Page 4 of Sing For Us

The drive to my villa is tedious and silent. The streets and little villages outside of my city suddenly feel foreign to me. A feeling of nostalgia washes over me, and I don’t know what I’m longing for. After what feels like an eternity, we arrive at my estate.

“Let him the fuck in! Now!” Hana’s voice reverberates through the intercom before Adam can punch in the code. Fuck, Hana’s here? We drive up to my villa, and once I’m out of the van, she rushes towards me. Her arms swing around my neck, and she hugs me. Hard.

“Hana, let him breathe,” I hear Oliver tease her. Hana releases me, and she shoots a menacing look at Oliver.

“I almost lost my only living family member, so I’ll hug him as much as I want,” she hisses. “Come in; I already have one of our medics here.”

Women are a force to be reckoned with.

***

The aftermath of Lana betraying me is seeping into my bones, and I can’t let go of it. Over the last couple of months, she was my sole purpose in this life. My wicked life needed something good, something to focus on, something to protect, something to love. I just needed to know that I did one good thing in my life.

And I thought Lana was the answer. But she ripped my heart out, and I will make her pay for that.

“All patched up. If you experience any bleeding or discomfort, come to my hospital,” one of our medics tell me.

I don’t glance up at him, but I do thank him. “Thank you, Kenan.”

“One more thing,” he says as he is packing his shit up. “I have all the papers ready for the transfer.”

“What transfer?” Now I’m looking at my friend. He gives me a puzzled look before he looks over at Sara. She crosses her arms and sighs.

“We wanted to surprise you, but then all of this shit happened,” she tells me. I motion for her to elaborate by nodding.

“Well,” she starts, “Isa’s coming to Sarajevo to complete his international transfer.”

I stand up and point at Sara excitedly. The biggest instigator is coming to my city.

“Isa’s coming? When did you all know about this?” I ask Sara.

“For a couple of months. He is coming here because of some exchange, I think, and Isa chose Sarajevo.” Her excitement is palpable, and I get it. Isa is one of my dear friends from Antwerp, and he has the most magnetic personality.

“I can’t wait to see him. When’s he coming?”

“In two weeks. He is going to be here until the end of June.”

“We will welcome him with open arms.”

“I know...” Sara is hesitating about the rest of her response, and I think I know why.

“What is it, Sara?” My question sounds more like an accusation. This has Adam on his feet and beside his woman. While he is fucking terrifying at times, I couldn’t give two shits now.

“It sounds like you don’t want me to host him.” Now it’s out there, and Sara’s eyes soften. She pities me, and I hate it. I don’t want pity; I want people to be honest with me.

“Noa, I don’t want to get him into danger,” she responds softly. I can hear the ruffling of feet, and feel eyes on me. My villa suddenly feels smaller, and not entirely my own. The dark sanctuary I used to admire has turned into a cage.

“Sara, he’s a neurosurgeon. He can take care of himself.” Sara’s eyes nearly pop out of her head, and she scoffs.

“I don’t fucking believe you. Yes, Isa can take care of himself, but not in our world. He cuts people open on the operating table. He doesn’t kill them out on the field.” She sounds reasonable, but I don’t have the mental capacity to be right now. I’m consumed by rage and revenge, and I’m taking it out on my friends. I look around the room, and everybody’s judging me.

“So, you all think I would put one of my oldest friends in danger? Do you honestly believe I would put the uncle of my best friend’s baby in the line of fire? You think–” Hana cuts me off.

“Noa!” She snaps at me. “Nobody’s fucking judging you. We want Isa safe, and we think it would be for the best to let him acclimate to Sarajevo first.”

“Fucking fine.” I go to sit down again, not noticing Kenan has left. “Let’s talk about what just happened.”

***