The Devil's Sweetheart

Leena's heart almost broke with joy hearing Kurt's message over the phone. Without even considering her surroundings, she sped out of place, leaving Enger speechless. When she reached the elevator, it was fully crowded with patients and nurses holding the gurneys waiting for the lift to arrive. ''If I go with them, it will take an eternity to reach the top floor. It's worse than Amtrak train ride.'' Muttering to herself, Leena sprinted towards the staircase. By the time Leena reached the top floor, she was panting heavily, and her heart was beating erratically. 

''Hey Leena, why are you sweating a lot?'' Nick came running towards her with a water bottle when he saw her desperately gasping for breath. By chance, did she use the stairs to reach here?

Steadying herself with her hands on the knees for a moment, Leena swatted the bottle away and slowly raised her body to the stand. Pushing the door open, Leena walked into the room, her heart racing like crazy. Thoughts conjured her brain thinking of Devin's reaction upon seeing her face, but the reality was far she expected when she saw Devin's eyes closed shut. ''You said Devin is conscious?'' Leena questioned Kurt. ''Or did you all prank me?'' Her eyes bore a threatening gaze at everyone, demanding an answer. 

''Of course no!'' Kurt corrected her. ''Vincy was conscious for four to five minutes.''

Guilt tripped over Nick as he saw Leena looking at everyone with a question mark face. ''Devin must be tired, so he didnot stay conscious for a long time,'' Nick whispered, swallowing hard. Devin was only looking at the door, waiting for Leena. But then fatigue kicked before Leena arrived, and he went into the deep slumber again.

Nick wouldn't wonder if Leena will roast him alive today because he was the one who sent her away to bring her food. But what he didnot expect was Devin to wake up at the same time.

''I didnot foresee he would_''

''It's okay. Not your mistake.'' Leena dismissed Nick's thoughts with a grimaced expression. Had she come here straight after buying snacks, she wouldn't have missed talking with Devin. A part of her to be blamed for it. She has been crazily waiting to hear Devin's voice, but she missed it today. But somewhere in the corner, her heart fluttered with joy when her name was the first word Devin uttered after he woke up. After her mom assured Devin is out of danger, another thought popped up on her brain while she was going home with her Francy. What if he forgets memories about her or remembers his past love after the accident. But then again, Leena thought traumatic amnesia results from a hard blow to the head. Finally, she was relieved when nothing that she felt has happened.

''You can go and wait outside. I will stay here.'' Leena stated, sitting on the chair next to Devin.

''She is missing him a lot,'' Andrew said, feeling sad for Leena.

''You are right,'' Nick sighed, feeling sad for her. The look in Leena's eyes was desolate, which didnot go unnoticed by everyone. To give her a personal space, they left the room, closing the door shut.

.....

As the friends waited outside, Kurt suddenly received a call from Fredrick, and he excused himself to talk in private.

''What is it?'' Jasper asked the moment Kurt returned.

''He wants to meet me.'' Kurt knew it must be related to Devin's accident when he received the call from Uncle Fredrick.

''We will also join_''

''No, Jazz. Stay here. It's not safe to leave Vincy alone.'' Kurt hinted with his eyes, to which everyone agreed. Although the hospital is fully protected, the danger is lurking around Devin in the shadows. If they are not careful, they have to pay a bigger price.

''Alright,'' Jasper said. ''Go and talk. We will stay here.''

Kurt nodded his head and headed out, but he returned and dragged Nick along with him. He has a strong hunch that Nick knows something that is happening around Devin, and he is determined to make him confess everything today.

.....

Inside a private room, Arnold, Fredrick, and Francis were waiting for Kurt's arrival.

''Is there any progress?'' Fredrick asked, referring to Devin's accident the moment Kurt entered along with Nick. Except for his son's recovery, no other thought entered into Fredrick's mind until the surgery was successful. Now that his mind is cleared, fury tore through him. His hands itched to bring the person who has hurt his son to ruins.

''We are still investigating, uncle,'' Kurt continued. ''It's a pre-planned murder attempt. A perfectly executed plan and the only flaw was Devin survived. The criminal has been observing Devin's every move for a long time. An under-maintenance signboard is not a big deal. The boards are put up everywhere in the city to carry the fieldwork. So, there is the least possibility that Devin would have got the hint.''

''Devin was planning to meet me before going to Greenwyn village,'' Fredrick muttered. ''If that were the case, the plan would have_''

''You are again wrong, Uncle Fredrick.'' Kurt chuckled, dismissing Fredrick's thoughts. ''The criminal had plan B in hand already. There is no way Devin would have escaped the shot on that day.''

''What!'' Francis exclaimed. ''What do you mean by plan B?''

Kurt then explained the events that happened, and all the time, a surprised expression rested on everyone's faces.

''Who was the one who shot Devin? Did you get any clue?'' Francis asked. There was a massive uproar in the media about Devin's accident when the family is not even in a state to think. 

''Our team found footprints of a person at a bit of distance Devin was shot. Ideally, footprints are valuable physical evidence the suspects leave unintentionally at the crime scene. But the criminal intentionally left the footsteps behind.''

''Is it because the shooter is also dead?' It was Nick's curious question.

''Yes. On the same day, Devin was shot. The Forensic department has determined the identity. The footsteps belong to a person named Reid, who is a professional shooter.'' Kurt added. ''So, we tried to investigate his family at least to get any clue, but there is nothing they know about his son's illegal activities.''

''So are we in the dead-end now?'' Fredrick asked with clenched fists.

''We can still guess the criminal,'' Kurt said. ''Firstly, we need to know the secrets Devin is holding,'' Kurt said and then turned to Nick. ''What's happening around him?''

Nick swallowed hard. He knew Kurt had brought him here for interrogation but didnot think he would expose him in front of everyone. ''I_I_''

''You can turn a deaf ear unless you want the same disaster to happen again,'' Although Kurt's tone was flat, Nick had grasped the hidden threat.

''Is is true whatever Kurt has told, Nick?'' Fredrick questioned, demanding an answer.

''Y_es.'' Taking a deep breath, Nick explained all the events that recently happened around Leena and Devin. The more Fredrick heard the more his fury raged to the pits.

''You have confined such important information?'' Fredrick flared up in anger, and then his malicious gaze shifted to Francis. ''Even you know it, but didnot plan to tell your friend? When did you start holding secrets around me, Mr. Hayes?''

Guilt tripped over Francis at his friend's sudden shift of emotions. ''I_I was planning to tell_.''

''When? After all the disaster happened?'' Fredrick shot at him.

''Bastard! Did you think I did it intentionally_.''

''Stop both of you.'' Kurt interrupted their fights. ''You are turning worse than Andrew and Jasper.''

Fredrick and Francis instantly shut their mouths at the mention of mortal enemies.

''If Enger is the one behind Devin's accident, we are dealing with an ingenious criminal,'' Kurt mused.

''I now doubt he is the one who saved Leena.'' Nick raised his doubts.

''Eventually, we will get to know all the truth, but for now, let's not plant any seed of doubt on Leena about her savior because there is a chance Enger might drop his guards around her.'' Enger Cassisu Lennox! It's been a long time he has seen a challenging criminal. 

....

It was pitch dark in the sky. Andrew and Jasper entered the hospital VIP room. ''Go to sleep, Leena. It's already 12.'' Andrew stated.

''I am not sleepy.'' 

''You are as stubborn as Devin.'' Jasper chuckled at her resolute behavior. ''Alright, we will wait outside. If you want anything, call us.''

''Okay.'' 

Jasper walked out of the room, dragging his enemy along with him.

Looking at Devin's calm face, Leena pouted. ''Are you testing my patience? I am missing your voice; I am missing your teasings; I miss you, Devin.'' She rested her head on the edge of the bed, taking his arm into her. ''I wrote a funny poem on Nick for making me do the errands. Do you want to hear?''

''You never say no to my question. So, I will give you the privilege to listen.'' Clearing her throat, Leena began ''Kits belly knees in Nick's nose, Kits belly knees in Nick's nose. Cellulite and hairs in Nick's nose. Kits belly Knees_''

"I n_ever knew cellulite is present in nose, Sweetheart..'' Leena's eyes widened in surprise, hearing the familiar voice.