SHE IS MY BROKEN ANGEL

THIS IS MY LIFE NOW

Keira’s P.O.V.

I looked at the gauge that was wrapped around my waist. I sighed and looked out of the window of my office. Everyone out there was in hurry. It was lunchtime and everyone was in rush to grab something to eat. It seemed that I was the only one here who was still standing at the same point where I was 7 years ago. Alone…

It was difficult to deal with Arthur now. He was going unreasonable with every mission of his. He intentionally was taking park in brutal missions. He knew… he knew that I would not leave him alone to do anything stupid. I recalled our last encounter when he grabbed me by my waist. There were so many emotions in his eyes that I couldn’t point out the one.

I was hit. Specifically, that bullet was for him but I took it..... again.... He was my best friend and there was no way that I was going to let him injured at any cost. I looked at my laptop. Ryder, Chris, and Kyle were in his living room. They were again arguing about me. I closed my eyes and looked at Ryder. He had transformed into a well-built man now. He had an aura of a man on his face now. I tried to touch his face through the screen. A tear dropped from my eyes. Why destiny played that brutal game with me. I lost everything that I got after a long hardship and miserable life. I cherished all my relationships then why I had to leave them when I needed them the most.

I leaned down on the backrest of my chair. I remembered the day of his marriage. He was so happy that day when he slipped the ring in Cassandra’s finger. There was a spark of happiness in his eyes. The way he kissed her on the altar made my heart shattered into so many pieces. There was a time when his kiss only belonged to me. Now he completely belonged to anyone else. In this battle, I was on both ends of the line. I won because I managed to save everyone. I lost because I lost my happiness, my love, and everything that I wanted to keep with me for the rest of my life. I lost all of them.

“Bella”, I came out of my stance when someone shouted my name from outside. I closed the laptop and put that back in the safe and locked it. I came out of my office and saw a rush in my restaurant. Yeah… I am an owner of a restaurant in a busy street in Boston. I chose this place due to some specific reason. Everyone here knows me by Bella Carson.

“Bella”, my manager, Carla shouted again and I looked at her with a questioning look. “We have so many customers now and short of hands. Please do something”, she said in a panicked voice and I rubbed my temple while shaking my head. I appointed Carla 1 year ago. She had finished her graduation in hospitality management at that time and was in desperate need of a job. She was blonde with blue eyes and a very petite body. She was an efficient manager but panicked quickly in any crisis.

“Relax…. Dear… everything is in control” I patted her shoulder and went towards the cash counter. Petty was working furiously on the system and there was a long cue in front of her. I guess Garry was on his lunch off. I took the other counter beside her. She looked at me with a thankful sign and I passed her an assuring smile.

“I requested every second person of this line to form a line here, please”, I announced and everyone followed my instruction. “Carla help the servers in taking the orders and let me finish here first”, I instructed Carla while settling the bill of a customer in front of me.

“Ask Garry to help in the kitchen after coming break from his break”, I instructed Nicole who was passing by to place the order in the kitchen. Garry was a multi-talented college-going student who worked part-time with me here.

“Petty”, I called her without averting my gaze from my machine. “Yeah”, she also followed my lead. “Take your break after half an hour. I will replace you”, she sighed and said thanks to me. Though I am the owner of this restaurant, I like to do anything to help my staff. Most of the staff I have are college-going students who are working part-time to earn some extra money. They reminded me of my days of struggle.

It was lunchtime and it was the same for every day. I had worn a dark color long top to hide the gauge on my waist. I felt that the bleeding started again as I was continuously moving on the counter. I looked in front of me and there were still 9 persons in the queue. Garry was helping in the kitchen now and Petty was looking already exhausted. I took my lower lip in between my teeth to suppress my pain.

“You are looking in pain”, the customer in front of me said to me in concern. She was a woman in her early 40s. She was in business attire. I guessed she worked in one of the companies situated nearby. “I couldn’t get a good sleep last night… thanks for your concern”, I politely thanked her and gave her card back to her.

“You should take a rest first”, she said while taking back her card and I passed a genuine small smile to her. “I will… thanks for coming here…. Please come back soon”, I gave her a curt nod and she smiled before leaving the counter.

“You always mesmerized everyone with your charm”, Petty teased me and I laughed while settling the bill of another customer. Soon the rush started fading and we both took a breath of relief. “Hey… are you injured?” I snapped my head towards Petty who was looking down on my waist with concern on her face. I looked down and cursed myself.

“Yeah… I got a scratch when I was coming out of my room. I will take care of this”, I said while putting my hand on my wound. At the same time, Garry came back and I looked at Petty. “I will be back in 10 minutes”, she nodded and I went towards my office immediately. Petty hadn’t had her lunch by now.

I immediately took out the medical box from the last corner of the cupboard. I already locked the room so that no one can come inside. I cleaned the blood and changed the bandage. The bullet hit me at the right side of my back a little up of hip bone. I groaned in pain and lay down on the couch by my stomach. I would kill him by myself if he again put himself in danger.

My phone rang this time and I looked at the caller ID. I smiled weakly and then picked up the call. “Hey… how are you?” I asked him in a calm but exhausted tone. “So… you are hit again”, he asked me in a calm tone but I knew that he was angry right now.

“O…. come on… it’s not the first time and I am sure that I will survive this time again”, I tried to cheer him up but I knew that my all efforts are not good enough to make him smile a bit. “That’s what I am trying to tell you for the last 5 years. Your body is not in good shape to take more bullets. Why can’t you understand a small thing”, I pulled my phone away from my ear as he started yelling on me.

“Relax, Francis…. I am fine… you are hurting my eardrums”, I yelled again and heard him sighing. “I am coming to you by tomorrow evening. I have a small business there and also… I want to see you”, I smiled and then said okay to him before hanging up the call. For the last 7 years, he is taking care of me and I didn’t know why he treated me like a fragile doll.

Suddenly, I remembered about Petty and stood up instantly but carefully. I didn’t want to bleed again. I put the medical box back in its place and then went out of the office towards the cash counter. “Are you fine?” Petty asked me in concern and I passed a small smile to her. “I am okay… go and get your lunch first”, I said to her and she closed her login. “I will be back soon”, she said to me before leaving the counter.

“There is not so rush now. You can take a rest now”, Garry said to me and I logged in to the system. “I am fine, Garry… don’t worry so much about me”, I passed a smile to him and he sighed while settling a bill.

“You came back in the morning today after a long journey. You should think about your health”, I raised my brows at his concern. “I mean… if you get sick then who will pay our salary to us”, he winked and I slapped his arm playfully. He hissed playfully and I laughed while shaking my head. I like my staff. They are like a second family to me. They are the person who used to keep me occupied all day and their immaturity and inexperience in professional ways made me so much exhausted that I sleep well in the night.

After we finished the day, I asked Carla to lock the doors and I went towards my apartment that was only 15 minutes drive from the restaurant. I was at the red light when I saw Kyle crossing the road hurriedly. He was nervous and looking at his watch frequently.

“Where are you going, Kyle?” I asked myself and decided to follow him.