Chapter Six.
April
Irritated, I stared at Stone as he swallowed and took a step back. “I hope you’re done with Mr Rogers. Dr Simmons is concerned about his heart.”
My words annoyed Stone. The asshole’s shoulders stiffened, and he straightened. “Yeah, stress over his missing daughter and what he found today isn’t helpful.”
“Think I’m not aware of that? Believe me, Stone, I know exactly how heartache feels; I’m very acquainted with it.”
Stone winced. He wouldn’t comment on that; he’d be too scared to.
“Darren has hope,” Stone replied.
“Hope is a cruel emotion, not a positive one. Wishing for someone to come home doesn’t cause it to happen.
Instead, it turns you into a recluse and makes you bitter.
He’d be wiser not to dream. Mr Rogers would be better off believing Julie’s dead than living on false promises from the likes of you,” I said.
Stone physically flinched and took two steps back. “Is that what you really believe?”
“Yes. Excuse me, I’ve a patient to check on.”
“April,” he called as I walked away. I stopped but didn’t turn. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“Sorry is as useless as hope. Sorry is a word that means nothing; it’s just a balm to the person who needs to apologise. That makes them feel better. Not the recipient.”
“Fuck,” Stone muttered, but I didn’t hang around and left quickly.
Harlequin
As I headed to the office to start digging, my mind chewed over what April had said. She hated me. Unsurprisingly, April was incredibly bitter and couldn’t stand the sight of me. What had happened had changed her.
April had always been strong, but now she appeared cast in steel.
In our few encounters, I’d only ever seen disgust aimed at me.
The girl I’d broken hadn’t been capable of hate, not until I shattered her heart.
Not even her wayward parents had made April hate them.
Now hatred flowed through her veins. That was on me.
Conflicted, I parked behind the offices and headed inside. Marie was at her desk, on the phone. As I walked past, she waved a piece of paper, and I grabbed it. On the way to my office, Kaiser stuck his head out.
“Thanks, asshole. That cheating case is a recurring one. The dude’s a total bastard and every few months calls us to catch the wife out. I’m halfway to telling the woman what he’s doing. The dude is borderline stalking,” Kaiser complained.
“Maybe you should. If the asshole’s acting like that, his behaviour is worrying. The woman will end up dead.”
“True. I’ll talk to Slaughter.”
“You’d better, because those are psychotic tendencies,” I replied, and Kaiser nodded before disappearing back into his office.
I carried on to mine and took a seat. It was easier for me to type up the interview and highlight relevant information.
That way, if a contradiction happened, I’d spot it.
I sat down, opened my laptop, and got to work.
I was halfway through when something struck me.
Darren spoke of Julie in the present still, not the past. The man hadn’t even begun to accept Julie might not make it home.
If I found Julie dead, how on earth would the guy cope?
April was right. Hope was one of the cruellest emotions.
April
Just as I was about to leave, a nurse came and stood beside me. She inched closer, and I glanced across. Her name badge said Mahoney. She offered a warm smile, but I sensed it was fake.
“Hey,” she murmured.
“Hi,” I replied. Mahoney continued studying me, and I turned to face her.
“Is everything okay?”
“Sure. I just heard gossip and was wondering if it was correct,” she let out an obnoxious giggle, and I frowned.
“What rumour?”
“Did you say no to Dr Reines? Jeez, I mean, that can’t be right, the man is a hunk!” Mahoney tittered.
“Mahoney? That’s your name? Well, lady, it’s true, I said no. I’ve no interest in dating anyone,” I replied and turned back to my tablet to continue entering the updates.
“Are you a lesbian?” she asked, and I gaped and stared. Mahoney had the decency to wriggle under my glower.
“If I were, that’s no business of yours. How dare you ask such a question just because I turned down a date! That’s inappropriate and rude, and should be reported to HR.”
“Sorry,” Mahoney muttered and walked away quickly. Bitch! I hope she felt my eyes piercing into her back.
“Sorry means nothing,” I growled, then continued with my work.
From behind, soft laughter echoed. I sighed and put the tablet down.
“She’s been trying to get into Reines’ pants for months, he constantly turns her down. Mahoney reeks of desperation, and even Doc Love won’t go there,” Teagan explained.
“Did you fuck Reines?” I asked, and Teagan shook her head.
“Nope. Told him I was desperate for a baby, and the asshole ran like a little bitch,” Teagan replied, and I roared with laughter.
“Nice one. Damn, I should have thought of that.”
“Snooze, you lose,” Teagan teased. “Mr Rogers was suffering from stress and a panic attack. He’s being released. How is Jane Doe?”
“Simmons took Jane down for surgery. She’s still holding on; the girl’s a fighter.”
“Shit, I hope they find out whoever did this,” Teagan muttered, no longer laughing.
“Me too, and I pray they rot in hell,” I agreed.
“What are you doing tonight?” Teagan asked.
“A date with a hot book boyfriend.”
“Seriously?”
“Hey, I’ve the best vibrator known to women, lube, and an audiobook with a sexy male narrator. Damn right I have a date,” I stated, and Teagan broke into gales of laughter.
“Babe, we’re going out. It’s Friday night, and we’ve earned a drink.”
“We have?”
“Yup. You might even find a real-life book boyfriend,” Teagan teased.
“Honey, I don’t need a man. Trust me, they’re all rat scumbags.”
“Guy did a number on you, didn’t he?” Teagan asked.
“Who?”
“The asshole who broke your heart.”
“Oh, Teagan, Stone didn’t break my heart. Stone took a sledgehammer, smashed it into smithereens, and ground it into dust when he fucked my ex-best friend the next day,” I replied.
Teagan’s mouth dropped open. “Holy shit.”
“Exactly. Who needs a man?”
◆◆◆
God, if Teagan had said she wanted to come here, I’d have begged off. Hell’s Fury was packed solid, and I’d noticed some Hellfire cuts in the crowd. Luckily, none had been Stone. However, the guy heading towards me, grinning from ear to ear, scared me.
“Medusa!” Big Al cackled as he reached out to hug me. Deftly, I sidestepped, and he laughed.
“Big Al.”
“Didn’t expect to see you here tonight,” Big Al said.
“Truthfully, I didn’t pick this place. Teagan, my friend, did.”
“Ah, that makes sense. So, you’re not here alone.”
“Nope.”
“Prospect’s not here, so you can relax,” Big Al stated.
“Who?” I asked innocently, but I knew who he referred to.
“Harlequin.”
“The name suits him. Flighty, unable to stick, a huge flirt, immature, a joker and free with people’s feelings. Well done in naming Stone that,” I said.
Big Al’s eyebrows rose. “Harlequin did a real number on you.”
“Respectfully, I don’t want to discuss it. In fact, if we didn’t mention Stone, that would be wonderful. Asshole might be your brother, but I hate his fuckin’ guts. If Stone died, I’d stand here and not lift a finger to help.”
Big Al whistled and looked serious. “Harlequin really hurt you badly.”
“Told you, leave it alone.”
Big Al nodded as sadness fleetingly crossed his expression. “Have a good time tonight, Medusa.”
“Sure,” I replied and offered a chin tilt as he walked away. Big Al seemed troubled, which wasn’t my problem.
Teagan appeared, her eyes wide. “April, you’re friendly with Hellfire MC?” she asked.
“No. I met Big Al once, and he was saying hi. I don’t know the club.”
“Liar, you know me. Hello, April,” a guy stated and pecked me on the cheek. I peered up into the smiling face of Smokey.
“Hey,” I replied lamely.
“How’s the snakes?”
“Not seen any lately!”
“Good.”
“Teagan, this is Smokey. He’s the dude I told you about who wrestled a snake from my car. Smokey’s friend said it was poisonous, but the phone’s predictive text kicked in and stated it wasn’t!” I introduced Smokey.
“Oh man! You’re a hero. April was mortified that you could have been bitten. That was so brave.”
Smokey smiled at Teagan, and I saw the interest in his eyes. Like me, she was a curvy woman but with a model’s looks.
“Honestly, if I’d been aware it was dangerous, I’d have shut the door and called my friends to collect the damn thing,” Smokey admitted. Teagan and I both laughed.
“Yeah, we’ve had a fair few in with rattler bites. Some idiots do provoke them,” Teagan agreed.
“Good example of an idiot here,” Smokey pointed to himself.
Teagan shook her head. “As the guy who saved my friend, I only see a hero.”
And the flirting was off and running, I thought as they began bantering between themselves. After an hour, I announced that I was tired. Smokey offered to give Teagan a lift, and I headed out to my car. I climbed inside, locked the doors, and drove home. At least Teagan was getting lucky!
Harlequin
“Smokey hit it big with that hot nurse last night,” Diesel said to Celt and me. I nearly froze. Instead, I forced myself to continue arranging the bottles behind the bar.
“Brother certainly looked happy to be leaving with her.” Big Al chuckled. I silently ground my teeth.
Smokey had left with April? That fucker!
I wanted to lash out, but couldn’t. April wasn’t mine.
She could sleep with whomever she wished.
Although Smokey was no fool, he’d recognise April for the precious treasure she was.
Smokey wouldn’t shit on her. Did that mean I’d have to watch April hanging over him? Damn, I couldn’t face that.
“Problem, prospect?” Chance asked, and I turned my head.
“Huh?”
“You stopped sorting those bottles out. You got a problem?” Astute eyes bored into me.
“None, Pres.”
“Good. We don’t need bullshit here,” Chance warned me. “Bros before hoes.”