.
“By the way, won’t the treatment cost a fortune?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t break the bank. Plus, I’m planning to hit the books again and might join the institute.”
“That’s amazing! Hogan, I can’t thank you enough!” Lizetta was over the moon, a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
Thaddeus had been out for a year, and with each passing day, the odds of waking up dwindled. Now, at least there was a glimmer of hope.
“Maybe treat me to a meal? But you gotta cook it yourself. We’ll be schoolmates again in Astoria, so I’ll be expecting you to look out for me.”
Hogan glanced at her with a smile as refreshing as a gentle breeze. Both Hogan and Master Dories had the
1/2
Chapter 13
same alma mater.
“No prob,” Lizetta nodded, her smile beaming with hope for the future.
“Did you pick your audition piece yet?”
“I haven’t even made it past the resume.”
“No way you won’t make it. Get ready for the audition, Master Dories‘ tour is hitting our country next month, and the audition might just be then.”
Lizetta figured Hogan made sense and nodded.
“I’ve composed a new piece, thinking of choreographing it for the dance. What do you think, Hogan?”
“Sounds like a stellar idea.”
They chatted away, oblivious to the icy gaze of a man in a black Bentley, who watched them through two panes of glass.
When the car pulled up to Yolanda complex, Lizetta fumbled with her seatbelt, caught on her clothes.
“Let me check.”
Hogan leaned over to help her out.
“All good,” he smiled at her, their faces inches apart for a moment.
Feeling a tad uncomfortable, Lizetta quickly thanked him and got out, waving through the window.
“Drive safe on your way back, Hogan.”
The old complex’s driveway was tight, and Lizetta watched until Hogan safely drove off before heading inside.
It was pitch black; the motion–sensor light was kaput. Just as Lizetta reached for her phone for light, a strong force suddenly gripped her waist.
“Ah!” Lizetta cried out, her back slamming against the wall.
“So lovey–dovey, can’t bear to part, huh? Is he your new sugar daddy? Dumbass, you think he’s Mr. Nice Guy?” Came the chilling voice of a man.
Lizetta recognized the voice, her legs giving out before being hoisted back against the wall by her waist. She glared at his blurry handsome face and, peeved, decided to rile him up with some biting sarcasm.
