“Wow, that’s kind of overwhelming! I can’t imagine your mom spitting, maybe scratching my eyes out. I’ll tell you what though; if I keep eating Vivi’s cooking I’ll get fat! Then your dad will get his hopes up with that Babushka. That food was so fantastic!” He smiles wide at me.
“Yes, Vivi is a great cook. She is my Grandmother and she taught me how to cook.”
“Wow, your gram? Why didn’t she sit with us then?”
“She prefers to cook, she is old Russian. They did things differently back then. She cooks and serves. She likes to take care of everyone and just observe. That lady is sneaky, she hears everything. If anyone has a secret or some news to share, she always knows before everyone else does. When you talked about her cooking we laughed because we knew you had just won her. My mom had to give in; she’d never stand a chance if Vivi likes you.” I start laughing when he says his grandma is sneaky.
“Oh man, that is awesome! I wonder if my gram would be like that if she were here.” I get sad inside and my heart squeezes.
“You didn’t know your grandmother, Красота?”
“No, I don’t remember her at all. She died from cancer when I was a year old. From what I’ve heard though, she was really protective and liked to help people in trouble. I hope I have some of that goodness in me too.”
“You are full of goodness and beauty, little lamb, don’t worry. She would be so proud if she were here today.” I give Tate a small smile and squeeze his forearm. I love him. I do, so much.
Suddenly, I’m jerked in my seat and my head flies into the dash. My head bounces off and everything goes black…
Chapter 13
2 days later…
I wake up to a pounding headache and beeping. I feel like my body has been run over by a bus. The sheets are cold and scratchy. I have goose bumps, I feel cold all over. Why do I feel so cold? And what is that damn beeping? I open my eyes and they flutter a few times like I’ve been asleep for a while. The lights blaring down on me seem extra bright, I rub my face a few times and something pinches my hand. Finally I can focus. I look down and there’s a needle and tube connected to my hand. I take a deep breath and look around. I’m in the hospital. Fuck, why am I in the hospital? Did Jeremy do this? I look my body over and notice there aren’t really any bruises or anything that stands out. I don’t think it was him. Oh God, in fact I know it wasn’t him. Tate! Tate had gotten Jeremy. So why am I here? I look around and see it’s a private room, and I’m all alone. It looks like a freaking florist in here. There are roses of all colors in different arrangements on the little table in front of my bed. Beside my bed there is another smaller table. It has a stuffed animal that looks a lot like Muffin. There’s also a pitcher and a plastic cup. I’m assuming it’s water. Thank God, I feel like I could drink a gallon right now. I go to reach for the cup but the movement shoots sparks of pain through my whole body.
“Ouch!” I yip, and sit as still as possible. Come on, really! I am dying of thirst here. Ugh and my head is pounding so much. I reach up to rub it and feel I have something wrapped around my forehead. What the fuck? The door to my room opens and I look toward it. In walks Tate, he’s busy looking at the ground and hasn’t noticed me staring at him. A tear runs down his cheek and he wipes it away quickly. I choke out all raspy, “Baby?” Tate’s head snaps up and he runs to my side.
“Oh, my Красота! Oh, thank God, you have finally woken! I’ve been going crazy!” He sits on the side of my hospital bed and lightly gives me a peck on the lips.
“Water, please?” I rasp out. Geez, my throat is so dry I sound like a chain smoker.
“Of course. How are you feeling, are you in pain?” Tate hands me a little water and I drink it quickly. This brings a small smile to his face. I nod at the pitcher and he fills my cup again.
“Ugh, thanks.” I clear my throat a few times. “I hurt when I tried to move and get my own water. Why am I here?” I ask and direct all of my attention to him.
“You don’t remember?”
“No, I don’t and what do you mean I finally woke up? How long has it been?”
“Oh my God, Красота, it’s been two really, really long days you have been sleeping. The doctors said it was because your body was healing and also because of the strong painkillers, but I’ve been going crazy wanting you to wake.”
“Wow! Two days? What happened, Tate? The last thing I can remember is telling your brother good night. What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing’s wrong, baby, you just hit your head really badly and had to get stiches on your forehead next to your hair. The doctor said the impact will probably give you whiplash in your neck, and your back will hurt for a few weeks. He said you are lucky to be tiny because the car swallowed you up and protected you. He said a bigger guy like me probably would have died in the passenger side. I was so scared. You were knocked out and unresponsive. I thought I had lost you. The fool who hit us in her car is also in the hospital. She almost died because she hit us so hard. Stupid, stupid fool. The cops say she was drinking heavily and the alcohol helped relax her body.” He looks so angry when he starts to talk about the other person. His eyes grow hard and his forehead gets a wrinkle in the middle. I squeeze his hand so he will look at me and quit thinking whatever thoughts have him so angry. He looks at me and a few tears stream down his cheeks. It breaks my heart to see him so distraught.
“Please, Tate, I’m okay.”
“You just don’t know, Красота, I thought you were gone and I just found you. I have not had enough time for something to happen to you. I’m a selfish man, Красота, and I refuse to wait. I love you, beauty. I love you so much with all of me. I will give you everything of mine and anything I can in life to make you happy. Please say when you get better you will live with me; you will stay with me forever. Let me take care of you and cherish you. Let me marry you and give you lots of babies?” Tears continue to roll down his face and I fall deeper in love with him.
“Yes, Tate. I will stay with you, I promise. I love you very much too.” He breaks out in a big smile and gently kisses me all over my face.
“My little lamb, you make me the happiest man in the world. I will take good care of you and love you always.” I smile and rub my hand on his unshaven face. I really take him in and notice he looks a mess. My Tate is always so well put together. This man beside me looks like a wreck. His face is really scruffy; he has dark bags under his eyes that are red rimmed. It looks as if he hasn’t slept or showered in days. He’s in his white undershirt and a pair of dress pants, they are wrinkled and it’s not something he would normally wear.
“Hey, sugar dimples, what are you wearing?” I look at him crazy and he starts to laugh. Ah, there’s my Tate.
“I haven’t been home since the wreck. This is my undershirt and the pants I had on at dinner with my parents.” My poor man.
“Oh, Tate, please take a shower, put some clean clothes on, eat and take a nap. I’m okay now and awake. You need to go take care of yourself.”
“I’ll call Cam and let him know to tell the girls you’re okay and to bring me some clothes. We are in a private suite so I can just use the shower in here. Avery and London have been going crazy. I told them as soon as you wake I’ll call them so they can come see you. They were worried sick.” He pulls his phone out and starts scrolling through his contacts. “I have to let my parents know too, I know Vivi will want to send you some food so you don’t eat hospital food.”
“Okay, sweets, that sounds good. I would love some food from Vivi if she wants to make it.” Hell yeah, that woman is awesome! I hope London and Avery aren’t too upset. I’ll never hear the end of how they were so worried about me and it’ll make me feel super guilty.
“Will you please ask London or Avery to grab my iPod and Kindle so I can read please?”
“Of course, Красота, anything you want.” Wow. That’s definitely the right answer. I can’t wait to jump his bones when I get out of here.
> 3 days later
“Oh my God, Tate! Get me out of here! I cannot stay in this freaking bed any longer! At least take me home so I can see Muffin and be surrounded by my friends.” Tate looks at me, exasperated. I’ve been trying this all day and I think he’s close to his breaking point.
“Красота, the doctor said a few days, just be patient. It’s for your health.”
“Tate, either you bust me out of here or I’m signing myself out and calling London.”
“Alright, you win. It’s been a few days, so I’ll tell him you are ready to go and see what he says, okay? I roll my eyes at him and he sticks his tongue out at me.
“I don’t care what he says, I’m outta here!” Finally I break through to this stubborn man. I blow him kisses as he walks out.
“Hate that you’re leaving, but I sure do love watching you go!” I smile and wink at him, and this time it’s him who rolls his eyes at me. He’s so freaking cute, I just love him.
About thirty minutes later my door opens, Tate and Dr. Hopkins walk in.
“Hello, Miss Emily. I hear you are ready to leave us?” He smiles and his old eyes twinkle. My doctor has to be pushing sixty years old, if not older. Tate says he’s the best at this hospital and that’s why he’s assigned to me. He has a head full of white, fluffy hair and big green eyes. Dr. Hopkins looks like he’s in good shape for his age but may have eaten a few too many bowls of chocolate pudding from the cafeteria.
“Yes, sir, I’m ready to blow this popsicle stand!” He starts laughing and Tate shakes his head. I guess you can say I’ve been quite entertaining to the staff here. I had to be or I would have gone out of my mind. More so than the wreck caused. Now all of the nurses call Tate ‘Sugar Dimples’ and it makes him blush profusely. If they come into the room he tries to act like he’s reading a magazine so he has something to hide behind. Especially if it’s Brenda; she’s this older lady that totally looks like a sweet grandma. When she learned of his nickname she actually walked up to him and pinched his cheeks. I laughed so hard I thought I was going to bust a stitch. It’s pretty great and entertaining to see him bashful.
“Doc, ahh, wants to talk to you about something by yourself, is that okay? I can stay if you’re more comfortable.” I give him a puzzled look. What on earth does he need to talk to me about?
“No, stud, it’s okay. I’ll talk to Dr. Hopkins then we can finally go home.” Tate nods at us and walks out of my room, closing the door behind him.
“What’s up, sir?”
“Well, may I sit, Emily?”
“Yes, sir, of course.” Shit. Am I dying or something?
“Thanks. You see I wanted to talk to you not about the accident, but about the person who ran into the vehicle you were in.” He steeples his fingers under his chin as he says this and I notice a shiny silver watch on his wrist I’ve never seen before. Doctor Hopkins has good taste in watches. Shit what did he say? Focus, Emily. Oh right, the idiot that hit us.
“You are aware that she is in this hospital as well? I believe Mr. Masterson told you, correct?”
“Yes, Tate told me about it when I first woke up.”
“Right, good. Well, you see I was also her doctor because her injuries were so severe I had to restructure her left arm, wrist and left foot. I was shocked when I saw her and then saw you. So I took the liberty of comparing a few things. You see, I had to take your blood to run tests to make sure you could be on certain medications. I had to take her blood samples for the same reason and also for the police to know her blood alcohol content.” Okay, and? I give Dr. Hopkins a ‘so what’ kind of look.
“Okay, I’m aware of all that, I mean, did you need me to sign some more paperwork or something? Do you have liability sheets or something for blood work?”
“No, no, dear.” He takes a deep breath and sets his hands down.
“You see, Emily, the person who hit you is Elaina Harper.” He looks so sad to deliver this news, but I have no clue who this chick is. She has the same last name I do, but what does that mean?
“I’m sorry but you will have to fill me in, Doc, because I have no idea who that is.” He looks shocked to hear me say this and closes then opens his mouth again.
“Oh no. I wonder if even she knows. Elaina Harper is your identical twin. You don’t know that you are a twin?” I burst out laughing loudly then I bend over and hold my belly. The laughs turn to sobs and I am crying all over the place.
“You mean to tell me I have a sister, an identical twin sister, and she almost died because we were in a wreck together and she’s right down the hall from me?” I gasp out in between sobs.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.” I get to the bathroom as fast as I can and up-chuck my lunch of chicken and dumplings Vivi had made me, only called something different in Russian. I can’t believe I have a sister! I thought all of my family was dead and the one person I have left in the world almost died. OMG I have to see her. I have to meet her. I hear Tate enter the room and begin yelling at the doctor.
“What the hell’s going on? Why is my Красота upset? I hope for your sake I don’t have to hurt you, Doc.” Oh shit! I better go get Tate before he takes out the doctors knees.
“Tate, baby, no. It’s not the doctor’s fault. He gave me some news and it made me upset, but he didn’t do anything wrong.” I look to the doctor and see he looks like he’s about to piss his pants. I don’t blame him. Tate is a mean cookie when he goes all ‘Mafia Boss’. Tate clears his throat and looks to the doctor.
“Sorry about that, Doc, just looking after my Красота. What is it? Wait, is she pregnant or something?” He gets a hopeful expression and it fills me full of warmth.
“Of course, Mr. Masterson, I understand. And no, sir, she is not pregnant, Miss Harper can fill you in.”
“Emily, she is in room 309 and you are on her list of allowed visitors. Good luck. I’ll have your discharge paperwork drawn up and Nurse Brenda will be in here to have you sign everything.”
“Okay, thank you, doctor.” Dr. Hopkins leaves my room a little too quickly.
“What is it, little lamb? What happened?”
“Okay, first I need to get my clean clothes on. Then I need to go to room 309. Then I will tell you what’s going on, but first I have to see it with my own eyes.”
“What’s in room 309? Oh, you mean the person who hit us? No, Красота, you stay out of there.”
“No way, I’m not staying out of there!”
“The hell you are! I already called Uncle Victor and he’s going to take care of her. No one almost kills my Красота and then lives to talk about it. I don’t know which it was, the Chinese or the Italians or maybe even those fucking bikers, but I will make this right. I’m so sorry you went through this.” I pale at his words and want to puke again.
“HOLY FUCK, TATE! Call Victor back NOW! That’s my twin sister in that room!” I scream loudly at him. I start to change as quickly as possible. It’s not that fast because my body hurts so badly still. Tate turns white as a ghost when he hears what I say about it being my sister and immediately dials his uncle.
“I’m sorry, Красота, I had no clue. I didn’t even know you had a sister. I’m so sorry, I will fix this.”
“I didn’t know either, it was kept secret from me and I don’t know why. I swear to God, Tate, if something happens to her because of your Mafia shit, I will never forgive you.” I’m so angry at him. I can’t even look at him right now. He better fix this quick.
“I’m going to her room to see her.”
“I wish you would wait, but if you insist, then I’m coming to so I can protect you.”
“Protect me? Are you kidding right now? You calling hits on people that turn out to be my sister is NOT FUCKING PROTECTING ME!” I storm out of my room and down the hall as fast as possible. I see his brother, Viktor, down the hall a little ways from me about to go into a room. What is he doing? Oh God, please no!
“Viktor!” I yell out and
start walking quicker. He looks up at me, gives me a small smile, and then goes into the room and closes the door.
“Oh my God, Tate! Please! Get Viktor!”
“Okay, baby.” He takes off running the rest of the way and I try to catch up as quickly as possible. I burst into the room behind Tate and freeze. Viktor is at the end of her bed staring at my sister. He looks as if he’s in a trance and is extremely pale.
“Viktor!” I gasp out and it makes him blink. He turns his head to me and looks confused.
“No, please. She’s my sister and Tate didn’t know. Please don’t hurt her.” He blinks and looks at my sister again. He nods and walks to her. I go to run after him but Tate snatches my arm to stop me. Viktor walks to her side and does the sign of the mafia on her forehead, then bends down and presses a chaste kiss on the middle of her forehead.
“She’s Красота (beauty) too, Да (yes)?” he asks Tate.
“Yes, брат (brother), she is a beauty like my Красота.” Viktor turns to me with a look of wonderment on his face.
“There is two of you, princess?” I nod and the tears I’ve been holding spill over my cheeks and lips.
“Yes, there are two of me, but I didn’t know. I just found out about her.” I walk to her side and stare at her face that looks exactly like mine. It’s weird seeing her lying there. She’s heavily medicated to help with the pain so I doubt she will wake anytime soon.
“Please don’t hurt her, Viktor,” I ask him again. He looks remorsefully at me.
“I promise, I won’t hurt her, I will keep her safe.” I walk to him and hug him tightly.
“Thank you, brother,” I whisper into his jacket and he squeezes me tighter so I know he heard me.
“Now, Красота, you can calm down. We can go home so you can rest and we can come back to visit her. Viktor, please call if she wakes or anything changes.” Tate takes my hand and pulls me toward him.
“I will, Luka. I will talk to you both soon.” We both say goodbye and make our way to my room to get my stuff.
Secrets Page 13