He's silent for a moment, digesting my words before nodding his head and walking to the door. "Let me get the doctors and then we can talk." He slides the door open and steps out, closing it softly behind him. I relax against the bed and tighten my arm around Oli, my memory of Cleo surging through my mind. I didn't have direct contact but I can still remember, it was in the middle of spring, the peak of cherry blossom season and we were at the Yamazaki manor, miles away from the city deep in the Quebec forests.

《 Flashback 

I looked at myself in the mirror, my fingers tugging at the sleeves of the navy blue kimono I'm wearing. I didn't really have a say but this is what Eiichi bought me to wear for the party and who am I to say no. I won't lie and say it's not beautiful. A dark navy colour with different coloured flowers and a gold obi, I think that's what they called it, around my middle. I have my hair in a simple bun and a hairpin going through it. Today is a big day for the Yamazaki family, Eiichi will be taking over his dad's position as kumicho.

Right now they're going through the ceremonial takeover and everyone else who's here is getting ready for the after-party. I take one last look at myself before deciding I look okay enough to go out. I pass by people that are getting food ready out in the yard, sake bottles in hands.

"Victoria, you look so lovely," Andjela, Eiichi's mom says as she walks up to me in her striking red kimono, taking my hands in hers. "I'm so happy you're here with Eiichi."

"I'm glad to be here, this is something you wouldn't normally see," I chuckle.

"It's an auspicious day for us all," she says to me. "Ah, I see my niece decided to show up, the first time in ten years. I will go speak to her but I will find you later," she says squeezing my hands. I watch her walk over to a girl, probably a couple of years older than me in a black dress, the same facial structure as Andjela. I don't have time to ponder on it when I feel arms wrap around my waist, lips skimming my exposed neck.

"It's official now?" I ask as I place my hand on Eiichi's.

"All this and more is officially mine now," he says, his voice smooth. "And I have you holding onto something even greater for me."

"What am I holding for you?" I ask, turning to face him in confusion. He doesn't answer as he smirks, his hand brushing my face, a cold smile on his lips. Whatever warmth was in eyes is gone as he gazes down at me.

"That my sweet is for me to now," he smirks. "But enough of that, there's some sake waiting for me, come let's go," he says taking my hand in his. I push that thought to the back of my mind as I'm swept into the festivities.  

End of flashback 》

I wonder why I forgot about that until now. And what did Eiichi give me to hold onto? The day I was arrested I didn't have anything that would tie me to the yakuza, everything should be in Eiichi's possession still so why does he want me? I'm interrupted out of my musings when I see a familiar face popping through the door.

"Thank god you're fucking awake," Haruto says as he steps inside. "You made big news you know, not just here in the hospital but also outside." 

"Sorry for the scare," I chuckle. "I'm not surprised in both aspects. I work here in the hospital so of course they're going to talk considering one of their own is being treated instead of doing the treating. And as for outside, you must have heard all the shit that went down, people are going to talk."

"I'm just glad you're still alive, after all, who else am I suppose to tell about what went down with Cora," he smirks as he sits down in the chair beside the bed.

"Tell me you didn't," I say looking at him.

"Didn't what? Take her back or reject her?" he questions still smirking.

"If you say you took her back, you'll be the next one hospitalized once I'm out of here," I threaten.

"I spent a good fifteen minutes listening to her grovel and beg while I packed up my shit from her place. I just told her I was going to mail the rest of her things and I'd need the second copy of my keys back. If only you could have seen her face," he chuckles.

"I never even realized that she had that kind of personality lurking inside of her but I'm glad you found out now instead of later," I tell him. "Imagine if you actually married her." 

"The horror," he says pulling a disgusted face before breaking down in laughter. "But for real though I'm just glad you're okay. By the way, where's the officer you were with?" 

"He went to go find the doctor that's seeing me, don't know how long that's going to take," I answer.

"Good ole Dr. Skyes is the one and he's most probably back in his office. He's the only tolerable old person in the trauma area. I'll go see if your officer found him," he says standing from his seat. 

"Hey Haruto, before you go, you're Japanese right?" I ask looking at me. He peers down at me as a smile tugs at his lips.

"Did you miss my Asian features? Or my name? Did they really do a good check on you?" he chuckles.

"I think they did but I just have something to ask you. You have organized crime in Japan, right? The yakuza I mean, is equivalent to syndicates, cartels, mafia, and others.  If someone ran away from the yakuza would the group be ordered to kill that person or get them back?" I question. 

"When I was living in Japan my town had no problems with crime so I wouldn't know. Why, is a gang looking for you?" he asks in worry.

"Do you really think someone like me would be tangled up in a criminal group?" I huff, lying through my teeth. "As if that would ever happen. I was watching a movie a couple of weeks back and I kept forgetting to ask you."

"Yeah, you don't seem the type to mess with nasty people," he says agreeing with me. We hear the door sliding open as Jason and the doctor walk back in. "And that's my cue to leave but I'll see you later," he tells me as he nods his head at Jason and Dr. Skyes as he quickly slips out.

"It's good to see you awake Victoria," Dr. Skyes tells me.

"It's good to see you too but it'd be better under different circumstances," I reply with a grin.

"Yes, but there's nothing we can do to change that. I'll have to see how your wound is faring and we'll have to do a scan of the brain to see how that is healing as well," he says listing off the things that need to be done. "But first, and if I didn't have to I wouldn't, we need to move him," he says looking down at Oli. 

"I'll take him," Jason says as he picks up Oli into his arms. 

"Alright Victoria, let's get you checked, we'll talk about your potential discharge date, and you continue to get rest," Dr. Skyes tells me. For now, I'll have to hold back on sharing my memory of Cleo with Jason, at least until I'm done here.

✘✘

"So what took you so long in finding the doctor?" I ask as Jason settles in the chair beside my bed, Oli still asleep in his arms. They just finished doing a CT scan for my brain and now we're just waiting for the results. As for my leg, it's still swollen but healing and better compared to a couple of days ago so I'm happy to hear that.

"You remember the owner that was shot at the bar?" he questions.

"What about him? I actually forgot he was here as well," I tell him. "Oh and pass Oli here, there's enough space for him to lie down," I say patting the bed beside me. 

"I ran into him while I was looking for the doctor," he says laying Oli beside me and I place the blanket on the bed on top of him. "He was getting discharged right now."

"Oh, I'm glad to hear that," I reply. "He's finally able to leave here."

"Yeah, and now he's heading straight to a jail cell," he adds. I look at him my mouth dropping in surprise not expecting that.

"What the fuck? Why? What did he do?" rapid questions fire from my mouth one after the other.

"When we were looking into the shooting we found out his bar was also storage for drugs, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy; you name it. He had it all," he tells me. "Now we're investigating to see if this was a targetted shooting and how he came into possession of all those drugs. Rosario has a lot of questions to answer."

"Damn, I always had a feeling the bar was a little shady but who knew I was right," I say shaking my head. "Does that mean the whole place is closed now?"

"Yeah, we shut the whole building, I don't know if it'll be reopened again," he answers. I feel bad for the employees, even Cora, at the fact they'll most likely be losing their jobs. "Besides that, you said you thought Cleo was at Eiichi's coronation or whatever the fuck they'd call it."

"Yeah, I was talking with Eiichi's mom, and she saw a girl that looked like she was twenty-two or twenty-three and I guess she was surprised to see her niece show up," I tell him. "I never interacted with her but I don't forget faces."

"We'll have to talk to Cleo about that," he muses. "Either she knows or she thought we were talking about a different yakuza group. I can't have a repeat of someone being related to criminals and not saying a word," he snarls.

"I'll ask her but I won't jump her. Maybe she had a reason for not saying anything," I guess. "After all she has a family of her own and I don't think she's close with them anyways. She didn't see them for ten years and who's to say she still has contact with them."

"You might be right but I'm not going to take that chance," he says, his voice tense.

"And then what? Where do we go from there?" I ask. "At this point, they're just operating from the shadows and it's not as if they're from here." 

"We're already in contact with Quebec police to see if we can get any information on them but like you said they're hiding in the shadows, which is fucking pissing me off," he says as his fists clench in anger.

"Hey, come up here," I tell him. 

"As much as I'd love to, sweetheart, you do realize there's no space for me to lie down," he says with a chuckle.

"I know but Oli can sleep on top of you, problem solved," I reason. He opens his mouth to protest but I silence him with a glare. "I'm the patient here, you listen to me." He lets out another chuckle as he stands up sitting down beside Oli as he takes off his boots, lifts Oli and lies back beside me as he places the still slumbering child onto his chest. I take the opportunity to lie my head on his shoulder as he wraps an arm around me. 

"This is much better," I tell him.

"I'm not complaining," he says and I can hear the smirk in his voice.

"You know you'll find them, they can't hide for long," I tell him.

"I know but I'd rather find them now instead of later, who knows what kind of shit they'll pull next time," he growls.

"Jason, you got to me and Oli in time and we're still alive because of that. I trust that if anything happens to me, you'll find me," I say with confidence. 

"Damn right I will," he says as his arms tighten around my shoulder, I feel him kiss my head. "Besides looking for Blaire we're also looking for your dad and her mom. Your dad ran from the hospital with her mom, and no one just leaves like that unless their in some kind of shit."

"Like I said earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if they had some kind of contact with the yakuza," I sigh. "Eiichi did know who my dad was and my dad getting a new woman so fast after my mom died spread like wildfire in my area."

"We're going to find all of them, each one of them," he tells me. 

"I hope it's soon, I need some normalcy back in my life," I say letting out another sigh. "By the way, when do you want to talk to Cleo?"

"Charlotte and Cleo are waiting for you to leave here so they can meet you at home, we'll ask her then," he answers.

"Alright," I reply as I let out a yawn.

"Go back to sleep, for now, sweetheart, we're still here," he says as he kisses my head again.

"No, keep on talking, I like hearing your voice," I mumble sleepily as I close my eyes, shifting my head to a comfortable position. I hear him let out a low chuckle but he complies with my request. I get lost in whatever he's telling me as his low voices soothes me to sleep, a sweet temporary relief away from the chaos that's wreaking havoc in my life.

✘✘

A/N What's up everyone!? I know so many things happened in the chapter so let's break it down one by one.

First, Victoria's memory of Cleo. She didn't talk with her that day but she does remember her face. Next, what is Victoria holding for Eiichi? Next point, Haruto and Cora are done and can we also add Haruto is also Japanese? Victoria's dad and Blaire's mom ditched the hospital. And lastly, aren't Victoria and Jason the cutest????

Anyways, so much is happening, but things are slowly starting to connect with one another. Be sure to leave your thoughts of the chapter in the comments!! And can I also add the story has just hit 9k views??!!! Thank you all for sticking with the story♡