Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty Seven
Nico
“We understand where you’re coming from, Nico, but you can’t punch out an employee just because he grabbed your girlfriend,” Lionel, one of the board members of Sanders & Son says.
I lean forward in my chair as I rest my forearms onto the table.
“He didn’t grab her, her hit her. Repeatedly. For all anyone knew he was going to beat the shit out of her or fucking rape her right then and there. I protected not only my girlfriend but a woman from one of our employees. My character should not be called into question for this.”
A few of the members nod their heads in agreement while Lionel and a few of his buddies give me sour looks. I don’t give a fuck what any of them say. If they try to put me on a leave of absence or force me to give up my company, I’ll take their asses to court. End of discussion.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and for some reason, I take this extremely inappropriate time to check it. Cassi is home by herself and though it’s probably some junk email or something, I have to make sure.
“Are you seriously checking your phone, right now? We are discussing the future of this company and whether your presence will be apart of that?” Lionel snaps.
My eyes move across the screen, my gut twisting as I stand. I move towards the door without another word when Lionel calls out to me again.
“Nicholas! Nico! If you walk out that door, you are fired, do you hear me?”
I pause for a moment, looking back to him as I level him with a steady glare.
“I will make your life fucking hell. Go ahead, I dare you.”
With that, I step out of the conference room before I take off running to the elevator, Cassi’s text playing on a loop in my mind.
Cassi: I had coffee with Carly and she collapsed. Nico…I think she’s dead.
I raced to the hospital as fast as I could. When I got there, I found Cassi speaking with a few police officers. Jogging up to her, I step in between her and the officers as I cup her face.
“Babygirl, what happened?”
She looks up at me with red rimmed eyes as she shakes her head.
“I-I don’t know. One moment, Carly and I were talking and then she just…dropped. She clutched her chest and passed out. The doctors haven’t told me anything yet. I…I don’t know what happened to her, Nico. I don—”
Cassi devolves into a fit of sobs as she curls into my arms.
“Sir, what’s your name?” one of the officers says.
“Nico Sanders,” I respond.
One nods before pausing. “I know that name.”
Fuck. I know this is going to look awful.
“I currently have some restraining orders in place…one of them being against Carly.”
Cassi turns to look at me in surprise. I didn’t tell her I filed a restraining order against Carly and Alec. I also haven’t told her I filed them for her too. A little forged signature in the name of keeping her safe? I feel no regrets.
Both of the officers share a look before their eyes move to me.
“And now she’s in the hospital, and you’re sitting here comforting your ex’s sister?”
Yep. I knew as soon as I said anything that they’d be looking at me like that. Before I can respond, a doctor comes into the waiting area and sees Cassi. He heads straight for her and a wave of nausea overtakes me when I see the look on his face.
Cassi tightens in my arms as she slowly pulls away, like she’s trying to be brave and face what I know he’s about to say. She knows it too, I’m just not sure she’s fully ready to hear it.
“Family of Carly Fischer?” he verifies.
She nods before taking my hand into hers, squeezing tightly.
“How is she? What happened?”
I feel the officers behind us creep forward slightly to listen in.
The doctor keeps a straight face but there is a hollowed tone to his words as he speaks.
“She came in with what appeared to be sudden cardiac arrest. Despite multiple attempts at resuscitation, we were not able to revive her. She died at eleven thirty five. I am so sorry for your loss.”
I expect Cassi to sob. To breakdown and fall apart. Instead, she turns to stone. Unmoving, no reaction, no words. She just…stares. The doctor seems to shift on his feet like he’s unsure how to move forward when a police officer steps forward and intervenes.
“Were the drugs found on her person the cause? Was it an overdose or something more?”
“We can’t say for certain just yet. The lab is still testing the substance and we will inform you of what we find as soon as possible.”
His eyes move to Cassi’s once more.
“Is there someone we can call for you? Parents or?”
“They are on their way from Seattle,” Cassi rasps.
The doctor continues trying to talk to her but I can tell she’s tuning everything out. She’s practically slipped off into another world as the doctors and police officers speak to one another before looking to me.
“I know it’s not the best time, but we need to ask a few more questions down at the station.”
My eyes practically bug out of my head.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Her sister just died.”
“While she was with her,” the other office fills in. “Until we know the true cause of death, this is an open investigation and I’m looking at the two main subjects. I’m sorry, it’s protocol.”
“To hell with protocol! We will answer your questions here but we’re not going anywhere until…until she’s able to see her parents. Until they can grieve together.”
The cops share an irritated look before one of them nods.
“Let’s step somewhere a little more quiet.”