The media has had a field day with the story. There wasn’t any evidence to link Parker to Elizabeth’s death, even with my testimony of his confession it wouldn’t be enough to stick he charges.
Today we lay my brother to rest. We had to delay his services for two weeks thanks to the media circus. My mother had my brother cremated and she has agreed the Kline’s ashes should go to me. My mom loved my brother, but I know he would want to be with me. Royce has been amazing. He has taken care of me these past few weeks.
Tiffany tried to come see me but I couldn’t face her. I know it’s not her fault, but she played a part. I know it isn’t exactly fair of me being that Royce had a bigger role than anyone besides Parker, but I can’t help that I harbor bad feelings towards her for being involved with Jake.
My stomach rumbles and Royce tries to make me eat. “Babe, I couldn’t eat right now if you force fed me. I can’t seem to hold anything down. I think I’m coming down with a virus or something.”
“It is probably just your nerves, but I would feel a lot better if you would at least try to eat a cracker.”
Royce hand me a pack of saltines, and as soon as one hits my tongue I’m running for the toilet.
**
The ceremony for my brother is small. It is a few of the guys from the gym and Sug. Tiffany wanted to be here, but Royce told her it was best she stays away for now.
Sug gives me a kiss on the cheek and hugs me tight. “Girl, the gym isn’t the same without you.”
Parker’s family took over his assets while he is in jail. I could still have my job if I want, but I don’t want to have a part in anything connected to his family.
The past few weeks have been the worst. I don’t know how to go on when half of me is missing.
Royce urges me forward. I don’t want to be here; I can’t do this. I’m not ready to let Kline go.
There’s a memory board featuring pictures of my brother at the front of the room on an easel by his urn. Most of the pictures are of him doing what he loved most—fighting. There is one photo that stands out to me the most. Kline and I are maybe three and he is trying to feed me dirt. For someone who irritated me so much, I sure miss the shit out of him. I have slept in his bed every night since he died…I need to be near him…but I can’t feel his presence anymore, and that makes me so sad.
Royce and some of the guys have organized a cage match tonight. All of the proceeds are going to a charity started in Kline’s honor. A lot of people wouldn’t know that Kline spent a lot of his free time training kids for free. He said the gym is what saved him, and it was his way of doing for other kids what was never done for him. The charity will pay for underprivileged kids to get to participate in sports that their families wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for them to participate in. Kline would love this.
I am sitting and talking to my mom and Charlie about the charity when I am approached by Jay. I’ve not talked him since I quit the gym. Once I found out for sure that parker owned it, there was no way I was stepping foot back in the place.
“Can I talk to you for a minute in private?” he looks really uncomfortable and he isn’t looking me in the eye. I’m not sure what he could need to say to me in private, but Jay has always been sweet to me so I follow him outside.
“Brandi, I’m so sorry about Kline.” His hand is shaking as he talks. Why is he so nervous? “The Garretti family has asked me to send you their condolences.”
“No…Jay, I don’t know why you are here for them, but I want you to leave.” I shove away from him, but he grips my elbow.
“Please Brandi. I have to deliver the full message. If I don’t…” Jay looks scared. I notice he is looking around nervously. Are we being watched? Then I notice he is wearing an earpiece.
“Did he send you here? Is he telling you what to say right now?”
“Parker…Mr. Garrett says to please take care of yourself…for the baby.”
He drops my elbow abruptly. What is he talking about? Baby… Parker is sick. I’m not Elizabeth!
Chapter 11
Three months later…
In sin city everyone has a past and everyone has secrets—secrets they wish not to tell. Some secrets are best left unsaid. Some say the truth can set you free, but the truth living inside of me is killing me…
I look at the test that sits on the edge of my bathroom sink. The timer dings and I am afraid to look. Deep breaths Brandi, no matter what this test says you are going to be okay. There it is, the one plus sign that is killing me. I am pregnant. Everything in me tells me that fate is not this cruel. An image flashes through my mind of my brother’s favorite poster ‘History repeats itself because motherfuckers don’t listen.’
How do I tell Royce? How do I say to the man I love, “I’m pregnant and I’m sorry a part of me is scared that this baby could belong to the man you hate…the man I fear…the man that murdered my brother? Parker, Kline and Elizabeth haunt my dreams. Every night the memories come to me in my dreams, and every night I wake up screaming his name—Kline. I miss my brother more and more with every passing day. I did manage to keep my promise to Kline though. After Royce sold his house and I cleaned out my apartment I left sin city.
I married Royce two weeks ago, and we are now living in LA. He got a really good job working for a security firm, and I am set to start nursing school next semester. I never imagined that I would marry Royce after everything that has happened, but he has been my anchor. He really does love me.
Royce has an investor and is working towards starting his own gym, for kids as part of the foundation he started for Kline. I love the idea and support him fully in what he wants to do.
I have to travel back to Vegas this week. Parker Garrett is being sentenced. Royce and my attorneys have told me that I don’t have to be there, but I need to see him put away with my own eyes. I ended up not testifying at the trial. My testimony wasn’t needed. Parker plead guilty by reason of insanity. Before we moved I would get weird deliveries of gift baskets. I know Parker was behind them. Thankfully now that we have moved they have stopped. The baskets contained things for a baby. I don’t know how Parker knew before I did that I am pregnant.
His connections run deep and I am afraid I will never be free of him. I can only pray to God that this baby belongs to my husband.
Did Parker plan for this to happen—the baby? I think back to the one night we had sex, and I remember what he said. He said that the condom broke.
My breakfast comes up, and I empty my shame into the toilet. I can’t have his baby. But what if the baby is my husbands? I know how badly Royce wants a family. I know I need to tell him, but I want to go to the doctor, and find out how far I am before I make any decisions.
I clean myself up, put the evidence of my secret back in the grocery bag taking it out to the dumpster at the back of our building. Royce will be home soon and I don’t want him worrying about me more than he already does.
**
Royce
I walk into the kitchen and watch my wife—my world as she hums to herself while she prepares dinner. The past few months have been hard, but I think she is finally getting to a good place. I can’t wait to get through this week so we can put Vegas and Parker Garrett behind us. I am ready to move forward with my life with my beautiful wife. Brandi has been through a lot, but she is strong.
I keep trying to persuade her to talk to someone about her dreams, but she insists that they are getting better. I am hoping that once Parker is sentenced she will feel safe and be able to let go of her hurt. I know she will never get over losing Kline, and I don’t expect her to. I just want her to be happy. One day I hope I can add to my tattoos—I want to start a family, but only once I know my wife is ready for it. I still can’t believe she actually married me. She was so dead set against it before.
We have talked a great deal; about Elizabeth. I don’t know why, but Brandi seems fixated on her. I blame it on this trial. Bran says she wishes there was something we could do to
bring Elizabeth justice. I told her by Parker going away for what he did to Kline, he kind of is paying for taking her life. I hurt for Elizabeth, but now my hurt is different. I no longer hurt for the woman I lost, but I am sad for the life Elizabeth never got to live. It makes me sad that she will never be a mother. But I can’t focus on what was or could have been. I have to concentrate on the now, and right now I am going to enjoy dinner with my wife.
**
Parker
I get to see her this week. My attorney has told me she will be here. My presents haven’t been getting delivered to her anymore. I don’t know where she has gone to, but I will find her. I hope she is taking care of our baby. I can’t wait to see her glowing from the pregnancy. I can’t wait to see her again—Elizabeth. I know she will come back to me. I know she still loves me, she doesn’t have to be here for my sentencing, but I know she will. I know she misses me and wants to see me too.
She walks into the courtroom, he cheeks flushed, glowing with our baby growing inside of her. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. God, I just want to hold her in my arms. I wish I could have one night with her before I am sent away.
I’ve bargained for a plea deal. The sooner I get out of here, the sooner I get to be with my love again. We will get to have the family we always wanted.
I can’t wait to slip my ring on her finger and make her mine forever.
**
I hate that Royce isn’t able to go to Las Vegas with me for the hearing. He just started his new job and we can’t afford for him to take the time off. I know he worries about me, but I will be okay. Parker is in custody; he can’t hurt me today. My mom and Charlie are picking me up at the airport and then we are driving straight to the courthouse. I am nervous about being in the same room with Parker, but I owe it to Kline to be there. And a part of me feels I need to be there for Royce on Elizabeth’s behalf. I know she isn't getting the justice her and her baby deserve, but it is something. Besides, Parker has to live with knowing that he took the lives of three beautiful souls.
Tomorrow I am seeing my old doctor to find out once and for all if I am really pregnant and how far along I am. I could have found a new doctor in LA, but if I go while I am in Vegas I don’t have to talk to Royce about it, yet. It is killing me to keep this secret from him, we finally talked everything out. He knows everything about me, and I know everything about him, except this. Royce drives me to the airport and we say our goodbyes at the drop off. He has made me promise to call him or text him almost every hour on the hour that we are apart.
I know he worries that Parker is going to try something, but I think he is finally leaving me alone, now that I am no longer receiving his creepy gifts.
**
“Charlie, mom, you guys look good. Thank you so much for picking me up and for going with me. I know that this is a nightmare we are all ready to be done with.”
Charlie actually hugs me. “I miss you and that smart mouth kid. Your mom and me wish you would come home more often.” That is the nicest thing he has ever said to me.
I am taken aback by Charlie’s affection. He has been acting differently towards me since Kline died. I appreciate that he is trying, but I hate that it took losing Kline to turn him around. My sweet mom can’t stop hugging me and kissing my cheek. Tears are streaming down her face.
“Let’s go see this sicko get his,” I tell them as we get in the car.
I check my makeup on the way to the courthouse. There is bound to be a media circus outside of the courtroom. I feel a little faint but wave it off as my nerves getting the best of me. The drive isn’t nearly as long as I had hoped it would be. I’m not sure if I am ready to face Parker yet.
“Are you ready?” Charlie opens my door, escorting me and my mom on each of his arms.
A reporter shoves a microphone in my face. “Mrs. King is it true your husband has an ongoing vendetta with Parker Garrett?”
“No Comment,” Charlie growls, pushing the dickweed out of the way, and we come to face with the man who killed my brother…The man who could be the father of my unborn child as he is lead into the courtroom. Parker locks eyes with me immediately. He has the nerve to wink and smile at me. I look away from him, but I can still feel his eyes lingering on me. Coming here was a bad idea.
Everyone is asked to rise for the judge and then we are seated. The sentencing goes fairly quick. The judge reads Parker’s fate. “In the case of the commonwealth vs. Parker Garrett we the court hereby sentence you to five years in the penitentiary. You will be able to seek parole after you have served two years.”
I knew with his plea deal that this outcome was a possibility, but that doesn’t soften the blow.
Kline and Elizabeth deserve better than this.
Parker brings his cuffed hands to his mouth, and blows me a kiss. I shudder and my stomach churns, the acid burning the walls of my throat.
My family and I are able to have a police escort to our car to keep the media from hounding us. Our attorney will issue a statement on our behalf. Mom and Charlie treat me to dinner. It is nice seeing them.
I can’t believe I just said it is good to see Charlie.
Royce is blowing up my phone. I can’t believe I neglected to call him after we left the courthouse. Everything was so crazy. There were cameras and reporters all over the place.
Royce says that he understands but to please not scare him like that again. My man can’t wait for me to come back home.
All during dinner, I can’t seem to get the smug look Parker had on his face today off of my mind. It made me feel as though he knows my secret.
Mom and Charlie don’t push me to talk about anything. They let me sulk in silence.
We get back to their new apartment and I go into the guest room and collapse on the bed.
My hand instinctively cradles my stomach.
I need to talk to someone about it and there is no better time to call Tiffany. I have put seeing her off long enough, and I could really use one of our talks. I just hope she doesn’t hate me. Even though I was going through a hard time, she lost Kline too. I shouldn’t have treated her so poorly.
Tiffany agrees to meet up with me for lunch before my doctor’s appointment. I am a bit nervous to see her after the way I handled things between us. She has always been a great friend. I know I shouldn’t worry, but telling her my secret will be good practice for when and if I have to tell Royce. We meet up at Healthy Vines. I am hoping their tea will be easy on my upset stomach.
When I arrive at the restaurant Tiffany is waiting for me. She looks really good. She greets me with a hug and we easily fall into conversation as if there hasn’t been a rift separating us for months. It feels like I just talked her last week as opposed to months.
“So you’re married woman now, congrats.” She smiles and I think she really is happy for me. “How are things going? Do you like LA.?”
“LA is different, but good. And Royce is amazing. I know you had reservations about him before, but he is so good to me.” I take a deep breath and say what I have needed to say for some time. “I owe you an apology. When Kline died I was in a bad place and I was so confused about everything and everyone. I didn’t blame you for any of it. It was just easier not to see you.”
“I’m so sorry about Kline. I didn’t mean for anything bad to happen. Kline made it very clear that he wasn’t interested in being my boyfriend anytime soon. He knew I was seeing Jake too. I wish I had never gotten involved with Jake. I had no idea he was working for the mob. He just told me to get your vehicle and meet him at my house. When I got there he said he wanted to treat me to a few days at the casino. I didn’t know he was in on some crazy scheme. I did think it was odd that he wanted me to get your jeep. Then Royce came to talk to me and told me you were in danger, and that if anyone asked I was to say I was you. It was all so strange, and then Kline died. You wouldn’t see me—then you were gone, and now here we are. I have missed you so much.” A few stray tears run down her cheeks.
We order our lunch and I tell her my secret. “Tiffany I asked you here today first to apologizer, but also because I could really use a friend, and I need to talk to someone about this so badly. I am freaking out. I think I am pregnant.”
“That’s great right. I mean you said you and Royce are good." She looks at me like she is unsure of why I am freaked out. Her brows are knitted in confusion as she takes a sip from her straw.
“I slept with Parker, and depending on how far I am, this could be his baby.”
Taking my hand Tiffany tries to reassure me that no matter what the results are that I am going to make a great mom. I wish I felt her enthusiasm.
“What if I am carrying the child of my brother’s killer? How will I live with myself? How will I look that child in the eyes and love him or her?” I feel ill again and unable to finish my lunch.
“You are forgetting that you have an amazing husband who will stand by you, and your decision whatever it may be.” Tiffany offers to go to my appointment with me and drive me to the airport afterwards. I am so grateful to have her support during this difficult time. Thinking about having a child should be exciting. Instead I am dreading those words—congratulations you are going to be a mom.
I nervously await the results as the technician dips the stick in my urine. After an agonizing few minutes I hear the words I am dreading. “Well the test doesn’t lie. Congrats you’re going to be a mom.”
I can’t stop the tears. I want to die right now and that makes me a horrible person. If this baby is Parker’s I’m not sure that I can live with myself.
The doctor comes in to talk with me and after going over my information she estimates that I am twelve to fourteen weeks and my biggest fear is confirmed this child could belong to either Royce or Parker. Tiffany squeezes my hand and tries to reassure me that the baby belongs to my husband. But I have this sinking feeling she is wrong.
Dirty Love (Fighting Dirty Series Book 1) Page 12