The Madam Of Suburbia Chapter 30

Chapter 30 - Arrivals and Departures

"Meredith," I hear Amber moan waking me from dead sleep. I jump off the couch I was sleeping on so fast that I trip on the sheet, and crash against the side of Amber's bed. As I pull myself off the floor, I find Amber laying there with an attempt of a smile on her pale face. I sit down next to her, and find myself crying as for the first time in over a month, her eyes are open. She tries to lift her hand, but I gently take her hand into mine as the tears begin to stream from hers. I try to speak, but I'm so choked up with happiness that all I can do is cry as Death has not taken the greatest thing in my life away from me. A month of my living hell is washed away because my angel finally spoke.

"Where am I?" she asks as she tries to fiddle with all the wires that are connected to the machines.

"You're in the infirmary," I reply.

"Why am I here?"

"I'll explain later. Let me get one of the doctors in here first before we go any further," I reply as I press the call button.

She runs her fingers across my cheek and says, "You look like shit."

"Well, someone had me worried to death," I reply.

"How long have I've been out?" she asks.

Before I can answer, the doctor enters the room. She looks at Amber, and motions that I should leave so she can run some tests.  I nod my head, and try to leave when Amber grabs my arm.

"Does he have to go? He already has seen me naked," she asks.

"It would be better if he did," replies the doctor.

"I'll be right outside, Amber. Everything will be okay," I say as I gently slide her hand off my arm.

"Don't go too far," she please.

"I'll have a quick smoke, and be right back."

I didn't want to leave that room, but the doctor needs to do her job. I walk out onto the front porch, and find Damian smoking as well. I light one up before announcing, "Amber is awake. The doctor is doing some tests on her now."

"I bet your shoulders feel a lot lighter," Damian replies. "That's fucking fantastic news though."

"I haven't told her anything about what has unfolded yet. Right now, she needs her rest until she's cleared," I state as I think how I will feel shitty for keeping the truth from her, but she just cheated Death. She doesn't need the real world hitting all at once.

"Agreed. Our main focus is to let her make a full recovery."

I sigh as I think that the first thing that will be shared was the fact she was the primary target of the guard. Madam wanted her out of the picture with the hopes that the DEA will back off, but Damian is applying more heat to her by going after the money. Maybe once Amber is back to speed, I can finally leave this swamp, and get back on the streets. I'm tired of sitting here and doing nothing. I feel like shit knowing that men are dying to take down the entire cartel, and all I do is read paperwork.

I almost jump when over Damian's walkie talkie I hear a senator's motorcade is requesting entry. I always questioned about Amber's father being a senator, but it seems I'll learn the truth today. I finish my smoke, and head back to the infirmary. If her father is the one arriving, I don't want to be the first person he sees upon exiting the vehicle. Also, figured Amber would want to know that her father is here. I'm honestly not looking forward to talking to him. I know the conversation will turn awkward once he learns his daughter has been falling in love with me: a hitman, druggie, and a man that will never be fucking good enough for his precious Amber.

Then again, I find myself wondering why he hasn't shown up until now. I'm sure someone within the DEA did inform him of his daughter's condition. If Amber was my child, I would have been on the first fucking plane down here. Then again, she never talked about him at all. The only time I remember she called him was that time she proved to me after I left Curva that my target that night was her father. After that, I'm not aware of any further calls made. I never did ask either because it's really none of my fucking business.

As I wait outside the door, I see two suited goons approach me. I wonder where they hide the cloning machine because they all look like monkeys in suits: cheap aviator sunglasses, black suits, and slicked back hair. I almost want to throw water on one to see if they're machines.

"Is Amber Townsend behind this door?" one asks.

"Yes, but she's with the doctor at the moment."

"Cardinal has been located. Ready for Eagle," chirps the other goon into his radio.

"Cute. Red hair makes her a red bird," I chuckle.

"Sir, can you relocate to another location?" asks the second goon.

"How about you fuck off? I've been at her side for this entire time, so I ain't leaving unless she tells me too."

"Will you do it if the father asks you nicely so he can have a private chat with his own daughter?" a voice asks.

I look over the suit monkeys, and see an older gentleman standing there. His red hair, despite thinning, has the same fire red shade like Amber. I look in his blue eyes, and see the sadness and shame burning in them. Despite wearing the same shade of navy blue on his suit, I know that the man standing in front of me is Senator Townsend, a man that was a target of mine. I nod my head gently, and leave the hall. I almost took that man's life, so the least I can do is honor his request. I almost cry when I think if things went to plan that night, he wouldn't be here to see Amber. A life that almost ended at my hands will have a private conversation with a life that was almost ended because of me. I fucking swearing Karma needs to leave me alone.

As I head back to the porch, Damian looks at me and asks, "How ready are you to go back into the field?"

"Another week maybe. I want to make sure Amber recovers fully before I leave here."

"I need you out there yesterday. Can you handle it?"

I pause as I think if I agree, I'll be gone ASAP. I want to spend at least some time with Amber before rushing out there, but at least with her awake, I won't be here mentally.  I wonder what is so critical that I'm needed back out there. "What's going on?"

"Meet me in the gazebo at 4pm. I'll explain then," he replies before heading back into the house.

I stand there lost in thought at what is so important that I need to leave the swamp pretty much right now. I light up another smoke as I think that I might be signing my life away by meeting with Damian, but after the month of fucking Hell I've been put through, part of me looks forward to sending someone down there. However, as I see one of the suit monkeys approach, I begin to feel leaving with Senator Townsend might not be a bad idea.

"The Senator requests your presence," they announce.

"I'll be down there after this cigarette."

He tries to say something else, but walks back into the house. I don't know why he wants to see me, but I can at least see Amber one more time before I learn what Damian has in store. I finish my cig, and head back inside. As I walk back down to the infirmary, I silently pray that Karma isn't going to fuck me over today as I learn what the future has in store for meal I ask is whatever it holds, it ends up with me returning safely so I can help Amber make a full recovery.