AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think they are connected, yes,” Jake answers. “For that reason, I am going to put a security detail on you from today onward, Stephen. I know you won’t think it is necessary but given the circumstances and who we are dealing with, we can’t be too careful at the moment.”
I sit back and groan. How can my life get so fucked up again? How many times will my life involve large criminal investigations and potentially life-threatening attacks on me and those closest to me. We continue to discuss what needs to be done, including staff travelling in pairs anywhere inside or outside of the club at a bare minimum and upping security both at the club and our homes.
“I just need you to monitor your club. Jake will continue to feed me intel to assist, and if you get any more information from Jasmine or others, let me know immediately,” Jai says before standing. I shake his hand and Jake walks him out.
With a shoulder slap, Marco stands. “We are with you, brother, take it easy, stay safe.” I stand and we shake hands with a back slap hug, and he leaves me with my thoughts.
This can’t be happening. Again.
Human trafficking is horrible no matter what way you look at it. They target vulnerable individuals by preying on their personal situations. Human traffickers target and recruit their victims by appearing to offer help or by pretending to be a friend or potential romantic partner. They leverage their victims' vulnerabilities and coerce them to meet in person - just like John did with Jasmine.
God, I feel sick, what a disgusting individual John has turned out to be. Assuming we can gather additional evidence and hand it over to the Feds in a timely manner, I hope they can grab him before he hurts anyone else. From what I understand, if convicted, he will only get a few years behind bars (at least five) along with a small fine of $25k - which considering his crime, is nowhere near enough in my opinion.
The thumping in my head is stronger than ever, and I rub my temples. I need my shining light. I need Molly.
***
12
STEPHEN
I grab my suit jacket and head out the door, aware that Chris, my driver, is in the car waiting and my new security detail will follow.
I don't want to go home, but I’m not sure where to go. I think about Molly and wonder how she is doing today, and then I ask Chris to take me to the hospital. With everything she has been through with her gran and Jasmine, perhaps I can see her and offer her some support?
After the day I have had, I really want to see her. I enjoy spending time with her. Since meeting her, I have felt lighter, thought of something other than the clubs, and my mind is buzzing with all the things I want to do to her. She makes me weak at the knees and so damn hard. I am constantly walking around needing to adjust myself.
I arrive at the hospital, and I make my way to the general ward, heading straight to the nurses’ station. It is quiet tonight, the desk full of files and computer monitors, along with a vase of flowers, no doubt left over from a visitor on the ward. A young, good-looking nurse looks up at me from her screen, and I notice she blushes at the sight of me. It isn’t visiting hours, so perhaps I will use my charm on the nurse to find Molly’s gran.
“How can I help you, sir?” she asks in a breathy tone. I'm not sure if it is nerves or flirtation, but I go with it.
“Hi, I’m Stephen, nice to meet you,” I say as I reach out to shake her hand, letting it linger. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I am here to see a dear old friend of mine, Ms. Williams who was admitted a few days ago. Can you point me to her room please?”
“Of course, sir, just one moment.”
She taps away on her keyboard as I look around the hall. I don’t want to run into Doctor Byron as I am trying to weasel my way in to see Molly’s gran. He is the last person I want to see today.
“She is in Room 201, sir, just down the hall and to the right. It is not visiting hours, but if you are quiet, you should be fine to sit with her for a while.”
“Thank you so much,” I say with a flirty eye wink and a grin as she blushes, and I make my way down the hall.
I find room 201 without any issue, but before I enter, I take a breath to steady my nerves. No woman has got me this worked up before, and I know coming here might be too much for Molly, but I just can’t resist. I want to be with her. I open the door quietly and step in to see a graceful lady, with white hair, in bed watching soap operas, and she shares a room with another lady. The other woman is much younger than her and there is a curtain half drawn between them to offer some privacy.
The room is small and not very private, and I notice the armchair in the corner with a grey blanket and a pillow on top. It must be where Molly sits when she is here. It reminds me of when I woke up in the hospital a few days ago and saw her curled up next to me. The thought makes my heart quicken. I step toward the bed and notice the patient’s name above her on the wall, confirming that gran, or Shirley as her name plate states, is indeed the graceful white hair lady and she is now eyeballing me as I walk closer to her. I see the large bouquets of flowers on a side table, so I know I am in the right place. Looking me up and down, her eyes squint as she assesses me and gives me the once over.
“Come here, boy, let me look at you,” she says very matter-of-factly like she has been expecting me.
“Hmmm… I now understand what my granddaughter sees in you. Although, spilling coffee on her the first time you meet is an extreme way to grab her attention, don’t you think? she asks, one eyebrow raised in question and a smirk on her face.
She may look graceful, but this woman is shrewd, and I like her. Whatever her illness, it hasn’t harmed her brain, and it hasn’t escaped me that she knows who I am, which means Molly has spoken to her about me. That thought alone brings a smile to my face. Any awkwardness I had of coming to see an old lady who I don’t know in hospital immediately vanishes, and I step closer to her, enjoying the feeling of warmth I get just from her presence.
“Hello, Shirley, I’m Stephen. Nice to meet you. I wanted to stop by to see how you are doing?”
She smiles. “I know that you are not here to spend time with an old woman like me, but I sure do enjoy the view of you, son. Molly did say you were a looker. Thank you for the flowers, my dear, they are very nice.”
“You’re very welcome, are you starting to feel better? Are the doctors treating you okay here?”
“Oh, Doctor Byron is okay, but I don’t sleep very well due to my coughing and general noise around here. I can’t complain too much, though. At least me being here helps Molly, giving her some respite. She works herself so hard looking after me at night after having such a busy time at work during the days, she is exhausted. It looks like I am not going anywhere anytime soon, since they continue to do tests, but nothing seems to be alleviating my symptoms and things are not improving.”
