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“Fine. But I need to go. There is a work issue on the back of the property I need to go check out,” I lie through my teeth and feel like shit for it.
“Of course. It’s getting late anyway,” she says, offering me a small smile that doesn’t quite meet her eyes. Before she gets up from the sofa, I grab her face and bring her back to me, kissing her again quickly. “I don’t want to go, but, baby, if I don’t leave now, then it is going to get harder and harder for me to pull myself away from you tonight.” She may not know my full name, what I do for work, or my bank balance, but she is fucking getting all of me right now.
“You’re right. Plus, I need to start work early in the morning,” she says, almost sighing in disappointment, and I can’t help but smile. I have no idea what is happening between us, but it is something new for me. I am delving into the unknown, and I have no fear and no desire to get away like I normally do. I just want to jump right in. As Eddie, as Edward Rothschild, however she will take me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - KATIE
“You’re all done. You should go home,” Shelley says, looking over the roster. It is almost time for shift change, when I can take my weary body home and rest for the night before coming back and doing it all again. I have just enough energy to try out the pool and sauna. After seeing it with Eddie, I have been dreaming about it since. Along with our make-out session.
Our dinner together was so fun. We spent the night eating and talking, laughing and kissing. We get along well and have the same sense of humor. Our night was a mix of lighthearted conversation about everything, such as hospital horror stories, what foods we like, and places in the world we would like to see. Then we had moments of scorching hot desire, his hands, his lips, his sexy smirks. He had to peel himself away from me in order to be a gentleman and kiss me good night. I like that he is vocal about his attraction to me. The way he wants to spend time together and get to know me. It’s refreshing.
“My feet are killing me,” I say, having worked too hard this week already. The days are long, but I am now in the swing of things. I have settled in, I know the ward, Shelley, and a few other nurses. It is feeling more comfortable, more welcoming.
“Excuse me?” a feminine voice says, and I look up to see a stunning brunette at the nurses’ desk.
“Yes, how can we help you?” Shelley asks, her professional demeanor in place. I look at the woman who appears a little apprehensive. Her hair is long and glossy, her clothes simple. She’s beautiful without a scrap of makeup on, even though most of it is hiding behind thick Coke-bottle glasses.
“I was hoping to see Dr. Colin Wilson?” She looks between us, pushing her glasses up her nose from where they slipped. She looks familiar, yet I know that I have never met her before. Appearing nervous, carrying a thick file, I assume she must be a patient.
“I’m sorry, he is in surgery all afternoon. Here are his office details. You are best to call and make an appointment with his team directly,” Shelley says, passing over his business card.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. Have a good day,” she says before turning and walking out the door.
“She was pretty,” I murmur, watching as she retreats out the door.
“There are lots of pretty girls around here. Let me take those files. I will mark them off for you. You go. Take off early, you deserve it. Besides, we have a new group of volunteers starting with us next week, so your days might just start to get a little longer,” she says, smiling, and I don’t hesitate. You rarely get off early as a nurse, as there is always something to do. The next shift has already started, so they have enough bodies to manage the workload, and me leaving ten minutes early is not going to harm anyone.
“Thanks, Shelley, I owe you.” Giving her a smile, I head to the nurses’ lounge and grab my backpack. Throwing it over my shoulder, I text Tony to let him know I am ready early, and I make my way outside to the front of the hospital to wait for him. It is just about dusk, the air getting colder as I step outside and walk over to the side of the entrance, away from the hustle and bustle of people coming and going. I take a deep breath and relax, de-stressing from my day, glad to have some fresh air on my face.
“Well, well, well, Baltimore is lookinggood on you,”hisvoice says from behind me, and I hold my breath. My body starts to tremble the minute his voice hits my ears. I feel the fear crawl up my spine, and I swallow as my eyes dart around, looking for Tony. My cell vibrates, and I look at it quickly. Tony is five minutes away.Shit.
“What’s wrong,Kitty Cat? Don’t have a warm welcome for your brother these days?” Steve asks as he steps around in front of me, positioning himself right in my line of sight. I notice a woman standing just behind him. I don’t know her. She is young. Bleach-blond hair with dark regrowth that looks like it hasn’t been washed in weeks. Her eyes thin as she takes me in. She looks just as unkempt as Steve, and I wonder if it is his latest flame of the month. They probably met each other on the streets. That’s where most of his friendship group is from these days.
I swallow, my eyes moving back to him as he stands confidently in front of me. He is not my brother. A true brother wouldn’t do what Steve did to me. He looks worse than the last time I saw him merely a month or so ago. His hair is a little longer at the back, the dark circles under his eyes more apparent. He has a new tattoo that I see crawling up his neck. I can’t make out the words entirely, nor do I want to. I’m scared, but I try not to show it. I know nothing I say or do will make this any easier for me.
“I need money,” he says, his eyes boring into me.
“I don't have any money,” I grit out at him. This is what he does. He follows me. He intimidates me. He threatens me until I give in. I think about the measly amount of money in my bank account. I was finally paid, but by the time I organized some food, paid a little off my college debt, and put some away for bills, I was back to merely a few dollars in my account. I am now even more grateful to Eddie for stocking my cupboards.
“Now, now. Working at a big hotshot hospital like this, I know you are lying,” he says, his eyes leaving mine for a moment to take in the hospital behind me. His girlfriend huffs in mock laughter, staring at me like I am the bad guy in all this. Who knows what he has told her. He is good at spinning lies. He gets away with everything. “I need cash, and I need it today,” he reiterates. I wonder how he got here without any money. Probably hitched a ride or snuck onto the train for free.
“I don’t have any money,” I repeat, my teeth grinding. I hate him. I hate him with every fiber of my body. To think I used to look up to him. Admire him.
“Well, I have seen where you are living. So, someone, somewhere has money, so best you get it,” he sneers, taking a step closer, right into my personal space. I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to keep my mouth shut. But I can’t stop the words as they fly out of my mouth.
“Why? So you can shoot it up your arms or snort it up your nose?” I say, anger being the emotion that wins in this moment. Drugs have always been a part of his life. Ever since I met him as a teen in a foster home we shared. Now they rule him. He is not the same boy I first met. “You need to leave me alone, Steve. Even if I had money, I wouldn’t give any to you.” I am so tired of this being my life.
The past few weeks in Baltimore have been so different for me. It has given me a glimpse of another life. Of a life that could be mine if I work hard enough. It has been the light to an otherwise very dark history, and I want it. Badly. My body shakes, my heart races. I’m no longer able to calm myself around him. The instant reaction I have when he comes near me is suffocating. I carry a lot of trauma from my life, but he amplifies it. Despite my colorful past, he is the one that spikes the fear in me.
“Oh, you are such a pathetic little sister. We both know you are trash. The fact that you got a job here surprises me. How many times did you open your legs to get it?” he asks, and his words almost make me vomit as his girlfriend looks at me with one eyebrow raised in question.
“Did you let the rich old doctors fuck you? Did they shove their filthy fat cocks inside you? Did you let them, or did they just take you? You won't let me fuck you, but you let them, didn’t you?”
“Steve, you need to leave,” I grit out as I look around, smelling alcohol on his breath. With the busy entry behind some bushes to the left of me, I am not in anyone's line of sight.Stupid!
“Maybe you got on your knees; maybe this sassy little mouth of yours sucked them off? Is that how you got this job? Because we both know they don’t hire trash. Especially trash as slutty as you. But, fuck, I bet you give really good head. I wouldn’t mind your lips on me, Kitty Cat,” he threatens as he cups his groin, and I feel my nails biting into my palms at my sides.
“We both know I could ruin your career. AlI I would need to do is show everyone that rather entertaining video I have of you, and you would lose everything.” He knows how to get me to do what he wants. That video haunts me every waking hour.
