The Neighborhood (A Twin Estates Novel Book 2)

by Stylo Fantome

  Most people would've argued, she knew. Not Genevieve Stone, though. As a woman who had seen her fair share of disaster and pain, she seemed to know that when someone said that – they really meant it. She gave Katya a big hug, crushing her to her chest. Then she asked to be kept informed as she finally left the apartment.

  The moment the door was shut, Katya started crying again. She leaned against the island and wrapped her arms around herself, trying her best to hold herself together.

  What to do … what to do … you need to go. You need to go right now. He's dying, they said. He won't last the night, they said. You have to go right now.

  But she couldn't go alone. She knew she physically could not make that drive by herself. She felt half a step away from fainting. Someone would have to go with her, would have to drive her. It wasn't terribly far, but it was asking a lot so late in the day – whoever it was would probably have to stay the night.

  Wulf was out of the question. Even if he got on a plane right that moment, he wouldn't make it into San Francisco for at least another hour. She couldn't wait that long. She tried calling Tori, but the other girl had made a bank run, and had apparently left her phone behind the bar. Katya asked if Liam was there, but they said no, he'd taken the afternoon off.

  I was supposed to meet him at four.

  She glanced at her watch. It was almost six o'clock. If he wasn't at the club, he might still be at home. She tried calling him, but got no answer. Still. He could be playing video games or dealing with his brother or doing laundry. He was her best bet.

  She tore around her apartment, tossing the first articles of clothing she touched into an overnight bag. Then she slung it and her purse over her shoulder before hurrying downstairs. She didn't even bother waiting for the elevator in Liam's building, she ran all the way up the stairs to his apartment. She banged on his door with one hand while wiping at her face with the other. She prayed that he would answer, but that day wasn't her luckiest of days, it seemed.

  “What the fuck!?” Landon Edenhoff yelled as he ripped open the door. “Is there a fire!?”

  “I'm sorry,” she gasped. “Is Liam here?”

  He looked ready to tell her to go fuck herself, but then he paused. Seemed to take in her disheveled state. Crazy hair and glassy eyes and tear streaked face. He frowned and relaxed his demeanor.

  “No, I thought he was with you, he left for your place a while ago. Are you okay?” he asked. Her lip started trembling and she shook her head.

  “My father was in a really bad car accident and I … I just need to talk to Liam,” she said quickly, barely holding the tears at bay. He was an asshole, but Landon was also a doctor, so she figured hearing about a medical emergency must mean something to him.

  “I'm sorry, car accidents can be some of the most unforgiving. Did you try his phone? I haven't heard from him,” he said, pulling out his own cell and checking it.

  “I did, but no answer. We were supposed to meet and go up to ...”

  The roof. God, maybe he was waiting for her on the roof. If she hadn't been at her apartment and she hadn't answered his messages, he just might have gone up there to wait for her. She was ridiculously late – would he still be up there? She hoped he was, and also hoped he wasn't drunk on margaritas already.

  “Good luck!” Landon yelled after her as she raced back to the stairwell.

  Katya was running on pure adrenaline. She took the elevator up to the top floor in her building, then ran up the last set of steps. The stupid door was locked, of course. She had a key, luckily – one of only two, with Liam owning the other. She fumbled with her key ring and dropped it, swore out loud, then scooped it up and found the right key. Shoved it into the lock and burst out onto the roof.

  When she saw him sitting on the loveseat, it was the first feeling of relief she'd had since she'd gotten the awful news at lunch. She hurried towards him.

  “Liam, I have to -”

  She froze mid-step, not quite sure what she was seeing, at first. It had already been a surreal kind of day. Maybe she was hallucinating. Could acute and sudden stress bring on hallucinations? She would have to ask Dr. Edenhoff when she had a chance.

  Because if she wasn't hallucinating, then she was witnessing Liam getting a blow job from some blonde chick. On the loveseat. On the roof. On their roof. Their special place.

  Why is everything nothing like it seems?

  “I'm sorry,” she breathed. “I didn't mean … I'm sorry.”

  He was gawking at her, looking completely shocked. As she started walking backwards, he began shoving at the blonde woman. Oddly, Katya's first thought was “how rude”, and she almost laughed.

  “Katya, wait,” he said, stumbling to his feet and knocking the poor woman over. “I can explain. Wait.”

  “Hey!” the other woman yelled. “We were gonna talk about my back rent!”

  Katya didn't care. Not even one little bit. It was all so stupid. Her father was dying in some hospital. All alone, while his wife was under sedation and his daughter was caught up in some stupid drama. It was unacceptable. She turned and walked back out the door.

  “Wait! Wait, wait, wait, I really can … I'm sorry,” Liam was rushing his words as he ran up next to her. Katya held up her hand.

  “I know. It's okay. It's really okay,” she said, stabbing the elevator button repeatedly.

  “Jesus,” he groaned, tugging at her elbow and following her onto the lift after the doors had opened. “Please. I don't know … fuck, why am I always fucking things up!?”

  “I'm serious, Liam. It's okay, I'm not even mad,” she told him, running her fingers under her eyes as the tears started falling again.

  “God, please don't cry, angel cake. Please don't cry over me,” he begged, moving so he was standing in front of her.

  “I'm not. My dad was in a car accident,” she said quickly. “That's why I couldn't make it this afternoon. I have to go to Carmel. I just … I wanted you to know that. I'm leaving.”

  “Holy shit,” he whispered, staring down at her. “I thought … you didn't answer, and I thought … I thought you were with him.”

  “My dad?”

  “Wulf.”

  She laughed. It sounded loud and scary, like a sound a psychopath would make.

  “Wulfric. When I didn't show up or call, you thought I was with Wulfric, so you brought some girl up here to give you a blow job?” she asked.

  “No. I mean … yeah, but … fuck, it sounds so bad. I was just angry! It's like you never notice me, and I'm a man, Katya, I can't just wait around forever, and I don't … I'm just really sorry,” he babbled.

  “Liam,” she sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. “I don't … I don't really care. We weren't dating. We weren't exclusive. I've slept with Wulf since we got back from our trip.”

  “I'm sorry I – wait, you have?”

  “Twice. I tried to tell you the other night, when we were up here,” she said. “So I don't care if you need to fulfill your needs. I don't care if you go bang every chick in San Francisco.”

  “I didn't … I guess I didn't realize that,” he mumbled. The elevator dinged to a stop and they moved into the lobby.

  “What I do have a problem with is you lying to me, again. Continuously. I think you have a serious problem with that. 'You're the only one for me, Katya', saying you hadn't been with anyone since us. How many chicks have you slept with since that date we had, honestly?” she demanded. He frowned.

  “Um … like … four?” he answered, but his voice was shaky.

  “Okay, so I'm just gonna go ahead and double that number, then round up, cause I can tell you're lying to me right now. And on the rooftop, Liam!? That's low, even for you. I never took anyone up there, not even Tori. Not even Wulf,” she growled.

  “I'm just … I'm really sorry,” he said in a soft voice.

  “You don't know what that words means. And do you want to know how I know that?” she snapped, whirling around on him before they could exit the
building. “Because what you did up there? It doesn't matter. Like I said, line women up and have them suck your dick right out there on the street. Have fun, go to town. But doing it to get back at me, because you're angry at me? Angry at something you thought I might be doing? That right there is the worst thing you've ever done to me.”

  She was fully crying again, gasping for air as she shoved her finger into his chest, trying to drive her point home.

  “My father is alone, and he's in pain, and he needs me, and what am I doing!? Standing here fighting with Liam Edenhoff, once again, over some fucking lie! Some other fucking lie!”

  She was almost screaming, shoving him in the chest. He grabbed her hand, trying to get her to hold still.

  “Stop, Katya. Stop,” he whispered, trying to reel her in.

  “No! You stop! You have no business being someone's friend until you learn how to be a goddamn friend! Do you hear me!? Just stay away from me until you figure shit out!”

  She didn't wait for a response. While still sobbing, she yanked away from him and almost fell through the door. She could hear him behind her, knew he was still trying to talk to her, but at that same moment someone was getting out of an Uber at the curb. She all but fell into the backseat and slammed the door shut.

  The Uber driver wasn't very happy at first, what with a random stranger falling into his backseat and a strange man yanking at the door handles from outside. But when Katya managed to gasp out her sob story, the kindly older gentleman offered to drive her anywhere, free of charge.

  By the time they pulled up to the alley where Liam's club was, Katya had pulled herself together a little. What Liam had done was awful, but she wasn't thinking about it at all. He could've set all of her stuff on fire, and she'd already be over it. She had bigger problems. New priorities.

  She managed to get downstairs without really saying anything to anyone. The place was slow, the employees taking it easy after the festivities from the night before. Tori was behind the bar downstairs, laughing at something a man in a suit was saying to her. She only took one look at Katya, though, to know that something was up.

  “Hey, what's going on?” she asked after she'd led her friend into Liam's office.

  The waterworks started immediately. Katya explained about her dad, how bad the accident was, and how she had to get home. Like right then. But she didn't want to go alone, didn't think it was safe for her to drive.

  She hadn't even finished talking, though, and Tori was already pulling on her jacket and grabbing her purse.

  “Wait,” Katya asked, sniffling and hurrying to catch up as her roommate rushed through the bar. “Don't you need to call Liam? Ask for time off, find a cover?”

  “I will, as soon as we're on the road.”

  “I don't want you get in trouble.”

  “I don't care if I get in trouble. Some things are just too important.”

  Within half an hour, they'd rented a car and were on the road. Tori didn't even bother going back to the apartment and getting clothing, insisting she could just borrow something from Katya or buy something in Carmel.

  After what felt like an eternity, they finally pulled up to the hospital where her father had been taken. While Tori parked the car, Katya ran to the registration desk and asked about her parents.

  Her mother was fine, but was still asleep, so she asked if she could see her father. She couldn't, she was informed, because he was in emergency surgery. She was told what floor and what wing, and to head to a waiting area there and a doctor would see her soon. She texted all the info to Tori, then she went up to wait.

  It was another forty-five minutes before anyone showed up to speak to her. Tori had turned up by then, saying she'd called Liam and had a bizarre conversation with him. But she was good to be gone for as long as she needed.

  “Do you want me to call Wulf?” she offered, wrapping an arm around Katya's shoulders.

  “No,” she sighed. “His sister called him, he was at some big meeting in Los Angeles. He's probably on a plane home right now.”

  “I'll call in an hour, see if -”

  They didn't get a chance to discuss it right then, because a tall, very serious looking doctor showed up.

  All sorts of things were explained to Katya, most of which she didn't understand. Contusions and concussions and fractures and compounds. Swelling brains and punctured lungs and inflamed organs. Transfusions and oxygen levels and erratic heart beats.

  His face had actually hit the door frame – he must have been looking out it when he'd been hit. His left cheekbone had basically shattered, it was more than likely he would lose both eyes, and his skull was fractured.

  They'd already amputated one leg, and they weren't sure they could save the other. It would have to wait, anyway. His body was in such a state of shock, it made all non-emergency surgery too dangerous. His heart had stopped beating twice already.

  That was the other thing. He'd been deprived of oxygen for several minutes one of the times. Clinically dead for three whole minutes. If he survived his injuries, and if he regained consciousness, there was also a chance he wouldn't be the same man she'd grown up with; he might have amnesia. He might have severe mental problems. He might need to relearn how to talk and eat and speak.

  She was ready to faint again by the time the doctor was done speaking, but he said there was some good news. Her dad's heart was beating steady again, and his vitals were starting to improve. He was still in the danger zone, anything could go wrong between then and the morning. He was still listed as critical, and they could only wait and pray for the time being.

  There was nothing else they could do. She wasn't allowed to see him, not while he was in post-op. She went down to see her mother in her room, which they were allowed to go into and sit down. She held her mom's hand while a nice nurse explained that Mrs. Tocci was fine, but she would sleep through the night. It would be best if Katya and Tori went home. The hospital would call if anything happened.

  But she couldn't go home. She couldn't go to that place, not without her parents. Not knowing that her father might never be there again. So they got a room at the closet hotel and dragged themselves up there.

  By the time she laid down on the bed, Katya felt fifty years older. That morning, her life had been about baking cookies and worrying about stupid boys. One moment. One phone call. Suddenly her entire life had changed and she realized just how superficial everything was in comparison to how precious her family was to her.

  “It's going to be okay, Katya,” Tori assured her while she changed into some cheap t-shirt she'd bought at the hotel's gift shop.

  “You don't know that,” Katya said in a voice that was hoarse from crying.

  “I do. I really do,” her roommate said, curling up on her side next to her.

  “How? How can you possibly know that?”

  “Because – no matter what happens, you will get through it. Your parents are amazing people who raised an exceptional daughter. I'm not saying it'll be easy. It's going to be the worst thing ever,” Tori explained, starting to cry, as well. “But I know that in the end, whatever happens, you will be okay.”

  They fell asleep holding onto each other and for a brief moment, right before darkness took over everything, Katya thought to herself, “looking to all these stupid boys for strength and love – I forgot that nothing beats a best friend in those departments.”

  26

  It was over a week before Katya and Tori checked out of the hotel.

  Miraculously, her father didn't die. Defying all odds, he actually woke up. After four days of a medically induced coma, they stopped the drugs and waited to see what would happen. A day later, he opened his eyes.

  He couldn't talk because they had a lot of tubes down his throat. But using his fingers to squeeze a doctor's hand in response to questions, he was able to indicate that he could hear, that he knew what year it was, and he knew his own name.

  It really felt like a miracle. There were still a lot of hur
dles to overcome. They had managed to save one leg and one eye – but he would need to be in a wheelchair for a long time before he could learn to walk with crutches or a prosthetic limb, and his eye was still seriously damaged. He could see a murky sort of grayness, he told them, but that was it. They couldn't guarantee he'd ever see more than that.

  Katya got to see him, but it didn't go so well. She cried so hard she couldn't walk over to him. The whole thing upset him so much, she had to be removed. It was Tori who went into the room and assured Mr. Tocci that though his family was upset, they were holding it together. She promised that she would take good care of his wife and daughter, and that he'd be back home before he knew it.

  Mrs. Tocci was not doing well, unfortunately. She'd moved into the hotel room next door to the girls, and even after she'd been told her husband would survive, she wouldn't leave. She had to be right next door, she had to be five minutes away, she insisted.

  Tori suggested they go home. Get the house ready for whenever Mrs. Tocci decided to come back, clean out the fridge of old food, things like that. Katya finally agreed, and they headed to her parents' house.

  “God, I haven't been back here in years,” Tori sighed as they drove through Katya's old neighborhood. Tori had lived on the other side of town, and since graduating, her parents had moved to another city.

  “Hasn't changed much,” Katya said, watching the houses roll by.

  “No. Not at all. Look!” Tori laughed, pointing at a huge home with big pillars. “Remember that kid!? He was in love with you!”

  “No,” Katya chuckled. “He was using me to get to you.”

  “Get out of here!”

  “Yeah. He had a huge thing for you, wanted me to tell you he was a good kisser.”

  “Why didn't you?”

  “Because he was an asshole.”

  They both laughed.

  “Look at you, feisty even back then,” Tori teased as she pulled the car into the Tocci's driveway.

  “Hardly feisty. I think he kissed me once, no tongue, and I nearly peed myself. He wasn't even that good, he – holy shit,” Katya leaned forward in her seat for a second, then she leapt out of the car.