Marcus: The M Series, Book Three (6 page)

“Oh, good! I made it,” Tom said in the background. “What did I miss?”

Matthew smirked. “Cookie's pregnant.”

“Again? Jesus, Marcus... give her a break, why don't you?”

Everyone laughed.

Tom stepped into view. “Congratulations,” he exclaimed. Next, he kissed Mariah's cheek, shook my hand while patting my shoulder and ruffled the twins’ hair.

“Happy birthday, boys,” Tom smiled at them as several waiters walked to the tent, an obese one goes behind Nathan with a knife on a tray.

Rosa points, shouting in Spanish.

“¿dónde?”
Alissa answers.

Rosa speaks again.

“She says it's the bearded, big man to the left of Nathan.”

I pause the video.

“That's not him,” Rachel says, shaking her head.

Nathan walks to the screen and points at the waiter's hand, where a tattoo is. “Yes, it is, Rachel. He's gained a shitload of weight. Look.”

I squint and walk up to it. “MNH. What the...?”

“Mariah's initials. Remember, Rachel? He did that around Christmas, as a gift to her.” Nathan says quietly.

Rachel solemnly nods. I scowl and start the video again.

Mariah lit the candles and started singing the birthday song and everyone joined in. The twins blew out the candles then argued over who blew out the most.

“Enough,” I said, stopping the argument cold. “Next time, you each will get your own cake and candles. No more of this.”

“I blame you two,” Mariah laughed, pointing to Tom and Ethan. “And you three, too.”

“What three, baby,” I asked, teasing her.

“Cramp, Toad and Twerp, that's who,” she grinned and everyone laughed. I put the boys down and grabbed her face and kissed her.

The boys whined at us. “Mommy! Dad! EWWWWW!” That got an even bigger laugh.

“I want one,” Lila wailed. I reached over and kissed her cheek.

“No, from Mommy,” she said, wiping off my kiss, making us laugh again.

Mariah took her from Nathan and Lila's little hands grabbed Mariah's face and she kissed her on the mouth.

“I love you, baby,” Lila said, sweetly.

Mariah's hand went to her chest and she blinked rapidly, fighting tears, then smiled.

“I love you, too, Angel,” she said quietly and kissed Lila again. “Wanna help your brothers cut the cake, Angel? Who has the knife?”

Vince walked between us and puts his tattooed hand under the tray, then leaned the tray toward Mariah, who picked up the knife from the tray, thanked him, and told Lila to put her hand on top of hers. Vince walked off, angry and shaking.

“She never looked up at him,” Richards observes.

“She wouldn’t,” I reply, quietly, staring at my beautiful wife’s happy face on the screen. “Nothing would turn her head at a moment like that.”

“Because nothing is more important to Cookie than her children,” Tom nods.

We’re quiet, silently agreeing.

“I need a copy of that video, Dr. Cannon,” Parker says.

“This is a copy. Take it,” I say, pushing eject on the machine.

“Go through the video and get a better shot of that fucker's face so we can get pictures out fast,” Parker orders Morrow.

June 26, 2011

“Dr. Alexander,” I snapped into the phone, hating I was on-call. Damn it. I was just on my way to the Harveys so I can finally talk to Mariah. Seeing her with that asshole the previous night messed my head up. I wanted to rip his fucking head off.

This jealousy shit takes a lot to get used to.

“Doctor, we have a twelve-year-old female, febrile and complaining of pain at McBurney's point.”

A possible hot appendix. Good thing I was already at the hospital on evening rounds. “How long has she had the pain,” I asked getting off the elevator.

“Mother states she told her thirty to forty-five minutes ago; beyond that it's unclear.”

  I looked around the ER. “Which bed is she in?”

“Twelve, Doctor.”

“Right.” I ended the call, shrugged out of my jacket and washed my hands.  Moving the curtain with my elbow, I calmly addressed the parents.

“I'm Dr. Alexander, pediatrician on call,” I said as a nurse assisted me in getting gowned and gloved. I walk around the bed and squatted to look the girl in her face. She was lying on her left side, in a fetal position.

I smiled at her. “Hello, sweetheart. What's your name?”

“Kimmy Grier,” she whimpered.

“Kimmy, I'm Dr. Alexander. I hear you're having some pain in your belly. Can you point to where?”

She pointed near her navel. “Here. I feel funny in my tummy. I need to throw up but I can't.”

“It’s all right, Kimmy. Miss Wheeler, can we get an emesis basin, just in case? Kimmy, can you lie on your back for me, so I can feel around your belly?”

“Are you gonna hurt me more,” Kimmy whimpered, her brown eyes big with fear.

I smiled again. “I'm going to try very hard not to, okay?”

She looked at me a moment. “Okay,” she whimpered again, as she slowly rolled from her side to her back.

“Show me again where the pain is, Kimmy. Here?” I felt around; she wailed. I quickly removed my hands. “How long have you been in pain, sweetheart?”

“It started after church,” Kimmy cried, rolling back to her side.

“That was noon,” the mother groaned.

I glanced at my watch. It was after six. Shit. I turned to the nurse.

“Let's get a stat ultrasound, CBC, and a wheelchair. Mom, I need you to help Kimmy to collect some urine, please.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Grier said going to Kimmy's bed.

I went to the ER desk. “Miss Wheeler, who's the surgeon on call?”

“Morrison and Burns. Should I page one?”

“Page Burns; let him know I've got an emergency appendectomy on a twelve-year-old female, please.”

“Right away, Doctor.”

* * *

It was 9:01 when we finally got out of surgery. They've had dinner already. Fuck, I hope she's still there.

“Ira, can you talk to the parents? I need to shower and get out of here.”

“Sure. Hot date, Marcus?”

“I'm hoping,” I smiled. “I'll see you at rounds in the morning.”

June 26, 2011 – 9:43 p.m.

I heard Mariah and Lisa's voices in the foyer as I approached the screen door and stilled as I listened.

“Twink, come on! We were just talking.”

“What was that flirty laugh, then,” Lisa asked.

“It wasn't flirty. It was nothing; he said something funny. What is the big deal?”

“It's not right for you to flirt with him, that's all. You don't know him,” Lisa mumbled.

Who is 'him'? Fuck, not another one!

“Is he married,” Mariah asked in a panic.

Morals. I liked that. A lot.

“No.”

“Engaged?”

“Not that I'm aware of.”

“Is he seeing someone?”

“I don't know,” Lisa shouted.

“Then what is the problem, Twink,” Mariah asked, calming.

“I just don't think he's right for you. There’s someone else out there for you.”

Damn right there was.

“Is that right,” Mariah cooed.

“Cookie, come on. He's dangerous. Yes, he has talent in an operating room, but he has a reputation with women and I think you should stay away. He is a total player and he takes no mercy. Once he gets what he wants, he's gone. I just don't want you to get hurt.”

Anger ripped through me as I opened the door. “You must be talking about William Wexler,” I snapped out at them.

Lisa turned to me. Finally, Mariah turned, too, and she appeared flustered as she looked me up and down. The look on her face, the smolder of her eyes when she checks me out… Fuck!

I was fucking angry and turned on at the same fucking time!

“Is it Wexler,” I demanded.

“Yes, Dr. Alexander. He's been flirting with her most of the night.”

Good, Lisa’s keeping up the pretense. The day before, she was calling me ‘Marcus,’ plotting with me on how to get Mariah’s attention after I texted and met up with her in a coffee shop near her apartment. When I got a good look at her, I finally remembered where I’d seen her.

It was at Joshua’s introductory dinner; Matthew’s date. I never got to meet her officially, since I had an emergency at the hospital and had to leave seconds before we could be introduced. She definitely knew who I was the day she was introduced to me by Thomas with Mariah and called me on the use of my last name after we ordered. I told her it was a professional choice and she agreed to leave it alone.

But that Wexler… fucking bastard knocked up my supposed fiancée and now he thinks he's getting the woman I love, too?

I fixed my gaze on Mariah. “I see. I'd like a moment with your sister, Lisa.”

I saw Lisa walk away from the corner of my eye as Mariah smirked. She looked to where Lisa stood and gave her a look that screamed ‘traitor’ in any language.

Her hand went straight to her neck. Damn it, she’s nervous. That's the last thing I wanted her to be around me. Still, I stepped closer and glared at her.

“What are you doing with Wexler?”

“I beg your pardon,” she replied, like she’d suddenly gone deaf.

My jaw clenched. “What... are you doing... with Wexler?”

Mariah tilted her chin up. “We were talking about common interests. Why?”

“Stay away from him.”

She lowered her head and I immediately missed her face. “Why,” she cooed.

I looked her up and down and think she looks so fucking good in purple. I felt an erection starting. I brought my gaze up; her nipples had tightened. Shit! She's turned on, too. Realizing thagt, I got harder then she crossed her arms over her breasts.

“Don't,” I said hurriedly, my voice thick with passion.

“Why, Dr. Alexander,” Mariah gasped at me, and I immediately lost the hard-on when I heard her using my professional name.

“Do away with that 'Dr. Alexander' bullshit. My name is Marcus.”

“Answer my question, Dr. Alexander.”

Shit! This was not going well at all. She had to be falling for him. I vowed to fix that.

“Because, Mariah, he cannot have you.”

Mariah's eyes turned cold as she registered what I'd said.

“And who are you to say who can and cannot have me?”

I couldn't answer. She's right, I couldn’t make that claim... yet.

“I don't answer to anyone, Dr. Alexander, and I'm sure as shit not anyone's whore, so do not address me as if you were my pimp!”

What? I didn't refer to her as a whore. She had to know I wanted her all to myself. Damn it! Damage control, Marcus, damage control!

“Mariah, Wexler is a predator. He has left broken hearts all over the fucking state. He lets his title, money and looks get him into any and every woman's bed. No woman is off limits at any time with him
regardless of her relationship status. I don't think you want to be a notch on his headboard.”

“Whatever bed I choose to lie in is my concern and my business only. I don't report to anyone, especially you,” Mariah shouted at me.

I'd wounded her, and it was all over her beautiful face. Damn... she did feel something for him and that made me angrier than I'd ever been. Fuck this, she was going to be mine.

“You will NOT go out with him,” I shouted, before I could catch myself but damn it all, he wasn’t going to have her.

Her finger repeatedly poked my chest as her eyes flashed again. “Get this straight, you arrogant ass. I will date whomever I want to date. I am not the one that's engaged!”

Damn! My cock twitched and I felt a twinge in my heart. I wanted her and right then. Looking at those full, shiny lips and the heaving breasts... shit... I had to kiss her... I could not wait a second longer. God forgive me...

I wrapped my fingers around her arms, pulled her to me and put my lips to hers. She resisted for a beat, but then she responded with more passion than any woman ever had with me.

The kiss slowed, and I was grateful because I felt like I never wanted it to end. I held her tighter against my erection, praying I didn't frighten her away. I got bold and grabbed her round ass and licked her tongue. She moaned, attempting to press herself closer.

Damn it... I had to stop. This was her parents’ home, and I wanted so much more. I grabbed her arms again and pushed her away. She looked wounded again, like she wanted to keep going and that look made me feel like a total ass. I couldn’t walk away, ever. I had to have her. This woman was definitely going to be mine.

“Stay away from Wexler,” I commanded.

“You can’t tell me what to do, Dr. Alexander,” she snapped out. I'll date whomever I want!”