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 He had been withdrawn since they left the hospital – understandably so – but she was worried.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 back 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, 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, 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 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 Mallory’s 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 the t.v.’
‘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 loo
k 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 t.v.’
‘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.
She steeled herself for the scene upstairs in ICU but when she got there all was quiet. Mac and Jean had left for the evening, and Grady was sitting in with Flori. He was holding her hand, and as Asia watched, he brought the unconscious girl’s hand to his mouth and pressed his lips against it. Oof, gut punch, Asia thought wincing. But something in her understood, told her this had been inevitable ever since Flori had come into their lives. She’d known from the first time she’d seen Grady and Flori together. Neither of them has any clue, she thought to herself now. She stood back just watching Grady sit with the young woman, watching his expression as he watched her sleep. Love. Whether Grady realized it, their relationship – his and Asia’s – had just ended with that tiny gesture, that kiss against the soft skin of Flori’s hand.
And Asia didn’t feel as sad as she should have.
Jakob picked at his food while around him, his family chatted and laughed. Only his adored girlfriend, Quilla, as looked subdued, tired as he did. She was working long hours at the college, hoping to make up for some of the negative publicity she thought she had brought them. Her professor had called Jakob to express his concern at Quilla’s state of mind, but Quilla had dismissed his worries, even got a little angry that she was being discussed behind her back. It had caused a rift between Quilla and Jakob and he was at a loss of how to mend it.
Marley Griffin, finally persuaded to join the party, met his gaze, and he saw her frown and nod almost imperceptibly at Quilla. He shook his head. Not here. Marley sighed, and when Quilla excused herself to go to the bathroom, Marley scooted into her vacant chair at Jakob’s side.
‘That’s not my friend,’ she said bluntly. ‘My friend is funny and loving and excited about life, even when she feels crap. Have you suggested therapy?’
Jakob gave a humorless laugh. ‘Many, many times. She just shuts down on me. Look, I know you, and I have had our differences, but please, help me. You’ve known her longer than I have, you can…’
‘…tell it to her straight,’ Marley finished for him, looking grim-faced. Jakob laughed softly.
‘Right.’
Marley studied. ‘I’m working on my anger issues with you,’ she said, her voice softening. ‘I know it wasn’t your fault she was stabbed. I just, God, I felt so helpless. We’re each other’s family, you know? I don’t know what a world without her would be like.’
‘Then we have more in common than you think,’ Jakob said gently, ‘I just don’t know how to reach her.’
Marley gave a frustrated sigh. ‘Just keep on loving her no matter what, I’ll be the bad cop, and we’ll see if that has any effect.’
Quilla washed her hands avoiding her reflection in the vast mirrors of the restaurant bathroom. She hated looking at herself now; her eyes always seemed wild, scared, and angry. She had tried to analyze what it was making her feel like she was on a tightrope without a net. It was him, Gregor; his obsession had become her obsession. She wanted to deal with him herself but knew, frustrated that it wasn’t likely to happen that way. She had even, not to Jakob’s knowledge, given her security detail the slip and gone out in the open, wondering if he was watching her then, if he would strike, if she could drive the knife she hid in her pocket into his heart and be done with this horror forever.
She scared herself. Never, in her life, would she ever have considered harming another human being but her shredded nerves and fragile mindset made her sure she could kill Gregor if it came down to it.
She dried her hands then stopped, leaning her forehead against the cool tile. She was losing it, she knew it, but sheer orneriness kept her from asking for help. You are not a victim, she said to herself. Grady’s friend had it much, much worse than you did. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. She needed something, to reconnect with Jakob, to spend time with Marley and Asia and Nan – her friends, her sisters.
She drew in a deep breath and went back out to rejoin the party. She smiled at Jakob, and his delighted grin broke her heart. She pressed her lips against his. ‘I love you, Mr. Mallory.’
She felt his big body relax into the embrace. ‘Me too, Miss Chen, and when we get home, I’ll show you just how much.’
She grinned then smiled over at Marley who was watching them. Marley’s mouth hitched up in a knowing grin. ‘Strumpet’ she mouthed at her friend and Quilla laughed, giving her the thumbs up.
Maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.
‘Okay, Floriana, I’m going to ask you to open your eyes now.’
Flori stirred and slowly, very slowly, she opened her eyes, the lids gummy, sticky with sleep. The bright light assaulted her vision, and she clamped them shut again and moaned.
‘It’s okay, Flori, I’m sorry, we’ll draw the blinds…nurse, could you…? Thanks. Now, how about we try that again, Flori?’ He had such a lovely, melodic voice. She opened her eyes and looked into the face of the dark-haired man leaning over her and smiling.
‘Hey there,’ he said with a smile. ‘I’m Dr. Thomas, how are you feeling?’
‘Thirsty.’ The words came out as a whisper. Someone was moistening her mouth then holding a cup to her lips. She gulped down the cold water gratefully, not taking her eyes from the handsome doctor. ‘Where…am?’ She said in broken words; her head felt fuzzy and she couldn’t find the right words. ‘I am…no…where?’
He smiled, but his eyes registered concern. ‘In hospital, sweetheart, do you remember what happened?’
Pain. A fist beginning slammed into her face, him, straddling her. The knife. Pain. A whimper escaped her.
‘It’s okay, darling, we’re here?’
‘Mom?’ Her mother came into her field of vision and Flori’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Mom…’ Her voice cracked then her vision was blurry because of the tears. Dr. Thomas smiled and stepped aside to let her father come in and hug her. As she embraced her parents, she saw him. Grady, standing at the end of the bed, smiling through his tears.
The police were kind but after two hours of questioning, she was exhausted. She’d sent her mom and dad back to the hotel; You don’t need to hear this, she’d told them. Relieved when they’d agreed, she was glad to have Grady by her side. He’d wrapped his arm around her shoulders and now, when she was drooping from telling them everything she remembered over and over – he stepped in. ‘Okay, gents, Flori needs to rest now.’
Alone, he perched on the side of her bed, cradling her in his arms. She leaned into his big body, relaxing her tensed shoulders. Her body ached and felt heavy from the dressings. They told her what he’d done to her, the man, her boss…whose name she now knew. She’d identified Gregor Fisk from his photographs; in the glossy shots, he looked handsome, respectable, and business-like. She’d seen the devil within, the feral creature who had stabbed her repeatedly and left her dying in a pool of her own hot, sticky blood. Gregor Fisk.
‘I’m so sorry, Grady,’ she whispered now and Grady, frowning, moved so he could look at her.
‘Why are you apologizing to me? If anything, I should be begging for your forgiveness. ‘
‘Why?’ she coughed, her throat still raw from the tubes, and Grady immediately reached for the water glass at her side. She took a sip. ‘I took the job; you had no way of knowing.’
‘Neither did you. Look, this fucker has been targeting us since Jakob fired him and…’ He trailed off, staring at her as if seeing her for the first time.
‘What?’ She raised her eyebrows – painfully – at him.
He shook his head. ‘I never saw it before…you look like her.’
Flori didn’t get it. ‘Who?’
‘Quilla. Dark hair, slight, your eye color is different but not by much, both beautiful, both art students…God, that sick fuck.’
‘I still don’t understand.’
Grady sighed, twisted his fingers in with hers. ‘Fisk targeted you to send us a message. God, Flori, I’m so sorry I didn’t see it.’
‘How could you have? It’s insane.’ Flori shifted uncomfortably; the last morphine shot was wearing off. Grady stroked his hand down her face, and Flori leaned into his touch.
‘Hey there.’
They both looked up to see Asia watching them from the doorway. She was smiling, but there was something else in her eyes. A resigned look, sadness. She came in and kissed Flori’s cheek. ‘How are you feeling?’
Flori smiled at her. ‘Better. I think.’
Asia squeezed her hand. ‘Well, look, I have to go back to Seattle for a couple of days, so take care of yourself, won’t you? I’m glad you’re feeling better.’
Grady followed Asia into the corridor. ‘You didn’t mention going back to Seattle.’
Asia smiled sadly. ‘I did, actually, a couple of times. Look, Grady, maybe this is a good thing, get some space, figure out where we want to go from here. We never made a commitment to each other that was anything more than friends with benefits.’
Grady’s eyes were hurt, confused. ‘What? I don’t get it….are you breaking up with me?’
Asia chuckled softly, shaking her head. ‘You really don’t see it, do you? Grady, you are my best friend, and you will always be that to me. But I think your heart lies elsewhere.’ She deliberately glanced back into Flori’s room. Grady suddenly understood.
Montgomery Billionaire Series Page 110