32 Blacktop Obsession
"Shay?" She shook her hand. "Shay, you okay?" Kaidyn asked quietly, watching her sister sleep on the rail of her bed. She didn't look like herself.
"Boys, can you step outside?" Shayde asked, her voice a hoarse whisper, her mouth dry from just waking up.
"We'll be right outside." Tej nodded, watching Roman look at Kaidyn in grabbed his arm, half hugging and half dragging him out the room.
"Yo, I think she about to chew her up and spit her out, Homie." Roman said, shaking his head, hating to be in Kaidyn's shoes right now. "She don't look happy wit her." He shook his head.
"Let it be, man. It's her family." Tej said, watching Brian walk out as well.
"Shay, I am glad you are okay." Kaidyn smiled, happy to see her sister as she played with the end of her blonde hair.
"Kaidyn, what were you thinkin?" Shayde asked in such a calm voice it gave Kaidyn chills. She shrugged, not sure of what to say. "Why would you pull that when you know...we are here… and how things are?" Shayde asked, folding her arms and sighing.
"I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional." Kaidyn said, her eyes welling up with tears from shock at how Shayde was being.
"Do I need to have them drug you some more before you pull another stunt like that?" Shayde asked cooly, Kaidyn shook her head, her eyes wide.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to…" Kaidyn trailed off, her face becoming red. Shayde could tell the panic was starting to creep back in by the way her heart rate was picking back up. She took a deep breath.
"It's okay. I just need you to practice the stuff we talked about to try stay calm." Shayde replied, reaching over to move her bangs out of her face. Truth was, Shayde hated to be hard on Kaidyn, it was never fun but for her safety she had to understand she needed to keep as low of a profile as possible.
"You already know who this is." Shayde held up her ringing cell, making Kaidyn close her eyes in dread. "Hey, here she is." Shayde handed Kaidyn the phone.
"Kaidyn Leigh, what was the one thing I asked you to do?" Hector asked, knowing Shayde was too worn out to deal with her.
"To deal with things." Kaidyn replied, twisting the end of her blonde hair nervously.
"Did you do that?" He asked, sounding like a disappointed parent.
"No." She sighed. "Hector, I'm sorry." Kaidyn started to cry.
"No, uh uh. No tears this time, Missy." He replied. She tried to keep the tears from falling and took a big deep breath.
"I am sorry, I am. I had a panic attack. I wasn't thinking I am sorry." Kaidyn said, her throat tight.
"I know and that's fine. But what's not fine is when your sister is trying to get better and needs you to not draw attention to things. Just let her have a break and please don't make her worry. She needs to finish getting her fluids and meds." He said, knowing he couldn't yell at her too much because she was fragile from the panic attack and he knew she was struggling with those enough.
"I'm sorry. I know." Kaidyn agreed.
"Let me talk to your Shay, girl. It's okay. Sprinkles sends his love and you know I am just a phone call away if you need me, ok?" He asked, hoping she was okay.
"Love you, Hector." Kaidyn said, handing the phone back to Shayde.
"Hey Shay. She'll be okay. I told the boys to keep a close watch on her. I want you to go back down there and get some rest. You need the rest of the meds." he said, hoping she wasn't going to fight him.
"I hope you are right." Shayde sighed, tired herself.
"She will be fine. We got this, Chica." He promised.
"You gonna be okay if I leave you here with the boys?" Shayde asked, braiding Kaidyn's hair and bending over to give her a hug.
"As long as you promise you are okay." Kaidyn said, looking her sister in the eye with worry.
"I am always okay, you know this" She hugged her. She kissed the top of her forehead. "Don't give those guys too much grief, they can't handle it like Hector and Dom's crew." She laughed, walking out.
"Hey Shayde." Roman said, getting up when he saw her walk out.
"Do you mind staying with her?" She asked, yawning.
"We don't mind at all." Dominic and Jesse walked up.
"Thanks, I am going back to my room." Shayde said, turning towards the hall.
"I'll come with. You really shouldn't be alone." Brian said, starting to get up.
"I am fine. I just need a bit of time to rest. Alone. I am good. No worries." Shayde shook her head, knowing she had a knife on her if she needed it.
"You..." Brian started.
"Just let her go, Brian. She needs her space." Dominic looked at him, hesitating to let her go by herself. "I promise you she is not your typical girl. She doesn't like to be smothered." Dominic put a hand on Brian's shoulder as they watched her walk down the hall.
"She lets Hector smother her." Brian grumbled, getting a grin from Dominic.
"Wow, someone's jealous. Not being the pretty boy is new to you, eh?" He teased.
"Shut that shit up, Dom." Brian laughed and shook his head.
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"Don't reach for your phone. I got eyes on Kaidyn and a nurse on standby if you do." Carter opened the bathroom door in the Emergency Room that joined the next room over and that Shayde was resting in. The nurse had just hooked her back up to her fluids and turned out the lights so she could get some much needed sleep.
"Oh hell no." Shayde shook her head, rubbing her eyes. "You would be here when Fuentes is here." She said, looking away, not bothering to give him the satisfaction of looking at him.
"Oh that is cute." He sneered, walking in front of the door. He began to pace.
"Hmm, isn't it?" Shayde asked sarcastically. "You're stupid for being here. I don't know what you are thinking." She growled, her voice low. He laughed in only a way Carter could laugh.
"I am not scared. This place should be scared. Maybe you should be scared. That little wanna be cop should be scared." he raised a threatening eyebrow. He laughed. "But I am never scared. I have my ways." He promised.
"You don't say." She rolled her eyes. She was over this already.
"Besides that little girl, I can name a few things." He said, pulling her face towards him. "Yeah." he paused. "Don't think you have won this round. It's not over by far. We just got started, Shayde." He said, making her look him in the eyes. He gave a little laugh and shook his head. He let her go a little rough and pushed her face away.
"What do you want, Carter" She asked, rolling her eyes. "You would be dumb to do anything here. You sure are risking a lot right now." She scowled, not sure of what he was going to do next.
"Just wanted you to know I took care of your little Tran problem. Nothing gets between what is mine." he said, leaning on the door to make sure nothing unexpected happened.
"You mean what, the Feds? Did Your little girlfriend Monica drive you here?" Shayde spat.
"Glad to see you still got your sense of humor. You are lucky I gotta go." He squeezed her shoulder tightly. "Tell that girl upstairs If she pulls a stunt like that again I will personally whip her ass myself." he pointed upstairs as he walked to the door.
"Maybe next time try not to trigger her." Shayde glared, rolling her eyes at him.
"See you later, just know I'll be around and I'll see you later." he waved after covering her up and staring her down in the eyes. "You might have won this round but we will see each other soon. Don't worry your pretty little face." he promised. He put his jacket on, puting the hood over his head and hands in his pockets as he walked out.
"You good, Shay?" Hector called Shayde on her phone.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I am just trying to rest. Apparently I am popular." She complained.
"What's that mean?" Hector asked with a laugh.
"Nothing" She replied tartly.
"I'm sending Brian to stay with you." He said, out of concern, noting how off she sounded.
"What, is he hired for my personal security detail? You know I don't trust cops." She griped.
"He's a good guy. Relax. I can trust him." Hector said, petting Sprinkes in his lap.
"I really hope you are right. We will all regret it if you are wrong." She sighed and paused for a second with a tired sigh. "Whatever, I don't need him or anyone else. I am going to sleep. His funeral if he wakes me up." Shayde yawned, ready for some uninterrupted sleep.
"Goodnight girl." Hector laughed, hanging up. "Brian, you betta make sure you are straight. She catches you around any cops, you are gonna regret it." Hector said, calling Brian as he was headed to Shayde's room.
"Yeah, man, I am straight. That whole Fuentes thing was not my fault. I don't know why they are here, man." Brian promised.
"Those are my girls, if you screw them over I will have your head on a stake first unless Shayde gets you. I just hope you know what you are doing." Hector warned, shaking his head.