made for me - a Jackson Avery fanfic

chapter 11: the grudge (tw: mentions and details of violence)

Jackson took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I will be right here."

The police officers entered the room with a solemn air, their expressions serious as they prepared to gather information about the recent events. One of the officers, a middle-aged man with a reassuring demeanor, stepped forward and introduced himself as Detective Ramirez.

"Good morning, Miss Rivera, Dr. Avery," Detective Ramirez began calmly yet authoritatively. "Thank you for agreeing to speak with us. We understand this is difficult, but your cooperation is crucial for our investigation."

Sol nodded, her throat tight with emotion, while Jackson remained close by her side, his presence a silent show of support.

"We'd like to start by asking you to recount what happened to the best of your ability," Detective Ramirez continued, focusing intently on Sol. "Can you tell us about the events leading up to the incident?"

Sol took a deep breath and began to tell her story:

4:30 AM

Sol woke up earlier than usual that day, determined to completely rearrange the coffee shop as they approached her favorite holiday, Halloween. She yawned quietly, her eyes falling on Jackson's sleeping form, and smiled softly, leaning closer to kiss his cheek gently.

"I love you," she whispered and slowly rose from the bed.

She tiptoed towards the bathroom and got ready for the day as silently as possible to not wake him up. In her mind, detailing a to-do list for the day as she brushed her teeth: get out all of the decorations from the back room, test new fall flavors on her regulars, curate the Halloween playlist for October, and decide which pastries needed to be remade with pumpkin spice.

She carefully descended the stairs, making as little noise as possible. She looked towards the window, seeing the sky dark and the city still asleep below them—the perfect timing to get a head start on the day. She entered the kitchen and prepared breakfast and lunch for Jackson, along with his favorite coffee. The overhead light cast a warm ambiance as she worked. She tenderly wrote two notes for Jackson, leaving one on the kitchen counter near the breakfast tray and the other inside his bag with his packed lunch.

After glancing around the silent apartment to ensure everything was in order, she grabbed her keys and headed out the door. Her walk towards the coffee shop was quick, her headphones blasting People Watching by Conan Gray consuming her attention as she strode the empty streets.

5:55 AM

Sol approached the coffee shop and found the entrance slightly ajar, the sight sending a shiver down her spine. Not again, she thought. She cautiously approached the door, pushing gently and stepping inside. The dimly lit space seemed normal as her eyes scanned the room until they landed on one of the tables, his presence unexpected.

There sat a man, his legs crossed and sunglasses perched on his face, even though it was dark. Sol's heart started beating faster in fear as she stood there frozen.

"Llegaste," the man said, his voice low and menacing. "I thought you were never going to get here."

"What do you want?" she asked, discreetly reaching for her phone to call for help.

The man chuckled darkly, standing up from the table. He motioned to the back of the room, and two more men came out of the shadows. Sol instinctively stepped back, panic rising inside her as the men kept getting closer.

"You know what we want," the man said.
"I don't know what you are talking about," she said, taking another step back.

"Oh, I think you do, Sol," the man's voice dripped with malice. "Give us what your papi owes us."