Then Came Absolution (Southern Love #3)

by E. L. Todd

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

  Fallen Publishing

  Then Came Absolution

  Cover Design provided by Dinoman Designs

  Editing Services provided by Final-Edits.com

  Copyright © 2014 by E. L. Todd

  All Rights Reserved

  ISBN-13: 978-1494480585

  ISBN-10: 1494480581

  Chapter One

  Cole walked inside the bar then looked around. When he saw Blaise in the corner, hunched over his empty glasses of beer, he advanced across the room. “How drunk are you?”

  Blaise gripped his head and closed his eyes.

  Cole sighed then sat beside him. “I’m glad you called me.”

  “Only because Ray is out of town.”

  He leaned back in the booth and stared at his older brother. “It still means you rely on me somewhat.”

  “Or I was desperate,” he spat.

  Cole averted his gaze then cleared his throat. “Are you ready to go?”

  “No.” He drank from his glass. “I need more.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You’re already pretty wasted.”

  “I still recognize you—so no, I’m not. And I need to be.”

  Cole gave him a sympathetic look. “What’s going on, Blaise?”

  “None of your fucking business,” he said with slurred words. He already had a powerful headache behind his eyes. It was thudding, throbbing painfully. He needed more alcohol to numb the pain, physically and emotionally.

  “Something happen with Danielle?” Cole asked. “I heard she’s back with her parents.”

  “We aren’t together anymore,” Blaise said quickly. “My heart belongs to someone else.”

  “Who?”

  “Alexandra.”

  “That hero chick?”

  Blaise sighed. “Yeah.”

  “Isn’t she with that Paul guy?”

  Blaise gripped his head. “Please don’t remind me.”

  Cole placed his hands on the table. “Evan asked me about her.”

  Blaise flinched. “What did he say?”

  He shrugged. “He asked about Danielle. I said you were still together, but then he asked why Danielle was living with her parents.”

  “He knew?”

  Cole nodded.

  “What did he say about Alexandra?”

  “He asked if you were into her.”

  Blaise felt his heart accelerate. “And you said…?”

  “I said she meant nothing to you. You were just fucking her on the side. Is that why you and Danielle broke up? She found out?”

  Blaise sighed in annoyance. “I’m not a cheater, I’ve never been a cheater, and I’ll never be a cheater.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve been protecting Danielle from Evan, but since she’s been such a fucking bitch, she’s on her own.”

  “Wow…why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Why should I?” Blaise snapped. Blaise downed the last drops of his beer.

  “That’s enough.” Cole pulled it away.

  “No.” Blaise pulled it back. “I need more.”

  “Then why did you call me?”

  “So when I’m so drunk that I can’t walk, you can take me home.”

  Cole stared at him a long time. “Bro, what’s going on?”

  “Don’t act like you give a shit.”

  “Try me,” Cole said.

  Blaise gripped his hair again. The room was starting to spin, and everything seemed out of focus. “I just…don’t feel well.”

  “And it’s because of Alexandra?”

  “Fuck yes, it’s because of her.”

  “I’m not following…”

  “I love her. I fucking love her.” Blaise took a deep breath. “But I lost her…she thinks I was with Danielle when I was with her. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Now she’s with her ex…a fucking asshole.”

  “Why is he an asshole?”

  “He cheated on her. That’s why she came here to being with—one of the reasons.”

  Cole nodded. “And she doesn’t believe anything you say?”

  “No…”

  “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I wish I could help.”

  “There’s only one person who can help me, and she refuses to do it.”

  “Danielle?” Cole asked.

  Blaise nodded.

  “That’s fucked up.”

  “She’s a fucked up bitch.”

  Cole drummed his fingers on the table. “Let me take you home.”

  “No.” He pushed his empty glass away. “Did Evan seem interested in Alexandra?”

  He shrugged. “I guess.”

  Blaise felt the paranoia sink in. What if Evan wanted to hurt Alexandra? But his pragmatism returned when he realized that didn’t make any sense. Danielle was the one who betrayed him, not Blaise. Besides, she wasn’t here. She was safe…with Paul. The idea of her kissing him, touching him, and sleeping with him…made him want to slit his own throat. He pushed the thought away before it completely crippled him.

  Cole eyed him worryingly. “We should get going.”

  “No. I’m not drunk enough.”

  “We can pick up some beer on the way home.”

  Blaise shook his head. “I don’t want to be alone.” He didn’t realize what he said until it already flew out of his mouth.

  “You won’t be.”

  Blaise reached for his glass but knocked over an empty one. Cole grabbed it before it fell off the table.

  “I only called you because I have no one else,” Blaise said. “Don’t forget.”

  “And don’t forget you can always count on me.”

  Blaise laughed. “If only that were true…”

  “I said I was sorry.”

  “And that makes it all better?” Blaise said sarcastically. “Go fuck yourself.”

  Cole stared at him but kept his mouth shut.

  “You’re only apologizing because I threatened to take your cut away.”

  “Keep it,” Cole said. “I would much rather have my brother instead.”

  “It didn’t seem that way when you fucked me over.”

  “I said I made a mistake,” Cole said. “I know I was wrong.”

  “You weren’t just wrong,” Blaise snapped. “You ruined this relationship forever, Cole. We’ll never be the same again. Ever.”

  “I accept that,” he said simply. “But I’ll do everything I can to build a new one with you.”

  “You just want your half.”

  “I really don’t,” Cole said.

  Blaise eyed him. “You know I’m bluffing…” He was too drunk to control his words. He already revealed too much that night, and now he was blurting even more.

  “I’m not. I really don’t want anything to do with the company if you don’t want me around. I know I broke your trust. I accept the consequences.”

  Blaise eyed him brother, checking for lies and deceit. He saw nothing but a look of contrition. Cole’s actions were completely unforgivable, but Blaise couldn’t lock him out of his heart forever. Now Cole was the only family he had left. The only other person in the world he truly cared about was gone.

  Chapter Two

  Paul’s calm and strong exterior had fallen. His palms were constantly sweating, and his eyes were darting back and forth, thinking about his father’s
illness. Alexandra tried to comfort him as much as possible but there was only so much she could do. She held his hand for the entire flight, feeling the weak pulse on his wrist.

  “Have you heard anything?” she asked him on the plane.

  He shook his head.

  “I’m really sorry about what happened with Blaise. I know you don’t need that right now.”

  “Baby, don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong. I don’t blame him for fighting for you. I only wish he had picked a better time.”

  She squeezed his hand.

  “My father might die,” he said bluntly. “But I know he’s in worse pain than I am. I already experienced it once.”

  His declaration made her spine shiver. She averted her gaze and stared at the seat in front of her.

  “I really appreciate you coming with me.” He pressed his face close to hers. “I feel like I’m wearing a bullet proof vest when you’re near.”

  She smiled. “I’m not nearly as strong or thick.”

  “But your heart is.” He pressed his lips against hers and gave her a gentle kiss. The heat sparked between them, but was dulled by the obvious pain they both felt. Alexandra felt the desperation in his kiss. He was barely holding on to his sanity.

  Paul pulled away then leaned back in the seat, his depression returned.

  After they left the plane, they took a taxi to Paul’s apartment.

  “You still have it?” she asked.

  “You know how hard it is to get a place in the city. I wasn’t letting it go if I was coming back.”

  “But you’ve been gone for a month.”

  He shrugged. “And now we’re back.”

  They carried everything inside then placed their luggage in the entryway. The air felt stagnant since no one had entered the room in weeks. The stale air was harsh on the lungs.

  “I’ll clean it later,” Paul said.

  They left the apartment and headed to the hospital. The closer they got, the more nervous Paul became. His walls were crumbling, and the debris dropped in their path. Alexandra steadied him as much as possible, trying to be the rock he needed.

  After they checked in at the front desk, they walked to his father’s room on the surgical floor. Alexandra felt uncomfortable being inside that building. She worked there as a nurse for a year, until the day she accidently killed her patient. The smell of Lysol and Bleach stung her nose. The cheap paintings on the wall were dusty because maintenance never cleaned them. She recognized a nurse walking down the hallway. Alexandra leaned into Paul so she wouldn’t be recognized.

  When they reached the room, his mother was sitting in the chair, a damp tissue in her hand. Paul stepped inside and looked at her.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  A forced smile appeared on her face. She stood up and embraced him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Paul rubbed her back gently. “It’s okay, Mom. Everything will be alright.”

  “I hope so.” She sniffed loudly.

  Alexandra knew Paul better than anyone else. Whenever someone else was in pain, he always excused his own to comfort the other person. It was a quality she recognized in herself—in Blaise.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too.” He pulled away and turned to Alexandra.

  “Honey, thank you for coming.” She gave Aleaxandra a bigger hug than she did to Paul. Her arms wrapped around her waist and squeezed Alexandra tightly. “Thank you taking care of my son.”

  Alexandra patted her back. “It’s nice to see you, Mrs. Frasier.”

  She pulled away. “It’s Lily. I’ve said that a hundred times.”

  “Sorry,” Alexandra said. “It’s hard for me to break the habit.”

  “It’s because you’re so sweet, Alex.” She kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for coming.”

  “I’ll always be here for Paul.”

  Paul hooked his arm around Alexandra’s waist. “Mom, how’s he doing?”

  She took a deep breath. “I have no idea…they took him to emergency surgery. They had to operate on his heart immediately. If they didn’t, he would have died. But…he may die anyway.”

  Paul kept a stoic expression on his face, but his grip on Alexandra’s waist conveyed his true fear. “When did this happen?”

  Lily touched her throat. “We were having dinner and he…grabbed his chest and fell out of his chair. I called 9-1-1 immediately. It happened so fast.”

  Paul nodded. “You acted fast. That’s good.”

  She nodded. “I hope he’ll be okay…I can’t imagine my life without him.”

  “I know, Mom.” He touched her arm gently.

  Alexandra hated watching this. It was so painful to see the despair on both of their faces. She felt helpless, unable to offer any condolences or comfort. All she could do was stand next to Paul and remind him she was there.

  “Where’s Toby and Daisy?”

  “Getting coffee,” Lily answered. She dabbed her eyes with the napkin then sat down. There were only two chairs so Paul sat in the other and pulled Alexandra into his lap. At first, Alexandra was uncomfortable with the strong affection he showed in front of his family, but when Paul refused to stop, she decided to let it go. There was no arguing with him sometimes.

  Lily looked at Alexandra. “How’s that volunteer work going?”

  Alexandra assumed that was a lie Paul told his parents. She hated lying. It wasn’t in her nature. “Good…”

  “I’m glad it won’t last forever,” Lily said. “I miss my baby.” She patted Paul’s hand.

  “We’ll be back soon,” he said. “My internship is almost over too.”

  “What a relief,” she said. “I know I’ll need all the support I can get.”

  “Mom, Dad is going to be fine,” Paul said firmly.

  “I’ll be a wreck either way.”

  The door opened and Paul’s siblings came in.

  “Hey, stranger,” Toby said.

  Paul and Alexandra stood up, and Paul embraced his brother. They were close because they were similar in age. It reminded her of her sister, Abby.

  Toby clapped him on the back. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m okay,” Paul said. “You?”

  “I’ve never been worse,” Toby said bluntly.

  Daisy hugged Alexandra. “It’s so nice to see you.”

  “You too. I only wish it was under better circumstances.”

  She pulled away. “I couldn’t agree more.” Daisy had similar features to Paul, but she was far more feminine. Her blue eyes were slightly brighter, but she had the same fair skin. There was a tattoo on each wrist. Alexandra noticed that inking ran in the family. Toby had some work done too.

  “It’s my turn,” Toby said as he wrapped his arms around her. He was the same size as Paul with the same build. Even though they looked similar, she never found Toby attractive. He wasn’t strong and silent like Paul. He was too friendly and too attentive. “Thanks for putting up with my brother.”

  She smiled. “There’s nothing to put up with. He’s a wonderful man.”

  “Why do I find that hard to believe?” he teased.

  “Who knew the youngest sibling would get married first?” Daisy said.

  “Who said anything about marriage?” Paul said quickly.

  Toby rolled his eyes. “You’ve been together forever. Just ask her already.”

  Paul smiled. “Just stay out of it.”

  Toby put his arm around Alexandra’s shoulder. “If you don’t ask her to marry you, I will.”

  Alexandra knew he was teasing so it didn’t bother her.

  Lily hugged Alexandra next. “Make her a part of our family, Paul. She already is.”

  Paul started to get uncomfortable and so did Alexandra.

  “Mom, I’ll ask her when she’s ready.”

  Daisy’s eyes widened. “Are you saying you’re ready?”

  Paul looked uncomfortable. “When will Dad be out of surgery?”

  Lily looked at
the clock. “Any minute now.”

  Alexandra moved away from the group hug she was receiving and entered Paul’s arms. He kissed her forehead then held her close. Everyone fell silent as they waited for Charles to return. The tension picked up in the room, the earlier banter suddenly gone. Paul rested his head on top of Alexandra’s, holding her as close as possible.

  A few minutes later, the nurse and doctor wheeled Paul’s father into the room. Everyone flinched and stood still, trying to get a peek at Charles. Lily clutched her chest as she watched him enter the room. Tears bubbled under her eyes. Alexandra was happy to see he survived the surgery. Most patients do, but there’s always a possibility that something may go wrong.

  Lily immediately grabbed Charles’s hand. “He’ll be okay?”

  The doctor nodded. “We cleared the blockage in the arterial wall. There were no complications, and he should have a good recovery. But there needs to be a serious discussion about his health and diet.”

  Lily nodded. “I’ve been trying to get him to eat better, but when he’s at work, he always orders garbage.”

  The doctor nodded. “That needs to change. His cholesterol is through the roof. If he wants to avoid this episode, he needs to take it easy.

  “My mom will make sure he does,” Daisy said.

  “You bet I will,” Lily said.

  The doctor smiled. “Do you have any questions?”

  “When can he come home?” Lily asked.

  “We need to watch him for a few days,” the doctor said. “If everything looks great, we’ll discharge him by the end of the week.”

  Lily breathed a sigh of relief then kissed her husband’s hand. “Thank god.”

  “And make sure you let him rest,” the doctor said. “Only a few visitors at a time, no loud noises, and do not discuss anything stressful.”

  Lily looked at Toby. “Don’t mention work.”

  Toby zipped his lips.

  The doctor nodded. “Let the nurse know if you need me.”

  “Thank you so much, Dr. Chapman.”

  “Have a good afternoon.” He left the room and closed the door behind him.

  Charles was still asleep, his arm hooked to an IV pole. Alexandra watched the readings and noted his low blood pressure. His pulse was slightly high and his respiratory rate was a little low.