Chapter 0009

"All the best heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary." Gerard Way

—

The stranger dragged Leo to a narrow empty street, and the boy didn't stop yelling and asking for help. Harvey followed them, swearing at the man as loud as he could. For once, he regretted not doing some cardio at the gym as he found himself short of breath very soon. But despite his lack of sportiness, Harvey succeeded to reach them and pulled the man's velvet sleeve.

"Leave him the fuck alone!" he shouted breathlessly.

"Mr Clarke!" Leo cried, his eyes wide as he recognised his dad's boss. He wanted to go to him, but the man tightened his grip around his wrist.

"Who the hell are you?!" the stranger, a man in his thirties, glared at Harvey. "What do you want with the child?"

"That's what I should be asking you," Harvey lifted a brow, "He doesn't know you, so why would he leave with you? Plus, who still pulls that trick, pretending to be the parents' friend?" he scoffed, "You need an update, man. It's so old school."

"Mr Clarke, please help me. This man wants to hurt me," Leo wiped his tears with his free hand. "I want papa."

Harvey gave him a small smile, "I will get you to him."

"My fucking ass, you will." the man muttered, "His dad owes us money. We warned him, but he's so late. We have no choice but to take his son while he gathers the money."

"Are you mad?!" Harvey looked at him with disbelief, "You agree to kidnap a five-year-old boy, scare him and leave him traumatised for life just for money?!" he shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. "This is absurd!" he exclaimed before he took his phone out of his pocket, "I'm going to call the police."

"No, you won't," the man slapped his hand, making the phone fall on the ground. He was about to run away with the kid, but Harvey was quick this time to pull his jacket and slam his back against the wall. Leo escaped from his grip and hurried to hide behind Harvey, sobbing for his papa and mama.

Harvey wasn't good at self-defence, but he learned some tricks from his bodyguards. He managed to dodge the man's punches, but he wasn't agile enough to follow his every moment. The man unexpectedly drew a knife from his pocket, and Harvey gasped when the cold metal came in contact with his skin.

"Mr Clarke!" Leo widened his eyes and cried louder when he saw the man placing his knife on Harvey's neck.

Harvey gulped and deeply inhaled as he tried to think of a way to escape from the stranger. He was so scared and panicky that he froze for a good while.

"Now, you're going to let me take the kid, and I leave you in peace," the man muttered behind his ear, "Or else, I won't hesitate to slice your neck."

Harvey never cared about others before. He got into fights, plenty of them, and making someone's nose bleed never affected him. If it were a different situation, he would accept the man's deal and let him take whoever he wanted. But not Leo. Looking at the kid's watery eyes broke his heart. His small body was shaking as well as his lips. The more he looked at him, the more he saw Eden, but in a miniature size. No, he couldn't be a coward this time and let him take Leo. What if they hurt him? What if Leo never sees his parents again? What if he spends his childhood alone, just like him?

"There's no fucking way," Harvey muttered before stepping on the man's shoe, provoking his groan. He took Leo's hand, and they started running. But the man was used to going after people. He quickly caught up and pulled Harvey's shoulder before punching him in the face. Harvey cried as he saw black for a few seconds, and his head pounded. "Asshole!" he yelled and roughly pushed the loan shark. "Leo, run!" he said as he followed him despite his dizziness.

He and Leo almost reached the end of the street, leading to the city centre, when the loan shark decided to throw a knife at Harvey's leg. He let out a groan as he felt a sharp pain in his thigh. Luckily for him and Leo, people started appearing, and the stranger had no choice but to retreat to avoid the police.

Harvey rested his back against the wall as he tried to stop the bleeding. "Leo... Please bring me my phone. He threw it there," he said, pointing at the device with his eyes. Leo ran to it and brought it back as fast as he could.

"Call emergencies, please," Harvey breathlessly said. Leo did as asked after the young man told him the address and what to tell the emergency dispatcher. Soon, people surrounded them more and asked them if they needed an ambulance. Leo told each one that he already called for one. He stopped crying as he was more worried about Harvey, whose thigh looked gravely wounded.

The ambulance arrived, and the paramedics hurried to help Harvey and Leo get inside. "Do you know your dad's phone number?" Harvey asked Leo, who nodded. "Here," he gave him his phone again, "Call him. Tell him we're heading to Green Park Hospital."

"Okay," Leo dialled his dad's number with shaky hands.

"What do you mean he's not here?!" Eden yelled at Olivia as soon as he arrived at Leo's school. She called him earlier, saying she didn't find their son at the usual place he would wait for her. They agreed with his teacher to let him wait outside if they're late in case she wanted to go back home or in case she had an emergency.

"I don't know!" Olivia shouted. "I called the teacher. She said he was waiting. She stayed with him for a while, but she got a call from her mum, and she needed to leave."

"This... This is insane," Eden ran his fingers in his hair as he looked around, feeling his entire body shaking. It was his last day to pay the loan sharks. He knew they might have something to do with Leo's sudden disappearance. He was about to call the police when his phone vibrated, and an unsaved number appeared on the screen. His heart jumped as he feared the worst.

"H—Hello?" he answered with a high pitched tone.

"Papa!"

Eden's legs were noodles as soon as he heard his son's voice. "Leo!" he yelled and sighed from relief. "Where... Where are you?"

"I'm with Mr Clarke in an ambulance,"

"Ambulance?!" Eden widened his eyes, and his chest tightened. "W—Why? What happened to you? Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay, papa. It's Mr Clarke who is hurt. He said we're going to Green Park Hospital."

"Okay," Eden nodded, "I... I will be there,"

"What happened?" Olivia asked as soon as he finished the call, "Is he alright?"

"Yeah," Eden sighed, "He's with my boss. He said he's hurt."

"Do you think it's the loan sharks?"

"Of course it's them, Olivia," Eden muttered, "And for this reason, you should fucking woman up and get a freaking job!" he yelled, "I'm done handling this shit alone!" he added before running to catch the bus heading to the hospital.

Eden ran to the reception counter. He told the nurses his son's name, and one of them guided him to the emergency room. Leo was sitting on one of the beds with a bandage around his wrist.

"Leo!"

The boy widened his eyes and ran to his dad to hug him tight, "Papa!" he sobbed in his shirt, "I was scared. The man wanted to take me with him."

"I know," Eden gulped and caressed his hair, "I'm sorry." he knelt in front of him and wiped his tears. "I thought you weren't hurt," he said, looking at the bandage.

"Just a little," Leo sniffed, "The doctor said I have a swollen wrist. It's because that bad man kept pulling me."

Eden clenched his fists as he thought the loan sharks went too far this time. He had been paying for years, and after being late for two months, they decided to take harsh measures.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Eden guided Leo to his bed and made him sit down. "What did the man do to you?"

"He lied to me," Leo crossed his arms, "He said he's a friend of mum. He grabbed my wrist, but Mr Clarke ran after us."

"Oh," Eden widened his eyes when he remembered Harvey. "Where is he?"

"At surgery, I heard the nurse say," Leo replied, "The bad man stabbed his leg."

"Oh, man," Eden scratched the back of his neck.

"It's all my fault," he mumbled to himself. "Mr Clarke saved me," Leo rested his little hand on Eden's shoulder, "He fought with the bad man."

"Did he?" Eden gave him a small smile, "I'm glad then, even though he's hurt now."

"I'm sure he can survive," Leo smiled, "Mr Clarke is a superhero."

A nurse approached later to announce the doctors finished Harvey Clarke's surgery. Eden held Leo's hand, and both headed to the elevator. For the first time in his life, Eden stepped inside the VIP floor. Unlike the regular emergency room, the flooring was fancier, and there were plants and paintings at every corner. It was also calmer than the main floor, and the nurses wore a different uniform, a prettier one.

Eden knocked on the door and entered. Harvey was lying on the bed wearing a hospital gown. Bandage circled his thigh, and Harvey's face was pale because of the anaesthetics. "Mr Clarke!" Leo ran to his bed.

"My friend!" Harvey grinned despite his exhaustion and opened his arms to let the boy hug him. "I'm glad you're alright."

"I was worried about you." Leo pouted and hid his face in his shoulder.

Harvey chuckled and slowly moved his hand to his head and ruffle his soft hair, "I'm fine, my friend. I'm great!"

Eden gulped and slowly approached the bed. "How are you feeling?" he nervously asked.

"Good," Harvey replied, "But there are some things you need to tell me," he added with a more serious tone this time.

"I know," Eden sighed and gently patted Leo's back. "I don't know how to thank you."

"There's no need." Harvey said as he caressed Leo's hair, "He's my friend, and I always help a friend in need." Eden smiled and nodded. "Though there's something you could do for me," Harvey looked at him with a smirk. Oh, that smirk Eden feared.

"What can I do?" Eden asked, expecting the worst.

"I do need a bodyguard, obviously," Harvey shrugged, "But from today onwards, you're going to have to update your curriculum."

Eden lifted a brow as he waited for him to continue.

"Be my nurse," Harvey smirked.

👔

Daddy Harvey to the rescue!

Hope you liked this chapter ❤️

👔 Do you think Eden would dare ask for money after Harvey got hurt?

👔 Will Olivia finally wake up and start helping her husband?

👔 A beautiful meeting in the next chapter! Guess who?

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