25. Kiera
KIERA
We’d gotten through the front desk pretty quickly, giving security our names and heading upstairs.
Spencer was quick on her feet, giving the security guard a fake name for me and telling him we left my ID at the bar — too frazzled by the emergency to think straight.
And frankly, the bright, fluorescent hospital lights were enough to put me in a daze. Especially after spending the night in a dim bar and on the dark streets of Valemont.
Luckily, the place was dead and Spencer was charming.
Once we were in the elevator, heading to Caleb’s room, Spencer let out a deep breath.
Rubbing her arm, I glanced up at her. I could see every ounce of fear on her face, every dark thought she was fighting to silence. “Babe, I’m right here. I promise.”
She looked down at me. “Thanks, Bunny.”
The ding of the elevator broke our eye contact as Spencer moved toward the waiting room.
There, a tall man in worn jeans with a snarl paced the seated area. He looked up as we approached. “Took you long enough.” His eyes moved to me.
Before he could say anything, Spencer stepped forward. “What’s going on, Bill?”
“Dumbass kid just broke his arm or something. Took a spill down the stairs. He’s fine.” Bill held out his hand expectantly for the paperwork we’d desperately dug for.
So he knows the storage unit exists…
I knew that couldn’t be safe for Spencer or the records themselves. I’d only known the guy for a few seconds and could already tell how much of a fucking prick he was. His face was covered in rough stubble and bags under his eyes as he stared me down.
But I couldn’t stop myself from investigating him. A faint, darkening spot was appearing on his jaw.
Dude got punched.
My eyes flicked to Spencer, who hadn’t torn her gaze from Bill. Whatever he was selling, Spence wasn’t buying.
Nodding to Spencer, Bill sniffled. “You coming or what?”
“Let me hand this paperwork to the nurse and I’ll be right in.” Spencer moved us toward the nurse’s station as Bill disappeared down the hallway.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Spencer leaned into me as we waited for the nurse to appear. “Sorry about him.”
“That’s okay.” I rubbed Spencer’s lower back as she smiled at the nurse and passed the paperwork over.
Flashing a charming grin at the nurse, Spencer shrugged. “Can you make sure I go home with that paper? I’m Caleb’s guardian should anything happen to his dad, and I just like having my own copies.”
Behind the desk, the nurse — Sherrie — hesitated. Obviously it was against policy to give copies out. If Bill’s behavior was as obvious to everyone else as it was to me, the nurse was well aware that the rules weren’t going to apply here.
With a nod, she smiled at Spencer. “Of course, sweetie. He’s lucky to have an auntie like you.”
Sherrie disappeared to make copies of Spencer’s precious paperwork.
Turning to me, Spencer sucked her teeth. “I know this is kind of shitty, but I really try not to introduce the kids to anyone that isn’t going to be a permanent fixture in my life…”
“Oh…” My mouth fell open, a pang of disappointment washing over me.
“No, no. Not like that!” Spencer grabbed my arms and squeezed me tight. “I just mean, that you might choose to leave Valemont — us — once all of this is over. And I’m a little nervous to get their hopes up.”
I wanted to be more upset, more frustrated by being excluded. But more than anything, Spencer’s adoration for her niece and nephew became crystal clear. They mattered more to her than almost anything on this planet. And keeping them safe was her sacred duty.
One that I was sure she’d sworn to Styx herself.
And I never wanted to get in the way of that. Her honor was sexy.
Clearing my throat, I nodded. “First, who said I’m going anywhere? Didn’t I swear an oath to you assholes?” As she opened her mouth to respond, I placed my finger over her plush lips. “Second, I really admire your protective instincts. I’ll be over there. Take as long as you need.”
Spencer’s puppy dog eyes lit up. Grabbing my neck, she planted a wet, sloppy kiss on me.
I was starting to think I would sell my soul to see her excited face forever.
As I giggled, Sherrie came back with the paperwork. “All set, babies.”
Spencer folded the pages slightly, slipping them into the large pockets of her cargo pants. With one final squeeze to my hand, Spencer nodded toward Caleb’s door. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time, I can entertain myself.” Winking, I took a seat in one of the chairs that lined the hallway.
As soon as Spencer appeared in the doorway, a cacophony of excited shouts drifted out to the waiting area. All I could make out was the low rumble of Spencer’s voice and a few words from the kids.
Until I heard a teenage boy’s voice say. “What, no Aunt Dom today? Too cool for us?”
My head tilted as I considered it, a bit surprised that they’d even met Dom. Not because she wouldn’t stick around but because she was such a hardass that I couldn’t imagine her wanting to meet them.
But from the laughs that followed in the hospital room, I knew I was wrong.
All that money probably made it easy for Dom to spoil those two. But what I couldn’t figure out was how she managed to be sweet and loving.
I was pretty sure I’d die without ever seeing that side of my captor.
Then the room quieted down as the family got to more serious matters.
The hallway grew eery as it neared midnight, a few nurses drifting from patient to patient as they did their rounds.
But soon, the buzz of the overhead lights and rhythmic beeping of the medical equipment started to make my heart race.
The image of Isaac’s letterhead came racing back to my mind. As I stared ahead, I felt like I could hear him yelling at my mother. GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.
Like a raging beast, his red, breathless face appeared behind my eyelids — a shiver running down my spine at the visual.
I remembered being grabbed by the arm, guided down the stairs in a rush and jostled toward the door.
Shaking my head, I tried to piece the memory together. But I felt like a thick wool sweater was being thrown over it, unable to discern more details. All I could remember was Isaac. His daughter. And a large, oak door.
It wasn’t his face I’d seen. No — it was his daughter’s, raging. Angry. Throwing me and my mother out.
The house…
Looking down the hallway, I tried to steady my breathing.
The mansion wasn’t just vaguely familiar. No, it was distinctly recognizable. And I was starting to understand why.
But I needed to confirm it. And fast.