Toxic

by Lingard, Alice

  Suzy tried to pull Lacey away, but her friend wouldn't budge from Raw's side.

  “Raw!” Todd screamed at his brother. “Raw!”

  Chapter 24

  “It's not your fault,” Suzy said, as they waited in A&E.

  “Of course it's my fault. It was me he was supposed to kill. I wish he had.”

  “Don't talk like that. Raw will be okay.” Suzy glanced at Jason—hoping for some reassurance. She didn't get any.

  Time seemed to have ground to a halt. It was two hours since they'd taken Raw through. The nurses had allowed Lacey to sit in a small room near the operating theatre, but Carol, Todd, Jason and Suzy had been forced to wait in A&E. Carol had checked with the woman on reception every fifteen minutes, but so far there was no news.

  “I've been such a dick to him,” Todd said.

  “All brothers are the same.” Suzy took his hand.

  “Every time he tried to reach out to me with an act of kindness, I threw it back in his face. And you know the worst part? I don't even know how it came to this. It was about Dad originally. I thought Raw was his favourite, and I was jealous. Somehow it grew into this.”

  Suzy tried to think of something to say that would make things better, but there was nothing. Todd had been a complete shit to his brother, but he didn't need anyone to tell him that right now.

  “Lacey!” Carol yelled.

  Lacey stood in the doorway—her face as white as a sheet. Carol hurried over to her, followed closely by the others.

  “Lacey?” Carol dared hardly ask the question.

  “He's okay.” Lacey managed a weak smile. “The knife missed his vital organs. The doctors say there was a lot of blood loss. Another few minutes and—”

  “Can we see him?” Todd said.

  “He's in recovery. They said it'll be a few hours. They said we should go home, but I'm going to stay. If you all want to go, I can give you a call.”

  “Screw that,” Todd said. “We’re staying.”

  Carol hugged Lacey. Todd hugged the two of them.

  “Let's go and get coffee,” Suzy said to Jason.

  **********

  “He's awake,” Lacey said, when she returned from seeing the consultant.

  “Can we see him?” Carol asked.

  “In a few minutes. They're going to let us know when. Only one at a time they said. And only for a few minutes each.”

  “He'll want to see you first, Lacey” Carol said.

  “Then me,” Todd said.

  Everyone looked at him; no one argued.

  “Hi Chipmunk Girl.” Raw's voice was weak.

  Lacey glanced at the monitors and tubes, and then at Raw's smiling face. “How are you feeling?”

  “This may well be the second worst thing I've experienced,” he said.

  “What could have been worse than this?”

  “Going fishing.”

  Lacey half laughed, half-cried. “When I saw the blood, I thought you were going to—”

  “You don't get rid of me that easily. Besides, I promised you a holiday in the villa. If I'd died, I'd have never heard the end of it.”

  “Am I allowed to kiss you?”

  “It's mandatory.”

  Lacey leaned over and pressed her lips gently to his. As she did, her tears began to flow.

  “Hey. No crying.”

  “Sorry,” she blubbed. “The others are in the waiting room. They all want to see you.”

  “I'd rather you stayed. I'm going to need a bed bath soon.”

  “No bed baths for you. You can tell the nurses from me—if they try to give you one, they'll have me to answer to.”

  She kissed him again. “Todd wants to see you.”

  Raw looked surprised.

  “You need to do this,” Lacey said.

  “Sure. Tell him to come through.”

  A few minutes after Lacey had left Raw's bedside, Todd walked into the room. He glanced from side to side as if unable to bring himself to actually look at his brother.

  “You okay, Todd?” Raw said.

  “I'm so sorry.” Todd looked at Raw for the first time.

  “For what?”

  “Everything. For being a douche-bag.”

  “Oh that. I didn't think you could help that.”

  Todd almost cracked a smile. “How is it you always have an answer for everything? Seriously though, I've been completely out of order. I was just telling Suzy, I can't even remember why I've been so angry at you.”

  “Because I used to beat you at Monopoly?”

  “Only because you cheated.”

  “Of course I cheated. Aren't you meant to?”

  Todd took a seat at the bedside. “I was pissed at you because you were Dad's favourite.”

  “I'm not sure I was. He spent more time with me because he knew I'd be taking over the business. If you'd been the eldest, he'd have done the same with you.”

  “I guess I knew that, but it still hurt. Anyway, it's a good job I wasn't the eldest. Can you imagine what a fuck-up I'd have made of the business?”

  “I try not to.”

  They both laughed.

  “Why did you do it?” Todd said in little more than a whisper.

  “What?”

  “You know. Throw yourself in front of me? You could have been killed.”

  “I was trying to get out of the way. I slipped and landed in front of you.”

  Todd managed a weak smile. “I owe you.”

  “You don't owe me anything.”

  “I owe you every fucking thing. I'm not sure how I'll ever pay you back.”

  “There's nothing to pay.”

  “How long are you going to be in here?” Todd asked.

  “Doctor said a few days. Maybe a week. You'll probably be gone by the time they let me out.”

  “I'm not going anywhere. Not while you're stuck in here.”

  “You have to. You've seen what Waverley is capable of. Jason has everything arranged.”

  “Do you trust Jason?”

  “Carol seems to think he's on the level.”

  “I don't know. There's something about him. Did you see the way he kicked the guy with the knife? Looked like a pro to me.”

  “I missed that. I was too busy bleeding out at the time.”

  “I want to wait until you're back on your feet before I leave.”

  “You said you owe me, right?”

  “Right. Anything.”

  “Well do this one thing for me. You have to leave when Jason tells you to. It doesn't matter if I'm still in here. I'm going to be okay—you can see that.”

  “But—”

  “Will you do this for me?”

  “It's fucked up. It's taken all of this time for us to get back together, and now I have to leave. Will I ever be able to come back?”

  “Who knows? Maybe. I hope so.”

  “Me too.”

  “What about Suzy? Is she going with you?”

  “I wouldn't go without her.”

  “You two seem to have hit it off.”

  “Yeah. I even owe that to you. If you hadn't seduced Chipmunk Girl, I never would have met her flatmate.”

  “Is it my imagination or has she calmed down a little.”

  “Maybe, but she still does crazy better than anyone I know. That's what I love about her.”

  “Time's up.” A nurse appeared at the door.

  “Take care, Raw.” Todd said. “And thanks for everything. I'd hug you, but—” He gestured to the bandages and tubes.

  “Might not be the best idea.” Raw smiled. “Take care of yourself and Suzy.”

  “I love you, bro” Todd said.

  Raw tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

  Chapter 25

  “I'm only going to make a few phone calls,” Raw protested.

  “Put that phone down now or I'll break the damn thing.” Lacey stood with her hands on her hips; she meant business. “The doctor said no work for at least two weeks.”


  “Making a phone call isn't work.”

  “I'm going to count to three, and then I'm going to smash your phone.”

  “I just need—”

  “One.”

  “I promised Jim Sanders—”

  “Two.”

  “It will only take me a minute—”

  “Three.”

  “Fine.” He put the phone onto the boardroom table. “Phone's down.”

  “I'll take that.” Lacey snatched the phone, and put it in her pocket.

  “Where's the trust?” he said. “If you loved me, you'd trust me.”

  “When it comes to obeying the doctor's orders, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you. Now listen up.” She glared at him. “And you can stop rolling your eyes. Are you listening?”

  “You're so sexy when you take charge. If I can't make phone calls, why don't you take me to bed, miss dominatrix?”

  “The doctor also said no physical activity for at least two weeks.”

  “I'd let you do all the work.”

  Lacey was struggling to keep a smile at bay.

  “You can watch TV or read a good book.”

  “You could ask your mum if she's finished with that fifty greys book.”

  “Fifty shades, and no, I'm not asking Mum if you can borrow that. Read something boring.”

  “You're no fun any more.”

  “Well, if you will insist on throwing yourself in front of a knife, what do you expect?”

  The smile faded from Raw's face. “I wonder where Todd and Suzy are.”

  “I can't believe I'm never going to see her again,” Lacey said. “I miss her calling me babes.”

  “You hated it when she called you that.”

  “I still miss it though. I hope they're okay.”

  “They will be. I've never seen Todd as happy as he is around Suzy. They shouldn't be good for one another, but they are.”

  “Do you think we'll ever see them again?”

  “I don't know. Jason reckons there's a chance when Waverley's off the scene, but that's not likely to happen any time soon. Sounds like he has a pretty strong power base.”

  “I've asked Carol to come around this afternoon,” Lacey said.

  “Why?”

  “To babysit you.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To see Mum. I spoke to Tom earlier. He said she's come downstairs for the first time.”

  “That's good news.”

  “No it's not. The doctor said she should have at least a few more days in bed. She's an even worse patient than you are. And Tom's no match for her, so I'll have to go around there and sort her out.”

  “She's doing okay though?”

  “Yeah. Tom said he couldn't remember the last time she looked so well. She's still mad at me though. And at you.”

  “What did I do?”

  “She's annoyed that you paid for her operation. She says she was perfectly happy to wait for the NHS.”

  “Didn't you tell her William Green is the UK's leading coronary surgeon? She couldn't have been in better hands.”

  “I tried to. You know what Mum's like. I think she's pleased really, but she's never going to admit it. Anyway, I don't care what she says—it was worth every penny.”

  “How did Carol sound when you spoke to her?” Raw asked.

  “Pretty down. She hasn't seen Jason since he confirmed Todd and Suzy were settled. What exactly went wrong with her and Jason?”

  “I don't know. I'm not sure Carol does. He told her he didn't think it could work out between them. I don't think I helped matters. I was pretty down on him.”

  “I hope they can sort it out. Carol seemed so happy when she was with him.”

  “I know. She hasn't had much luck with her love life.”

  “What do you want for lunch?” Lacey asked.

  “Do you know what I really fancy?”

  “Steak with all the trimmings?”

  “I could just eat a Chipmunk Pizza. I hear they have a hot, new delivery girl.”

  “It's a good job you're injured or I'd be forced to kill you.”

  **********

  “Cynth!” the man called from inside the house. “Cynth!”

  When there was no response, he sighed and walked out onto the front porch. “Cynth! I've been calling you for the last five minutes.”

  “Sorry. I'll never get used to this stupid name. How come I get the crap name?”

  “Cynthia's a nice name. It suits you.”

  “Suzy suited me. It still does. I don't see why I can't use my real name now we're here.”

  “Because all of your paperwork—your passport—your driving licence—all have your new name on them. People might think it a bit odd if you insist on calling yourself Suzy.”

  “It's all right for you. You get the cool new name: Ted. It's practically your real name anyway. Todd, Ted. Doesn't seem fair.

  “What about Cyn? Short for Cynthia.”

  “Yeah, I suppose that's a bit better. Be kind of funny to hear you calling out 'Cyn' across a shop.”

  Todd sat on the swing bench next to Suzy. “Jason did good.”

  Suzy stared out to sea. “It is beautiful here.”

  “I thought I might go into town later to see about buying a car. Want to come with me?”

  “Is the money in the bank yet?”

  “Yeah. I checked this morning. Sparkly new account with two hundred thousand in it.”

  “Two hundred thousand? Bloody hell.”

  “We have to live on that for a year though.”

  “I think we'll manage. Especially now we don't waste it all on booze.” She glared at him. “Or gambling.”

  “We're really boring now, aren't we?”

  “Boring is good. Anyway, I thought I might look for a job.”

  “What kind of job?”

  “I don't know. Anything. Just part time. We'll get sick of the sight of one another if we're together all day every day.”

  “I'll never get tired of you.” Todd kissed her gently on the lips. “It's just the two of us now—that's all I need.”

  The dog barked, jumped up, and rested its front paws on Todd's knees.

  “Sorry, Ben. I meant the three of us.”

  WHAT'S NEXT?

  Want to know what happens to Carol?

  Hint: She hasn't given up on Jason yet.

  Want to keep tabs on our other happy couples?

  Raw/Lacey and Todd/Suzy

  The Power is the third and final book in the RAW series.

  To be notified when it is published please click on this link: http://eepurl.com/OPqnb

  ALICE LINGARD'S BOOKS

  THE RAW SERIES:

  The Bonus

  Toxic

  The Power (Sept 2014)

  Web Site: http://www.AliceLingard.com

  New Releases Notification: http://eepurl.com/OPqnb