Back To Me (31 page)

              “As if,” Blake shrieked, jumping in the mix.

              “Alright, knuckleheads,” George admonished. “Get back to work. You know where I’ll be.”

              “I don’t even know where the hell you came from,” I laughed lightly. He seemed to appear out of nowhere, something he was really good at.

              George grinned, but left without saying a word. It was gonna be a long day.

              Hours passed while we took turns keeping the eagle-eye on the warehouse. My legs grew tired of the cramped position they were in, but we had to be vigilant and not let a move go undetected. After what seemed an eternity Blake motioned for me to take the binoculars. Tom was being led by an unknown man with Sergio following closely behind, making sure he didn’t escape. The gun digging into Tom’s back was a sure sign he wouldn’t be stupid enough to try.

              “Where are they taking him?”

              “Not sure, but they’re leading him to the other side of the warehouse.”

              “What’s over there?” I asked.

              Blake tensed immediately. “The girls.”

              “I’m sure she’ll be fine, man.” I tried to reassure him by patting him on the shoulder, but even I knew this wasn’t necessarily true.

              “C’mon,” he motioned. “We’ve gotta move.”

              We both got to our knees and crawled until we were far enough away from the ledge to not be seen. Careful to not make a sound, or leave a trace we’d even been there, we made sure to step where we wouldn’t leave any prints. Chances they would ever look here were slim, but we both knew Raul had his men check the perimeter frequently. It wasn’t smart to be careless and get ambushed.

              When we reached the bottom side of the hill, we made our way back to our vehicles. Blake had to make an appearance at the warehouse sometime today, or Raul would get suspicious.

              “I’ll find out where they got him,” Blake announced. “You’ll get first shot at ‘em.”

              I was baffled. “Shouldn’t we wait for George?” He hadn’t given us the all clear to swoop in.

              Blake threw his jean-clad leg over the seat of his motorcycle like a pro. “I’m tired of this shit, man. I want it over and done. The quicker you get to Tom, the sooner we can all move on with our lives, and you get back to Heather. That what you want?”

              “You know it is.”

              “Then let’s do it, brother.” Blake revved the engine and zoomed out of the lot, skidding when the back tire hit gravel. Just like that, it was a done deal.

              I got to my truck and pulled out my phone to dial Luke again.

              “Any news?”

              “Hey, man. Yeah, Heather’s awake. She’s um…..”

              “She’s what?” I prodded. “Is she alright?”

              I rubbed my eyes and stroked the nape of my neck while waiting for his response. I was exhausted, and the fear and frustration I felt only added to the deterioration of my whole being. I blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall.

              “She’s okay,” he assured me. “Lauren’s helping her get to the restroom.” Luke lowered his voice to a whisper, and I heard a door shut. He’d gone into the hallway so he could talk more freely.

              “Heather’s furious, man. Seriously, she’s downright scary when she’s mad.”

              I leaned forward and hunched my shoulders, banging my head lightly on the steering wheel.

              “What’d she say?”

              “Not a lot,” he admitted. “That’s just it. She’s closed herself off. She’s barely speaking to us, or the doctors. Only nods when she has to.”

              That got my attention. I knew her.
I knew my angel
. She was planning something in that pretty little head of hers, but what?

              “Keep an eye on her.” It was a command. I was through asking politely.

              “Always,” Luke promised.

              “No. You don’t understand,” I stressed, relaying the seriousness. “When she does this shit, when she clams up, she’s planning something. She’ll run, man, and guess where she’ll run to? Keep her
there
!” I yelled in desperation.

              The line was briefly silent. “Lauren’s worried you hate her.”

              My God, women were exhausting. I rubbed my temples and held my tongue. “I don’t hate her, Luke. Not real happy, but nothin’ I can do ‘bout it now. It’s done.”

              “So, you’ll be okay?” he asked. “Can’t have you goin’ all ape shit on my wife, dude.”

              “Not gonna happen,” I assured. “Just do your job this time and keep Heather there. If she runs, you and I both know where she’s headed. Can’t have that. Think we’re gonna be wrapping this up soon.”

              “Good to hear,” Luke responded. “Talk soon.”

              “You got it.”

              I hung up and tossed my phone across the seat. I felt bad for Heather, and yet I wanted to wring her neck. I hated the situation, and what it had cost her, but if she showed up here I wasn’t gonna be happy. Not in the least. All the more reason to get this done and over before she had the chance to get away from Luke and Lauren.

43

Heather

              I’d been laying here, staring at the wall going on hour seventeen. Seven more and I was outta here. The doctors were insistent I stayed twenty-four hours because apparently my head sustained a fairly good lick. Eleven stitches and I was as good as new.

              Lauren and Luke had stayed right by my side, but I was painfully aware what Luke was doing every time he stepped outside the door. He was talking to Billy, and Billy was talking to him, acting like I didn’t even exist.

              Didn’t matter. I was so pissed at him I couldn’t see straight. I was so hurt and mad that he knew about my father….about
Tom
, and yet he never thought it was a good idea to tell me. I wondered how long he’d known. Had he known years ago? Was that one of the reasons he’d always been so secretive, because he didn’t want me to know Tom?
My father
.

              “Can I get you some ice chips, sweetie?”

              I didn’t answer her, only shook my head no. I’d snapped at Lauren no less than twenty times in the last hour, but she’d continued to be patient with me. She wasn’t exactly my favorite person right now either, though I was a little more sympathetic towards her. I understood her reasons for going along with Billy, and to her credit she did eventually tell me the truth. Billy, on the other hand, had deliberately withheld the truth and I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive him. He knew what I’d gone through. He understood, or at least I thought he did, how much guilt I felt over my dad leaving us and my mother killing herself. He knew about me moving from foster home to foster home, never finding a place to belong. Now Billy seemed to be a part of this huge lie that had become my life, and I was furious.

              Lauren cleared her throat, garnering my attention. “Your time here is almost over, so I’m gonna run home and check on Sam. I’ll be back in a bit to take you home.”

              Again, I only nodded. My back was turned to her and the door, so I didn’t witness her exit. I only knew she was gone when I heard the door close. Luke had left earlier to take care of something at the ranch so here I sat; alone as usual. Alone and stewing over the whole situation.
My entire life
.

              I dozed off and on for the next hour, finally letting the anger I felt fuel my decision. I wasn’t gonna lay here and continue to let everyone else determine what happened with
my
future. Billy was off playing hero, deciding on his own that revenge was more important than my feelings. Lauren and Luke were scrutinizing my every move and reporting back to him like I was some lab rat. And the doctors? They were keeping me under lock and key until they felt it was safe to release me. Well, screw all of them. I was an adult and I was sick and tired of everyone else controlling my life.

              I threw the covers off and sat up, albeit difficult. I felt sick; dizzy from my concussion. I sat on the edge of the bed until the room quit spinning and then I put my feet on the floor, grabbing at the sheets for support. Once I was satisfied that I could move without falling over, I took one small step and then another, finally reaching the bathroom. I took care of all necessities and then reached around the corner to grab my clothes from the chair. I dressed and sat to put my shoes on. I was disheveled, but I didn’t care. I was a woman on a mission and I dared anyone to get in my way.

              I carefully opened the door, peering first to the left and then right. No nurses were visible, though there were several visitors meandering the hallway. All I had to do was act normal. None of them would know I was a patient, except for the large white bandage that covered my forehead. I fluffed my hair, running my fingers through the stringiness and pulling my bangs forward to cover the wound.

              My stomach lurched as I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. The tiled checkered floor wasn’t doing me any favors, as the edges distorted and the multitude of colors blended into one another. I was only a few feet away from the elevator. If I could make it that far, I’d be home free. I pushed the button, jabbing it several times when it didn’t ding as fast as I would have liked
. Did it not realize I had shit to do?
Finally, after wasted precious minutes, I was walking into the claustrophobic square, once again stabbing the button for the first floor.

              I had no idea how I was gonna leave. Walking wasn’t an option, and besides I didn’t know how to get back to town. I had to avoid running into Lauren, and I had no idea what time she’d be back. I figured I had a few hours, but I wasn’t sure. I had a little bit of money stuffed in the pocket of my blue jeans. Maybe I could call a cab. Did they even have cabs around here? It wasn’t like the city where there was one every few feet. I was in the middle of nowhere and I began to feel defeat settle in as I realized I wasn’t going anywhere.

              The elevator jolted to a stop and the doors opened. I stood for a second, wondering if I should get off, or push the button to go back to my room. It was stupid to think I’d ever get away on my own. Guess this is why everyone thought I needed looking after. I couldn’t even make one damn decision that made any sense.

              “Heather?” a man asked.

              I looked up to find Randy standing there with a puzzled look on his face.

              “Hi,” I replied, timidly.

              “What are you doing?” he asked. “Did you get released?”

              “Um….” I played with my hair, twirling it over and over between my fingers. “Yeah,” I lied. “But the doctor released me after I told Lauren to go home and check on Sam. I was about to call and tell her I’ve been discharged.”

              I hated lying to him. Hell, I hated lying
period
, but I was desperate.

              “No point in Lauren having to come back to pick you up when I’m already here. Want me to give you a lift?” he offered.

              “That’d be great!” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm.

              “Alrighty then, after you,” Randy offered in a gentlemanly way. He held his arm out for me and I took it, lacing my hand through the crook of his elbow for support.

              “Wait here, I’ll bring the truck around,” he ordered. He helped me to the bench where I sat, praying Lauren wouldn’t show up until after we were long gone.

              I heard the rumble of his engine before I even saw the truck. I giggled to myself, thinking of Billy and his monstrous toy.
All these men, I swear.

              “Your chariot awaits,” Randy declared, once again taking my hand and helping me into the vehicle. I heard him chuckle when my first attempt to climb in failed. “There ya go, princess,” he said, hoisting me effortlessly onto the seat.

              I gave him a slight smile. “Thank you.”

              He winked and shut the door, calmly walking to the driver’s side.

              It had just occurred to me that he was here at the hospital and I hadn’t bothered to ask why. Was he hurt? Was something wrong with Hallie? I didn’t want to pry, but thought it would be even ruder of me not to question him.

              “Are you okay?” I blurted.

              Randy turned and furrowed his brow in confusion. “Yeah, why?”

              “Well, because you’re at the hospital. Were you visiting someone?”

              “Yeah. Her name’s Lily.”

              Now it was my turn to look perplexed. Who the hell was
Lily
? I sat, tight-lipped and staring out the window. When I didn’t ask him to elaborate, he continued talking about her. Apparently he hadn’t noticed that I was fuming at the thought of him being so taken with another woman. Poor Hallie.

              “She’s beautiful. Wow! I mean, she’s so tiny and petite, ya know? She’s just perfect!”

              My face became redder and redder, and it took everything in me to resist slapping the hell outta him! Who the hell tells one woman about another woman, when the first said woman knows that the asshole happens to married to a beautiful, caring, amazing blonde-haired woman?
Ugh! Men!!!!

              “Yup,” he continued. “She’s pretty amazing. Maybe one day you’ll get to meet her.”

              By this time I couldn’t resist. I twisted in the seat, looking him square in the face. It was only then that I noticed Randy was red-faced and busting a gut with laughter. What the hell was so funny about this? I failed to see the humor in him being a pig!

              “What’s funny about you and Lily? What about Hallie?” I questioned.

              “She knows I’m here, princess. In fact, she insisted I come and visit her.”

              “She encourages you to see another woman?” I narrowed my eyes until they were mere slits, and stared him down with the evil eye all women are born with. The one where you dare him to lie just one more time before you unleash your inner bitch. He was one step away…..

              “Yeah,” he boasted, proudly. “She’s even come to see her, too. Fell in love with her just like I did.”

              What the hell? Maybe none of these people were sane, after all. Either that, or I’d hit my head harder than I thought!

              My mouth hung agape as I processed everything he’d said. She’s tiny and petite, she’s gorgeous, and Hallie loves her, too. Sounded twisted to me, but then again who the hell was I to judge? If they were into that kinda thing…..

              “I can see the wheels turnin’ in that pretty little head of yours,” Randy chimed in. “Calm yourself, princess. Lily is a
baby
. A friend of mine from work and his wife just had the sweet little girl late last night. Hallie came to visit earlier, and I’m on my lunch break now. And whatever gave you the impression I’d cheat on my wife?”

              Darn me and my big mouth! This is what jumping to conclusions will get you. I felt like such a fool! Of course Randy would never cheat on Hallie, and here I was assuming the worst.

              “I’m sorry, Randy. I just wasn’t thinking clearly.”

              He let out a sigh. “I guess not with all you’ve had goin’ on. It’s alright, don’t worry about it.”

              But I
was
worried about it. I’d been so concerned with all of them thinking the worst of me and passing judgement on
my
life, and here I was doing the exact same thing. I chewed on my bottom lip as I stared out the window, afraid I’d stick my foot in my mouth again.

              “Where ya headed?” Randy questioned.

              “What?”

              “Where ya headed? Where am I dropping you off?”

              “Oh, umm, can you take me to Billy’s? I know he’s not there, but I just don’t feel like going back to Lauren’s right now. I just need some time alone.”

              Randy gave me a sympathetic smile. “I can appreciate that. It’s always good to get away somewhere by yourself and think. To Billy’s house it is!”

              Randy mashed the accelerator a little harder, and we cruised down the road towards what I once thought would be my forever home.