I sit back and watch Pea. “So it’s safe to say you don’t like her then?” she asks with a smirk.
“Well, I wouldn’t say I hate her, but I wouldn’t be upset if she were to be attacked by a parade of rabid anteaters, and her only escape was through a room covered in Lego bricks, whilst a combined Justin Bieber and Kayne West music video played at full volume. “Okay, well maybe, it’s just a mild dislike, huh?” I reply and Pea bursts into laughter.
A second later and a nurse comes in. “If you’re going to keep making her get all unnecessary like, that then you’ll need to leave,” she tells me pursing her lips and folding her arms.
“Who shit in your Coco Pops this morning?” I reply and Pea bursts out laughing again.
“Right. Out!” she tells me and I roll my eyes and collect my things.
“Sorry,” I tell Pea and lean in to cuddle her.
“Don’t be, it’s the best I’ve felt. Come back tomorrow?” she asks.
“Of course,” I reply. “I’ll come in the daytime though. Hopefully, another nurse will be on duty,” I say with a wink.
I get to the foyer of the hospital and it suddenly dawns on me that I have no ride. Saul is picking me up in thirty minutes which is when visiting hours are over. I can’t go back to the ward as grumpy nurse will have a fit, but I know I’m not safe in here.
I call Saul. “Babe?” he answers on the second ring.
“Sorry honey, but I kinda…sorta…got kicked out by a grumpy nurse, who said I was making Pea laugh too much,” I explain.
“What the fuck? So what? Do they want the patients to be miserable?” he spits anger wafting through the phone like it’s a physical thing.
“Yeah, I know, right? Anywho, I’m in the foyer. Any chance you can come and get me early?” I ask.
“Of course, babe. I’m just at the gym, I’ll grab my stuff and be there in twenty, okay? Stay inside,” he demands.
“Okay, I will. Oh, and Saul?” I say before he hangs up.
“Here,” he replies.
“Love you,” I tell him softly.
“Every second of every day, babe,” he says before the phone cuts off and I stare at it grinning like an idiot.
“So, I have to resort to following you just to talk these days?” I hear and a shiver runs down my spine.
I turn around. “Mother,” I say trying not to show any kind of fear or weakness. My days of being controlled and fearful of this piece of shit in front of me are long gone.
“Where have you been? The last time I heard anything about you was from that woman,” she says wrinkling her nose in disgust. I stand and say nothing, just taking her in. It’s been at least five years since I’ve actually seen her, although it’s been less since I’ve spoken to her. Her hair has a few more grey strands than I remember and she has a few extra wrinkles. I’d like to say she looks like shit, but she doesn’t. As usual, she’s put together elegantly, wearing a pair of grey slacks with a button through grey blouse, red jacket and silver scarf. You’d never know she was a whore. Her blonde hair used to hang down her back, but I have no idea how long it is anymore as she wears it in a bun, which elongates her neck. She’s a few inches shorter than me, but that doesn’t deter from the intimidating aura that she gives off.
After everything she did to me I wanted to cut her out of my life completely, but I never could. She’s always held Patrick and my whereabouts, or more to the point Pea’s address, over me. Now she has nothing to hold, there’s nothing she can do anymore. And for once I feel like I hold the power.
“What is it you want?” I ask her shaking my head.
“I just wanted to see how my daughter was, isn’t that what all mothers want?” she asks the corner of her lip curling.
“Maybe, I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had someone that I class as a mother,” I respond and she cocks one eyebrow and takes a step forward.
“I had to put up with you. Do you know why I always made you keep in contact with me?” she asks, but I say nothing. “Because your stupid pathetic excuse for a father tied up all his money in his Will to you,” she tells me and as she does I do everything I can to keep my face blank. “He had a clause written into it, that you had to remain alive and healthy until you were twenty-five or I wouldn’t get a penny. Ever since you turned twenty-five, I haven’t given you a second thought. Did it not cross your mind why I haven’t contacted you for nearly eighteen months?” she asks.
Although my heart is thumping in my chest, I whisper, “I hadn’t given you a second thought. Period.”
She smirks at me. “Touché. I can really see myself in you sometimes.” At her words, a chill runs right through me.
“I’m nothing like you,” I spit and she chuckles.
“Oh dear girl, you’re more like me than you realise. One thing I will tell you though, you were written into your father’s will too. Want to know how much you got?” she asks and I still say nothing. “Okay, I’ll take that as a yes. You got more than I did. He gave you two point five million pounds.” My body involuntarily jolts at her revelation. “Yes, I see you’re getting it now, my daughter. All that money? It comes to me upon your death.”
My eyes move from over her shoulder where I was staring determined not to encourage her in any way to looking straight at her.
“Yes, you see, if I get rid of you I can up my bank balance and I know just the person who can help me with that.”
My shoulders sag. “Patrick,” I whisper.
“Bingo! Now be a good girl and come outside with Mummy,” she tells me.
I start shaking. “No!” I tell her.
She tuts and says, “Oh, but I think you will. You see Patrick is right now dressed as a doctor and waiting outside the maternity ward doors ready to go and pay your little friend Pearson a visit. You don’t want that, do you?”
I shake my head no. I have no idea what to do, but I can’t risk anything happening to Pea.
“Fine,” I say.
“Well done. Right answer,” she tells me and grabs my elbow marching me outside. As soon as we’re out the doors she hustles me left and practically drags me down the street until we get to the corner. That’s when all hell breaks loose. She shoves me forward into someone and I look up to see the dark, cold eyes of a face I know very well from when I was younger. A face that made me feel physically sick, and that I would do everything I could to avoid.
“Patrick,” I mumble all my breath whooshing out of me.
“Cherry Pie,” he says a smirk on his face.
“No…no…this isn’t happening,” I tell myself.
“Oh, but it is. So there’s no point fighting it,” my mother informs me gripping my arm tightly, painfully.
“I’ve done my part. Now you get rid of her or get her to sign over her money otherwise I’ll call the police. You have one week,” my mother tells him and he doesn’t get to reply before she walks away leaving me with my childhood monster.
“Please, let me go. I’ll sign the money over. I don’t care…just let me go,” I plead.
His eyes glitter. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you. I’m never going to let you go.” And right at that moment, I know he’s being truthful. He’s never going to let me go. I’m never going to be allowed a normal life.
What have I ever done to deserve having a taste of happiness, for it then to be ripped away?
With that thought lingering on the edges of my mind, I feel Patrick slip his hand down my leg. It’s dark, so although we’re out in the open, it’s unlikely anyone will pay attention. He pushes me against the wall. I think, maybe if I scream someone just might hear me. So I open my mouth but the minute I do, he rams his fist into my face, catching my cheek at just the right angle so it feels like my eye is going to burst out of its socket. Then slams his hand over my mouth. I bite it, unwilling to give up my fight. I’ll never give up. I’ll die fighting. He curses and slaps me across the face moving his hand and this time placing it around my throat. He squeezes, then squeezes hard
er, cutting off my air.
“Fuck this shit!” I’m stuck in traffic, so I’ve taken a few minutes longer than I told Soph I’d be. I’m on the Fulham Road and I can see the hospital in the distance. I’m just about to call Soph and let her know to come out when I spot her mother walking around the corner. The only thing that made me look was the striking resemblance to Soph. I haven’t seen Soph’s mother for years, but she’s always looked like Soph, just an older version. And even though it’s dark, my eye are still drawn to her. I know it can’t be a coincidence that she’s here, where Soph is. I don’t have time to catch the bitch and demand to know what the fuck she’s doing. Instead, I abandon the car on the side of the road and run to where she’s just come from. I only get a couple of feet around the corner and I see Soph up against the wall and a man has his hands around her throat. My vision blisters red and my body feels like molten lava is coursing through my veins. I run as fast as I can and slam into him hard throwing his body a good ten feet. He lands with a thump on the cold hard cement. I catch Soph as she falls not wanting her to hurt herself, but as I lower her to the ground to check if she’s okay, I get a swift kick to the ribs. I jump up and see his eyes widen slightly.
Yeah, that’s right, I’m going to kick the shit out of you.
I pounce, punching him with my right then my left and with my right again, then kick him once, twice, three times and before his body crumples I kick him again for good measure. I rush over to Soph and lift her in my arms then turn running at full sprint back to the hospital. The moment we enter people start fussing around and she gets rushed off to be checked. I call the police, knowing what I’ve done, but being more concerned with Soph’s safety. Then I call Dane and fill him in, asking him to do whatever he can.
Fuck knows what’s going to happen.
I pace the waiting room for about ten minutes before the police turn up. When they do I tell them what I can which, unfortunately, isn’t much. They explain that if I assaulted someone they would have to arrest me, but when they check, he’s gone. I curse under my breath knowing the fucker got away.
Next time…next time, I’ll kill him.
The police leave and Dane turns up about five minutes later. “I saw your car outside, brother. It’s been clamped,” he tells me. I shrug my shoulders. “I’ve sorted it. It’s being taken back to the house.”
I nod my head in thanks, not feeling up to talking. Dane must understand as he sits next to me in quiet support. We’re not there for long when a doctor comes out to us.
“Mr. James?” the doctor asks. I nod and stand up. “Ms. Rawlings tells me you’re her fiancé, so if you would like to come with me you can visit with her.”
“I’ll wait out here until you’re done,” Dane says behind me and I look over my shoulder at him.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
“Is she okay?” I ask the doctor, my voice raspy.
“She’s okay. Battered and bruised, but no permanent damage. She’ll need a couple of days of recuperation but, to be honest, she just needs time to heal.” I nod at his explanation, finding that I can’t figure out what I need to say. “She’s in here, and we’re happy for her to go home,” he confirms gesturing to the door then walking away.
“Doc,” I say finding my voice. He stops and looks back at me. “Thank you,” I tell him, just managing to get the words out. Opening the door and stepping inside, I take in Soph. The bruise around her eye is forming as is another one around her neck. My jaw ticks at the sight.
“Don’t honey,” she says and I look up into her eyes which despite the bruising are soft and filled with love. “You saved me, Saul. If you hadn’t come along when you did…” she doesn’t say anymore and I step forward carefully wrapping her in my arms before she starts crying.
“Let’s take you home,” I say when her silent tears subside and I feel her nod. We walk back out to reception and see Dane. I can tell the moment Soph is in his vision because he grinds his teeth and narrows his eyes, which are flinty and cold. As soon as Soph spots him I watch his face morph into a soft and loving stare.
There’s definitely more to my brother than I know.
“Hey Tink,” he says as we approach and he wraps her in his arms in much the same way that I did just moments before.
A few hours later and Soph is asleep. I’m standing in the kitchen sucking down my second beer.
“Did you talk to Con?” I ask Dane and he nods.
“Yeah, I explained everything. He’s going to tell Pea when he sees her in the morning, but I think he’s going to give her a softer version,” he tells me.
“Probably best in her condition,” I reply.
“I called Eric too. He flapped a lot and I made him wait until tomorrow to call Soph. Which was a feat in itself as he wanted to come over straight away.” I smirk at what Dane says, then I hear movement on the stairs and turn my head to watch Soph walking down them. I rush over to her.
“Soph, you should be resting,” I chastise softly.
“Sorry honey, I know and I will go back to bed, but I need you to do something for me, please?” she asks rubbing her neck. It must be hurting her to talk.
“Anything, babe,” I tell her. She moves past me and to her jacket, fishing in the pockets until she brings out a small black item.
“What’s this?” I ask and she points to Dane.
“Dane? What’s this?” I ask and see him coming toward me. He looks at my hand and takes the object from me.
“It’s a Dictaphone,” he says and then continues, “When Soph started getting these letters, I gave her this. I told her to keep it with her and if she was ever in anyone’s company which she didn’t trust she was to turn it on to record. She could always delete the recorded stuff later if it were crap.”
I look from Dane to Soph. “You recorded them?” I ask and she nods. “Okay, let’s take you back to bed and I’ll listen to this in a minute and deal with the police, all right?” She nods again and I pick her up in a bridal lift and carry her back to bed while kissing her tenderly on the lips.
“Sleep well, angel. I’ll be here when you wake up.” She smiles and her eyes close from exhaustion. When I get back to the kitchen, I look at Dane.
“Play it,” I demand and he fiddles with the buttons and presses play.
“So, I have to resort to following you just to talk these days?” Followed by Soph’s wary tone saying, “Mother.”
Two hours later and the police have left with the tape. Dane made a copy, actually he made three. Hopefully, we’ll never need them, but I’m glad we have them. Now we just have to hope they find the fuckers.
“Go up to Soph, in case she wakes,” Dane says.
“Was just going to. What about you?” I ask.
“Things to do,” he tells me making it obvious that the conversation isn’t going any further. I slap him on the back.
“Night brother,” I say before walking up the stairs to join Soph. When I get to the room, I stare at her sleeping for a moment, knowing that if I’d been five minutes later, no fuck that two minutes later, I could have lost her. That cunt would have strangled her and I would’ve had to find a way to live my life without her. I close my eyes and take in a shuddering breath as a couple of rogue tears escape my eyes. Pulling off my clothes, I slide in next to the person who’s quickly become the centre of my world.
You know those moments you have? The one’s where suddenly everything seems to slot into place? All the worries and insecurities wash away, all the broken pieces come back together and heal? That tragically beautiful moment is happening right now for me. As I sit and watch my family lounging in Dane’s conservatory, this is it for me. And I know regardless of what is happening outside and who might be willing to harm me, that when I’m with these people, the one’s that fill my heart, they make me feel like nothing can touch me. They give me the strength I need to face whatever’s coming next. I know something’s coming, I can feel it…like a film covering my skin. Still, for now I have everyth
ing I need around me.
I look to each of them, happy for once to be in the background watching others. Con stands at the back near the French doors with Rich, they’re talking about tattoos, comparing them by the looks of it. Rich holds out his arm while Con points to some of the intricate detailing. My eyes sweep over to the sofa. Eric sits next to Pea. He’s talking animatedly about a maternity dress that came through his department the other day and how it would be just perfect for her. Of course, she tells him she has enough maternity clothes, to which he shoo’s her with his hand and says he will sneak it out of wardrobe and bring it to her tomorrow. I look over to Dane to see if he heard, you know seeing as he owns the company. He is looking at Eric, but he has a smirk on his face and doesn’t say anything, instead turning to Saul, who’s talking about Cornwall.
I watch their interaction, it’s so natural. When I think back to only a few months previous when every little bit of communication they had was awkward and uncomfortable. Whatever Dane says has Saul belly laughing and I watch as his eyes twinkle and his dimples pop out.
Love Resisted (Entwined Hearts #2) Page 18
