Chapter 6 Emerald Ring

"Her body was trembling, and I assumed it was out of fear, but it turned out to be a drug-induced reaction." Sebastian sat on the couch, talking on his cell phone with his leg crossed over the other, and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his black shirt.

Anton asked, "What did the doctor say?"

Sebastian couldn't help but steal a glance at Janet, who was lying on the hospital bed, her delicate form covered by a soft white blanket, with an oxygen mask gently resting over her mouth.

"They are waiting for her to wake up. They need to run some tests."

"Sad. I wanted to surprise Connor. It would devastate him to learn about her condition. Should I tell him that his daughter is safe?" Anton asked.

"Tell him if it takes longer than a day for her to recover. Otherwise, I'll bring her back as soon as she can travel."

"What? Your bodyguard will take care of her and bring her back. Your job is done. Come back home," Anton said sternly. "Your mother and I didn't get any sleep last night. We were surprised that you rescued her all by yourself."

A long silence fell between them, making Anton furrow his brow. "Sebastian?"

"I..." He hesitated, rubbing his eyebrow with his hand. "I can't hand over this responsibility to anyone else. I promised her I would escort her home. There's no way I will return without her."

"Not happening. If you think you could be her savior, you're wrong. She could end up in danger again if she's around you."

"The threats keep coming every day, and we feel like we're under siege. Nikolai is after you. The fact that he knows all your minute details puts Janet in great danger when you're around."

Sebastian quietly looked at Janet for the second time. He acknowledged the veracity of his father's claim that Nikolai Siegel used shady tactics to destroy Genovese in the United States.

After Sebastian's grandfather, Don Vitalino Genovese, Nikolai became another symbol of terror. His network of contacts likely provided him with knowledge of his current location.

"I'll think about it." Before Anton could even get a word in, Sebastian had already hung up the phone.

***

In the evening,

Janet slowly woke up in her hospital bed and instinctively took off the oxygen mask from her mouth.

Taking time to regain her focus, she sat on the bed and noticed that the man had his back turned to her. He stood by the window, lost in thought. She remained quiet, taking in the sight of his broad shoulders.

Sebastian turned around; his eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You made it out alive," he said as he walked over to her side.

"Water, please."

Her throat burned as if on fire, and Sebastian quickly passed her a glass of water. He stared at her intensely, his piercing black eyes fixed on her, while she drank the water.

Sebastian noticed her hand trembling as she reached out to place the glass back, and he took the empty glass from her.

"Thanks."

She fluttered her eyelids, averting her gaze from him. The mattress dipped under Sebastian's weight as he sat beside her, and she noticed his hand tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Are you alright?"

"Ye.. yeah. Thank you for saving me." She spoke softly and with a hint of timidity.

"It's alright," Sebastian said nonchalantly. "Let me call the doctors to check on you."

Janet's gaze followed him as he exited the room. Nervously, she swallowed when the door closed with a click. The balcony attached to her room caught her attention. Her senses craved the fresh air, and as she got out of bed, her feet felt strange on the floor.

She leisurely strolled onto the balcony, breathing in the refreshing air and experiencing a sense of time slowing down.

"Thank god, he reached me in time." Janet blessed him in her heart as she watched the cars rush by on the busy street. Then something clicked. She revolved and stationed herself against the balustrade, recollecting the sequence of events in her head.

His deep voice was in her ears again, and she looked up at nothing in particular.

'I've come to rescue you.'

"Did my dad send you to rescue me? Are you one of his comrades?"

'Yes. Now be quiet, and let me help you.'

Janet bit her lips. 'If Dad had sent him to rescue me, he would have made it a point. Have not waited for me to confirm.'

She thought, her eyes darting around as her mind explored countless possibilities.

'Steer clear of Genovese men!' She recalled Dane's warning.

'But how do I identify them?'

'All the soldiers wear emerald rings on their thumbs.'

Janet's eyes widened. "The emerald ring!" Her mind drifted back to the man who had just left the room, vividly recalling the gentle touch of his finger as he tucked her hair behind her ear a few minutes ago.

'Fuck! He is not a member of the Genovese army.' Her heart raced as she reached a shocking conclusion.

***

Sebastian and his security chief, Nate, engaged in a serious conversation at the emergency staircase. "We should leave. She is alive, and we can get her treated in Springfield. Your security matters the most!"

The pungent smell of cigarette smoke filled the air as Sebastian took a long drag, his eyes never leaving Nate's. "If you say, I'll take care of her and bring her back. Staying in New Orleans is not safe for you. You know, Nikolai primarily operates his business from this place. We are deliberately exposing ourselves."

"I have all the knowledge. Still, I refuse to gamble with her well-being. Let's see what doctors say!"

Nate rolled his eyes, and Sebastian noticed the subtle gesture. "What's with the eye-roll?"

"Do you like her?"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow and shot him a look that was a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Ever since Mr. Genovese showed you her picture, you've been restless. We originally intended to reach Springfield, assemble the team, and rescue her. However, you acted independently without consulting your father or getting support. I've never seen you show such desperation! You stayed with her all night at the hospital. What's happening?"

"Connor saved Dad's life. It's a payback. Nothing else at all."

The door to the emergency stairs creaked open, and his guard cautiously peeked inside. "Janet can leave the hospital in the morning."

"Great!" Sebastian's exclamation caught Nate's attention, and he arched an eyebrow as he followed Sebastian down the staircase.

Janet paced nervously in the room, her forehead beaded with sweat. 'Who are they? Another enemy of Genovese? Did he come to my rescue intending to strike a deal with Genovese, or has the danger grown worse for me?'

The door gently opened with a click, making her instinctively step back. Sebastian's arrival made her gasp sharply. Her eyes locked on him. "I've brought you dinner from one of the finest restaurants in New Orleans."

'New Orleans!' Her ears perked up.

The nurse entered the room with the food trolley and neatly placed it on the coffee table next to the patient's bed. Janet stayed still, her eyes fixed on Sebastian as he rolled up his sleeves and moved toward the couch.

"Janet?"

Blinking her eyes, she approached him gracefully and sat on the couch across from him. "Well, I spoke to your doctor, and he mentioned that you have no restrictions on your diet."

Janet's stomach protested with a grumble. She felt it had been forever since she had last savored a satisfying meal, but she had reservations about eating anything he offered.

"Go ahead!"

Janet's eyes lit up as she opened the lid, a detail that Sebastian didn't miss. "That's Barbeque Shrimp Pasta. We also have vegetable soup and..."

"Thank you very much for taking care of me." Janet smiled. She plated the dinner and then reached out, offering him a plate.

"Thanks."

He took the plate, and the aroma of the food filled the air. Sebastian saw her as humble and down-to-earth, sharply contrasting her father's ruthless demeanor. Meanwhile, Janet's reason for wanting him to eat was driven by her suspicion that he might have drugged her food.

While filling her plate with pasta, Janet's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she caught him staring at her. In response, Sebastian hastily looked away and feigned intense interest in his meal.

"What's your name..."

Before she could finish speaking, Nate unexpectedly entered the room. "Hey, I was thinking...." He paused for a moment, then scrutinized the plate in Sebastian's hand before giving him a quizzical look.

"What are you doing?"

"Eating, I suppose!" Before Nate could say anything, Sebastian interrupted him quickly. "Wait for me outside."

Janet couldn't tear her eyes away from Nate's hand, and the first thing she noticed was the absence of the emerald ring. As he walked out of the room, she felt her heart skip a beat as he shot her a fleeting glance.

"Is there a problem with having dinner with me?" Her focus shifted to Sebastian.

"No. He is just concerned about me."

"Alright."

The clinking of silverware on plates was the only sound as they finished dinner in silence. "I spoke with your doctor. You're good to leave tomorrow. Take a rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

Janet nodded in agreement and sighed in relief as Sebastian left the room. She chugged a glass of water and fanned her face, pacing back and forth.

'I'll be fine. I'll be out of this place soon. I am strong!' she silently prayed, and as time passed, her hands developed welts and blisters. She looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and grinned at the sight of the rashes on her skin.