Chapter 3
Mateo smiled slightly at the peacefully-sleeping man. He highly doubted that he’d ever see this man again so he really didn’t need Mateo’s name. Plus he wasn’t the biggest fan of telling his name to random strangers who seem like they have something shady going on.
So, after a quick check that the man was just asleep and not dead, Mateo slipped out of the hospital room, walking down the pristine halls to find his way out. He passed a woman and a boy at the front desk, and they both looked distinctly worried.
But Mateo thought nothing of it, they were probably just here to visit a sick relative. “Wait Mat!” A familiar voice called and Mateo spun around, coming face to face with Doctor Amelson, the lady whom he saw whenever he needed a check up. He blinked a few times, waving at his doctor.
“Uh, you came in with the man with the concussion earlier, right? This is his family, do you mind taking them to him? I would show them the way but I have another patient in- oh hello Sophie!”
Mateo continued blinking for a moment before opening his mouth to ask Doctor Amelson a question, but she was already talking to someone else on the other side of the room. She’s really busy I guess, he thought absent-mindedly.
Shrugging, he turned back to the woman and boy. “Uhh, you’re Jedidiah Hargrave’s family?” He asked, trying to keep the disbelief out of his voice. Maybe his father is Asian and that’s where he got it from, he thought for a moment, looking at the caucasian woman and her son.
The woman nodded emphatically, taking a step towards Mateo and clasping her hands around his. Mateo tried to not grimace as she introduced herself as Alice Hargrave and her son as Edward Hargrave, Alice’s hands still firmly gripping Mateo’s.
He smiled awkwardly, trying to snatch his hand back from hers, but Alice’s grip was strong and she just smiled genially. “Thank you for bringing my son to the hospital, do you know what happened to him?” She asked, finally releasing Mateo’s hand.
He shrugged, shoving his hands back in his pockets. “Some guys attacked him. If you follow me, I’ll take you to his room,” he explained, honestly just wanting to go home now. He’d done his good deed of the day; helped someone in a fight and taken them to the hospital. He just couldn’t ignore the man when he saw him be ambushed, but now…Mateo hadn’t been expecting to entertain some random people today, and he didn’t want to have to stay and make small talk with this lady and her kid.
Much to his gratitude, Alice and Edward followed him right to Jedidiah’s room and he quickly deposited them before turning to go. “Sorry but I really have to get going now. I hope he recovers quickly. Good luck,” he said politely before rapidly making his escape.
As the door shut behind the young man, Alice blinked a few times before turning to her oldest son. She felt tears rise in her eyes as she looked at him in the hospital bed; this wasn’t the first time he’d been injured, and it definitely wasn’t the worst injury he’d sustained. But still, no mother could look at her injured child without feeling at least a little dismayed.
Alice sat down on the chair next to Jedidiah’s bed, taking his hand in hers and pressing a kiss to his knuckles, bruised from the fight. Her other son hugged her before gently touching his brother’s hand also. “Will he be ok?” He asked timidly.
Edward was a sweet boy, a quiet and shy boy. He didn’t used to be like this, but after their family was splintered…Alice, Edward and Jedidiah had all suffered. Poor Edward had only been 5 at the time of Alice’s husband’s death, and now it was almost the 10 year anniversary of his passing.
When he had died, Jedidiah had taken over his father’s role, but he himself had only just turned 20 and was nowhere near finishing his training for such a complex role. And after 7 years, Alice begged him to step down. She couldn’t bear the danger that Jedidiah was now in, and the thought of losing more of her precious family was too much.
And thus, the Hargraves went from being one of the most prominent underworld families in England to regular people. They used their fortune to start a hotel instead, and to make sure that all of their people were able to continue living comfortably.
So, for the past three years, Alice and her sons had been trying to escape the mafia world. And yet, it still appeared from time to time, like it had today. It made Alice upset that she and her family couldn’t just live in peace now, but they had had a lot of enemies back in the day. And whilst a lot of them weren’t a concern anymore since Alice’s brother took over from Jedidiah, they still tended to get wrapped up in these things sometimes.
She just hoped that her son wouldn’t be targeted again anytime soon.
Jedidiah mumbled in his sleep before rubbing his eyes and attempting to sit up. Alice tried her hardest to not just throw herself at him for a hug, instead helping him to sit upright. “How are you feeling, dear?” She asked gently, stroking Jedidiah’s cheek. He smiled slightly, patting her hand.
“I’m alright, only thanks to that man. Is he still here? I don’t know his name and I must repay him for saving my life.”
Alice furrowed her brows, thinking back to the gentleman who just left. “There was a man who told us that you were ambushed. He would’ve come up to around your shoulder I think? He had short, dark hair? A doctor called him Matt, if that helps. Possibly a Matthew?” She offered, taking one of Edward’s hands in hers and one of Jedidiah’s also.
Jedidiah hummed, gently touching his head. “He was an excellent fighter. He had a slight accent and I’m fairly certain he swore during the fight in his native language, but everything is still a little fuzzy. But mother, we absolutely have to find him.”
Alice nodded at her son’s determination; the Hargraves always repaid those who assisted them, especially if said help involved saving one of their lives.
No matter what, they would absolutely find this man.
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