Awake My Heart (The Bentini Brothers Book 3) (5 page)

     Pushing himself up off the floor, Adam towers above her as he lazily
peels the used condom off and discards it.  “Thanks for the wild ride, but I’ve
got to be going,” he says pulling his pants back on and straightening his
clothes.

     “You are such a pig!  If I wasn’t afraid of going to prison, I
would stick a knife into your black heart!  I may pay someone to do it for me,”
Alison blusters, gathering her clothes and stepping into the shower room,
quickly wiping off the residue of their scandalous passion.

     Following her, Adam issues a warning of his own, “Now, Alison. 
Don’t be a poor sport, and don’t go writing checks your pretty little ass can’t
cash.  You threaten me again, and I may not take it so nicely,” he states in a
hard voice, making eye contact with her in the mirror as she gets dressed.  Seeing
that she has gotten his meaning, he pivots and strolls out of the dressing room
and into the restroom.

     “I hate you Adam Bentini!” Alison grates, stepping out of the
dressing room adjusting her clothing.  She locates her heels and slides them on
with quick angry movements.

     “Why? Did I fail to satisfy you?” Adam asks flippantly,
knowing the opposite to be true.

     “Yes!  You couldn’t satisfy a fly!”

     He sends a leering smile to her now covered crotch. “It’s a
good thing for both of us that I’m hung like a horse,” he chuckles at his own raunchy
wit, leaving her sputtering behind him.  “I’ll distract Mrs. Bradley, while you
sneak out.  I’m correct in assuming that you snuck in here, otherwise, Mrs.
Bradley would have alerted Will to your presence.”  At her reluctant nod, he
sends her one last cavalier look and strolls out of the bathroom and out of the
office. 

     Alison glances around the room making sure she isn’t leaving
any evidence of her time there.  As she makes her way cautiously down to the
lobby and out of the building, she ponders what her next move should be;
damning William Bentini and that milksop, Katherine Walters, with every step
she takes.  

Chapter 5

     Emily enters her sister’s flower-scented hospital room and
stands next to her mother at Kathy’s bedside.  “Where’s dad?” 

     “He was becoming melancholy so I sent him on an errand.”

     “What kind of errand?” she asks distractedly, focusing on the
still figure of her baby sister.

     “I sent him to find us a hotel nearby.”

     “I have Kathy’s keys.  We can stay at her place, I’m sure she
wouldn’t mind.”

     “No, I want to be as close to the hospital as possible.”

     Emily knows that there is no point in trying to talk her
mother into changing her mind; she is surprised that her mother hasn’t asked to
have a cot placed in the room.

     “Do you think he’s the one?”  Mrs. Walters asks in a hushed
voice, sending an anxious look to her daughter, watching as she moves to the
little sofa near the window.

     “I think so mom.  Did you see how he was holding on to her;
like he didn’t want to let her go?”

     “It doesn’t make sense.  If he’s the one, then why did he
abandon her?  And why is he in the picture now?”

     “There can be a hundreds reasons why, mom, and none of them
really matter right now.  What’s important is that we protect Kathy from him,
from that family.  She’s been downright miserable for the past couple of years,
and they are at the root of it.”

     “But, Emily, she’s never spoken ill of that family, she’s
never said that they were the cause, as a matter of fact, she wouldn’t say who
or what was.  Not once.  She’s been absolutely closed-mouth about the entire
situation.”

     “Well, I’ve never agreed with that.  If he is the one then we
deserve to know, and so does—”

     “Oh excuse me, I didn’t mean to intrude,” Tiressa apologizes,
entering the room quietly, but remaining by the door.  “I’m Tiressa Hawkins.  I
work with Kathy…well, I used to.”

     “Hello…”  Emily walks across the room to shake Tiressa’s
hand.  “I’m Kathy’s sister, Emily, and this is our mom.”  Before Mrs. Walters
can move from her perch against the windowsill, Tiressa hurries over to her.  “Oh,
Mrs. Walters, I am so sorry!” she cries, impulsively putting her arms around
her friend’s mother.  “I was the one driving the car.  I would have done
anything to avoid the accident, but the other car came out of nowhere…” 
Ringing her hands miserably, Tiressa’s distressed gaze swings between Kathy’s
mother and her sister.  “We were broadsided and I lost control of the car.  I’m
so sorry…I’m so, so sorry,” she continues to apologize no longer able to hold
back her tears.  Mrs. Walters immediately embraces her.  “My dear, please calm
yourself… we know you did not cause the accident. No one here is holding you
responsible.”  The kind-hearted older woman, comforts Tiressa until she is able
to pull herself together.  “Thank you for that.  But, I can’t help feeling like
I should have done something…maybe if we hadn’t taken the interstate at that
time—”

     Taking both of Tiressa’s hands, Mrs. Walters offers her what
comfort she can.  “No. No dear, you can’t do that to yourself.  It serves no
purpose.  I’m sure you did the best you could in a horrible situation.”

     “Tiressa?  What are you doing here?  Where’s Tony?” Will’s deep
voice comes from the open doorway.  He glances down the corridor looking for
his brother.

     Tiressa stands there trying to decide if she should lie or
tell the truth.

     Coming fully into the room and closing the door, he addresses
her again, “Does Tony know you’re here?”

     “I’m a big girl Will.  I don’t need Antonio’s permission to leave
the house,” she says indignant at the thought.

     “Be that as it may, you know why he would be alarmed if he
knew you were not at home resting per doctor’s orders.”

     Seeing his genuine concern and knowing he’s right, she decides
it’s better to offer a compromise.  “You’re right, William, but I had to see
how Kathy’s doing for myself.  I promise not to stay long.”

     Having put the other two women’s presence out of mind while
she was focused on Antonio’s commanding brother, Tiressa is a little startled
when Kathy’s sister intervenes on her behalf.  “Stop browbeating her Mr.
Bigshot; or do you get a kick out of ordering women about?  Is that how you
treat my sister?!”

     Will turns to the little firebrand who’s obviously spoiling
for a fight with him.  “I understand that you are under a lot of stress, but I
don’t understand why you feel the need to attack me every time you lay eyes on
me.”

     “Oh, is that right?!”

     “Emily, please.”  Mrs. Walters tries to prevent her strong-willed
offspring from causing an unpleasant scene by antagonizing the powerful young
man–who, at the very least, is the son of her daughter’s employer.  Tiressa,
seeing that the confrontation is about to get real ugly real fast, slips from
in between the two adversaries and pace across the room unnoticed.

     “No, mom, he needs to own up to what he’s done.”

     “What is it that you think I have done, Miss Walters?” William
says stressing her name disdainfully, losing patience with her constant unwarranted
verbal assaults.

     “Emily don’t!”  Mrs. Walters’s plea falls on deaf ears as her
daughter is determined to have her say.

     “You have made my sister’s life miserable!  She doesn’t deserve
what you have done to her…what you continue to do to her!  And then you have
the gall, the utter audacity, to come into this room like you give a damn, when
we know that you could care less about Kathy!”

     Thinking that Kathy must have told her family about their
affair, Will is stricken with guilt and it clearly shows on the handsome
features of his set face.  Seeing this, Emily continues lobbing accusations
against him; shredding his character.  “What kind of man are you to treat my
sister so disgracefully; to treat
any
woman so shamefully?!”

     With clenched jaw, Will takes the berating.  Not able to make
eye contact with either lady, his regretful gaze rest on Katherine.  “I know what
I did to Katherine is dishonorable and inexcusable.”  Then he looks at Mrs.
Walters.  “But I promise to make amends.  I’m going to make it up to Kathy—”

     “How in the hell can you make amends for getting my sister
pregnant and abandoning her?!”

     “Emily!”

     “What the hell are you talking about?!”  Will shouts, shocked.

     “So, you are going to stand there and deny it!”

     “Lady, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!  Kathy
has never been pregnant!”

     “Not only was she pregnant, she gave birth to a beautiful
baby—”

     “Oh my gawd!  Kathy!” Tiressa gasp in amazement, dashing over
to her bedside.  “Oh thank gawd you’re awake!” Tiressa cries, stepping aside when
Mrs. Walters and Emily come rushing over.  But Kathy only has eyes for William
who is standing on the other side of the bed starring just as intently at her.

     “Kat,” he breathes.

     “Will,” she sighs, a lone tear sliding from the corner of her
eye.

     Suddenly Kathy’s doctors and nurses rush in and clear the
room, assuring everyone that all questions and concerns will be addressed once they
have finished examining her.   

***

     Mr. and Mrs. Walters sit huddled together on one of the sofas in
the cozy waiting room, happily embracing each other and giving thanks for their
daughter regaining consciousness.  Emily and Will have positioned themselves in
opposite corners of the room, deep in their own thoughts.  Occasionally their
gazes lock and they stab each other with angry glares.  Feeling decidedly
awkward and out of place, Tiressa goes into the restroom to call Antonio.  

     He picks up on the first ring, “How’s my lady?”  Tiressa takes
a moment to appreciate the sound of his smooth deep voice before plunging right
in, “Tony, you need to come to the hospital.”

     “Are you okay, what’s happened?!”

     “It’s not me, Will needs you.”

     “What’s happened to Will?!”

     “I’m sorry.  I’m mucking this up—”

     Antonio interrupts impatiently, “What’s going on, Ti, and what
the hell are you doing at the hospital?  You are supposed to be at home
resting.”

     Rolling her eyes at her cell phone, she huffs, “We can talk
about that later—”

     “You’re damn right we will.”

     Choosing to ignore the implied warning, Tiressa continues, “Kathy’s
regained consciousness and Will has received some shocking news.”

     “Kathy’s awake?”  She smiles at the relief and joy in his
voice, but her tone remains serious, “Yes.  And you need to get down here now
Antonio, Will needs you.”

     “Okay Baby, I’m on my way.”

***

     “Mr. and Mrs. Walters.”  

     Still smarting over the reprimand, he received days ago, and
all too aware that the arrogant William Bentini is responsible for it, Dr.
Campbell addresses Kathy’s parents and sister; deliberately excluding the
glowering man listening attentively over in the corner.  “I know how anxious
you all are, so I’ll come straight to the point.  The swelling on the brain
that occurred as a result of the initial injury has almost completely abated, drastically
lessening the pressure on the brain.  Now that Katherine has regained
consciousness, we have every reason to believe that she will make a full
recovery with no long-term adverse effects stemming from the brain injury.”

     Mr. and Mrs. Walters and Emily converge on Dr. Campbell
thanking him profusely for all that he has done to bring Kathy back to them.

     Smiling with confident charm, he replies, “I’m glad I am able
to serve such a wonderful family,” then saying in his customary doctor tone,
“But I must remind you that although we predict a full recovery, it will be in
stages.  Fortunately, Katherine was in a comatose state for only a few days,
she may not need more than a couple of weeks before she is back to her normal
self.  We will continue to monitor her progress closely.”

     “Thank you Doctor, thank you so very much,” Mr. Walters says
again.  “Can we see her?” Mrs. Walters asks anxiously, clasping her husband’s
hand tightly.

     “She’s sleeping at the moment.”  Seeing their instant
distress, he clarifies, “No, please don’t be alarmed, it’s a normal sleep.  I
know this isn’t easy to hear, but I would suggest that you folks head on home
for a few hours of rest yourselves.”

     “No, absolutely not.  I’m not leaving here until I see my
daughter,” Mrs. Walters states adamantly, upset at the mere notion of leaving
at a time like this.

     “I understand.  However, I would ask that you not wake her. 
Right now rest is what she needs most.”

     “Thank you Dr. Campbell.” 

     Tiressa and Will watch as the little family follow the doctor
out of the waiting room.  Neither considers accompanying them—it seems right to
give them time alone, besides Will has something else on his mind.  Piercing
Tiressa with a hard, probing stare, he demands, “Did you know?”

     Tiressa doesn’t pretend not to know what he’s asking.  “No,
Will, I didn’t know…I don’t know anything.”

     “You don’t know anything about what?”  Tony asks entering the
waiting room.

     “Antonio, you’re finally here!” she exclaims, jumping to her
feet and rushing into his open arms.  “Baby, what’s all this about?  Your call
was so cryptic.”  Hugging her close, he looks over her head at his brother’s
dark visage.  “Will…  Talk to him Antonio.  He needs you,” she whispers, going
up on the tip of her toes to meet his lips.  “I’ll see you at home.”  She makes
a speedy exit leaving the brothers alone to talk.

     After Ti leaves, Antonio approaches his brother, wondering why
he looks so cross, when he should be smiling from ear to ear.  “Hey man, what’s
going on?”

     “Contrary to what your lady told you, I don’t need you and I
sure as hell don’t want to talk about it.”

     “Okay, big brother, I can respect that.  But, isn’t Kathy
waking up a good thing?”  Antonio ask, sauntering a little closer.

     It takes a minute, but then Will answers.  “Of course it is.”

     “Then why aren’t you happy?”

     “I am happy…I’m fucking elated.”

     “One and one is not adding up to two.  Something is definitely
wrong.”

     “Jeez man, why don’t you leave it alone?”

     “Because you’re my brother, and I care about you.”

     “Fine.  Just care silently.”  Antonio doesn’t take offense at
his sibling’s gruffness.  He understands him because he’s like that too; they
are like wounded bears, when they hurt they feel it deeply.