No Ordinary Love, Part 3, chapter 205
205
Nik left shocked and confused, leaving me seriously worried that maybe in all her best intentions, Sweetie has slightly went too far.
“I’m sorry, I just wanted him to know there is a way,” she said to me when we were left alone. “I said it won’t be easy at all.”
“I know, you just wanted to help,” I assured her I’m still on her side as I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her forehead. “What do you think he’ll do?”
“He won’t do anything his sister won’t approve. It’s her child, not his,” she returned. “As a mother, she’ll do everything to protect her child. It’ll all come do to whether or not she’s ready to rise above everything to protect someone else’s child, too,” she sighed.
We didn’t knew Ana. Not at all. And I had no idea what I’d do in her place. I know what Sweetie would do. She wouldn’t wait this long like Ana for sure. She would’ve tried this the moment the child was born. Part of me thought maybe it’s better to let it all go, for the sake of Ana’s daughter. She doesn’t have to know anything if so far she was kept in dark. But then, how can you live with yourself if one day in papers you read, or this other little baby girl comes to your doorstep crying and tells you the same thing happened to her.
“Because of these sick things I’m so glad we have that centre,” Sweetie said and went upstairs to see Kai and Ari.
Days have passed with no word from Nik. I tried calling him several times but it went straight to voice mail. He never called back.
“Give him some time. It’s way too much things they need to take in and think about,” Sweetie was trying to console me.
“You think we’ll see him again?”
“I’m pretty sure we will,” she sounded very certain. “At least he’ll say we have to forget everything and move on.”
“Can we?”
“No, but we’ll have to live with it. It’s his choice and it’s up to us to find way to respect it.”
She was right. It was his life not mine or Sweetie’s. Everybody has different way of handling things. Not everybody is made to be strong and always do the right thing. One can only do things that seem right at any given moment.
I took Sweetie’s advice and decided I shouldn’t bother Nik. I’d wish for some space in his situation. However, I left him a message, “Hey, just wanted to say I’m still your friend. Whatever you decide I’ll respect. Even forget everything you told me about yourself if that’s your choice. I just hope you still want me as your friend. If so, call me whenever you’re ready.”
Three days later, when the sun was settling down my doorbell rang. I couldn’t help but smile heartedly at Nik, though he wasn’t smiling back. However, he didn’t seem angry or anything like that. More like he was just nervous and sad, worried.
“This is my sister, Ana,” he said showing at a nervous girl standing next to him. Physical resemblance was more than obvious. The only difference was hair. Hers was much longer than Nik’s.
“Ville, nice to meet you,” I shook her hand and she nodded.
“Can we come in?” Nik asked.
“Oh, sorry, yeah, sure, please,” I moved aside to let them get inside.
“Is Sweetheart here?”
“Yeah, she’s in her office. Want me to call her?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “We want to talk to her about…” he swallowed.
“Sure,” I quickly nodded knowing what he was referring to. “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.”
I rushed down the hall, leaving Nik and Ana in our living room. Sweetie’s head was buried in her laptop typing something.
“Love?” I called for her as I entered the room. She kind of tilted her head towards me but her eyes stayed fixed to the screen. She was on roll with whatever she was working on. “Darling, Nik’s here with his sister.”
“Ana?” she spun her head at me as I nodded.
“They’re waiting for you in the living room.”
“Oh, let’s go,” she said instantly leaving her work and getting up. “How do they look?”
“Nervous. Like seriously nervous,” I answered in whisper as we walked down the hall. “But they’re here, right? That’s good news.”
“In any way it is,” she agreed.
Nik was, it seemed calming his sister down when we entered. Sweetie greeted them both and we all set down.
“I’m glad you’re both here,” Sweetie began. “And before you say anything, Ville and I want to let you know that we’ll respect whatever your decision is. Even if you want to forget this whole thing, we won’t ever mention it again. But no matter what we’d still like you to consider us as your friends,” she ended and rest her case.
“We don’t want to forget,” Nik began.
“We can’t,” Ana spoke for the first time. “We spent all these years trying to forget and failed,” she bowed her head. “Besides, Ema learned the truth three years ago…” she closed her eyes fighting tears as Nik put his arm over her frame protectively.
“Do you think we have a chance?” Nik asked.
“I believe you have already won,” Sweetie returned sounding sure.
“Why?” Ana returned. “Over the years we talked with so many lawyers and none wanted to have anything to do with us. Said that we’re too late, there’s nothing to support our story, that we already lost the case.”
“I think they were just scared to fight a powerful businessman,” Sweetie pointed out.
“Then nothing changed,” she snorted. “We can go home.”
“We have someone who’s not afraid to sue the president herself,” Sweetie quickly added and intrigued Ana. “I mean we still didn’t contact her yet but I’m absolutely sure she’ll gladly take your case. We can call her right away if you want.”
“Wait,” Nik said before Ana could say anything. “I… I’m…” he took a deep breath. “Look, once this gets to the court, I need to know what will happen to you?”
“What do you mean?” I asked confused. “We’ll be right there for you guys all the way.”
“No, I can’t let you do that,” he shook his head. “You don’t know my father. He’s very dangerous man. He’ll hunt everyone involved.”
“Nik…”
“No, Ville, you have your own family and you need to protect it,” he cut me off. “We’ll take that lawyer of yours and that’s it. We’ll keep ourselves away from you and you’ll do the same. You’ve already done too much.”
“Nik, I’ve already considered the potential danger,” Sweetie returned with a little smile. “Even before I told you that there’s chance for you.”
“We’re talking strange accidents with fatal end here,” he seriously pointed out.
“We know,” she nodded. That wasn’t quite true. I didn’t know, actually didn’t think that far. She did, I believed that. “And still it won’t make us run away or stay away. You don’t have to go through this on your own. Plus, something tells me, you’ll find us very useful.”
“Sweetie, please…”
“Nik,” she sighed like she’s bored. “I was in life threatening situations more times than I have years. I’ve been shot only once and that’s because this silly man here distracted me. I’ve stared at the loaded gun for I can’t even remember how many times. I had close encounters with pimps, drug dealers and other sorts of mafia bosses. I also had privileged to be wanted dead by certain government and have every soldier and sniper aiming at me. I survived several bomb attempts so tell me what of that is in your dangerous list?” she twisted her lips, a clear sign she was irritated with Nik’s concern. One of things she hated most is when someone would even think of her as weak, fragile, unfit to take care of herself.
Nik first examined Sweetie’s face, Ana was staring at him. Obviously, she just wanted a help, any kind of it and isn’t a person who gets bothered with anything beyond that. Then Nik’s eyes found mine.
“I think you’ll be better with us,” I said to him. “How will you protect yourselves?”
“I thought to rent a few places on my name. Ana will take Ema out of school, we’ll hide in apartment that we’ll rent under false name,” Nik explained.
“And that would keep you in shadows for two days at tops,” Sweetie returned. “If he’s really good at tracking, he’ll check all the leases in last month. How long will it take him to find one name that’s suspicious? I could probably do that right now. How about Ville Anaskinen?”
Nik’s eyes went wide in shock.
“See, and I know you only for just few days,” she pointed out. “With your mind for detective stories and mysteries, you learned little. The best place to hide is in open, not in remote places, and the point of make aliases is not to use the name you desire for yourself which is basically translation of your favourite writer and members of your family. That’s being predictive not protective.”
“She’s right Nik,” Ana said and met his eyes. “Remember what I told you back at home?”
And the moment of some silent talking with only eyes happened between them. Ana turned her head to us.
“I did some research on you, I’m sorry,” Ana kind of apologized to Sweetie.
“I’m glad you did if you accept our help,” Sweetie returned with a grin.
“Nik?” Ana looked back at her brother.
“You sure about this?” Nik now asked me.
“Whatever Sweetie said I’m backing that up.”
“That’s not what I asked,” he pointed out.
“That’s what I mean,” I remained still. “Sweetie said you can count on US not just her, so that’s what you’ll get. Both of us.”
“Ok,” he finally agreed.
The conversation then went into deciphering the necessary steps that need to be taken. We called our faithful, precious lawyer Rhianna.
“How do you feel about taking out Klutz Kuska at the court?” Sweetie asked her.
“What you’re bored again so now you’re trying to play detective?” Rhianna joked.
“No, let’s just say something big landed on my doorstep,” Sweetie returned. “So?”
“I wonder how these things just find you,” Rhianna commented more to herself.
“I’m like a glue.”
“Yeah,” Rhianna chuckled. “What is it this time?”
“Come on darling you know you’ll have to take your little cute ass for a walk,” Sweetie returned.
“Ok, how about Thursday at seven?”
“In the evening?”
“Of course. Though you’re my most profitable clients, I have others, too you know.”
“Lucky for you, we’re not jealous,” Sweetie ended conversation with a joke.
“Is that the girl that won you that…”
“Yeah, that’s her,” I confirmed Ana’s suspicion. “She’s young but she’s real wizard. And she’s very thorough. She misses nothing.”
“Yeah, she’s absolutely great,” Sweetie agreed. “Ok, now let’s get serious,” she switched her mood appropriately. “The moment Rhiana takes first steps, Klutz will know, too. So, here’s what I thought. You’ll all move in here with us. We’ll hire professional security until all this ends.”
“I’m not sure about that professional bodyguards. They can be bribed…”
“Nik, darling, do you think I’d be so stupid to hire just anyone?” Sweetie cut his ramblings and he felt defeated. “Good. Show me some trust, ok?”
“So we’ll be what? Like stuck in this tower for 24/7?” Ana asked.
“No,” Sweetie shook her head. “We’ll just all live in the same place. Our lives will go on the usual normal ways.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible. Walking the streets will make us all easy targets,” Nik returned.
“What have I said about trusting me, huh?” Sweetie furrowed her eyebrows. “There’s no such thing as easy target if you’re smart.”
“Maybe I’d feel better if I’d know how you plan that?” he insisted.
“First of all, there’ll be guys everybody can see and more those that no one can see and hopefully won’t ever have chance to see. The smart people if they want to kill, they avoid witnesses, cameras… right?” Sweetie said intriguing Nik. “Just let me take care of it, ok?”
Nik nodded and somehow felt relaxed. He and Sweetie continued in that direction and I used my chance to ask Ana something that concerned me most.
“Does Ema know what you’re going to do?” I asked looking at Ana.
“Yeah,” she nodded.
“What she thinks of it?” I continued, knowing how traumatic all this might be for a child.
“Well, she said she wants to,” Ana began. “It was difficult for her to accept the truth about her father. Now, she doesn’t care what will happen.”
That didn’t sound right. Especially for a little child. She should be scared, embarrassed, but definitively not indifferent. Kids don’t know how to be indifferent. With them it usually means hate. And that’s not a good thing with child.
“She must be very strong girl, then,” I said hoping that will lead Ana into telling me something more about her daughter.
“Huh, I hope so,” she said unsure. “We tried to explain her that this will probably come down to her and she’ll have to take most of the burden but… she just kept saying how she wants to put him behind the bars. I think she’s not clearly seeing this for what it is.”
“If at any point she wishes to back down are you ready to let her?”
“Of course, I would,” she furrowed her brows at me. “None of this is worth losing my daughter.”
I nodded, that was what I wanted to hear.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she continued. “You think that maybe because I didn’t want her, because of the way she was conceived, of who… that I might hate my daughter. I won’t lie and say how I never had thought about giving her away, or wondering how my life would be much easier if I didn’t have her. I did and I’m not ashamed. But I love her. It’s not her fault my father is a monster. No one asked her if she wanted to be born into this sick and perverted family. Maybe my life is completely lost and ruined but I will do everything to give her much better one than mine could ever be,” Ana ended and I believed her every word. She did seem like very caring and protective mother.
“I never thought any of that, Ana,” I said after it was obvious she had said what she wanted.
“You didn’t?”
“No,” I shook my head. “I just wondered if because the entire case will rely on her, would you have any regrets if she decides to quit. That’s all.”
“Oh,” Ana nodded. “Then yes. I will regret that bastard being free but I’d let him have it if I get to keep my daughter’s love and trust.”
“Good,” I smiled. “That’s all that mattered.”