The Sordid Promise (28 page)

“She had a severe myocardial infarction.” He shoved her chart my way. “The incomplete autopsy. Results are preliminary. Toxicology will take weeks, but the results won’t change. In the right dosage, with the right additives, potassium chloride and calcium gluconate can do a lot of things. That’s not what happened here. The neglect of her cardiovascular health is what caused this.”

I briefly looked over the autopsy before handing it back to him. “I never thought—“

He held out his hand. “Don’t speak. Just go,” he said quietly. “I have patients to return to. Despite what you were told, or what you believed—you have proof that the recently deceased Mrs. Hobbins was a fucking lunatic.” He stepped outside the room, calling me to follow. “Melonie will take you home and babysit you, since you can’t follow simple orders,” he said evenly as we walked down the hall. He stopped short at the door to the receiving area. “You should go before I stop finding a reason to keep an even-temper.”

“I’m—“

He harshly grabbed my arm as his eyes drew void. “Be prepared. When I get home, my threats aren’t going to be threats anymore. Can’t say you weren’t fucking warned. Now…go.” He pushed me towards the door, standing back as I made my way the elevator lobby.

As I pressed the up elevator button, I couldn’t shake my doubts. I had proof he was a doctor, but I didn’t believe him about Mrs. Hobbins. I
know
he did something to her.

I knew it wasn’t the horse tranquilizer that made me spin grand fantasies. He really did say what I thought he said. He was showing me the monster he was piece…by piece. With his façade falling away, things could only get worse. His timing was purposeful, because my feelings were so deep, he could’ve been a mass murderer and it wouldn’t have changed the way I felt about him.

I am, without a doubt, undeniably fucked.

Sure as he promised, Melonie was at the entrance doors of the hospital, waiting for me.

“Don’t give me that look.” She folded her arms while tossing her head from side to side. “I hate this just as much as you do.”

“Then, why are you doing it?” I asked quietly.

“Because, I like you. If he says you’re a danger to yourself, I believe him.”

“He…said that?”

“Don’t you think he has a reason?” she asked me carefully.

I shook my head. Even I was questioning my sanity, because I fell in love with a man I shouldn’t have.

After two hours of Melonie and me sitting in silence while watching mindless television, I went stir crazy. I glanced over at Maisha, who seemed equally restless. “I have to take my dog for a walk. You can’t stop me from doing that. I’m not going to sit here and contemplate all the ways in which Eric wants to punish me.”

“I’ll go along,” she said, joining me in the foyer and slipping her sneakers on.

On the cusp of November, winter was slowly creeping in. The breeze was cold and nearly biting. I stuffed my hands in my hoodie as we walked down the road. Street lamps illuminated the dark pathway that led towards the trail.

“He cares for you, Nikki. He really does,” Melonie said in response to my tears.

I roughly shoved the moisture from my cheeks. “You said you weren’t sure before.”

“When I heard how…hurt he was that you thought so little of him, I was sure.”

“Little of him? Is that what he thinks?” I paused when we hit the beginning of the trail. Even if she was right, that only made the danger worse. “Mel, there are things about him that are suspicious. Dangerous. I’m not making that up. I can’t make that up. I would ask him about the things that concern me, but every time I try, he…distracts me.”

She swallowed hard, suddenly having problems giving me eye contact.

“What else did he think I would do? I know about him and my mother’s deal, but he made me think the accusations were unfounded. Sets a trend. Cover the lies and lie again. If that doesn’t work, cover the lies with the most…incredible sex I’ve ever had.”

She chewed on her lip and regarded the sky. “Is it his fault that a fifty-one year old woman posed as her daughter to capture a husband for her? He was going to come clean with you, but he developed feelings for the real you. Feelings he never intended to have.” She shook her head in awe. “You did the impossible, honey. You made him feel when I wondered if he could feel at all. You’re also doing another impossibility that I don’t care for. You’re breaking his heart by doubting him.”

I started walking, having heard the words I didn’t need to hear—words that muddled my mind further.

“He knew your mother was sick before you did. They grew…very close. I think she softened him. You wouldn’t believe the kind of man he was before. Even I have to laugh at myself for what I put up with when it came to him. He was such a monumental jerk. I think the first unselfish deed he’d ever done was when he—” She stopped walking. “I’m disclosing too much.”

I ceased my pace to regard her. “Mel…just tell me.”

“It was Eric who told your mother to call you. She was going to wait, because she didn’t want to worry you. You owe him for giving you those last months to be with her.”

It hit me hard without prejudice. I sunk to the ground, sitting on the pavement and covered my face as I wept.

Melonie put her arms around me. “I know he’s imperfect, but I think if you’re patient with him, you can continue to bring out the good in him.”

“That horrible advice has gotten many women killed,” I croaked. “Not every so-called bad boy can change.”

“Maybe, but I have no doubt, he would never hurt you.”

I shook my head, because I couldn’t fathom how she would know that. “But he…kills people.”

She sighed and sat next to me on the ground, placing her hand on my back. “How I wish I never cracked open this bottle. I’m going to speak in short code, so I don’t feel as bad. So I don’t feel like I’m completely breaking my loyalty to a friend. Here we go: Preston found Estelle first. Estelle had feelings for Eric and not Preston. Preston had access to black market prescription drugs. Eric’s uncle on his death bed was the start. Preston pushed for more…wanted more money. Eric began to sell lethal cocktails to families in need to put loved ones at peace. Weird Games ensued. The end.” She let out a long stream of air as she rubbed my back in circles. “Please, tell me you got that, because I feel horrible enough. Granted, I only know what Estelle told me. Eric never said anything; we both know how closed down he can be. I’m trusting her, in that what she told me was the truth.”

“I…got…it.” I said wiping my face with my fingertips. She was right…she didn’t know everything. But the fact that the best months of my life were owed to him— “I’m…an idiot.”

She pinched her fingers together with a smile.

“I miss her,” I whispered. “When he’s not there I—she didn’t have to die. It was like she just gave up. How can someone know that something will save their life and just not do it?”

“I can’t answer that, Nikki. I can say that I’m here when Eric isn’t. You can talk to me. You need to let it—“

Maisha began to snarl and bark, calling both of us to look at what was agitating her. Down the path, three girls were walking towards us. One of them was Tamala.

“Surprise, bitches,” Tamala announced as she glared at Maisha. “Shut that dog up, before it gets mud-stomped.”

Annoyed, I stood with my arms crossed. “What do you want Tamala?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Melonie interjected. “Don’t start any trouble that Eric could never forgive you for, Tamala. Just walk away. We’ll do the same.”

“Awe,” Tamala sang. “What’s this? The girlfriends’ club? Why didn’t I get an invite?”

“Because you’re psychotic,” I snarked.

“I’ve never been in a mental ward, sweetie. Have you?”

“Maybe you need to be,” I retorted

Tamala stepped forward, but stopped short at Maisha. “Keep talking shit, bitch. You aren’t making it better for yourself. I promised you a beating, and you’re going to get one.”

“That doesn’t make any sense, when I have—still have the man you want. Seems like I am, and will always be, the one in the better situation when it comes to you.”

She pursed her lips together as she fumed. It was sudden. It was blindsiding. She swung her leg up and kicked Maisha across the flank. Maisha broke free of the leash and lunged up to attack her. The girls who were with her tried to beat Maisha off her. When I attempted to get them away from Maisha, I was thrust backwards. I felt a blow to my face that made me stumble.

I fought back as best as I could, but one became two. I tumbled to the ground. Through the kicks, hair pulling, and punches, I could see Maisha bleeding on the ground. One of the bigger girls bear-hugged a struggling Melonie. Mel broke free and tried to stop them from hurting me. She was thrown back, hard.

Two became three. My stomach, face and legs were hit with crushing and repeated hits. Everything ached, and eventually it was hard to see.

“Leave her alone. I’ve just called the cops,” I heard Melonie shout.

“Relax. We’re done,” said a woman who was a stranger to me.

“Not so pretty now, huh, bitch?” Tamala snarled. “And your damn dog is gonna die for biting me.” She threw something hard and plastic at my face. Something I was unable to see with all the blood.

“No!” Melonie cried out. I heard Maisha scream. It shook me to the core, never knowing that a dog could actually do that.

I heard Tamala hawk a spit and felt it land on my face, near to my eye. “Last fucking warning. Stay away from Eric. Next time, you won’t get up from your beating. Next time, I’ll kill you, bitch.”

I tried to stand, felt the pain, and fell to my knees. I brushed my hands across my eyes so I could see. My vision cleared just enough to see what she threw at me; a DVD case. I tried to stand again, wanting to check on Maisha. The tone of her whines fueled my strength despite the pain. I found her in Melonie’s arms, lying on her side a few feet away from me.

I fell to my knees with a hard thump.

Melonie let Maisha go and tried to help me stand. “Nikki?”

When I tried to straighten my shoulders, something pinched and ebbed in my torso, calling me scream out.

“She and her cronies might’ve cracked a rib. Can you stand?”

“It’s a bruised rib. I’ve…had one before.” I staggered towards Maisha. “Maisha? Are you hurt, girl?” I lost my equilibrium and slipped to the concrete. Maisha struggled and tried to come to me, but her legs gave out. “No. No.” I crawled to her, forgetting my own pain, and took her into my lap. She had a large gaping wound near her hind leg. It was large enough that an organ seeped from the wound. “Hold on, sweet girl. We’ll get you help. Just hold on.”

Maisha let out a low squeaking howl.

She was in pain, and it tore me a part. She didn’t deserve to suffer like this. She didn’t deserve this at all. “What can I do? What do you want me to do, girl?”

“One of the women had a knife, Nikki. She was going to use it on you, had I not stopped her, but they…got to Maisha.”

“No. No. No! She’s going to be okay.” I stood, trying to lift her, but fell to my knees. My body wouldn’t cooperate. Maisha continued to groan and whine, breaking my heart. “No. Not again. I can’t lose her. I’ve lost my mother and father. I can’t lose anyone else. Help me.”

“We need to get you to the doctor first.”

“Help me!” I screamed.

“Okay,” she relented. “Okay.”

The wait inside the waiting room of the veterinarian’s office was the longest and most painful wait I’d ever had to endure. The throbbing ache in my face and stomach made me wonder; what’s so great about physical pain anyway?

“Miss Givens?” One of the veterinary technicians came over. “If you won’t get medical attention, are you sure you won’t let us at least tend to you? The cut on your head…your lip. You’ll need stitches.”

“I’m fine,” I muffled through my third blood stained tissue. “How’s Maisha?”

“We’re still working to stop the internal bleeding. Unfortunately, the stab wound cut into a vital organ. She also has quite a few broken bones. We’re doing all we can to save her, but…it’s not looking too well. I’m sorry.”

I covered my face and wailed.

“We need to get you to the doctor, so we can tend to your wounds,” Melonie’s voice trembled as she held me.