Authors: P.A. Jones
Seduced 3
Seduced 3
P.A. Jones
Copyright © 2013-14 PA Jones
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, place and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.
Table of Content
Tristan
‘Beep’, ‘Beep’
. I heard the sound from somewhere deep within eternity. My mind was so accustomed to the sound that I felt like it had come from my body.
Still, what is it? My cell phone? It can’t be. It rings different. Nikki’s cell phone, probably? Is she here?
But I couldn’t see her; everything was dark. I could sense my own pupils moving inside my eyes, but somehow, my eyelids wouldn’t open.
I tried to move my head, and a sharp pain shot through me, a solid, horrible feeling all over my forehead. I tried to shake it off; the feeling was intense. But instead, I banged my head again on something solid.
Where the hell am I?
I couldn’t open my eyes, I couldn’t move my hands, my legs felt like they were no longer attached to my body. That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes with huge effort.
A white ceiling was the first thing I noticed, and then the smell of medicine floated to my nostrils.
That was a good sign—my senses were coming back, but then my head was hurting more than ever, like an opponent’s punch had hit right on my forehead. It had been so long since I was hit in a match.
I slowly rolled my head; a sharp, metal rod was an inch away from my eyes. I could even see the scratches on that rod clearly. I slowly pushed my head away from the rod. It was a medicine tray. I was in a hospital.
I tried to look around, and I could see a white bed a bit farther away me. A woman was lying down on it, an oxygen mask covering her mouth. My heartbeat skipped as I noticed her hair—silky, like Nikki’s.
She can't be hurt.
“Nikki,” I said, but something more like "urggggg" came out of my mouth instead. I tried again, but I couldn't speak. I tried to move closer to her, but again I banged my head on the tray.
How could I make the same mistake twice?
I wanted to throw that tray outside of the window.
Maybe once I'm able to it.
“It hurts, doesn't it?” A deep, male voice came from my opposite side.
I tried to move my head in the direction of the voice, but the pain made it impossible. I could only roll my eyes in that the direction.
A man in a hospital gown was sitting on the bed with IV drips attached to his hand.
“Don't try too hard. I'm not Brad Pitt. No need to go through the trouble to look at me. Anyways, I banged my head on that tray at least five times before I realized it was there.” He let a weak chuckle out of his mouth.
“You?” This time I could hear my frail voice.
"Bobby Sanderson. Patient like you.”
“How many…” Speaking was painful. I felt like I’d lost all my strength. Like someone had sucked the life out of me.
“Two days. You were unconscious for two days, if that's what you are wondering. I think they gave you lots of blood.”
I got my answer. Now I needed only one more answer--whether Nikki was all right. And my heart was heavy over her.
“Who is she?” I asked him. Turning my head again to her was impossible and I wanted to know it she was Nikki.
“My wife." He sighed. "I was drunk and driving. I hit a trailer and it exploded. I got some bruises, but she suffered a lot more.” His eyes became watery. “If only I’d let her drive that night.” He wiped his eyes with a tissue.
"I'm sorry," I said.
“What did you get yourself into?” he asked.
“Me…” Then I remembered the sound of the bullet, the fight with Chase and then my jump.
Is she all right?
My heartfelt a twitch.
Who really fired the gun?
I didn't have an answer and Nikki wasn't there to answer them either.
“Yes, what did you do? Two cops were here when they bought you in.”
“Did you see anyone with me?” I asked.
“Nope. Just cops.”
“I’ve got to see if she is here.” I pushed my hands on the bed to get up, but an immense pain took me by storm. I lost my balance and fell back on the bed.
“Relax, I think they operated around your stomach.”
I breathed hard to regain my composure. That little action had left me breathless. After a minute, I checked my stomach. A large bandage was covering my left oblique.
“Don’t touch it, mister… God, please give these poor children some grace and save them from the pain,” a nurse said as she walked in. “Mr. Scott, you could have taken your stitches out.” She spoke in a southern accent.
“Where am I?”
“What do you think I am?” she replied, her arms folded over her chest.
“A nurse.”
“Then you must be in the hospital.” She clapped her hand. “Is it so difficult to guess?”
I was clueless why she was acting like a jerk. I wanted to ask what hospital I was in. “Why…?”
“Don’t you know? You were shot and we operated on you to save your life,” She looked at my chart. “If you can’t accept the outcome, why do you people play with guns.”
“Is she all right?” I was fed up with her questions. My mind was going numb. The only answer I needed was if she was all right.
“Who is
she
?”
“Was there a woman with me? Athletic build and blue eyes?” I got it. I had to ask her straight or she would continue to burn me with her response.
“No, nobody was there with you and nobody came to see you after you were admitted. Wait…” She looked at the door. “I remember someone was shot with you, but that person was admitted in the Intensive Care room.”
“Was it that girl? Nikki?”
“I don’t know, sir, and I don't have time to answer your foolish questions. Let me do my work. I don’t have time to talk with you. And you Mr. Sanderson, I hope you lay on the bed or I will sedate you.” She giggled ear to ear. Her teeth flashed with her sinister smile.
“Please, nurse, can you do me a favor and check if that person is a woman or a man? Can you check if Nikki is here?” I begged her; my head was spinning, my wound was hurting, but my heart could only think about her. The thought of something happening to her was eating me from the inside out. “I need to see her. I need to see her.”
“The only thing you need right now is the medicine.” She took out a syringe and put it in my drip.
“But…” My words vanished in the vacuum, like someone had put a sheet on my eyes, and I went back to the darkness.
Tristan
I was awake again, to the same white ceiling and the smell of medicine. The same sound of a heart monitor was beeping. I felt better than I’d felt earlier. I didn't know what time it was—it must be afternoon by the shade of light falling on the white tiles above me.
I turned left. The same lady was there, but this time without the oxygen mask. Her chest was slowly moving up and down.
She must be fine, but what day is it?
I turned right; the man I’d talked with was still there, hanging his legs on the edge of the bed.
“How are ya?” He smiled and then looked back at the lady. "She is doing better."
“Better.” I could speak on the first attempt. I could move my hand, too. There was nothing attached to it. The drips had been removed. I slowly checked my stomach; the bandage was still there.
“Yes, they cleaned you up last night and removed the drips. You seem to be much better than the first time I saw you. But the cops are still out there.”
“I'm happy that your wife is doing better.”
But what about Nikki? Where is she? And why hasn’t she come to see me.
“Yes, God’s grace.” He looked up. He was happy. A wooden cane was placed near his bed.
“Why the cane?”
“They gave it to me to walk around. The hospital thinks I need to use that every time I walk around. But you know what? I don't need it. I just need my wife to be okay and then I’ll be flying around like a bird.”
Nikki, where are you? If the man can walk knowing his wife is okay, I can run, baby, but only if you are fine.
“Did any one come to see me?” I had a false hope that Nikki had come.
“Not sure if anyone came while I was sleeping, but nobody came when I was awake.”
A black shadow crossed over my mind; it was painful with the possibility of her being in danger. “How many days was I asleep after that nurse drugged me?”
“Couple of days,” he said.
“Can I borrow your cane, please? I need to go and see someone.”
“You shouldn’t. You don’t look well enough to do that. Why don’t you call the nurse and ask about her?”
“I can’t. I don’t know where is she and that nurse wouldn’t give me proper answers.”
“You're right. She is a crazy one.” He chuckled.
“Can I have it?” Talking that much took out most of my energy. I needed a lot of it to go and check on Nikki.
He didn’t say anything, but handed his cane to me. I grabbed it, and with the help of the cane and the edge of the bed, I pushed myself to lift my body and sit up. “That’s better.”
“She must be pretty close to you, isn't she? I can't believe you’re going to see her in this condition. Nikki, want it?”
“How did you know her name?”
“You were calling her when you were sedated.”
“And that’s me, gents” Her smooth voice came through of the door. I quickly turned my head, and Nikki was standing in the doorway, the same blue eyes looking at me, touching my core, stuttering my heart.
“Nikki, baby.” I stood up and then lost my balance; the next thing I felt was the bed.
“Tristan,” She grabbed me before I could bang my head on the steel tray again. “Why are you so reckless? You were shot.”
Nikki was wearing a somewhat dirty, blue satin dress. She looked so beautiful, like a goddess straight from heaven, though tears were scattered over her whole face.
“Nikki.” I had to fight to give her a smile. All that action was taking a toll. But seeing her there bought peace to every atom of my body. Finally, I was at ease, seeing her alive. I lifted my hand with great effort to touch her cheek and confirm that she was really there.
“Calm down Tristan, I’m here.” A weak smile appeared on her face, making my day bright.
“How is Stephen, is he okay?” I was afraid that the bullet had hurt her son.
“Yes, he is all right. You saved us both.” She smiled at me, like a single star in the night enlightening the darkness around me.
“Thank God.” I closed my eyes in fatigue. Stars were floating in front of my eyes and I knew I would black out if I continued pushing myself.
Nikki pushed a button to lift my bed to a forty-five degree angle so I could lean back. “Thanks.” I said, my eyes still closed. "Forgive me if I'd lost hope, but I was really worried about you and Stephen."
“I'm all right and I need to thank you, sweetheart.” Her warm lips touched my forehead and then my cheeks. “You risked your life for us. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t come and check on you.”
“Where were you?” I wanted to wrap her in my arms, but it was too tough to even lift my finger. I let that mystery wash away.
"I'm sorry they gave you such a dirty room. I should put in a complaint," she said.
"That's fine, as long as you are all right. I've seen worse than this."
“I was attending to my dad here in the same hospital. He was shot in his heart by Chase. He underwent a lengthy operation yesterday and so I couldn’t come to check on you. But I called the nurse’s station and made sure that you were okay.”
I opened my eyes to look at her. Guilt was spilling from her eyes.
"I'm really sorry for this Tristan. You saved my life and I couldn't even take care of you. But the week was so crazy, I just couldn't do anything." She wrapped her arms around me.
“What really happened? I remember nothing.”
“Chase was going to shoot me while I was holding Stephen, but you came between us and saved us.”
“How did your dad get shot?”
“He was there. He fired at Chase, but missed him and Chase shot back. He was shot below his heart.” Nikki started sobbing hard. “It was so painful to see you both injured and bleeding. I thought I would die by just looking at you both.”
“What happened then?” Logically, Chase had the open ground to shoot everybody who was still alive.
“When the first gunshot was heard, Carrie called the police and they were there in time to save you both. But you lost too much blood and ended up here.”
That’s why the cops are here.
“I’m happy that you and Stephen are all right.” A warm feeling spreading over my heart. I didn’t care what happened to me, but it was great to know they both were fine and happy.
“I’m so sorry Tristan. I put you in this mess. If I hadn’t told Carrie about my plan, you wouldn’t have come…”
“And you would have ended up with that bastard. If I ever get my hands on him, I’m going to kill him.” A pain and dark rage shot through my spine. That bastard, Chase, had done a lot of damage to me and Nikki and he couldn’t just get away with it.
“Ma’am.” A nurse came inside.
Nikki looked behind her. “Yes, Nurse.”
“I have bad news for you.” She paused for a second. Nikki’s eyebrows drew together, the air around her tensed.
“Your dad passed away few minutes ago. I’m sorry for your loss.” Her words seem mechanical. I wondered how many people she had told same news to already.
I rested my hands on Nikki’s shoulder; she was frozen in the moment. She couldn’t grasp what had happened few minutes ago.
“Nikki.” I slowly moved my hands on her back. My parents had passed away years ago, and that was the most tense period of my life. I could understand what was she going through, “You should go and see to your dad.”
She still remained silent, like she hadn’t understood what the nurse told us.
“Nikki.” I raised my voice slightly. She had to understand what just happened. That long, stunned face of hers was breaking my heart.
“Yes.” She came alive.
“Your dad. The nurse just told us that your dad passed away. I’m extremely sorry for that.” With all the might I had, I pulled her closer to me.
She collapsed in my arms, and a pain shot through me as her weight put pressure on my wound.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, in pain.
“But how could he…” I could feel the dampness of her skin as I placed my hand on her cheeks.
“Nikki…” I had nothing to say. It was awkward an moment. The only thing I could do was to console her in my arms.
A few minutes passed; the dark river of tears through her eyes was flowing continuously. I just couldn’t do anything. Nobody could do anything.
Her body was vibrating with each wave of sobs. I knew her relationship with her dad wasn’t that strong, and she probably hated him for keeping her son away. But still, he was her dad. Seeing her like that, I thought I understood her a little more.
“Nikki, you should go and check on him.” I held her at arm’s length. Her hair was scattered on her face; her eyes were watery and her skin was wet and reddish due to her continuous sobbing.
“Kiddo, you should go and see him one more time.” I moved her hair out of her face. “Let’s go. I’ll come with you.” I wasn’t in any condition to accompany her, but seeing her like that broke my heart and gave me the strength of an ox.
I didn’t want to see her like that, broken and devastated.
***
Five days had passed since Nikki's father passed away. Her dad was cremated in a simple memorial; she didn’t want it to be anything big. Nikki was still devastated by the news, but she was holding on. She had a son to look after.
I’d been was discharged from the hospital yesterday on the account that I would take proper bed rest. But I’d come with Nikki to meet her lawyer.
“I’d always seen him standing high, with power, confidence and the attitude to take over the world.” Quiet words came out of her mouth, while she was still looking at horizon.
“I was amazed with his persona when I first met him.” I remembered our first meeting. It was nowhere near a proper meeting or anything. I was about to get killed, but still, the way he handled the situation and the way he reacted to me when I said no to his offer still stuck in my mind. That had impressed me a lot. I knew only people on the top of their game could handle a refusal like I’d given him.
“He was like that” Her eyes filled with tears again. “I never understood him completely. On one hand, he was always disappointed in me and took my son away, but on other hand, he cared for me and took care of all of my financial needs. I was surprised when he threatened to kill Chase for just the thought of touching Stephen.”
“Did he ever mention the reason he kept you both separated?” I was curious about everything. From the moment I’d known she had a son, I was curious about her. Who was the father, how did they get along? Her past life remained a mystery to me.
One moment I wanted to ask her about it, but then wasn’t the time. She was recovering from the loss and I was not an evil person, to ask her those things in the time of her grief.
The moment will come to you, Tristan, slowly.
“Never. I asked him again and again. I cried, I begged him, I threatened him, but he was firm. He was waiting for Stephen to be one year old. The day he turned one, he took Stephen away. I think I know why he did that, but not sure actually why he did that.”
“Hello, Miss Jordan. Please accept my condolences.” An old man in his sixties entered from a door behind the chair across the table. The door was so hidden that we’d never noticed it.
“Hello, Mr. Shaun.” Nikki shook hands with him, “ Tristan is my friend, and if you don’t mind I would like him to remain with me.”’
Mr. Shaun smelled like red Habana, a famous cigar from the north side. I recognized it because one of my friends used to smoke them all the time.
“That’s perfectly fine. I’m going to open Mr. Jordan’s will and it’s good that you have someone with you.” He pressed a button on the table; a file appeared from within the table. It was like watching a science fiction film.
“Your father made two wills, but we will go with the latest will he prepared one month ago.”
Nikki nodded her head.
Mr. Shaun opened the will. “I’ll tell you about his assets first, and then we will read the will.”
“Fine,” Nikki replied with a deep voice.
“Your father spread his assets all over the world in the form of apartments, offices, hotels, and various businesses. The total worth of his assets is one hundred billion.”
“Did you say billion?” I asked. That was a huge number.
“Yes.” He looked at me from behind his spectacles, like he was trying to read me.
“All these properties and businesses are in Stephen’s and your name. But there are few clauses, here.”
“What clauses?” Nikki asked.
“Ninety-nine percent of the business will be handled by a firm set up by him until Stephen is eighteen, and if anything happens to him before that, the total funds will be donated to charity.”
“Okay. I don’t care about his money.” Nikki said.
“The remaining one percent, which is around one billion is accumulated in one business. His MMA league. That, you would have to take care, and the profit will be yours.”
“Why did he put the MMA league separate? I can’t handle that business. It’s out of the question.”
“There is another clause here. If you don’t wish to handle the business, Stephen will be raised in a foster family by declaring you an incapable parent.”