Beautiful Lover (The Masquerade Series)

by Maynard, Glenna

  “Please sit, eat, I ordered for you.”

  “Parker, really it isn’t necessary. I am only curious to know how I arrived here and what your role in all of this is.”

  “Well you might as well eat. I have quite a long story to tell you.”

  “Okay,” clearly he isn’t taking no as an answer. If eating with him gets me the resolve I seek than eat I shall.

  Parker takes a drink of his juice and begins his account. One that is familiar but this is a different take on the story entirely. “Years ago I was engaged to the love of my life Elizabeth, she was everything I could ask for and more. But I wasn’t the only one who cared for her. My best friend at the time or so I thought—Royce— who I have learned you are intimately familiar with he loved her as well. He boundlessly tried to steal her away from me to no avail. The morning we were to be married he convinced her to go for a drive with him, to give him a chance to say goodbye to her. That day my life changed in the most horrible way. Well I am sure Royce has told you his version of what happened…” He pauses and takes a bite of sausage, in turn giving me a moment to compare the differences between his version and Royce’s.

  “I apologize for telling you a narrative you seem to already know, but I believe it only fair to give you my side of things so you can fully understand my part in Royce’s grand scheme.” Nodding is the only response I can give him; my heart hurts too badly to speak. “Elizabeth was pregnant and to this day I don’t know if it was my baby or Royce’s she was carrying.” Hurt flashes across his face at mention of the unborn child. “Anyways back to the point, Royce claims she was leaving with him that day, but I know in my heart she was prepared to marry me. You are sitting here today because of a grudge between Royce and me. Each of us blaming the other for the love that was lost, and the child we will never know. You are Royce’s revenge on me for Elizabeth. He wants to take you away from me like he thinks I took her from him. If you haven’t figured it out yet Kingsley I am Parker Garretti, head of the Garretti brother’s mob.”

  My fork hits my plate with a loud clank. When you came to work at my club Royce dumped you, right?”

  “Yes, that is correct.”

  “Do you know why he dumped you? Wait… did he ever tell you that you look a lot like Elizabeth. That is why he was attracted to you in the first place. Here I’ll show you her photo if you don’t believe me.” Parker slides his cell phone across the table to me and as I look at the screen I am shocked by how much we resemble one another. Her hair is different than mine but even her eye color is similar to my own.

  “Royce said he was afraid you would use me against him.”

  “He would have said that. All a part of his plan Kingsley. Royce ended things with you so that I would be free to pursue you. He knew that I wouldn’t be able to stay away from you once I laid eyes on you because of how much you resemble her. And he was right. I saw the similarity immediately and began pursuing you. I came into the club every chance I got to glimpse you, to be near you. I just about thought you were her at first. I believed that fate was playing a hoax on me. Possibly you had faked your death or Royce had faked your death. You had amnesia and didn’t remember me. So many scenarios played in my mind. But after talking to you once I knew you weren’t her, that didn’t stop my attraction to you though. I kept chasing you. Once I finally got you, Royce stepped back into the picture to snatch you away. He wasn’t finished there though. Royce hired Brad and Jake and implanted them in my organization. They set up the whole debt with Charlie. Charlie was never really in debt to me it was fabricated. Charlie was just easy to play and your brother. Of course he would do anything to protect his sister.”

  “I need a moment, please.” Excusing myself from the table I nearly collapse in the floor before I make it to the bathroom to throw up the aspirin and little bit of food I have eaten. After a few tears I compose myself and return to Parker to hear the rest of what he has to say.

  “May I continue?”

  “Yes, please carry on.”

  “Your kidnapping was all just a rouse to make me look bad in your eyes and make him out to be the hero. He planned on using my family’s name to scare you and your brother. He created a fake threat and you were an easy prey. He wanted you to think I was behind your brother having to fight to protect you so you would think I am a monster and want nothing to do with me. But his plan backfired; Brad and Jake sold this information to me. Money talks Kingsley, always.”

  “But why go to so much trouble?” His story makes sense but I have my reservations. I dated Royce for three years. Why do all this now. It just doesn’t add up to me, but I don’t want Parker to think I suspect that he could be lying to me. That this could all very well be his revenge against Royce.

  “I am sorry Kingsley, I should have told you that you looked like her—Elizabeth— the moment I first talked to you, but I didn’t want to scare you away. You can’t imagine what it was like for me to be near you and feel close to her. It was wrong. I hope in time you can forgive me.”

  “No harm no foul right? I really would like to call my brother now.” The look he is giving me is making me uneasy.

  “I’m afraid that isn’t possible. Your brother is in the hospital, he’s had an accident.”

  “What…wh—attt do you mean?” I scoot back abruptly causing my chair to turn over and hit the floor with a loud clatter. Parker gets up immediately and tries to hug me in a soothing embrace. “I have to go Parker! I need to get to my brother, please.” Tears are streaking down my face. I need to get to Kline. I plead with him to take me to my brother.

  “Of course, I already have my car ready downstairs to take you.”

  “I do have one question Parker, where did Tiffany fit into all of this?”

  “Who’s Tiffany,” he asks as we step onto the elevator. I feel faint, if Parker doesn’t know who Tiffany is, does that mean he is telling me the truth about Royce.

  **

  At the hospital the attending nurse informs me that Kline is in intensive care and being kept in a drug induced coma. She informs that I just missed the police and my parents…

  Entering the sterile room on shaky legs, I come to a stop just inside the door. Steadying myself against the nearest chair I take in a deep breath. The boy lying in the hospital bed can’t be my brother. This boy looks fragile and weak…nothing like the strong man I am used to seeing. If I had just ridden to the fight with him instead of leaving him to go on his own, he might not be laying here lifeless and dependant upon machines to breathe. I wipe back my tears, my brother has always been tough and watching out for me. Now it is my turn to be the resilient one and take care of him.

  Parker is watching me cautiously from the hall. I am afraid to touch my brother…afraid I will hurt him. Gently I take his swollen hand in mine and caress his thumb with my own. When we were children and Charlie would take his frustrations out on us, Kline and I would lie in the bottom of our closet together cheek to cheek. I would hold his hand just as I am now. He would say “Kingsley, one day I’m going to be big and strong and I won’t let Charlie hurt you anymore.”

  “Charlie,” I spit his name out through gritted teeth. This is his entire fault. Kline did grow to be big and strong and he did put a stop to Charlie hurting me, but if this is the price he has had to pay I would rather take a lifetime of beatings from my step-father than see my brother in this condition. Charlie may not have thrown the punches or landed the kicks that put Kline here but he brought this on all of us with his choices.

  My time with my brother is interrupted from shouts coming from the hall just outside the door. Walking to the door I crack it slightly to get a better take on what has caused such a ruckus. What I am not expecting to find is Royce standing toe to toe with Parker spitting viscous accusations in his face.

  “This is your fault. You could have put a stop to this Garrett. Does she know this is your doing? Does Kingsley know that you’re the monster who has her brother fighting for his life?” Royce looks like a com
pletely different person; he looks like he does in the ring—he looks like the punisher.

  I step out in the hall as hospital security starts making their way down the passage. “Did you do this Parker? Is he right? Is what Royce is saying true? You put Kline in the hospital.” My heart wants to cry but my head is angry.

  Parker takes a step in my direction, his eyes look empty. “Kingsley, we already discussed this. I’m not the enemy here.” He’s not denying the harsh things that just left my mouth. I am unable to speak. The words are on my tongue but they won’t leave my lips. I want to confront them both now that they are here face to face.

  Royce is back in Parker’s face as security reaches our party in the hallway. “You promised no harm would come to Kingsley. Does she look untouched to you?” He bumps his chest against Parker’s. What is Royce talking about? I feel faint. Did they plan this together? My last thought as I hit the floor is I thought he loved me…

  Chapter 17

  Kingsley

  Waking up and not knowing where I am at seems to quickly becoming a habit of mine, one that I am not happy to be developing. My head hurts again and I am lying on an exam table. Then it all comes back to me—where I am and why. A nurse smiles down at me, “You took quit a spill a moment ago. Are feeling alright? Any dizziness? Do you feel faint again?”

  “I’m fine I just need to see my brother.” I try to get off the table, but the nurse orders me to lie back down.

  “You can see your brother soon. We just need to make sure you are okay first. I am going to check your vitals and then I will personally take you back to your brother’s room.”

  “The guys who were with me, where are they?”

  “Oh dear I am afraid security escorted them from the property.” She continues to check my blood pressure and after she is happy with it she walks me back to my brother’s room.

  “Oh Kline,” I lay my head down on the edge of his bed. This is my entire fault, if I hadn’t been messing around with the wrong men. If I had listened when he told me to stay away from Royce, he wouldn’t be here now. And where in the hell is Tiffany for fucks sake? I lay here by my brother’s side crying and throwing a pity party for one until the nurses kick me out. They let me know I am welcome to come back tomorrow during visiting hours.

  Kline is suffering from several injuries—including broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and his right knee has been shattered and not to mention all the ugly internal bleeding he is suffering from. The doctors don’t think anything vital is punctured but they are waiting for more of the swelling to go down, before they give any real assessment to the extent of it all.

  When I walk outside of the hospital I realize I have no phone, no car, no keys or any money to get anywhere. I feel so useless and helpless. I look across the lot to see Parker and Royce standing on opposite ends of the parking lot. Oh great more male egos to deal with. I have a choice to make right now, either I believe everything Parker said to me as true or I give Royce a chance to explain his part. But right now I choose neither and turn away from the two of them. Walking back towards the hospital. I call Sug, she will come take me home.

  Sug is in the lobby to take me home in no time. She has a million questions for me that I can’t answer right now. I redirect all of her questions to Kline’s condition. She makes several weak attempts to make me laugh by saying she will be moving in to be my brother’s private nurse once he is able to return home. I laugh at all the right punch lines and it seems to make her happy.

  Once I get to my building I am able to get our super to let me into my apartment. I explained to him that I have lost my purse and he understands thankfully. Sug wanted to stay with me but I sent her home with the promise to call her when I have any news on Kline. Never in my life have I been so happy to be in the tiny apartment I share with my brother. A bath in my own tub and a night’s sleep in my own bed is what the doctor ordered.

  As I lie in my bed I try to piece together all of the puzzle but no matter which angle I look at it from none of it makes any damn sense. I still can’t figure out which one of them was seeking revenge on the other and for the life of me I don’t know what part Tiffany played in the whole thing. I’m so fucking confused. I fall asleep with everything that Parker said ringing in my head.

  **

  The next morning I come to life feeling refreshed from resting in my own bed. A glance at my clock tells me I have slept for ten hours straight. Scared that I will miss visiting hours with Kline, I jump straight up from bed and fall right on the floor. Apparently my body hasn’t caught up with my mind. Fuck, that’s going to leave a bruise on my hip bone, I crawl my way to the bathroom to relive my bladder and give my teeth a brushing of a lifetime. I never knew how much I have taken the little things in life for granted like brushing my teeth and running my own brush through my hair until now.

  When I go into the kitchen I have to stop and do a double take— on the counter is my purse alongside with my keys and my phone. When did those get here? Did I overlook them last night? No, I am sure they were not here when I came through the door. That’s when I see him sitting in my brother’s recliner drinking my coffee. Royce. The nerve of him just sitting there enjoying my brew in my favorite mug, who does he think he is sitting there watching me watching him with a smug look of satisfaction on his devilishly handsome face. His mouth curves up in a smile. “Miss me?”

  “Did I miss you? Are you serious right now? Do you have any idea what the past few days or the past week however fucking long it’s been has been like for me? You are a psychopath.”

  “I love you too babe. I made coffee. You should probably get going if you want to see your brother.”

  “DO you even hear yourself right now? Why are you here?” I anxiously tap my fingers on the counter waiting for him to explain himself. Do I even want to hear it, I don’t know…

  “We have a lot to talk about Kingsley, but if you believed even half of the shit Parker told you I wouldn’t still be sitting here would I?”

  “I-I…” I try to argue, but I can’t.

  “See you know me, I wouldn’t hurt you…ever.”

  “Where is Tiffany? And don’t you dare say Tiffany who or so help me.” I give him my crazy eye glare. You don’t mess with a woman when she gives you the look, you just don’t. “We have a lot to discuss, but you are right I need to go see my brother.”

  “Go, I’ll wait. And Tiffany is fine, she played her part but she will have to tell you her involvement herself. I feel it’s her place to do so not mine. You know all of my secrets Kingsley.”

  “We are going to have a very long and heated discussion when I get back.”

  “I’m counting on it. And Kings, please stay away from Parker, he’s dangerous. He’s not going to just let us walk away. You don’t walk away from Parker without paying the consequences. Just promise me you won’t let him get you alone.”

  I swallow my coffee hard and take it to my room to finish while I get dressed. Hurriedly I throw on jeans and a t-shirt. I slip on my flip flops and tell Royce goodbye briefly as I run out the door.

  At the hospital my brother’s condition has not changed. Once again I have missed my mom and Charlie. I will have to make an appearance at their place sooner rather than later. I suppose I will go there before I go home and face Royce. Part of me still has my doubts, but too much of what Parker tried to tell me just doesn’t sit right with me. And I can’t deny the bad vibes I was feeling from him while he was force feeding me his bullshit. Did he think that because of my feelings towards the brief sexual encounters we have shared that I would just forget three years of being with Royce and believe everything he said. Surely to god I don’t come off as that gullible.

  Seeing my brother lying here today unconscious isn’t any easier than it was yesterday. In fact I think today it is even harder, because my brain is firing on all cylinders. His nurse comes in to change the IV bag and give him another dose of pain medication. She says that his internal bleeding seems to be und
er control. They are planning to do a surgery on his knee over the next few days. Once he is in the clear from the knee surgery they will start bringing him off the medication and I will be able to actually speak to Kline.

  “Talking to him is good,” she says that he can hear me. So that is what I do, I pull up a chair next to my brother and tell him all about the clusterfuck of thoughts that’s running through my head.

  “Kline, I feel so lost and confused. I wish you would wake up so you could tell me to pull my head out of my ass and do the right thing. Because I know the right thing is to walk away from Royce and Parker and never look back. But I love Royce and I need to believe him. I want so badly for him to be the man that I fell in love with.” My stomach lurches and I have to dash to the bathroom in order save myself the embarrassment of spewing my coffee allover my comatose brother.

  I really hope I’m not coming down with a stomach bug. That’s the last thing I need on top of everything that is going on right now. My stomach feels swollen and now I remember I missed my appointment with my gynecologist for my birth control shot. I am about to get my period. I don’t know why exactly but every time I get a period it makes my nauseous, which is why I get the shot, so I don’t have periods anymore. Well not usually, but thanks to this whole mess I have missed my appointment and now I get to go through the joys of being a woman.

  I guess I should tell you what happened to my brother. After he won his fight the other night he got in Royce’s car to drive to meet Charlie so they could pay off the debt and end this shit. Well like the say history repeats itself. Parker tampered with Royce’s car again and nearly killed my brother. Kline was driving and a car suddenly stopped at a red light in front of him he was far enough behind the car that if the brakes were working properly he would have stopped in time, but the brake lines were cut… now my brother is fighting for his life.