Mortician
Molly Harris had been found alive.
In all the weeks of her disappearance, Harley Banks never considered what that occasion would be like.
At first, she’d just been relieved the other girl was gone and no longer a threat to Harley’s relationship with CJ Caldwell, the boy she’d loved her entire life.
Then, she didn’t care one way or the other.
Harley just saw it as one less thing to worry about.
Everyone was against her. If Molly had been around, she would’ve pretended concern or stupidity or whatever and made Harley’s life even more miserable.
Now, as she stood at the foot of Molly’s bed, Harley felt as much relief as she did worry.
It relieved her that Molly was alive but she worried about her condition.
It was grave. When Aunt Zoann said she was bad off, Harley hadn’t realized to what extent.
Molly was hooked to all kinds of machines with glowing screens, and numerous medicine bags connected to her IV line, like tangled ivy vines.
She was still unconscious, unaware of the incessant beeping of the heart monitor, the whooshing of the ventilator and the humming of equipment Harley couldn’t identify.
Aunt Zoann had allowed Harley a day off from school, since she’d had such a late night.
A rare occurrence in the Taylor household. As her guardians, Aunt Zoann and Uncle Val rarely allowed her to stay home. This might’ve been the first time since Mommie and Daddy made Harley leave.
Once again, she could only feel grateful. Aunt Zoann didn’t know most of what Harley endured yesterday and she’d still taken mercy on her.
When Ryan asked Uncle Val to bring him to see Molly after Aunt Zoann left for work, Harley asked to tag along.
Immediately, Ryan said no, but Uncle Val gave her a chance to explain why she’d want to see Molly.
Her explanation sufficed. Against Ryan’s wishes, Uncle Val allowed Harley to go.
He’d even stopped at a florist like she’d asked.
Uncle Val and Ryan discovered Molly was on a regular unit and left Harley with her while they went to the hospital administrator, to demand an explanation about why Molly wasn’t in the club’s private wing.
Swallowing, Harley finally moved from the foot of Molly’s bed and set the bouquet of flowers she’d been holding on the side table.
Hospitals were so depressing, Harley had wanted to cheer up Molly.
She turned to Molly again, bent, and kissed her forehead. She smelled like sweat and medicine.
“I’m so sorry, Molly.”
For weeks, Harley had called herself a victim. Not of Nardo and his father, but of her family. It wasn’t until the Grevenbergs began terrorizing her that she realized what she’d done and how she’d alienated everyone.
Yes, Lolly—almost everyone except Rebel—had forgiven her, but it didn’t undo all of Harley’s regret. It didn’t curtail her shame. And it didn’t convince her that anyone would care how Nardo beat her.
Daddy might, but Mr. Grevenberg boasted he’d kill her father for humiliating him in front of Mrs. Grevenberg. She’d slapped Harley, too.
Really—who cared?
She was getting what she deserved. She’d never been the victim. Not like Molly. Stolen by her wretched father and abused in so many ways.
It would’ve taken nothing for Harley to be kind to Molly. She wished she could take it all back and act differently. Maybe, Mommie would’ve helped her more.
Walking to the only chair, Harley sat. The room was small, on the regular ICU unit.
The harsh fluorescent lights brightened the white walls.
The predominant antiseptic smell of a hospital wove around the stale scent of dry air.
For some odd reason, Harley picked up on the scent of antibacterial soap, even though no one had come in to check on Molly in the few minutes Harley had been there.
Ryan opened the door but merely stuck his head in the room. Over the weeks, Harley noticed a dramatic shift in his attitude. Although he’d gone back to ignoring her, he’d changed, become friendlier to his family.
“We’re leaving in five minutes,” he told her.
Harley looked at Molly again. “Can I stay? She’ll be all alone if I leave, too.”
“She’s my girlfriend and I’m not staying.”
Harley’s shoulders slumped, but she dropped the subject. “Will she be moved to the private wing?”
“Probably not. The contract specifically calls for only Dweller families. People were fired when Tom took her. They know she’s under our care but isn’t one of us. The only person who can negotiate is Uncle Johnnie.”
Harley frowned at Ryan.
“Yeah. Exactly. We both know he’s a motherfucker and he won’t do it.”
“Do you think she’s in danger?”
Irritation settled into his face. Instead of lashing out, he stepped into the room, but remained by the door, and refused to even glance at Molly.
“We don’t know who shot DeLuca, Harley. It could’ve been Bash, Cleaner, Wally, Jr., or any other Scorpion.
If it was her father, he might not be too happy she’s back with us. ”
“He could steal her again.”
Ryan shoved his hands in the pockets of his black jeans. His blue crewneck T-shirt made the blue tones in his turquoise eyes sparkle. His black beanie covered most of his dark brown hair but worked so well with his outfit.
“Are you really happy she’s back?”
She nodded. “Yes. Are you happy, Ryan?”
“That she’s alive,” he said. “I don’t know how to feel about everything else.
Do I care that CJ will probably stake his claim on her?
I just wanted her back safe. After a while, it didn’t matter who she preferred.
Last night, though…I don’t know. He wasn’t rushing to see her, especially after you arrived. ”
Once, that news would’ve lifted Harley’s spirits. Now, she understood that CJ was just a good guy who cared about people. “Did you want Molly so bad because CJ was interested in her?”
“I started paying attention to her a little more once Billson made them lab partners. But I wasn’t really as invested in her as I should’ve been.”
“Then the answer to my question is yes.”
“I guess so,” Ryan said.
“Where does that leave Molly? If CJ doesn’t want her anymore and neither do you, then what? Could she stay on club grounds as just a friend?”
“You understand what she probably endured?” Ryan demanded. “Months of mental and physical abuse? She isn’t in any state for any of us to want her as anything other than a friend.”
Unsure of what else to say, Harley fell silent.
She was exhausted because she’d stayed up most of the night, in so much pain she wondered if one of her ribs was broken.
However, she knew better than to complain.
Even when Pillar of Earth messaged her early this morning and ordered her to the bathroom for another video, Harley merely said, “okay.” She didn’t cry or bemoan her fate.
It was what it was. Fresh injuries on top of old ones. New humiliation added to the previous.
It just didn’t matter. One day, it would end. Or she would die. Or it would end when she died.
“We need to hit the road,” Uncle Val announced, standing in the doorway. “I got to go see how fucking much reserve cash I got.”
The words penetrated Harley’s flare of panic the moment she reminded herself that Uncle Val would never hurt her and the anger blanketing his face wasn’t directed at her. Ryan would do her something quicker than his father.
“Johnnie set it up where the only way anyone outside a Dweller’s immediate family can go on that unit is to get permission from him and to pony up a hefty fucking fee.” Uncle Val scrubbed a hand over his face. “I got to talk to Puff.”
“Wouldn’t Uncle Christopher and Aunt Meggie help?” Ryan asked. “Both families can split the fee. Couldn’t we? I mean, we aren’t that far down the financial pole where we couldn’t do that, right, Pops?”
Uncle Val glanced away, then forced a smile and nodded. “Let me talk to your mama first, boy. Say bye to Molly—”
“Excuse me, but there are too many people in this room,” a female voice said from behind Uncle Val. The words weren’t unkind but they were firm. “Besides, I think your time’s up. Visits are limited to fifteen minutes.”
“We were just leaving,” Uncle Val said, signaling to Harley.
Standing, Harley kissed Molly’s forehead again, then followed Uncle Val and Ryan into the hallway, allowing the nurse to slip into the room.
The elevator ride to ground level was silent.
Father and son were upset for different reasons.
Harley wished she could help, although she didn’t know what to say.
“You have time for me to get a breakfast burrito from the cafeteria, Pops?”
“Sure, boy. I’ll just wait for you near the grand piano.”
The hospital atrium featured large windows with natural lights, a waterfall named after Aunt Meggie, artificial greenery, and groups of seats.
Unlike in Molly’s room, a combination of natural and soft artificial light filtered into the space.
A grand piano, donated by Sloane and Georgie Mason, where mini concerts were conducted for visitors, especially during the holidays always drew a lot of attention.
“Can I come with you, Ryan?” Harley asked, even though he was halfway to the cafeteria’s entrance.
“No.”
“Please bring me a burrito.”
He disappeared into the hustle and bustle without responding. She’d give him the benefit of the doubt and say he might not have heard her.
Uncle Val had already walked away and sat in one of the comfortable wingback chairs, so Harley went to him and seated herself on the sofa. He didn’t seem in the mood for conversation, so she kept her mouth shut.
A man with reddish brown hair, hawkish eyes, and wearing a business suit stopped next to Uncle Val. “You stormed out of my office so quickly, I didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation, Mr. Taylor.”
“There’s nothing to fucking say,” Uncle Val barked. “The contract is ironclad, according to you, Cox. Without the fucking appropriate funds.”