Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
MARIE
“How are you liking Mercy Hospital, Marie?” Dr. Royal asks as he stops for a second by the nurse’s station. I’m currently charting as fast as possible, because the emergency room is hopping today.
“Everyone seems…competent,” I say, giving him a quick smile. “I mean that with the greatest sincerity, I promise.”
“Wow,” he chuckles. “We definitely try. Being short staffed means things get crazy around here.”
“I’m here for all the hours,” I murmur, finishing up the last chart and putting it away. “I need the extra money.”
“The hospital scheduler will love that,” he says, continuing on as I head back into the fray.
So far it’s all been run of the mill situations. Dehydration, diabetics with out of control blood sugar, a car accident, and a kitchen accident with a pressure cooker.
I am loving every second of it. Everyone is easy to work with as long as you’re capable, and since I’m the new nurse, people appreciate that I’m unafraid to jump in as needed.
The twelve hour shift flies, and I’m changing out of my scrubs in record time. Pulling out the mess of my braid, I leave it in crazy waves down my back. Now, I have to figure out the bus schedule since it’s five in the morning.
The shifts are stacked on top of each other so that there’s always someone who is fresh. For a hospital that’s often lacking the proper staff, I appreciate this. It means there’s hope for less mistakes.
Or at least, that’s why I assume it’s set up like this.
It’s cold as I step outside, and I curse the fact that I didn’t have a chance to go back into the shelter to get my coat yesterday. Storm fucked up my entire schedule.
Ah, speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
“Why are you here?” I ask, yawning as he waits for me by his bike. “Also, how the hell did you figure out when I got out of work?”
“Magic,” he shrugs. “Are you hungry?”
I did this shift without any food either, since my packed lunch was in the fridge at the shelter.
“Not at all,” I say, yawning again so large that I feel my jaw crack. “I’m going to take the bus home and crash.”
“Calling a shelter ‘home’ should be against the law,” Storm grumbles. “If it was up to me, you’d live with me.”
“Woah there,” I say, raising my hands to ward him off. “I am not living with you.”
“Well at least there’s some sense that exists inside of you,” Tommy says, pushing away from a column near me.
Startling hard, I press my hand against my racing heart. Fuck, I really am tired if I didn’t see the caveman that is my brother.
“I’m too tired for this shit,” I mumble. “I have a job, Tommy. I’m not a fuck up, okay? Now leave me alone.”
“I never said you were!” he yells as I begin walking.
“I have a feeling you’re behind this,” I tell Storm as I walk past him. “I swear, you’re the root of a ton of my issues.”
“Come on, Kitty. You don’t mean that,” the ass chuckles.
“He came into my club and asked if I was looking for my sister,” Tommy says, following me.
“Don’t touch me!” I say, pulling my stun gun out of my pocket as Storm gets on his bike.
“She knows how to use that thing,” Storm sighs, turning on the bike and walking it forward so he’s within speaking distance of me.
“Are you seriously afraid of me?” Tommy asks, eyes wide.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask, waving a tired hand in the air. “You bully, bark, and force me to do things I don’t want to do. The last time I saw you, you slammed me into a wall and strangled me. Of course I’m fucking afraid of you.”
“That ass kicking is still on the table,” Storm muses, cracking his knuckles.
“Stay out of this,” I mutter. “Tommy would kill you without a second thought.”
“He said that you were scent matches,” my brother says warily. “Did he lie to me?”
“Remember how you treated Cerenity when you first met? That’s the kind of scent matches that we are,” I say.
“He trashed my car with his buddies, and then disappeared to let the cops help me figure out how to get the rest of the way to Minneapolis. My car? Yeah, it’s still in repairs and costing me a fucking fortune. ”
“I’ll buy you a new car,” Storm says immediately. Tommy winces, knowing this is a sensitive subject for me. I don’t take handouts. From anyone.
“Fuck you,” I say succinctly. “You can’t throw money around and expect things to work out. I can’t be bought.”
Tommy stretches his neck from to side and I recognize the signs to get the fuck away.
“I suggest you get off your bike if you don’t want it trashed,” I say as Storm’s only warning.
“What? Ah, fuck, man,” Storm groans, moving quickly before Tommy tackles him.
Blowing out a breath, I decide it’s a good thing they’re in front of the ER. I’m going to walk home I suppose. Pulling up my GPS, I begin the trek to the shelter, wincing when I see that what was a quick ride on the back of a bike is actually a thirty minute walk.
I’m fifteen minutes into my walk when I hear a truck and a motorcycle’s engines rumble loudly behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I dismiss them both and continue walking.
“You owe me a date,” Storm says. “Are you going to wiggle out of it?”
“I always settle my debts,” I mutter, not caring if he hears me or not. It’s why I won’t take a loan from anyone that I can’t pay back right away.
“You don’t owe him shit,” Tommy yells. “Reject the fucker and move on, Marie. You deserve better than this.”
I love this for me. This is exactly how I wanted to spend the morning.
“I can’t,” I call over my shoulder. “He alpha barked me so I couldn’t. I can’t even say the word without feeling sick to my stomach.”
Rubbing my hands together as I shiver in revulsion, I want to scream. I fucking hate having my choices taken from me.
“You were mad,” Storm says, idling alongside me. “Don’t you have a rule or something about acting rashly? It sure as fuck feels as if you have a rule for other things.”
“You’re a real piece of work, Storm!” Tommy snarls.
“Yes, because the only person who can be mean to me is my big brother, huh?” I ask sarcastically.
“Ugh, Marie,” he groans. “I’m sorry. I’ve been working on anger management with Cerenity.”
“Ew,” I mutter. “I really don’t need to know about your sex lives.”
Tommy snorts in amusement, and I turn to look at him.
He has blood running from a cut on his eyebrow and his smile is also bloody.
Glancing at Storm, I see that he’s got the red spot underneath his eye.
My brother goes for the body shots typically, and Storm is moving stiffly as he drives.
He’s not currently wearing his helmet, and I wonder for a brief second if it’s hidden in one of the compartments of his Harley.
Nope, I don’t care.
“You’re idiots,” I sigh. “I’m not patching either of you up. Figure it out yourselves.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking you,” Storm purrs. It kind of sounds like he’s asking to fuck me, so I roll my eyes at him. I don’t think so.
“What do you two want?” I ask. “I’m working so I can get an apartment, Tommy. I’m safe and perfectly fine.”
“Walking in the city at this time is hardly safe,” he grumbles. “I want you to fucking call me back. That’s what I want.”
“You’re a judgmental ass. Work on it and I’ll consider it,” I say. “It’s clear that Cerenity’s frying pan therapy isn’t working.”
“That’s more foreplay than therapy,” he shrugs.
“Gross,” I say. “I’m very happy for you, Tommy. However, you’ve been cock blocking me for my entire life. If I had to worry about heats, this would be a problem.”
They get really quiet and I let them sit with that while I continue to walk.
“What did you do, Marie?” Tommy asks.
“It’s just a little pill, it’s fine,” I say.
“Who are you getting them from?” he asks. “Most of those aren’t legal.”
“Shaw,” I reply.
“Dammit, you really are at Omega’s Haven,” he says.
“You need to have your tongue cut out, Storm,” I say, angry.
“He would have figured it out himself,” Storm says unrepentantly.
“Ugh. Maybe I just need to move where there’s no mafia involvement,” I say.
“You’re safer here, Marie. Just…maybe don’t walk alone,” Tommy says. “There’s been rumors about auction headhunters.”
“They’re fucking everywhere,” I mumble. Chicago has an issue with them too. “It’ll be another two weeks until I can get my car back.”
“What’s wrong with it exactly?” Storm asks, confused.
“Cash flow issue,” I mutter. “Insurance apparently has decided to cap what they’re willing to pay, and I need to wait for my paycheck.”
“Marie–” Storm begins.
“Honestly, until you can prove to me that you have anything to offer other than money, get the fuck away from me,” I say, yanking on my hair until the pain helps to center me.
“Can I give you a ride, Marie?” Tommy asks tentatively.
I think he can tell that I’m about to start screaming and then be unable to stop. Facing the two of them, I decide to take him up on it. I’ll keep my weapon with me to remind my brother to keep his hands off me.
Though, looking between Storm and Tommy, I think this may be the safest that I could be with my brother. He got his aggression out.
“Yeah,” I finally say, walking to his truck and opening the door.
“Come on, Marie,” Storm says, turning toward me.
“Give her time,” Tommy mutters, his eyes on me. “I’m inclined to agree with her. You don’t have anything to offer my sister.”
Since that’s been decided, I climb into the truck and close the door.
“Put on your seatbelt, please,” Tommy says politely.
“What alien crawled up your asshole?” I ask, shocked as I pull on my seatbelt.
“I’m not sure, but I think I’m going to let it stay awhile,” he says, pulling around Storm’s bike and leaving him behind as he drives. “I’m not doing so hot on my own.”
Chewing on my bottom lip, I rub my chest as Storm gets farther away.
“Is he really so bad?” he asks.
“A motorcycle club member who trashed my car for fun with his buddies?” I ask. “Yeah, it’s worse actually.”
Tommy doesn’t say another word until he pulls up across from Omega’s Haven.
“You’re really okay here?” he asks, watching as I unsnap my seat belt and open the truck door.
“I am. I’m going to sleep during the day more now that I’m on nights. Please don’t have a cow if I don’t answer the phone.”
“Moo,” he deadpans, making my lips twitch. “I promise to lighten up. I’ve been an asshole. I’m really sorry I made you feel like you couldn’t call me.”
I open my mouth, inhaling to say something, but he holds up his hand.
“I mean it, Marie. You had every right to stand up for what you believed in. However it shook out will just lead to better opportunities,” Tommy adds. “You’re so independent it blows my mind. You don’t really need me.”
Wincing, I say, “I don’t have to need you for things. You’re still my brother.”
“I’m very aware of this,” he says. “I’m not your boss, and I need to stop acting like I am. You don’t answer to me.”
“No, I don’t,” I say, knowing how hard this must be for him to admit. “Good night, Tommy.”
“It’s morning, Marie,” he chuckles, watching as I get out and close the door.
I can feel his gaze as I cross the street and dart down the alley to the back door of the shelter. It feels as if we may be turning a page.
I hope we are.