Finding Stone (The Stone Brothers Series) (Volume 1) (11 page)

I awake to my phone ringing. I ignore it because I want to give Molly a morning wake up. I reach for her and the bed is cold.

I get up to search my penthouse. Nowhere. I go to the breakfast bar and find a note.

Dr. Stone,

Thank you. Last night was incredible. Don't worry I will keep our night a secret. I promise I leave here with no regrets.

No longer a virgin,

Molly

Shit! She left in the middle of the night. We didn't talk about the danger she is in. Did she make it home okay? Why did the secret comment piss her off? I've told her time and time again that I like my privacy. Jesus. I need to fix this. I decide to call Maddox to ask him to do a drive-by. I hope she made it safely home.

Thankfully, it's the weekend. That means I have two days to process what's going on inside me. I have relived every moment of last night, every touch. I can still hear his breath in my ear. I can feel his kiss on my neck. I can literally feel the ache between my legs. I had the most amazing night physically. I need to clear my head. I decide to head downstairs and go for a run.

It's just after nine. The warm July morning helps me relax. It's just what I need. I start stretching when I realize there is a cop hanging out across the street. I feel like they are always here. Maybe I should ask if there has been a string of burglaries. I wonder if they are still hanging out because of the shooting. I have tried to block that day out, mainly because I don't want to live in fear. Now that I work in an E.R., I have to get accustomed to the fact any type of injury can come in. I've never been a part of an actual event that transpired that led the people there. Still, I know it's a random act of violence. It can happen anywhere, especially here in a big city.

I take off jogging. Running has always been my sport. It's the only sport I did in high school. I wasn't cool enough to be a cheerleader, not tall enough to be a basketball player; I was just average. It has helped me to keep in shape. Well, good enough shape.

I wouldn't be able to run marathons, but I can comfortably run a few miles. My mind goes back to last night. Last night I didn't feel average. Noah made me feel like a woman, though he is great at contradictions. One minute he wants me, and the next, he cheapens me. Why? At every turn, I've tried to be nice. Sure, I've yelled because he can be an asshole.

By the time I’ve gone about two miles, I realize that I need to pay attention to my surroundings. I don't want to get lost, that's another problem that I don’t need.

Thinking forward to Monday I wonder how I should handle the situation. Should I pretend nothing happened? Should I try to clear the air? Should I try to find out why he made that comment? By the time I have made it back home, I feel like I've come to the only conclusion I can. I will pretend it didn't happen. He wants a secret. I will be his secret. I won't respond to any comments he may make about last night. I realize I have to find a way to be okay with all this. I know I won't be okay any time soon, but I will be. No regrets. No, I will not regret Noah.

It's Monday. I've waited for this day for what seems like an eternity. I got called in early so I will be able to watch her walk in. Why I am doing this, I don't know. It's a train wreck. I want to stop watching and yet I can't until I know how it ends. I wanted to reach out to her this weekend, but figured she would want her space. Maddox had someone on her at all times this weekend. I didn't feel comfortable that she was out running, but I knew it was probably her medicine. At 6:50 a.m., she walks in. I've parked myself at the nurse’s station pretending to be working. Yes. It has come to this. She looks beautiful today. Her hair is in the same messy ponytail it was on the first day. Today, however, it looks cute. I wait until she looks at me. I want to see if she will speak to me, what she has to say.

I notice that she is doing everything she can to avoid me. She has yet to look up. As the nurses start to clear the station, I decide I will make the first move.

"Good morning Molly. How are you?" I hope she can hear what I am trying to say. She looks up. Smiles a smile that I know is fake.

"Good morning, Dr. Stone. I'm good, thanks. Hope you have a great day." She walks off. I want to grab her and tell her I worded things wrong that night, that I wasn't sure what I meant. I need time to figure it out. I need time to figure me out.

No, what I really need is time to figure her and me out.

Thankfully, I was pulled into training today. I'd forgotten all about it. It took up the morning so I decide to find Brayden and ask him for lunch. When I walk into the E.R., I scan it making sure I don't bump into Noah. I can't see him so I rush to curtain four where Brayden is.

"Hey you about to finish up? I wanted to see if you want lunch."

"Yep, almost done," he says as he turns off the nebulizer.

"Do you want to stay here or head to the corner deli?"

"Ooh, I've not tried the deli. Let’s go there," I say thankfully. I need to get out of here.

"So how was the rest of your weekend?" I ask.

"Can we talk about something else?" Brayden says. I know something is bothering him.

"Okay. I just want to say thank you for standing up for me. Sorry that you had to. I should have just walked away."

I am still embarrassed. He stops walking and grabs my hand. It's a sweet gesture that I am thankful for.

"Hey, no one messes with my new-found friend. I am glad I was there," I want to cry again.

"Well thank you. I am happy you're in my life. I really need a good friend," I say. We sit down after ordering our food. He is about to find out how nosey I can get.

"So, I saw Missy eying you at the bar. Seems you’ve got something she likes," I smile.

"Ugh, Molly I don't want to talk about her."

"Why? You okay?" I ask truly concerned.

"I feel like for three years I've built her up in my head. Only to realize she isn't what I thought she was." He says.

"What did you think she was?" I ask.

"Beautiful, sweet, caring, quiet, and the great love of my life," he says.

"Well why can't she still be all of those things?" I ask.

"She has a son, Molly." Okay. I am confused.

"Brayden, what does that matter? She isn't married. I got the impression that her son’s father isn’t even in their life."

"I just thought when I had kids they'd be mine. My wife would carry my baby. Not have another man's." Okay I can understand where he's getting at.

"Look we don't know the story. My suggestion is take the time to get to know her. I promise you she is still all of those things." I am almost begging.

"Kids aren't a deal breaker. I just thought I'd know about them before I fell in love with their mother. Okay, can we move on? You got anything you want to tell me?" He asks.

"Nope." I say

"I'll let it go. Just so you know though, I am not blind. I don't know what's going on. I do know the genuine Molly smile and the fake Molly smile. Whatever it is, we can ride out our misery together."

"Thank you. I just need to figure some things out." I say hoping he knows to drop it.

We head back to work and I just want to go home. Where is a shooting when you need one?

My workday is coming to an end. I hate leaving when there is so much I want to say to her. I watched her walk hand and hand with Brayden. It pisses me off. I wanted to go kiss her so he would know she was claimed. Sarah watched me watch her.

"You sleeping with someone else?" she asks jokingly. I think she is conceited enough to think since I've been fucking her for six months that she is it for me. It's been a lot of someone else’s. Just none who've left me looking lost like Molly does.

"It's none of your business who I sleep with," my voice shows my contempt.

"Well as long as it isn't that trash. I mean who takes their shirt off for the world to see? Poor Brayden. He seems nice enough. Maybe we should warn him, but by the looks of it, might be too late." Could she really think this little of Molly? What a bitch!

"Do you know her at all?" She takes in my expression. Sarah is a smart woman. I know right then she is seeing that there is something going on with Molly and me.

"You are, aren't you? You want that? You make me sick." She storms off. Good. I'm done. I am done dealing with her and her pettiness.

I need to leave. Heading out the door, I decide I need my brothers. I call them and ask them to meet at my house in about an hour. A little beer and a game will do us all good. Evan is the first to arrive.

"Hey. How did Friday night go?" He takes in my expression and I know it's telling him the answer.

"It went good until it didn't."

"Are you going to fix it?" he asks seriously.

"I don't know if I can," I say, because it's the truth.

"What happened?" he asks.

"I told her she had to keep us a secret."

"You dumbass. No woman wants to be a dirty secret. A woman like Molly should never be kept a secret," he says pissed.

"You think I don't know that? I said it because I..." I am so not going there with him.

"You said it because our mom ran off. You said it because she didn't love us enough to stay. You don't need to tell me."

I guess he's right to a point. Well, sort of. I also don't want complications at work. It's not that I'm concerned about her running her mouth about us, but as soon as people find out, I know she would be the topic around the nurses’ station. I don't want her to have to deal with those bitches day in and day out. Girls like Avery, they know how to keep the pot stirred.

"Hey what's going on?" Maddox asks.

"Just telling our brother what a fuck up he is for telling Molly she was his dirty secret," Evan says, and Maddox starts laughing. I want to kick him in the sac.

"You didn't say dirty secret did you?" he is still laughing so I punch him in the arm.

"No asshole! I didn't."

"Well, I hate to add more stress to this situation. Before I say anything I want you to know I am on it." Maddox says.

"Okay." I have a feeling I know where this is going.

"Word is the Aryan brotherhood has a hit out on witnesses."

"What does this mean for Molly?" Just thinking of what he is going to say gives me an uneasy feeling.

"It means we keep a better watch on Molly."  

I don't know how, but I will protect her.

Tuesday... I make it through the day. I saw Noah a couple times, but only spoke to him when it was work related. I had lunch with Brayden. It provided the distraction I needed. He definitely makes me laugh. He hasn't quite moved past Missy having a child. I think he realizes that he needs to get to know more about her and not just the preconceived notions he had in his mind.

After work, I decide to go for a run. It has been a great stress reliever. As I get into my run, I start to feel uncomfortable. I was always taught to trust my gut when things didn't seem right. I feel like I'm being watched. I hope I’m being paranoid, but I'm not going to take any chances. Maddox has warned me to stay vigilant, watching out for anything I think is unusual. The whole shooting stays in the back of my mind. That was such an emotional, terrifying day.

I keep on running, scanning my surroundings, when I lock eyes with a man. He has a menacing look. My eyes are instantly drawn to his neck. I see that he has a swastika tattoo with AB under it, the same as the boy from the shooting. My adrenaline instantly spikes.

He's watching me. Deciding it's time to turn around, I turn around and slowly start going faster. I don't want to bring any attention to myself. I've never been a sprinter. I prefer distance. I look over my shoulder to see if he is following me. Not seeing anyone, I slow down. I stop and bend over to try to calm myself down It could just be a coincidence. This has definitely not been the stress reliever that I was hoping for.

Now I just need to get home and put this day behind me.

After calming down, I decide to just walk the rest of the way home. When I get to the corner deli where Brayden and I have been having lunch. I can see my apartment in the distance. I notice another man walking in my direction; again, I see that he also has a swastika tattoo. Not a coincidence. I keep my eyes focused straight ahead. Just as we start to pass each other, he grabs my arm.

"This is your only warning, Molly. If you decide to testify you won't survive it," his voice is seething with hatred.

"I understand," I say weakly. Shit. This isn't good.

"You tell the cops about this run in, then you will be seeing me real soon pretty girl. We know all about you Molly Madden."

"Yes. Okay," I say. He lets go of my arm. I walk past him and thankfully, he doesn't follow.

I can't let the shooter walk away. I know I have to tell someone in law enforcement, but they are watching me. I have to find a way at least to let Maddox know.

After I get back home, I decide to call my parents and my best friend. I need to hear familiar voices. Nothing soothes a soul like your daddy calling you his baby, your momma telling you that you're beautiful, and your best friend telling you she's there for you.

I go ahead and shower, wanting to wash away this awful day. I slip into my old Rams t-shirt and some jogging shorts. Comfort. My stomach starts demanding food. I've always been an emotional eater. Right now, I have the creeps. Chinese food is the best comfort food. Lucky for me, there is one only a few buildings down.

When I get out of the door, I see Maddox in his cop uniform. Beautiful, just like his brother. He waves and runs over. Great. I am totally rocking the hobo look. Why can't these men ever see me on a good day?

"Hey! Where you headed?" Maddox asks.

"I am going to grab dinner," he raises his eyebrow.

"You sure you don't want to order in?" He says jokingly.

"Shut up. I'll have you know this is what all the cool girls are wearing. Besides, I'm getting it to go," I laugh.

"Okay, cool. You’ve got the homeless look down pat." Again, he's joking and I elbow him in the ribs.

"Molly, give me your phone. I want you to have my number. You know, in case anything happens," he says.

Geez. I totally have a knack for humiliating myself. Since I have no pockets, I reach into my sports bra to hand him my phone. He busts out laughing and I can't help it. I laugh too. I remember I'm being watched. I need to get away from Maddox.

I don't want to put him in danger right now. I will figure out a way to let him know what happened earlier. Hopefully our conversation just looks like we are joking.

"Okay, Maddox I need to go," I know I sound rushed. Please don't ask.

"Molly, You went from smiles to fear. You okay?" He asks, truly concerned.

"Really, I need to go. No more police outside my apartment okay."

"Ok, here's your phone back. How about unmarked cars instead? You should go back inside and have it delivered," he gives me a reassuring smile.

"Okay Maddox. Thanks, that sounds great. Have a good evening." I take his advice and walk back inside.

As soon as I get inside, I look at my phone. I look out my window and see that he's still out there.

I pull up his number and send him a simple text.

I'm being watched.