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“You're welcome,” Beth says as the door closes and she takes her seat.
“You owe us,” Willow says, looking at me pointedly.
“Big-time,” Em adds.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, still not able to erase the smile on my lips. Because things between Katie and I just shifted. I know it.
“She needs to know there are people in her corner. From what you have told us, she has grown up in hard circumstances, with not many people to rely on, and the one person she started to rely on lied to her,” Beth says, and I can tell the way she is saying this to me that she knows from experience.
“She needs you to not give up on her, Eddie. The way to prove your love for her is to be there, even when she pushes you away,” Em reiterates, and it all makes sense.
“Now thank us for the girl power and go and get your girl already,” Willow says as they all look at me expectantly.
“Thank you. I owe you,” I say quickly before I dump my disgusting coffee in the trash and rush out the door in search of Katie.
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO - KATIE
As I walk out of the hospital, the cool air hits me, and I feel a little lighter than I have in days. I have seen the women in the Rothschilds’ private waiting room before. Shelley has given me a thorough debriefing on who they all are. From a distance, they look as untouchable as all the other women who have paraded around the hospital this week. It is not that they are fancy or wearing head-to-toe designer clothes, but they are polished. Well put together. Almost graceful and oozing confidence. But in the five minutes I spent with them, I can tell that they are friendly and genuine. The way they gathered around me, making me feel like I was part of something. Like they were welcoming me in their friendship circle. The way they joked with the brothers, and everyone had a laugh at themselves. It made me feel good. Connected. Like I had people who supported me. Who would have thought that the richest men in the state live life like that?
I can’t believe they actually invited me out for a girls’ night. I haven’t really had that before. I never had a lot of friends growing up and have been too busy trying to keep my head down, avoiding my history as an adult, to contemplate making friends. It makes me think. Maybe people can look a certain way but be the complete opposite. Stunning, beautiful, wealthy women to the outside, but get to know them and they are just like me. Normal. I think of Eddie, seeing him all week in his suit, his hair slicked to perfection. Yet in the private moments I have seen him, he is without his jacket, sleeves pushed up, hair crumpled. He is just Eddie.
“I need money.” My body jolts, and I come to a stop. I was daydreaming, but now I am wide awake. Looking around, I see a few people walking away, and although I am not far from the main hospital entrance, this side entrance I have used tonight is quieter and out of the way, so no one else is here. Even though I have been ignoring him, my eyes now dart around for Tony and the car before I internally curse. He usually meets me at the other main entrance.
“I don’t have any,” I say, waiting for Steve to appear. My eyes widen as I see him emerge from the bushes at the side. The familiar silhouette of the woman who was with him last time lingers farther away. She looks at me with what seems to be blame, and certainly her face portrays more venom toward me than last I saw her. Her eyes thin, yet she doesn’t come closer, preferring to let Steve handle me, her merely observing in the distance.
Steve looks even worse. Our eyes lock as he slowly stalks toward me wearing dirty black jeans, a ripped black t-shirt, and his hair messy like it hasn’t been brushed in weeks. He is in complete contrast to Eddie, who is inside in his polished business suit attire that I have grown accustomed to over this past week or so. I look back over my shoulder, through the glass doors and inside, but see no one, just the vacant hallway. The polished floor tiles reflect the bright fluorescent lights, the few chairs that are scattered along the hallway sitting empty. I swallow as I look back around.
It’s just me. It is always just me.
“You have been hard to get to, with that bodyguard of yours following you every night,” he growls as he positions himself right in front of me. I take a deep breath to settle myself and get ready for his onslaught. As I do, I breathe him in, smelling stale alcohol and cigarettes. Up close, I can see his face is filthy, and his inner elbows are bruised. The smell makes my mind whirl back to when I was a kid. It’s something that is hard to forget.
“I did some digging. Apparently, that bodyguard is from Edward Rothschild's private team. Seems like that pussy of yours is made with gold,” he says, a sly smirk on his face. The woman behind him huffs a laugh. She is a few feet away, but already on my nerves.Can’t she see that he is trouble?Doesn’t she want to get away?
“I think you need to leave,” I state, trying to be firm, not wanting him to see how rattled he makes me. But he knows. He always knows.
“Fuck, you aim high and always get there, don’t you? Got out of foster care by getting a college housing scholarship, got your nursing degree at community college, thanks to that special foster kid funding you applied for, and now you’re a fancy nurse at a top-notch hospital, living in a high-rise and fucking billion-dollar dick.” He spits out the last word, his saliva hitting my cheek. He is mad. I have seen him mad before, but not like this.
“Does he know who you are, Kitty Cat? Does he know that he is fucking filth? A dirty whore? Does he know that you should be on your knees, cleaning his house, not sucking his dick?”
“It is none of your business.” My voice hitches as he grabs my upper arm.
“You are my fucking business,” he seethes.
“I am nobody’s fucking business,” I bite out at him. If he is taking me down, then I am not going without a fight. I feel the familiar survivor mode of my past creeping into me. My body stiffens, my muscles tight. My nails dig into my palms, yet I don’t feel the pain. The fear he brings is constant. Everlasting. Like a dark cloud that always shrouds me, it never disappears.
“Maybe your new boyfriend would like to see the video I have of you, huh? I actually think he would pay me a lot of money for that video.” Stepping forward slightly, he gets right into my face, smiling like he has won the lottery. Meanwhile, I feel like I will vomit. It is the only thing he has on me. That vile video.
“He isn’t my boyfriend. We are not even friends. He won’t care. Why don’t you and your girlfriend just move on. Find a new beginning,” I offer, lying through my teeth, trying to get Eddie off his radar. I’m not sure what I have of value to trade, but Eddie cannot see that video.
“Hmm, then maybe the hospital board will be interested? Maybe your new boss would like to see it,” he threatens, ignoring my earlier plea, a new plan coming to his mind. I see paparazzi stationed a few yards away, waiting for Eddie and his family to leave the main entrance of the hospital. My lips are dry, and I try to swallow. I don’t like either option.
“What would the hospital like?” I hear Eddie's voice from behind me and feel instant relief before complete mortification.
“Ahh, well, if it isn’t the billionaire of the hour,” Steve says, looking up at Eddie, who is slowly walking out of the hospital toward us. Eddie seems confused, probably wondering who Steve is and why I am talking with him.
“Steve, we are not together. Mr. Rothschild is just here for his mother,” I hiss, my teeth grinding as my worst nightmare is starting to eventuate. I see the moment what’s happening clicks in Eddie’s brain. That he knows something is very wrong. His eyes home in on where Steve has a tight grip on my upper arm, and his posture changes.
“You need to remove your hand from her before I break your fucking arm,” Eddie seethes, walking toward us quicker, and my eyes almost bug out of my head.Angry Eddie is hot.
