The Unlucky Ones, page 15
I had been the last one to see my father. Mom was too distraught and my sister refused to.
Jason Thorpe had dangled in a coma for a few hours before death claimed him. It was long enough for me to see him hooked up to all the machines, unconscious. The shell of the man I’d looked up to. Ten minutes after I said goodbye, he passed away, like he had been waiting for me to leave.
Now his younger brother was lying in a similar bed, only a few doors down from where Dad died.
I stepped closer, my hand touching the blanket over his legs. Groggily, his lids fluttered and finally lifted enough to see me.
“Devy,” he rasped, wincing over the word.
Relief at the sound of his voice filled my eyes with tears. My forehead fell on his chest as I sobbed, his weak hand running over my head. He let me cry, softly stroking my hair, my ear pressed to his beating heart. He was alive. It was all I could ask for right now.
“Don’t ever scare us again like that.” The tears had ebbed, and I lifted my head, staring into his dark eyes. “Please. You’re all we have left.” It was horrible not to be able to count my mother, but it was reality. Sadly, she would not be in our lives much longer.
His hand squeezed mine, understanding my meaning.
“Ms. Thorpe?” A man’s voice spoke behind me, jerking me away from my uncle. I wiped my eyes, staring at an older, dark-haired man wearing a doctor’s coat, his hands gripping a clipboard. “I’m Dr. Grant.” I knew vaguely who he was already; he was the father of a kid I went to school with who was a few grades lower than me. He was so smart he took advanced classes way ahead of his class. Think he graduated early.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Thorpe?” Dr. Grant said, moving around to the side of the bed, his demeanor aloof and no-nonsense.
Gavin grunted, shifting in the bed.
“You are extremely lucky. The good news is the bullet missed your vocal cords. The bad news is the area is still quite damaged and inflamed. You will fully recover, but the healing process will not be easy. You will be our guest for a while. We want to monitor you closely.”
Uncle Gavin’s body wiggled when the doctor mentioned the slow mending process he had in front of him. He was not a patient person nor someone who liked having even a cold. If he could, he’d get up and walk out right now, forgoing the doctor’s advice.
Dr. Grant checked his vitals, telling him to rest, but the moment he walked out the door, Gavin tugged at the blanket, wanting to get up.
“Oh. Hell. No.” I slapped his hand away, re-tucking him in.
He glared at me.
“Sorry. Tough luck,” I responded to his unspoken sentiment. “I am going to be here, make sure you heal properly.”
He shook his head, his lids narrowing. “Mom. Work,” he scraped out.
I shook my head. “Amelia is with Mom, and I got time off work.”
His mouth pursed like he was going to speak again.
“Stop. Family is the most important. You are the most important. Don’t even think about fighting me on this. You know how stubborn we Thorpe women can be.”
He rolled his eyes to the side with a grunt, as though saying you’re telling me.
“There’s another woman who is stubborn as hell and won’t leave.” I tilted my shoulder to the door with a smile. “They won’t let Lucy in because she’s not family, but I want you to know she hasn’t even gone home to change.” I paused, winking. “I always liked her. How come you guys were never a thing?”
His eyes narrowed, lips pressing together before he let his eyes shut.
“Okay, pretend you need rest, but you’re not getting out of this conversation,” I teased.
He opened one eye, glaring at me, then shut it again.
I stood and kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
He nodded lightly, his body going slack, falling asleep.
Curling into the chair next to his bed, it wasn’t long before I joined him, drifting off into a deep slumber.
Chapter Seventeen
“I’m not kidding, Dev,” Uncle Gavin growled with irritation as he sat on the edge of his hospital bed. The morning sun drifted over his scowling face. A small bag sat packed next to him.
“I can see you’re not kidding.” I shoved his slippers under his feet. “Ask me if I care.”
“Devon, you’ve been here for almost three weeks. What about your job? Your mom?” He wiggled his feet into the soft shoes.
Mom was constantly on my mind. I called the facility twice a day at least. Bethany reassured me there had been no change in her. The moment anything happened, I would be home.
“I’m not leaving you.” I stood, my hands on my hips. When they finally removed him from intensive care, he came to this room, where I had spent almost every moment. “You’re just being released today. I don’t want you to be home alone yet.”
“Why? I’m a grown man—”
“Who got shot and almost died. Stop being stubborn.”
“Me stubborn?” He huffed. “I thought Amelia took after your mom, but I was wrong. You by far out-stubborn your sister.”
“Just when I’m right.”
His head fell back and he stared at the ceiling, gritting his teeth. He took a breath and peered at me calmly.
“It’s time, Devon. Don’t get me wrong, every moment you’ve been here for me, I am grateful. I couldn’t have gotten through this without you.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Think Lucy would have stepped in,” I taunted.
“Stop evading.”
“Who’s evading?” I laughed. “She has been here every day. I’ve watched you two together… I haven’t seen you smile like that. Ever!”
“She’s my old partner. We have history. That’s it.”
I groaned, rolling my head around. “You are so blind.”
“There are rules. It’s not something I will even think about.”
“Screw the rules.” I tossed out my arms. “You almost died, Uncle Gav. You should throw all the bullshit out the window. Don’t miss out on something wonderful because you’re scared.”
He watched me. “Why do I feel you need to be listening to your own advice?”
“What are you taking about?”
“You know I was lying in the bed for weeks hurt, not deaf. I overheard some of your conversations with Skylar.”
Damn it. I had told her what happened between Lincoln and me, which she was thrilled about. But Lincoln’s radio silence brought me to the profound realization…I was a fool. I threw myself into being Gavin’s nurse, keeping my mind on what was truly important. It was what I was good at, forcing my thoughts not to drift to Lincoln Kessler.
Skylar, of course, thought I was wrong. Accusing me of taking the safe, easy way out. Shutting the door before it was even fully opened.
“I feel you are now using me as an excuse not to go home.”
Folding my arms, I glanced away.
“Devon.” He grabbed my hands, tugging them to him, forcing me to look at him. “I love you so much. If anything ever happened to you, I can’t even imagine what I would do. I understand your fierce devotion to family. Believe me, I don’t forget you girls are all I have in the world. But I don’t want you to stop living because of me. I’m out of danger. I still need to heal, but believe it or not, I can feed myself and do my own laundry. Even put on my slippers.”
I chuckled halfheartedly. He was right. At first, I stayed because he needed me, and then I didn’t go because I needed him and this bubble of safety. It was nice to be around someone who was getting better, not continuing to deteriorate like my mother.
Here I could hide from the responsibility at home. From him.
I had talked to Nat a few times. They ended up hiring Miguel’s younger brother, but Nat said he was awful and Lincoln had fired him after two weeks.
Amelia assured me Mom’s condition had not changed, and she was visiting her three times a week. I accepted the lie, not wanting to fight with her about it. She seemed to forget Bethany and I spoke regularly. She had been there four times total in three weeks.
“Go home and be with Mia and your sister for the holidays.” He let go of my hands. “All I’m going to be doing is sleeping and watching car shows.”
“Ugh.” I recoiled. “You really are trying to get rid of me.”
“I’d have you stay forever, but this is not your home anymore. You are meant for more, and I don’t want you to get trapped here because it’s easy. It’s not who you are.”
“You are being awfully deep today.”
“Blame it on almost dying.” He grinned. “I want more for you.”
“How about I get you settled and then—”
“Hey?” A knock on the door cut off the rest of my sentence. Lucy popped her head through the door. “Was going to go get you checked out.” She thumbed toward the nurses’ station.
“Thank you, Vasquez.” My uncle addressed her formally, but a note of softness lined his voice.
“No problem. Bet you’ll be happy to get home. I’ll be back in a moment.” She smiled and vanished.
“Now I know why you want to get rid of me.”
“Shut up,” he grumbled, but something flickered in his eyes.
“I’ll make you a deal.” I gathered my arms together, a smile on my mouth. “I’ll go home after I settle you in… if you open your mind. Ignore rules and see the possibility of Lucy.”
“Devon…”
“Scared, are we?” I challenged.
“Damn, you are so your mother’s daughter.”
“Is that a yes?”
He glared up at me.
It certainly wasn’t a no.
The kitchen of our old house had been remodeled. Gavin’s furniture filled the spaces, particularly the large TV screen, otherwise the house looked the same. But it felt different, another life, another person who lived here.
Even though the fire didn’t destroy the house, in a way it burned any ties I felt to it. I used to hold on to it because it held memories of my father, of our life before. But now I felt nothing for it as I strolled in. My dad would always be with me, no matter where I was.
Lucy and I helped Uncle Gavin onto the sofa, and to his credit, he didn’t even fight our help.
Habit directed me to the kitchen to make tea for everyone, but my focus halted on an open file on the table, a black-and-white Xeroxed picture on top.
My eyes widened, the pulse in my neck throbbing as adrenaline pounded through my veins.
From the counter, Finn Montgomery’s face stared at me. A headline glared up at me.
Wanted: Escaped from prison.
The floor beneath my feet disappeared. Heat pricked at the back of my neck, sweat bursting down my back. No. No way. My feet slid to the table, my fingers reaching out, as if I had to touch it for it to be real.
It was the mug shot from the day he was arrested. The same mouth I kissed. The same shirt I had torn from his body.
Lucy sauntered in, her attention moving from me to the file, her muscles stiffening.
“He didn’t want you to know about it.” She moved in closer, dragging the file from me and shutting it in the file cabinet.
“Didn’t want me to know what?” I breathed in and out through my nose, barely able to swallow.
She looked behind her, checking my uncle’s sleeping form before turning back. “I argued you had the right to know, but he’s your uncle and my captain.”
“Tell me now, Lucy.” The whole station knew I had been at the restaurant, but none had any clue how deep my ties to Finn went. My lies kept me safe from facing the stand. I helped condemn him with merely a nod of my head.
“Finn Montgomery escaped from jail around nine months ago.”
“What?” My mouth dropped open. “Nine months? And you’re just telling me now?”
“He didn’t want to worry you or add to your stress. And by now, if he had any resentment for those who put him away…” She left the rest unsaid, but my head filled in the rest. “He would have already come for you.”
“You haven’t found him?”
“No. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. He doesn’t seem the type to go after anyone. He’s a nonviolent thief, nothing more. We’ve been on high alert and will continue to be so. Believe me, we will know if he sets a toe in this town,” Lucy tried to reassure me. “It’s really strange because he was only a year from going up for parole. The model inmate from what they told us. Doesn’t make sense he would ruin that by escaping. Now when we capture him, he might be facing a life sentence.”
She sounded so sure they would catch him, but I had this strange feeling Finn Montgomery was long gone.
“Again, you have nothing to worry about. From what your uncle told me, Montgomery probably didn’t see you because you were in the bathroom.”
“Yes. Right.” I nodded, squeezing my fingers together as I tried to even out my breath, hiding the bristling warning driving over my subconscious like a semi.
The man I thought had been safely locked away was out.
Like you didn’t know it already, a voice whispered into my head.
Finn Montgomery was a free man, and I had a good idea I knew exactly where he was.
Chapter Eighteen
The apartment smelled of warm blueberry muffins when I stepped in, my belly grumbling. It was a tradition on Christmas morning from when Amelia and I were kids.
Our parents always tried to give us the best holiday, even without a lot of money. They instilled in us the best gifts were homemade or straight from the heart. We focused on family on Christmas. Mom didn’t stay in the kitchen away from us, and we didn’t spend it by ourselves playing with our toys. We would order Chinese food and filled the day sledding in the mountains or going to a movie or playing board games all day. I was pleased Amelia, for all her frustrating, selfish ways, had continued this tradition with Mia.
Stepping into the living room, I spotted what could only be called a Christmas bush, not a tree, but it was decorated with lights and homemade Mia ornaments: colorful paper rings, glued stick objects, and popcorn strings. Five stockings hung from the air conditioner: mine, Amelia’s, Mia’s, Mom’s, Dad’s and Uncle Gavin’s.
Emotion swirled in my chest at the sight of Mia and Amelia sitting on the floor, playing with a puzzle.
At the sound of the door, Mia’s head jerked to me. “Auntie Dev!” She screamed, jumped up, and ran to me, leaping into my arms, strangling me with her skinny little arms. “I’ve missed you so much. Don’t ever go away again. My heart hurt.”
Oh jeez, why don’t you stab me in mine, little Bean. I kissed her head, holding her to me, rocking us together. “I missed you too, Bean. I hated being away from you so long.”
My sister got up then and wrapped her arms around us both, making a sandwich out of Mia. “We both missed you.”
“Same.” One arm reached for my sister, dragging her in to snuggle with us.
“Come help us with the puzzle Mommy got me.” Mia wiggled out of my arms, tugging me to the coffee table.
“Let her put her stuff down.” Amelia rubbed her head, glancing at me with a weary look and nodding toward Mia. “She’s been up since six this morning. Is it too early to drink?”
“Hell no,” I sniggered. “It’s a holiday.”
“Good thing.” She wrapped her arm around my waist. “I really missed you, Dev. Three weeks without you felt like a century. I’ve haven’t felt this exhausted since Mia was born.”
Maybe you found out how much I do around here.
She hugged me again then proceeded to the kitchen, pulling down a bottle of wine. I had been up since six a.m. as well. The bus ride home took longer than usual, bringing me to the front door at eleven thirty…close enough to noon, right?
We enjoyed the early afternoon, Amelia making her obligatory phone call to her asshole ex so Mia could wish him a happy holiday. He couldn’t care less, and Mia handed the cell back as soon as she said hello to her father and other grandmother. In the afternoon we visited Mom for an hour. She seemed the same as when I left, but no longer understood the concept of Christmas and couldn’t hold a conversation, tiring quickly. Amelia and I took Mia to the park before we went home, ordered a bunch of Chinese food, and pigged out.
At nine, Amelia and Mia were both passed out on the sofa together. Times like this I could see the deep love between mother and daughter. Despite her aggravating ways, Amelia was a good mom.
Finishing the last of the wine, I called Nat to say hi.
“Devon!” Nat picked up on the second ring. “Chica, I’ve so missed you. When are you coming back?”
“Actually, I got home this morning.”
“Really?” She crooned with excitement. “Yay! The bar has not been the same without you. Julie has threatened to quit every day, and Miguel’s jackass little brother was more of a hindrance than a help. He was so bad he made Miguel’s work ethic appear stellar.”
“Wow,” I snorted.
“Lincoln’s also been a grump, not that he’s usually in a good mood, but even more surly than usual.”
Lincoln. He’d been all I could think of. My mind rolled around and around in circles. I needed to see him, needed to know.
“I figured the bar was closed today, so I was thinking of stopping in tomorrow, talking to Lincoln about coming back.”
“Yes! I say you’re rehired. No question,” Nat burst out. “But the bar isn’t closed tonight.”
“What?”
“Yeah, it’s just Lincoln, but he wanted to leave it open for those, like him, with nowhere to go.”
Nowhere to go. The thought made me twitch.
Lincoln wasn’t close with his brother, and he had no other family I knew of. What about friends? He also didn’t appear to exist on social media or anywhere online for that matter. Someone as sexy as him with no girlfriend? No group of friends from school? You’d have thought he was trying to keep a low profile.
