Chapter 29- Jail

"So I see the tables have turned." A voice broke me from my debate with my mom and Tristan, and I spun around so fast that my back erupted in pain again.

Nonetheless, it didn't concern me, because I only beamed at the woman as she waltzed in with yet another bouquet of flowers.

"Jessica!" I practically screamed as she gave me a quick hug. She looked good for the most part, and I was glad to see that the bullet wound wasn't keeping her down. It's so odd how a couple weeks ago, this was her.

"Hey I'm so glad you're awake. When I heard the news I was crushed."

"It's okay Jess. I'm okay. And thank you for the third bouquet of flowers" I chuckled as I placed the bundles of lilies beside me on my table. She was too sweet sometimes.

She sat beside me on the bed, since both chairs were occupied by my mom and Tristan, as she gazed at me with those big sad eyes. I knew what was about to come, but I didn't stop her.

"I was so worried about you " I could tell from all the letters sent. "If I could take your place I will"

"Haven't you had enough of hospital beds?" I chuckled as I sat up a little more. Tristan's hand immediately went to my side as he helped me up. He acted so much like a caregiver when he was here.

"I just hate to see you like this. That Mia was certainly a menace. I don't usually say things like this, but I'm glad she's over for. The Earth will be safer without her" From the corner of my eyes, I could see Tristan's eyes widening, as he shook his head discreetly at Jessica. Jessica, whose acting skills were that of a bug, seemed to have caught on and her mouth formed an 'o' as her eyes flickered between Tristan and I in questioning.

I narrowed my own eyes into slits as I looked towards Tristan. I knew he was keeping something from me. And after I woke up yesterday, he and mom kept me sheltered from the whole world as if I was a three year old. They didn't even turn on the TV. And when they were leaving, they carried the remote to the other side of the room where I couldn't reach it.

At first I didn't mind the odd protectiveness, since a break from the real world was exactly what I needed; but I couldn't help but feel left out. When Emily was here earlier before she left for class, she seemed like she was hiding something too, and she would momentarily gaze at Tristan when she spoke. And now with Jessica doing the same, I knew it was all Tristan's doing.

"What are you not telling me?" I asked softly as I glared at him. He looked like he was about to tell me not to worry about it again. "Tristan, what are you hiding from me?" I asked again, this time with more sternness in my voice.

"Cianna, baby, you need to recover and rest."

"No, I rested enough Tristan. I need to know what everyone is hiding from me" I felt frustrated. I could see that it was big. My mom and Tristan looked even more guilty, while Jessica just looked conflicted. Seeing that neither Tristan nor my mother were going to relieve me anytime soon, I turned to Jessica once again.

"Jessica? What happened?" I asked, and her eyes darted to Tristan for a quick second. "Don't look at him Jess. What happened? Where is Mia?"

She looked away from all of us, before directing her eyes back to me with sad ones. "In a morgue" I heard her say, and my heart squeezed at the news.

"Wh-what?" I couldn't believe my ears. Within five days of my state, she died? "How?"

"Cianna don't stress about-"

"I am going to stress about it Tristan!" I cut him off swiftly. I wasn't sad that Mia was dead, but the fact that everyone saw it fit to keep it from me, told me that Mia's death wasn't really what they were keeping from me. "How did she die?" I kept my eyes trained on him as I told him sternly with them that I wasn't backing down.

He sighed, looking defeated, but his eyes also looked so broken. However, I could see that he was only concerned for me. But, why?

"Cianna, sweetheart "My mom spoke for the very first time. "Listen to your boyfriend honey. This isn't the right time"

"For crying out loud what is wrong?!" I looked at each of them as I spoke. I then realised that since yesterday when I woke up, I haven't seen or heard from my dad, which was very unlike him.

My eyes watered as I thought about the worse case scenario. "Oh my gosh did she- did she escape and go after my dad? Is he dead too?" My lips quivered as Tristan's eyes only got sadder, which was enough to give me an answer. "Oh my gosh"

"No baby that's not it " He spoke quickly when he saw my reaction. My eyes were blurry with tears as I looked at him with pleading eyes. There was no way I was letting them leave this room before I found out the truth.

"Tristan. Please tell me." The very sound of the pleading in my voice was enough for him to drop this 'Recover first before you stress' act. I needed to know, and he needed to know that.

"Your dad is alive" He provided first, and I sighed deeply in relief, even though I could sense a 'but'. "But...we have reason to believe, and a whole lot of evidence to link him to Mia's murder. He's in jail right now awaiting a bail hearing"

I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.

All I could do was hear the words over and over in my head. The words that had the audacity to come from the man who I have been falling in love with. My dad? Murder? Jail?