Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1)

by Cindy Lou Moldovan

  I only thought I was mad before. I was breathing fire now. I told Grace to forward his call to me. The phone rang and I snatched it from the base.

  “Get the fuck off my phone, Jordan, or I swear to God I will have someone kick your ass when you land at the airport. You fight dirty, but I am not taking this laying down, you hear me? Let me make this clear to you—you can’t break me. Ever!” I yelled at him. All the while I was speaking, Jordan was trying to calm me down. I heard bits and pieces of what he was trying to say but I didn’t stop yelling. He asked me to hear him out…another misunderstanding, not what I think it is, he is sending his attorney to my office to speak with me now.

  “Do not send any one of your douchebag people to even try and enter my office or I will have them arrested for trespassing. Lee is at my door and swear to God, I will tell him to fucking Taser their ass.”

  “Lee, the dickhead cop? You called Lee?” he yelled at me. “I will kick his ass when I get there. I don’t give a fuck if he is a cop and don’t care if I get arrested. I went to jail for you once, and I will do it again. Fucker was just waiting for me to leave before he marched in like some superhero…”

  “Get lost, Jordan! Oh, and David will kick your ass as well if there is anything left of you when Lee is through with you.” Ha. There.

  I felt like a child calling on all my friends and family to come to my aid but I didn’t care. They were all I had and he needed to know he was taking on more than just me. I slammed down the phone as he continued to yell about Lee. I went to the reception area and told Lee not to let any of Jordan’s people in my office. He was standing right in front of the door, legs apart and hands on his Taser. I didn’t really know if he was allowed to use the Taser while protecting me but that was up to him. Mia heard of the mess going on and came to my office with a promise to hire someone to work Jordan over in a dark alley.

  “First, they have to get to him. He has bodyguards that are like pitbulls.”

  “I also told daddy to stop all dealings with Jordan immediately, but he said he has to back out slowly. In the meantime you have Veronica and me.” She looked at me with huge baby blue eyes. We busted out laughing as we thought of the hilarious picture we would be, facing Jordan and his posse.

  “God. I needed a good laugh today. Thanks, Mia. You’re the best, but I know you must be busy too…”

  “I am not going anywhere. I called your scheduler this morning and asked her to send a nurse to my office and fill in for me until further notice. Perks of being a brat.” She winked at me and got on her cell phone to Philippe.

  “I need you to blacklist Jordan Dawson. Leave no stone unturned,” she told him.

  Was she ridiculous or what? Anything that will help me feel better, that was Mia for you. No wonder I cherished her friendship.

  “What do you mean he is a good man? Let me tell you what is going on in Houston and then you can tell all your rich buddies to do the same. Pretty please, Philippe?” Now who could say no to that voice? Certainly not Philippe. So Mia went on to fill him in on Jordan’s dirty dealings and the effect it was having on my business reputation.

  “Thanks, Philippe. I knew I could count on you. See you in a few hours.”

  Really? Just like that she makes a call and he is on his way. Christ. She was so spoiled and everyone in her life was to blame, including me.

  I sighed and she made yet another call to her brother this time. No surprise there. Trevor promised to deal with Jordan himself and would pass the word around to all his friends.

  “Look, Mia, I know you mean well, but I don’t want to even try and bring down Jordan; not like I can anyway. I want him to leave me alone and pick on someone his own size. I need to spend my time and energy on my business.”

  “So far, I have five massive guys that will beat him to a bloody pulp. Teach him a lesson.”

  “Have you not heard a thing I just said?”

  “Yes. But you are not making any sense. So I will take care of the bodily harm and you will take care of your business.”

  Again, I could only laugh.

  I placed a call to Veronica and filled her in on what was going on. She would be coming in tomorrow and I told her to continue doing what she was doing. We would be fine and had ample help in the office.

  “She will be OK,” Mia piped in over my shoulder. “I am not leaving her side. Of course, it will be better when you get back tomorrow. Until then…Jordan Dawson will be sorry he crossed our path again.”

  Spoken like a real friend. I felt better, even stronger as the minutes went by.

  David came into the office with his attorney. I showed them into the conference room where the team was working and trying to gather as much information about the acquisition that they could. The media team David hired arrived and released a short statement from me at noon on a major TV network. A longer statement would be released at 4 p.m. that will be repeated until the last news broadcast ended tonight.

  I went back to my office and sat at my desk. Christ. What a mess. I certainly hadn’t seen this coming. At this point I was in survival mode and refused to think of my emotions. The feelings that I had for Jordan that were blossoming into love were too painful to think about now. I had given him my body and was going to give him my heart. I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall and quickly got back to work.

  Mia, my constant companion, was on the phone with Jenna now, checking on her and asking her if she needed a nurse. Mia did not do well with illness, which was hilarious considering she was a nurse. As far as being a patient, she was the absolute worst.

  Someone ordered sandwiches and salads. I ate, but didn’t taste a thing. Aunt Suzette came to check in with me and updated me on the calls of support from the community that were too numerous to count which solidified my faith in the city that I knew and loved so much.

  David, his attorney and mine, left around 2 p.m. for a meeting with the group of investors, mostly physicians that had owned the hospitals that Jordan purchased from them. Right around 4 p.m. there was a commotion at the front office and Grace came running down the hall and stopped short at my door.

  “Miss Caine, Mr. Dawson is trying to kill Lee!” she exclaimed, her eyes big as saucers.

  Mia and I jumped up and ran into Andre and Aunt Suzette who were already on their way to the front office.

  “Beat him to a pulp, Lee.” I palmed my hand over Mia’s mouth. She was jumping up and down like she was at a boxing match.

  Through the glass door, I saw Lee and Jordan locked in a fierce fight. He was by himself and I wondered where his bodyguards were, but I was terrified for Lee. Jordan had him in a lock with his huge arm around Lee’s neck. He towered over Lee by at least five inches but Lee was not giving in and head-butted him. Jordan ducked and Lee’s head slammed into Jordan’s shoulder. I heard him grunt as they continued to engage in the fight. I felt guilty about Lee as I could see his face was beet red and perspiration ran down his neck.

  I tried to open the door but Andre held onto me and Aunt Suzette wouldn’t let me out. I was yelling for them to stop, but of course they couldn’t hear me and even if they did, neither was giving in. Lee was reaching for his Taser and I just could not let him use it on Jordan. I finally pulled away from my entourage and unlocked the dead bolt to the door.

  “Jordan! Lee! Stop, stop now!” I yelled, but to no avail. They continued to throw fists and grunts, when one would land a punch. So I did what I had to do.

  I ran into the mass of muscle and sweat and threw myself in the middle. A blow landed to my head and another simultaneously to my left arm. I screamed with the jolt to my body as my eyes fluttered shut, the darkness taking me into oblivion where the pain ceased and I fell to the ground.

  Chapter 33

  “There she is. Open your eyes, Zoe. We are right here, honey.”

  Darkness again, too tired to keep my eyes open.

  “Zoe, it’s Jenna. I know you want to hear my good new.
I know you do, but you need to wake up, sweetie.”

  Bright lights hurting my eyes. Still so sleepy. What was going on? Why was Jenna at my house?

  “Well, you have managed to fill several waiting rooms in the hospital, Zoe.”

  That was Mia. I couldn’t formulate a coherent thought. I slipped into the darkness again.

  “…will be OK. The CT scan shows a concussion. Her arm is bruised but not broken so we will…”

  Who are they talking about and where was I? Darkness again.

  “I will stay with her.” That was Jenna. I recognized the voice but too tired to ask what was going on.

  “No way in hell. You are going to her townhome with Aunt Suzette and stay there until she is awake or until tomorrow morning.” David. Was I in Austin?

  “Well, I am not going anywhere, just so y’all know.” That was Mia.

  I probably should tell them I will go too, or should I stay…not sure what to do. Darkness engulfed me again.

  “…Don’t give a fuck with what Jordan wants. The answer is still no and why is he not in jail?” Mia sounded pissed.

  I wanted to tell her to leave him alone. Jordan must have pissed her off. Crap. He was in for it now. I was so thirsty. I flicked my tongue but it stuck to the roof of my mouth.

  “I think she want’s something. Get the nurse. Quick!” Andre. I must be at the office. Doesn’t make sense.

  “Ah, Andre, I am a nurse and she needs water, but yes, please ask her nurse to come in.” Mia.

  I squinted my eyes and closed them again. Someone lifted my head and dropped some water on my tongue. I lapped at the water. It felt like heaven on my tongue and I was rewarded with more when I swallowed the little I was given. Stingy people. Must be a shortage of water. Probably in the desert somewhere which was why it was so bright, daytime in a desert.

  My head hurt and I moaned. There was a lot of movement around me and everyone talking at once. What was the big deal? I just need to get some ibuprofen. I tried to move my legs but they were heavy. Darkness.

  “Mia?” I thought I yelled her name but Mia was holding my hand and didn’t budge. Her head rested on the side rail. So I tried again. She must have a hangover or something. She couldn’t hear me yelling.

  “Mia.” I coughed out her name and the room erupted in a frenzy of activity again.

  “She’s awake.”

  “Get her nurse.”

  “Oh my God, Zoe.”

  “Someone call Aunt Suzette.”

  “No, I want Jenna to rest.”

  “My head hurts. Thirsty,” I croaked again.

  My nurse took over and immediately brought order to the room full of people. She did a full neurological assessment and vital signs on me and I had no idea why but I cooperated. When she asked me my name and I told her, everything came rushing back to me.

  I suddenly lost it. Mia pulled me into her arms and was crying too. David and Andre stood at the foot of the bed rubbing my legs.

  “Oh, you guys. I’m a mess.” I hiccupped and sniffled on Mia’s shoulder. Just then, Veronica and Trevor walked in escorted by Lee who was now out of uniform and sporting a black eye and his other cheek was swollen but he was smiling and I cried all over again.

  “My girl.” Veronica pulled me out of Mia’s arms and hugged me to her chest while kissing my head. I feel like a rag doll being passed from one to the other. More talking and lots of relief settled in the room. I hated to think about it, but I wondered what happened to Jordan and I want to cry all over again, but I held it together this time.

  “How’d you get here, Veronica? Thought you were coming tomorrow?”

  “I was wrapping up business in LA and Mia said Veronica needed a ride, so I made a detour to San Francisco, picked her up and came home,” Trevor answered. I saw Veronica glance at him and pull her bottom lip between her teeth. Interesting.

  Trevor was moving up the corporate ladder and was already a vice president in the family business. His father was giving him more duties, setting him up to one day take over the company which meant that they had their own corporate jet.

  I was thrilled to see Veronica and was just saying that when Philippe walked in. Mia made a beeline for him and almost knocked him over when she slammed into his tall frame. He picked her up easily and placed a long noisy kiss on her lips, ignoring the occupants of the room.

  After a few minutes of visiting with everyone, the nurse came in and broke up the gathering, but Mia and Veronica insisted they would stay right at my bedside.

  “Maybe one of you gentleman can update Mr. Dawson about Miss Caine’s condition. He’s burning a hole in the carpet in the waiting room, not to mention he looks a mess.” My nurse was standing at the door.

  The room was silent. They were all looking at me and again I wanted to cry but I did not have the energy to do so.

  “Due to patient confidentiality, I can’t give him any information. He’s already threatened all of us and I had him taken away by security, but he’s back.”

  I just wanted to sleep so I asked David to deal with him. The girls made a makeshift bed and said they would take turns with naps while the other kept watch over me. I wanted to tell them to leave but was so happy they were here. I sighed as I noticed a cop stationed at my door as well.

  I slept off and on during the night. The nurse woke me every two hours and performed her exams and took vitals. She called and reported my condition to the doctor who came in to see me twice during the night. He was the hospitalist and was on duty for the in-house patients.

  I was discharged the next morning and David took me home. Veronica and Mia left for their own home when I signed my discharge paperwork.

  Andre and Veronica would be in the office as usual but Mia insisted on going to help them. We couldn’t change her mind so it was decided that all three of them would deal with the press and employees.

  I was still tired but happy to be in my own bed. Aunt Suzette and David fussed over Jenna and me. Trevor came over with flowers and had a late lunch delivered for us. Philippe sent flowers and said he would come by this evening with Mia. Jeremy sent chocolate and flowers with a note that he would be coming to visit from San Francisco this weekend. Veronica’s mom, Neena, and Julie, my part-time housekeeper, were cooking up a storm in my kitchen with the promise of dinner tonight for everyone, while David and several attorneys continued to gather as much information on Jordan and his investments in Houston.

  I took some ibuprofen for the dull headache that I still had and was sporting a hematoma on my left upper arm. My bedroom was cool and quiet which was great since I wanted nothing more than to rest. After a shower, I slid into bed and Jenna lay beside me. I finally settled down, put my head on her shoulder and cried. She soothed me by rubbing her hand over my head and shoulder as I sniffled on her clothes. After a few minutes I collected myself and decided to bare my soul.

  “I love him,” I whispered.

  “I know,” Jenna replied.

  “He hurt me again.”

  “Terrible man without a conscience.”

  “I was going to tell him how I felt when he got back yesterday evening.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Why are you not more upset for me?”

  “All’s well that ends well, Zoe.”

  “I don’t understand that response from you.”

  “Let’s see what David finds, then we will pass the proper judgment.”

  “Must be the pregnancy.”

  “What?”

  “That makes you wise.” I don’t know how long we would have continued the conversation but it felt good to not think too much about the dreadful situation.

  My heart swelled with gratitude as I thought of all the people that are close to me and how much concern, love and support they have shown toward me. Just then, David and Aunt Suzette came in the bedroom and closed the door. I eyed them wearily, not sure that I wanted to hear what they had to say.

  A
unt Suzette sat at the foot of the bed and rubbed Jenna’s feet and mine with a sweet smile on her face. I loved her so much and in that moment I knew that I would not ever have to wonder again what it would have been like to be raised by my own mother. She was the only mother I had ever known, and I couldn’t ask for a better one.

  “We don’t have to talk today, Zoe. If you’re not feeling up to it. We can talk tomorrow.”

  “God. I hate to know what you’ve found out and I never want to hear what all his shoddy dealings are but I need to know so I’m ready. What’s going on?”

  “Jordan has bought several hospitals in different parts of the country over the past six years. He outright owns twenty so far. They were all about to go into bankruptcy, but he bought them out and did what renovations were necessary to keep them competitive. He does not have investors, it’s all him, but what is stunning is that he also opened a rehab unit in every one of the hospitals for battered and abused women and children, rape victims and displaced families. They offer counseling and family support as well as placement for the family if they need somewhere to live while they regain their lives.”

  “What are you saying?” I was a little lost about where David was going with this and I felt my head begin to throb again.

  “His motivations were to help the ailing hospitals from going under and save jobs for those that worked for them. In the meantime, he offered new services for those in need, like his own mother was, and he bought these medical facilities before you even thought of opening your agency. In the contract with the hospitals here in Houston, they were supposed to disclose the information to you before you signed, but Jordan wanted to tell you this weekend, which is why he wanted the hospital to meet with you next week, not this week.

  “So, who…why was I called for a meeting ASAP to sign the contract?”

  “The Director of Nursing pushed for it to happen while Jordan was gone. Incidentally, she happens to be Celia’s aunt.”