Vigilant

*Henry*

Though it was nice to be in the country again, the reason was not. It was late. I walked in the front door and the guards even looked at me with pity. I just met this girl and somehow she has already turned my world upside down. I felt the need to save her more than anything I had felt. I had a hard time going to sleep, and I didn't sleep wrong. I woke up and got some coffee before I walked slowly through the foyer, heading for the room I set her up in. I was going to put her in my room, but considering how she had been treated by the Peak Crew I figured she could use her own space. I put her in a room down the hall from mine. I walked slowly towards the door, crossing my fingers, praying she was feeling better than when I left. I knocked lightly on the door. I heard a whisper, and then the psych opened the door slowly. "Hello, Henry. Come on in." She was chipper which gave me some hope. When I walked in I saw Takara standing by a window. She turned around and gave me the biggest smile I had seen from her since we met outside of the house. "Hello ladies, how are things going?" I asked, walking into the room and closing the door behind me. "Takara is having a good morning. She has accepted that she is safe here." Heather, the psych, told me. She was a young woman, in her late 30s, with a rightly kept bun, and a small fragile figure. Her glasses gave her that librarian look. I always feel like I am waiting for her to tell me to be quiet or shush me. "That's great doll, I am so glad you are feeling better today," I said smiling at her. She walked over and sat beside me. I could tell she was still quite cautious with her movements. "Are you enjoying your room?" I asked looking up at the psych who nodded at me. "I am. Thank you, Henry." She replied sweetly, her voice sounding as if she was one of the Angels. She looked over at me shyly, and then down to the floor. The psych told me she had a hard time looking people in the eye because Luca forced her to always look down at the floor. I looked over at her trying to hide the sadness from my face. "Well around here you are welcome to look anywhere you want," I said with a steady voice. Heather nodded at me again. Her nods told me what I was saying was good. I told her before I came not to let me fuck something up. Her progress is important, and I am an idiot. Of course, she told me not to talk badly about myself, but what is true is true. She smiled and looked up at me slowly. "Thank you, Henry." She said again smiling. "Have you eaten anything good for breakfast ladies?" I asked looking from her to Heather. Takara shook her head, no, so I got up and excused myself. I promised to return with something delicious.

When I walked into the kitchen I got a feeling of excitement inside of me. I pulled out a griddle some flour and eggs to start mixing the batter to make some crepes. I turned on some music, Moonlight Sonata, and started mixing. The guys always make fun of my love for classical music, but some of my best childhood memories were spent listening to some woman on a piano. I can't remember why, but I know when I hear it I am instantly calm. I walked around the kitchen, painting the oil on the griddle, and then throwing on some of the crepe batter. Frying them to a nice golden brown, and adding some cream cheese and fruits to them. After a few swirls of whipped cream, I turned to see Takara staring at me. I hadn't even noticed she came into the room. "Beethoven." She said quietly. I nodded and walked to turn the player off. "Please don't turn it off." She said as she walked to the table, so instead, I turned it up. I placed a plate in front of her on the table and handed another to Heather. "Henry, I am so happy to see you are still cooking." The psychiatrist knows exactly what my joy of cooking has done for me. "So you like Beethoven?" I asked as I sat down in front of Takara at the table. She looked up and smiled with a bit of whipped cream on her nose. I smiled at her and slowly reached a napkin over to wipe it off. She didn't flinch, just sat there proudly pushing her face forward for me to clean. "A little whipped cream there doll," I said as I touched her. She shrugged and started to talk again, "I was pretty good at piano when I was younger. Competed a few times. Ask Eliz.. Sunshine. She knows. I made her go to all my competitions with me. My mother never did." The end of her sentence made me curious but I didn't pry. "That's amazing. We don't have a piano here, but I am sure I can get one here if I talk to the boss." I smiled and pulled out my phone. "Oh, don't make a fuss over me Henry. I don't even know if I can still play." She said looking subconsciously at her fingers. "I am sure you can Takara. It may be a good therapy for you. Remind you who you were before." Heather said making my mind up for me. I sent out the text.

To: Smoke
Hey brother. Hope you are healing well. Still so appreciative of your understanding in letting me come here. Tak used to play piano, and Heather thinks having one here may be therapeutic for her. Can we get one and maybe put it out in the big hall beside the kitchen? Thanks.
From: Henry

After we ate I asked Takara if she would like to take a walk outside to see the gardens. The other women seem to like it so I figured why not. She smiled at me but declined. She was just now feeling safe in the house and wasn't ready to go outside quite yet. "Tommasso will find me." She said almost under her breath. I almost couldn't hear her. "You mean Luca's brother?" I asked seeing the shock on her face when I did. "He is already coming, isn't he?" She said immediately becoming wide-eyed and scared. Heather shot me a look telling me to shut down the conversation. "No doll, no, I have just heard his name before when talking with Luca," I said trying to pour sugar on the situation. She looked at me like she wasn't sure to believe me or not. I hated to lie to her, but I didn't want her to be afraid again. Not when she just now decided she was feeling safe. She let out a deep breath and relaxed some. "Is Tommasso someone you know Takara?" Heather asked knowing that I needed more information. "He used to come visit. He was never mean to me really, but he liked being with me. He used to tell me his brother did it all wrong and if I belonged to him, I would stay with only him. He would treat me like a queen." She said quickly like she had to get it out. "So he wasn't mean to you? Do you think he is a dangerous man?" Heather asked intently looking at me. I nodded. "Yes, I do. I saw him kill. I saw him torment. He is soulless and dark. He was obsessed with me. He didn't care for Luca. He wanted his throne." She said looking at me, "Have you spoken with Santino yet?" She asked. I nodded. "He is the man to take charge after Luca, Santino will die. Tommasso won't let that happen. He wanted the throne, and he will come to me." I started to respond but Heather stopped me. "What did I tell you, Takara?" She asked slowly, "I am safe here, No one knows where I am." Heather nodded. I watched as Takara said that a few times to herself with her eyes closed. After she was finished she visibly relaxed.

"So Tommasso wants the crown to the peak crew, and he wants you?" I asked this time hearing the irritation in my voice. "Yes." She said with no negative reaction telling me I could ask more. "How do you know?" I looked right into her eyes to show her I had no ill intention with her. "He told me. He said he was going to take Luca out soon and keep me as his own." I shook my head. Luca was his brother, it didn't make sense. "But Luca was his brother," I said slowly still trying to process. "He was, but they weren't close. Luca was raised by the king, the father. He took over after he passed on. He is the younger brother but because Tomm was raised by his mother the king said he was too soft. He hated Luca. He has wanted him dead for years. This was his pillow talk. He would lay and tell me all the ways he was going to overthrow his brother. He isn't going to be mad because you guys killed Luca. He will want me, and he will lead Santino to his death. He will take The Brotherhood down with him." She shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, but I shook that off knowing I had told her he wasn't around. I knew immediately I needed to get ahold of Joseph. I realized too he wasn't responding to me. It wasn't like him not to answer me. My heart started to speed up as my worry grew. I tried to send Heather looks telling her I needed time alone. "Hey Takara, let's go see where you think the best acoustics will be for the piano?" Heather said picking up what I was laying down. When they were out of the room, I headed for the office. I pulled out my phone and dialed Joseph's number. No answer. I tried again, No answer. this is not like them. I tried Zeus and nothing. I sat down and looked at the clock. It was still early, almost 9 AM. I know they are awake. I tried Jay, and he answered telling me they would call me in a few minutes. I sat there bouncing my leg up and down fighting the urge to jump in the car and drive to the city.

When my phone rang I jumped, startled, but answered it on the second ring. "Hey Henry, head to the city now." I heard Smoke, and then he hung up.