Holding Huck's Heart (Marco's MMA Boys #3) (13 page)

CHAPTER 24

HUCK

I’d been at home watching some stupid Einstein show with Krista, trying to get her back to sleep for Kara and my brother, when Liz called me screaming. It all went by in a blur until now. I’ve been sitting in the waiting room with our family and Jenny for a couple of hours, which have felt like forty-eight hours.

If she hadn’t already killed the mother fucker who put his hands on her, I would find him and kill him myself. I guess she meant it when she said she could take care of herself. I just need to know why some guy was trying to attack her in the back parking lot.

I know she’s going to be fine, she’s not really in danger of dying, unless she has some unknown brain bleed. Elaine has kept us updated on that. Basically we’re just waiting for them to get her set up in her room. She had to go into a short surgery to set her nose and sew up the cuts on her face. Elaine raised hell until they got the plastic surgeon here to take care of her. It also helped that the plastic surgeon liked Chelsea personally.

Elaine just stepped back into the room and asked for Jenny to come back for a moment.

Maybe we’ll be able to see her soon. There have been several cops hanging around, I’m sure it’s guys who know her because of her dad.

I hate that all of her secrets have come out like this. Although, the way her mom took the news of her stripping, I’m pretty sure she figured it out.

I assured her mom all I could. I told her it was really a high class place and she only did it for the extra money. I also admitted that it was my main goal for the fundraiser and that I didn’t like other men seeing her. Once again, Jenny told me how wonderful I was and how much she appreciated everything I was doing.

Sly sits down in the chair beside me, pulling me out of my own thoughts. “Man, you’ll get to go back there soon. She’s going to wake up, it’s just the concussion. I remember waiting on Kara to wake up, it felt like forever. But it’s all going to be okay.”

“Thanks, brother. I hate you guys are up here in the middle of the night with me. You should take Kara and the baby home.”

He nods casually, “After I know you’re going to get back to see her, I’ll go.”

He holds his fist out and I bump mine against it. “Thanks, bro.”

“Hey, you kept me from losing my mind, I owe you. This is really easy in comparison.”

I think about Kara and Krista’s lives hanging in the balances. We were beyond scared that neither of them were going to make it, but they both are fighters.

Jenny comes through the doors smiling. Even though I can’t see her mouth, I can tell by her eyes. “She’s awake and talking. Mack is taking her statement right now.” She looks at me pointedly. “As soon as he comes out, you can go in. They’re sending me home, they’re worried about germs.”

I nod. “Yeah, go home and get some rest. I’ll look after her tonight.”

I look over at my brother who is gathering up his family. “Bro, will you drive Jenny home?” One of the deputies had brought her here.

He smiles. “Sure. Come on, wild woman, let’s go.”

She gives him a little laugh, following him out the door. Leave it to my brother to make everyone laugh a little during the worst of times.

As soon as Mack steps back in the room, I breeze past him. Walking straight to her door, I shove it open and stand there looking at her in the bed with her face bandaged. I can’t think of anything but holding her. I storm over to her bedside and kiss her hard on the lips.

“Don’t ever fucking scare me like that again,” I say, breathing in her face.

She shakes her head. “I’ll try not to.” She sighs. “Can you lie here with me?”

“I don’t know if I’ll fit, babe, but I’ll try. Sly is taking your mom home, by the way,” I say, sitting on the edge of her bed.

“Good, she needs to go home.”

She slowly moves to one side. “Are you sure you want me up here, babe?”

She nods. “Yeah, I just need to feel you close to me.”

I position myself on my side and pull her to me. “So I’m guessing you’ve figured out that your mom knows about your other job, huh?”

“Yeah, she said we have to have a long talk later.”

“Do you know anything about the guy who attacked you?” I ask, brushing her hair away from her face.

“I’ve never met him. He was there because of something to do with Pavel owing him money. He was going to use me to send him a message. It’s all a blur. One minute there was a knife poking me in the face and the next I was lying on my back firing a gun at him,” she says, staring into space.

Hearing that damn name again from her lips, my body involuntarily pulls away. She looks up at me with her lip still trembling. I’ve never been able to see her cry. I swallow my feelings and pull her back in close, stroking her hair. “All right,” I say, kissing her softly, “let’s get some rest.”

CHAPTER 25

CHELSEA

Who ever thought you could rest in a hospital was full of shit. I had nurses coming in every couple of hours to check on me because of the concussion. One mean nurse made Huck get out of my bed. Elaine came in a little bit ago and made him go get some breakfast with her while one of the nurses helped me get a shower.

My face hurts, but seeing it for the first time in the mirror hurt much more. I’ve never been one to be vain, but when you see a huge gash stitched up on the side of your face, it kills your self-esteem a little.

“Knock knock, I’ve got a delivery for you.” A
pink lady,
one of the volunteers at the hospital, brings in a large arrangement of flowers.

“Thank you.” I smile at the elderly woman.

She pulls the card off. “Here you go, sweetie. Hope you get to feeling better.”

I take the card from her. “Thank you.”

After she steps out of the room, I open the card.

Krasavitsa- Get Well Soon -PV

Get well soon? Really? That son of a bitch, I’m in here because of him and all he can say is “get well soon”? What a fucking bastard. I hate him.

The doctor has already said they’re going to release me in a little bit.

Just as soon as I feel up to it or I can sneak off, I’m taking the drive to Miami and I’m going to end this, whatever this is, once and for all.

The door swings open and Huck strolls in. “Hey, beautiful.” He notices the flowers. “Nice flowers.”

I crumple the card in my hand. “Oh yeah, I guess they’re from my co-workers or something. No card.”

“So I talked to your mom this morning and let her know I’d be bringing you home.”

“You talked to my mom?”

“Yeah.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Elaine said they’re getting your paperwork ready now so it shouldn’t be too much longer.” He hands me some scrubs. “Here, she said you could wear these home. They had to give the cops your jeans and shirt last night for evidence since there was blood on them.”

An hour later, I’m checked out and on my way home. The doctors told me I have to take it easy for a few days. The stitches are self-absorbing, so at least I don’t have to get them removed. I just have to make an appointment for the surgeon to check my nose in a few weeks.

“So now, if I leave you here, are you going to take it easy?” Huck asks, standing in the doorway of my mom’s place.

“Yes. I’ll take it easy, I promise,” I say, laughing.

“All right, I’m going to the gym to teach a class. I’ll call you in a little bit.”

I shake my head. “Thanks. I think I’ll be just fine.”

He throws a hand up as he walks out.

~*~*~

I bolt straight up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding and I’m soaked from sweat, another nightmare. I can feel the guy’s breath on my face, the knife slicing my face. I hear him talking. Sometimes in the dream I don’t get the gun pulled in time. I remember the words he spoke to me.

After a week, I was allowed to go back to work. Huck has come by to check on me almost every day, but it’s as if he’s scared. He always hugs me or gives me a small kiss, never more. It’s been three weeks since the attack and they’re doing the benefit for my mom this weekend.

Mack told me he spoke with Pavel and he acted as if he barely knew me. He did say that I was his employee for several years and that I had a crush on him, but it was nothing more. He didn’t know why someone would be attacking me and saying it was for him. The asshole said that before I left, he’d suspected that I’d started using drugs and finding out now that I was working at a strip club, he was probably on the right track. That I’d probably made it all up to cover a deal gone bad or something.

I hate him, I don’t know why I could ever be so naive as to think that he loved me. I was nothing more than a toy. Something he could buy and play with. He’s a selfish asshole and I hope the karma bus catches his ass in the middle of the road.

That’s what brings me to this road trip today. I’m confronting him face to face. He’s going to respect me once and for all. I’m also meeting his wife for lunch before I meet with him. I’ve asked her to keep it private. I owe her this, woman to woman.

Pulling into the outdoor café on Miami Beach, I see Theresa waiting for me at a small table.

Making my way through the tables of patrons, she sees me and waves me over, smiling.

Standing to greet me, she hugs me. “Chelsea, it’s great to see you.”

“Theresa, how are you? You look wonderful,” I say, motioning to her flat stomach. She doesn’t even look like she’s had one child, much less three, and one of them only a few months ago.

Her eyes light up. “Thank you, I’m feeling wonderful. What brings you to see me?”

I sigh, taking a sip of water from the glass that was already set on the table. “Theresa, there is no easy way for me to say this. I am a horrible person.” She looks at me with confusion written on her face. “I was having an affair with Pavel for almost six years. When it started, he told me you two were going through a divorce and that you wouldn’t leave. I was young and stupid. As the affair went on, I guess I was desperate enough to let him control the situation and believe the lies he told me. The day you walked in his office pregnant, when he’d told me you weren’t
involved
anymore, it hit me like a slap of reality.”

She’s sitting here letting me talk. “As it happens, that’s the night my father called to tell me that my mother had cancer. I decided to go home. I told Pavel it was over, but he’s finding ways to ruin my life now. I’m interested in a great guy who I think really wants something with me, but I need this business with Pavel finished, but he won’t let go. A few weeks ago, a man attacked me, did this to my face,” I say, pointing to the spots still healing on my face, “and broke my nose. I shot him and killed him, but he wanted me to pass a message along to Pavel. That he owed him money for a job or something.”

Her face finally shows some expression, I just can’t make out what it is. “Oh my God! I’m glad you’re okay. I hate that you had to kill someone. I can’t say I’m surprised about Pavel. Trust me, the wife
always
knows. You’re not the first person, but thanks to your honesty, you will be the last. As far as divorce, Pavel was the one who would never go for it. Our marriage was more of a business arrangement by our fathers. You coming forward will give me grounds to get a divorce and get everything that’s owed to me. Don’t mistake my lack of caring for weakness, you and I will never be friends, but we can certainly be on the same side of this issue.” I’m trying to figure out what she’s thinking, but it’s like she gives nothing away. Her face is almost void now. I guess she really feels nothing. At least nothing toward me, except maybe pity. It’s almost eerie how calm she is.

I look at the table. “I really am sorry.”

She reaches across the table and touches my hands. “Chelsea dear, I remember when you came to work for him. You were shy and somewhat naïve. Trust me, I know Pavel can be charismatic and charming. It can be quite intoxicating to someone so young.” She lets go of my hands and I can tell that maybe she’s talking about herself a little. . “Now you’re a more experienced older person, you wouldn’t do this again.” I shake my head. “So let’s go fix your problem,” she says, standing up.

Twenty minutes later, we’re pulling into the dealership. I follow Theresa into the lobby. It’s like one of those scenes in a movie where everyone looks up and stares. She storms through the room as his new receptionist tries to stop us from going in. Theresa throws her hand up in the girl’s face. Slinging the door open, we march in and I slam the door behind us.

Startled, Pavel looks up. “What is this all about?”

Theresa stalks to the desk, “This is about the divorce you’re going to give me and the dealerships that I’ll gain out of it.”

He stands up. “What in the hell are you talking about?”

She calmly steps forward. “I’m talking about how you are a philandering son of a bitch. I’m talking about how you’ve been having an affair for over six years and I finally have someone to back me up on it. I’m talking about how this girl wants to move on with her life and you’re too much of a fucking greedy bastard to let her.”

He looks at me like he’s about to deny it. I storm forward. “She’s talking about how I had to fucking shoot someone who was sending a message to you. Then you acted like I was some sort of fucking school girl with a goddamn crush. You will give this woman everything she wants or I’ll make your life hell. I’ve already killed one man and I can damn sure do it again if you push me too far. I want you to leave me the fuck alone. Stay out of my life. Stop sending me flowers, finding out my phone number and starting fights with my friends.”

“Chelsea, please. You need help, it was never like that between us.” He turns to his wife, “Sweetheart, she’s been through some traumatic experiences lately. Please forgive her, I believe she’s on drugs.”

I could bite nails in half I’m so pissed off. “Oh, I’m screwed up. You’re about to see how screwed up I can fucking be.” I storm out of his office and hear them yelling at each other.

Everyone is staring again. “Get a good fucking look people!” I walk out to my car and get in. Cranking the car, I rev the motor. Slamming the car into drive, I fly toward the glass wall of the dealership and straight into the side of his office.

“What in the hell?” he screams at me once I get out of the car.

Theresa is laughing. I walk over to her, stepping on all of the glass, and hand her the papers from my glove box. “Here, this is the title to this car and as you’ll see, his name is the second on it. Also, if you’ll check the lease records for Regency Condos on Sunrise, he held the lease there for me. There was also a charge account at the high end shops at Regency. That should be all you need for your attorney. I’ll help you anyway I can.” I turn back to Pavel. “Fuck you, Pavel, stay out of my life.”

Walking out of the dealership, I pull my phone out of my purse and dial Huck.

“Hello?”

“I need you to come get me.”

“Sure. Where are you?” He sounds like he’s at the gym working out.

“Volkov Motors in Miami,” I say timidly.

“What the fuck, Chels?” he barks through the line.

“I’ll explain when you get here.”