Chapter 4 Life or Death?

Chris's House – Same Night

As Chris and Jack are leaving the house, another man comes in the door.

"Jack, don't you realize that if Chris wanted to escape from us, those chains wouldn't stop him?" the man says. This man is about Chris's age and is in a position of authority.

"Sir, he's dangerous and I want to make sure that he doesn't try anything cute", Jack says as he tightens the chains on Chris. Jack knows that Chris and Jim are old friends and that Jim respects Chris more than him.

"Can we just get on with it?" Chris says.

"Jack, get him out of the chains and take him to our hospital", the man says.

"What? You want to give this traitor medical attention?" a very angry Jack asks.

"Yes", Jim says.

"Why delay it? Just execute me and get it over with" Chris says. He just wants the pain and misery to stop.

"I never said anything about executing you. After you get fixed up, we're going to have a little talk", Jim says as he pats Chris on the back. Isabella is watching this exchange with curiosity.

"Mrs. Smith, if you'd like to come to the hospital with us, I'll have one of our agents watch your son", Isabella feels that she's been ordered to come with them. She joins the men as they get in a black vehicle and head to the secret hospital.

Secret Hospital – Same Night

Chris is being attended to by the nurses and doctors. Jim and Isabella are observing from the observation room.

"Will he be alright?" Isabella asks Jim.

"Do you give a damn?" Jim asks Isabella.

"He's the father of my child. Of course I care if he lives or dies", Isabella says.

"That wasn't the answer that I was looking for. I guess you weren't the type of woman that I thought that you were", Jim says.

"What does that mean?" Isabella asks. She gets the feeling that Jim doesn't like or respect her.

"I thought that Chris would fall head over heals for a woman that would stand by her man through thick and through thin. You're not it. You're just another one of those Hollywood types – you used Chris to get a successful career and you've tied him to you with a child. You've made sure that you'll get part of his substantial fortune. After what Chris has seen in this world, I thought he'd realize that beauty is only skin deep. Obviously, he forgot that when he took a look at your extremely beautiful face", Jim says.

"Wait a minute! He cheated on me! He broke my heart. He put me through hell. I've been humiliated in the press!"

"You really need to get over yourself! That man lying on that hospital bed put his soul and life on the line for you! Do you think that Suzy just used him as a sex toy? She tortured him and he let her! He could have killed her at any time, but he couldn't because she threatened to have someone in her vast organization kill you!" Jim yells at her.

"You have no idea what it's cost him to save you! Physically, he'll be fine. Mentally, it's another story. Suzy used his love for you to break him. Her goal was to destroy him and I think that she may have done it. Of course, you don't give a damn – you've got your fame and your money!" Jim says.

"By the way, if you tell anyone about what happened tonight, you'll be terminated. Trust me, I'll enjoy it, but you won't. There's no reason for you to be here. Jack, escort this woman out of here!" Jim says as he walks away from her.

Chris's House – Two Nights Later

Since Chris had been in the hospital, Isabella had taken Zak home with her. Isabella had tried to see Chris in the secret hospital, but they wouldn't let her in. Over the past few days, she had really thought about what Jim had said. She had been hard and unforgiving to Chris – maybe she had been too hard on him. She was on her way over to Chris's house to find out if he was out of the hospital yet.

She walks up to the door and rings the door bell. No one answers. She uses Zak's keys to get into the house. She heads to Chris's study. She finds him with a revolver in one hand and his opium in front of him.

"What are you doing?" Isabella asks as she enters the room.

"Debating. I have three chances left out of six", Chris says.

"You can't do this to yourself!" Isabella says. She's shocked – she's never seen Chris this depressed or weak. She never thought that he'd think about committing suicide.

"Why shouldn't I? I've lost your love. My son doesn't respect me anymore. I'm addicted to opium. An eternity in hell would be better than this life" Chris says.

"Zak loves you and needs you. You can't do this to him", Isabella says.

"You're young and beautiful. You'll find a replacement father for him. He'll forget about me, he'll forget that I ever existed. One day, you'll forget the love that we had and all the good times that we had" Chris says as he picks up the revolver.

"No! No one will ever replace you in Zak's heart. You know that. If you do this, it will destroy him!" Isabella says.

"Would it destroy you? Or would you have fun at my farewell party?" Chris asks her.

"I wouldn't take any joy in your death. I would mourn you" Isabella says.

"Get out! Get out now!" Chris yells at her.

"Only if you promise me that you won't kill yourself", Isabella says to him.

"I promise. Please leave – I can't stand to look at you – it's just too much pain. It's more than I can stand", Chris says as he puts his head down and cries. Isabella leaves.

Chris's House – Next Night

Isabella has made soup and other food for Chris. She decides to stop by and check on him. She rings the door bell. A tall, black man answers the door. The man is a little younger than Chris.

"Hello, Mrs. Smith. I'm Chris's friend Damian. Here, let me take that bowl from you", Damian says as they enter the house.

"Is Chris here?" Isabella asks.

"No, ma'am", Damian says as they head to the kitchen.

"When will he be back?" Isabella asks.

"I don't know if he'll be back", Damian says.

"What? He didn't try to kill himself did he?' Isabella asks as they put the food in the kitchen.

"No. Other people are trying to kill him. It's up to him whether he lives or dies", Damian tells her.

"What does that mean?" Isabella asks as she starts to leave the house.

"I can't tell you. If Chris comes back, I'll tell him that you were here. Good day", Damian says as he closes the door behind Isabella.

Mediterranean Sea – That Night

The cargo shipped had exploded on schedule. Chris had just enough time to jump before the explosion. He was swimming in the rough seas. He came to many realizations as he fought for his life. First, he wanted to live. Second, he was going to beat his addiction to opium. Third, he was going to get his life back and that included the woman that ruled his heart.

Isabella's House – That Night

After that cryptic talk with Damian, Isabella had been worried about Chris. She knew that she shouldn't care about him. She wasn't supposed to love him any more, but they had been so much to each other. Since she had found out that he cheated on her, she had to fight her love for him. She'd had to stop herself from running back to him and begging him to stop his affair with Suzy.

Before Zak had been born, Chris was everything to her. He was her food, sunshine, laughter, and love. She had learned so much from him – he had taught her how to be a better person. He had been her best friend, lover, and the love of her life.

Tonight as she stared out the window and a storm blew around her, she felt as if her life was in the center of a storm. She sensed danger.