by L A Cotton
“You okay, man? You look a little green.”
“I … hmm, I think I ate something. I haven’t felt right all day.”
Cael stepped away and held up his hands. “Don’t be giving me no stomach flu.”
“You can’t catch food poisoning, jackass.” My eyes went to the door again, but Cassie was gone. A few seconds later, Amanda came back inside, a grim expression plastered on her face. She met my eyes but quickly glanced away.
I needed to create a diversion. Something to give me a reason to get the hell out of here. The pretty boy Cael pointed out caught my eye, and the seeds of a plan started to hatch. It was reckless and could probably land him in some serious shit, but if it meant getting to Cassie ASAP without raising suspicions, then it would be worth it. But I’d need help. And I knew just the person.
“I was wondering how long it would take you.” Amanda glanced over her shoulder as I entered the staff room.
“What happened?”
“Her aunt got rushed to hospital again.” Sadness lingered in her voice, the kind that hit you right in the chest. We both knew what neither of us was saying aloud.
It was bad.
Really bad.
“Shit.”
“Yeah, shit.” Her shoulders sagged. “She was a mess; it was horrible. I wanted to go. I didn’t want her going all alone, but I can’t just drop everything here.”
“I’ll go.”
“You can’t just walk out of here. It’ll raise too many questions. Luis might not be in tonight, but he has eyes everywhere.”
“You can help me.”
“I can?” Her eyes went wide, growing to saucers as I explained my batshit-crazy plan.
When I was done, she whisper-hissed, “You want me to what? No. No way. You’re crazy.”
Amanda started to march away, but I snagged her arm and drew her back to me. “You saw her. If anything happens to her aunt—”
“Shit, I know, okay? I know.”
“I’ll go to her. I just need a reason to leave.”
“Can’t you say you got sick or something?”
“We can’t risk anyone connecting the dots.” I leveled her with a hard look.
“You mean Dominique, don’t you?” Amanda grimaced as if she knew exactly how relentless the fake blonde could be. “Fine. I’ll do it. But if you end up in a cell for the night, don’t blame me.”
“Noted. And thanks, I owe you.”
“Yeah, you do,” she grumbled as she slipped out of the staff room. I checked my watch. Cassie had been gone fifteen minutes. Things needed to happen soon; the urgency to get to her burned through me.
I went back out to the bar and joined Cael, patting my stomach for effect. “Definitely bad sushi.”
“Too much info, Hayes.” Disgust puckered his lips, and I laughed, keeping one eye on Amanda as she weaved through the crowd, collecting empties from the tables. As she neared Skelton, I readied myself. This was a really fucking stupid idea, but if what Cael said was true, then—
“Uh-oh.” Cael let a low whistle, and I knew his eyes were trained on Amanda who was all up in Pretty Boy’s face, her lips moving faster than I could lip read. “This is bad, very fucking bad.”
Cael motioned for me to follow him. As we drew closer, a circle had formed around Pretty Boy, his friends, and Amanda.
“You know the rules,” she said, her hands planted on her hips. “No touching staff.”
“I didn’t fucking touch you, lady.” Pretty Boy’s eyes were wild as his guys lingered behind, waiting for their friend to go nuclear.
“Okay, let’s cool it.” Cael closed the distance, taking Amanda’s side, slightly shielding her, but I knew it was tactical. If Pretty Boy lost his cool, Cael would be the first point of contact.
I moved around them, positioning myself on Amanda’s other side.
“Amanda, what happened?” Cael said without taking his eyes off Pretty Boy.
“I was collecting glasses from that table right there, and he grabbed my ass.”
“Are you fucking stupid? I did—”
“You”—Cael jabbed his finger in the kid’s direction—“watch your mouth. Amanda, are you positive it was Aaron?”
She looked up at him and nodded. Cael caught my eye over her head and gave me the nod. Slowly, I moved ahead of her until she was caged behind the two of us. “Aaron, I’m going to have to ask you—”
“Like hell you are.” His eyes bulged, his carotid throbbing. “I didn’t touch the lying bitch.”
“Come on, Aaron, it’s not worth it. We can go—” One of his friends tried to intercede, but the guy was buzzing. Just like Cael had said he was.
“The only way I’m leaving this shithole is if they drag me out.” He planted his feet wide and sneered in a come-and-get-me kind of way.
“Fine, have it your way.” Cael moved for him, and all hell broke loose. Aaron swung wide and hard, clipping Cael in the jaw, and he staggered back. I didn’t give myself time to think as I stormed in, grabbing the kid’s shoulder. He was wild; bucking and screaming like a banshee about unfair treatment and how “his daddy would make us all pay.” I got a good hold on him while Cael righted himself and came toward us. But then one of his friends jumped into the fray, and the two of them started going at it. Until the four of us were pushing and shoving.
“Deal with him,” Cael yelled at our backup, shoving the kid he had pinned down toward them.
Now was my chance. I loosened my grip on Pretty Boy enough that he saw his opportunity. His elbow snapped up catching me in the right eye. “Motherfucker,” I groaned as pain splintered along my cheekbone. The kid shirked me off, but Cael was right there to take over.
“Hayes, you good?”
“I’ll live.” I gently probed my face, only to be met with sticky warmth.
“You’re bleeding. Get Amanda to patch you up. I’ll deal with our friend here.” Pretty Boy was still fighting, trying to break free, but Cael had his wrists pinned behind his back in a death grip.
I gave him a tight nod and let Amanda lead me to the back room. Silence thick between us. When we were inside, I thought she’d lay into me, but she retrieved a first-aid kit and came to inspect my face.
“You’re quiet,” I said, wincing as she cleaned me up.
“You’re crazy, that’s for sure. But the way you were prepared to get a beating for your woman? I’ve got to hand it to you, big guy. It’s pretty damn hot.” She laughed, applying the bandage. “There, all done. But in my qualified opinion, you should probably get this looked at. As soon as possible.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Amanda rolled her eyes, but I saw the respect glittering there. “Now get out of here and go make sure our girl’s okay.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cassie
“Are you sure I can’t you anything, dear?” Mrs. Garth asked me for the third time since we arrived at the hospital.
“No,” I croaked, my throat raw. “But thank you.”
She smiled tightly, and I knew I wasn’t the only one struggling with this. I was just grateful she and Maddy had been with my aunt and Lilly when she passed out again.
“It’s late; you and Maddy should go home. There’s no use in us all being here.” The doctors had rushed her straight into surgery, and we’d been waiting ever since.
“Cassie, we’ll stay as long as you need us.” She reached for my hand and squeezed. The elevator pinged open, and I expected to see more medical staff. It was late, but as I was quickly learning, a place like this never slept.
But it wasn’t staff.
“Dennis.” I gasped, leaping up and running into his open arms. He caught me, wrapping me in his embrace.
“I came as quickly as I could.”
All the tears and pain and heartache rushed to the surface, and I let myself fall apart. He held me tight, whispering soothing words in my ear.
He was here.
Dennis was here.
And it wasn’t until I saw him standing there that I realized how much I needed him.
“What do you need?” he said.
“Take us home, please?” I left the comfort of Dennis’s chest and lifted my sore eyes to his. Hesitation swirled in his intense gaze, softening him somehow.
“Are you sure? We can stay, wait until the doc—"
I shook my head softly. “No. I want you to take us home, if you don’t mind?”
I needed to get out of here.
Dennis didn’t reply, just guided me back to Mrs. Garth and Maddy. I thanked them again while Dennis picked Lilly’s car seat up. He came back to my side and held out his hand. Maybe it was the fact I was running on empty or maybe it was because I was fed up with denying myself something good, but I slid my hand into his, accepting his comfort.
“Come on, you need to rest.”
But that was the funny thing. Despite the exhaustion radiating through me, I didn’t feel tired.
I just felt numb.
Felt as if my whole world was about to implode once more. When I’d walked into the hospital room and saw Mrs. Garth sitting there with tear-stained eyes and guilt etched into every line on her face, I’d wanted to be angry. Hell, I was angry. Because I knew. I knew without even hearing the words that my aunt had lied. She had kept her diagnosis a secret from me in hopes of what? Dying before she could tell me? I couldn’t wrap my head around that. Couldn’t accept that.
God, I felt sick. I’d only gone back to my job because she said she was fine. Because she said the doctors had given her a clean bill of health. No wonder she and Mrs. Garth were so eager for Maddy to help. It made me sick to my stomach to know the two of them were colluding behind my back as if I didn’t deserve to know the truth. As if I didn’t deserve to know she had a death sentence. And because I’d been so preoccupied with worrying about work and Lilly and Dennis, I’d missed the signs.
I let out a pained sob, and Dennis paused to check on me, but I waved him off, insisting we continue to the parking lot. I didn’t want to sleep, but I did want to get the hell out of this place. It stunk of death and decay. And I hated it.
I hated everything about it.
Dennis bleeped open the truck and belted Lilly’s car seat in the back before helping me inside. I was aware of him slipping his hands around my waist and under my knees and sliding me into place. The click of the buckle as he snapped it in place. His warm breath as he retreated and closed the door. I was aware, but I wasn’t present.
Brain aneurysm.
Brain aneurysm.
Brain aneurysm.
The words swirled around my head like an electrical storm. It wasn’t something normal people got. It was something you heard about in those lifestyle magazines. But after asking the doctor to repeat his words three times, I had to face the truth: my aunt’s brain aneurysm had ruptured, and there was nothing they could do for her. No pills or miracle surgery. Something about the swelling pressing too close to her spinal cord. The risks were too high, and the odds stacked against her. All they could now was make her comfortable and wait.
My fingers tightened on the belt as Dennis climbed into the truck, leaned around to check Lilly, and then started the ignition.
“Are you okay?” he said before backing out of the spot, and a voice I didn’t recognize as my own replied, “Yes.”
But it was a lie.
I wasn’t fine.
Nothing about this was fine.
When Dennis pulled up outside the house, I didn’t even remember the journey. It was like an out-of-body experience as he came around to my side and dug around in my bag, searching for the keys. He unbuckled Lilly first, taking her inside, and then returned for me, my body a dead weight in his arms as he guided me inside.
“What do you need?”
“I-I don’t know.” Because my aunt had a brain aneurysm, and she was probably going to die, and then I’d be alone. Forever. Without her.
A fresh wave of tears rushed up my throat, burning the backs of my eyes, and I stumbled over to the armchair.
“Lilly—”
“I’ll take care of her. You stay right there.”
That was my job, though. She was my daughter. My responsibility. But I couldn’t seem to muster up the energy. I couldn’t really see anything, my sight a blurry window to a bleak world.
No more Aunt Ruby.
How was I supposed to live without her? Without the one person who had been there for me unconditionally?
Dennis reappeared and knelt in front of me, gently easing my fingers away from my eyes. “You need to drink or eat.”
“No food.” I shook my head, rubbing my throat.
“Coffee?”
“Water. My stomach is still queasy.” He nodded and clambered up, but I rushed out, “Lilly, she’s okay?” as if my foggy brain suddenly caught up, and reality slammed back into me.
“I put her down. If she wakes, I’ll give her a bottle.”
“Okay, thanks.”
The next thing I was aware of was a glass of water being thrust in my face. “Try to drink it. It might help.”
Help?
I very much doubted that.
“Cassie, you need to drink something, or you’ll end up dehydrated.” He shifted to perch beside me. “Come on.”
Cold glass hit my hand and Dennis helped bring it to my lips, feeding me like I would Lilly or a caretaker would their elderly relative.
Like I had with Aunt Ruby when she was in the hospital the first time.
My body shuddered, a fresh wave of agony hitting. I tried to fend it off, but when Dennis took the glass, placed it on the table, and folded me into his arms, I let the pain come. Like a brutal storm, it wracked through my body as I sobbed into his chest, barely aware of his soothing words and his hands stroking my back. Time blurred into nothingness. Just a black void of despair circled me, threatening to pull me under. All the things to come, pushing at the edge of my consciousness. There would be a funeral to plan. A casket to choose. Hymns. I’d have to let Mom and Dad know.
God.
Mom and Dad.
I wrenched myself from Dennis’s embrace. “I have to call my parents.” My eyes darted around the room in search of my cell phone. “I have to call—”
“Cassie, look at me.” His strong voice grounded me, and my wild gaze slid to his. “It’s late. You need to get some rest. Nothing is going to happen tonight. The doctors said she was comfortable. You can call them in the morning.”
“No, they deserve to know. I could never forgive myself if—” The words lodged in my throat, and I choked them down.
“Okay, do you want some privacy?”
Not talking to them in so long seemed so trivial now. But this wasn’t about me; it was about the woman lying in that goddamn hospital bed. My eyes fluttered shut as I inhaled a deep, calming breath. I could do this.
I had to do this.
My aunt had rallied around me when I needed her, and now, it was my turn to be the strong one.
Feeling a new sense of resolve come over me, I gave him a weak smile and nodded. “Thank you.”
“I’ll check on Lilly again.”
He left me to make the call. My hands trembled as I dialed home for the first time in so long I had to double check their number.
“Hello?” My mom’s voice filled the line, and my emotions went into overdrive. Hearing her voice made all this so real, but I steeled myself, taking another deep breath.
“Hello, Mom. It’s me. It’s Cassie.”
There was a moment’s silence, and then she cried, “Cassie, it’s really you? Oh gosh, sweetheart, it’s so good … wait”—her tone turned grim—“what happened?”
“It’s Aunt Ruby, Mom. She’s sick. She’s really sick.” Mom listened as I told her everything. She didn’t interrupt or try to force her opinion on me or dish out instructions of how to handle everything; she simply listened.
And it was more than I could have hoped for.
When I w
as done, she sniffled back her own tears. “Oh, my sister, my poor, poor sister. What do you need? Do you need us to come up there?”
“I …” Did I want that? It had been months. But there would be a lot to take care of—arrangements to be made—and I didn’t want to handle that alone. Besides, they would need to come for the funeral.
Funeral.
The word lodged in my throat, sending bile rushing up my esophagus, and I swallowed hard. “I need to get my head around everything. I’m heading back over to the hospital in the morning. I’ll call you as soon as I’ve met with the doctors.”
“Of course, of course,” she murmured between relaying everything to my dad. “We’re here, Cassie. Whatever you both need. I’m so glad you called. You don’t know how lon—”
“Not now, Mom. I can’t do this right now,” I said, feeling the panic begin to build again.
“Okay, I’m sorry. You’re right. There are other things to figure out right now. But sweetheart, we’ve missed you. We’ve missed you so much. I just wanted you to know that.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow, I promise.”
“Okay, we lo …” She hesitated. “Try to get some rest, sweetheart.”
When I hung up, I felt emotionally battered. Dennis hadn’t come back down, so I locked up and made my way upstairs. Lilly’s door was ajar, and I tiptoed down the hallway, slipping inside.
“Hey …” My words died at the sight of Dennis leaning over her crib, humming a lullaby to her. He met my eyes, embarrassment staining his cheeks. And for the first time in what felt like hours, I smiled.
“She’s out cold,” he said, coming around to me.
“Thank you, for everything.” It seemed so inadequate, but it was all I had right now. He stepped closer, and the air shifted around us the way it did whenever we were close.
“I told you. I’m here … whatever you need.”
“Your eye. What happened, Dennis?” I reached for the cut just above his cheekbone. Angry and sore, it was obviously fresh. But earlier, when I’d asked him what happened, he’d evaded my question.
