Enjoying Trouble (Trouble #3)

by Dee Bridle

  “I need to leave.”

  “You can’t just yet; we are still monitoring you.”

  “Where’s Will?”

  “That’s the guy outside, wearing the polish off the floors with his pacing,” she said to the other nurse.

  The first nurse smiled. “I’ll let him know you are awake and wanting to speak to him.”

  “My brother?” I said next.

  “They’re all out there,” said the other nurse, watching her go outside. She started to press the button on my bed that helped me sit up. I pulled at the oxygen tube, removing it from my nose.

  “I don’t want to be here. I’ll be fine to go home.”

  “Let’s leave that for the doctor to decide,” said the nurse, trying to put the tube back on my face.

  “Stop,” I said. I didn’t want to be anywhere near a hospital right now; doctors who were on the payroll of Will’s mother could decide to lock me away. The door suddenly swung open and Will appeared. He looked worried, harassed and scared. I felt instant relief, my body going warm at the sight of him.

  “Thank God,” he said coming straight over to the bed and taking my hand. He kissed the top of my head gently as the others came in.

  “Oh Janey, you had us so worried!” exclaimed Ava as Zac came around to my other side and smoothed my face.

  “Are you in pain?” he asked, his eyes roaming over me.

  “I just ache, but I’m okay.”

  “You had me worried sick,” said Will, his eyes glassy.

  “Can you remember what happened?” asked Ava, smoothing my leg.

  “The brakes didn’t work. There was nothing there when I tried to stop.”

  Zac frowned, his eyes watching me closely.

  “What? You don’t believe me?” I asked.

  “Of course we do,” said Will.

  “You think I would end it all like that?” I asked in disbelief. “Just finish myself off in a car accident?”

  “No,” said Zac.

  “I’ve thought about it, Zac - more than you know - but I would never do it like that. Ever.”

  “Someone is fucking with you,” said Zac. “The tyres, the brakes. Something is going on.”

  “Who?” asked Will. “Who had access to her car to muck around with the brakes?”

  “You all thought I tried to end it,” I said angrily. It would be exactly what his mother would want everyone to believe. I had to get out of here.

  “We didn’t think that,” said Will glaring at each and everyone around the bed before looking back to me.

  “Of course not,” said Noah.

  “I want to go. I need to leave,” I said, trying to swing my legs out of the bed.

  “Wait,” said Will. “The doctor needs to okay that first. You can’t just leave; you were in a serious accident.”

  “Someone did something to my brakes. The doctors will think I tried to kill myself. I want to go.”

  “I think it’s clear someone is fucking with you and I’m worried that something else could happen,” said Zac.

  “I won’t let it,” said Will. “She’ll come back home with me and I’ll look after her myself.”

  “No,” I said quietly. That was the last thing his mother would want. I saw the hurt in his eyes and I felt terrible. “I’d be better off in my own bed,” I added. Will’s eyes narrowed on me as the doctor stepped in and interrupted the uncomfortable conversation.

  “How are we feeling?” he asked, checking me over.

  “Better,” I said. “Can I go home?”

  He smiled and asked, “You have something against hospitals?”

  “Something like that,” I muttered. I didn’t want to be anywhere near it; there were too many people in white coats that could send me back to rehab, or worse.

  “I think we’ll assess the situation in the morning. In the meantime, let’s get some more rest,” he said, glancing over at everyone meaningfully.

  “I’m staying with her then,” said Ava instantly, looking to the doctor for acceptance.

  “Okay, but everyone else needs to leave,” he said writing something on my charts and then leaving the room.

  “I’ll walk you out,” said Ava taking Zac’s hand. I knew she was trying to give me time with Will before he left. “I’ll be back in five,” she said to me.

  I nodded and winced with the pain in my head.

  “Have a good sleep,” said Zac leaning over the bed and kissing me on the forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning. You’ll be out of here before you know it,” he said with a smile. I smiled back at him. He knew that I was never comfortable in hospitals, though his usual smile did little to hide the frown on his face as he walked out with Ava. He was concerned over this whole thing and I could see his mind working overtime. I needed to tell him about Will’s mother.

  “Sleep well,” said Noah, squeezing my other hand.

  “See you in the morning,” said Ivy with a small wave and smile. I smiled at them both as I watched them leave the room.

  “What are you doing, Janey?” asked Will as soon as they had left.

  “Nothing much right now.”

  “What’s with refusing to come home with me? I’d look after you. If some fucker is messing with you, it stops now.”

  “It’s just better for everyone if I stay at my place.”

  “You can’t do this. You can’t fuck with my heart like this.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You are. You push, then pull, and then push me away again. I can’t fucking keep up.”

  “I’m sorry, Will. You’re the last person on this earth that I want to hurt. I guess we just need some distance again.”

  “Why, exactly?”

  I let out a sigh and said, “We just do. I can’t explain it.”

  “Tell me why you aren’t working at Disclosure anymore.”

  “Just wasn’t for me,” I said looking away from him. “You know me, a bit of responsibility and I go running.”

  “That’s bullshit and you know it,” he said.

  “No, it’s not.”

  He let out a frustrated sigh and stepped away from my bed. “You’re lying to me, Janey. I wasn’t fucking born yesterday; I’ll find out what’s going on, then you and I are going to have a serious talk.”

  “Fine,” I mumbled.

  He stepped over to the door and then paused before he opened it. “And if you ever entertain the idea of ending it all, you speak to me first. Even though you’ve spent most of my life breaking my heart, I would never let you do that. You’re a part of me, Janey, whether you agree with it or not at the moment; I’ve invested too much of myself in you. I don’t work without you. Don’t fuck around with shit like that.”

  Tears filled my eyes and I focused on the ceiling.

  “Promise me,” he growled softly, still not turning from the door.

  I swallowed down a lump of emotion and whispered, “Promise.”

  Then he was gone.

  Will

  I strode through the hospital and out through the sliding entrance doors. I felt mad and hurt and didn’t know what the hell I was going to do with my pent up energy. Zac was waiting for me with Noah and Ivy outside, while Ava walked past me to go back inside to Janey.

  “Keep me in the loop with everything,” I demanded.

  She nodded and squeezed my arm. “I will.”

  I watched her go back inside the hospital and then turned to the others.

  “So, I’ll call the wrecking yard tomorrow to confirm that the brake lines were cut,” said Zac.

  “Who do you think is behind this?” asked Noah, holding Ivy close to him in the cool morning air.

  “I need to go and see my mother,” I said, rubbing my face with my fingers, feeling all sorts of confusion.

  “You think she has something to do with this?” asked Zac instantly.

  “I don’t know, but she fired Janey for a reason and I want to know what that reason is.”

  “Want me to come with?” aske
d Zac.

  “Hell no, go home and enjoy life. No point in both of us being in the Devil’s lair. I’ll be back soon,” I said.

  “We’ll wait for you back at home then,” said Ivy as someone walked past.

  He caught my eye and I was suddenly in front of him, stopping him for walking any further.

  “You lost?” I asked.

  “I heard she was hurt, so I wanted to see her,” said Sebastian.

  “One black eye not enough?” I asked, pushing my chest out to him.

  “She’s a work colleague and I’m concerned – is that a crime?” he asked.

  “She’s fine. She doesn’t need to see you,” I returned. I felt Zac move closer to me, ready for a fight. I saw Noah slip Ivy behind him. The boys had my back but I didn’t need them for this douche bag. I suddenly knew where I was going to release my pent up anger.

  “I want to see her for myself. We’re friends,” said Sebastian.

  “She’s got enough friends,” said Zac beside me.

  “Maybe we’ll leave that up to Janey to decide,” said Sebastian with a laugh. “Are you her fucking guard dogs or what?”

  “Just knock him down and let’s go, my girl is cold,” said Noah, folding his arms across his chest.

  “Easy,” laughed Sebastian, putting his hands up in surrender. “No need for more violence. I’m a friend. That’s it.”

  “Your tongue down her throat proves otherwise,” I stated.

  Sebastian laughed again. I swung my fist at him, but this time he dodged me. He laughed and flicked a knife out between us.

  “Really? You want to do this again?” he said. “Let’s do it properly this time.”

  “Your blade doesn’t scare me, shit head,” I said, motioning for him to come at me. He took a swipe but I knocked it from his hand. It clattered to the ground and my fist met his face before he had realised what had happened. Sebastian fell back before righting himself. He held his face and groaned.

  “Stay the fuck away from her,” I spat.

  “It’s her choice,” he said, stepping away. “You can’t stop her wanting to be my friend.”

  “Watch me,” I said in steely determination. I watched him walk away, back into the car park and then cracked my knuckles.

  “And that was?” asked Noah.

  “Sebastian,” I replied.

  “He looks familiar somehow,” said Noah.

  “Really?” asked Zac picking up the knife from the ground and looking at it. “College, maybe?”

  “I don’t know, maybe,” said Noah.

  “I haven’t seen him before,” said Ivy with a shrug.

  “He just needs to keep his hands and tongue to himself from now on,” I said letting out a deep breath. “I’m off to the penthouse to get my car.”

  “I’m calling a cab now,” said Zac. “I need my set up at home to do some digging and stuff.”

  I nodded and gave the guys a hand shake before heading off.

  “Call me after you’re done,” said Zac.

  “Will do,” I said walking away before stopping. “Hey, how do you think he knew about her accident?”

  “Don’t know,” said Zac. “There are a lot of things not adding up. He’s now on my hit list too.”

  “Good,” I said with a head nod before turning back around and making my way to the penthouse. Nothing in my head right then made any sense: Janey being hurt, the idea of her ending it all and the fact that she refused to come home with me. I needed to protect her, Hell I had been inside her earlier. I needed her to be with me so I could keep her safe. I hated the idea of Sebastian still sniffing around and I couldn’t comprehend anyone deliberately tampering with her brakes. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and pressed the contact titled ‘Lucifer’.

  “Hello, Will.”

  “Where are you right now? We need to talk,” I said, looking either side of the city road before jogging across it.

  “That’s unusual for you. You never want to talk to me,” she said.

  “Well, I do now. Where are you?” I asked, still walking to my place. She had quite a lot of real estate around the city and I never knew where she would be at any one time.

  “I have company.”

  “Well, tell him to put his dick back in his pants and wait. I need to talk to you.”

  “So crude,” she said with a sigh. “I’m at my apartment.”

  “I’m there in five minutes. Make sure he’s not in the room when I get there,” I demanded, ending the call. I crossed another street and headed to her building, knowing I would get there faster on foot. I texted Ava.

  Will - How is she?

  Ava – The nurse gave her something so she’s asleep. But she just got a package delivered??? She hasn’t seen it yet. Its one dead black rose…

  Will - WTF? Does it have a note?

  Ava – Nothing at all. Not even a name on the box

  Will – Take a picture of it and send it to me and Zac, then throw it away before she wakes up.

  Ava – Ok

  I let out a frustrated sigh and looked up at my mother’s building in front of me. Someone was definitely fucking with Janey. This was obviously just the beginning, until I found a way to put a stop to it.

  Starting with my mother.

  I nodded to the doorman as he opened the entrance door for me and I strode in. My knuckles were aching as I pressed for the lift and swiped the card to get access. I needed to ice them upstairs. It didn’t take long to arrive inside the penthouse where soft music was playing through hidden speakers.

  My mother stepped into the main room to greet me, a martini glass in her hand. Her silk robe was slightly open, her black lingerie showing underneath. She had obviously started to entertain her company before I had arrived. I looked away and strode into the kitchen to get some ice. Her boldness with her sexuality only made me dislike her more but I guess you didn’t get to own the city’s highest paid, underground, secretive sex club without some boldness.

  “How are you, Will?” she asked, following me through to the kitchen.

  “Why did you fire Janey?” I asked.

  “I didn’t think she was the right fit for Disclosure.”

  “You are kidding me, right?” I asked cocking an eyebrow. “She was perfect for the job and going well according to Jake.”

  “Jake is too busy with other parts of the club to know how she was really going. I made a decision and that’s that.”

  “What’s really going on here?”

  “I have no idea what you mean?”

  “Stop trying to play with me, mother. I’m the son that doesn’t get fed on your bullshit, remember? Be honest with me; why did you get rid of her?”

  “If you must know - I don’t like her.”

  “You don’t even know her.”

  “I know enough, Will; she’s not right for the club or for you.”

  “Since when do you have a say on what’s right for me?” I asked.

  “I’m your mother and it’s my right to make sure you make the right decisions.”

  “My decisions have nothing to do with you. Haven’t had anything to do with you for a long time. Why the sudden interest in Janey?”

  “She clearly has a mental illness and I don’t like her being around you.”

  “She was in rehab, not a mental hospital.”

  “She doesn’t treat you right. You need a woman to support you and be with you in the – ”

  “Excuse me if I’ve entered the Twilight Zone here, but where do you get off even knowing how Janey treats me? How is it any of your business? Leave your controlling desires to your other offspring, not me.”

  “She’s bad news.”

  “And so are you, but that doesn’t stop you from doing what you like.”

  “I resent that. I am not a bad person.”

  “And neither is Janey. Reinstate her job.”

  “Why is this girl so important to you?”

  “Reinstate her job.”

  “Well you are th
e part-owner, so you can reinstate her I guess.”

  “And you control the strings on Jake the puppet. Tell him to reinstate her.”

  She let out a sigh and sipped her martini, leaving me to wait a moment for her decision. It was a boardroom tactic, to leave them waiting, gaining control of the situation even if you were giving in.

  “Fine.”

  “Good. And you will also forget she exists and never try to control any part of my life again.”

  “She will be your downfall.”

  “I’m big enough to worry about myself now, aren’t I?”

  “Did she come to you, telling you about losing her job?” she asked.

  I frowned, “No, I went to the club and found out for myself. Janey’s been too busy getting into a car accident because her brake lines were most likely cut. Know anything about that?”

  She sipped her martini and then said, “I don’t like the girl but I wouldn’t try to kill her, would I?”

  “I wouldn’t put anything past you, mother.”

  “Well, I hope she’s okay.”

  “Someone is messing with her and I’m out to find them. First there were the slashed tyres, then she was fired from her job, then a car accident that she was lucky to survive from and now dead roses being delivered to her at hospital. Someone is working awfully hard to mess with her.”

  She took another sip of her martini and asked, “Are you implying that I have something to do with all that?”

  “Do you?” I asked.

  “I am not going to even answer that,” she said, placing her now empty martini glass on the marble bench.

  “The guilty usually say that.”

  “Believe what you want to believe Will, but I refuse to even discuss this further,” she said walking out of the kitchen.

  “One more thing before I leave,” I called out after her. She stopped and waited. “I want details on my father.”

  She looked down at the floor for a moment and then braced her shoulders. “I don’t have any.”

  “I don’t believe you,” I returned.

  “You were a one night stand Will, I’ve told you this.”