“It’s not something I like to talk about.”
Fiona eyes me and the suture kit on the table. “Why are you helping her? Why did she come to you?”
“We were both at Bodhi’s bonfire last night, and she saw me walk home. I’m helping her because it’s not in my nature to turn away someone who’s hurt.”
Fiona’s hand goes to her hip. “Me either, but when it’s your boyfriend’s ex who’s done nothing but cause trouble for you both, I think it’s warranted.”
“She’s pregnant, hooked on drugs, and needs a mental health professional. It’s what we do, Fiona. We’re nurses regardless of our feelings for the patient.”
Fiona drops her hand from her hip and begins to pace the small room. She stops in front of my bedroom door seeing Bikini’s paw under the door and looks to me with her eyebrows raised.
“You can let her out, I’m done stitching Kelly’s wound.”
“Stitching? What did that asshole do to you?” she asks as she reaches for the doorknob. When she opens it, a blur of fluff bolts from the room to hide behind the couch.
“He’s angry because she refuses to continue endangering her unborn baby with drugs. She wants to clean up, and he doesn’t want to lose his hold on her,” I say purposely leaving out the part about Lennon’s involvement. Fiona is a hot head, and if she knew Kelly had anything to do with his head injury, she’d flip.
“Why not just go to the hospital or the police?” Fiona asks.
“He would look for me at the hospital, and if I go to the police, he has friends who could hurt me.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Turning BJ into the police could open up more than one can of worms for Kelly. Still, she can’t let him get away with assaulting her.
“Where is he now?” Fiona asks.
“At a biker bar across town. I walked out after he got rough with me and caught an uber a few blocks away.”
“Is he drunk or high?” I ask.
“Yeah, both.”
“Are you?”
“No way. I haven’t had a drink since I found out I was pregnant.”
I notice that she only mentions the drinking. “What about drugs?” I ask, and she looks away, her eyes filling with tears.
“I keep trying to quit, but every time I get so sick, all I can think about is scoring so the pain will stop.” She covers her mouth with her hand and sobs.
“Heroine?” I ask knowing the horrible side effects of such a drug on a person and her unborn child. She nods, and Fiona moans, dropping her head back to stare at the ceiling.
“She’s gonna need a methadone clinic and rehab. I know somebody, let me make a call,” Fiona says, taking her phone from the back pocket of her jean shorts. She dials and walks away murmuring indistinctly into the phone.
“You probably think I’m trash,” Kelly says, looking out my patio doors where the ocean is rough and crashing onto the shore in the darkness. I usually love nights like this when I can hear the rhythm of the waves as I go to sleep. I wish I were in bed right now instead of dealing with this mess.
“I don’t actually. I’m a recovering addict myself. I’m over ten years clean. If I can do it, so can you.”
Her head snaps to attention. “You? No way. You’re so put together, all perfectly British and exotically gorgeous.”
Wow, I’ve never once thought of myself that way. It’s odd to hear someone else’s opinion of me, especially since her opinion is so far from the truth.
“I’m far from perfectly anything. I struggled for years until my parents sent me to treatment. It’s been a long haul, but I did it, and you have double the reason to get clean,” I say looking at her still flat tummy. “How far along are you again?”
“Only eight weeks.”
Well, that explains the flat belly. She’ll start showing soon if she decides to keep the baby, that is. I wonder if she’s even thought about all of her options.
“Kelly, I don’t mean to be insensitive, but have you sorted through all of your options? You know, because of the drug use during early pregnancy?”
Kelly’s look is straight confusion making me wonder if she doesn’t know that drug use early in a pregnancy can seriously affect the baby. Fiona returns to the room, interrupting the conversation.
“I got her into a program. She can go tonight. It’s not cheap, but I know Lennon will want to cover it, especially if this is his kid,” she says.
“And if it’s not?” I ask.
She shrugs. “He’s going to remember her eventually, and I suspect he will want what’s best for her either way. They have a history whether I like it or not, and he’s always looked after her.”
Fiona sounds annoyed, but I find this information interesting if not disturbing. How deep do Lennon’s feelings go for this woman? What happens when he remembers her?
“Will she be safe there?” I ask.
“It’s a locked facility, and the program lasts a couple of months. It’s in Seattle. I’m pretty sure you’ll be safe,” Fiona says.
“I’m surprised you could get her in so quickly.” I happen to know most reputable drug rehabilitation centers have long wait lists.
“I know people who know people, and Lennon has a fair amount of clout.”
I turn to Kelly. “Are you willing to go into treatment?”
Her eyes brighten, and she nods. “Yeah, I’ll do whatever it takes as long as I’m safe from BJ and his crew.”
“Good, why don’t you stay here with me tonight, and we can get you a flight tomorrow?” I say.
“Or you could put her on a plane tonight,” Fiona says. “It’s best to get her outta here asap. BJ’s gonna be looking for her as soon as he sobers up.”
“BJ’s going to be in jail when I call the police.”
“No, please, I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t call the police. It’ll be better if I just disappear.”
“What about when you come back? And what if it’s his baby? You’re going to have to deal with him eventually, and if you have a documented history of abuse, you can get a restraining order and use that against him if, God forbid, he fights you for custody,” I say. She’s not thinking long term, something most people in a manic state can’t do.
Kelly starts to cry again. “Listen, how about we go to the police station on the way to the airport and report the attack, let them take photographs of your injuries and then get you out of town?” I say, and Fiona nods in approval.
Kelly sniffles and nods her head in agreement. “Good, do you want to pack anything to take with you? We could run by your place on the way,” I ask.
“No, I don’t want to go home. That’s the first place he will look for me, and he has a key. He’s been staying with me for a while.”
I sigh and wonder how much damage he’s going to do to her place when he finds out she’s gone. “We will have to tell the police he has access to your place. Maybe they can pick him up there when he comes home tonight. I’ll grab something of mine for you to wear on the plane after the police station. Fiona, can you book her a flight while we drive?”
“Yeah, sure.”
I grab a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and some tennis shoes from my closet, and the three of us start out for the police station. Later, when we have set her on her way to Seattle, Fiona and I stop for coffee.
The barista hands me my cup, and we find a table. “What if she doesn’t go to the treatment facility when she gets to Seattle?” I ask.
“Oh, she’ll go. I told them to have someone at the gate when she gets off the plane.”
I nod and sip my coffee. “I think she’ll go. She seems to want to do the right thing.”
Fiona snorts. “Yeah, now that someone’s beating her ass, and she’s knocked up.”
“She’s mentally ill, Fiona.”
“So she says.”
“You don’t believe her?”
“I don’t know. I want to because that would explain why she’s been so nuts the past year, but Lennon never said anything about her being
bipolar.”
“And you think he would tell you something that personal about his girlfriend?”
“We’re pretty close. If he knew, I think he would have told me.”
“Maybe he never knew. People can live a normal life when they take their medication.”
“I guess. Do you think the baby is Lennon’s?”
“For my sake and Lennon’s, I hope not.”
“But?”
“But it would be pretty terrible for Kelly if it’s BJ’s baby. At least if it were Lennon’s, it would have a chance at a good life.”
Fiona frowns and looks at me like I’ve lost my marbles. “What?”
“You’re too much, you know that?”
“Why, because I care about people?”
“Because you care about certain people. Dude, I would have walked past her on my front porch and locked the door.”
“I don’t think that’s true. You act tough, but you’ve got a soft heart, Fiona.”
“Do not,” she says with fake defiance and a sheepish grin.
“You wouldn’t have gotten her into that treatment facility if you didn’t.”
“I was just trying to get her outta your hair.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“I do.”
We sit in silence for a while watching the sunrise through the window of the coffee shop. It’s a gorgeous morning even if I am dog-tired.
“Are you gonna tell Lennon what happened?” she asks.
“Yes. He deserves to know.”
“Do you think she’ll have a paternity test done right away?”
“I don’t know. She should, it’s only fair that he knows if it’s his or not.”
“Can I tell you something, Trinity?”
I give her a side look. “Do I want to know what you’re going to tell me?”
“Probably not.”
I blow out an exasperated breath. “Okay, out with it.”
“Lennon has never wanted kids, but if this is his, he will absolutely do right by it.”
“He told me he didn’t want children. I don’t either. If this is his baby, I would expect nothing less than his complete dedication to it, though, and that’s okay with me.”
She nods her approval. “Good, because I heard her say she’s eight weeks along, and I think she’s only been seeing BJ for a month.”
A wave of anxiety flows through my chest and down into my belly. It’s one thing to wonder if it’s his child or not, but knowing that it’s probably his is a hard pill to swallow.
“I could be wrong, though. She could have been seeing him secretly or something, but Bodhi says he’s only seen them around together for a month.”
“I thought Bodhi and BJ weren’t friends.”
“They aren’t, but Bodhi knows a lot of people, and he says that group is bad news. He didn’t like that they showed up at his bonfire the other night, but they didn’t cause any trouble, so he let it be.”
“Are they a gang or something? Kelly mentioned they were at a biker bar, maybe they’re part of a club?”
“Not a motorcycle club, no. They’re just a group of bullies who take advantage of anyone they come in contact with. They run drugs, prostitute women, and rob people, and that’s just what I know of. They could be involved in something darker, I dunno.”
“I’m glad Kelly got out when she did, then.”
“If she’s out.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some groups like that are patient. They could wait till she’s out of treatment and go after her again.”
“Maybe she should relocate.”
“If it’s not Lennon’s baby, yeah, that would be for the best. BJ could cause her some serious trouble if he wanted to. It depends on how attached he is to her, I guess.”
A shiver runs up my spine. That could have been me years ago if my parents hadn’t been so involved in my care. I could have ended up homeless on the streets of London. I would never have moved to the U.S., and I wouldn’t be a nurse, but most of all, I never would have met Lennon, and I can’t imagine a life without him in it.
19
Lennon
It’s noon before I start to worry about Trinity. She said she would be back this morning. I don’t want to overreact and call her, but she’s not one to stray from her plans.
There’s a knock at my bedroom door. It must be her. “Come in,” I call out.
Callahan enters dressed casually in dark jeans and a cobalt blue golf shirt. “You golf once a week, don’t you?” I ask remembering information the way most things are coming to me lately, in flashes and pieces.
“Yes, sir, I do. Are you finished with your breakfast tray?” he asks, nodding his head at the tray that’s long gone cold.
“Yes, thank you. Have you seen Trinity yet today?”
“Yes, sir, she’s sleeping in the guest room, and Miss Fiona is sleeping in another.”
“Fiona? Why is she here? And why are they sleeping at noon?”
“They said they would speak to you when they wake up. Apparently, they had a late night dealing with something.”
“Dealing with what?”
“That I don’t know, you’ll have to ask them. They arrived around five this morning and went straight to bed.”
“Why didn’t you tell me when you brought my breakfast?”
“To be honest, sir, they looked exhausted, and I believed you would wake them prematurely. I hope I didn’t overstep my bounds.”
He knows me too well. “No, no, it’s fine. You’re probably right, I would have woken them up.”
“I imagine they will be awake soon. Do you need anything before I leave for the golf course?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you, Callahan. Have a good game.” I’ve never been one for golf, but Callahan was part of the team who designed the golf course he plays on when he was younger. He has a lifetime membership at the country club as a result.
“I shall do my best,” he says with a smile and a nod as he exits the room with my tray.
I’m tired of sitting in this bed today. I want to go downstairs to my office and catch up on some work. Since I started remembering things, work things in particular, I’ve been feeling anxious about how far I’ve fallen behind.
Grabbing the crutches, I contemplate looking in on Trinity. I don’t want to wake her if she was awake all night, but my curiosity is in overdrive wondering what those two were doing.
I decide not to until I’m outside her door. I can’t help myself. I open the door a crack and find her looking like the angel that she is, curled up with a cat in the middle of the bed with only a throw covering her. She didn’t even get under the duvet. The cat looks up at me for a moment and, uninterested, it rests its head back down on Trinity’s arm. Damn cat is where I’d like to be, curled up next to Trinity’s warm, soft body.
“Peeping Tom,” Fiona’s voice comes from behind me. I close the door and turn around.
“She’s sleeping in my house. I’d hardly call it peeping. I was checking on her.”
She blinks and rubs the sleep from her eyes. Her hair is an inky mess of spikes sticking this way and that, and what’s left of her makeup is smeared across her face.
“Whatever.”
“What were you two out doing all night? I thought she was going home to feed her cat. What did you do, drag her to an all-night club?”
She stands up straight, and her hands go to her hips. “No, I didn’t drag her anywhere. She called me for help. Man, you sure can be judgy, you know that?”
“I apologize. What kind of help?”
“I think she will want to fill you in on that herself.”
“Fiona, she could sleep all afternoon.”
“Yep, she sure could. Guess you’ll have to wait.”
She’s irritated that I assumed she was to blame for Trinity’s late night. Now she’s going to make me pay by keeping the details to herself.
“Fine. I’m going down to my office to work. Are you stayi
ng?”
“Yep, I wanna be here when she tells you what went on last night.” She smiles a self-satisfied smile and meanders down the hall to the stairs.
I awkwardly make my way to the elevator with my crutches. I push the down button and wait.
“Lennon.” Trinity’s voice comes from down the hall. She’s standing right outside her door in rumpled clothes and tousled hair. She looks absolutely perfect.
“I’m sorry, did we wake you?” I ask, making my way back to her.
“It’s all right, I can’t believe I slept this long. I only meant to take a quick nap.”
Her cat slips out the bedroom door and begins weaving in and out of her legs. “This is Bikini, I hope it’s okay that I brought her with me. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be gone, and she hates to be alone.”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind at all. Are you hungry? Callahan just left to go golfing for the day, but I’m sure he left something for you to eat.”
“I need coffee. I can handle that myself, though. Is Fiona still here?”
“She just went downstairs.”
“Did she tell you about last night?”
“No. She’s punishing me for assuming she was the reason you two were out late. She didn’t say a word.”
She smiles. “I asked her to let me tell you.”
“I see. Well?”
“Can I have coffee first?”
“Of course. Lead the way.” I swing my arm out toward the hallway, and she walks to the elevator and presses the down button again. The doors open right away, and we step inside. I’m getting a weird vibe from her. I don’t think I’m going to like what she has to tell me.
“Morning, sunshine,” Fiona sings when we enter the kitchen. “Did the stalker tell you he was watching you sleep?” She points a spoon at me.
“I was checking on you. Callahan told me you came in early and went to sleep. I wanted to see if you were comfortable.” I wanted to see if she was dressed actually, but they don’t need to know that.
“I was very comfortable, thank you. I didn’t want to wake you up when we arrived.”
I was wondering why she didn’t just get into bed with me.
Fiona is busy making coffee as Trinity takes a seat at the kitchen table overlooking the gardens in the back of the house. I join her.
Rich and Seductive: The Fraternity Brothers Series Book Three Page 15
