Chapter Four
Giggles Iris Brathewait got off the phone and took a deep breath. She walked to her department head and said, “Devin, I need to go to the hospital. My half-sister was injured, and she needs some help.”
Devin glanced up. “Did you finish the video?”
“Yup. Jax just has to get the release for the vocals. The information was sent to him already.”
“Cool. I will nudge him for it.”
“I am hoping to be back tomorrow, or I will work from the hospital.”
“Thanks for letting me know.”
She nodded and went back to her desk, sending an email to HR and a text indicating she had spoken directly with Devin about a family emergency and that he was aware she was leaving. Her only deadline project was complete except for the vocal clearance through Jax.
She got her laptop and bag, and then she walked out of the animation offices and down the hall. Security checked her laptop and cell phone, and then she was on her way to her car.
Dex never called for help, but she was calling now. The addition of two alphas was funny. She wondered how they were going to react when she showed up. She called her brother from the car to let him know where she was going to be and then began to drive through the maze of the hospital parking lot.
She got her ticket and parked, locking her car and double-checking. Giggles headed inside, checked in at the desk, and got a visitor’s badge. She needed one for the omega floor. Poor Dex. Looked like everything was out in the open. Good.
* * * *
Dex heard the soft knock, and then the door swung open. A familiar face peered around and smiled. “Hey, Dex.”
Etienne looked up and stared, and Tosh said, “Holy shit.”
Giggles came in and smiled. “I know. It’s creepy, right?”
Dex smiled at her own face. “You went dark purple?”
“With my first name, no one bats an eye.”
Tosh blurted. “You are twins.”
“No. Our mothers were twins.” Giggles smiled. “Same sperm donor, but Dex’s mother survived, and mine didn’t. I had a great aunt who raised me. Dex’s mom hated my guts because it proved that her lover wasn’t loyal. Welcome to our worst fear. Guys who fuck around.”
Etienne winced. “Got it.”
Tosh asked, “Where did you meet?”
Dex and Giggles smiled.
“Ballet class,” Dex said. “Mom had no idea until the end of the course showcase. She was furious. There was no doubt that she was my cousin-sister.”
Etienne blinked. “You are identical.”
Giggles shook her head. “No. My eyes are different, but when Dex called, I put the matching lenses in.”
There was a light knock at the door, and Giggles walked toward the sitting area when the surgeon came in.
“So, we have been a little acrobatic?”
Dex looked at the man. “I don’t know what you have been doing, but this twatwaffle dropped me.” She jerked the hand that was still in Etienne’s.
The surgeon blinked. “Oh. Right. You are the appendectomy and splenorrhaphy.”
“Yes, two of the incisions opened.”
He nodded, and a nurse brought in a tray of instruments covered with a cloth.
The wounds were cleaned, a light was activated on her fancy bed, and the doctor quickly and efficiently removed the old stitches before replacing them with precise and small movements.
He was in and out in under ten minutes.
Giggles smiled. “Let me know when I can seal those up.”
Dex smiled. “Thanks. Come over here so I can press my cheek against yours because these twits aren’t letting my hands go.”
Giggles walked over and pressed her cheek against Dex’s. There was a spark and a crackle, and then Giggles giggled. “You really should have let them go before we did that.”
Dex snorted and looked from one to the other. Their hair was standing up slightly, and that was just a light touch.
Dex looked at her own face and smiled. “I wish we had had more time together.”
“We have everything from here on out.”
Tosh said, “What did you mean you can seal her up?”
“Oh. It’s just a trick I do with houseplants.” She smiled and backed away.
Etienne said, “You are willing to help?”
“Absolutely. I just have to change my hair, and we are solid. If he’s out, he’s coming.”
Dex swallowed. “You are sure you are good to do this?”
“Yup. When a vow bound me, I was helpless. Vow was broken, and I don’t let folks smack me around anymore. But I am going to be subtle.”
Dex started laughing and then reached for her abdomen.
Giggles said, “Why are they holding your hands?”
Etienne said, “She kept poking her wounds.”
Giggles laughed. “Dex, you need to warn them.”
Dex smiled. “They already know most of it. Oh, shit. Wizard, this is Etienne Aquilar, and this is Tosh. Guys, this is Wizard.”
“You can tell them my actual name.”
“Fine, this is Giggles Iris Brathewait. Also known as Wizard because she hates being called Giggles, but her mother named her before she died.”
Giggles shrugged. “I read her diary. It could have been worse. Powder puff was also on the table.”
Dex chuckled. “Giggles is usually a programmer, but right now, she’s working with animation. She’s keeping a low profile because she has a stalker ex-husband who also wasn’t keen on fidelity.”
Tosh frowned. “Are you safe?”
“Yes. I am staying with my older brother and his pack. They have a housekeeper’s room.
” She smiled. “It has room for me and a laptop, and I don’t need more space.
I am getting close to having enough for an apartment.
Lawyer is paid off, and I can breathe again.
He was great, but I will be happy never to need him again. ”
Etienne asked, “Your husband is a stalker?”
“Oh, yeah. Big time. He won’t take fuck off for an answer.
I said my vows, and he said his, but then other women were oh-so tempting, and he wasn’t made of restraint.
When he brought one home and tried to take her to my bed, I lost it.
I told him to take his betraying self out and leave the house.
That’s when he tried to kill me. The first responders were really helpful, as were the police.
They helped me find a lawyer and got a restraining order.
Then the divorce began, marching onward.
” She snorted. “That was fun. I was able to testify remotely due to the attempt to kill me.”
Etienne asked, “Didn’t you get anything in the divorce?”
“I did, but I put it in trust for my brother’s son. I wanted to start my life clean.”
Dex smiled. “Which is the kind of thing Wizard would do. Did do.”
Tosh asked, “Do you dance?”
“Not ballet. Contemporary and a bit of flamenco, but I am not very good at that yet.”
Dex snorted. “She’s good at ballet, but she gets distracted, and our instructor kept making her the primary dancer, so she started stumbling.”
Wizard grinned. “It worked. Madame freaked out, and I got to go to the chorus.”
Dex sighed. “Right. Down to business. I hate to ask, but will you help keep my dad from getting up here?”
“Sure. Do you want me to make him confess? Like, constantly and uncontrollably?”
Etienne blinked. “Can you do that?”
“Sure. Since I have been on my own, I have discovered I can do all kinds of bizarre things.”
Tosh asked, “But you have white hair as well?”
“Sure. I work from home and in a room where no one talks to me. It could be black or rainbow. No one would care.” She smiled. “Well, I have already put my sentries to watching for him. If he enters the building and passes one plant, I will know.”
Tosh looked at her. “So, you are a druid.”
“Sure. Whatever.” She waved one hand in the air.
Dex was laughing. It was nice to have Wizard at her side. They stood and discussed the plan while the nurse brought in her meal and did a double-take at Wizard.
Wizard grinned. “Spooky, right?”
The nurse laughed and set the meal down in front of Dex.
Wizard smiled and took a seat. Etienne offered to get food for the rest of them, and Tosh decided to get something from the gift shop.
Dex looked at her. “Did you just do that?”
Wizard nodded. “I did. He’s coming up the elevator, and I need to do an illusion so he picks the right sister.”
Dex swallowed with fear. “What should I do?”
“Let me hide you in the bathroom and stay there. Are we clear?”
“I... yeah.” Her heart was pounding.
Wizard got up and helped her walk slowly to the bathroom and left the door open, while hiding the reflection in the mirror. “You are good at this, Giggles.”
“I know. Now, shush. Don’t react, no matter what you hear.”
Dex stood and steadied her breathing. “Right. This is the last step.”
“Oh, and the moment things go silent, call nine-one-one.”
“Right. And you had better become me before he gets here.”
Wizard changed into Dex before her eyes, right down to the blood spots on the gown.
Wizard kissed Dex’s cheek, and then she went to jump into bed and manifest an IV.
* * * *
Giggles settled in bed and quickly unravelled her hair. She created the illusion of an IV and an additive pump and dozed against the pillows. The plants told her he was passing the registration desk and using his convincing on everyone he passed.
The door pushed open. Giggles slowly opened her eyes and gasped as he caught sight of her, and she fought a smile. He had brought flowers to make things convincing.
“You fucking bitch! You had me arrested. You know that you have to pay now, don’t you?”
Giggles looked at him. “I still don’t understand. What did I do to you?”
“You ruined my Dahlia. She was never the same after she had you. Once that Elite bastard left her alone, she should have been grateful to have me, but she had you, and you were so fucking perfect, she wouldn’t put you down.”
Giggles nodded. “So, you convinced her to put me down.”
“Yes, and now you are going to have a little problem with your morphine pump, and then this pain in my ass will end.”
While he spoke, the flowers on the floor began to move, and when he reached the bed, tendrils and vines wrapped around him, making him struggle. Giggle hopped out of bed, and the pump disappeared.