Chapter 2

Tasha had been sitting down in front of an officer for almost an hour. They questioned her for thirty minutes, but she couldn't say a word. She looked up at the clock, and it was 9pm.

"Sir, I need to use the toilet." She excused.

The officer looked at her for a few minutes and directed. "Go that way."

She curtsied her head and went into the toilet. She quickly took out her phone and dialed Talon’s number three times but he didn’t pick it.

"What should I do?"

She looked up at the ceiling, biting her lower lip and a thought passed through her mind and she quickly sent him a message and the police station address.

Someone knocked on the door and she looked at the door with a shocked-surprised tone. "Hun?!"

"Are you not done?" An officer’s voice came from outside the toilet. She quickly switched off the phone and hid it in her pocket.

"I am coming!" She uttered. She washed her hands and cleaned her face with water before she walked out.

He looked at her suspiciously and fixed his eyes on her eyes. "What took you so long?"

She pointed her thumb across her neck to the toilet door. "I am…"

He wrapped his hands around his waist and shook his head left and right. "You want to lie? Do you think the law will overlook a criminal offense because you are a female?"

"Sir, I am not a criminal." She declared.

"Then what are you?" He asked.

She looked down in guilt, unable to say a word.

"Please move. Since you are not ready to talk, I am taking you to the cell." He notified.

She raised her eyebrows and scowled her face. She rubbed her hands in a seeking manner. "Please, let me confess to you."

"Okay." He listened carefully.

"I am a nurse…" she poured out and paused. She was afraid to open up more because she might lose her job and land in a heavier problem than the one she was trying to prevent.

He fenced his waist with his hands and stood straight with interest. "So?" 

He patiently waited for her to continue, but she settled her gaze on the floor.

"So, what happened?"

She closed her eyes and her palms, summoning all the confidence in her. "Actually, I went to the seaside…" 

She was ready to speak but a junior officer came in. 

"Sir! Someone is here to see you." The junior officer notified.

"Okay," he said. He looked at Tasha and nodded. "Come out, you will explain the rest to me."

He walked out, and she sighed, standing densely in one spot.

The officer got out of the toilet corner and saw Talon. He smiled at Talon from afar and walked closer.

"Good day, sir." He greeted me.

They shook hands, and Talon responded. "Good day."

"Why are you here, sir?" The officer threw a question, walking to his seat. 

Talon drew a chair closer and sat down adjacent to the officer.

"I came here with these two women," Talon pointed to two women that came with him. 

"We are here to report an incident that happened at the seaside. Some gangsters broke into a village and hurt people there." He reported.

The officer looked at the women and waved at them to move closer.

The women moved closer, trembling in fear. 

"It’s fine now. Come closer and have your down seat." The officers smiled in a welcoming manner.

The women bowed their heads a little and sat down beside Talon.

"Explain everything, will you?" He asked.

The women looked at each other's faces and nodded. "Yes."

Tasha came out of the bathroom and saw Talon. 

"Talon!" She ran to him and hugged him. 

He wrapped his arms around her in a welcoming manner. "What happened? Why are you here?"

She separated her body from his body and lifted her head up at him in . 

"What’s it?" He asked.

"Do you know her?" The officer’s question came from behind.

Talon veered around to him. "Yes. She is my friend. She is a nurse at our hospital. Why is she here?"

"We met her at the gangster’s hangout. She is one of them." The officer poured out. His voice was high like he was so sure.

Talon frowned at his face in disbelief. He turned back to Tasha. "What happened? What are you doing with the gangsters?"

She looked up at him, and her voice stammered. "Human… actually."

"You told me you were going to the seaside to treat some villagers. Did the gangsters kidnap you and threaten to treat them?" He asked.

Tasha saw that as an opportunity and she quickly shook her head. "Yes, that’s what I was trying to explain, but they didn’t give me a chance to talk."

Talon turned to the officer and explained. "She is the nurse I assigned to take care of people at the seaside. The gangster kidnapped her to treat them."

The officer looked down, and he elevated his left shoulder. He pointed his right hand at Tasha and looked at Talon. "But sir, she said nothing since she is here."

Tasha broke in at the middle of the officer’s statement. She elevated her shoulder and spoke with confidence. "You didn’t allow me to say anything, you just bundled me like you caught me with an offensive thing. That's what I was trying to explain to you earlier!" 

"I am sorry, ma." The officer bowed his head.

Tasha looked away from him and raised her gaze up, angrily. She crossed her hands on her chest, scoffing. 

"I will call my lawyer and let you face the law. But I will leave because you guys are doing your job. Next time, don’t just accuse people. Do an investigation."

The officer curtsy again with a smile. "Thank you, ma. We won’t make that mistake again."

"Better. Can I go now?" She asked.

"Of course, you can." The officer smiled, welcoming.

She held Talon’s hand to walk out. "Let’s go." 

"Go to the car, I will join you soon," Talon took her hand off him. He pointed to the women beside him and explained. "I am here with these women to report the gangsters that kidnapped you."

"Okay."

She walked out and Talon turned back to the officer to left his statement.

{THIRTY MINUTES LATER}

Talon and the women walked out of the station and stood beside the road. He waved at a cab and it stopped in front of them.

"You can go in, ma." He opened the door for them.

"Thank you, sir." The women bowed their heads.

He jerked his head with a smile. "You are welcome. You can always come to me if you need anything. A call will do if you are afraid to come."

The women bowed their heads again and got into the car. He watched the car going, waving his hand.

After the car had moved a little, he walked to his car. He entered and met Tasha pressing her phone. 

She stopped pressing her phone immediately he entered, and she smiled. "Thank you."

He looked into her eyes and bursted into a mocking laughed.

"What happened? Why are you laughing?" She questioned. She checked her face with her phone glass to see if anything was on her, but she saw nothing.

He stopped smiling and poured out his mind, in a serious tone and look. "Tasha, you didn’t go to the seaside to treat the villagers, you used my question as a coverup, right?"

She looked down like a thief cut in stealing and jerked her head. "Yes."

"You went there to treat the gangsters, right?" He caught her.

"Yes." She shook her head.

"Why Tasha? Why are you doing this? You promised me you would stay at home." He let out in disappointment.

Sadden tears filled her eyes, but she didn't allow them to come out. She sighed and closed her eyes. She opened them and shook her head. "Yes Talon, it's true that I promised you. But…"

He looked at her with worries. "But what?"

She embarked on a silent journey for seconds. She didn't want to tell him what was wrong because she didn't want to keep owing him what she knew she could never pay back.

"Talk to me Tasha. If you don't tell me what's wrong with you, who else will you tell?"

"Mum called me earlier that her medical fee has increased and Noelle just got an admission so we must pay for the institution tomorrow or she will lose it…"

She paused for a minute and the caged tears pulled out speedily. She wiped it with the back of her left hand and he helped her wipe the remaining with his middle finger. 

"Stop crying and talk to me." He said.

"Also, they will send Adele out of school tomorrow if I fail to send her fees tomorrow," she explained.

"There is nothing I can do more than this."

Uncontrollable tears rushed out more and he drew her head closer and gave her the perfect consoling hug he always gave her whenever she needed it.

He raised her head up from his shoulder and held her head lightly in her and looked straight into her eyes. "What will you do now that you can’t have the payment for the treatment?"

"I don't know. I am tired." Her voice cracked in pain. 

"Tasha, I told you to always call me if you need anything. Why don’t you call me when this happens?" He said in a painful tone.

She looked down, squeezing her hands on her lap. "I am sorry, but I don’t want to keep owing you. You have always been my helper since we were in college,"

"It has been fifteen years since you have always been there for me and I have never been able to do anything for you. I have never helped you, anyway. Not even for once."

"Have I ever complained to you? Did I tell you I am tired of helping you?!" He raised his voice at her unintentionally.

He caged her tiny hands in his hands and locked his eyes straight into her eyes. 

"Having you beside me means a lot more than you can ever imagine. You can’t be more useful than that,"

"From now on till I say I can’t help you anymore, always come to me. I am always on the go to do anything that will make you happy."

He shook his head in a questioning manner. "Okay?"

She slowly nodded. "Okay."

He held her cheeks and lifted her face up, letting their eyes speak to each other with expressions. 

"Promise me you will do no quack job again. No matter what happens." He requested.

She beamed at him and crossed her heart. "I promise."

He took his phone out of his chest pocket and opened the bank app. 

"How much is the money?"

She muted for seconds, and he looked up at her face.

"How much money do you need? Everything." He asked again.

"Three hundred and fifty dollars." She answered in a low, shameful tone.

"Is that all or are you lying? Tell me the exact amount or I may get mad at you if I find out later that you lied." He queried.

"That’s all."

He did the transaction, and an alert peep entered her phone in the next three seconds.

She looked at the message and opened her mouth in awe. She opened her mouth to talk but happiness made her dumb. She covered her mouth and shook her head.

She looked at his face, and her mouth followed her order. "You sent five hundred thousand dollars!"

He put the phone down and looked away from her face. "Forward that to mum and let me know if it’s not enough."

She hugged him from the side. "Thank you so much! You are the best friend anyone could ever find."

"You will forever own a special place in my heart. I love you, Talon." She shouted in joy.

His ear large and he looked at her till she noticed and stopped talking.

"Did you truly love me?" He asked a question.

She hit him on the shoulder and nodded, beaming. "Of course, I do. If I don't love you, who will I love?"

"Tasha, do you think any lady will reject me if I propose to her?" He asked.

"No. Why will a smart lady reject you? You possess everything a woman wishes for in a guy. If any lady rejects you, that lady must have lost her sense." She said,

He was unrest, and over the moon to hear her say those sweet words. "Are you sure?!"

She nodded. "Yes…"

She easily read his expression and she stopped smiling. "But why are you asking?"

He shook his head to get out of thoughts. "Nothing, don't worry. I watched a movie about that and was wondering if what happened in it is possible."

"What's the title of the movie? I would like to watch." She showed interest.

"Hun… title?" He was speechless. He wiped the worries with a smile and opened his eyes wide, shaking his head. 

"What should we do tonight?" He consulted.

"I don't know." She answered.

"Okay. I will be on vacation for a week. So, let’s go to a club and spend a little time since we will not work tomorrow." He suggested.

She nodded in support. "Okay,"

She looked at her dress and withered. "My dress doesn't fit for an outing, I need to change into something nice."

He looked at her and smiled. "You don't need to change. You look good in anything you wear. Just take off the jacket and untie your hair, and we are good to go,"

"I am very sure no lady’s beauty can beat yours among the ones in the club."

She blushed and smiled, teasing. "Jalyn is more beautiful than me."

He looked at her for a moment and kissed her forehead. "I have seen none woman as beautiful as you."

<<AT THE CLUB>>

They got to the club, but it was filled up, and they didn’t allow them in.

He looked at her and took a deep breath. "What should we do?"

She wrapped her hands around her waist and sighed. "Let's book a room and celebrate ourselves privately. At least to my new life of not being a quack nurse anymore,"

"Or what do you think?"

"It’s fine." He grinned. 

He walked closer to her and wrapped his hand around her neck. And they walked into the hotel reception.

The receptionist smiled at them immediately as they entered and she bowed her head. "Good day, sir,"

She turned a little to face Tasha and curtsied. "Good day, ma. You are welcome to Steve Stevens hotel. A place where customers are prioritize. Your satisfaction is our concern."

"Thank you." 

She raised her head and faced Talon. "Which room do you want, sir?"

"Cloud nine should be okay." He stated his need.

"Okay, sir," she smiled. She stretched her left hand forward to him. "Your card, sir."

He took out his wallet and took his card out.

"Here." He gave her the card.

"Thank you, sir." She collected the card and put it into the machine. "Overnight or few hours?"

He looked at Tasha’s face for approval. "Overnight or just some hours?"

"It will be too late to go home. Let's stay overnight." She answered.

"Should we book two rooms?" He inquired.

She looked at him in confusion and elevated her shoulder to her neck. "Why are you like this now?" 

"This won’t be our first time sleeping together, book a single room."

"Single room for overnight." Talon talked to the receptionist.

"Okay, sir," 

The receptionist deducted the charges and handed him his card with the passcode plastic card.

"Enjoy your stay, sir,"

"Enjoy your stay, ma."

They entered the elevator to the last floor. Immediately he opened the door and entered the room, she fell on the bed, tired.

He turned on the light and sat down beside her. "What’s it?"

She stood up and sat at the bed edge. "I am tired and hungry." She opened up.

"What will you eat?" He asked.

"Rice."

He stood up and walked to the telephone on a small table beside the bed. 

"Cloud nine, room twenty-one. We need two plates of rice and red wine." he ordered. He put the table phone down and walked back to her.

"I have ordered it, it will be here soon."

She rubbed her stomach and wore a discomfort facial expressions. 

"It should be here early or I may collapse."

"I want to use the restroom." She stood and walked into the bathroom.

She came out three minutes later. He quickly stood up and took three steps closer to her. He kneeled down in front of her and took out a ring. 

"I love you, Tasha. Please marry me."

Tasha looked at him for a second with her eyes screaming confusion. She burst into laughter and clapped her hands.

"Is this a joke or rehearsal? When did you act? Are you keeping things from me?"

"I am not acting and this is the only thing I am keeping from you. I have wanted to tell you a long time ago but I don't know how to express myself." He said in a low pitiful tone.

She smiled at him and pulled his leg. "You should have just said it, anyway. But since when have you been planning to propose to your girlfriend that I didn't know?"

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Tasha, this is not a joke." He voiced out.

"I know. But I didn't believe you had a girlfriend till now you are practicing how to propose to her." She giggled.

"Tasha, I am proposing to you. I love you and I want you to marry me." He looked straight into her eyes.

She embarked on a minute silent journey and looked at him dumbly. She had a lot to say but her mouth refused to open. She wanted to believe everything was a dream, and she pinched herself to get back to reality.

She took a step backward and sighed. "Stop this, Talon. I can't…"

Talon stood up on his feet. He held her right hand and put it on his chest so she could hear his heartbeats. 

"You said you loved me earlier, didn't you love me? Is everything a lie?" His voice lowered in confusion.

"I love you so much. But I just can't do this." She opened up.

"Then what?!" He raised his voice.

"What else do you want after everything I have been doing for you?!"

"I dedicated my life and everything to you, but you still don't love me?!" He yelled at her.

She closed her eyes and opened them. She breathed in and out. "I love you!" She yelled.

"Then this shouldn't be hard to do. Should it?" He screamed.

He took a step closer to her, and she took three steps back. He took another step closer to her, and she took three steps back.

"Did you hate me now because I confessed my feelings to you? Is it that hard for you to do?" He said in a weak voice.

"I don't hate you…" she confessed.

"Then, accept me…"

She shook her head in opposition. "I am sorry, Talon. I can't accept your feelings. I am sorry, I just can't."

"You must accept me!" He yelled and she shook in fear.

His eyes turned dangerously red, and he wore a demonic smile. He stopped smiling and looked into her eyes for seconds. He burst into a weird laughter that lasted for minutes and grabbed her hands by force.

"You have no option." He tried to kiss her, but she turned her mouth away.

He grabbed her cheek, and she groaned in discomfort. She hit his hand, but he didn't leave her. 

He pushed her on the bed and took off his clothes and climbed on her top.

She struggled to push him away but her strength was nothing compared to his strength. 

He made efforts to kiss her, but she did everything and didn't allow his mouth to reach her mouth.

"It seems you don't really want this but I can't let fifteen years stress go in vain just like that,"  

He caged her head in his hands and shook it till she felt dizzy and her body weakened. 

"I started paying your school fees from our first year in college till we graduated," 

He smiled with a part of his mouth.

"I sponsored you throughout your nursing school and I am still assisting you till now. I am sorry I have to do something you don't want." 

He pinned her neck on the bed and unzipped his trousers. 

She struggled to breathe, but she let her hand reach the telephone on the table beside the bed and she smashed it on his head.

"Ouch!" A painful moan left his mouth. He held his head and fell down from her. He groaned in pain on the bed, holding his head. 

She stood up and stared at him, sweating. She wanted to run out, but she was afraid he might bleed to death if she leave him alone.

She moved closer to him, and he grabbed her by force. She pushed him back onto the bed and ran out. 

{FORTY MINUTES LATER}

Tasha ran with the highest capacity her leg could speed. She didn't look back, and she continued running till she got to a dark area. 

She bent down, placing her left hand on her knee and the right on her chest, panting heavily with her eyes closed.

A second later, the street light suddenly turned on and she saw someone lying down helplessly on the floor in front of her toes.

"Oh, my!" She screamed and moved back a little.

Her heart beat at its highest rate and, it was escaping breathing, watching the person. 

She gathered all her confidence and took her steps one after the other till she got there. She eyed him and looked around. 

She bent down to touch him but a sudden thought strike her mind and she moved back.

‘This might implicate me. I should just leave….’

She stood up and turned to leave but another thought paved way into her mind.

‘Check if he is still breathing.’

She turned back to him and moved closer. She bent down and put her ear on his chest, placing her hand on his nose.

"He is still breathing!" She shouted with a smile. She quickly covered her mouth and looked around to check if no one heard her. 

She took out her phone and called the hospital.

"There is an emergency at…" 

She tore the guy's clothes and tied them to his arms. 

The guy stopped breathing, and she passed some air into his mouth with a kiss, till he breathed again. 

She stood up and walked back and front. She looked at the road every second till the ambulance arrived thirty minutes later.

The ambulance drove to the street and packed. Juliana and Jalyn quickly got down and picked up the guy.

They rushed him into the ambulance and installed an oxygen in his nose. They put an injection in his drip.

Jalyn tapped his left hand continuously till vein showed, and she consistently gave him five injection.

Juliana came out with a smile. "His condition is normal now. He is breathing at a normal speed."

"Thank you," Tasha smiled. "Should I follow you?"

"Why not?" Juliana beamed.

Jalyn came out and pushed Tasha away. "Why will you follow us? Did we come together?"

They rushed the guy to the hospital and Tasha looked at the ambulance till she couldn't see it anymore.

She wrapped her hands on her waist and walked slowly because she was too weak to run.

"This place is too dark. How will I get home?"

She heard footsteps and looked back.

"Talon?!"