Sins of the Father (California Dreaming Book 2)

by Stacey Johnston

  While they were waiting for the ambulance, I busied myself helping my father chase the assailant through the gymnasium. I couldn’t bear to stand by and watch as they tried to help her. By the time we reached the exit, the gunman was already gone. What bothers me is how well-planned the attack was, it seemed that he knew she would be there, but I don’t know how yet. When we initially gathered at the hospital, I was heartbroken. I felt like someone had ripped my heart out and stomped on it. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, she looked very fragile and helpless lying on that hospital bed. I left as soon as I could and I haven’t been back. I gather by the way my mother looks at me, that she knows something because she doesn’t push the issue.

  Right now, though, I’m hoping dad stops past and picks me up before he heads to the Brooklyn office to do more recon. He has been back and forth from the hospital, but now that Sherlyn is awake, he will spend more time looking for her assailant. I need to get involved in finding the son of a bitch that did this. If I have to sit in that hospital it will break me, especially knowing that she belongs to someone else. I won’t be able to watch as she turns to him now that she is awake.

  Friend or not, I will want to kill Stephen, which means it’s easier to stay away. I need to get lost doing something else instead.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sherlyn

  Now that the dust has settled, I find myself alone… well, sort of anyway. With only the agent by my door and the sound of the machine next to me, I am completely alone. After Hawke left earlier, I endured the examination from the doctor and my god did that hurt. He gave me a more detailed explanation of what had happened to me, which I was grateful for, but when he told me I almost died twice I became speechless. This sort of stuff doesn’t happen to me, I’m the boring, uneventful girl that no one pays attention to.

  I have never felt more popular than I have done in the past few hours. Not only did Sophie come back, but so did her parents. The look of relief on both her mom’s and dad’s faces felt surreal to me. I am not used to anyone caring for me like they do. The doctor was confused because he had just assumed they were my parents, until I corrected him. His advice was to not say anything to anyone else otherwise none of them would be permitted into my room. After they left I got visits from Sophie and Ben, Luke, Kyle, Tatum and Sumner. They all hovered out in the hallway as I am only allowed to have two at a time in my room. The constant though was Stephen, he wouldn’t leave me. It was funny watching the disgruntled look on his face every time someone came to see me. He did not like having to wait in the hallway. The only reason he isn’t here now is because I demanded he go, and get some rest. The doctor thinks I will be stuck here for possibly two weeks, depending on how quickly my body heals from the surgery. I told my dream boy to go because I wasn’t going anywhere and I didn’t want him getting sick either. He begrudgingly agreed but promised he would be back in a couple of hours.

  The only one I haven’t seen is Sean. Soph mentioned that he was here when I came out of surgery but has been busy with Hawke and her father since. The thing is, I have had visits from both Hawke and Anthony, so his excuse is lame. I know he is avoiding me and I know why. I told Sophie to tell him to come visit me on his own so we could talk. I don’t like that we have this awkwardness hanging between us. She promised to try, but we both know it probably won’t happen.

  Soft rapping at the door catches my attention, and as it slowly opens I see a hesitant Sean enter, stopping just inside the doorway. Miracles will never cease. Here I was just thinking that stubborn boy would rather disappear again than talk to me. I certainly wasn’t expecting him to walk through that door. His body language gives away how uncomfortable he really is. His tenseness really is evident.

  His face, though, gives the appearance of a boy torn. He has a sympathetic yet, scared look about him. Weird I know, but that’s how I see him. “

  I won’t bite Sean. You can come into the room.” I encourage.

  He is standing by the door, staring at me and my breath hitches at the intensity of his glare. The chemistry between us is off the charts, but the pull is different. I don’t know how else to explain it, except that with Stephen it’s not just my body that reacts to him. He challenges me, pushes me to strive for more, to want things I never believed I needed. With Sean, it’s more sexual. Together, I believe Sean and I would be fun, but I don’t feel the kind of earth-shattering emotions for him as I do for Stephen. Keeping his eyes on me, he crosses the short distance to sit beside me. He’s yet to say a word and it’s only now, that I pick up on his nervousness.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner,” he apologizes.

  I don’t know what it is I am seeing in his face, but he is tortured, his brow frowning.

  “I understand, you know, please don’t feel like you have to apologize. You don’t owe me anything.” I reply.

  Lifting my hand, I place it on the one he is resting on the rail of my bed. This is probably not one of my more, smarter moves, as I feel him shudder under my touch. That chemistry between us is stronger than ever, but it will never be what he wants it to be and I don’t want us to live like this.

  “I’ve been a dick, my jealousy has gotten in the way of our friendship and my concern for you.”

  His response shocks me. I can’t believe how badly he is beating himself up. I wish he wouldn’t, but before I can tell him so, he pins me with his gaze.

  “I’m here to say goodbye. I’m moving with mom and dad. I won’t be moving home with you and Soph.”

  Flinching, my hand jumps slightly reflecting my shock.

  “Before you say a word, I have to do this. I can continue my schooling with them and then continue working with Hawke. When I’m eighteen I can officially join the C.B.I. Until then I need to focus and I can’t do that around you.”

  His words cut through me, not like a knife, but almost, as it feels just as sharp and painful. I can’t help the tears that are escaping, slowly making their way down my cheeks.

  “I don’t want you to leave.” He has me pleading.

  “I need you in my life just as much as I need Sophie. Please do not leave because of me.”

  Lowering his head, he removes his hand completely from mine, placing it in his lap. All I want is for him to look me in the eye and make me believe that this is truly what he wants, because I know it’s not what I want.

  “I can’t be in your life Sheri if I can’t have you. It hurts too much to watch you with Stephen so I need to stay away. I’m sorry. I will be back with my parents and Hawke from time to time. I won’t leave forever, just until this is under control.”

  With that, he rises and leans over to kiss me on the forehead. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and hold back further tears from flooding my face.

  Leaning slightly, he whispers, “For all it’s worth, know that I love you in my own way.”

  Straightening, he backs away from my bed and leaves the room. He didn’t give me a chance to say goodbye and I personally don’t think I could have said anything anyway. I have been left heartbroken, as in my own way I loved him as well.

  Stephen

  “You need to come home Nevan, you said it yourself Sherlyn is much better.” A very frustrated voice declares.

  My parents have been trying to get me to fly back since Ben and the others left three days ago. My mother being the most persistent out of the two of them, as my phone call right now confirms.

  “Your flight is booked, and I have spoken to Anthony who will make sure you board the plane.”

  Yep, no getting out of this one.

  “I will be on the flight mom, but I’m not happy about it. I have to go. I will see you tomorrow night at the airport.” I reply quickly, only allowing her a quick goodbye.

  I need to go and tell Sheri I am leaving now.

  Arriving at the hospital, it’s just the regulars that I find hovering around my girl’s room. Soph’s parents have been a constant, in and out each day making sure she is recovering well.
Up until a few days ago Ben, Luke, and Kyle were also here daily with Soph, Tatum and Sumner. Once the boys were forced to fly home, the later three have come past to keep their friend company. The four of us had been crashing at the Valentine’s apartment since the plan to fly in, and straight back out went to shit. They had us spread out due to the lack of space. It’s been a tight fit, but no one has really complained. I tend to spend my nights at the hospital with Sheri anyway, allowing everyone else to visit during the day. More to the point, it was so that Sean could visit without me being around. I know he stopped in a couple of days prior, but my girl won’t tell what happened although she was visibly upset by the time I arrived. I wanted to kill him, for upsetting her like that, but she was adamant I was not to touch him and that everything was fine. Yeah, I don’t fucking think so, but I won’t upset her any more than she already is. I need her to get better so that she can fly to California to be closer to me.

  Stopping in the doorway, I just watch. At the moment she is engrossed in some mindless conversation with Sophie about graduation dresses. What the fuck? I will never understand the female mind. Here she is laid up in a hospital bed and all she can think of is what color dress she should buy and whether it needs to be strapless or have shoestring straps. Seriously, what the fuck are shoestring straps and what have I walked into.

  “Should I come back later, so you girls can continue with this thrilling conversation,” I call out, startling both of them.

  “Fricking hell, Stephen, you scared the crap out of me.” Soph squeals at me.

  God, she looks funny. She has her hands over her heart panting like she has just come off a rollercoaster or something. Laughing, I move over to the other side of Sheri’s bed, careful not to get caught up in all the cords and shit still attached to her.

  “You will pay for that,” Sheri tells me with a giggle as I lean down to kiss her gently. Her lips are soft today, tasting of strawberries. I’d say someone is definitely feeling better.

  “Looking forward to it darling.” I tease in return. My voice is just a whisper on her lips, but her shiver confirms that it’s not just me affected by our closeness.

  “All right, get a room, you two,” I hear from behind us. Soph’s envious tone breaks our moment startling my girl enough that she pushes me away quickly.

  “If I’m not getting any, neither are you two.”

  Laughing I move away from a now blushing Sherlyn. She is beautiful when her face flushes like that.

  “So are you going to help me with this then?” I throw over at Soph, pointing my finger at the noticeable bulge straining behind my zipper.

  Smirking I look up to find both girls are now blushing, Sherlyn’s hand finding its way to her face to cover her eyes in embarrassment.

  “You are a dirty bastard you know that right?” Soph scolds me, her expression now one of exasperation.

  “Yeah, but you know you love me, Sophie,” I reply, trying to provoke a reaction out of her.

  “Anytime now, though, babe, this isn’t going to suck itself,” I tell her, pointing toward my groin again.

  The sudden gasps in Sherlyn’s tiny room tell me that maybe I have taken my teasing a little too far. Looking between the two girls, it’s hard to gauge just how badly I fucked up. My girl does not look too impressed, yet the look on Sophie’s is now one of amusement.

  “Mmm, so maybe there is a little feral hidden in there somewhere, after all, Stephen,” she finally replies, with a smirk that matched the one I just held.

  “And I’m not going anywhere near that cock of yours boy, that’s Sherlyn’s job, not mine.”

  Laughing out loud, I lean in toward Sheri to kiss her forehead.

  “I’m just teasing, beautiful one, you are the only one I want. You never have to doubt me. I can promise you that.”

  The scowl that was occupying her face has now lifted, and the smile that takes over is breathtaking. She really has no idea just how addicting she actually is.

  “I’m out you two, I will see you tomorrow girlfriend,” Soph calls out as she heads out of Sherlyn’s hospital room.

  Chuckling, I watch her leave before moving around to where she was sitting to sit down.

  “I’m sorry I reacted like that, it won’t happen again.” A small hesitant voice tells me once Soph has shut the door.

  It’s just the two of us and she is apologizing for getting annoyed at me for my comment.

  “Don’t ever apologize for being jealous or standing up for yourself.” I scowl at her.

  Standing I lean over the bed rail to grasp her face with my hand.

  “I deserved that. If you ever feel that something I say is too much, then call me out on it. You have that right as my girl, I just want you to know that no matter what I say to Soph, I mean none of it. It’s just teasing.”

  I watch as she visibly relaxes, her eyes lifting to look into mine once more.

  “Anyway, Ben would kick my ass if he had heard that. That’s one jealous fucker. No one is safe.”

  The giggle that escapes her mouth, relaxes me so I sit back down. Grasping her hand, I rest it in mine on the edge of the bed. I don’t want her to be scared of me, or fall in line. I want her to challenge me, and keep me on my toes. I suppose I should tell her my news now that it’s all calmed down. She isn’t going to be happy, but hopefully it won’t be for long, with any luck they will let her out of here soon.

  “I have to fly home tomorrow, dream girl. My parents are forcing me to come home.”

  Her grip on my hand tightens, so looking up, I face her. The sadness has returned to her eyes, but she just nods in acknowledgment.

  “I have been waiting for you to say that.” She admits.

  “I won’t be in here too much longer and then we will be heading to California. We will be together again soon. Are you still moving to Solana with Ben at the end of the school year?”

  I haven’t really thought much of it since Ben left. We had been talking about moving to live with the girls for the last couple of days. With Sean now moving with his parents, it will just be the two of them. I for one wasn’t happy with that, so we were planning on speaking to our parents when we went home. Ben had spoken with Sean, who was happy for Kyle to take his room over and Luke was going planning to move into the guest house. There was no way Kyle was going to share a room with him, he really is a dirty fucker.

  “That’s the plan gorgeous, just need to speak to the parents when I get home. I will look at picking up classes at the local college until I can apply full-time. That should keep my mom happy at least.”

  I didn’t think her smile could get any brighter, but it just did. She was glowing. I hope that had something to do with the fact that I planned on sharing her room. After everything that has happened I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

  “I don’t think I have ever been happier,” she whispers.

  “Neither have I, babe, neither have I.”

  The rest of the evening goes by relatively quietly. We have spoken of her plans for the coming year, after graduation. She, like myself, had hoped to just pick up a few classes at the local college to get her foot in the door. There hadn’t really been any plans on her part to look at going to any of the bigger universities. She didn’t know what direction she was planning on going in anyway. I reassured her that we would sort out all the little things once we know for sure what was going to happen. All I wanted her to do was get well enough to leave the hospital. The sooner she comes home; the sooner we can be together. I know she is sick, but it does nothing to stem the sexual energy that radiates between us. I haven’t felt this frustrated in years. My hand really is getting a fucking workout lately. I would love to change that and have the gorgeous girl in front of me, wrap those soft delicious lips of hers around my cock.

  Now that I am over the whole virgin thing, I can’t wait to get her back into my bed. It’s sending my brain into overload thinking of all the things I can teach her. My cock has been rock hard constantly with my thought
s of how I will be the first and only one to share those experiences with. I can’t fucking wait.

  “Sherlyn, Stephen.” Sheri’s doctor greets us as he moves into her room. I think he has gotten used to my presence by now.

  “I have good news. We are happy with your progress and will be releasing you at the end of the week.”

  Fuck yes!! Thank God for small miracles.

  “We are going to continue with this treatment and the nurses will start getting you out of bed in the morning to get you moving around. As long as there are no problems we will let you go home.”

  Sherlyn’s face lights up, giving him one of those looks you get from a kid at Christmas, she looks that happy. The news couldn’t be any better as I prepare to head home.

  “Oh, Doctor Gale, I don’t know how to thank you.” She squeals, thanking him, the emotion in her voice standing out like fireworks.

  There are delicate tears pooling in her eyes, but she is fighting them. Rubbing her hand over her eyes, she attempts to remove them, whilst continuing to smile at the doctor.

  “All I did, was remove a bullet. The rest is because of you. You are a very strong young lady and this boy of yours is a keeper.”

  Turning toward me he gestures with his hand. “Don’t let go of this one.” Smiling, he pats her hand and leaves as quickly as he entered.

  “I can’t believe it,” she gasps, her beautiful voice cracking with the emotion.

  “I can really go home.” I can’t help but share her excitement.

  “Just keep doing what you are doing and we will be together in California sooner that you think.”

  Standing, I lean back over the bed, releasing her hand to grip her face with both hands. Pulling her closer I kiss her with everything I have in me.

  My dream girl….