“I love you, Bo. You have to be tough. You’re a good boy.” His eyes shifted as I talked, and I could see the whites. I petted him and told him one more time how much he was loved. I stood on shaky legs and moved to Tommy. His body twitched on the ground and he still held the gun, so I was careful not to get too close. His eyes found mine and I could see he was scared, just like Bo. Tommy was losing too much blood; it covered the floor and wall, and one of his hands gripped around his neck as he tried to speak…dying to.
“I’m sorry,” he choked out, and I kneeled in the blood and shoved my hands over his neck. Tears streamed down my face and toppled onto the floor. I watched as the tears were lost in…red. “I need to call for help.”
His eyes blinked and I knew he understood. I stood slowly on my jelly legs and gazed at my feet covered in blood. I lifted on my toes and readied myself to run to the kitchen, where I knew there was a house phone. Except, I didn’t make it to the kitchen; I didn’t make it two steps before I slipped. I tried to right myself, to correct my shaky legs and slippery feet, but it didn’t help. My feet lost control and were flying into the air. It was slow motion and I couldn’t alter what was happening. I flailed in the air, desperate for something to grab onto. I came crashing down hard, my body slammed against the marble floor, jerking my head back with a powerful force, and then blackness engulfed me.
****
Jason
I sprinted into the mansion through the backdoor. I didn’t make it far before I saw red—red everywhere—and I couldn’t move. Katarina’s face morphed into Jacy’s and I did nothing. The scene before me was savage. I saw Katarina lying in a pool of blood, her once white satin gown now blood-stained. Her hair was fanned out around her and covered Thomas’s thigh, his hand mangling in her dark hair.
He appeared to be the worst affected; his neck was almost nonexistent. The brutal marks were left from the beast that was here to protect my princess. Thomas lays there, gun in one hand, and the other wrapped and twisted around Katarina hair. It was hard to look at the tangled mess and breathe at the same time.
Bo was covered in the same sticky, red blood. His eyes popped open and I bent down slowly to look at the silky bandage wrapped around him that was soaked through. I was destroyed, devastated; my heart ached and my muscles were fatigued. The strength I had moments ago was now depleted, completely drained. All I wanted now was to have a long drink of poison and curl up next to my princess in her innocent white gown and fall asleep, just like Romeo did with Juliet.
I put my head in my hands as I tried to gather the strength to save my dog, because I could save an animal; I had the skills and the confidence. I couldn’t help but to sneak a peek at Katarina, still in shock at the blood that covered her white nightgown. She laid there, and even though blood had soaked her hair and parts of her face, she looked peaceful…no more monsters. I heard Owen yelling at me not to touch anything because he called for help, but I couldn’t help it.
My life had been a series of events and I couldn’t process this one. She can’t die. She was meant for me. My legs moved; my magnet pulled me toward her. I slowly kneeled down at her side. I heard Owen’s continued pleas for me not to touch her, but I had to. The moment didn’t seem real; this event was too surreal. I ran my finger over her cheek and down her chin and she felt soft and warm. I bent in closer and kissed her eyelids and forehead.
My heart fucking hurt, but I told myself it was not real. My nose burned and then my eyes, and I cried like a fucking teenaged drama queen. I continued to pet her, memorizing her perfect features as I wailed and wept. I peered down at her through foggy glasses and she…opened her eyes. She fucking opened her eyes and then a small smile lifted her entire face all the way to those beautiful blues. It took her a moment before she realized this wasn’t my morning wakeup call, and she cautiously sat up.
“Bo,” she pleaded through shaky breaths, “please, I’m not hurt. Save Bo.” My eyes followed her terrified ones to Bo. “He was shot and I need him to live.” I couldn’t move from her; my body wouldn’t allow it. She got up slowly, her body shaking like a leaf, and she took a few steps and then sunk down to the cold floor again, wrapping her body around him. Her fragile arm reached over him as she rested her head so she could whisper in his ear. She talked sweetly to him and my heart warmed at the sight. She was spooning my giant dog and I smiled and wiped the wetness from my face. It was all I needed. It was all I needed to snap my mind out of the devastation so I could fix Bo.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Bee-cause
Katarina
Two days later
I woke before Jason and rushed to check on Bo. He was doing great, but my dreams had changed and now all I saw was him lying in a pool of blood, so finding him was imperative. I knew my bad thoughts wouldn’t disappear until I saw him. He was on the floor in the corner of the room; I made sure his bed was close to mine in case he needed pain meds or water at night. I could be right here for him. He slept a lot and I couldn’t wait for him to be better. We were at the beach house in California and I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to see him in the water. I just knew he would love it.
Jason fixed Bo and I was confident it was only a matter of time before he was running and playing. I told Jason I owed him for healing my dog, and he tried to tell me it was the special diet and the activity that saved Bo. He said Bo was in the best shape of his life and that was what really kept him alive. Either way, I was grateful. I traced the brown fur over Bo’s eye and petted him on his head and behind his ears. He was all bandaged up, but he managed a Bo-smile, and I leaned down and kissed him for it.
Tommy died that night, and when the authorities searched his penthouse suite, they found years of videos from him stalking me, even a video of him and another man beating Crew at the Club. They mentioned the closet and my father, but that was as far as I would allow the conversation to go. They gave me all the surveillance videos, but only after my attorney threatened to file a lawsuit. The thought of Jason or Smith seeing the abuse videos had me all nutted-up. It was not how I wanted them to see me. I was timid, weak, and fragile in the closet, but I didn’t feel that way anymore. I felt fearless and brave.
I wondered a lot about how things unfolded in my life. If Jared never attacked me, I would be married to Tommy. What Jared did was a pivotal moment, and it’d caused my whole life to change. I became a different person after that moment. A time in my life that should’ve had haunting effects…didn’t. I would never tell anyone, but I think that was where my story began. So, that was my first chapter; all the middle stuff was just filler. I looked at my dog and smiled, excited about my last chapter.
****
I wasn’t sure why I was still here. I told anyone who would listen that I didn’t care if my father was in the hospital. I didn’t want to see him. I couldn’t give a flying monkey about his request to see me. My attitude surprised me a little. I waited for the empathy for others to kick in, my superhuman ability to view others as victims, but I lost my superpower.
I skipped the elevator and took the stairs. I hated the fucking hospital. I didn’t care Dr. Holtin wasn’t here anymore. Although, it was a little ironic he died from a tiny insect sting, an insect that made colors come to life. I bet the bee that stung him died from the ugliness of just touching that monster; no pretty petals would open, nope…just shrivel up and die. Harsh, I know, but I was grumpy. I hated hospitals.
Jason left as I approached the private wing my father was in. He said he wanted to make sure I ate before the charity event, so he left to fetch my food. Great…just great. I could be home with Bo, but the two men in my life thought seeing my father like this would bring closure. I saw my brother Luke escaping my father’s room, and he stopped when we made eye contact. I didn’t want to deal with him, but I pasted a smile on and waited patiently for what he had to say.
“He won’t take anything for the pain. He’s going to die if he doesn’t take anything, if you can’t convince him.” I gave my
eldest brother a what-the-heck stare, and he responded, “He’s asked for you.” He paused, smoothing down his white doctor’s coat. It didn’t need smoothing though; it appeared to be pressed with starch, so it would never wrinkle. “He’ll listen, Kat…he loves you.” His words created rage, and I wanted to scream and yell and tell him how much he didn’t freaking love me, but I didn’t.
I glanced at Owen, silently asking him if I had to do this. He nodded and I pushed past Luke, making my way into the large, flower-filled room, which reminded me of the bee-sting Dr. Holtin died from, and I laughed under my breath. When Owen entered behind me, he closed the door and stood frozen against it, blocking it so I couldn’t escape and no one could enter. I shot him another stare that told him I was pissed he was blocking my only exit, but he just nodded his head toward my father. Crotchety old man.
I turned and clutched my purse. I scanned the room, avoiding the hospital bed and machines that were continually beeping, and spotted my mother in the corner. She appeared tired and her dress was messy. I bet that really pissed father off. She was clutched to his side, her hand holding the end of my father’s arm and hand cast. She carefully watched me, and all I could think about was how I had practiced for this moment since I was seven, no emotion on my face, nothing to read. Hers, on the other hand, screamed pain and fear. I reached deep, trying to feel something, but numb was all I felt, numb and my face mirrored it.
“Katarina.” She straightened and attempted to smooth her hair back. I gave her a curt nod, but my lips were sealed. My eyes shifted to my father and I couldn’t hide my utter shock—jaw-dropping, eyes-bulging shock. He was in a full-body cast, wore a neck brace, and his face was swollen. I heard a slight chuckle coming from the doorway, and I knew it was Smith and it was because of my reaction. I wasn’t sure Smith had ever seen shock on me before. I turned his way and smirked, wanting to playfully tell him to shut up.
My mother responded in anger, “You should wait outside. This is a family moment.” My eyes traveled to hers and I wondered if she thought she was a part of my family. The look of pure confusion caused her to sit back down in her chair, so now I towered over her. She was not as tough as I thought she was. She was weak and frail, no longer part-monster, but not quite a victim.
“No, Adeline,” I paused and waited for her eyes to meet mine, “Owen goes where I go. He is my family.” I was aware of two things. One: I just called Smith by his real name, and I knew without looking at him he was wearing my favorite smile. Two: I just said no to my mother for the first time. I did a victory, Woohoo! in my head. I allowed my eyes to remain locked with my mother’s until she cowered away. When she did, I glanced at my father. His puffy eyes and casted body made me less frightened, and I breathed in and stood tall, feeling powerful.
“Take the pain meds, Bruce. It looks like you need to.” I didn’t ask what happened, didn’t even want to know. To me, it looked like my father finally messed with the wrong person. “I’m getting married to Jason. I wanted you to hear it from me. You’re not invited to the wedding. I also don’t want you around our children. So, this is goodbye.” And with that, I finally felt something—I was empowered. It was indescribable, the powerful feeling, to have the last word, to say what I have wanted to say for as long as I could remember. This was the ultimate ‘Fuck you, I’m leaving’. I turned and moved toward the door.
My father’s weak voice over the beeping of the monitors stopped me in my tracks. “I don’t want to numb the pain.” I twisted my body to make sure I heard him correctly. “I think it will help me understand your hatred of me…if I endure the pain.” He paused, swallowing, and even that looked to be one excruciatingly painful series of muscle contractions. “Katarina, I’ll hurt like you did.” His voice was soft and breathless, but I got it, message received…loud and clear. It didn’t work, his attempt to manipulate me into feeling sorry for him.
“Take the pain meds or don’t. I couldn’t give a shit either way. This,” I waved my hand at the bright white cast that swallowed his whole body, “doesn’t make us even.” I heard him choke on a breath and I watched as my mother reached up to stroke his dark hair. My phone went off and ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ rang loudly throughout the room, and my father’s beeping machines picked up the pace. He was trying to move his head. His fright was evident as the bed shook, and my mother attempted to calm him. I stepped closer to him, because his eyes were locked with mine. The nurses pushed open the door and five of them piled around him, with a doctor on their heels.
“It…was…you,” he said through broken gasps of air. They sedated him quickly after that, and I nodded at my mother, giving her a practiced smile as I left the room. It didn’t hit me until I watched my father have an anxiety attack while suffocating in a whole body cast…that was where the men were the night Tommy broke in. I called Jason when I woke and was trolling through the mansion, and my father must have heard the ring of his phone as they beat him—more like pummeled him. It was a solid smack-down.
I smiled and shook my head at the thought of the two of them scaring the shit right out of him. Owen and Jason were my heroes. We didn’t talk as we made our way down the two flights of stairs, but I knew he was proud of me for sticking up for myself. Jason was in the car with bags of what smelled like hot sandwiches. When the door was closed, Jason spoke first. “How’d it go?”
I fished through the bag, looking for the one with turkey written on it. I wanted to tell him, ‘It went’, but I raised my brows and went with, “How’d what go?” He winked, inducing a blush immediately. “Thanks for the sandwich.” I gave him my sweetest grin, the one I knew made him horny.
“She called me Owen.”
We both turned toward Smith. He had been dressing differently lately. He ditched the sunglasses and was wearing jeans and a t-shirt like Jason. It made him appear younger, but hell if I would ever tell him that. “You kind of look like an Owen,” I told him, and he flashed me a goofy smile. “Someone the kids would beat up in school…you know, momma’s boy Owen?”
His smile dropped, but then a smirk filled his face. “I’m not a momma’s boy.”
I laughed at his weak defense of himself. “Thanks, by the way.” I shifted my eyes between the two of them. “I know we’re not going to talk about this, but know…I know what you did.” I took a bite of my turkey sandwich, loving the soft wheat bread, and glanced back at the men. I had to laugh; they both looked guilty as hell. “I am appreciative he’s still alive…thank you,” I said, and then, because I felt like I was queen bee of the world and went on a limb, I added, “Oh, and I am not happy with you, Owen.”
He raised his eyebrows and I laughed again, because he was nervous of little old me. “Why?” His voice was screechy before he coughed it out.
“Beeeecause…I asked you not to commit homicide.” I smiled as his eyes darted to Jason and then back to me, confirming what I merely guessed. “Did you know?” I flashed a half-smile toward Jason, knowing this was our game. “Saying bee in front of words makes it sound better, like bee-careful, bee-safe, bee-sting.” Jason’s face lit up and he scooped me into his arms, causing the hugest giggle to tear from my lips.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Owen mumbled, but the smile he wore told me he was rather proud of the decisions he made.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Letting Go
Jason
I picked my family up at the airport and got them settled into the beach house. Owen had me pick up his family as well. I would have never guessed Owen was married to a knockout blonde with two of the most beautiful teenaged daughters I’d ever seen. The large limo was filled with giggles and teenage slang. My family fell in love with Owen’s wife, Bridgette. She seemed down-to-earth, natural, and nothing I would have expected a wife of an intimidating man like Owen to be—powerful in authority and dominance. To say I was floored was an understatement; she reminded me of Katarina; only she averted my gaze and wouldn’t allow me to assist her with her luggage. It wasn
’t because she was nervous. She seemed extremely independent and nothing fragile or submissive like. Owen met us at the beach house and his eyes lit when he saw his family. They ran to him, and again, it was not what I was expecting. I think I even heard Owen giggle. I would have to enquire about that later. Right now, he was my new hero.
My family ran around the house, picking rooms and chatting with the help. Katarina even invited my grandparents. The house was filling quickly. Dad talked about the vet practice, telling me he needed me by his side again, and I was happy he held no grudges over my past actions. My sister Jessie threw herself in my arms. Katarina called her and told her about us getting married. She didn’t think someone as important as Jessie should wait to hear. Jessie cried she was so happy, which made me cry a little, but I made Katarina promise not to tell her. When we go home, things were going to be different, and Jessie was at the top of that list.
“Where’s Katie?” Her arms tightened around me when she asked.
“She’s with Brian. They are going over everything for the charity event.” Katarina was nervous about the speech. She rewrote it at least a dozen times. She never read it to me, but I knew from her emotions this was going to be an important talk that provided closure and forgiveness. I think she had a hard time when her grandfather died because she never got to hold his hand and tell him how much she cherished him. I think tonight she’ll forgive herself.
Waiting for everyone to leave at the same time was like herding cats. Owen’s daughters were left to entertain my nephews and niece as two bodyguards watched them. Katarina insisted a nurse sat with Bo at all times. The ladies were all glammed up, which was also because of Katarina. She insisted they got the royal treatment, and they did. Their dresses glittered, their hair and makeup were perfect, and even the men had tuxes waiting for them. Mine was dark blue, my shirt and tie bright white, and the hairdresser styled my hair in waves on the top of my head. It felt weird being pampered, like I needed to go start a fight in a dark alley to remind myself I was a man’s man and not another mans’ man. I also got a manicure and a pedicure, and it was quite relaxing. I did it for Katarina, or that was what I told myself.
Forever Distraction Page 30
