CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – LILY #2
I return the sentiment, but as I’m climbing out of the tub a few minutes later, he calls back, and it’s clear that his whole mood has changed. “Lily. Fuck, I don’t want to have to ask you this…”
The strain in his voice makes my heart drop and I grab a robe, pulling it over my wet body. “What is it? You can ask me anything, Ellis.”
“It’s my mom,” he says, his voice cracking.
“A reporter found his way into her care facility and asked her a bunch of questions about Leo. She didn’t know what he meant, of course, and her carer said she’s in a real state.
The staff kicked the guy out, but I need to move her to the ranch as quickly as possible. ”
“Oh, Ellis. Your poor mom. Is she okay?”
“Shook up. Really confused.”
The pain in his voice brings furious tears to my eyes, but I blink them away. We can get angry later; right now, I have to help Ellis. “I’m so sorry that happened.” I hurry into the bedroom, grabbing my jeans off the floor and pulling them on. “What do you need me to do?”
“The facility will handle the transfer, but I need someone there who can act as a friendly face. Plus, it would be good if you can call me directly, just in case anything goes wrong.” He sighs, his voice raw. “I shouldn’t ask you to do this, Lily. I know you want to keep a low profile.”
“Stop, Ellis. Your mom is more important than any of that.”
“Just make sure you take one of the security guys with you. The facility has their own, but clearly, they're not doing their damn job.”
“Of course.” I grab a t-shirt, bra, and bandana, already planning the trip in my head. “If you text me the address, I’ll leave right away.”
He blows out a breath, clearly relieved. “Thanks so much. I’d ask Tris and Otley, but I’m not sure she can wait that long.”
“I want to do this Ellis.” If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s surviving a crisis. “Leave it with me. I’ll look after her, I promise.”
“Okay. I’ll be in the air in an hour, and I should be at the ranch before dinner.”
“We’ve got this.”
“Thanks again, Lily. You don’t know how much it means.”
He texts me the care facility’s address as I hurry downstairs, looking for Cooper.
He arrived yesterday with extra men to patrol the ranch, but instead of finding him, I run straight into Zander, who’s making a call in the living room.
He takes one look at my face and hangs up. “What is it? What do you need?”
“Ellis’ mom. A reporter got to her at her care facility in Redstone, and Ellis wants us to bring her here.”
“Catherine?” There’s a surprisingly tender glint in his eyes before they narrow, and he strides towards the front door, steam practically coming out of his ears. “Come on, we’ll take one of those fancy SUVs.”
I nod, relieved I’m not going to have to navigate the mountain roads alone.
Zander doesn’t hesitate to jump into the first available SUV, where Wyatt, a young beta with sunburn on the back of his neck, has just pulled up.
He pushes his sunglasses up on his nose and looks at us in surprise.
“We’re going to collect Mrs. Castle,” Zander says in his gruff way. “Do you need to call your boss?”
“I can do that from the road.”
Zander grunts his approval and I give Wyatt the care facilities’ address as I scramble into the passenger seat.
It’s closer than I expect, but when we pull up twenty minutes later outside a sleek, well-maintained building, Catherine Castle is already out front.
She’s sitting in a wheelchair, and looks small and fragile as they try to load her into a transport van.
She’s shaking her head, her wispy blonde hair whipping into her face as she says something to a man in blue scrubs.
I start in her direction when an alpha in a suit steps in front of me, cutting me off.
He’s tall with thick white hair and a face that’s too smooth for his age.
He also smells strongly of synthetic citrus, which isn’t my favorite scent.
“Ms. Percy. Mr. Ellis said you were on your way. I’m Leonard Richland, the director of Serene Brook Care Home.
We have Catherine’s transportation in hand, and I’ve arranged for her primary caregiver to get her settled at the other end. ”
I’m only half listening to him, because Ellis’ mother is still arguing with the man in scrubs. “Thanks, but I need to speak with Catherine. Ellis wants an update as soon as possible.”
A muscle twitches in the director’s cheek, but I ignore it, my gaze still on the caregiver who is now forcing the wheelchair into brackets on a lifter. Catherine’s distress is obvious, and I frown at the director. “Does she need that wheelchair? Why can’t she just sit in the van?”
He gives me a condescending look. “It’s our policy to transfer patients this way…”
He goes on to outline the exemplary care Ellis’ mom has received at Serene Brook, but Catherine is watching a young woman in pink scrubs, and I can see her distress reflected in her face.
Leaving the director midsentence, I stride over to the caregiver and extend my hand.
“Hi, I’m Lily. I’m here to take Catherine home. Are you one of her caregivers?”
The woman is a pretty beta with neat dark hair and laugh lines around her brown eyes. “I’m Jenny. Nice to meet you. I’ve been with Catherine since she arrived, but Roger is the senior caregiver now.”
There’s no malice in her voice as she nods in the direction of the guy in scrubs, but I pull a face. “Honestly, I think we need to get Catherine into a less-stressful environment, and I don’t think Roger is the answer. Are you free to come with me if we leave now?”
She glances at the director, a slight crinkle between her brows. “I was told I’m only here to provide moral support…”
“But you’re fully qualified to look after Catherine’s needs?”
“Of course.” She leans towards me, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “It’s just that Roger is Mr. Richland’s nephew, and Catherine is an extremely important resident…”
“I get it.” Either the director wants to get his nephew into a cushy overtime position, or he wants a spy in Ellis’ home, so he can stay informed of anything relating to his ‘extremely important resident’. Neither of which I’m about to let happen.
Zander and Wyatt have been hanging back, but now I wave them over. “This is Jenny, Catherine’s preferred caregiver,” I tell them. “We’re going to transfer Catherine to our SUV, and Jenny’s going to come with us to settle her in.”
“Good plan,” Zander says, nodding at the caregiver before striding over to have a firm word with the guy in scrubs.
Roger doesn’t take kindly to the interruption, and Wyatt neatly separates him from Catherine, backing him up to the curb.
As soon as he’s out of the way, Jenny and I head over to join Zander.
Catherine Castle was a striking brunette omega in her forties when she had Ellis.
She had already captivated the world with her blend of Hollywood elegance and down-to-earth warmth and was famous for playing high-powered, confident women with a heart of gold.
While I only know her from the roles I’ve seen her play, it’s hard not to feel a wave of grief when her confused gaze meets mine.
Of course, I knew she had given Ellis his striking green eyes, but it’s another thing to feel them look at me with cautious hope.
“Hello, Mrs. Castle.” I say softly. “My name is Lily. I’m a friend of your son’s. He’s asked me to come help get you settled into the ranch.”
An uncertain smile quivers on her lips for a moment before she looks at the woman beside me. “Oh, Jenny, I’m so glad you’re here. Roger said I have to do what he says, or Mr. Richland will take away my Baby Blue.”
There’s an almost childlike fear in her voice and as we realize she’s talking about the knitted blanket over her lap, a growl rumbles in the back of Zander’s throat.
He’s stayed quiet until now, but his reaction draws Catherine’s gaze and the transformation is immediate.
The only thing I can compare it to is seeing a rainbow appear after a month of wild storms and black skies.
“Zander! Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you.
Is Ellis with you?” She reaches out to touch his hand, hers pale and trembling against his wiry, weathered one.
“I know I’m not the best mother, but he’s so much happier spending time with you than me. ”
“I think he likes us both just fine, ma’am,” Zander replies, giving her frail hand a gentle squeeze. “Now, how about we go for a ride, and I’ll show you the new horses Ellis just bought?”
She perks up immediately, and I give Zander a grateful smile as he helps Jenny lower the lifter and wheel Catherine over to the SUV.
I’m thinking about going over to rescue Wyatt, who’s now having strong words with both Roger and the director, when a hand clamps on my arm, and a strange alpha grins down into my face.
He has a recording device in his hand and a camera looped around his neck, so it isn’t hard to guess why he’s singled me out.
“I got some real interesting quotes from the old bat, in between all that word salad sloshing around in her in her brain,” he tells me with a toothy grin that reeks of malice.
“Fuck off!” I hiss, trying to push past him, but he blocks my escape.
“You want me to tell the world how neglect runs in the Castle family? Sounds like the famous Lady Vet could barely keep her own kid alive while she was living it up in Hollywood. I guess the rotten apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh?”
“Leave me alone!” I snarl, jerking on my arm, but he just grips me tighter.
“We could do a whole exposé,” he goes on, still giving me that repulsive grin. “Drag all the freaky skeletons out of the Castle closet and make them pay for burying you and your kid in Buttfuck, Idaho.”