Babel Novel
Mia’s mum is still alive
” Thanks for having us. I got an urgent call from Antonio and I’m sorry I have to leave.” Aaron said as he adjusted his sunshades.
” It’s fine. Did he mention what was urgent, did he sound angry?” Mia asked in a fright.
” He mentioned nothing to me but he sounded angry knowing I was at your place.” He lied.
“It was a pleasure having you come over and I enjoyed your lovely tales Piper.”
” I’m a lover of chocolates, I always have a pack in my bag so please give it to Ariel. It’s really nice.” Piper said as she handed her the chocolate, Mia thanked her and she left.
” You owe me your life.” Piper remarked as soon as she entered the car.
” I could exchange for some chocolates.” He mocked.
” Don’t be silly, that was part of the acting. You know how much I hate chocolates!” Piper exclaimed.
” Who gave you those chocolates?”
” Your sister-in-law, Charlotte.” She responded.
” She doesn’t know you’re allergic to it?” He asked in confusion.
” I guess it’s a form of revenge. She hates me so much and I don’t Care.”
” You managed to get the contact?” Piper further asked.
” Trust your favourite brother.”
” Who told you you’re my favorite.”
“It’s obvious you love me more.”He added with a smirk.
” You could only wish.”
” Antiono scolds you a lot, protects you from guys you love but I do the exact opposite. Well except the guys, I would specifically choose a man for you.”
She laughed heartily at his remark exposing white teeth.
***
” What did you just say, Antiono?” She looked firece like she was going to do something bad to him. Antiono didn’t look surprised, he knew that kind of information was something his mother was never going to let slide away.
“You are supposed to be resting , mother.” He pretended not to hear what she had said earlier.
” Don’t try to act all nice and good. You are in love with someone?” She asked, her hands on the door frame for support. Antiono took a long glance at her and could only hope she was fine, her breathing was heavy. He walked to meet her.
” Mother, you are unwell. You might get suck due to overthinking.” He tried to help her but she pushed his hands away.
” You are a more pain in the butt than Piper. I expected better from you.”
” It’s not the right time to talk about my love life.” He answered, as took her by the wrist to her room. She didn’t protest, she was more shocked to her marrow.
“You’ve changed, Antiono. Which company are you keeping?”
” My eyes only opened.”
They got to her room, her food was already served in a tray just on the table where she normally had her breakfast anytime she wasn’t eating with her family.
” Eat and get some rest. We have so many things to talk about, I promise.”
She gave a nod and allowed him to leave, Antiono pulled a sigh immediately he was out of his mother’s room. He remembered he hadn’t gotten a call from Aaron Or Piper. He had thought of calling them before now but that might risk it. He didn’t want any suspicions from Charlotte. As if his thoughts heard him right, he heard a car drive him. Not up to 5 Minutes, he saw both Aaron and Piper walking to him hand in hand.
” Look how relieved you are to see us. You owe me.” Piper smiled broadly, hugging him tightly.
“You have good news?”He asked
” More than good news.” She responded sweetly.
Both Antiono and Aaron went into Antiono’s room, Piper was hungry and had to made herself a meal since she loved eating her own meals .
” I will play the record.” Aaron said as soon as the doors were shut. He brought out his phone and a hoarse voice came up.
“Mia Sabastine…”
“Who’s this?” She sounded scared .
” Your mom is safe, very safe but not for long. End your friendship with Antiono and request he never bothers you again or else she will die.”
“Mum isn’t…alive. She died…I saw her go lifeless.”
The two men could imagine her trembling and crying.
” She’s still alive. You want evidence and I will show you.”
The call ended.
” Just that?” Antiono asked, he was surprised that could be responsible for Mia’s attitude.
” That’s it. Someone out there is threatening her with her mother’s life. They are trying to blackmail her.”
” What if it’s just a prank to lose me?” Antiono asked, he looked scared and Worried.
” Maybe he sent her a photo. I didn’t even check. Hold on and I will call someone.” Aaron added before leaving the room.
Antiono sat at the edge of the bed rubbing his palm, he did that when he was anxious and worried. Different thoughts filled his mind as he wondered who was responsible for the call.
” You are very lucky boss, we lost signals of the number 5 minutes after I got the full information.” The caller said.
” Luckily I thought of informing you, I knew the number was going to be blocked once their information was passed to avoid suspicion.”
” I have the call recordings, You can listen to it.”
” No…not the call recordings. I have them already. What I want is something different.”
” What Boss?”
” A photo. Did anyone send a photo to the number?” He asked as he walked back into Antiono’s room.
” Give me a moment,” he heard him say.
Aaron bit his lips as he waited, from where he stood in front of the mirror he watched Antiono who looked worried and carried away by his own thoughts.
There was no doubt, his brother was deeply in love.
” I’ve got it Boss.”
A smile lit up his face immediately.
” Send it to me.” He requested.
After few seconds his phone vibrated, it was a text message and he ended the call.
” I have gotten the photo Antiono.”
” You are a genius. I don’t know how I can cope without you.”
” Take look at it.” He handed him the phone while he struggled to look at it.
“She looks dead.”,
” I think she’s in Coma.”
” Where’s this place? Looks like a hospital.”
” Yes…only that it’s stained badly. Hold on, I think I can figure out where the building is.”
” How do you know so much?” Antonio looked surprised.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
” I’ve done more dirty jobs than you can tell.” Aaron had a dirty smirk on his face and he felt proud.
” Let’s hope father doesn’t hear about your dirty jobs.”
” You won’t tell me out.”
“How about Ariel?”
” We have to do the DNA. That’s the only way we can prove Piper’s claim.”