by S. Donahue
“No, I don’t. I only love you.”
“I feeeel like something’s gonna happen. Like you’re gonna go back to her.”
“Joella for the millionth time…I’m not.”
“I don’t mean on your part. I mean she’s not going to give up.
“She can try all she wants. It’s not happening.”
“I know people like her. This girl Maria, she destroyed my cousin Rachel’s marriage. They want what they want,” she says in a drunk, rambling tone.
“Let’s talk about this tomorrow when you’re sober.”
She’s already passed out. I just want to get us home in one piece. I’m trying to concentrate on driving but my mind is on Joella.
Why the hell is Jess all of a sudden popping up into my life? She’s been around here and there over the years, but lately it’s been constant. I don’t understand why she wants to ruin my life. I left her and Don alone for years. I know I would never get back with Jess, but I’m just wondering. Our past goes all the way back to high school. She was the captain of the cheerleading squad and I was captain of the baseball team. A match made in heaven, so I thought. I should have known then that she was a bitch. She treated everyone like shit then and I was too blinded to see it because she didn’t treat me that way. Connor would always say, “Dude, your girlfriend is a bitch.” I would get pissed off and argue with him. He was able to see how she acted because we all went to the same school. My mom loved her too because she never saw the evil side of her either. She made a fool out of me and that is something I will never forget.
I park the cah in an open spot. I’m really hoping once we get married, we can buy a house with lots of space, a garage and a pool. We’ve talked about it, but haven’t made any moves yet.
I pick her up out of the cah and carry her up the steps. I unlock the door and lay her on the sofa. I close the door and lock it.
“We home,” she whispers.
“Yes.”
“I’m taking you to bed.”
She’s so out of it, she doesn’t respond. She’s still breathing, that’s a good sign. I carry her up the steps to our bedroom. I pull the covers back and lay her on the bed. I take off her shirt, skirt and heels. She’s lying here in her tan bra and pantie set. One thing about Joella, everything has to match. I pull the covers over her and go in the bathroom. I splash water on my face. I change out of my clothes. I take my phone out of my pants and check it…17 new text messages. What the fuck? They are all from Jess. Has she lost her damn mind?
Jess the Mess: You’re fiancé is a damn bitch. She’s going down
Jess the Mess: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Please forgive me.
Jess the Mess: Yeah, I did mean it. What she did was wrong!
Jess the Mess: We need to talk. You have to leave her.
Jess the Mess: After seeing you tonight, I realized how strong my feelings are for you.
Jess the Mess: I know you feel the same way.
Jess the Mess: Well, I hope you do.
Jess the Mess: We can be happy, like we once were.
Jess the Mess: Why the fuck are you not responding? Are you fucking that bitch?
Jess the Mess: I wish it was me you were fucking.
Jess the Mess: Dammit Brennie!!! Just call me.
Jess the Mess: Can we meet tomorrow to talk? Shea was saying how you use to cheat on me in high school. Is that true?
Jess the Mess: I know you’re not that kind of person.
Jess the Mess: If it’s fucking true, I’m going to be fucking pissed. You were playing me.
Jess the Mess: You’re a dick.
Jess the Mess: I just want you to love me again.
Jess the Mess: I’ m going to bed…with Shea. I’ll call you tomorrow. Hopefully that makes you jealous.
I need to get a damn restraining order. She is now fucking stalking me. Joella is gonna go off. Do I show her these or delete them? I don’t have anything to hide, but I really don’t feel like arguing with Joella over this mess. I’ll deal with tis tomorrow.
I get in bed and turn Joella on her side. You should never lie on your back when you’re drunk. I fall asleep thinking about everything I have to do tomorrow.
Around 6 A.M. Joella is saying my name. I hear her in my sleep. I wake up. She is crying, but still lying in the bed.
“Babe, I have to throw up, but the room is spinning.”
“Okay, hold on a sec. I’ll get the trash can in the bathroom. I guess you won’t be drinking for a while.”
“I have to call out. I can’t move.”
“Sweetie, I have to go to work today. I have to go down to the businesses and check on everything. I can stay home if you want.”
“No, just make sure I have everything,” she says as she throws up all liquid in the trash can. I hold her hair back and start gagging. The smell is atrocious. She’s heaving over the can. When she’s done she lays back on the pillow. “Yeah I’m staying here all day.”
“Do you remember anything from last night?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t think right now.”
“Ok, just rest.”
I get back in bed to sleep for a few more hours. With Joella planning on staying in bed the whole day, it gives me some time to think about how to bring up the subject of Jess with her. All I know is that it’s not going to be pretty.
Chapter 13
Joella
I wake to a pounding in my head. I have the covers over me, but there is a light on in the room. I have no clue what time it is. I’m sweating and I feel gross. I remove the blanket erratically. I lift my head…ouch it hurts. I force myself to turn toward the light.
“So great of you to join me,” Brendan laughs.
“What time is it?”
“3 P.M.”
“Damn it. I missed work.”
“I talked to Watson. I told him you were under the weather, but apparently Shea got to him first. He told him about your extraordinary singing last night.”
“That piece of shit. What did Watson say?”
“Well you know that he was sarcastic. He said he feels you have other dreams…that being singing. He can give you time off if you need to audition somewhere.”
“He’s a piece of shit too.”
“I told him to shut up as I laughed my ass off internally.”
“Uh I feel sick,” I say as I throw my head back against the pillow.
“Do you remember anything?”
“It’s a fog. I know Jess was there. We had words.”
“No…words is an understatement. You had a rap battle like Eminem in 8 Mile.”
“Mortifying. Why was Jess there with Shea?”
“She sent me a million texts. Apparently, she’s sleeping with him.”
“That’s just nasty. That doesn’t even make sense. I want to see the text messages.”
This woman is going to be a problem. She needs to be dealt with. Why Shea? She can have anyone. He’s good looking, but he’s not a woman’s top choice. Does she think Brendan will be pissed? I’m reading the texts now. Clearly she does. How dare she tell him not to marry me! I’m not going to make a big deal out of this. It’s not like he asked her to text him.
“Why aren’t you at work?”
“I wanted to be here with you.”
“Aww babe, I love you. You’re cute when you’re nice.”
“I love you too, but you look like shit. Why don’t you shower and take the pain reliever that I left on the nightstand. Oh, and rookie boy has been calling you all day.”
“I better call him back.”
“Shower first.”
I take a long hot shower. It feels great. I need it. It’s been a long week. I need to start putting some of these pieces of the investigation together. I wonder what Wilson wants. Hopefully he found out something crucial. He has been doing background work for me. I think he is doing great. He will make a great detective.
I dry off and go back into the bedroom. Brendan is on the phone with Billy. I
t sounds like there is an issue with the kitchen. Billy is the manager of my restaurant. I know it sounds crazy after everything that we went through with him, but he has changed. He went through the rehab program and Brendan’s Aunt Carol asked us to forgive him. He is family after all. Believe me, I will never forget. I guess if he wasn’t an asshole to begin with, me and Brendan would have never met.
Brendan hangs up the phone. He starts bitching about the kitchen staff and how he has to hire new chefs. I guess it should really be my issue since it’s my restaurant, but I warned Brendan that I couldn’t be dedicated to it.
“I have to call Wilson. I’m going to my office.”
“Why can’t you call from here?” He asks pouting like a little boy.
“Are we going through this again?” I question with an angry expression on my face.
“Well why is he calling 30 times?”
“I don’t know. Why does Jess call you 30 times?”
“So he does want to fuck you!”
“Uh, I can’t win with you. I’ll be in my office calling my boy toy.” I smirk as I get up off the bed.
“Joella?”
“Yes?” I turn toward him.
“I love you.” He kisses my cheek.
I turn and head toward the 3rd floor. I dial Wilson on my cell. He answers on the first ring.
“Where have you been? I have been calling.”
“So, I’ve heard. I was sleeping. I guess I was plastered last night.”
“Great, while I work my ass off,” He jokes.
“Whatever. What’s going on?”
“I found something out last night while I was digging through backgrounds.”
“Really? What?”
“Shea and Mason Griffin are cousins.”
“Get the hell out of here. Must be nice to have a cousin on the police force.”
“Yep…there’s more. Mason was arrested eight years ago in Delaware for drug possession. Arrested in Florida six years ago for drug possession.”
“He gets around.”
“He started working for O’Malley five years ago. Nothing shows on his arrest record in Boston. It was wiped clean.”
“How did you get the information?”
“I called favors into other police departments based on his previous living arrangements. He was born in Delaware. His parents still live there. He owns a condo in Florida. He purchased it years ago when he went to college down there. He has a degree in Finance.”
“It’s not enough to pin him as a killer. Did you get the swipe records from the Casino?
“Yes.”
“Only O’Malley and two other employees swiped until seven-thirty when all the rest of the employees started coming in.”
“I’m thinking whoever did it, knew him and came in with him. There’s no other way for them to get in unless one of the other two people let the killer in. Who were the other two people?”
“Mr. Lawrence Peters, the guy who found him and Miss Natalie Chestnut.”
“Fuck! Well we can’t interview her.” I’m just being sarcastic because I’m annoyed right now. I’m stuck in a corner.
“Whoever did it, we now know why they killed her. She must have witnessed the murder. She knew too much.”
“If it was Mrs. O’Malley, would she have known Miss Chestnut well enough to call her personally to let her in? We need to see if there’s a connection there. We need to look into Miss Chestnut’s background.”
“I’m on it. See we work well together.”
“We do. Call me when you find something. Thanks, Wilson.”
“No Problem. Anything for you.”
Okay, that was weird. I left my office and went back to the bedroom. “Can we order a pizza?”
“Yeah you read my mind,” Brendan says smiling and patting the bed for me to sit next to him.
“I want a spinacchio. It’s spinach, American cheese and tomato.”
“That’s sounds really good. I’ll order it.” I’m sitting here staring at his muscles as he reaches for his phone. My fiancé is so damn hot. I want to jump his bones right now. While he’s calling for the pizza, my phone beeps with a text from Wilson. It says to call him ASAP. Brendan finishes ordering the pizza.
“Babe, I have to call Wilson back.”
He rolls his eyes.
“It’s important.”
“It always is.”
I leave the room. I’m not going there with him. He has no clue about the importance of this. I call Wilson right back.
“What’s going on?”
“You ready for this?”
“Hit me.”
“She had a couple side jobs.”
“Oh Lord, I’m scared now.”
“She was a stripper at night, receptionist by day. She worked at Spanker’s Gentleman club. Doesn’t Mrs. O’Malley have a thing for strip clubs, according to Connor’s interview?”
“Yes- Yes she does. He clearly stated that Mrs. O’Malley was a hoe. I think we need to go down to Spankers and ask the owner some questions.”
“I’m ready when you are.”
“Yeah, let me call you back. Better yet, I’ll text you the details.”
I blew out a breath. Why do I feel like I have to lie? Brendan is making me crazy with this rookie shit. I already know this is going to be a battle when I tell him I’m going out.
When I enter the room again, Brendan is shirtless lying on the bed. He hears the door open and looks up.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him. He looks like he is far away in thought.
“Nothing!” Why is he getting an attitude? Really? I can’t deal with him when he acts like this. Lately, he’s been so snappy.
“Okay fine. I have to go out. I may have some kind of lead, but I have to look into it.”
“Where are you going?”
“To Spankers Gentleman Club.”
“What for?”
“Miss Chestnut worked there. I need to ask questions.”
“Who are you going with?”
“I won’t be by myself if that’s what you’re worried about. Wilson will be with me.” I feel horrible to even say the “W” word like it’s a curse or something.
“You know what, go right ahead.” He yells.
“Brendan it’s my job!” I yell back.
“It’s my job to keep you safe. Do what you got to do and I’ll do what I have to.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing. I’ll see you when you get back. I’m going out.”
Okay, I guess that ended the conversation. Hot head left the room and slammed the door. This is all getting to be too much. He’s hot one minute and cold the next. We need some kind of happy medium. Does he think I’m going to get it on in the cop car with Wilson? I’m not gonna answer that. This is Brendan we are talking about. He would definitely do something like that.
Chapter 14
Brendan
I throw on my shirt and leave the house. I jump in my black Lexus and take off. I am fuming right now. I stay home to take care of her and first chance she gets, she runs off with the rookie. I understand it’s about work, but how about she takes her fiancé into consideration. Ya know the one who puts her before everyone else. Yes, I’m upset about this Wilson guy, but I’m also upset that she continuously puts her life in danger. No one’s looking out for her back at all. I can’t depend on an inexperienced cop to do it and the police station sucks. I need to take matters into my own hands. I pull out my cell and make a call.
“Cam, what’s good?”
“Nothing man, what’s going on?”
“Listen, are you busy?”
“No, I’m not.” Cameron always makes himself available for me. I pay him very well, plus he’s very dedicated to getting the job done.
“I need you for a while, but it’s discreet. Joella can’t know about this. She will freak out. She’s working on a case. It’s dangerous. I’m worried out of my mind when she leaves the house. I need you to watch out for her, but n
ot get caught. She has a rookie cop, Chase Wilson, he has been working with her. Can you look into him too?”
“Will do. You know she hates me right.”
“She does not. She loves everyone,” I say sarcastically. “You just piss her off because she can’t control you and you don’t take her shit. Plus, I’m the one she’s gonna come after if she finds out.”
“Where’s she at now?”
“Spankers Gentleman Club.”
“Ooh the perks of working for you. Should I stop at the bank before I go?”
“Shut up. Cam, she’s my world. Make sure she’s okay. I trust you.”
“I know you do. I won’t let you down.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”
I hope she understands that I am doing this for us. I turned my back on her for a few minutes before and she was shot. I’m not going to let that happen again. I’ve been contemplating getting a tracker put in our phones for safety reasons. After her comment last night, I’m a little concerned. She thinks people may want to harm us.
I don’t want anything to do with this casino. I want to back out. I had already signed some papers prior to the incident with O’Malley. Now with his demise, everything’s on hold because Mrs. O’Malley has to make decisions. In her mind, she probably thinks I want to take this casino away from her. Remind me never to listen to Connor again.
When Joella came into the room, I was thinking about how much I miss us. Between this case and our jealousies of Wilson and Jessica, there is so much in our way anymore. We really need to go to New Jersey tomorrow night, but it’s not looking good. We need this time together.
I’m on my way to see Billy about the kitchen staff. Maybe a visit from me will put it into perspective for them.
When I walk into the restaurant wearing Nike basketball shorts, running sneakers, a black sleeveless shirt and a black fitted Nike hat they all look taken aback. I have never been to the restaurant in anything other than a suit. Billy’s at the front desk. He’s eyeing me up and down with a smirk on his face. I’m glad he’s amused.
“Damn cuz, when I said come right over, I didn’t mean come from the gym.”
“I’m not in the mood right now.”
“Well you’re in a perfect mood to deal with the damn staff. I had enough and I’m about to go back there and start yelling at them.”
