“I let you think I was gay, so you wouldn’t hit on me. I—I know you sleep around. I just didn’t want to be used like that. Just be another one-night stand.”
“It is all it would be now. I am dying Hannah. I respect you enough to not take advantage of you while you’re hurting and vulnerable.”
“I know. But you could wash him off me.”
“I don’t do Vanilla. I am a Dominant.” I wanted to fuck her senseless but I needed to talk her out of it.
“I know.” Hannah looked away.
I grabbed her hand and made her look at me again.
Her unspoken words were loud and clear. She trusted me to keep her safe knowing it was for one night, that we wouldn’t see each other again.
I nodded. “Ok. If you choose to come to my place, then we will see what happens. But Hannah, it is one night.” Make it clear, crystal clear. “That’s all you will get in my lifetime. I need you to promise that after, you won’t be scared or worried anymore.”
She hesitated and nodded.
I nodded and let go of her hand kissing her forehead. “What nights did he sneak into your room? Do you remember the dates?”
She gave six dates to me. Hannah looked at my mouth again, as I helped her stand.
I stood to full height, so she couldn’t kiss me. I was going to leave her on a professional note. I held out a hand, she took it. I shook it gently. “Thank you, Doctor. Your care for me has been exceptional. I wish you all the best for the future.”
“Pleasure Charlie. Good luck with your bucket list.”
I nodded and unlocked the door before I whispered in her ear, “I hope you come. If you don’t I won’t be offended. Just don’t ever go off finding love because you have been hurt. You are stronger than that.” I kissed the side of her mouth. “Bye Doctor.”
Maybe not so professional.
I left her, turning off the voice recorder as I walked.
Brian
He just walked into my office like he owned the place.
I wanted to be pissed off but technically, he did own the place.
He took a seat looking like he was just barely keeping his temper.
Play nice. “Nice to see you Charles, what can I do for you?”
“I have a recording of a discussion I just had with the woman I asked you to investigate. I want to give it to you and speak to the investigator. I thought it was past tense, it isn’t. She was raped a last night.”
A terrified scream came from down the hall. “BRIAN SMITH! You mother fucking cunt of a man!” Shorty yelled.
I grinned, as I honestly couldn’t help it. This was the first time she’d talked to me in days.
Charlie cocked an eyebrow. “You let your staff talk to you like that?”
I grinned. “Why do things like that, just to piss her off? Yes, I do. I asked for this.” I chuckled as I watched her come out of her office. “That is also your investigator.”
“I want someone sane,” Charlie said, being completely serious.
“Oh, Shorty is sane. She’s the best I have…just a little overworked is all.”
“Then employ more people,” he snapped just as Shorty marched in, mad as a cut snake and twice as mean.
“Thank you!” Shorty exclaimed. “I told him the same fucking thing a week ago.” She walked past Charlie without looking at him and threw the rubber snake I had hidden in her paperwork at me.
I laughed as I caught it. If Charlie wasn’t here, she would probably have beat me with it.
“I’m going to have a heart attack when you do that to me one of these days,” she yelled.
Fuck, she really is pissed off.
“Well, if you talked to me, I wouldn’t have to do that to you just to get attention. But since you’re here, I’m about to send you a voice file. You’re going to add it to the file that I gave you last week. It needs an urgent stamp on it.”
“The doctor with a stalker?” Blunt as always. She only ever pretended to have tact.
“Yes,” Charlie said.
She ignored him and focused on me.
“He’s breaking into her house, raping her,” I said looking Shorty over.
Shorty looked like she’d attempted a mum bun but most of her hair had fallen out of it. She wore a DILIGAF shirt, old fitted jeans and sneakers. Her clothes… the rips in it were not from the manufacturer. It was from wear. She could try dressing up for work but nope. Must have been a rough morning with the kids. “Fine, send me the voice file. I will sort it out.” She marched out of the office.
I watched her walk down the hall into her office…and smiled as I waited.
Then there was another scream.
I burst out laughing. Holding my gut. I had managed to get her twice and… there was still one to go! “She found the other one,” I told Charlie.
I was still laughing when she returned with this snake cut in pieces. She stood in the doorway. “You are an arsewipe. You do that again, and I will slash your fucking tires!”
“Alright, alright.” I held up my hands in surrender. “There’s another one in your desk.” I got up. “Give me a moment,” I said to Charlie as I led Shorty from the office. “That’s the big boss, Shorty. Please dial down the crazy.”
“Fuck you.” Shorty snarled.
I got the other snake, and she punched me in the gut as I left her office. It hurt enough for me to grunt. She slammed the door behind me.
I was chuckling while rubbing my sore gut as I walked back into the office and shut the door. The little bitch hit like a sledge hammer. “Office shenanigans. Gotta love it.”
“I sent you the audio file,” Charlie stated, not sounding impressed.
I nodded and moved the mouse as I sat down. A moment later, I sent it to Shorty. “Ok, I sent it on to Shorty. She’ll deal with it.”
“I don’t really want a woman near an active rapist…”
“Well, assuming she’s your average woman is your first mistake. Thinking I would let her do anything without backup is your second. Relax, we got this.”
He sighed, still not looking happy. “Do you play pranks on your staff all the time?”
“Only her when she won’t talk to me.” I chuckled. “Now she’s talking to me again. Communication is back to being open.”
“She could put you up for harassment,” Charlie warned.
I smirked, shaking my head. “She’s more likely to walk in and tell me to get on the mats, so she can beat the shit out of me.”
I changed the subject and took the opportunity to show him our progress while he was there. Everything was looking fantastic.
Now he was looking happy, maybe even a little impressed, which was a hard thing to do with this man.
By the time he and I finished talking, there was a soft knock on the door. “Smith,” Shorty was back, softly spoken. Not good, she was wild and on the hunt, though she just spoke through the door without showing herself. Whatever had been on the recording must have been bad. “I have contacted the client. I’m going to go chat with her now.”
“Sure. Are you going in as her?”
“I’m going to set up cameras. Billy is coming with me. Tell the boss, this one is on me.” With that, the door shut.
“She sounded perfectly reasonable just now,” Charlie said looking at me.
“Yeah…that wasn’t reasonable. She kept a tone that made it sound reasonable. Shorty is now one very dangerous lady and I, will do as I am told.” Seriously, whoever was on Shorty’s bad side was about to get fucked up.
“Look you aren’t giving me any reason to have any faith in her. I think I want another investigator on the case. I want this bastard caught.”
I gave him a knowing smile and winked at Charlie. “You trusted me when I said this would work. Trust me when I say she is the best for the job. She’s going to go after this guy.”
“Who is Billy?”
“My brother.”
“I thought you only hired vets?”
“I do.”
>
“What about that crazy woman?”
“That woman is a vet.”
“What? An office bitch? Brian, the guy she’s after is dangerous.” Now he looked angry.
I nodded, pulled up a video of Shorty and I having it out on the mats. I turned the screen, pressed play and enjoyed the look of shock on his face. In the video, we were both wearing head gear as protection. “This was the last time she was pissed off with me. Still think she’s going to need help?”
“You aren’t even holding back.” He looked at me wide eyed.
“No, because I don’t want to get hurt.” I grinned. “She does alright, huh?”
“She’s completely insane.”
“Actually, Shorty is one of the loveliest women you would ever meet. This is just the side you don’t want to be on.”
Ben
Clubbing. I was getting too fucking old for this shit. But I wanted to pick up. It wasn’t going well though, the girls were easy enough but way too drunk. I wanted a woman who could fuck back. I was about to leave when I saw Charlie and Ian’s sister, Tammy Morrissey walk in
She was on her own, stupid girl. Beautiful, so damn beautiful. Her long dark brown hair, her blue eyes. Her body that just screamed sensual woman. I was completely in love with her but she was off limits thanks to her brothers. I wondered if stealing a kiss from her would be worth it.
I smirked because it would be. I’d been in love with her since the moment I had been introduced.
Tammy was at the bar getting a drink when Vince appeared out of nowhere. His hand went on her shoulder, instantly she tensed up. Her body language changed from relaxed and happy to fear of causing a scene.
When the fuck, did Vince manage to get his hands on her?
Vince was a violent fucker and suspected rapist. But he never got caught, always had an alibi, the girls always ‘magically’ dropped the charges.
I watched them for a good twenty minutes before he grabbed her arm so hard that she cried out. He walked her towards her door.
I followed at a distance.
He got her out of the club and he had her arm in a tight grip, she would have bruises from that. He marched her down the street.
I followed a little further back, pretending I was drunk. I was going to fuck him up. I quickened my step when I saw him steer her down an alley. I made sure no one saw me enter the alley. I checked for cameras, ATM’s etc. I didn’t need video evidence of what I was about to do. I called my driver and had him on speaker, telling him where to meet me.
I could hear her crying and begging before I rounded the corner. He had her on the ground. I stayed in the dark but moved fast. But not fast enough.
He hit her before pulling out his cock.
I saw red.
I pulled him off her. Threw him against the wall. The first punch would ensure his eye would be black for weeks. The second knocked him the fuck out.
I let him crumple to the ground into a pile of trash. He didn’t get a good look at me, gotta love shadows. I kicked him hard in the guts for good measure when I saw Tammy was unconscious.
I bent down and picked up her purse. I scooped her up, carried her the end of the alley as Harrison pulled up. He got out and opened the door. I put her in the back of the car.
We were driving away ten seconds later.
“Do we need the hospital boss?”
“No, back to my place. She’s ok.”
Tammy moaned softly.
I stroked her hair to keep her calm. “Tam, it’s Ben. I got you babe. He isn’t going to hurt you again.”
“Ben?” She opened her eyes and dissolved into tears.
“Tam, are you hurt bad enough you need a hospital?” I asked her.
“I’m ok.” She cried, looking at me with wild eyes as though remembering something. “He’s going to kill me. I told him I didn’t want to go on a date and now he won’t leave me alone!”
I held her to my chest trying to bring comfort to her. Careful of any injuries she might have sustained.
My driver parked in the underground carpark. He opened the door.
I got out with Tammy still in my arms. By the time we made it up to the apartment, Tammy had told us she didn’t want to involve the police or her brothers because Vince had threatened to kill them all if she did.
Tammy obviously still didn’t know about Charlie’s diagnosis. I had secrets coming out of my ears. While she talked, I tried to decide if it was going to be worth telling them. Maybe Vince would be smart and back off now that he had his ass handed to him?
Tammy calmed down and stopped crying but she was still in shock.
I went into the bathroom, ran her a bath, adding lavender bath salts in to help her calm more. I didn’t often have women over, preferred to go to their place so I could leave when they were asleep. But I was prepared for when I did.
I left her to bathe, half wishing I was in the tub with her. I stared at my security who was looking less than impressed.
“You are going to have to tell them,” Harrison said softly. “They will sort it out.”
His advice was solid, they would sort it out but I knew the bomb that was about to be dropped on them all and I shook my head. “If he doesn’t back off after being mugged, then I will mention it.”
“Mugged huh?”
I smirked. “Yeah, I found him crumpled in the garbage. Poor woman was on the ground beside him.”
Harrison smirked. “If he saw you or you were caught on camera, then things could get interesting.”
“For him. He would have to explain what he was doing down that alley and why he was assaulting Tammy, knocking her out while he did. He was in the process of pulling his cock out when he got jumped.”
Harrison nodded. “Shocking when karma gets you.” He sighed. “Would you like me to do up the guest bedroom?”
I nodded. “Yes. I think I want her staying here till I’m sure she’s out of danger. If not, I want you to shadow her.”
Harrison nodded. “None of the Morrissey’s are going to be happy with this kept secret.”
“They have other things to worry about.” I sighed thinking of Charlie.
Charlie
I had all my medical files in my briefcase. I was about to sit down with Mom and Dad to tell them about my diagnosis. I didn’t want to do this but it was time I told them. It had been over two weeks since my diagnosis. Time was ticking. I’d decided on my bucket list, so I needed to tell them now.
We sat down, had lunch. I enjoyed their banter. They’d taken me in when no one wanted anything to do with me. My own parents were lost to drugs. Dad’s sister was my mother. These two took me in before they even died.
To be honest over the years, Mom and Dad, hadn’t really changed. Maybe they were closer.
Mom watched me for a moment then clasped her hands together, placing them on the table. “Ok, you have been on your best behavior. What’s wrong?”
I suddenly felt tight in the chest. I didn’t want to do this but not because I didn’t want to be honest… but because I didn’t want to get rejected. That was pretty much my entire life. Fearing rejection. Everyone at arm’s length. The two people—who loved me enough to take me in—included.
I went and got my file from the briefcase. I looked at it, took a breath before walking it back in to Mom and Dad. I couldn’t look at them as I sat down. I avoided their eyes and took another breath before looking up.
Both waited till I was ready. Neither pressed. They just waited.
“I went to the doctor and I had a mole removed.” Fuck, looking at them was hard. I winced. “It was melanoma.” I swallowed heavily. “I have been to oncologists and had a heap of tests.” I shook my head before putting the file on the table sliding it towards them. “They all told me the same thing.”
“Which was?” Dad asked carefully, reaching for the file.
It took a moment for me to get it out—fuck, this was so hard. “I have terminal cancer.”
Both blinked, they look
ed at me obviously shocked.
Then Mom’s mouth set into a hard line. “No.” She snatched up the file. “No.” She opened it and started reading through it. Dad was right there with her. “No,” she kept saying.
The look on Mom’s face. Pure devastation.
I thought they might be glad to be rid of me.
Apparently not.
Dad sat back in his chair and stared at me, shaking his head. “We would have come to every doctor’s appointment. Why didn’t you tell us? I bet you did this all on your own.”
I nodded. “I didn’t like the answer I got. I went to those doctors and hoped one could give me something different. But they all told me the same thing.”
With that—Mom broke. It was like watching her heart shatter. I teared up before hugging her. I pulled her onto my lap holding her. I looked over at Dad.
He was only just keeping his shit together. He got up and went to the scotch decanter before drinking from it.
I chuckled. “The last time I did that, you smacked me up the back of the head and told me to get a fucking glass.”
He blinked at me taking a defiant swig. “My son is dying, there’s nothing I can fucking do about it. My wife has a broken heart and there’s nothing I can do to fix it. I have a broken fucking heart. There’s nothing I can fucking do about it. So, fuck the glass.”
“If you have told the boys before us…” Mom sat up looking at me.
Her eyes, dear God, the pain in them cut me deep. “I haven’t told them. They know nothing. Ben knows because he picked me up after the MRI. I freaked out and had to have mild sedation. He stayed with me all night to make sure I was ok.”
Mom smacked my arm. “You should have called us. We would have come or you could have come home.”
I nodded. “I know but I just wanted to be alone.” I wiped her tears. “Mom, I am getting my head around it. There isn’t anything I can do about it. So, I am going to get my affairs in order and have fun.”
“Charlie this isn’t a joke!” Mom cried out pointing to the files. “You haven’t gotten married or given me grandbabies or…” She covered her face and sobbed.
I hugged her to me.
The Vegas Random Page 3