“Ethan O’Connell, you’re being charged with one count of aggravated assault, causing bodily harm against Jessica Keane on the night of April 4th.”
“Ethan?” Olivia says, becoming frightened.
“It’s okay, Liv.”
Tears stream down her face as Mac continues to read Ethan his rights. Ethan slips on his shoes and grabs a jacket. “Is that really necessary?” he asks, looking down at the cuffs in Shooters hand. “I’m going with you willingly.”
Mac and Shooter exchange a look. Mac nods and Shooter puts them away. He opens the door and Olivia panics. “Wait!”
She rushes toward them and throws her arms around him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Don’t cry. We discussed that this might happen, sooner or later.” He wipes the tears from her cheeks.
“What do I do?” she asks frantically.
“Call Shannon.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ethan’s office door swings open. “I’m going to fucking kill her,” McKenna announces.
“Stand in line,” Olivia says, staring out the window.
“Have you heard anything?”
“Yes,” Olivia sighs. “Shannon called. She says she’ll get him out on bail shortly. It’s been a long night.” She grimaces and places her hand on her stomach.
“Baby not happy?”
Olivia frowns. “Not at all.”
“Did you get any sleep?”
Olivia closes her eyes, trying to hold off the tears. “How could I sleep when he was there all night? Alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. I made a new friend named Butch.”
“Ethan!” Olivia flies into his arms.
“Sweetheart,” he grunts. “Let go. I can’t breathe.”
She checks him over from head to toe. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Tired… aggravated. But fine.”
“What happens now?”
“They set a court date and Shannon takes it from there.”
John enters the room with his phone to his ear. “Charles Hammond is requesting you meet with him at Aurora today at three p.m.”
Ethan nods. “That didn’t take long.”
“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep? You look like shit.”
Ethan powers up his laptop. “I’m fine, John.”
“I was talking to Olivia.”
“Hey! That’s kind of rude,” she protests.
Ethan looks up from his desk. “He’s not wrong, Love. Go home and get some rest. There’s nothing you can do here. McKenna can drive you.”
“Of course,” McKenna says, with a sinister grin. “It gives Ian a chance to pretend he’s in charge around here. I’ll get my purse and meet you downstairs.”
“McKenna, stop and get her something to eat on the way. I can hear her stomach growling from here.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Olivia argues.
“Yes, you are,” Shannon says, storming into the room followed by Ian. “You’re going to Canada. Today.”
Ethan gets to his feet. “What’s going on?”
Shannon hands Olivia a file folder. “I just got a call from Officer Jacobson in Dufferin County. Sam turned himself in this morning.”
“What?” Ethan asks shocked.
“He’s pleading guilty,” Olivia says quietly, as she reads over the documents in the folder.
“He’s only pleading guilty to aggravated assault,” Shannon corrects.
“That’s good, right?” Ethan clarifies.
Olivia’s color fades as she nods her head in agreement.
Shannon looks between them, feeling confused. “He’s denying that he raped her,” she blurts out.
“Shannon!” John says, alarmed at her lack of finesse.
Olivia feels all the air leave her chest.
Sensing her distress, Ethan moves across the room, in record time, reaching her just as her legs fold beneath her. He lifts her in his muscular arms.
“Can this week get any more fucked up?” he asks John, as he lowers her on to the couch. Turning to Shannon, he gives her an unimpressed brow. “I’m certain that I’ve told you that we don’t discuss that.”
“I wasn’t thinking,” she says apologetically.
McKenna pours Olivia a glass of water and sits beside her.
She opens her eyes then frowns through her embarrassment. “Thank you.” Sitting up she takes the glass out of McKenna’s hand and downs the entire thing. “I really wish that was tequila.”
Ethan takes the empty glass out of her hand and passes it to John. “I bet. I’m really glad that it’s not.”
“Ethan,” John interrupts, trying to cushion things for Shannon. “I’m sorry to bring it up, but she needs to get on a flight to Canada, as soon as possible.”
“She’s not getting on a plane, unless Dave says it’s safe for her and the baby.”
John takes his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call him right now.”
“Ahem. You two do realize that I’m sitting right here? Geez, some things never change around here,” she complains.
Shannon saunters over to Ethan’s side and whispers in his ear. “Can I see you in private for a minute?”
Ethan nods and guides her into the hall, closing the door behind him.
McKenna sucks air through her teeth, making a sound. “Well, that’s kind of rude.”
Olivia frowns. “I’m pretty sure they’re not discussing what to get me for Christmas.” Both girls sit up, eavesdropping on John’s conversation with Dr. Cameron. When he disconnects the call they stare at him, waiting for the verdict.
“Well?” McKenna asks impatiently.
John looks up from his phone and cocks his head to the side. “Well, what?”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” McKenna says exasperated.
Olivia laughs once. “Oh, I’m used to it. He’s waiting to tell Ethan what Dave said.”
McKenna gets to her feet, shaking her head. “Men. Fucking useless,” she growls as she crosses the room.
Ian crosses his arms. “Ahem. I know you have at least one use for me.”
“Pffft. Only when I’m out of batteries.” She swings open the door and sticks her head out into the hallway. “Get your arse back in here. You’re flying monkey has something to tell ya.”
Ian grabs her arm, stalling her as she comes back into the room. Their eyes lock, and the normally obdurate McKenna lets out an ardent breath. Olivia can feel the electricity pass between them from across the room. His authoritative glare is an unspoken reminder. McKenna lowers her eyes in submission, only for a brief moment. Ian grins. Olivia knows that signal very well. She’s surprised that McKenna has even the smallest submissive bone in her body. She always assumed that McKenna was the dominant in that relationship.
Ethan enters the room, followed closely by Shannon.
“What did he say?”
Olivia sighs, frustrated.
“He said that he doesn’t think that the condition itself would be a problem. As long as she’s resting and eating properly.”
“Doh!” Olivia says awkwardly.
“My thoughts exactly,” John says, shaking his head. “What he’s concerned about is that she’s done a lot of travelling by plane lately. Blood clots can form, in the lungs and legs, from sitting dormant for long periods of time on the international flights. He’s just done a full exam with X-rays and says everything is clear, but if she’s going to get back on a plane, she needs to make sure she gets up and moves around every couple of hours.”
“Are you listening, Love?”
“Yes, I am… LOVE.”
Ethan grins, ignoring the acerbic tone to her term of endearment.
“What if I don’t want to go?”
Ethan pulls her to her feet and wraps his arms around her. “I know it’s a difficult thing to deal with. But we need to put this behind us. Yeah?”
“It’s really annoying when you’re right.”
“I know. When does sh
e have to be at the airport?” he asks John.
“She has a couple of hours.”
Olivia pulls away and begins to pack up her laptop. “Well, I guess we better go home and get packed.” She looks up and witnesses a nervous exchange between Ethan and Shannon. “What?” she asks suspiciously.
“I can’t go with you,” he says, apologetically.
“What?”
“I’ve just been released on bail. I can’t leave the country.”
Horror washes over her. “Oh, hell no! I’m not going. I’m not doing this without you there. I can’t!”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, I can’t,” she insists.
“Sweetheart.” He runs his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her. “You can do this. You have to. You won’t be alone. John is arranging for Scott to pick you up at the airport and take you to the station.”
Standing a foot away, John holds his phone to his ear. He glances in Ethan’s direction and shakes his head no.
Ethan scowls. “What do you mean, no?”
John disconnects the call and shoves his phone back in his pocket. “Scott and Rachel are in Finland.”
“What the hell are they doing there?”
“Work assignment.”
Ethan looks at him confused.
“Apparently Scott’s been sent there to work on a project.”
“First I’ve heard of it.”
“Amazing… since you apparently approved the trip.”
“I what? I did no such thing.”
“I know.”
Ethan takes a deep breath, but his face continues to redden. “We’ll deal with that later.”
“Carter?”
“He’s back in Australia.”
“Megan?’
“Her little one is sick and her husband is out of town.”
“Don’t you dare make my sister drag her sick baby half way across Canada,” Olivia warns.
Frustrated, Ethan runs his fingers through his hair. “Find someone trustworthy to look after her while she’s there, John.”
“Noah.” Everyone in the room looks at her, shocked.
“Oh, I know you didn’t just suggest that I ask that asshole, Thompson, to take care of you while I’m thousands of miles away.”
“I trust him.”
“I don’t.”
“Well then, I guess I stay here, and then Sam gets to go free.”
Ethan looks around the room and is met with more than one contrite expression. John shrugs his shoulders, in defeat.
“Grrrrrr. Fine. But I don’t like it.”
This time, Olivia manages to cope with her take-off without crippling the person seated next to her. She sits, exhausted and needing sleep. The baby has been extremely active for the past few hours, making her uncomfortable and miserable. Her eyes close, and she’s just about to get some rest when her cell phone comes to life with an unexpected alarm. Everyone turns to stare at her as she tries to disarm it. When she finally stops the annoying notification sound and opens the alert, she can’t help but laugh.
Time to get up and move around, momma.
Tiny feet push hard against her organs. Olivia squirms uncomfortably until it stops. “It’s going to be a very long flight.”
John sits on the opposite side of Ethan’s desk, dealing with emails. “They’ve just sent a scan of that document.” He opens the file and raises his eyebrows. “Interesting.”
“Oh?”
John turns his screen. “Scott’s approval for travel. Signed by J.P. Lebeau… on behalf of Ethan O’Connell.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“Approved by Charles Hammond,” John adds.
“Shocking,” he says sarcastically. “Get him on the phone.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea when you’re a little…”
“A little what?” Ethan snaps.
“Irate.”
“Nonsense. I’m calm and professional.”
John bites his tongue.
“Allo?”
“Monsieur Lebeau.”
“Bonjour, Mon Ami.”
“Believe me, when I tell you that I am NOT your friend.”
“Why do I have the pleasure of this call?”
“Explain to me why Scott Parker is in Finland.”
“Ah, yes. He is working on a project there. Fixing a design issue for one of their key products. Having this fixed will make it so the customer has more confidence. Sales will improve.”
“I thought I made it clear that you were to run everything past me first.”
“Yes, but you see my uncle, he said to just go ahead.”
“You forged my name on company documents. That’s fraud.”
“No, I didn’t sign as you, I signed on your behalf. Certainly, you’d agree that correcting this problem is in the best interest of the company. What reason would you have to say no?”
“I don’t know… let me think. Budget restrictions, profitability studies… conflict of interest.”
“Oh yes, conflict of interest. And how are things are O’Connell Industries?”
Ethan gets to his feet, his face bright red. John shakes his head trying to settle him, but it’s too late.
“Listen, you snot nose little fucker. I have hair on my ball sack that’s older than you. Don’t come in here pretending that you know anything about my business. I’ve been running Fortune 500 companies since before your mother dropped her knickers and bent over. I know exactly what you’re doing, and you’re fucking with the wrong man. I’ll sacrifice my left nut before I let you take me down.” Ethan slams down the phone and looks across at a stunned John McCabe. “I think that went rather well, don’t you?”
“Noah!” she squeals, as he wraps his arms around her and lifts her in the air.
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to spend any time with you last time I was home.”
He lowers her to her feet and takes a good look at her. “God, you’re glowing.” He caresses his hand across her stomach, smiling when the tiny person inside pushes against him.
“It’s a girl.”
“She’ll be every bit as beautiful as her mother.”
“Flattery will get everywhere.”
“Oh?” he says enthused.
“Everywhere but in my pants,” she clarifies.
“Thought so, but you can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“You know O’Connell probably has one or both of us bugged.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m being tailed.”
Olivia laughs out loud. “Well, my husband is nothing if not persistent.”
“And an asshole,” Noah adds.
“Yeah, I can’t argue that at times.”
Noah grabs the luggage cart and pushes it through the busy concourse.
“I think we’re supposed to check in with Officer Jacobson, right away.”
“We have to make a stop first.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, your asshole… I mean husband has instructed me to make sure you eat.”
“Oh, did he now?”
Noah helps her into the passenger side of his car and then gets in beside her.
“He did.”
“Come a little closer.”
“What?”
Olivia holds up her phone. “Back in Canada selfie.”
Noah leans in and smiles, turning his head to place a kiss on her cheek as the flash goes off.
“Sneaky bastard,” Olivia laughs.
It seems like a long drive into Dufferin County from the Toronto International Airport. Olivia becomes worried and tense. When they pull up in front of the station, Olivia sits, reconsidering her involvement.
“Hey, relax.” Noah places his hand on her thigh. “It’s time to finally put this whole thing to rest.
“I wish Ethan was here.”
“He would be if he could.”
“You’re going to stay with me, right?”
“The entire t
ime.”
Olivia closes her eyes and counts backwards from ten. “Okay, let’s get this over with.”
Officer Jacobson greets them in the large, sparsely furnished, waiting room and walks them through busy station. Olivia reaches down and takes a firm hold of Noah’s hand. He holds her close, instinctively trying to protect her.
“You look a little pale. Are you okay?” Office Jacobson asks, closing the door to a very sterile looking room.
“Just tired. It was a long flight.”
“I won’t keep you long tonight. He’s pled guilty to domestic assault. We’ve taken his statement.” He places a copy of it down in front of them.
Olivia skims over the confession, her hands begin to tremble. “This was a long time ago.”
“There is no statute of limitations on assault charges.”
“What if I want to forget everything? Do I have to press charges?” She squeezes Noah’s hand firmly.
“No. He’s already confessed. The Crown has pressed charges. He’s been taken into custody and tomorrow they’ll set bail.”
“Why am I here?
Noah pulls her closer to him, wrapping his arm around her. “Because you’re a witness, Sweetheart.”
She looks to the officer for confirmation.
“That’s correct. You’ll be called to testify for the Crown.”
Olivia blows out an anxious breath and jiggles her knees.
“I understand this is very difficult for you. You’ve come a very long way and must be exhausted. For tonight, why don’t we just take your victim impact statement, so the Crown can do their job tomorrow. We can deal with the additional charges in the next couple of days.
“Additional charges?” Olivia lowers her brow.
“Yes. You may be more comfortable giving your statement to my female partner. She’ll be on duty tomorrow afternoon.”
Olivia looks at Noah confused.
Taking out a pen, Officer Jacobson begins to fill in the fields on a long formal looking form. “Let’s get this over with so we can get you home to rest.”
Ethan doesn’t sleep at all. Despite John’s warning, he effectively engaged his boss’s nephew in a full out, alpha pissing match. Now he had better make sure that he’s got the right team and weapons on his side to do battle.
A Facebook status update from Olivia flashes across his phone. He looks at his watch, confirming that it’s only three a.m. there. Curious he opens the application and checks out her timeline. He grits his teeth when he opens the newly posted photo of her and Noah. Ethan sits, tapping his pen on his desk, consumed by the picture of Noah Thompson’s lips on his wife. He warned her the first time, that he didn’t know what he’d do, if he ever saw the bastard kiss her again.
Indivisible Souls: Book 3 of the Bound4Ireland Series Page 19