30 Days (Morgan Family Series Book 1) (20 page)

“I’ll work on that.” I tell Anniston with a smile.

“Yes, please do!” she laughs. “You little slut.”

I congratulate Weston on making the majors and apologize again for being late. He assures me it’s fine and offers me a shot. Melee’s is packed as usual, but Blake reserved the RSVP for us. I notice she’s on the dance floor with Langston and Layla. I frown as Langston dances between the two of them. Ian is watching them with the same expression.

“Another shot!” Rhys bounds up to me, nearly knocking me over. I take the shot from his hand and toss it back with him.

“You okay tonight?” I ask. His dark brown eyes, much like Blake’s, dance with happiness.

“Yep! Never better!” he laughs. He dances away, picking up another shot from the table as he goes.

I look back down to the dance floor and notice that I only see Langston and Layla dancing now. He’s holding her close to him, her back to his front, as she bends over grinding against his crotch. I watch my sister’s boyfriend gyrate against the woman who rubbed my cock before. His hand disappears around the front of her thigh and in between her legs.
Son of a bitch.

“Cameron! It’s about time!” Blake shoves me and then pulls me to her for a hug. “You’ve been working too hard.”

“You need to check on your boyfriend.” I inform her, angrily.

“I know where he is. He’s dancing with Layla.”

“Exactly.”

“I have to congratulate the man of the hour!” she beams. Blake wraps her arms around Weston and despite him being here with someone, I notice he closes his eyes against her hair. When she releases him, he blushes a little, but Blake doesn’t seem to notice.
Well, fuck.

I decide right then that I need to stop being a people-watcher and find Memphis. She’s not in the RSVP booth so I look down and see she’s on the dance floor. I nearly growl at the surge of jealousy that flows through me at the sight of her dancing with Langston. Granted, they’re not even touching, but still.

“I’m going back down to dance.” Blake calls out as she heads down. Instead of following her, I watch her go down and join Memphis and Langston. The three of them dance together and Layla and Ian are now dancing together.
That’s where she should be. Dancing with her boyfriend. Not with my sister’s.

I find an empty chair and drop into it. The long hours I’ve been working are taking their toll on me. I know I need to cut back, but I can’t. Not while the trial is still going on. Right now it seems to be going in our favor. The police have already opened an investigation on Harvey Taylor so the majority of the heat is off Tanner Beasley. Closing arguments are next week.
Then it’ll be over.

“You know, not that you’re not as gorgeous as ever, but you kinda look like shit.” Weston comments with a grin.

“I know. The case I’m on is grueling. Much like your schedule is about to be.”               “Yeah I’ve heard. Looking forward to it though. I’ve been waiting on this to

happen for a while now.”

“Memphis and I will be sure to make some games. I think you made her a die- hard baseball fan.”

“That’s good. I’m not starting or anything. May not ever touch the field in an actual game, but it’s good enough for me. I mean, it’s the Yankees.”

“It’s incredible, man. I’m happy for you.”

“I’m happy for you too. You seem happy.”

“Yeah. Speaking of, I should probably go dance with her.”

I get up and head down to the dance floor, but when I get there, Memphis isn’t down there. I ask Blake where she is.

“She said she didn’t feel too good. She was going to get some fresh air.”

I head towards the back exit and push the door open. I freeze at the sight of the two bodies fucking against the building. Rhys frantically pumps into her as he grips her ass. Her skirt is bunched around her waist. Her legs are wrapped tightly around his. Anniston’s eyes are as wide as mine.
Shit.

“That was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like that. Except in movies.” I say, excitedly. “Thanks for taking me.”

“It was my pleasure, Ms. Stone. Closing arguments for a murder trial can be exciting at times. If you’re going to work for Morgan, Quinley, and Sloan you at least need to have set foot in a courtroom before. Seen an actual trial take place.” Mr.

Morgan explains.

“Cameron seemed surprised to see me. Did you tell him we were coming?”

“I don’t have to answer to my son, Ms. Stone.” he scoffs. “I admit I was very shocked to see Harvey Taylor in attendance.”

“I agree. He did a good job of trying to be incognito though.” I laugh.

Harvey Taylor’s hair was dyed jet black when it’s normally a light gray and he sat in the balcony viewing area. I assume this was in the hopes that he wouldn’t be seen or recognized. I have no doubt Cameron recognized him.

“We’ll get lunch and then we’ll head back to the office.” Mr. Morgan explains.

I don’t tell him that I haven’t had much of an appetite lately. If he wants lunch, I won’t argue with him. It doesn’t mean I have to eat much.

We arrive at Manganello’s, Mr. Morgan’s favorite restaurant. He orders roasted duck and potatoes.
His favorite.
I’ve learned this since working for him. I just order a bowl of soup today with some breadsticks.

“Will you tell me about Cameron’s mom?” I ask. “I understand if you don’t want to. It’s just, he never really says much about her.”

“I’m not surprised. Amelia was my high school sweetheart. Cameron looks so much like her it’s almost painful.” he chuckles. “She had those blue eyes that would just see right through me.”

I smile at his confession and take a bite of my soup. “She must’ve been beautiful.”

“She was. She was too damn good for me. We were wild when we were teens. Got pregnant with Cameron when she was just twenty-years-old. Didn’t know what the hell we were doing.” he laughs. “She was in law school too, but quit to stay home with him. Then Blake came along a few years later. She was a much better parent than me. She didn’t miss a ball game or recital. Not one. When she got cancer, I…I let it ruin me. I couldn’t look at her.”

I swallow hard at his confession. I know this is where his relationship with Cameron changed.
I know this is where Cameron changed.

“She wasn’t my Amelia anymore. I couldn’t stand seeing her look like that. She was in so much pain. So weak and tired all the time. So I stayed away. I buried myself in work. Buried myself in alcohol. Buried myself in other women. Cameron knew what I was doing, but Blake didn’t. He protected her from that. Always has.”

“You haven’t tried to make things right with him though.” I tell him.

“I don’t see any need for that.”

“He’s your son, Mr. Morgan.”

“Let’s get finished up. We have work to do.” he chides.

I know the conversation is over. I’m grateful I got that much out of him. I take another bite of my soup and then nibble on my breadsticks. I don’t meddle in the father-son relationship any further. I certainly don’t want Cameron meddling about my mother and our non-existent relationship.
Even if I feel his can be repaired.

I try my father’s office phone, but he doesn’t answer. I’m sure he’s taken Memphis to lunch after their little field trip. When I’d turned and saw her in the courtroom I was a mix of emotions.
Mainly anger.
She didn’t need to be there.

Tanner Beasley had an inappropriate connection to her.
More like an obsession.
He was on trial for murder. He didn’t need the distraction.

“I think everything went great today.” Jim says, barging into my office without knocking. “Couldn’t have gone better.”

“I agree.” I deadpan.

“I’ve been trying to keep my ears to the ground about the investigation on Harvey Taylor. Turns out he just so happens to own a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol like the one used to murder Mrs. Beasley.”

“No shit.” I perk up.

I hear a commotion outside and then screams and shouts. I rise from my desk and follow Jim out to see what’s going on. Harvey Taylor stands in the middle of our lobby waving the gun we were just talking about. All the staff are huddled behind their desks and in their offices. Guests that were waiting are hiding under chairs and tables.

“You did this to me!” he screams at me and Jim. “Both of you!”

“Mr. Harvey, you need to calm down.” Jim says, holding his hands in the air. “Let us help you.”

“Help me?” he yells. “I never should’ve talked to you! Tanner didn’t love Gloria! He loved those whores! He loved those whores that danced for him!”

“You loved Gloria, didn’t you?” Jim asks.

“I did! I loved her!” he cries. “Tanner gave all their money to those sluts! He left Gloria alone every night and went to those women. That Amber! He gave her everything! I took care of Gloria!”

“You did. You took care of Gloria. That’s right.” Jim consoles him. “No one has charged you with anything, Harvey.”

“Tanner loved that whore! That green-eyed whore!” he yells.

I clench my fists at my sides. Anxious that he’s going to do more than just rant and rave.
Anxious to do something besides stand here and watch.

“Why don’t you let me have the gun and we’ll go talk?” Jim prods.

“I wanted Gloria to leave Tanner. I begged her to! I told her he loved that slut! I told her he was giving her all of their money, but she wouldn’t listen. She said she couldn’t leave him! I showed her I could take care of Tanner. I tried to make her come with me. I tried!” he sobs. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t mean to!”

His confession doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise to me. I’d known in my gut that he was the one who’d killed Gloria Beasley. I figured he’d eventually break. He lowers the gun to his side and takes a step towards Jim. As he does, the elevator

pings and Memphis steps out with my father. Harvey turns and recognition flickers across his face.

“You green-eyed whore!” he screams as he raises the gun.

I leap for him as he fires and watch as both Memphis and my father fall to the floor.

“Is your dad okay?” I ask, wincing as the nurse presses the bandage onto my arm. She checks the bandage on my head again before walking out.

“He’s fine. The doctor said the bullet went straight through. Are you okay?” Cameron asks.
For the fifth time.

“Yes. Your dad is who you should be concerned about. He stepped in front of me. This is just stitches.” I inform him. “And I hit my head on the table when we fell. No stitches there. There was no need to have the doctor do blood work.”

“It’s standard.” he tells me.

“Please go check on your dad. Make sure you thank him.” I encourage him.

“I’ve checked on him and thanked him. He’s fine. I’m not worried about him.

I’m worried about you.”

Cameron sits on the side of the bed and leans in for a kiss. His lips brush against mine, causing my heart to pound in my chest.

“I want you to stay with me tonight.” he says and I nod.
There’s no need in arguing with him.

“If I ever get discharged.” I grumble. “I mean, I’m dressed. We could just leave, right? I’m not a fan of hospitals.”

“Do what the doctor orders.” he scolds.

I lean against his chest and breath him in. “I love you.”

He strokes his hand over my back and then brings it around to tilt my face up.

He captures my lips in a teasing kiss which makes me shift in the bed, trying to get closer to him. He breaks the kiss and smiles against my lips.

“I love you.” he says back.

I start to lean in again, but the nurse returns, this time with the doctor in tow. Relief floods me as I realize I’m finally getting discharged.
I can’t get out of here soon enough.
I want to thank Mr. Morgan too and then go home.

“I know you’re anxious to get home, Ms. Stone. I’d like to see you back in two weeks to remove your stitches. There shouldn’t be any scarring. You should also make an appointment with your OB/GYN to have an ultrasound. Since you had a fall like you did, you should have the baby checked out. I’m sure everything is fine though since you haven’t experienced any bleeding.”

“I’m so…sorry…wh…what did you say?” I stutter.

“Your baby, Ms. Stone. You should see your OB/GYN. Like I said, I’m sure everything is fine since you’re not experiencing any bleeding, but we like to be on the safe side. Here is your discharge papers. I’ll see you soon.”

When I don’t reach for the papers, Cameron takes them and the doctor walks out. Neither of us move. Neither of us say anything. Just ten minutes ago I was ready to run out of this hospital and get to the safety of Cameron’s apartment. Now I don’t know that it’s safe anymore.

I’m pregnant.
How is that possible? I’m on the pill. I haven’t missed any. I never forget to take it.
I’m pregnant.
I don’t even want kids. It’s not in my plan. I don’t know how to take care of a child.
I’m pregnant.