Page 52 of Abigail's King
I shook my head to stop thinking about things. I needed to concentrate on the road ahead of me, but by the time I pulled off of the expressway at the airport, my head was completely pounding.
I pulled up into the car park in the first available space and grabbed my phone. I went to dial Mateus’s number to find out exactly where he was when I heard my name being called in the distance. I looked up and saw Mateus waving at me. I ran over to where he was standing, looking through the fencing and down at the airport gates below us.
“What’s going on? Is Bianca here? Have they stopped her and saved Abigail?”
My questions fired at Mateus like a rain of bullets as I ran over to his position. I didn’t give him a chance to answer, but I needed to know everything as quickly as possible.
“Ricardo, slow down.”
It didn’t escape my notice that he had gone into full big brother mode by calling me Ricardo, but I guessed I couldn’t blame him. He needed a quick way to stop the barrage of questions being hurled at him and for me to take stock of what was happening.
“To answer your questions, the police and security team are currently down there negotiating with Bianca. She has Abigail in the private jet at the gate down there, and from what the police can gather, she is fine. I was waiting here for you to arrive, and then we can go into the departure terminal. But under no circumstances are we allowed to go near the plane until the police and security have the situation under control and have arrested Bianca. Do you understand?”
“But—”
“No, Ricardo. You have to agree to that before I take you anywhere near the situation. I have no jurisdiction here in Madeira, so I have no way of getting you off the hook if you get arrested. We will wait in the terminal until we are given the all-clear. Then and only then will you be able to go see Abigail and make sure she is okay. Plus, you are in no fit state with the drugs you had in your system. I should never have let you drive, but I couldn’t really stop you. Now, do you agree to all of that?”
I didn’t, but I really had no choice in the matter. The thought of spending a few hours in a police cell was one I didn’t really want to contemplate. So, I reluctantly agreed.
“Yes, I understand, Mateus,” I didn’t hold back the sarcasm in my voice as I said his name. “and I promise to behave myself like a good little brother.”
The roll of Mateus’s eyes told me he wasn’t impressed with my reply. However, I couldn’t have cared less what he thought. The only thing that mattered to me was Abigail being safe, and I would do what I had to do to make sure that happened.
“I guess that will have to do. Come on, follow me.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes at Mateus’s response. He always had to be the big brother in times like these. The police superintendent came to the top, taking charge of the situation. The chances were I would have been able to stop this whole situation a lot sooner than the police down there. It wouldn’t be legal, of course, but I would get the job done. I started to follow Mateus towards the entrance to the airport, but stopped suddenly when I felt a wave of dizziness come over me. I couldn’t explain what was happening to me; it wasn’t the lasting effects of the drugs. It was a different feeling, one that I couldn’t control. My heart was beating erratically and I was having trouble catching my breath. If I didn’t know better, I would have said I was having a panic attack, but no way could that be happening. I didn’t have panic attacks.
Mateus must have sensed I had stopped, because he had turned around and was walking back towards me.
“Kye, are you okay?”
I was starting to hyperventilate, and I was shaking all over. I couldn’t control anything. The feelings that were coursing through my body were starting to overwhelm me. The feeling of helplessness and loss I had never had before was taking over my thoughts. I was still struggling to breathe.
“Kye, you need to breathe. Deep breaths. In…and out. In…and out.”
Of course, I knew what to do. I had been in the same situation with Nathan not six months ago. But when the roles were reversed, it seemed a completely different situation. The panic that suddenly filled you in a situation like this removed all rational thought and everything you had learned. I tried to follow Mateus’s instructions, but fear and doubt were coursing through my veins, and try as I might, the panic in me was getting worse. Mateus placed both his hands on my shoulder. Causing me to look up into his eyes.
“Kye, you need to get a hold of yourself and a grip on the situation. This isn’t going to help Abigail. I need you to calm down and breathe slowly. I know you can do this. Just breathe.”
As I looked into his eyes and saw the caring, but worried smile that came across his face, I knew I had to pull myself together. I needed to be there for Abigail. I concentrated on my breathing, doing what I knew I had to do to calm my anxiety. Slowly, I felt the dizziness and panic starting to ease as my heartrate started to return to normal. Even during my darkest days when I found out about Mateus and Sofia, I had never had a panic attack. I had never felt the desperation I had experienced in the past twenty minutes or so. I couldn’t comprehend why the thought of losing Abigail had caused these feelings. I knew I loved her, but was it so deep that I couldn’t bear to live a life without her?
“That’s better. Now, do you think you can hold it together if we go inside? I’m not taking you in there if you are going to panic like that again.”
I looked at Mateus as he lowered his arms and took a step away from me. Still close enough to help if required, but far enough to give me the space I needed. I gave him a nod, but he wasn’t going to accept that.
“I need you to say it, Kye. A nod just isn’t going to cut the flack with me.”
“I’m okay, Mateus. It was just a panic attack. A combination of the situation and the drugs that are still going around my body. I promise you I will be okay.”
I wasn’t sure he believed me. He still had a look of concern on his face, and he hesitated before he said or did anything further. After a moment, he gave me a nod.
“Okay. I’ll take you in now. But if I think you are starting to lose it again, I will remove you from the situation. With force, if necessary. You may have grown in the past eighteen years, but I’m no pushover. Just remember that.”
I gave him another nod and followed him into the airport. The airport was full of tourists queuing to book in for their flights. Mateus, however, walked over to the side of the terminal towards a couple of security guards over the far side of the building. As he walked up to them, he showed them his police identification, and they immediately opened the door to let him through.
“He’s with me.”
Mateus pointed towards me as I came up to the guards and they let me through. I continued to follow my brother along the corridors until we entered the security office. The windows overlooked the gates and runway, and directly below us, I could see the private jet surrounded by the police. I took a deep breath, locking down my anxiety before I had another attack and got hauled out of here by Mateus. Somewhere down there was my Bonita, and I needed to be ready for her when she was saved.
