Abel (5th Street 4)

Visions of Nellie lying unconscious somewhere assaulted him, and he practically sprinted. His mom’s words came to him as he ran down the corridor toward the opening that went out into the casino. With his heart nearly punching at his chest, he cursed his mother’s words now. When all of this started happening for him: taking over the gym; winning fight after fight; then ultimately his ultimate dream come true, a chance at the title, she’d sat him down and told him to always remember that the most important things in life couldn’t be bought. She told him that while she didn’t believe as some people did that money was the root of all evil, she knew it couldn’t fix everything either. There were some things that even money couldn’t fix.

Did she always have to be right? Feeling the knot at his throat and his eyes begin to blur, he hated that Hector was right behind him. If got bad news about Nellie, he already knew he was going to f**king lose it. She’d nearly gone white that morning. He should’ve never left her. Damn it! He should’ve gone with his gut and forced her to leave with him earlier when he’d wanted to.

Kicking the door open, he pushed through the crowd even as some of them called out his name or stared at him, stunned. Within seconds, he was surrounded by his entourage, which he barked at to move faster. He broke out into a sprint again when they got to the private corridor that led to his elevator.

“Wait up,” Hector called out, and Abel could hear his brother running behind him.

The damn elevator didn’t move fast enough. He explained briefly to Hector what was going on and how he was hoping to find a clue to where she’d gone in his suite. Then he ran out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened. Rushing through every room in his suite, he began to feel like maybe he, too, was going to start hyperventilating any minute now.

“Calm down, dude.” Hector said as they both ran into the front room again. “Doesn’t look like there’s anything here that’s gonna help us. She’s probably somewhere, hiding out from the press.” Abel must’ve looked as terrified as he felt because Hector stared at him, looking very concerned. “Just relax. Shit.” He looked around toward the bar. “Have a shot, Abel. You’re freaking out on me.”

Normally Abel would say “hell no” to the shot. But the way he felt now, he needed it badly. “Pour me one,” he said before double checking the rooms again.

Feeling completely helpless now because he had no idea what to do next, he called Noah. “What happened with the hospitals?”

“She’s not been admitted to anything local. Roni’s expanding her calls to further hospitals.”

Abel took the shot that Hector handed him as he reached the bar area. “Well, she’s not here.” Both knots in his stomach and throat were growing with every moment that passed. “I don’t know what else to do, Noah.”

“Maybe she is just hiding out, man. Just give it a couple of hours.”

Hours? Was he nuts? He took the shot, wincing as it went down his throat. “Damn,” his face soured instantly. “What was that?”

“I don’t know,” Hector laughed. “It was in one of the fancier bottles at the bar.”

Abel told Noah to call him back, and the pacing began. He dared not turn on the television and watch all the stuff that would remind him of what could’ve triggered another one of Nellie’s attacks.

“You want another shot?” Hector offered.

Shaking his head, Abel pulled out his phone to check it again. He felt guilty that he had yet another call from his mom that he’d ignored. He figured this was as good a time as any to call her back. It might take his mind off things, and it would certainly kill some time because she’d for sure keep him on the phone for a while. But mostly, he needed his mom right now. He was so f**king scared that he hoped hearing her voice would somehow soothe the ache in his heart. There was no explaining it, but as much as Noah and Hector seemed certain she was okay, something in his heart feared the worst.

Deep inside, he knew there was something wrong—really wrong. He didn’t know what it was, but if he didn’t get a grip, he might start slamming his fists into walls in a desperate need to calm himself.

Hector spent his time on the phone with Charlee while Abel talked to their mom. The call was somewhat calming, except for having to explain about the scandal. He hated talking about it, but when he’d told his mom about not knowing where she was and about her asthma attack that morning, he had to leave the room because he thought he might break down, and he didn’t want to do it in front of Hector.

“I just have this really bad feeling, Ma . . .” He couldn’t go on because he was so choked up.

“Okay, Mijo, let’s pray,” she said, immediately with conviction. “Why not? I’ve done more praying today than I have my whole life. God and I have a direct line now.”

Abel smiled weakly and listened as his mother prayed for Nellie, her future daughter-in-law, to be fine. She assured Abel that everything would be okay and made him promise that he would think positively. “Always positive, Abel. The way I did today, even after you were knocked down. Okay,” she admitted, “so I turned off the TV, and for one moment of weakness, I screamed, jumping up and down, clutching my heart, so close to crying, but then I remembered. Positive. And I prayed some more and look how everything worked out.”

He’d just gotten off the phone with his mom and had splashed some water on his face when he turned off the faucet and heard Noah’s voice in the front room. He rushed out, his heart once again beating against his chest. Any ounce of hope that he had good news was gone the moment both Hector and Noah turned to look at him grimly. “She’s in a hospital in Henderson. It took this long to track her down because she was under another name. Somehow Roni thought to check under her married name. It suddenly came to her that Nellie might not want to check in under her name because of the scandal.”