Chasing Bad Boys 2_A Bad Boy Romance Series

by Kylie Parker

  “Yeah. Hold on, I’ll go get the old man. This shit should be good.” He walks off laughing like he just cannot wait to see what is about to happen.

  Éclair stands close to me, her arms crossed in front of her. I can’t tell is she is scared of our current predicament or if she is just analyzing the room. Probably the second of the two. It takes a lot to scare her. After a minute or two this man comes walking out of a back room. Much like the others, he is dressed in full biker gear. His head is shaved, and he’s got a damn swastika tattoo on the side of his head like a jackass. In the face, though, I can tell that this guy is Eddie’s father.

  “Holy shit,” Éclair whispers to me, “Your mama fucked that guy.”

  “I will fucking kill you.” I warn her.

  “Ricardo Smith?” I ask once he is standing toe to toe with me.

  The guy nods and waves his hand, “Come on. I’m sure you’re here to talk about Eddie. Better to do that without a bunch of prying ears.” He heads back into the back room where he had come from, so Éclair and I follow.

  We enter into a den setting where a worn out couch, a single beanbag chair, a couple of wooden stools, and a television make up pretty much the entire room. Tommy is seated on the bean bag, and he pops open a cooler when Éclair and I sit down. “You two want a beer?” he asks, and we both politely decline.

  Ricardo grabs one of the wooden chairs and pulls up a seat, not saying a word until Tommy tosses him a beer. “So?” he questions once we are all settled, “What do you want?”

  “I came here to tell you about what happened to Eddie.” I begin.

  “Fuck, kid, I know what’s going on with Eddie. It’s all over the damn news.” Ricardo takes a swig of his beer. He waves a finger at Éclair, “Who’s this bitch? And what’s wrong with her fucking eyes?”

  “I have Alexander Genesis… it makes them purple, asshole. My name is Éclair.” Éclair answers for me, her voice cold and clearly agitated.

  “Like the supplement woman?” he asks, and Éclair nods.

  “Hold on,” I say, drawing his attention back towards me. “You know what’s going on with Eddie?”

  “Last I tuned in he was on life support or something.” Ricardo says.

  I notice that Tommy has put his beer down. The guy sits upright, “What happened?” Tommy asks, “I didn’t know he was in the hospital?”

  Ricardo doesn’t give me a chance to answer Tommy. He looks at me and asks, “Did you come here to tell me he’s dead before I hear it on the news?” He takes another swig of his beer, “Did he leave his old man anything?”

  I bite my tongue, but Éclair does no such thing. “Fuck you. You’re a real piece of work. No, he’s not dead, you asshole. He’s on life support. We came here because we thought you would want to go see him.”

  “He’s in a comma. I don’t see the point.” He says and pulls out a thing of cigarettes and begins searching his pockets for his lighter.

  “The point is that you’re his father.” Éclair hisses. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  Ricardo looks dead at me, “Why don’t you tame your little skank before I got to do it for you?”

  “Excuse me?” Éclair stands up, and I grab her wrist. I shoot her a look that tells her to keep her mouth shut as I stand up.

  “We’ll be leaving.” I say, “Sorry to have wasted your time.”

  “Sorry to have wasted yours.” He grumbles. Suddenly this grin appears on his face, “How’s your mama doing, by the way?”

  I frown. “She’s dead.”

  “Damn. What the hell happened?” he asks.

  “Heart attack. She died about five years ago,” I say.

  “Too bad.” He says, “I thought maybe with your daddy gone she’d want to hook up again like in the good old days.”

  Yup. That’ll do it. “Fuck you, man!” I snap.

  He laughs and stands up, “What’s wrong? Did I strike a nerve with you? Don’t like thinking of your mama as a cheating slut?”

  “Dad, what the hell?” Tommy rises from his seat, and he reaches out and grabs Ricardo by the arm, pulling him back. “You’re getting to old for this shit.” Tommy says, “Stop trying to start a fight.”

  Ricardo yanks his arm away and then looks at me. “You come here acting all noble.” He points a finger at me, “You come here judging me. I can see it in your eyes. That kid, Eddie, he had a better life because I didn’t stick around. It was better this way.” He laughs and then looks at Éclair and then back at me, “And you know what I think? I think that bitch knows something. Makes sense. I’ve followed the story in the news, and I’m surprised no one else is talking about it with the way your companies compete. She’s probably the one who poisoned your shit, Mont. And I bet Eddie caught onto it.”

  “Fuck you!” Éclair snaps.

  “You better shut your mouth, you old piece of shit,” I warn and the guy reaches out and shoves me back. I keep my balance, and I just frown at him. His push had been so weak. I look at him. He’s really old. I mean, really old. He looks like he is probably ten years older than my own parents would be. I’m not about to pick a fight with him. I just shake my head. “You know what, Ricardo? You really missed out. Not just with Eddie, but with all of your kids. Kate, Max, Nick… and you have some pretty amazing grandkids too. You’re right. It’s better this way. A lot better.” I grab Éclair’s wrist and pull her out of the back room, and we get out of the house as quickly as we can.

  We get into the car as soon as my driver pulls up, and we head back towards home. I thank Éclair for coming with me, and she assures me that Eddie is better off without a creep like Ricardo coming up to the hospital anyways. We say our goodbyes, and my driver takes me home. I wish I had never gone to meet that son of a bitch. Not just because of what he said about Eddie or about my mother but also because of what he said about Éclair. Éclair is my friend –would she have poisoned by supplements just to get ahead? Would she have hurt Eddie? I got to sleep, and my dreams are plagued with nightmares.

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  I really needed this mental break. Sylvia brought a movie over and made me dinner –some honey mustard based chicken casserole dish with mushrooms and cheese. It sounds like a weird combination, but it’s actually pretty good. The two of us sit in front of the television watching an old, cheesy romantic comedy. She can tell I’m distracted. We don’t make it very far into the movie before she pauses it and looks at me with these pleading eyes. “All right, I’ll bite. What’s wrong?”

  Geeze, I can’t hide anything from her. I lay my plate of food down on the coffee table and slump down into the couch. I wind up telling her all about going to meet Eddie’s father and what a disappointment it had been. “I guess I just thought he would care more,” I say.

  “There is nothing you can do about it,” Sylvia says, “some people are just jackasses like it’s their damn birthright. I’m sure Eddie, if he knew you had gone looking for him, would appreciate the gesture and probably would have understood. I’m sure he knows that guy is a tool.”

  “It just doesn’t seem fair,” I say. “Eddie had two fathers, and neither of them gave or give a shit about him. My dad raised him, sure, but that stupid will of his was a jackass move, and it really fucked Eddie up. Then he finds out he has another father out there… he went searching for him, and he winds up with a man like Ricardo Smith. It just isn’t right that Eddie had to put up with all of that bullshit.”

  “I know.” Sylvia touches my hand. “Eddie has you, though.”

  “Yeah, but I’m not much better,” I say.

  She shakes her head. “You have gone to that hospital and sat with him and read to him or talked to him every day since he was hurt. You are making sure his younger brother, Nick, gets help. You’re getting to know his siblings. You went looking for his father for him. It sounds to me like Eddie has a pretty damn good younger brother if you ask me. A little rough around the edges” –She pats the top of my head and stifles a laugh – “but you’
re like a diamond in the rut, you know?”

  I chuckle slightly under my breath and lean over to kiss her forehead. “There is something else bothering me,” I admit.

  “What is it?” she asks and plays with the hair on the back of my neck. It’s weird how calming that is.

  “Eddie’s father thinks Éclair is the one behind the sabotage at the company… and he thinks she could have hired someone to hurt Eddie. And I sort of have been thinking that too. I don’t know… she’s my friend… I just am not sure what to think… what do you think?” I look her dead in the eye.

  She is quiet for a moment as she contemplates the accusation. She shakes her head. “There is no way. Éclair owns a multi-billion dollar company. It’s successful. Sure, she might would do a few less-than-ethical business transaction, I might not put hat past her –or past you for that matter –but I don’t think she would risk putting her company in jeopardy like that. The way you talk about her, it sounds like she really loves her job. I don’t think she would take such a huge gamble by sabotaging you or by hiring some sort of hitman.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m glad to hear Sylvia say that. I needed someone else to tell me that Éclair wouldn’t do it. “Good,” I say.

  “Plus,” Sylvia adds, “It sounds like you two are pretty close friends.”

  We wind up putting the movie back on and curling up together on the couch. I’m glad Sylvia thinks Éclair is innocent, but truthfully I am still worried.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  I have been sitting at the hospital for three hours hoping and praying that Eddie would wake up like he did last week. His breathing has gotten better and they have taken the tube out of his throat. They still have small oxygen tubes in his nostrils, though. This morning doctor told me that Eddie is proving to me a miracle case. He’s not on life support anymore, but he’s still hooked up to God-knows how many different machines doing God-knows what for him. Not to mention the shit ton of morphine they have pumping into his veins.

  I sigh and start packing up my small bag of goodies I had brought in expectation for a long visit: a couple of magazines, books, and snacks. After packing everything back up, I sit back down in the chair next to his bed for a little while longer to tell him goodbye and that I will be back to see him first thing in the morning. As I am saying this his fingers move slightly. I look up at his face, and I can see him squinting at me. The swelling around his eyes has calmed down significantly, but most of his face still has colorful shading from the bruising. “You leaving now?” he asks, his voice hoarse and scratchy after having that tube down his throat for several weeks now.

  My stomach starts doing flips. It’s the first time I’ve heard his voice in weeks. “Eddie…” I manage to say his name, but I’m honestly at a loss for words. At the risk of him being able to pick at me for the rest of our lives about it, my eyes start to water.

  He looks tired, but he still manages to grin at me –showing off his newly crooked smile due to some missing teeth. “I feel like I got hit by a truck,” he says.

  “You look like it,” I say and wipe my face dry. “You’ve been under for a while, man. You woke up for just a few minutes just a few days ago… do you remember?”

  “Not really,” he says and lets out a soft groan.

  “I’m sorry.” I spit out quickly. “God, Eddie, I’m so sorry.”

  “Sorry?” he questions, “For what?”

  “For being such an ass,” I say. “Man, I treat you like shit. And I’m sorry. We got into that huge fight right before all of this happened, and I just want to say I’m sorry.”

  “We got into a fight?” he asks. “James, I don’t even remember. I’m sorry if I did anything.”

  “No, you’re not the jackass,” I say. I smile at him. “I’m so glad you’re awake.”

  “Don’t get used to it,” he says groggily.

  “Eddie, who did this to you?” I ask.

  He stares at me for a minute. He appears to be concentrating. “I don’t remember,” He says, “I don’t remember what even happened. Did someone break into my house or something?”

  “Geeze Eddie, no. I found you at the factory like this,” I say.

  “Damn,” Eddie says and raises a shaky hand, touching his head.

  “Careful,” I say, “You’ve got a cracked skull.”

  “Is there anything on me that’s not broken?” he questions. Then he lifts up his sheets and takes a peek down south, subtly saying, “Just checking,” under his breath.

  I laugh. “You’re such a dumbass.”

  “Fuck, man, I can’t feel shit.” He says. Then I see a slight panic in his eyes. “I can’t feel my legs…”

  I frown. As far as I know, he did not have a fractured spine. “You’re okay,” I say and place a hand on his shoulder. “It’s just all the pain meds you’re on.”

  He puts a hand to his chest, “I’m short of breath. It kind of hurts to breathe.”

  “They removed a lung, man,” I say, and he looks really freaked out by this.

  “A lung? Can they do that?” he questions.

  “I guess so,” I say. He looks like he’s going to start hyperventilating. I gently squeeze his shoulder. “Listen,” I say, “You’re going to be fine.”

  “What else is broken on me?” he asks.

  “Two broken arms-” I begin, and he cuts me off.

  He holds up his arms, both of which are in casts, “Geeze, really?”

  I roll my eyes. “Don’t be a smartass.” I say that, but truthfully I’m glad to see he feels up to joking around. “You have a fractured skull, broken neck, a broken leg, and you had a collapsed lung… now you’re just missing one, I guess.”

  I don’t think he heard much of what I just said. He is drifting in and out of sleep. He perks up suddenly. “I think… I think I heard my sister in here…”

  “Kate?” I smile, “Yeah. She brought her kids up here one day.”

  He looks embarrassed. “So you two have met now?”

  I nod. “I went and had lunch with her one day too. Her son, Bobby, told me about you getting him into motocross. He’s a tough kid.”

  “That must have been awkward for you,” Eddie says, and I shake my head.

  “No. I like Kate.” I smile. “And I’ve met Max too.” Eddie’s face turns red. I just smile big at him. “He’s a good guy, Eddie. And you learned sign for him, didn’t you?”

  “I couldn’t understand him,” Eddie embarrassingly admits. “Those are the only ones you’ve met, right?”

  “Not exactly.” I say. “I had your phone on me when Nick called. He had overdosed at your summer home, but don’t worry, he’s fine. I got him in rehab and I have been talking to child services. We thought we had lost you, man, so I’ve been working on getting Nick to come live with me.”

  Eddie has tears in his eyes. “You were going to do that? He’s not your brother, James.”

  “But he’s yours,” I say. I then add, “Although, since you’re starting to look better, I’m sure Nick would much rather come stay with you once you’re up on your feet again.”

  “James…” Eddie looks at me with these serious eyes. “Kate, Max, and Nick… there the only ones you met, right?”

  “Well-”

  “Who?” he snaps.

  “I went to see your dad,” I say, and he looks really pissed. “I met him and your brother Tommy briefly.”

  “Why the fuck would you do that?” He asks.

  “Eddie, listen…” I can hardly bring myself to say it, but I do, “they were telling me that you were dying. They were talking to me about taking you off life support and just letting you die until you stirred a while back. I just wanted to make sure he knew what was going on.”

  “I’m sure he was worried,” Eddie says in this bitter tone that just screams sarcasm.

  “He’s been following the story on the news,” I say, “I guess that’s his own way of showing he cares. I’m sorry about him, Eddie. He was a real tool. I know it’s
none of my business, but what’s the deal with Tommy? It’s just… well, it seems like Tommy knows him better than the rest of you. Like he stuck around for Tommy or something.”

  “Trust me,” Eddie says with his teeth gritted, “That just makes Tommy the unfortunate one. Stay away from them.”

  “All right, all right,” I say and put my hand back on his shoulder. “I’m just glad you’re awake.” I lower my hand. Eddie’s eyes look like they’re getting heavy. “You don’t have to stay up for me, Eddie,” I say, and just like that he drifts off to sleep.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  My phone goes off for what I believe is the ninth time since noon today. It’s Éclair, again. I send her to voicemail just as I have been doing all day. I am just not sure how to feel about Éclair right now. I have always thought of her as a friend –not just some business rival. And we have been sleeping together for God knows how long. Then Sylvia gets thrown into the mix, and I’m thinking about being in an actual relationship for the first time in my life –so Éclair complicates things there. Then there is the whole Ricardo Smith accusing her of trying to kill Eddie thing. A part of me even believe it. It’s a lot to try to piece together in my head. Is Éclair even capable of something so malice? I don’t want to think so, but it sure does look that way.

  I’m sitting at home after a long day running around at the office, contemplating on whether or not to go back to the hospital to visit Eddie again. I had been there all morning before going into the office, and I had driven across town to visit him during my lunch break. I’m glad that he had been awake during my lunch break again. He looked so exhausted, and he had been drifting in and out of sleep the whole time –but he was awake, so that’s good. I’ll probably bring Sylvia to the hospital with me soon so that she can official meet him.

  Once again, my phone starts going off. It’s Éclair again. I send her to voicemail. She’s probably going to get really pissed at me. I start to fix myself something to eat from my kitchen when there is a sudden knock on my door. I assume it’s Sylvia –no one else really ever pops in for unannounced visits. I go to answer the door, but I hesitate. Instead of just flinging it open, I check the peep hole. It’s Éclair. Geeze –she won’t get a clue! I don’t’ answer it. I pretend I’m not home. She stands outside the door for what feels like an eternity knocking. I just can’t talk to her right now –not when I’m trying to decide whether or not I believe Ricardo’s accusation.