Help me …
Part Six: Tarnish Me
Pain. That’s all there was now, not night or day, not seconds, minutes or hours, just pain. Floriana Morgan opened her eyes to see a stranger, a man, a man with a kind face, bending over her. He was talking to her, but it sounded a million miles away, hollow, weird. It’s okay, sweetie, we’ve got you now. Her eyes closed again. Pain.
That’s all there was.
Asia Flynn pressed her lips to Grady Mallory’s and smiled. “Good morning, handsome.”
Grady chuckled. “Good morning to you, angel. Come here.” He pulled her on top of him. “God, is it possible you get more beautiful every day?”
Asia puffed out her cheeks and crossed her eyes. Grady grinned. “I take it back.” He looked over at the clock. “God, look at the time.”
Asia shrugged. “So? We have all the time in the world.”
Grady acquiesced. “Or until you have to go back to Seattle.”
“Well, there is that ...” she half frowned, half smiled at him. “You talk as if you weren’t coming back to Washington … I thought you were only in New Orleans for a couple of weeks.”
He hauled himself up onto his elbows. “I was … but I’ve been thinking this last week about the future. You and me, obviously, but more than that, about making a legacy for myself.”
Asia looked interested. “Go on.”
“Well, it’s a lot to do with Flori … you know she’s working for this guy who pays her to screw me over, right?” He was grinning at this and she laughed.
“Yeah, so? Oh wait … I see something, give me a minute ...” She pretended to be receiving messages from the beyond.
“I just thought she would be a good ...”
“I see pro … project … no, I got it, protégé.” Asia laughed and kissed him. “Seriously, you are so your father’s son, Gray.”
He half-smiled. “Not quite. Dad had his students, yeah, but they were all in a classroom. I’m talking about a hands-on mentorship—so to speak. I teach Flori everything I have learned and pay her to be my student on the understanding that she, after a few years, does the same to another art lover. Pay it forward.”
Asia nodded but said nothing. Grady studied her. “Asia? What?”
“So you would travel around the world with Floriana?”
He hid a grin. “As her teacher. Jealous?”
She shook her head, but then had to laugh. “A little. Flori’s gorgeous.”
“And young enough to be my kid.”
“If you grew up in a trailer park.”
“Snob.”
“Hell, yeah. No, seriously, I do think it would be a great thing to do. I’m just jealous she’ll see more of you than I will.”
He kissed her. “I’ll be a cruel, mean tutor. Make her get my coffee and then change my mind about what I want and yell at her for getting it wrong.”
Asia laughed, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, right. Go for it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, absolutely. In fact, call her now; ask if she wants to meet for lunch, I’d like to see her before I go back to Seattle.”
Grady’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow. Are you jealous of me traveling with Flori, or of Flori traveling with me …?”
“Shut up. I need to pee. Call her,” she called back as she went to the bathroom. Grady, still grinning, snagged his phone from the night stand and called Flori’s number.
“Hello?”
Grady frowned. Not Flori’s voice. “Hey, I’m sorry ...” he checked the number—definitely Flori’s. “I’m looking for Floriana Morgan; this is her cellphone. Who are you?”
“Dr. Thomas at the Sacred Heart. Are you a friend of Miss Morgan’s?”
Grady’s heart began to beat unpleasantly hard. He swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Yes, why … God, is she okay?”
The doctor hesitated. “I’m afraid Miss Morgan has been brought to the hospital in a serious condition, more than that I cannot tell you. We’re trying to get in touch with her family.”
“I can help with that, Doctor, please, how bad?”
Another pause. “Bad. If you can get her family here as soon as possible, that would be a help.”
Grady thought he might pass out from the shock. When Asia came out from the bathroom, she went to him immediately, and he told her what had happened. She was as shocked as he was. Grady looked up at her, his eyes red and scared.
“I have to get to the hospital. Now. God, Asia, I think Flori’s dying.”
Parker Thomas M.D. swept his hand onto Flori’s forehead. “Hey, Floriana, can you open your eyes for me?”
No response. God, this poor girl. In his fourteen years, he’d never seen a case like this. Floriana Morgan had been beaten and stabbed in such a brutal attack; Parker wondered how she was still breathing. Bags of blood and saline hung above the gurney she was on. He nodded to his resident. “Yeah, let’s get her down to surgery now, get this bleeding stopped. Then arrange for a head CT. I’ll be as fast as I can—if she weren't bleeding so badly, I’d be tempted to do the CT first, see if there’s a brain bleed, but I don’t want her exsanguinating on me.”
In the theater, he managed to stop the bleeding but it was touch and go so many times, he had to make the choice several times to carry on and not let her go. She’s just a kid, he thought, I have to try. He cursed the person who had done this to her over and over in his mind.
At forty-one, Parker Thomas had made his fortune early by specializing in plastics, but six years into his own practice, he found himself needing more. Needing to help people in emergency situations, bringing people back from the brink, that’s where his heart truly lay. His half-sister, Valentina, called it his God Complex and laughing, he’d agreed, yes, it probably was. Valentina, an actress with a flair for the dramatic, now referred to her brother as Dr. Savior. He would grin, but really, knowing that his talent for going the extra mile for his most urgent patients, filled a hole in his heart.
After Flori’s head CT, he sat in the booth looking at her scans, satisfied that there was no brain bleed. Thank God. She had a fighting chance, if her brain was okay. He went to see her in the ICU. Coma was a scary word but sometimes, like now, it was the best thing for her. It saved her some of the pain. “Keep fighting, little one,” he said.
Out in the corridor, he saw a couple talking with the nurse. The man looked at him. “Dr. Thomas? Grady Mallory, this is Asia Flynn; we’re here for Flori – I’m sorry, I mean, Floriana Morgan.”
Parker shook hands with them. “As I said on the phone, I’m not able to tell you much because you’re not family.”
Grady nodded. “I know, just … please ...” He got choked up and Parker took pity. He drew them to one side. “Look, I didn’t tell you this, okay? Floriana was brought in with multiple stab wounds to the abdomen. She was also badly beaten.”
The woman, Asia, made a distressed noise and her eyes filled with tears. Grady Mallory hugged her to him, his own distress obvious. “Do the police know what happened?”
Parker sighed. “I really shouldn’t … she was attacked in her hotel room. I really don’t know anymore. You said you could help find her family.”
Grady nodded. “Yes, we’re looking into that right now, and we’ll fly them out as soon as we can locate them. As for press, I don’t think we should release her name.”
“Agreed. Look, I wish I could tell you more or give you better news, but we are doing everything to help her. She’s very sick.”
Grady thanked him. “Doctor, I know this is a stupid question, but can …?”
Parker shook his head. “I’m afraid you can’t see her yet. When her folks arrive, it’ll be up to them.”
“Of course. I thought I’d ask.” Grady gave him a half smile, “She’s just a kid,” he said, echoing Parker’s thoughts.
“Yeah.” Suddenly, Parker felt bleak. “This world, sometimes.”
Asia Flynn put her hand on his arm. “This world. Thank you for looking after h
er.”
He smiled at her. “Thanks. Look, I have to get back. If you can let the desk know when her parents get here?”
“Sure thing.”
He nodded, smiled, and left them standing there. Checking again on his patients, he left Flori until last. She was about the same age as Valentina, and the thought made his chest clench up. He would call his half-sister as soon as he got off work tonight. He checked her vital signs—steady, not great, but stable. Jesus, what people did to each other. Her injuries would heal; the bruises on her pretty face would fade; but only God knew what psychological scars would be left.
“Keep fighting, little one,” he said to the comatose woman. Shit, why did it always get to him? He was a freaking professional. He went to update his charts. Helena, the ICU head nurse, nudged his shoulder as she sat down next to him. A Mexican woman in her forties, she had taken him under her wing as soon as he transferred to emergency medicine all those years ago—now she was family.
“You okay, punkin? Rough day?”
“Not as rough as that poor kid in there.”
“Amen.” She studied him. “You ever go out, let your hair down, Parker? Because you look like a guy who needs a big night, some good friends, and an almighty hangover.”
He grinned gratefully at her. “Hels, all I need is you to remind me that the world isn’t always a bad place.”
She smiled. “I’m serious, dude. You need a woman.”
Parker laughed out loud. “Ha, you’re joking, right? When do I have time for dating?”
Helene gave a chuckle. “Maybe you don’t need a date, but you definitely need to get laid.”
Parker sighed. “No argument there.” He looked at the clock. “You about finished? Wanna get a drink?”
Helena pretended to be shocked. “I am a married woman, Dr. Thomas.”
“Shut up and get your coat.”
Asia glanced anxiously at Grady. He had been withdrawn since they left the hospital-- understandably so—but she was worried. From what the doctor had told them, Flori was in a very bad way, and Grady was devastated. Was there such a thing as too devastated for someone who’d known her only a few weeks? She immediately felt bad for even thinking such a thing but...
“Gray? She’s in the best place.” Asia took his hand. The cab ride back to the hotel was almost over, and she couldn’t bear to think of the whole evening passing in silence. It was better to talk about it. Grady gave her a sad smile.
“I keep thinking what if … no, it’s ridiculous.” He shook his head and turned away again.
“What?”
He didn’t look at her. “Later.”
Back in his hotel room, Asia waited for him to speak. He seemed to struggle with something in his mind then sighed. “What if … Flori’s boss … she deliberately didn’t bid on that Kahlo, so I could get it, and what if her boss found out?”
Asia frowned. “But why would he try to kill her for something like that- wouldn’t he just fire her?”
“Well, that’s what I figured, but her employer is loaded, so maybe I thought it might be someone from a mob background, who didn’t take too kindly to her ‘betrayal’, as they would see it.”
Asia wasn’t convinced. “It’s more likely to be some psychopath seeing a pretty girl and doing what psychos do. God,” she suddenly felt sick. “I’m so sick of women being targets for men who can’t keep their baser instincts under control. First Quilla, now this.”
The idea occurred to them at the same time and their eyes locked. Grady was the first to shake his head. “No … it can’t be.”
Gregor Fisk. “Damn it, damn it ...” Grady reached for his phone. “This has got to stop. Yeah, police, my name’s Grady Mallory. I’m calling about the stabbing at the Rose Hotel—I think I might have some information. I know it’s late, but can I come and see you right now?”
Grady had to hand it to his family, as soon as his dad and Jakob heard the news, they filled New Orleans and Louisiana with private detectives and security, all searching for any trace of Gregor Fisk. Meanwhile, Flori’s parents, Mac and Jean, were flown in by private jet and Grady himself drove them to the hospital.
When they got there and saw Flori—still comatose—and the extent of her injuries, Jean broke down and sobbed in her husband’s arms. Grady watched as they spoke to Dr. Thomas, Flori’s father stone-faced and pale. Afterward, they came to sit with Flori. Grady looked in through the glass door. She looked so tiny and fragile in that bed, he could hardly stand it.
“Please, please, Flori, don’t go ...” He hadn’t realized he was talking aloud until Asia took his hand.
“Grady … let’s give them some privacy.”
He shook his head, not looking away from Flori’s still figure. Asia’s hand slipped out of his. “I’m going to grab some coffee in the cafeteria, then.” There was a slight edge to her voice, but he brushed it aside.
“Okay, see you later.”
Asia thanked the server, took her coffee, and looked around for a chair. The cafeteria was busy, but she spotted an empty seat and aimed for it. The other seat was occupied, and she recognized Flori’s doctor. She hesitated, but he looked up and smiled, gesturing to a chair.
“Please, it’s no trouble.”
She sat and smiled gratefully at him. “Hello again.”
He looked blank, and she grinned. “Sorry, I’m a friend of Floriana Morgan’s—Asia Flynn.” She stuck her hand out, and he took it. His fingers were warm and dry and dwarfed her small hand. A little frisson went through her. He was a dark-haired man, pale-skinned, with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. His dark brown beard framed a handsome, boyish face and she couldn’t tell if he was young or just looked it. He was studying her with interest,
“Parker Thomas. Hey, yes, of course, I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “You probably meet hundreds of people every day.”
Parker grinned and leaned forward. “There’s so many things I could say right now and they’d all sound so cheesy, so I’ll just go with I have no idea how I could forget you.”
She laughed at his mischievous smile. “Still cheesy.”
He shrugged good-naturedly. “Yup, cheesy’s all I got. Hey look, Flori’s doing a little better. I’m considering bringing her out of the coma, to see if we can test her brain function.”
Asia’s nausea returned again. “God ...” She rubbed her head and suddenly felt the tears filling her eyes. “Sorry, it’s just; we had this happen a few months ago. Luckily that time my friend’s injuries weren’t as bad, but to have it happen again.”
Parker Thomas looked sympathetic. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Your friend okay now?”
“Oh, yes. But it’s just the violence of it, you know. Flori’s only a kid.”
Parker nodded. “I know. I was thinking earlier, I have a sister about the same age.”
“You have a big family?”
“Just me and Valentina. She’s an actress.”
Asia studied him. “Valentina Thomas?”
“Valentina Rose.”
Asia was impressed. “Wow.”
Parker grinned shyly. “Sorry, I have to boast about her; she’s my best friend.”
Asia smiled. “That’s sweet. I’m an only child, but I kinda married into a big family. Even after the divorce, I still see more of the Mallorys than I do my own family.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Valentina is the daughter of Stylo Thomas, right? The banker? Your father, yes?”
Parker nodded. “For my sins. We don’t see him a lot; he’s always working.” He gave a little laugh. “I must take after him.”
Asia still remembered something. “I think my ex-father-in-law Ran did some business with your father in the late seventies—aren’t they still friends?”
“Oh, those Mallorys,” Parker realized who she was talking about. “Wow. Yeah, I think they did, and they might still be in touch, I don’t get to see my dad as much as I’d like. So you were married to …?”
“Kit Mallory
,” Asia told him, and he nodded. “Now, though, I’m sort of ...” She tailed off, suddenly not wanting to tell him she was seeing Grady.
“Sort of?”
“Nothing.” She smiled. “So you come from old, old, money—why are you an emergency room doc?”
“Business was not my forte or my passion. I wanted to help people—I started in plastics,” he said and laughed at her expression, “Hey, look, it’s important to some people, and I don’t mean the celebrity stuff. People who have been in fires, been mauled, attacked, been in car wrecks—you would be surprised by the scope of the field.”
“So you worked mainly on those people?”
Parker’s mouth hitched up at one side. “No, I mostly pandered to celebrities,” and he grinned as she laughed loudly. “But, listen, it made me a lot of money in a short time, so I was able to go into something more fulfilling.”
Asia met his gaze. “I’m glad, Parker. You don’t seem like one of the bloated Real Housewife surgeons I see on TV.”
“You need to watch better shows.”
“That’s very true. Look, thanks for the company; it’s been really good to talk to you. I have to ask,” she added as she stood up, she grinned widely, “Do the nurses call you McDreamy?”
Parker groaned loudly. “No, thank God. That’s a firing offense.”
She laughed. “Good. Because a—thankfully, you look nothing like Patrick Dempsey; and b—because all the screwing in on-call rooms is very unhygienic.” She shuddered dramatically.
He laughed. “If only that ever actually happened in real life. Good to talk to you, Asia, but please, watch better TV.”
“I’ll try.” She waved and left the cafeteria, feeling cheered and happier than in days. Parker Thomas was cute as hell, her brain told her. Her body clearly agreed because her skin felt tingly, her nipples hard, and there was a definite beat pulsing between her legs. For a moment, she let herself enjoy the feeling, then shut the feeling down. She was with Grady, wasn’t she? She cared so deeply for him, loved the incredible sex, but since Flori’s attack he had been withdrawing from Asia so much that she had no choice but to recognize it and deal with it.
Filthy Commitments: A Submissives’ Secrets Novel Page 40