Rose and Thorns

Chapter 4

Alan Brown

“Doctor, her pulse is going down. We may need to stop..” The assistant surgeon looked up to her chief when the cardiac monitor began to beep erratically.

“No, just hold on..” For a split second the neurosurgeon’s eyes moved to the screen before he turned his attention back to little girl who was fighting her death. “Hand me the scalpel..”

His eyes narrowed as he began to carefully remove the tumor without damaging her vital brain tissues. The operation went on for several hours.

“Replace the bone flap and secure it back..” He instructed his team of doctors and turned to the nurse, “Keep a constant check on her vitals and call me in case of emergency..”

“Yes, doctor..” The nurse responded while she helped him out of his scrub suit.

He strode out of the operation theatre where the girl’s parents were nervously pacing up and down the hall to hear about their daughter’s condition.

“Doctor Brown?” They rushed near him as soon as the door was pulled open.

“The operation was a success but we will need to keep Emma under observation for forty-eight hours..” He patted the father’s cold hands in a comforting manner.

“..But my daughter will live, right?” The mother inquired impatiently.

“We have done everything that we can do and for now we can only hope for the best..” Though deep in his heart he knew the child would survive, he did not want to give false hope to her parents since she was still in a critical condition. 

Opening the door to his room, he found his friend, Dr. William waiting for him.

“Will, what are you doing here?”

“I should be the one asking you that question, Alan..” He raised his eyebrow at his friend before he looked down at his wristwatch, “Let me remind you that you have only four hours left before your wedding and I can’t believe you are still at the hospital..”

Alan huffed as he scrubbed his palm over his tired face. He sat down on the chair to relieve the pain on his back from standing for seventeen hours straight, “I know but the child’s life was in my hands and I couldn’t just let her wait until I got married..”

“There are other doctors in this hospital who could have agreed to perform the operation in your place..” William argued.

Alan knew that but the operation was a critical one and he didn’t want to take any risk with the girl’s life. That is why he took it in his own hands even when the operation was scheduled on the previous night of his wedding.

“Abby is going to be mad at you when she sees the horrible bags under your eyes..” Will warned him with a slight trace of a smirk. The name alone brought an immediate frown on Alan’s face.

William was aware that Alan wasn’t in love with this woman yet he was here ready to marry her, whom he had met only a few weeks back, so that he wouldn’t disappoint his mother. “I hope she understands how important it was for me to save that little girl's life, after all, she is a doctor herself.” 

“Anyways man, let me drive you home.” William offered.

“No Will, I need to be here for at least another two hours in case there is an emergency..” 

“Are you kidding me? You have only..” William was stopped midway.

“I know. I know. I have only four hours before the wedding..” Alan rolled his eyes, feeling irritated to hear it again and again from his friend, “I will be at the venue on time, don’t worry..”

“Alright then.. See you soon..” William pulled him into a manly hug and left his room.

Alan spent the next two hours sleeping on the sofa where he generally slept whenever he had an all-nighter. He groaned and turned around on the sofa when he heard a soft knock on the door. He sat up and stretched his limbs above his head and call in, knowing it would be the duty nurse.

“Come in, Charlotte..”

The door opened and in came the young nurse carrying the history sheet of the patient. “Dr. Brown, I thought you might want to see Emma’s case record..”

He nodded when he remembered asking her to keep him informed of Emma’s condition every two hours. He took it in his hands and studied it for a few seconds. He got up to put on his coat and carried his stethoscope towards his patient’s ward.

He checked her closely before turning to the nurse. “Keep a close eye on her and do not leave her unattended even for a minute. I will be back in the night to check her..”

“In the night?” The nurse asked completely shocked at what he was saying. The man was getting married for god’s sake and he had to be crazy to leave his new bride on the wedding night, she thought.

“Yes, in the night. Any problem?” His tone was gentle yet sounded scary to her.

“No, sir..” She muttered, looking down.

“Good..” He rasped and walked back to his room. By the time he went back, his driver was waiting for him with his wedding suit dress that he had asked him to deliver.

“Thank you, James. Wait for me in the parking while I get ready..”

“Yes, Boss..” His driver walked away towards the parking.

Alan glanced at the wall clock and sighed soundly. He was left with two hours after which his life would be tied to Abigail Jefferson forever. He was a person who strongly believed in love but unfortunately due to his hectic lifestyle he found no time to date or find the right woman to fall in love with.

He was twenty-nine, handsome, rich, a successful doctor but single. His mom was worried that he would die single if he went on like this and that’s when she decided to get him married to Doctor Abigail who hailed from a family full of doctors.

Alan hoped his mom was right in choosing Abigail as his life partner and believed he would eventually fall in love with her after marrying her. However, with the little time he got to spend with the woman, he learned that she was nowhere near to his likings. First of all, she was rich and that was the only and only reason she could become a doctor. Secondly, she wasn’t dedicated to her profession which shouldn’t be the case for a doctor. Above all, she didn’t value the life of her patients as much as he did.

‘You don’t have to take every operation so seriously, Alan. We are only doctors not god to save every damn patient we meet..’ He remembered their conversation when he couldn’t attend the family dinner due to an important operation that night. It really disappointed Abigail but as his future wife, he expected her to understand him but it really pissed him off when she said that.

Of course they were just doctors but didn’t people consider them as gods when their beloved’s lives were left in their hands?

He had dedicated his whole life to improve the lives of people and just because he was getting married, he wasn’t going to change anything, he thought standing under the shower. He stared at his reflection on the mirror.

“Are you really ready for this?” He asked himself for the hundredth time but it was too late for anything else, he knew. He got dressed quickly, fixed his tie, and gelled his hair back.

He grabbed his phone to call his driver, “James get the car out. I will be there in a minute..”

“Yes sir..” He heard him say on the other end. 

However, before he could turn the doorknob, he felt a presence behind him.

“Make another move and I will blow your head into pieces..” The next second, something hard and cold was pressed at the back of his skull, causing him to freeze on the spot. “Now move towards the elevator..” The gruff tone was heard again.

Alan took a deep breath before complying with the orders. As the doors of the elevator opened, he saw two more men standing inside. He silently walked inside, with the men surrounding him.

When the doors opened again upon reaching the roof, Ricardo was shocked to find all the three men lying wounded on the ground. Alan never liked to hurt people but that didn’t mean he was a fool to let others hurt him. He still remembered every training that his father put him through and used them whenever he was forced to, just like now. 

“Impressive..” Ricardo smiled at his son, whose expression suddenly became dumbstruck on seeing the face that always haunted his memories. He remembered everything crystal clear even after twenty two years.

‘Take the gun and aim at your target. The one to take his head will be rewarded..’ Were his father's words. 

"We are humans. We have no right to take away another human’s life..’ Were his mother's words. 

As children, two totally different ideologies were instilled into their minds by their parents. Alan always wondered whose path was to be followed, his father’s, who had absolutely no remorse taking away another human life, or his mother’s, who always respected and treasured every life she came across.

On that particularly treacherous day when they were asked to kill for the very first time, they were just seven yet they had to make the most important decision of their life.

 ‘Aim’

The twin boys aimed at their targets, more specifically at the head of the man who had betrayed their father by stealing a very important information and giving it to his rival.

‘Ready’ 

Their palms tightened around their ALFA combat pistols.

This was not the first time they were given a gun to hold. Alan was extremely proficient at taking a shot when compared to his twin brother but this was not a dummy figurine to shoot casually. He was a man with blood still running through his veins. 

Alan was aware that this bullet would change their lives completely. The dark world looked fancier from the outside but it came with a heavy price. Even though he was certain that this man’s life would come to an end, Alan didn’t want to be the one to give him death. He didn’t want his hands to be tainted with someone’s blood.

‘Shoot’ His father’s voice echoed inside the dimly lit room.

Right before pulling the trigger, Alan purposefully shifted his aim. The bullet traveled through the air and hit the wall behind the man yet the man died. His twin was the one to put a bullet through his skull, resulting in the man’s death.

Alan squeezed his eyes shut with the sudden return of that nightmarish memory.

Opening his eyes again, he was met with the devilish smile of his father that always sent deathly shivers to any normal human being.

For a minute Alan thought his father was here to attend his wedding but then he saw more of his men standing behind him. He didn’t understand what was going on.

“Father?” He muttered questioningly.

“I didn’t think you would be able to do that after raised by a saint like your mother..” Ricardo pointed at his men who were lying on the ground, groaning in pain. He strode forward and circled around him, studying him like a hawk.

“Why are you here?” Alan asked, his features hardening after seeing this man whom he never wished to see for the remaining days of his life. He was the very reason behind his mother's pain-filled life. 

“I will tell you but not here. You need to come with me..” Ricardo stopped in front of him, scanning his body. 

Alberto wasn’t well built like his twin brother since he never got the training like Victor but his shoulders were broad with naturally tight abs and decently tones muscles around his arms.

“Well, I can’t. I am late..” Alan answered vaguely. He thought this man definitely didn’t need to know any more details about his life.

“You mean for the wedding that isn’t going to happen?” Ricardo c****d his brow tauntingly.

“What? Why isn’t it going to happen?”

“Because you are not going to lead this simple life anymore..” Ricardo said as a matter of course.

“You are no one to decide that for me..” Alan spat angrily trying to push him out of his way.

“Let see if you say the same after seeing this short clipping from the marriage hall..” Ricardo fetched out his phone from his pocket and handed it over to Alan.

He let out an evil laugh when he witnessed the horrified look on his son’s handsome face.

Alan’s chest tightened and his heart began to thump loudly inside his ribcage. His mother and grandparents were seen waiting for the guests at the church, oblivious to the men aiming their guns at them.

“Boss the targets are clear, do you want me to take a shot.” A man’s voice came through the line.

“Hold the fire..” His father responded with a vicious smirk, standing in front of him. “What do you say now, Alberto? You still want to decline my offer?”

“Why are you doing this? If I leave with you, it would kill my mother even if you don’t. She doesn’t want me to get involved with you in any way. Isn’t it enough that you pulled my brother into this?” He desperately tried to make his father drop this insane plan. He did not want to belong to his father and brother’s dark world. They were born to kill while he was born to save. He believed he would never fit into it.

“You will get into the chopper now if you want your family members to see another day. I wouldn’t hesitate to kill them if you disappoint me and you know it very well..” Ricardo gritted through his teeth. 

He could never be able to harm his wife but his son didn’t have to know it. This was the only way he could achieve what he wants. Alberto was his last and the only option to save his empire and he wouldn't let the chance slip from his hands.

“Nikolai, get ready to take the shot..” Ricardo ordered when Alan did not budge from his threats.

“Yes, boss..” The person on the other end confirmed. “The position is clear..”

“Okay then take the sho..”

“No wait..” Alan snapped to stop his father from ordering to kill his mother. "I will go with you

“Abort the mission..” Ricardo gave one last command to his man, “Alberto, I must say, you have made a wise decision. Now, get into the chopper..” He spoke as he strode towards the helipad. Alan glanced back for one last time before following his father helplessly.

Inside the chopper, Alan kept staring at Ricardo wondering what he wanted from him.

“Where are you taking me?” He asked after the longest few hours of silence.

“Back to where you belong..” Ricardo shrugged.

“I don’t belong to that life..” Alan hissed but closed his eyes to calm down. “Why do you need me when you already have Victór to do your dirty job?” 

Ricardo’s confidence wavered on hearing his name. He still believed he was alive but he couldn’t expect the world to believe the same. They would come one after another to attack them and the only way to stop that would be bringing back a splitting image of Victor. .

“Victór is dead..” He grumbled emotionlessly. The light in his eyes died down as he uttered those words which felt like a powerful bolt of thunder on Alan’s head.

Dead? Victor is dead? No, he can’t be.. it can’t be.

They stayed in their mother’s womb together. They came into this world together then why did he leave so soon?

Alan didn’t get to spend his childhood with Victor but there was not a single day in his life that he didn’t miss him and little Sarah.

‘He was the most obedient and kind out of the two of you. .’ His mother would say laughing whenever they talked about his siblings. Then she would end up crying her heart out thinking about her two children whom she left behind. She would blame herself to be the worst mother in the world when in reality she was the most amazing mother one could be blessed with.

Alan knew she would have brought them all with her but she was asked to take only one. She knew they would all end up dead if they remained there. What she did was to save at least one out of her three children.

She was right in the end. Victor was dead just like she had predicted.

“You bastard!!” Alan’s fist roughly went back in the air to only meet harshly with his father’s jaw, making him groan. “You killed him. You killed him..”

Tears began to well up in his obsidian eyes that he had inherited from his father. “What about Sarah? Did you end up killing her as well?” He asked, holding the lapels of his jacket.

Ricardo jerked his hands away and pushed him back onto his seat. He waved his hand to signal at his men to sit back and ignore them. When it came to Alberto and his wife’s safety, Ricardo didn’t trust even Esteban but the men those who had followed him to help him get back Alberto were all Victor’s faithful henchmen who swore to keep this mission a secret till their grave.

Ignoring Alan’s question, Ricardo straightened his clothes and leaned back on his seat, “You are going to replace your brother in the mafia world. Your family back in Las Vegas will think you ran away to escape from the marriage that you hated so very much. My men left a letter for your mother that will be enough of a proof..”

Alan was shocked to know that his father even knew about his disinterest in the wedding. He hadn't spoken a word to anyone about it, not even to his mother. 

“You are f*****g kidding me. I am not going to replace anyone in anything. I hate the lifestyle that you live in and I would instead die than living in it..”

Ricardo knew that out of the two brothers, Alberto was not only the strongest back then but also the sharpest. It was him who fulfilled his every expectation and Ricardo always believed that he would become his heir but even at the age of seven, he was clever enough to deceive him by missing his target purposefully on that day, when he wanted to choose his successor.

Now Alberto was a different man. His mother had made him just like her,  both emotionally and physically weak when compared to Victor. He must undergo severe training if he had to make the world believe that he was Victor. After seeing Alberto fight his men to the ground, Ricardo's hope was restored. Alberto still had the fire within him and it would take just a few weeks for him to catch up.

“Don’t think your family is safe because my men are still watching them and one wrong move, they would put a bullet through everyone’s head..” Ricardo warned calmly, taking a large swig of his drink.

Alan couldn’t help but stare at him unconvincingly for the rest of their flight.

The first thing that Ricardo did after landing in Colombia was to shoot every single man, except for Nikolai who now knew about Alberto's existence. Even though they had promised him that they won’t reveal it to anyone, he didn’t want to let them live to commit such a crime.

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It had been a whole week since he brought Alberto to one of their mansions in Colombia to start with his strenuous training. He was stubborn in the beginning but after several threats, he gave in and was extremely good just like Ricardo remembered.

He had an in-born talent in handling the arms and ammunition. Every bullet he shot perfectly pierced through the bull’s eye. He worked out from dawn to dusk, to match his brother’s bulky appearance. Every single wound mark on Victor’s body was recreated on Alberto with superficial fake ones, like the bullet wounds on his chest and left arm, the stab mark on his right lower abdomen and even the scar on his left eyebrow. Not even his wife would be able to find out that he was not Victor.   

Victor was trained his whole life and he was a made man. It wasn’t that simple for anyone to become the great Victor, yet Alberto closely succeeded in the task.

“This is Esteban, the chief guard. This is Emilia his sister and..” Ricardo stopped explaining and changed to the next slide on the screen.

“This is your sister, Sarah. She is twenty three now and isn’t married yet.”

Alan was happy to know that at least his sister was still alive. She was beautiful just like his mother. THe last time he saw her, she was just five months old.

“This is your son, Miguel.” Ricardo didn’t mention the word brother’s son since he had already replaced Victor with Alberto at his heart. Alberto was no more Victor’s brother but Victor himself.  

“Victor has a son?” Alan couldn’t believe that his brother was already a father. His heart twisted inside his sternum uncomfortably to think of the little guy who has lost his father at such a young age. He knew how difficult it was to grow up without a father figure. The boy looked like himself when he was small, after all, he was his father’s twin image.

“Yes, he is three years old..” He went on to the next slide, masking his true emotions for his grandchild effortlessly. “And this is your wife, Jazmine..”

Alan’s blood froze like ice in his veins upon hearing his father’s words. Was he insane? Alan was fine with accepting Victor’s son but how did he expect him to take his brother’s wife as his own?

“This is impossible. I am not going to do this shit.. Never.. Never..” Alan shook his head in disagreement as he got up on his feet after slamming his palms on the table in front of him. “Why don’t you at least tell the woman about Victor’s death? After all, he is her husband and she has every f*****g right to know he is no more..”

“Alberto, f*****g s**t down and lower your f*****g voice..” Ricardo yelled at him before composing himself. “She isn’t just a normal woman like you think. You don’t know what kind of a relationship Victor had with Jazmine. The minute she knows that you are not Victor, her brothers would come for your head, then followed by every last one of our enemies and believe me, you wouldn’t want that. They will not only kill you but also Miguel, Jazmine, Sarah, your mom and every f*****g person whom you know..”

Alan didn’t believe his words but little did he know that the underworld dogs wouldn't let anyone live from the Gonzales’ family. “The moment you tell anyone about your true identity, your mother dies a painful death, I swear to you Victor..” Ricardo warned in a menacing tone.

For the next few days, he managed to teach Alberto every minute habit of Victor, even concentrating on improving his fluency in Spanish since the women at home only knew Spanish.  

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“Miguel, you haven’t touched the food..” Sarah helped him cut his food into smaller pieces. Jazmine was seated on his right, watching them with a smile. They have never been so happy in their lives and their happiness was becoming a routine after Victor’s death.

“Jazmine, you don’t seem like you are mourning your husband’s death..” Emilia interrupted their moment of happiness by bringing up about Victor.

“Who said I am even mourning for that bastard?” Jazmine responded with a snort.

“Bitch.. I don’t know what Victor saw in her..” Emilia’s niece, Catalina remarked with a grimace. 

Catalina was Esteban’s daughter and had spent her entire life in the mansion as a member of the family. From the time, she first saw Victor she wanted to marry him but he obviously had no interest in her and treated her like crap. Now she was married to one of Ricardo’s men whom she didn’t love but had a daughter with him.

“Miguel, lets go to our room if you are done..” Jazmine had no intention to spoil her mood by being with these dumb ladies. She was leaving the table when they all heard the chopper land in the helipad at the far end of the estate. Walking out to the huge balcony, the women saw Ricardo and Nikolai getting down from the chopper. His men rushed to carry out someone in a stretcher.

Jazmine began to panic as she tried to see who they were carrying towards the mansion. Soon, the blood from everyone’s brain drained as the man’s face came into their clear view.

Victor!

Jazmine began to hyperventilate with what she was seeing in front of her eyes. She closed her eyes several times to see if she was in another one of her nightmares but no he was really here. 

'Why is he here? He was supposed to be dead?' She stood contemplating. 

A breathing tube was attached to Victor’s nostrils and his left arm was secured in a sling. His head was wrapped with a guaze and he lay unconscious but very much alive from the constant rise and fall of his chest.

'Victor is back. Victor is back' The men celebrated their boss's return. 

A/N: 

Hey lovely readers!!

Did you like this chapter? And what do you think about Alan?

Please note that Alan and Alberto are the same. He was born as Alberto Gonzalez but his identity was changed to Alan brown by his mother after she left Colombia.

You might have noticed that I used the name Alan since he wants to be referred by that name only. However, Ricardo calls him Alberto because that’s what his real identity is. Alan is just a fake self of Alberto. Death and sin run in his veins just like in any other Gonzalez and he can never be a normal man like he wants. 

PLease leave your comments. 

Love 

SwaRam