5. Damien
Damien
I ’d blamed myself for Dad’s first heart attack based on what Darius had said. My conscious mind knew my brother was wrong, yet I couldn’t stop the nagging subconscious feeling that my decision to reappropriate funding away from quarterly dividends was part of the reason Dad was fighting for his life.
Ella’s hand came to my chin, turning me toward her. “It’s not your fault.”
I clenched my jaw with the realization she was right. Dad’s health wasn’t my fault. That didn’t mean I couldn’t lay the blame for Dad’s latest episode on my brother. As the doors of the elevator opened on the first floor, my gaze met that of the man in my thoughts.
Surprise registered in his orbs while simultaneously, mine heated with rage.
Releasing Ella’s hand, I balled my fingers into a fist and swung.
Pain radiated from my knuckles to my shoulder as my fist collided with Darius’s left cheek.
“Stop.” The repeated screams of our wives echoed through the hospital lobby yet did little to slow my attack.
There wasn’t time to think or consider who was watching as Darius took a step back and I followed with another punch and another. Each strike offered a means of release. Fucking Ella in the bathroom had settled my nerves; that was, until Mom told us about Darius.
Down on one knee and holding his face, Darius raised his other hand. “Stop,” he mumbled.
Despite the time being in the middle of the night, two uniformed guards rushed our way. It wasn’t until one spoke that I saw he was brandishing a sidearm. “Take a step back, sir.”
Stretching out my fingers of my right hand, I backed away and spoke to the heavyset man with the badge and gun. “My name is Damien Sinclair. My father is on the sixth floor. This man is barred from visiting. I want him barred from the hospital.”
“You can’t do that,” Darius said between curses. Amber reached for his elbow, helping him stand. After shifting his jaw one way and the next, he spoke again. “My name is Darius Sinclair. I have every right to see my father. He’s currently in surgery.”
The guard slowly placed his gun back in the holster. “You two are coming with me.”
Ella reached for my arm. “Sir, we’re all tired. We’re sorry for the disruption.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “And you are…?”
“Gabriella” —there was a slight pause— “Sinclair. My mother-in-law has asked that Darius stay away.”
“Marsha wouldn’t do?—”
“She did,” I snapped, cutting off Darius.
“I could press charges,” he said. “I should.”
I took a step closer to him. “What did you say to Dad yesterday evening? His second heart attack is because of you.”
“That’s bullshit. I told you last week he was upset about what you were doing…”
The second hospital guard stepped between Darius and me. His movement reminded me of a short referee stepping between two much taller basketball players. The guard held up his hands. “Both of you leave.” He turned to me. “I’d like to get your mother’s name. We’ll sort this out.”
I nodded, ignoring the throbbing pain in my hand.
The same guard turned to Darius and Amber. “Visiting hours are over.”
“My father is in surgery.”
“He’s not,” Ella replied. “He’s out, and the next twenty-four hours are a waiting game.”
“You can’t stop us—” Amber began.
“I can,” the first guard said. “The lot of you. Take this outside. I don’t want to see any of you back in here until cooler minds have prevailed.”
“I want to press charges,” Darius said. “Physical assault. A police report.”
“Do it, brother.” The words seeped from between my clenched teeth. “I’ll see your physical assault and raise you attempted manslaughter.”
“Dad’s still alive.”
“Attempted,” I repeated.
“Come on,” Amber whispered, tugging on Darius’s arm.
The first guard nodded.
The second guard, turned to me with a small tablet. “If you could give me the information on your parents. I’ll check with your mother.”
“Check with her,” I said. “As soon as I leave here, I’m hiring a security firm to keep her and Dad safe.” I looked up to see Darius and Amber near the front doors. “They’ll also make sure he doesn’t get near either one of them.”
The guard sighed as if he’d heard the same story before—as if I was some blowhard making claims I’d never be able to take to fruition. What he didn’t know was that I could hire the best team. I’d have them in place before dawn.
“Your mother’s name?”
“Marsha Sinclair,” Ella said. “Her husband, Derek Sinclair, is only recently out of surgery.”
“Sixth floor? Cardiac.”
We both nodded.
He looked down at my hand. “The emergency room is that way.” He cocked his head.
I shook my head. “Keep my brother away. I’ll have a private security team here in a few hours.”
“We’ll talk to Mrs. Sinclair and follow through on her wishes.” His forehead furrowed as his eyes opened wider. “May I suggest some rest? Your family is dealing with a lot at the moment, and it can be exhausting.” He looked around. “There are cameras.”
I didn’t have time for this shit. I narrowed my gaze.
“We’ll take care of the footage, Mr. Sinclair. We were informed of your father’s admission. Keeping the identity of our patients safe is part of our job. We don’t need this shit on social media. Nothing happened here.”
Inhaling, I snaked my arm around Ella’s waist, and nodded. “Thank you, Officers.”
Ella and I walked in silence toward the front doors. With each step, I wondered if Darius would be outside on the sidewalk, waiting for his second hammering. Through the rotating door, we were met with a wave of humidity. Even though it was somewhere around three in the morning, my skin beneath my clothes quickly covered with a film of perspiration.
“No Darius,” Ella said.
A large black Suburban pulled up to the sidewalk. After parking, the driver got out and came around. “Mr. Sinclair. Ms. Crystal.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair,” I replied as he opened the back door.
“My apologies.”
“Not necessary.” I helped Ella into the SUV. “Do you have our luggage?”
“Yes, sir.”
I climbed into the seat at Ella’s side. “Just get us to the hotel.”
The slamming of the car door cut off the sounds of the night. Sirens in the distance disappeared. The faint sounds of birds and insects were gone.
“You’re not doing a good job of keeping our marriage secret,” Ella said with a tired grin.
I scoffed. “Secret-keeping gets lower on my priority list the more tired and pissed off I get.”
She reached over and laid her hand on mine. “Are you suggesting I use this time to learn all your dark secrets?”
As the driver took his seat behind the steering wheel, I turned my left hand so we were palm to palm. Lowering my voice, I whispered, “Dark secrets can wait. Ask me what I want to do to you when we get to the suite.”
Ella pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Some ice for your hand, a cool shower, and sleep.”
My eyebrows moved up and down. “I’m liking the shower idea.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
I lowered my voice to a deep growl. “You’re mine now, Mrs. Sinclair. I don’t plan on letting you forget.”
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I found Johnathon’s number and hit call.
“It’s too early,” Ella protested.
Johnathon answered before the second ring. “Mr. Sinclair.” His voice was as clear as it would be in the middle of the day.
My gaze met Ella’s. My next phrase was more for her than Johnathon. “Sorry about your sleep. I have a list of things I need done before sunrise.”
“What do you need?”
Once I hung up the phone, I met Ella’s judging stare.
“You never called me in the middle of the night like that. He needs a raise.”
“I never called you because in the middle of the night you were at my side…next to me, beneath me, over me…And for the record, he’s well compensated.”
“I’m not even going to start on salary inequality.”
“Good,” I replied. “I’ll text Mom and tell her about the security, and then it’s the two of us in the hotel.”
“I’m exhausted.”
I lifted her hand and brought her knuckles to my lips. “Our wedding deserves more than a quick fuck in a public bathroom.”
“It’s not legal until we sign the license.”
“More days to celebrate.”