by T L Swan
Pain.
Darkness.
Cameron
My phone rings and I glance at the clock. 10.45pm. Shit, I bet it’s Gloria. I pick up my phone and the hospitals number is flashing on the screen. Here we go.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Dr. Stanton?” a strange voice asks.
“Yes, who is this?’
“This is Melissa from the Emergency Room.”
“Melissa.” That’s weird. Emergency never ring me.
“Sorry to ring so late, doctor, but we have had someone just bought in by ambulance, and one of the nurses thinks she recognized them as one of your interns.”
I sit up in bed. “What’s happened?”
“Suspected drug overdose.”
I rub my hand down my face. Shit.
“We don’t have any contact details and we’re trying to get in touch with the family,” she continues.
“Of course, I can search through their records. What’s the name?” I ask.
“Umm.” She hesitates as she reads the licence. “Ashley Tucker.”
My eyes widen. What the fuck? “Is… Is she alright?” I stammer.
“She’s unconscious at this stage.”
“I’ll be right there.”
* * *
I pace at the end of the bed. I’m frantic.
Ashley has been out cold for six hours. The toxicology reports have come back as her having drugs in her system, but they’re unsure as to what exactly they are just yet. The sun is rising outside and I can hear the nurses beginning to do their rounds for changeover.
This has been the longest night of my life.
I take her hand in mine. “Please be alright,” I whisper so only she can hear me. I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Please be alright, Ash. Baby, can you hear me?” I ask hopefully.
God, how did it come to this? I had no idea she was into drugs.
Why was she alone when she collapsed and who the hell was she with?
There is this whole other side to her that I don’t know and I hate it. A text comes through. It’s Jenna.
Any news?
I blow out a breath and text back.
None yet.
I will message you the moment she wakes up.
A text bounces back.
Thank you, for staying with her.
It means a lot.
I blow out a breath and take Ash’s hand back in mine. Please be alright, baby. Please, please, please. What if she dies? What if she hit her head so hard that there’s permanent damage?
I close my eyes in pain. How did it come to this? How does the love of my life go from an angel to a drug-addicted stripper in two weeks?
How could I have been so wrong about her?
An insidious, sick feeling sinks in as I think of poor little Owen. He loves his mother dearly. What if something happens to her? How could I ever tell him that his mom didn’t love him enough and she took an overdose?
I hold her hand in mine and sit in the darkness as another nightmare hour passes.
She frowns and I sit up, hopeful. “Ash?” I wipe the hair back from her forehead. “Are you okay, baby? I love you, come back to me, please,” I whisper.
This is torture. How long is she going to be under?
She screws up her eyes, her face scrunching tight. “C-Cam?” she whispers in the silent room.
I close my eyes and bend to kiss her cheek and hold her close to me.
“Oh my God, Bloss, I thought you were going to die on me.” I hold her tight for a long time and eventually kiss her softly on the lips.
Why do I love this woman so much when she is so obviously running such a different race to me?
“What happened?” She frowns.
“What did you take?” I whisper as I brush the hair from her forehead.
“What?” She frowns.
“You took a drug overdose.”
She screws up her face as though trying to remember.
“Who were you with?” I ask.
“Some of my friends from the club,” she whispers.
I sit up, disgusted. “What?” She has friends that work there? She mixes with these women by choice?
“We had drinks with some men.” She frowns as she tries to remember.
“What drugs did you take, Ashley?” I repeat as my anger starts to bubble.
“Some of the girls had something.” She shakes her head. “But I didn’t. I swear I didn’t.”
“Who were the men?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” she whispers as she drifts back to sleep. “I… don’t know.”
Adrian
I walk into Joshua’s office to find him seated at his desk. Cameron is staring out the window, deep in thought.
“What’s up?” I ask. “How come you’re not at work?” I ask Cameron. With both of them in their suits and looking solemn, they are the epitome of power.
Joshua just buzzed for me to come up from level two to see them.
Cameron turns to me. “Ashley took a drug overdose last night.”
My face falls in horror. “Oh my God. Is she… is she alright?” I splutter.
He nods and Joshua swings on his chair from side to side with his eyes fixed firmly on Cameron.
“What happened?” I ask.
Cameron’s jaw clenches in anger. “She was out with the girls from the Escape Club and took some drugs, although she’s denying it.”
Joshua runs his tongue over his front teeth in contempt.
I swallow the lump in my throat as my eyes flicker between them. “Is she okay?”
“They discharged her this morning,” he replies coldly.
“Who has Owen?” I frown.
“Jenna, her friend.”
“Don’t you think you should go and help out?” I ask.
Cameron’s eyes meet Joshua’s. “Yes. That’s exactly what I think I should do.”
I frown as I get an uncomfortable feeling sweeping over me. “What’s going on?” I ask.
“He has to protect his son. That’s what’s going on,” Joshua snaps.
Cameron walks back over to the window and stares out over the city, deep in thought.
“What choice do you have, Cameron? She’s out of fucking control. Working in a strip club, forgetting to pick him up… Overdosing.”
I frown as my brain catches up with what these two are thinking.
Oh my God, no…“Cameron, wait. You can’t do that. She will never forgive you,” I say in a panic.
He turns and lifts his chin defiantly. “This isn’t about Ashley anymore, Murph. It’s about Owen. I need to do what’s best for him.”
“But you love her,” I whisper, horrified.
“I’m a father first,” he pushes out, clearly pained.
My eyes flash to Joshua. “You can’t let him do this.” I have to ring Natasha.
Joshua drops his head as he contemplates the repercussions. “Just say the word, Cam,” Joshua says flatly.
Cameron puts his hands into his suit pockets as he stares into space.
How long have they been here together, contemplating this?
“What the hell are you two thinking?” I ask. “Stop it, whatever you’re thinking, just stop it.”
Cameron’s eyes meet Joshua’s. “She’s given me no choice.”
“I know,” Joshua replies sadly.
“Let’s do it.” Cam sighs.
Joshua picks up the phone and rings someone, while I stand still in horror as I watch on. “Hello, Max?” Joshua frowns and then listens for a moment.
“Get four guards over to Ashley Tucker’s house to watch Owen, please.”
He listens for a moment.
“Don’t let him out of your sight.”
He listens again.
“Around the clock.”
He hangs up.
Cameron hangs his head and exhales deeply.
Joshua rings another number. “Amanda?”
He listens for a moment.
“Send the legal t
eam up to my office immediately.”
Ashley
I lie on the lounge in a semi-conscious state as Jenna sits by my feet. “And you don’t remember anything?” She frowns.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head as I try my hardest to remember. “I don’t know if it was one of the girls who slipped something in my drink or one of the men.”
I frown as the dull ache of my headache pumps through me.
“You are so lucky. You hit the concrete so damn hard. You could have died, Ash,” Jen whispers.
I screw up my face. “I know.” I shake my head. “Oh God, Jen, what a nightmare.”
“Cameron was so worried.” Jenna replies.
I smile softly. “He was beautiful. He was kissing me and holding me. He didn’t think I heard him tell me he loved me before I woke up.”
Jen frowns. “He told you he loved you?”
I smile softly and nod. “He must have thought I was going to die or something.”
“You two need to work this shit out.” She shakes her head.
“I know, I’m going to talk to him. I’m just grateful that he came when I needed him the most.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Jen frowns, gets up and answers it. “Hello.”
“Hello, is Ashley Tucker here?” a male voice asks.
“Yes.” Jenna frowns. “Can I help you?”
“I have some papers to serve her.”
I frown and sit up before I slowly walk to the door. “I’m Ashley. What’s this about?” I ask.
“Can you sign here, please?” He points to the dotted line and I sign. He hands me an envelope and I glance out to see two men standing on our front lawn, and another two in a car. Who are they?
The man leaves and I walk out front. “Can I help you?” I ask the man standing on the edge of my lawn.
The man nods and smiles as he approaches. “We’re here to watch over Owen Stanton.”
I frown. “What for?”
“His father has requested it. We won’t bother you, ma’am.”
What the hell? That’s weird. I walk back inside and open the envelope as uneasiness fills me.
Court Subpoena
Cameron Stanton verses Ashley Tucker
Cameron Stanton seeks full custody
of Owen Tucker.
He wants full custody.
Oh my God.
24
Ashley
I frown as I stare down at the piece of paper in front of me.
“What is it?” Jenna asks.
“I…” I whisper in horror.
“What is it?” she asks again.
I read it out loud to make sure I’m not imagining this.
Cameron Stanton seeks
full custody of Owen Tucker
Temporary emergency
injunction requested
Los Angeles Courthouse
on the 8th at 10:00 .a.m.
Closed courtroom application granted.
Legal representation not required as per temporary order requirements
to enable time to prepare for full case.
Full custody hearing to be heard
in twenty-eight days.
“He wants custody,” I whisper in horror.
“What do you mean?” Jenna snatches the papers from my hand and reads them.
I drop to a seated position on the couch in shock.
“What the hell?” Jenna growls. “Is he a fucking idiot? You were obviously drugged. You don’t do drugs!” she yells in an outrage.
I hold my chest in pain as the thought that he actually thinks Owen is unsafe with me hits home.
How could he do this?
My head drops to my hands in dismay.
“Oh shit, Ash, that’s tomorrow. The court case is tomorrow,” Jenna gasps.
I glance up at her. I don’t even know what to think. What the hell is going on?
Jenna goes over to the window and stares out at the men surrounding the property. “These men are here to make sure that you don’t run with Owen.”
“What?” I frown, I stand and go over and peer out through the curtains. “Are you serious?”
“Why else would they be here?”
“I don’t believe this,” I whisper.
“Get the fucker on the phone.” Jenna growls as she runs to find my phone.
I drop back onto the sofa; this is the warning. This is what he was warning me about if I didn’t leave the club. I knew he wasn’t a man to be crossed, but this?
She passes me my phone and I stare at it in my hand. “I’m not ringing him. I’m going over there.”
* * *
Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned.
I’ve hit an all-time low.
Who the hell does he think he is?
I buzz his doorbell at the gates of his house, and they open immediately.
He’s expecting me.
I march up to the front doors and he waits with the door open. I storm past him into the house.
“Please, do come in,” he mutters sarcastically.
“What the hell is this?” I cry as I hold the court papers up to him.
“Calm down.”
“Calm down?” I scream. “You have been a father for five fucking minutes and you think you can look after him better than me?”
He glares at me. “I’m not out doing drugs, Ashley.”
“Neither am I!” I scream.
“The proof is in the pudding. Where did you spend last night? Where?” he yells.
I stare at him through angry tears.
“I sat at your bedside in the hospital all night, praying that you survived. Praying to God that I never have to tell my son that his mother died from an overdose.”
“I was drugged,” I whisper.
“Because you put yourself in that position!” he yells. “Who the fuck were you with last night?”
“Some girls from the club.”
“Who were the men?” He growls. “Were they clients?”
I wince at the accusation. “What?” I shake my head. “They were men we just met out. It was nothing. Some of the girls were partying with them.”
“With drugs?”
“They dropped some coke.”
“Did you?” He growls.
“No, Cameron. I swear to you, I didn’t.” I shake my head in anger. “Don’t tell me you have a perfect history, either, because I know you haven’t.”
“I would never take cocaine if I knew I had a kid at home waiting for me.”
“That’s the difference between us…” I scream. “For the last five years you’ve been out partying and screwing everyone you want with a clear conscience, while I’ve been at home struggling to able to afford to live while looking after your baby!”
“I didn’t know about him, Ashley, or I would have helped you,” he yells.
“Help me now, Cameron!” I cry. “This isn’t about you versus me.”
“Don’t make it like that then. You set the rules here.”
“How?” I shake my head. “By not doing what you say? Is that it? Is that what this is about? Do you honestly think that you can tell me what to do?”
“I don’t want where you work to come back to haunt Owen later in life,” he snaps.
I step back in disgust. “You double standard, rich bastard.”
He narrows his eyes in contempt.
“You go to that club.” I poke him hard in the chest. “You have fucked girls in that club and you have the balls to judge them as if they are nothing.” I sneer, and I push him again in the chest, but he catches my hand mid-air.
“Don’t push me, Ashley, or I’ll fucking push you back.”
“Is that another threat, little rich boy?” I sneer.
He squeezes my hand in his and steps forward, forcing me to step back. “Don’t push me, Ashley. You won’t win.” He growls.
My eyes tear up. His power scares me.
He scares me.
“You said you loved me in
the hospital,” I whisper.
He steps back and drops his head.
“Is that true, Cameron? Do you love me?”
His eyes meet mine and he swallows slowly. “You know I do,” he breathes.
“Then don’t do this.” Tears fall slowly down my cheeks. “Don’t take him away from me.”
Softness crosses his features, and he steps forward to cup my face in his hands.
“It’s temporary, Ash.” His eyes search mine. “Just until you get yourself sorted.”
I stare at him through my tears.
“I promise you.” I pause as I try to get my wording right. “It’s just been a bad week. He’s not in danger.” I wince from the heartache. “I’m a good mom, Cam.”
He pulls me into an embrace and holds me as my body shakes from the tears.
“We can work this out,” I whisper against his shoulder.
“I have to do this, Ash.”
I frown and pull out of his grip as I step back. “What?”
“I have to take precautions to protect him.”
“You’re really going ahead with this?”
His eyes hold mine. “He has to come first.”
“He does, Cameron. He has always come first for me.”
“It’s temporary,” he repeats.
I step back in horror. He’s going to do this whether he loves me or not.
I shake my head. “Cameron, I swear, if you do this to me, I will never forgive you.”
“Don’t say that,” he whispers as pain crosses his face.
“Then don’t do this!” I cry, panicked.
“Ashley, I have to,” he snaps, and with renewed determination, he walks to the door and opens it. “Now… You need to leave.”
I shake my head as my tears roll down my face. “Cameron. No. I’m begging you. Please.”
He closes his eyes as he tries to block me out.
“Cameron, listen to me,” I whisper. “We can work this out. We can share custody.”
“Ashley. Leave. Now.” He gestures to the doorway.
I stare at him. Who is this man?
“I will see you in court tomorrow,” he says without emotion.
“Is that why you have guards on Owen?” I ask.
His eyes meet mine.
“Do you honestly think I’d take him?” I whisper as the tears roll down my face.
He drops his head in shame.
“Do you?”
“I don’t know what you would do anymore. The last week has shown me that. You’ve lied to me all along. From that first day in the hospital, you have done nothing but lie to me. I don’t know who you are, I don’t know what to think, I don’t know what to believe anymore.”