Chapter 8

𝔸𝕟 𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕟𝕠 𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

Lucas POV (ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕕𝕒𝕪)

It felt like everything was happening in slow motion. As I sat beside my best friend and watched one of the head paramedics use a defibrillator to jump-start his heart rhythm, I felt frozen and completely powerless to do anything but watch. Thankfully, minutes after he was administered oxygen, we arrived at the hospital and the ambulance was quickly overrun with nurses - who lifted Damien onto a stretcher and began rolling him towards the emergency entrance of the hospital.

I staggered after them with my mind empty and head aching. "Emergency unit now...." I managed to grab as Damien was whisked into the Emergency room, leaving me standing in the corridor drained and full of worry. I stood there for what seemed like minutes, wondering what would happen if I lost my best friend to a war that was mine.

After what seemed like hours, I finally felt tired enough to sit down. I turned to go find a seat, a drink, virtually anything to clear my head. But as I made my way to, -well anywhere, my eyes collided with sharp amber orbs that were staring at me intensely. My gaze wandered from her eyes to her long, sun-kissed brunette hair that had a hint of rose on its tips.

There was something familiar about her dusty pink lips and the fire in her eyes that reminded me of- no, I could not say her name. Moreover, her eyes had been blue and she was already dead. My gut clenched hard at the thought of her and I grimaced.

Frankly, I was too exhausted to dwell on the memories of my lost love or muse about familiar strange women in hospital corridors. I was too fatigued, homeless and scared for my friend's life for any extra headache.

I walked past the strangely beautiful woman and headed towards the refrigerator. I looked through the transparent glass, hoping with all my heart that they'd have a beer or a can of soda at least. All I saw were candy bars and soft drinks and I groaned in frustration. What on earth was I expecting, this was a hospital for god's sake.

With a bone-weary sigh, I dropped on the nearest bench I could find and rested my head on my palm.

"Fuck!" I cursed. How had my day gone from being Semi successful to a full-blown disaster?

"You can always blame it on fate, circumstance, or the universe." A voice said softly, just as I felt a warm body settle beside me. I looked up, only to find the beautiful brunette I had passed earlier with a can of beer in her palm. "I think you need this more than I do." She said, then thrust the can of beer at me.

"Thanks," Flashing her a grateful smile, I plucked the can from her hands, popped it open, and asked, "How did you know?"

She chuckled. "You looked like you needed it." With a pause, she added, " And you were talking to yourself. If that doesn't call for an intervention, I don't know what does." There was a knowing smile playing on her lips as she spoke.

"That bad huh?" I was a little impressed by her observation skill. Okay, not a little.

"Yep! That bad." She grunted with a smile. She watched me silently for a bit, giving me a much-needed second to absolve my pain. "Was that your brother being taken into the emergency room?" I heard her ask while nodding towards the closed unit.

"Yeah," I croaked, taking a deep pull from the can of beer and swallowing.

"I am so sorry." She whispered, her voice, comforting. She sounded so sincere, I couldn't help but turn to look at her.

"It's okay, it wasn't your fault. I just hope he makes it. He has to make-"

"He will," She cut in. "He has you to fight for. Don't worry okay?" She exuded so much emotion. Emotions I didn't understand.

I offered my left palm to her. "Lucas," I muttered and she took my palm into hers and smiled.

"Eve." She replied and I paused. How many Eve's was I meant to meet in my lifetime?

She began to shift uncomfortably and I realized I was still in possession of her succulent palm. I quickly released it and cleared my throat. "Yeah, sorry I-"

"Would you like to get out of here?" She suddenly asked, disrupting what I was about to say, along with my thoughts. "This place is kinda depressing if you ask me, and you'll be no use to your brother dead. So-"

"You are right." I interrupted. "But I can't go anywhere near my house right now. There was an explosion and, and..." I shuttered, not wanting to recall the events that had brought me here in the first place. "You know what, you go ahead," I continued, trying not to add more salt to my already wounded pride.

"Nah, I am not leaving you here alone. Why don't you come over to my place?" She suggested. When I began to protest, she continued, "You need to shower, you smell like a gas leak gone wrong and you need to rest as well."

I chuckled. "A gas leak gone wrong?"

"I'm serious, you smell bad!" That almost cracked me up but I smiled instead. Too fatigued to do anything else. "Look, let's just say I'm doing this for your brother, I'm sure he'll be more grateful if he wakes up to find you still alive."

As she said this, she kept her piercing amber eyes on mine. Searing me like molten lava. But damn, she was beautiful. The fact that I hadn't acknowledged it earlier showed how much of a fucked up state I was in.

"Yeah." I found myself murmuring.

"Good," She sighed in relief. "Let's go."

She stood and headed for the exit with me on her tail. If truth be told, I did need the rest and the shower. I had to find a way to end this madness, and I couldn't do it with a clouded mind. Moreover, I had an appointment with the fixer, Eve, who coincidentally shared the same name with my new friend here.

As we got to the garage, she made for a slick Mercedes Benz and I smiled inwardly. The lady had a magnificent taste in cars - which said neons about her. We settled into the car and I couldn't help but wonder; Who was she? What did she do for a living? What was her relationship status like?

She pulled into the busy street to join the evening traffic, and we fell into a comfortable silence. I, glad that we didn't have to talk about what happened to Damien and she, probably glad I was silent. Soon, we were pulling into a large estate with a beautiful; Welcome to suncity estate sign written on the top of the large golden gate.

My brain froze for a second, trying to recall where it had seen that name before. But I couldn't just make my tired brain work. We drove into the estate, parked under an orange car shade and stepped out. I looked up at the estate in marvel. It was huge, beautiful and screamed money. More money than I could ever afford, and I had a lot of money. I was practically a billionaire but the girl was beating me in the game. This got me thinking; What if she was Eve?

What were the odds that the soft-spoken, kind-hearted lady from the hospital could be the same cold-hearted Eve I had read about? Nah, it wasn't likely. Or was it? I had to find out.

"Is this your house?" I asked as I walked over to her side of the car.

"Yeah," She said even as she stepped down and locked the car. "Welcome to my humble abode, come in." She urged and began walking into the mansion. I followed behind her, watching as her hips swayed from side to side.

Damn, but she was blessed!

We stepped into a beautiful foyer that was decorated with golden lights - which were emulating from the magnificent chandelier hanging above us on the glass ceiling. We strode into the parlour and Eve made for the bar that was situated at the left corner of the room.

"Make yourself comfortable," She rasped, then asked, "Would you like a drink before I go prepare your room for you?" I noticed she was already pouring herself a drink and nodded a yes which she acknowledged with a, "Cool."

"So, you live here all on your own?" I asked, enthralled as I watched her prepare drinks like a pro.

"Yeah, I do. You must be wondering what I do right?" She placed the drinks on a tray, positioned them on her right arm and began strutting towards me. The tray, in perfect balance.

"Yes." My eyes followed as she carefully picked up a glass and offered it to me. "I was meaning to ask you a question," I said and plucked the glass from her hands.

"Shoot."

"What is your full name?" My gaze observed her wrist as it placed the glass of what looked like a red liquid on her lips and sipped. I was about to do the same when she replied.

"Eve Red."

"What the actual fuck?" I exclaimed, instinctively drawing the glass away from my mouth.

"What?" She gawked, a puzzled look on her face.

"It just so happens," I began, "That I have an appointment with a certain fixer, Eve Red, tomorrow at six,"

She almost choked.

"You are Damien's friend?" She gasped. Something akin to realisation flashing beneath her amber orbs.

"Yep," I confirmed and once again raised the glass of wine to my lips.

"Give me that," She said and quickly grabbed the glass from my hand before it could reach my tongue. I stared at her, perplexed.

"What was that for?"

"That drink was meant to help you sleep after your shower. But right now it seems we have a lot to talk about."