Falling For Sakura: A Secret Proposal (Part 1) (36 page)

Tristan threw his hands up in frustration. He turned to the eldest for support. “Nicolas, talk sense into your baby brother.”
 

“I phoned and texted Sakura, but she wouldn’t pick up or reply,” Sebastian said. “That’s why I’m even more worried.”
 

Darcy turned his attention to the eldest brother. “Nicolas, why don’t you give Sosuke a buzz and ask him how she is?”
 

“Good idea,” Sebastian said.
 

“I’m on it.” Nicolas picked up his cell and dialed Sosuke’s number.
 

A few seconds later, Sosuke said,
“Nicolas-kun? Ohayo.”
 

“Ohayo, Sosuke,” Nicolas replied. As usual, he got down to business. “Look, Sebastian noticed Sakura was acting a little strange yesterday. We were just wondering how she’s doing.”
 

“And let her talk on the phone,” Conrad said loudly so Sosuke could hear.
 

Logan chuckled and Tristan shook his head at their brother’s eagerness.
 

“I’m sorry, Nicolas-kun, but Sakura isn’t here right now.”
 

Nicolas frowned and looked at Sebastian. “What do you mean she’s not there?”
 

Darcy scowled and fisted his hands as his body tensed at Nicolas’s words. Sebastian felt his heart pumping loud and fast, knowing something was totally wrong.
 

“She left a note saying she’s going out for a personal errand. We also had a call from your father, Nicolas-kun.”
 

“Dad?” Nicolas said. “What does he have to do with Sakura?”
 

“Dad?” Conrad whispered to Tristan, querying if the brother knew what was going on. Tristan shrugged in response.
 

“He told Oba-chan Sakura will be staying with him for a couple days.”
 

“Really?” Nicolas said, cocking his head to one side.
 

The brothers could tell their eldest was thinking. Then he nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose and they knew it was serious business.
 

“Tell us what Sosuke said, Nicolas,” Conrad demanded.
 

“Shut up, Conrad,” Tristan muttered. “He’s still talking to Sosuke.”
 

Conrad glared at his brother.
 

Finally, Nicolas put his cell phone down on the table and turned his attention to his brothers, who were waiting impatiently.
 

He said, “Sosuke said Sakura didn’t come out for dinner yesterday. Then she disappeared last night and left them a note, telling them she was going to run some personal errand. This morning, Lady Haruka got a call from Dad. Sakura’s with him.”
 

Sebastian frowned. “Why is she with Dad?”
 

Nicolas shrugged. “I’m going to see Dad before work,” he announced, getting up from his chair.
 

“Me, too,” Logan said. “I want to make sure Sakura’s all right.”
 

One by one, the brothers left the table and headed out the door. Some twenty minutes later, they greeted their rather tired-looking father up at the penthouse above the hotel.
 

James chuckled the moment he saw his sons, all seven of them, at the door.
 

“Brenda,” he called out. “We have visitors. It’s our boys.” He turned on his heel and headed back into the living area with his sons following close behind him.
 

A moment later, Brenda appeared. She happily went about kissing her children, one by one, tiptoeing so she could reach their massive height.
 

“Have you boys had breakfast?” she asked. “We’re about to have ours.”
 

“We had ours,” Hayden said. “Mom, where’s Sakura?”
 

Brenda turned and raised her brows at her husband. “Did you tell them?” At James’s denial, she returned her attention to her sons. “I’m sorry, boys, you can’t disturb her. She’s still sleeping.”
 

“Why didn’t you tell us Sakura came to you?” Darcy asked James.
 

“I didn’t see the point until I got my facts right,” he said.
 

“What does that mean?” Sebastian asked. “Come on, Dad.”
 

The phone rang just then, and James saw Erick's name flashing on the small screen. He picked up and said to his sons, “The facts,” indicating the phone. “I need to get this.” Then he walked off in deep, hushed conversation with whomever was on the other end of the line.
 

Brenda muttered, “Sit down.” She pulled both Hayden’s and Logan’s hands and made them sit. The brothers obeyed their mother and made themselves comfortable on the sofas and chairs.
 

“Mom?” Conrad called out, drawing his mother’s attention. “You have another spare room, right?”
 

Brenda nodded. “Yes?”
 

“Can I come stay for a few days?” He gave his mother a handsome smile, which was sure to please her.
 

Brenda laughed. “Of course, Conrad. I do miss having you around.”
 

“Thanks, Mom.” He jumped up and hugged her tight.
 

Tristan and Logan knew what the little brat was up to. He was claiming that spare room so he could stay here with Sakura.
The selfish bastard.
 

“You wouldn’t mind sharing a room with me, would you, Conrad?” Tristan asked, his brow raised at his younger brother.
 

Conrad said, “I
would
mind very much.”
 

The room turned quiet for a moment as the brothers tried to make out what their Dad was saying into the phone. Of course, they couldn’t understand anything because James was coming in and going out and about. There were only a few of the
yeses
and
hums
and
ahhs,
etc. audible. Nothing made sense, and to be sure, they were getting a little frustrated.
 

“You boys don’t have work today?” Brenda asked after sipping her coffee. Of course, she knew they did, but she just wanted to tease.
 

By the time James finished with the call, the brothers were more than ready and dying to know a little more than nothing about this hushed subject that put their father on edge.
 

James came to sit beside Nicolas and rubbed his hand on the side of his wrinkled face. “Just as I thought.”
 

Nicolas asked, “What did you think?”
 

“It’s not one hundred percent sure yet, but Sakura might be in danger.”
 

Brenda gasped, for she knew what her husband was talking about. Not so for their sons, however, because they all looked confused.
 

“Danger? Sakura’s in danger? From what?” Logan asked.
 

“Ah, I think it’s best Sakura tells you when she wakes up,” James said. “As for now, she needs her rest, and you boys need to be patient.”
 

“Come on, Dad,” Sebastian said. “How can we be patient when you said Sakura’s life could be in danger?”
 

“Sebastian’s right,” Darcy said. “Why is Sakura in danger? From who?”
 

“Sakura needs to know what I’ve just found out as well,” James said. “For now, you boys wait until she’s up.”
 

The brothers weren’t satisfied with their father’s reluctance to share the information with them, but they agreed regardless. It was then Toby appeared at the door and silently made his way to the brothers. He jumped into Hayden’s lap and made himself comfortable.
 

“If Sakura’s in danger,” Conrad said, “at least she has the seven of us to keep her safe.”
 

“Yeah,” Tristan said. “From whatever maniac out there. At least I assume it’s a person, this danger.”
 

Sebastian frowned and flashed his mind back to yesterday, trying to pinpoint anything that could have caused that sudden change in Sakura’s personality. There had been the appointment with Dave. But she’d been fine then and after that at the drugstore.
 

They were about to have lunch here in the Italian restaurant downstairs. Then Sakura said she needed to use to restroom. It was when she came back out that
she’d changed so suddenly. What had she seen?
Who
had she met?
 

A woman. That was right. She’d bumped into a woman, hadn’t she? What had that woman looked like?
 

Sebastian cocked his head to one side and murmured, “Pale-blond hair. Wearing a dark-blue suit.”
 

“What are you on about, Seb?” Tristan asked his brother.
 

Sebastian lifted his head, his finger rubbing his lips, thinking.
 

“Sebastian,” Darcy said. “You saw something.”
 

Sebastian nodded.
 

“What was it?” Nicolas asked.
 

“Sakura bumped into a woman yesterday. After that, she just reacted and looked scared, like she saw a ghost.”
 

“Sakura!”
Darcy said, his voice loud and horse, echoing with tremor. He rushed off his seat and went to her in a second flat.
 

Sebastian turned and felt his gut wrenching with dread.
Shit!
She looked like a dead person walking. He quickly got out of his seat and came to her right after Darcy.
 

Darcy stood close, cupping her face, calling her name. “Sakura, look at me. It’s me, Darcy.”
 

Sakura just stared at him, unseeing, her eyes dark and unfocused.
 

“Sakura, sweetheart, Sakura,” Sebastian called.
 

“She’s not responding,” Darcy said, feeling sick.
 

The rest of the brothers came rushing to them, calling her name, begging her to respond.
 

Sakura shook her head and started crying out, moving away from them.
 

“No. Please. Don’t hurt me. I’m sorry. Please. Let me go. Don’t hurt me,” she begged, crying and shaking her head.
 

Darcy pulled her into his arms as she fought him with all her might, screaming and kicking, begging to be let go.
 

James and Brenda rushed in over the noise, their faces dark with dread when they saw their adoptive daughter.
 

“Shit!” Tristan muttered. “Is she going to be all right?”
 

“Sakura, look at me, sweetheart. Look at me!” Darcy commanded. “It’s me, your Darce. It’s me, Snow, Darce.”
 

Sakura continued to shake her head and begged to be let go. Darcy wouldn’t give up, however, and hugged her tight. They knew she was having one of her nightmares.
 

“Shh… It’s all right. I’m here with you. Remember how I said I’ll protect you from your nightmare?”
 

Suddenly, Sakura stopped struggling and calmed down, her body going limp in his arms.
 

“That’s right. I made a promise, and I don’t break my promises. I’m here, Snow. I’m here.” He stroked her face and hair as she stared up at him, her eyes teary.
 

She reached her hand out and touched his face. “You promised,” she whispered.
 

Darcy nodded. “I promised to be your protector.”
 

She smiled. “Darce, my Darce.” Then she closed her eyes and collapsed in his arms.
 

Darcy glanced up at Sebastian. The brother looked more than a little scared, his hand stroking Sakura’s hair.
 

“We should put her in bed,” Sebastian said.
 

Darcy nodded, lifted her small body in his arms, and carried her back into the bedroom.
 

* * * * *

Reliving the Nightmare

Sakura woke with a start, her mind reeling with confusion.
Where am I?
she wondered as she stared long and hard up at the unfamiliar ceiling. She turned her head, searching about her surroundings, and then everything came back to her.
 

There had been the appointment with Dr. Mason yesterday. Sebastian had been there with her. Then he’d taken her to the drugstore to get her prescribed medication. After that, they’d been at the hotel, intending to have lunch, and then…
Mrs. Byrd.
 

A lump formed in her throat as she recalled the cold shiver that had passed through her the moment she’d seen the woman’s face.
 

Sakura shut her eyes for a moment as she took slow, deep breaths. She wasn’t going to let that woman scare her witless. Not anymore.
 

She sat up, rubbing her fingers and thumb against her temples. Her headache was getting worse, and waiting patiently for it to ease wasn’t going to happen. Plus, she was very hungry. She wondered if Mom Brenda had any breakfast left.
 

She flipped the duvet off her person and got out of bed. Then she went about searching for a robe. She found one in the empty closet. She unhooked it and put on the silky material, the hem resting just above her knees. She tied the front into a knot and then headed out the door.
 

She was in the living area when she heard hums of male voices from the dining area nearer to the kitchen. She frowned, wondering if Daddy James had guests. She tentatively glanced down at herself and knew she wasn’t presentable enough to be seen. Even more so, she wasn’t up to meeting anyone just yet.
 

She was about to turn back when Brenda appeared at the doorway.
 

“Sweetheart,” Brenda greeted. “You’re up? How are you feeling?”
 

Sakura moved forward and hugged her mother tightly. She said, “Better. I’m so hungry and my head is about to explode.”