Seduced By A Wolf (17 page)

They sat without argument. Sean considered going over and introducing himself but stayed where he was. He didn’t know them, was unsure if they knew about his relationship with Von, and frankly, he wasn’t in the mood to make polite conversation.

He still didn’t know what the hell happened, or who the crazy bastard was that had attacked his woman. The only thing that mattered was Von. He needed to see for himself that she was okay. That he hadn’t lost her when he’d just gotten her.

More time passed. Sean straightened abruptly when Derrick came rushing into the ER. When he turned from the desk, Sean was there, in his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Derrick reared back, his expression going from shock to annoyance. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I received a phone call that my father had been transported to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.”

Images flashed before Sean’s eyes and in a blink, he had Derrick jacked up against the nearest wall. “You son of a bitch! Tell me your daddy had nothing to do with Von being here!”

“Sir! You can’t do that in here. Security!”

Derrick struggled uselessly, then seemed to freeze as Sean’s words sank in. Sean shook him again. “Tell me!”

“Von?” Derrick asked hoarsely, the color leeching from his face.

“Is that why you came to her apartment, to help your father finish what you’d started? You sorry son of a bitch. Despite all that talk, you turned out to be just like your old man after all,” he said in disgust.

Derrick shook his head rapidly, his mouth open on a silent no.

The sound of running feet reached his ears. He released Derrick before the urge to pound him into the floor overwhelmed him. He couldn’t afford to get kicked out of the hospital. Not yet. Not until he knew how she was doing.

By the time Security rounded the corner, there were several feet of distance between the two men. “What’s the problem?”

“No problem, Officer,” Sean told him, still glaring at Derrick.

“Then move along.”

Sean backed slowly away, before pivoting on his feet and walking to his former spot on the wall. As he retreated, he could hear Derrick asking the woman at the desk for Von’s status. He paused long enough to hear her say they hadn’t been given one.

It was hours before they received word. A doctor still in surgical gear came out asking for the family of Von Washington. Sean moved forward with the rest, but lingered near the rear.

“Are you the family?”

“Yes,” the grandmother answered.

“She’s in recovery. We couldn’t get her blood pressure stabilized. There was internal bleeding and we had to open her up to find the source. Her condition’s critical, but stable. She’s going to be in a lot of pain and heavily medicated for a while.”

“Can I see her?” the grandmother asked.

“When she’s out of recovery, we’ll send someone to let you know. Could be awhile. You might want to wait and come back in the morning. Until we’re sure there are no further complications, we’re restricting access to family, and only one or two at a time. I won’t lie to you. Von took one hell of a beating, but she’s young, healthy and strong. I expect her to make a full recovery. Von’s a friend. Everyone here loves her. I’d like to get my hands on the man that did this to her. I hope they got the bastard,” he said with venom.

“They did. Thank you, doctor.”

“You’re welcome.” His gazed raked over all of them, taking note of Sean standing close but not too near, before turning and going back through the doors.

Von’s grandmother turned to the other lady and said, “Thank God she’s all right. Now if they’ll just let Ketta go.”

“I sent the boys down to get her out, Momma. She hasn’t been charged. They’re just questioning her. The police aren’t stupid. They’ve seen Von. Seen what that guy did to her. They’ll let her go.”

“I hope so.” The grandmother clearly wasn’t as optimistic.

Sean turned and bumped into Derrick, who immediately held his hands up in a gesture of peace. “I wanted to see how she was. I swear I had no idea. I know you don’t believe me, but I love Von. The last thing I’d want is to see her hurt.”

He stepped around Derrick without saying a word and left the hospital. It bit that they were only allowing family members to see her, and without Marketta there to vouch for him, Derrick had a better chance of getting to Von than he did since her family knew him. He’d come back in the morning, and while he was at it, check on the cousin as well. He owed her a debt of gratitude that could never be repaid.

In the meantime, he had some phone calls to make. No one fucked with his woman and got away with it. No one.

Von came to slowly.

“That’s right, Sunshine. Open those beautiful eyes for me.”

The eyes in question felt like they had weights on them. Von managed to pry them open only to instantly lower her eyelids to shield them from the harsh, bright light.

“How do you feel?”

“Cold.” Her answer was punctuated with a shiver. A warm weight settled on her body and toasty socks were placed on her feet.”

“You feel any pain?”

Now that it was brought to her attention, Von realized her body ached all over, but the worst was her abdomen and face. “Yes.”

“The anesthesia’s wearing off. We’ll give you something to take care of it. The good stuff,” the voice said with a feminine chuckle. “Now take some deep breaths for me.”

Von tried. “It hurts.”

“I know, but it’s important. Now again. That’s good. Again. Uh-huh. Once more. Excellent.”

“Gloria?”

“Yes, hon?”

“What happened?”

“You were brought in with a bleeder. Dr. Kandt had to go hunting. Thank God he found it before it could do too much damage. You’re going to be out of commission for a while.”

While Von’s fuzzy mind absorbed her words, Gloria leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We all are. Rest now while we prepare your room.”

Warmed with a numbing sensation sweeping through her body, Von lost the struggle to stay awake and retreated back into the darkness.

Some time later Von drifted. There were voices, the sensation of movement. In some portion of her mind, Von was aware of being transported to her room. Machines beeped, there was a slight tug in the I.V. line as the bag was hung, the bed was positioned, lights lowered. Last she heard her grandmother and aunt whispering over her before they, too, disappeared.

Sean.
Where is Sean
? She needed him. Wanted him to come to her so she could feel safe. When her nurse returned she’d tell her...

When Von surfaced again, the hospital had the still quietness that came only in the darkest, deep of night. She weakly pressed the call button. Thirsty, so thirsty.

“Yes,” a disembodied voice said.

“Water.” It came out a croak.

“Be right there.”

Seconds later. “Suck on this.”

Icy coolness touched her lips. Not water but close. A few chips were all she had strength to manage. The nurse checked her vitals, a running commentary on her lips. Thirst sated, Von faded away.

When next she roused, it was to the pressing need to use the bathroom. Knowing she should call for help but not having the patience to wait, she crept to the bathroom, step by painful step, leaning heavily on the IV pole. Emptying her bladder proved to be a painfully torturous experience. Upon returning to bed, Von gladly pressed the button which dispensed pain medication that took her out of her body and into a netherworld. How long she drifted there she had no idea. Time passed. People—nurses, staff, doctors—came and went. Vitals were taken, bandages checked and changed, and still Von lingered, not quite present, aware but not alert.

She answered questions—doctors, nurses and, she thought, the police. And she asked for Sean, repeatedly, until suddenly he was there, by her bedside, holding her hand. Safe. She was safe.

Days later, she was much improved and not as dependent upon the morphine. Final report: a broken nose, concussion, ruptured spleen, bruised ribs, and an assortment of colorful bruises all over her body. She would live, and for that Von was extremely grateful.

The report of what happened made the news. “Respected Pastor shot, almost kills faithful Parishioner, news at five.” Marketta was in jail, or had been. Von wasn’t exactly sure and no one in the family would tell her. She was told to concentrate on getting better.

Derrick Senior was in this same hospital in critical condition, and his prognosis didn’t look good. Von wasn’t sure how she felt about it or him. He was her pastor, a man of God. One whose bible teachings had helped her become the woman she was today. But the man that attacked her, tried to rape her and meant to kill her when he finished—yes, she remembered every foul word he’d spoken, every blow, every kick—that man she didn’t know.

Which was the real Pastor Derrick Wilkins Senior? Where was the man who’d preached and taught on love and respect? Was it all a lie? Von didn’t know and not knowing left her vulnerable, her faith floundering, in a way she’d never been.

Thank God for Sean. She drew strength from his quiet, solid presence. Whatever she needed, he made sure she had. He didn’t talk but his being there was statement enough. He left only when necessary and even then he didn’t stay gone long.

On one of his absences, Von woke to find a red-eyed Derrick sitting beside her bed, holding her hand to his mouth. She must have made some sound, or maybe it was the way she reflexively tensed, preparing to pull her hand away. Something alerted Derrick she was awake and his gaze switched from the machines to her.

He looked rough. Grief stricken. Despite that, he attempted a smile. “Hi.”

“Derrick.” She tugged on her hand. His hold tightened briefly before he released it. “I know you don’t want to see me and I don’t blame you, but I had to come.” He cleared his throat so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching since this happened. I’m sorry, so sorry. For hitting you, and so much more. I...I have no excuse. I know I was wrong. Knew it even while I was doing it, but couldn’t seem to control myself. Please, please forgive me.”

Von closed her eyes and nodded. It didn’t matter anymore.

“I went to the jail and told them...”

He paused for so long Von looked at him. Derrick clenched the railing of her bed so tight his knuckles were white. “I told them, if your cousin hadn’t shot my father, he would have killed you...like he killed my mother.”

Von sucked in a sharp breath. No wonder he didn’t like talking about her. Von had always assumed his mother had left Derrick’s father, leaving her son behind like unwanted garbage. Derrick’s gaze connected with hers and the pain she saw in its depths made her forget about her own. For the first time, Von believed she was seeing the real Derrick.

“My dad used to abuse me, for as long as I can remember. Mom found out...no, I said something, I don’t remember what, and she figured it out. She confronted him, said she was taking me and leaving, and if he tried to stop her she would go to the police, and the church elders, and tell what he was doing and he...he...killed her. Put his hands around her neck and choked her. I was eight. She crumpled on the floor, her face...”

He turned away so that she viewed his profile. “She wasn’t breathing. He told me if I told anyone else he’d kill them, too. That he loved me. I was his, and no one would take me away from him.” He closed his eyes. “He said he needed me. That everything he did was because he loved me so much.” A tear slid down his cheek and his breath shuddered in and out.

“In middle school, one of my teachers took an interest in me. Ms. Mulligan. She was really nice. I liked her a lot. Used to spend whatever time I could with her. She reminded me of my mother. I must have said something, let something slip, even though I’d gotten better at hiding it. She got suspicious. Started asking questions about our family, my dad, making subtle inquiries to other teachers, neighbors. A few weeks later, she was in an accident. Her brakes failed. She was almost killed. No one suspected anything but I knew. I knew...”

Derrick jerked to his feet and began to pace in short, choppy steps as Von listened in horror. “We moved here. Dad started this church. Things got better. He didn’t come to me at night as much. Said he didn’t love me any less, but that I was getting too big, too old...he likes ‘em small, and young...but I’d always be his special love...”

With dawning horror, Von remembered how Derrick had always hated his size. How he was always trying to bulk up, and her stomach lurched as his meaning sank in.

“But the beatings, those never stopped. He demanded instant obedience in everything. He had to be in control.” He stopped with his back to her and dragged his hands over his head before turning to face her, his eyes tortured. “Then I met you. Dad found out. He didn’t want me having a girlfriend. Said I didn’t need anyone but him. It’s the first time I ever stood up to him. I refused to stop seeing you.”

Von put a hand over her mouth. God, she was going to be sick.

“You and I were so much alike. Had so much in common, but you never knew. I couldn’t tell you or he’d have hurt you, too.”

Von spoke then. “Why’d you come back? You’d gotten away from him.” She remembered his father’s fury when he found out Derrick had enlisted. How Derrick had waited until the very last moment to tell him he was leaving.

Derrick’s solemn gaze held hers. “Because he had you.”

She jolted. He’d come back to his demon father because of her? No. Everything within her rejected that. “Derrick, I loved you. I would have joined you, if you asked.”

He shook his head. “No you wouldn’t have. He would have stopped you, just like he stopped you from going to school in Atlanta. You turned down a four-year scholarship to stay here, despite my encouraging you, almost pleading with you to go.”

“No, I—” she started to argue, then stopped. Hadn’t Marketta just said the same? Always intimidating, Derrick Senior had a way of making a person want to do what he wanted them to do. At eighteen, nineteen, even twenty, would she have been able to stand up to him? No, she’d only recently stood up to Derrick and he was nowhere near as forceful as his father.