Fervor (7 page)

"Okay son
let me look at her now, you want to step outside or you want to stay in here?
If you are going to stay you're going to have to stay out of the way." I
didn't say anything, just walked over to the window and stared outside, as they
got busy behind me tending to her.

It was more
than an hour later when dad was finally satisfied that he'd done all he could.

"It looks
like a case of dehydration, exhaustion, and not enough to eat, nothing too
major. I started an IV that's about all we can do until she wakes up, but I
think she should recover no problem physically speaking, mentally, now that
might be another story."

I heard the
door close behind him as I stood still before the window, her father and
brothers had arrived not too long after we had but I didn't go see about them,
my brothers or sisters would see to them. I wasn't feeling very sociable; I
flexed my fingers to relieve the pressure of having them clenched so tight for
so long.

There was a new
type of anger brewing inside of me, anger at this fucked up situation, anger at
that fuck Terry Poole, anger at her for putting us in this place that we were
in and now anger at myself.

I should've
known something like this would happen, I knew her weaknesses and I'd made
things worse for her by shutting her out cold. But what the fuck was I supposed
to do? I'm the injured party here there were no fucking winners here, except
that fuck who was free to walk the streets of LA without a fucking care in the
world while the victims of his fuckery suffered.

With one last
look at her I stormed out of the room with one purpose in mind payback, it was
payback time and I was going hardcore all the fucking way. I met Brian coming
out of the study where I could hear dad talking to the Sorensons.

"Get James
on the phone, I want to know everything he knows so far, it's time for
action."

Brian clapped
me on the shoulder and went to do what I asked, my family knew not to fuck with
me when I got like this. I was a fucking beast when riled, and I was past motherfucking
riled. I was Al Pacino circa 1970 the fucking Godfather pissed, I didn't have
five families to eliminate just one fucking cockroach. If that weasel fuck knew
what was coming his way he would run and hide, I was about to go Michael
Corleone on his motherfucking ass. Fuck with me at your own peril.

"James is
on the line bro."

"Let's do
this."

James's face
was up on the big screen when I entered the conference room. Tiffany and Connie
had brought in coffee and snacks but I wasn't interested. I thought fleetingly
of inviting her father and the twins to sit in but didn't want to take the time
to get them, besides they all seemed to hold me responsible for this shit so I
was going to do it my way. Another reason for my hesitance was I had no idea
what the fuck James was going to say. I don't think I could handle being in a
room full of people if he told me this shit had been going on behind my back
for a while as some were speculating. I had no fucking clue what I was about to
hear but I knew it would be nothing good. Regardless of how or why Suzette was
in that fucking car the fact that she was sick now in no way negated that fact.

The fact that I
planned to destroy that fuck Poole did not mean she was forgiven, it just means
I choose to channel my anger in a different direction for now. According to
what I found out here today I would deal with her later. If there was any
redemption for her I would be lenient, if the other proved true she was fucked,
I loved her yes, but I was no ones' fool. Either way she was going to pay for
squandering my love on that California side street.

"Morning
Gage."

"James."
I took a seat at the head of the conference table as the others grabbed chairs
on either side of me.

"I
would've preferred to do this in person but I understand we have a pressing
situation on our hands. I think this thing is bigger than we first thought,
there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye."

The fuck?

"What the
fuck does that mean?"

"It means
that there's more at work her than your Suzette having a fling."

"Spit it
the fuck out man what the fuck are you trying to say?"

"I'm
saying from what we've uncovered so far this is looking like an elaborate set
up. What the purpose behind it is is still not clear, but one thing is for certain.
She was targeted."

GET THE FUCK
OUT. Heads are gonna roll.

"Come home
James we need a sit down."

I left the room
without a word to anyone, it was time to think, that hadn't gone at all as I'd
expected. I bypassed the study where my parents were still talking to the
Sorensons; they would all need to be updated but not now. First I had to make
sure she was safe.

I closed and
locked the door behind me walking over to the bed my gaze never left her face.
There were dark circles under her eye, her coloring was almost as white as the
sheets and I could see the bones in her arms.

Targeted, that
word conjured up something vile in me, something deadly forceful. The lion
would protect the lamb. My first order of business would be to get her better
then I could focus all my energy on my enemy.

Fuck if my mind
wasn't in turmoil, I pulled my hair so tight as I sat in a chair next to her
bed it was a wonder I didn't tear that shit at the roots. The soft sound of her
weeping brought my head up quickly as I rose from the chair.

No she wasn't
awake she was crying in her fucking sleep again, the thought of her spending
all our nights apart like this brought me to my knees, literally. Taking her
hand in mine I tried to give her some of my warmth. Why the fuck hadn't she
woken up yet?

"Come on
Suzette, open your eyes." I tried to will that shit. Fuck I had to
remember not to call her that she hated when I did, but I'd gotten used to
referring to her that way in my head lately. The anger was still there somewhat
but it was a lot more complicated than it had been a day ago.

Put it aside
Maddox, one thing at a time. I could do this, I could put my anger at her away
for the time being, that didn't make me a chump, it just made me human,
something I hadn't felt like in a long time.

I ran my hand
through her hair, her beautiful brown hair that was now lifeless and dull, I
would have to ask mom or the girls about seeing to that. Maybe not Connie that
bitch was a wild card fuck knows where her head was at.

I was growing
impatient waiting for her to wake up, I know, I know have a heart Maddox, but
fuck if I didn't have shit to do and a fuck load of questions. James wouldn't
be here until sometime later this evening in the meantime it would be good to
hear her side of what the fuck went on.

I pulled up the
web on my cell, for the first time since leaving the cabin I Googled my life.
There wasn't much new except our supposed fight over Rex, speaking of which I
should probably get him in here that might help. Apparently the douches' wife
had forgiven him, well la de fucking da, wonder what she knew?

I'd been
fooling myself into thinking I was calmer, I wasn't calm one fuck, the mere
sight of that fucker had me ready to chew nails. I think I needed to brush up
on my Sun TZU because I'm pretty sure in the art of war you needed a clear head
and yes, this was motherfucking war.

I just needed
to know all the players as soon as James and his cryptic ass got here I could
start strategizing my attack. I had no doubt that I would destroy him if it
took every penny I owned I would do it; hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?
Well hell didn't even want a motherfucker like me.

I texted Brian
to bring the dog which he did, my boy went right to his mama, I had to help him
up on the bed to lie next to her. After he realized she wasn't awake to play,
he placed his head on his front paws and stared at her much like I was doing.
We were both willing her to wake up.

I felt the
stirrings of hunger but I refused to leave, at some point, maybe noon mom
brought me something, which I left sitting there. Steve and the twins had come
by but nothing was said between us, that day would come I'm sure but it wasn't
today.

I guess the
others had filled them in along with mom and dad because mom when she came in
before had this pinched look on her face that she gets when she's royally
pissed. Suzette was hers too just like the five of us she had claimed her as
well.

She was one of
us and someone had fucked with her, if James was right it was deliberate. The
whys were supercilious, the die was already cast everyone who had anything to
do with this fuckery was going down. I might not be able to kill them with my
bare hands, though Poole was getting an ass kicking no matter what, but I would
definitely hit the motherfuckers where it hurts. Pond sucking scum
motherfuckers.

I was
underwater, why am I under water again? I can't remember, I just somehow knew
this was better than the other. Somehow I was breathing quite naturally, there
was no angst, no fear, it was safe here, safer than out there. Out there where?
Panic, no come back, stay under the water, out there was darkness, out there
was pain and fear. The water keeps me safe and hidden. My heart is whole again,
there's no more tearing, no more bottomless ache. I snuggled deeper into the
abyss at peace at last.

Wait was that a
dog? Dogs shouldn't be under water it wasn't safe.

"REX..."

She woke up
screaming for the fucking dog at least she woke the fuck up. It seemed like
forever since I'd been sitting here.

I gave my boy a
good rub down and a doggie treat; he'd done his job. I might look into buying
him his own fucking pet store; now for my girl.

She opened
those big brown orbs of hers, but instead of their usual beautiful light they
were bloodshot and sad. She was looking around kind of lost which was to be
expected since she didn't know where the fuck she was.

I eased up out
of my chair and went to her, I wasn't sure how she was going to react to seeing
me but I was just thankful as fuck that she was awake; she had me worried there
for a minute.

"Gage?"

"I'm right
here." I walked around so she could see me since her face was turned to
the wall.

"Gage?"

"Ssssh,
it's okay I'm here." I hugged her lightly as I wiped her tears, her body
was shaking really hard and I knew what that meant, panic attack. She grabbed
on to me so tight I could feel the bones in her chest.

"Don't
leave me please don't leave me."

I fought my own
tears as I tried to soothe her.

"I won't,
I promise."

Home, that's
what the fuck I felt in her arms, holding her again when I thought this would
never happen, when I had thought it was fucking impossible. I guess watching
the woman you love almost die went a long way to abating anger.

She was my baby,
my butterfly, and after I straightened her shit out I would work on forgiving.
What? You didn't think I was gonna be a sucker did you? It takes two to tango,
the fact still remained that she was in that car. Fuck, would I ever go a day
without that shit fucking with my head? Focus dickhead, alrighty then.

"Here
drink some water." I held the little plastic straw up to her lips or at
least I tried to but she was holding on so tight it was hard to maneuver.

I sat on the
bed and drew her into my lap, Rex was happy as fuck, he could give a shit what
was going on, his two humans were together in the same place for the first time
in way too long in his short life and he was ready to play. Spoilt fuck. I'm
kidding that's my boy he'd got his mother to wake up hadn't he?

I finally got
some water in her between her sniffles and shakes. When I thought she'd had
enough I laid back against the bed with her still cradled in my arms. It felt
so fucking good to have her there again damn.

I played with
her hair while she drifted off again. I probably should let dad know she had
woken up but I wasn't leaving her. Never again.

I must've dozed
off because I woke to her staring at me. I took a deep breath and enfolded her
closer to me, throwing my leg over both of hers. Fuck, that's the way we
usually woke in the mornings. I tried drawing away from her but she wasn't
having that shit.

"Please
don't." She burrowed into me like she was trying to crawl into my fucking
body. So I held on tighter.

We still had a
lot of shit to work out but she needed me, I didn't want her disappearing in
her head again that shit was scary as fuck.

It felt good as
fuck to hold her like this again and I could pretend I was doing this for her,
but I knew it was as much for me as it was her.

I kissed the
top of her head as she drenched my shirt with her tears. How the fuck could
someone who was dehydrated have so many tears inside? Fuck if I know. I held
her through her crying jag rubbing her back in comfort all the while. I'm
thinking now wasn't such a good time to talk.