by T L Swan
My eyes flick to Cameron. “Do you mind?” I snap.
He frowns in question.
“I don’t like you in my bedroom talking to my girl while she’s naked.”
He rolls his eyes. “Well let me fucking finish what I was saying,” he snaps.
“I’m right here, Joshua,” Natasha snaps.
“Yeah and the only man you talk to naked is me. Get out Cameron, Natasha will be with you when she’s dressed.”
“God,” Natasha gasps, exasperated.
Cameron shakes his head and walks out. “Call me when you’re dressed,” he mutters.
Natasha jumps out of bed angrily and snatches her pyjamas from my hands. “Are you serious? I can’t talk to Cameron with you in the room?” she snaps. “I had a fucking blanket on,” she adds.
“Same shit,” I snap.
She quickly dresses and walks into the bathroom to pull her long hair back. I stand still and watch her until she returns. “Are you going to speak to your mother before you leave?” she asks.
I roll my lips as I think. “I don’t know what to say to her.”
“Joshua,” she whispers sympathetically as she puts her arms around my neck gently and kisses me. “Just listen to her baby. She needs you to listen.”
My eyes drop to the floor. “I don’t know if I can hear it,” I murmur. My hand goes under her pyjamas pants and I cup her behind.
She smirks. “Really? You’re jealous of Cameron now?” she asks with raised eyebrows.
I smirk. “No, but he won’t be looking at you naked, soft and flushed from the sex we have just had. I know what’s under those blankets.” I kiss her gently on the lips.
She smiles softly. “I love you.”
“You smell like sex,” I whisper.
“I smell like my future husband,” she whispers darkly.
I feel my heart skip a beat. “I love you too. Please wear clothes around my brothers. I can’t stand them looking at you,” I murmur.
She kisses me again and smiles broadly. “Maybe I should get you some anxiety medication today while I’m at it?”
“Mmm, maybe you should,” I reply in a monotone.
I make my way down to the kitchen as Natasha and Cameron discuss my mother’s diagnosis. I see my father and mother sitting at the table and chairs out by the pool, deep in discussion. My eyes flick to Wilson who is sitting at the kitchen bench.
“What’s going on out there?” I point to them with my chin.
He shrugs. “I don’t know man, but Mum’s crying and Dad’s furious.”
I watch them out of the window for a minute and she is shaking her head as he speaks. I wonder what he is asking her.
“Where did Dad sleep last night?” I ask as I make a protein shake.
“In his room I think, but I know he was in Mum’s room for a couple of hours last night. He’s worried about her,” he replies as he looks out the window.
My anger simmers dangerously close to the surface.
“Do you believe this story?” I ask Wilson.
He nods. “Unfortunately I do. Cameron and Adrian hacked the hospital records in Melbourne last night and she was telling the truth.”
I clench my jaw in anger.
“Does Dad know this?” I ask.
He nods and sips his coffee.
“One time when he was in England the bastard broke four of her ribs,” he murmurs as he watches them.
My eyes close. How could this happen under all of our noses?
“Dad said he remembers it. When he got back she still had a foot-shaped bruise on her from being kicked, but she told him that she had been mugged.”
The lead of hate starts to drip through my bloodstream. He’s going to fucking pay for this.
I rub my hand over my face. “I called her a whore,” I whisper.
“You only said what we all were thinking,” he replies.
I blow out a breath and walk into the pool area and they both turn to look at me. I bite my lip as I try to articulate what I want to say. “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you, Mum,” I whisper nervously as I approach them. She gives me a sad smile and I shake my head. “I just… I was hurt and I lashed out. I didn’t mean any of it,” I say quietly. They both nod. “Please stay as long as you like. You are always welcome here.”
“Thank you,” she whispers and Dad nods his head, unable to speak. This is too much, guilt fills me and I shake my head, I can’t deal with this. I need to get out of here.
“I’ve got to go to work. Ring me if I’m needed.” I walk inside and grab my keys and head for the door where Ben is waiting for me. He gives me a stifled smile.
“Where were you last night?” I ask.
He doesn’t look at me. “I had a date,” he replies as he walks in front of me.
My eyes follow him out the door. Fuck! I knew it.
“With who?” I ask as I walk around to the car. He’s never missed a Lakers game since he started with me.
He shakes his head and opens the car. “Does it matter?” he replies.
A car pulls up and Abbie leans over and kisses the driver. Ben and I exchange looks and I roll my eyes. Ben narrows his eyes at the driver as it pulls away and shakes his head angrily.
“Hi.” Abbie beams as she walks toward us.
“Was that the fucking cop?” Ben snaps.
She stiffens under his glare. “Yeah, so.”
“Are you stupid?” he sneers.
“I won’t say anything!” she replies. “I don’t know anyone here. I’m going crazy, Ben.”
He nods as his anger erupts. “Listen here, you are in LA only because you put you and Bridget into a stupid position and now you’re fucking the cop who is investigating it.” He shakes his head in anger. “Now I’ve seen it all.”
I roll my eyes. I don’t need this shit this morning.
“Joshua!” Abbie exclaims. “I can see who I want. Tell him I can do what I want.”
I shake my head and hold up my hands. “Ben’s in charge of this one. I’ve got enough on my plate.”
She crosses her arms angrily in front of her and huffily walks inside. We get into the car and drive off in silence.
My eyes flick to Ben as he drives. He looks at me and then back at the road. I keep watching him and his eyes turn to me again.
“What?” he asks.
“I’m going to ask you once and once only, Ben.”
He bites his bottom lip as he waits for the question with his eyes on the road.
“Are you making love to Bridget or are you fucking her?”
He lifts his chin defiantly as his eyes stay on the road. He stays silent.
“Does it matter?” he replies flatly.
“Yeah, it does actually,” I reply.
He rolls his eyes and shakes his head to himself.
We continue up the road in silence and his eyes flick to the rear-view mirror as he checks the security behind us.
“You know I know a thing or two about this,” I murmur.
He looks at me deadpan. “About what?” he replies flatly.
“Being in love with a Marx girl.” I smirk.
He shakes his head and keeps his eyes on the road and we continue to drive in silence.
My phone rings. It’s Adrian. “Hello.”
“Are you coming in today?” he asks.
“Yeah, on my way,” I reply.
“See you soon,” he replies before hanging up.
“They are not wired to fuck around Ben,” I mutter.
He swallows as he thinks and then his eyes flick to me again.
“Well, why are they wired to fuck so damn well?” he snaps.
I smile and shake my head as I stare out the window. “I don’t know, but I know it will do you over if you let it.”
His eyes stay on the road. “I’m not letting it,” he replies.
“So is that why she’s at home in your bed with her guard outside your house instead of mine?” I reply.
“She’s going craz
y in that fishbowl,” he snaps.
“You think I’m not?” I reply. “All I want is my house to myself with Natasha and I currently have seven extra people staying with me and a very bad case of Jerry Springer playing out before my eyes.”
“Bridget and Abbie are looking at some apartments this afternoon,” Ben replies.
“Good,” I reply.
“Are you going with them?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, I’m staying with you. Their guards can take them. I think Tash wants to go along.”
I frown. “I don’t like Natasha being out and about on her own without me or you with her. It makes me jumpy.”
He nods. “Me too,” he replies.
“Has there been any news on Coby Allender?” I ask. “That sick bastard makes my blood run cold.”
“I’m due to call them on any updates of the case today,” he mutters as we turn into the carpark of my office.
“Call them first thing. I want to know what’s happening.” I sigh. God, I’m just so sick of this bullshit.
He nods and we make our way to the office.
The day has been uneventful. Adrian is killing me with emails and details. He saunters into my office. “Have you put any thought into that conference in London?”
I shake my head as I open his fortieth email this morning. “No.” I don’t look up from my screen.
“You ok?” he asks and I lift my eyes to meet his.
I shrug and shake my head. “I don’t think I have ever been so shocked in my life as I am at this newest revelation. I can’t get my head around it,” I reply in a monotone.
“Me too.” He sighs. “You should have seen Natasha with your mum last night.”
I frown. “What happened?” I ask.
“We were out for dinner and Tash rang Nicholas and I was talking to him.” I smirk and he rolls his eyes at me. “Tash rang your mother to check on her and she didn’t sound too well so Natasha hauled us all to the other side of town to find her. You should have seen the hotel she was staying at. It was atrocious.”
“God.” I sigh as guilt fills me. “Transfer her some money today. It makes me sick what that bastard has done.”
“Natasha took one look at your mother and her psychologist instincts kicked in.” He shrugs. “She’s very good at her job, Joshua. You should see her in action.” He smiles softly.
“I would hate to think what could have happened,” I whisper as I hit the delete button repeatedly. “If you guys didn’t go to her when you did. Thanks for going with Tash.”
“Can you find me a male version of Natasha please?” he mutters as he sits on my desk.
I smile. “If there were any other versions of Natasha around, male or female, I would want them too,” I reply.
“Greedy bastard.” Adrian smirks. “Don’t forget we have Laura’s wedding down the coast this weekend.”
I frown. “Shit.” I blow out a breath. “Really? That’s this weekend?” I shake my head. “I don’t have the energy to go to a wedding. I hate fucking weddings.”
“Yeah, well you are. I’ve done the gifts and you and Tash are staying the night on Sean’s yacht in the bay,” he replies.
I smirk. “Murph, what would I do without you?” I ask.
He looks at me deadpan. “I hate to think.”
I swing on my chair as I look out the window, deep in thought, and Adrian puts some files away in my filing cabinet.
“Oh and you bought that house next to Willowvale. You will need to go down and sign the contracts on Thursday or Friday,” he replies.
My eyes meet his. “What’s her go? Why would she want to live next door to me?”
Adrian shakes his head as he continues filing. “I don’t know, something to do with that big cock of yours probably,” he mutters dryly as he slams a drawer shut.
I throw my pencil at him as I lean back and put my feet on my desk. “You’re an imbecile.” I sigh.
Ben walks in. “We’ve got a problem,” he snaps.
I put my head back onto my chair. “Enlighten me, Ben, on which problem this is about. The shit around here just gets better and better by the day.” I sigh as I blow out a deep breath.
“I just rang the prison and Coby Allender had a visitor on the weekend.”
Adrian frowns and stops what he is doing.
“And?” I reply.
He throws some photos onto the desk. “It’s the dude that broke into Natasha’s apartment.”
My face drops and I sit up immediately.
“I sent the security vision through to them this morning and it’s him. It’s fucking him.”
My eyes widen as I look at the black-and-white images taken via the jail security system spread over the table.
“Holy shit,“ Adrian whispers.
“The police are ecstatic. They haven’t had a definite link to him before but this proves without doubt that they are working together. They have issued a warrant for his arrest and are going around there as we speak to get the bastard.”
I shake my head. “God.” I frown at the photos as I put my hand over my mouth. “How many women did these sick fucks murder?” I ask.
“Twelve, and like weird-shit killing too. Tortured, raped and cut up,” Ben replies as goosebumps cover my flesh.
“And they wanted Natasha,” I whisper.
“Thankfully she has been guarded all the time. They may have gotten her if you two didn’t get back together,” Adrian gasps.
“See, this is why I hate her doing psychology in a jail. You’re messing with fucked- up psychopaths’ minds. She’s not doing that shit again. Over my dead body is she doing that shit again. What does she expect going to the fucking prison?” I stand in an outrage and rub my hands through my hair.
My intercom buzzes. “Mr Stanton, Robert Stanton is here to see you.”
Adrian pats me on the shoulder in a symbol of sympathy. “I’ve got stuff to do. We will go out for lunch to discuss this.”
“Yeah, ok.” I sigh as I watch Adrian leave the room.
Dad walks in and smiles at Ben and me. “Hello,” he greets us softly. I’ve never seen my father so broken. This was one of his closest friends that did this to his wife.
“I will be outside.” Ben gestures to the door.
“No, I want to see you too, Ben,” Dad replies.
Ben’s and my eyes meet. I knew this was coming. Ben nods and sits at the table.
I sit back down at my desk and my father sits opposite me.
“I want to have James Brennan taken care of,” he announces.
“Yes, I agree,” I reply. “He’s not getting away with this.”
Dad looks at Ben. “Do you… have the contacts?” he asks nervously.
“Yes,“ Ben replies flatly.
“Can you ring? How does this work?” Dad asks him.
“No,” I snap. “Ben is not getting involved in this one.”
Ben’s eyes meet mine. “Joshua, it’s what you pay me for,” he snaps.
“Your role in this family has changed and you know that,” I reply.
Ben shakes his head angrily in disgust. “It’s what I’m trained to do,” he snaps.
“And you should have thought about that before you fell in love with my sister-in-law.”
“I didn’t say I was in love with her,” he replies.
“You didn’t have to!” I reply. “If you are becoming a part of this family that’s it, no more fucking hits, no more dealing with the underworld. You leave your military training in the past. You are already being investigated for the prostitute’s murder. I will not have Bridget alone with two kids while her husband is rotting in jail.”
Ben drops his head angrily.
“Well I hope nobody is going to jail.” Dad frowns. “You pay good money to not get caught I would expect.”
I nod. “Do you have the money?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes.”
My eyes hold his. “Do you have untraceable money?”
He thin
ks for a moment and then shakes his head. “No,” he answers.
My eyes meet Ben’s. “How much is in the safe at home, Ben?”
Ben narrows his eyes as he thinks. “I don’t know, about two million I think.”
My eyes flick back to my father. “It’s yours. You will need to pay before you leave the country, organise it while you are here. We can’t get that much money into Australia without being noticed,” I reply. “Ben, give my father the contact numbers. That is as far as you can get involved in this one,” I reply. Ben nods angrily like a naughty child.
“You will need to stay in the US until it is done,” I mutter.
My father nods. “Yes,” he replies. “I will get a hotel for your mother and me. We won’t burden you any longer.”
My eyes hold his. “Are you two going to be ok?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. How do you get past something like this?”
My stomach drops. What a nightmare.
My father stands. “Thank you, Joshua.” He nods at Ben and leaves the room.
Ben stands still and defiant with his eyes fixed on me.
“What?” I snap.
“I’m not changing my whole life to be with Bridget.”
My eyes hold his. “Yes you are, go with my father and give him the money and stay with Natasha until I know they have this sick fuck in custody.”
He nods and walks toward the door.
“Ben,” I call. And he turns to look at me.
“I don’t want you involved in this because I want you and Bridget together. You have my full support, but you need to leave that life behind. Bridget needs you to leave that life behind,” I say.
His eyes hold mine for a moment and he nods, turns and walks out of the room.
I scrub my hand over my face in frustration. What next?
Natasha
It’s late afternoon on Thursday and Joshua and I are on our way to Willowvale with three security cars trailing behind us. They have linked Coby Allender with the break and enter at my house in Australia and apparently when they went to arrest the guy they couldn’t find him but what they did find was much worse. Photographs of me were strewn all over his apartment, along with photos of the other victims that have since been murdered. I can’t believe this shit. I’ve hardly slept since I found out. I keep having those stupid nightmares and Joshua is beside himself with worry. The guy hasn’t left Australia through a commercial flight and he doesn’t have money for a private one so we shouldn’t be worried, but until they have him in custody we are all a little jumpy. I haven’t told Joshua yet but my head is starting to thump and I am trying desperately to hold off a migraine. I was hoping I had turned the corner with that shit… obviously not.
