Soul

by Audrey Carlan

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s your ankle.” Her face is scrunched into a worried one.

  Maria’s eyebrows narrow. “What’s wrong with your tobillos?” She brazenly clutches the blanket between her fingers and pulls it back. Bree chokes back a sob and covers her mouth with her hand. Kat looks away the tears finally falling. I look down and see the bandages wrapped around each ankle are soaked through with blood. Looks like it’s time for the nurse to change them. Maria’s jaw tightens and she speaks through her teeth. “Why are they like this?”

  It’s surprising that they act as though they haven’t been informed of my injuries. Then again, Chase would spare them. “Uh, Danny. He had me shackled by the ankles and wrists. I was connected to this pulley system, but the shackles were too tight and rusted through. When I struggled, they dug in. At the time I didn’t notice. Really. It’s just that the wounds got infected, so they’re giving me oral and topical antibiotics. Doctor says I’ll be fine. Really. In a couple weeks it will be like nothing ever happened.”

  That’s when Maria begins to pace, muttering obscenities under her breath. I can barely catch a few words. Something about cerdo asqueroso which I recall meaning ‘disgusting pig’ and then she says martarlo, which I know for a fact means ‘kill him’ in Spanish.

  Kat shakes her head, holds my hand and smiles. “Well, with us around all the time, you’re sure to heal quickly. Right ladies?”

  I scrunch up my face, but that movement hurts. Really bad. I close my eyes to breathe through the jolts of pain spreading from my head down to my gut where nausea bubbles.

  I will not throw up, I will not throw up. Breathe through it, Gigi. You’ve done this a million times before.

  When the pain lessens and the nausea subsides, I fake a smile. Kat and Maria don’t buy it, concern heavy in their gazes. Bree ruffles through her giant patchwork purse. She pulls out a little brown bottle with a purple label. It says Valor on it.

  “Here, sniff this. It’s Valor, an essential oil. It will give you strength and something else to think about besides the pain.”

  I inhale deeply and am reminded of doing yoga. Taking classes with the girls, Bree calling out the cues in a serene tone. A happy place. As soon as I can move without pain, I’ll be back to the practice.

  “Reminds me of I Am Yoga,” I say with a wistfulness I know she can feel. She tips her head and caresses the side of my face.

  “Good times,” she agrees.

  “The best. I can’t wait to go back. What’s going on with the studio?”

  Bree stiffens her shoulders and twists her lips. She clasps her four-and-a-half-month pregnant belly. I lift a hand out and she holds mine over her stomach. I can almost feel a baby there. At least I’m able to convince myself I can.

  “I don’t know yet. Chase found a new location though, says it’s mine if I want it.”

  I press up trying to sit straighter. “Really? Where?”

  One of her eyebrows rises into a point. “In your building,” she snorts. I shake my head. My man’s protective qualities know no bounds. “As if you didn’t know.”

  I open and close my mouth. “I so didn’t! I swear to God.”

  Her head pops back. “Huh. Well, when I mentioned it to Phil he was all for it. We’d only be a few floors apart. And get this…” She laughs and I watch her pretty face as mirth takes over her features. “Chase has made the entire tenth floor a yoga studio, small gym, and wait for it…”—Maria, Kat, and I lean closer to her—“...a daycare!”

  “No way.” A daycare. Chase? I mull it over. “He did not mention that to me. I mean, I overheard him saying something to Dana about expanding the company on the tenth floor to a larger building across the street, but that’s all I heard. A daycare, really?”

  Bree nods her head vigorously. “Says that he wants to offer more benefits to his employees. The gym, the yoga studio, and the daycare are going to be a benefit. During the evening hours, the daycare can be used for those yogis who don’t have anywhere to leave their kids. It will be part of a monthly fee they can tack onto their classes. The gym though, that’s only going to be for staff and their families. He says I can run my business like usual only he’ll pay me per employee per session, but at severely discounted rate.”

  I narrow my eyes. “Why severely?” That’s very unlike Chase. Usually he’d just give the studio to her.

  “Because I’m not going to be paying rent or utilities. That’s a huge expense. I’m actually going to triple my income, maybe even quadruple it.”

  Now that sounds like my Chase. I smile. He gave my soul sister a new home for her studio, a daycare for not only her new baby coming in a few months but also for Anabelle. Of course, I’m sure he’ll play it off like it was for everyone. He is giving, but I know his ulterior motive. He knows it will make me happy knowing my friend is so close, and to have her yoga studio and daycare in the same building as our penthouse? Perfection. He is so going to get laid. Just as soon as I break out of this medical jail.

  “So what’s the problem?” Kat asks. “Sounds like a dream come true to me. You have a new, untainted location that’s bigger, safer location, a free daycare for baby Bree and Anabelle, and you’ll be close to Phil and Gigi. I’m not seeing the issue.”

  Bree shimmies from foot to foot. “I just don’t want to take advantage, you know? Gigi, Chase is going to be your husband, but just because he’s got more money than all of us combined doesn’t mean we should abuse that. I want him to know that we’re his family now, not just some moochers.”

  “You calling me a mooch, seniorita? I live across the street rent-free in a building with cameras and a doorman. Initially, I had a problem with it, then I realized Chase didn’t do it for me.”

  “Sure he did!” I say my words coming out with clear irritation.

  Her eyes narrow right back as she shakes her head. “Mierda! He did it because he knows you will be worried and freaked out about my safety. Which is ridículo by the way. I can defend myself. Though I can’t deny, being able to afford the good vino and a few extra dance outfits has been nice.” She grins, and I push at her shoulder.

  “So you think I should take Chase’s offer and move the studio?”

  Three sets of eyes focus on Bree. A simultaneous “Yes!” echoes throughout the room.

  Bree holds up her hands in surrender. “Okay, fine, fine. I’ll tell him when he comes back.”

  When he comes back?

  I look around the room. He’s not there. There is absolutely nothing in the room that shows he’s been here. My heart starts to pound, thumping powerfully in my chest. The beeping of the machine instantly goes red and a little alarm sounds. I can see my blood pressure rising. Sweat beads on my forehead.

  Where is he? He can’t be gone.

  “He can’t be gone. Where is he?” The tone of my voice isn’t mine. It’s unrecognizable to even me. Maria’s eyes go from blue to dark. Her face twists into a grimace. I squeeze her hand and ground down on my teeth.

  “Gigi, what’s the matter? You’re hurting my hand, chica.” She tries to tug it out of my grasp.

  “Gigi, you’re okay, we’re right here,” Kat says, but it doesn’t really get through.

  I close my eyes then open them. Chase. He’s not there. “Where is he?” I yell, the sound bouncing off the walls of the small white room. My entire body is hot and my vision comes in and out. I shake my head, but, instead of seeing clearly, I see colors. A rainbow of color everywhere forces me to blink furiously. “He’s gone! He’s not here!”

  Chase

  I walk down the hall whistling. The world is not perfect, but having Gillian back goes a long way toward making it possible for me to breathe a little easier. We’ll find the fucker who did this to her, and I’ll ruin him. One way or another, he’ll be paying for what he’s done to Gillian and her friends.

  Dana is by my side reading through the list of things that need handling at work. When Gillian fell asleep, I called the girls
and told them they could come see her when she woke. When they arrived, I slipped out for my meeting with the second-in-command of Chase Industries. Knowing there are two bodyguards outside her door and a team still in the vicinity relieves a bit of the stress of leaving her. Plus, she has the three crazy sisters to keep her company. I feel relief for the first time in days…until I hear her blood curdling scream.

  “He’s gone! He’s not here!” Gillian is screaming into the face of a nurse who entered only moments before I did.

  “Baby, Jesus Christ!” I rush over to her and pull her into my arms.

  She sobs into my chest like earlier. “You weren’t here. You left me! You promised you wouldn’t fucking leave!” Tears track down her bruised face. Her nose runs, but that’s not what gets to me. It’s the eyes. Her beautiful emerald eyes show everything. Fear, anger, betrayal, three things I never want to see when she’s looking at me. “How could you?” her voice cracks with emotion.

  I sit down on the bed and she crawls into my lap like a frightened animal. Over and over she chants you promised, you promised, you promised. Every time she utters the word, it crushes my soul a little more.

  With as much courage as I can muster, I pull her head from the cavern of my chest and look into her eyes once more. “I didn’t leave you. I wasn’t gone. I was down the hall speaking to a business associate and Dana.” I look over at the door. Dana is standing in the doorway holding the MacBook up against her chest as if she too needs to comfort something. Maria, Bree, and Kathleen are standing stock still and staring unbelievably at their friend. This woman, she’s Gillian, but not the Gigi they know. “See,” I gesture to the doorway. “Dana is right there. She came to meet me and to see you.” I shoot for my most placating tone.

  Dana clears her throat, and Gillian looks up at her. Then her eyes go to her friend’s concerned ones. Her face crumbles and tears rush down her face. She hiccups into my chest. “What the fuck is wrong with me?”

  That’s the question of the century, and one I fear only Dr. Madison is going to be able to answer.

  Once I’ve soothed Gillian, the nurse gives her a dose of pain medication and a sedative, and after a short while, she falls back asleep. Leaving the door open enough that she can see me if she wakes up, I walk over to her friends.

  “Ladies, I’m sorry you had to see that.”

  Maria’s face contorts from concern to anger instantly. Fits with her fiery Italian-Spanish heritage. I have many people working under me from similar ethnic backgrounds who can also go from cool as a cucumber to red hot in mere seconds. Those are also the most passionate, loyal and dedicated of my employees but also the individuals who give me headaches.

  Maria points to the room that Gillian is in. “What. The. Fuck. Was. That.” Her words are a short staccato sound.

  I shake my head and let out a breath I’ve been holding. “She’s going through something. It happened earlier when I was going to leave her side. Her psyche seems to be holding on to something that never occurred. It involves me leaving her, or somehow letting her go. I think I just need to work hard to let her know I’m with her. Always. That I’m not going anywhere.”

  Kathleen bites her lip and Bree stays still, silently holding onto her protruding belly. Maria on the other hand has absolutely no problems voicing her opinion.

  “Nuh-uh. What I saw in there, that was fear. Hard core, absolute misery. She was fine, Chase. We laughed, we cried, we told her how happy we were she was home and it was good. Really good.”

  “Then what?” I ask wondering how she went from being with her friends, women she’s known and trusted for years to a terrified, screaming mess.

  “We spoke of Bree’s new studio in the Davis Industries building. And then one of us mentioned something about talking to you when you got back and she lost it. Her blood pressure rose, and a full-fledged panic attack overtook her. This was no normal panic attack either. Escuchar esto,” she said, hear this in Spanish. “I’ve seen Gillian have many panic attacks over the years dealing with the backlash of the Justin situation but nothing like that. What I saw there was a woman who was literally destroyed over the thought that you were gone.” She points an accusing finger at my chest.

  My shoulders slump, and Kathleen brings me into her arms and hugs me. “It will be okay. She’ll get through this.”

  I pull away and look into her brown eyes. Kind. So kind. I know now why Gillian is so taken with her. With all of them. Even though I’m not used to sharing my space, and the desire to lock Gillian away with me for years to come is tempting, I also know these women are good for her. They give her something I cannot. That thought alone sends a sizzle of irritation along every synapse. The three of them, hell even Phillip, love Gillian like a member of their family. They’d do anything for her, and because of that alone, I will make certain all of them are safe. For her.

  “That’s a great segue into what I need from the three of you. And Phillip,” my gaze locks onto Bree’s.

  “Anything,” Bree says holding my hand. She looks at her two friends and they nod. “Whatever it takes.”

  “You know McBride is still out there.” Maria’s hands go into fists at her sides. I gotta admit, I love how protective and physical she can be. “I need all of you to move back into the Davis Mansion.” The three women respond with completely opposite reactions.

  Kat shrugs and says okay. Bree groans, slumps her shoulders and nods. Maria’s eyes narrow and a hand comes up to her hip. “Do you really think that’s necessary? I just started connecting with my apartment. The one that has security and a doorman, plus the three of us still have bodyguards.” She points down the hall where three giant men in suits lean against a wall.

  “And you’ll keep those men, too, for as long as it takes to find McBride. He’s dangerous. Really dangerous. And now he’s going to be out for blood. All of ours. If anything happens to one of you, Gillian would be devastated. As it is, she’s barely hanging on by a thread.”

  “Come on, Maria, what’s another two, three weeks. Tommy’s working with the FBI, and Chase has a horde of personal investigators and bounty hunters on his tail. They’ll catch him really fast, but if this makes Gillian feel better, more at peace so she can heal, we have to be there for her,” Kat says. I couldn’t have given the speech better myself.

  Maria rolls her eyes but nods.

  I lock my gaze on Bree’s concerned ones. “Bree, please notify Phillip of the plan. I want him and his daughter at the mansion tonight.”

  “Okay.” Her eyes go over to Gillian lying peaceful in her bed. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”

  I look at the woman I love more than anything, the one I’d give my last breath for. “We’ll make certain of it. Right ladies?”

  “All right, chicas, let’s go pack our bags.” Maria turns, whistles at her bodyguard. “Hey, hot stuff, let’s hit it.”

  I can’t help but chuckle. The woman is incorrigible.

  “You know, Tommy’s not going to like you calling your bodyguard ‘hot stuff’,” Bree says as she waves at the Viking six-foot guard I have assigned to her.

  Maria lets out a sound that mimics a tire losing air rapidly. “I gotta keep my man on his toes.” She clucks her tongue and sways her hips into a little dance.

  Kathleen moves to turn away then faces me once more. “What you’re doing…” She swallows and starts again. “How you love her, it’s special. Beautiful. I’m glad she found you.” Then before I can respond she’s got me in her arms once again. This time I pull her against me and hug her tight. She hums, pulls back and kisses my cheek. “It will all be okay. Very soon. I can feel it.”

  “I hope you’re right, Kathleen.”

  “You know, you can call me Kat.”

  “You’re name is lovely the way it is.”

  “Charmer. Now I see how she fell so quickly. It wasn’t the physique, though since I’m bedding a member of your family, I can attest that’s a factor.” I chuckle. “It’s your charm, and your belief tha
t she is meant solely for you.”

  I look one of her best friends in the eyes. “I never believed in soul mates until I met her. Now I’m sorry for every schmuck out there who doesn’t find theirs. Do you think you’ve found that in my cousin?”

  Kathleen smiles wider and winks before turning on a heel and walking away, question unanswered.

  On heavy feet, I make my way back into Gillian’s room. She’s mumbling in her sleep. Every so often she says my name only she doesn’t say it with happiness. It’s said with desperation. Closing the door, I kick off my shoes, remove my pants and pull off my shirt. Then I press the button to bring the bed flat. There’s a chair that turns into a cot near the bed, but I can’t be away from her tonight. Not tonight. She needs to know I’m here for her, even in sleep.

  I slip in cautiously. Before I can lie back she’s cuddling into my chest. Medicated sleep doesn’t prevent her body from knowing mine. Soulmates. I meant what I said to Kathleen a bit ago. Meeting Gillian almost a year ago at the hotel bar was like the universe opening up and delivering me a piece of heaven. It’s something I never knew I wanted or needed, but it was there. And I took it and made it mine. I will continue to protect what is mine until my last breath.

  Holding her warm body to mine, I close my eyes enjoying the feel of her breath against my chest. Too many days have gone by since we’ve been skin to skin.

  She snuffles against my chest and says in the most serene voice yet, “Chase…my Chase.”

  I swallow down the emotion needing to be strong for her. The next few weeks, maybe even months are not going to be easy ones. We have absolutely no leads on McBride. The only thing all of the investigators and my men can agree on is that he will strike again. He’s going to come after Gillian or her friends in one way or another. We stole something he believes is his, from his property. To a psycho like Daniel McBride, that’s worthy of a death sentence.

  Thoughts of him, what he did to her, how he kept her locked up prevent me from easing into sleep. Eventually, I change my thoughts to the wedding we never had and the honeymoon we’re currently missing. Right then and there I make a decision. We will be married and soon. I cannot let a madman keep me or Gillian from something that means more to us than anything else has in our relationship. The moment she’s better, I’m taking her way. Away from it all. Just the two of us.