Five months later...
“And after all this time, I thought you would have softened up a little. How stupid of me! Come on, Deva! I need a break!”
Deva shook her head at Jason as he did another series of extension on the stabilizing bars. Deva wasn’t going to tell him, but she was impressed.
“You are the one who has a sadistic side, Jason, not me. You are the one who transferred from San Antonio to Chicago just to be tortured by me again. I want twelve more before you collapse, little boy.”
The veteran cursed under his breath, but it was impossible to miss the gleam of satisfaction on his face.
When everything was in order, Deva had returned to San Antonio, but only to ask for a transfer to the Chicago therapy center. After much reflection, she loved Chicago, and she loved her job, and she wanted to continue doing it here. She emptied her apartment, filled up her car, said her goodbyes to many coworkers she would miss and headed north. She had kept her apartment in the North Side. Another feat was Rusty forgiving her for all that happened and offering her a part-time job at the gym.
It had been so strange going back there. Hector was still training, having won his latest official fight, which she hadn’t attended. She wasn’t quite ready yet to see a cage fight. He was his same funny, outrageous self when she treated him and never talked about what had happened. It was as if life had followed its course without being disturbed by Finch. And weirdly enough, she didn’t mind. Even if she treated fighters who were mostly related to the different syndicates, it didn’t bother her either. It was as if she kept a toe in the water, a safeguard, without being fully immersed. Must be the controlling part of herself that liked it that way.
But Aleksei didn’t come to Rusty’s anymore. Even after several months, she still found herself looking for him as if the Russian would be walking out of the locker room, or coming in the door. He hadn’t, and he wasn’t. And that was that.
Shaking her head back to the present, she nodded at Jason who was making good progress. The young wounded veteran was stubborn, and that flaw worked at making him progress the best he could. Covered with sweat, heaving hard, Jason leaned against the bar as he finished his set.
“They are fitting me with my sports prosthesis tomorrow. I should be able to start jogging the next time I see you.”
“And who made you the expert? Let’s fortify your legs, preparing them for the next step which is standing. Followed by walking and then jogging. What about that?”
The young man puffed at her but didn’t say anything. He had learned the hard way that skipping steps could mean a serious setback. “Okay, okay. But can you tell me an approximate when? When will I be ready to start running?”
“What about when you don’t fall on your face using that prosthetic? Enough for today. Go shower. And don’t forget your exercises, I’ll know if you don’t do them properly.”
Jason hopped to his crutches. “Not tonight! I’m going out.”
Seeing him so full of energy made her smile. “Hot date?”
“Trolling... It seems that Chicago women love wounded heroes. Moving here has been the best decision of my life.”
Deva laughed at him and shooed him away. “Get out of my sight, manwhore.” Seeing her patient in such a good mood brightened her day.
She’d only worked for half a day, as she wanted to enjoy the few hours of light that February offered. Sub-zero temperatures welcomed her when she walked out. The damp cold making her shiver but the air felt so good, she decided to walk instead of taking public transport. Driving her car in snowy Chicago was something she tended to avoid. Making a detour by Michigan Avenue, she saw the stores adorned with bright red hearts and festive balloons. Valentine’s Day was this weekend if she wasn’t mistaken. The Friday night crowd moved in and out of the stores, walking briskly in the winter weather.
Deva wrapped her scarf around her head before pulling up the hood of her ruby-red winter coat. One thing she did invest in was a good winter coat, and she found the red color so cheerful, she couldn’t resist. Leaving the Boulevard, her feet lead her home. She could have gone to the gym. After all, Rusty had let her keep a key, but she was more interested in burying herself under one of her comforters and starting a TV marathon.
And to make sure to lessen the time before she was able to fling herself on her sofa, she grabbed some Thai food for lunch. She intended on doing nothing, but turn her brain off, and that included cooking.
Just as she stepped on the first stair leading to her apartment, her neighbor’s door flung open. Marcus’s wiry frame almost jumping on her. Deva yelped, and sidestepped, as her neighbor flung his arms in the air as if chasing flies away.
“Marcus! For goodness’ sake! Don’t attack the poor girl!”
Miss Lupe came into view, shaking her head at the hysterical man.
“You have to come inside! You don’t understand. It was a summons from the IRS! A man, a delivery man, came and we had to sign! I had to sign! You know my credit is down the shithole, Devie! I can’t afford for the IRS to know about me! And I signed that dreadful paper!”
Deva blinked and stepped into her neighbors’ apartment, shutting the cold wind out.
“Oh, calm down, silly man. You are not the one being audited. Give Deva the paper, instead of waving it like a flag under her nose.”
Marcus calmed down enough so Deva could snatch the envelope from him.
“OMG! OMG! I can’t believe you came under their evil radar! Are they targeting the building, you think?”
Deva tried to tone down the man buzzing around her and looked at the envelope. It wasn’t from the IRS. Frowning at the name printed on the envelope, she saw the header of a law firm, the same one that dealt with her father’s will.
Tearing up the paper, she started reading the letter. It was technical stuff, but the more she read, the more Deva couldn’t believe it.
“Son of a bitch.”
Her outburst only fueled Marcus’ anxiety even more, making him gig around her as if he wanted to pee. In an attempt to calm him down, she shoved her Thai food bag into his arms. Miss Lupe ignored him and limped beside Deva, putting a hand on her wrist.
“What’s going on, Deva? Bad news?”
Deva shook her head. “You know my father died a little more than seven months ago. I had to deal with a lot of paperwork. My father didn’t believe in keeping his personal finances in shape, which led to trouble with the IRS and so many other agencies and departments...” She sighed, not wanting to remember the burden and headaches of that period. “Anyway, now this law firm, working in the name of the government, is saying that there is more money, implying that I kept it somehow. They are insane! I’m not a thief, I don’t have that money. I gave them every possible piece of paper and bit of money that belonged to my father... what do they possibly need now?”
Deva was ready to pull her hair out. And even worse, she had done everything by the book! Despair was replaced by anger and rage. That was enough! Those bloodsucking money vampires could go fuck themselves, and she was going to say it to their face, in person. Right. Now!