Confessions and Olivia (Olivia #2) (32 page)

Chapter Twenty Eight*

"You killed the boy and drove off without doing the other two? You left witnesses behind? You fucking idiot." Fahoney was steaming mad. He had gathered a small meeting in an empty warehouse in Chicago with Leroy and Russell. The warehouse was dark and smelt of damp. There were empty crates scattered around and flickering dim lights.

Russell stood forward in his black su
it and tried to explain himself. "I tried to shoot again Fahoney, but Leroy drove off, what was I supposed to do." He shrugged. Leroy shuffled from side to side, sniffed up bravery and held his head high.

"Oh he did, did he?" Fahoney walked over to Leroy and stopped in front of him. He pulled his arm back and then punched him full force in his face, causing his eye to split. Then
he punched him again not satisfied with the first. Leroy’s head was forced to the side from the impact of the blow, but he quickly straightened himself up and spat out the remainder of the blood from his mouth.

"I didn’t leave witnesses behind Fahoney, I left your daughter behind, your fucking daughter."

Fahoney glared at Leroy bewildered, blinking a few times not quite believing what he had just declared. If anyone could have talked to Fahoney like that it was Leroy. Fahoney’s best man, but he wasn’t in the forgiving kind of mood that day.

"Oh, so you care about Olivia now? Is that it?"

"No Fahoney, but you do. She’s your step daughter for fuck sake, you can’t do that. Think of your family, your wife. I’m telling you this as a fucking friend."

Fahoney yelled until he was blue in the face making his voice echo around the warehouse.
"I told you I don’t give a fuck for her no more. She chose her path and I’m choosing mine. What is it with you? You feel sorry for her? Suddenly you’re a family man now?" He mocked getting in Leroys face.

Leroy stayed calm trying to make Fahoney think rationally. Leroy would never question Fahoney’s intentions. But he knew how much Fahoney loved his family. He wasn’t thinking straight.

“I’ve known her since she was a little girl Fahoney. I couldn’t do it."

Fahoney turned his back and pushed his hand
s through his hair deliberating. He tapped his foot restlessly until stiffening. "Then you’ve chose
your
path Leroy." Fahoney pulled out a gun from his suit jacket and turned. He held it up and pointed it in Leroy’s direction.

Leroy didn’t flinch. He was half expecting it. Even though Leroy was by all accounts an evil man, he had some family morals and couldn’t bring himself to kill Olivia. If he had to be killed for standing up for what he believed in, then so be it.

“Such a damn shame Leroy,” he goaded. “You were valuable to me. You men are all turning fucking soft.” Fahoney then pulled the trigger without hesitation and shot Leroy straight between the eyes killing him instantly.

"Now get rid of the garbage." He spat on Leroy’s body after ordering Russell to get rid of him.

Russell looked down onto Leroy’s body. Even though he stayed impassive he couldn’t believe what Fahoney has just done.

"Leroy was one of your best man Fahoney. What’s got into you?" he stuttered.

Fahoney gripped Russell at the neck. "Are you questioning me?"

Russell closed his mouth remembering who he was speaking to. He shook his head knowing too well of the consequences if he open
ed his mouth again.

"I’ll put the garbage out." Russell agreed. Fahoney nodded releasing him, as his mouth curved into a callous smirk.

"Now, I gota go take care of something. You know what they say, you want something done you gota do it yaself!" Fahoney murmured to himself as he pulled out his cell phone from his suit pocket.

Chapter Twenty Nine*

I sit in the family waiting room at the hospital. Ashton is the mortuary section being examined. It’s warm, but feels so cold at the same time. It’s clean, basic and sterile. The rooms are white and brown with very bright lighting and fake plants
in every corner, there is only one small window in the room making it feel a little confined.

I sit on one of brown leather sofas that’s provided and stare at the cold painted walls blankly, listening to the ticking of the wall clock, biting my nails. There is a TV in the room which is switched off and a table full of magazines that look about ten years old.

Calvin hasn’t said a word since we’ve arrived. He does the same pattern. He paces back and forth, then stops to look out of the window at the rain, then repeats. He looks a broken man.

A kind man that works here provided him with plain white t-shirt, seeing as his was used to put pressure on Ashton’s wound. They wouldn’t allow him to walk around shirtless but I suspect he couldn’t give a shit if he was shirtless or not at this moment. His unshaven features and red eyes age him. He looks drawn washed out and heartbroken. My own heart breaks for him seeing him like this. Ashton was everything to him. I can’t even begin to think how Calvin’s grandparents are going to take the news. It will leave them completely devastated.

I keep going around in my mind with questions of how they could do this to him. Why couldn’t they just leave us alone?

I didn’t even realize where we were until we
’d arrived here. We are still in Michigan but we seem so far away from everything. I’ve had too much on my mind to even care where we were. I just wanted to be away from Mauricio. Now I’m thinking; why didn’t I just stay. If Calvin didn’t take me away none of this would have happened. If I stayed at home this wouldn’t have happened. Why did I go to see Calvin that day? I should have stayed at home and continued to play the perfect little step daughter then Ashton would still be alive.

I will be forever in his debt. I owe him that, I owe his brother that.

"Mr. Blake, would you like to take a seat?" We both look up to Doctor Jessop. A small very pretty African American lady with braided hair, as she walks into the room. Dr Jessop has been nothing but courteous and helpful since we’ve arrived here.

Calvin stares at her impassively, not sitting, so she continues.

"The coronal investigation has been finalized. Your brother died due to a gunshot wound which severed the carotid in his neck, resulting in server blood loss...” Calvin doesn’t let the doctor finish.

"I no he got shot, he’s dead. The point is he’s gone, not why and how! Why are we even here?" He looks aroun
d the hospital room frantically. His blood shot eyes are angry.

"Stop examining his body like a fucking lab project." Calvin punches the wall in anguish, but doctor Jessop remains calm and looks on kindly.

I urge her to go on sympathetically, knowing she’s only trying to help. I know Calvin won’t calm down whatever she says.

"We have him here to determine the cause of death Mr. Blake. We know he was shot sir, but its procedure," she continues. "We will need to discuss further arrangements with you. You will need to arrange for Mr. Blake’s body to be taken care of at a funeral home. I suspect the police will c
ontinue into the investigation. Have you family you wish to call?"

Calvin pinches
the ridge of his nose agitated. "Family? He’s the only fucking family I have around here and now he’s been taken from me. You people come in here pretending you care when really you don’t give a shit. You’ll go home tonight tucked up in to warm bed forgetting about all this, but can I? Can I go back to normal life now my brothers been killed? Well can I?"

"Calvin!" I warn him sharply. I know he’s hurting but it’s not the doctor’s fault.

Doctor Jessop nods in my direction and offers some advice. "You know, you both have been through a lot tonight, there is a hotel a couple of blocks away, its walking distance. Maybe a nights rest will do you good.” I smile thanking her feeling apologetic for Calvin’s comments.

"Calvin
, it’s not her fault. She’s just trying to help." I tell him dryly because it won’t make a difference.

He sits down taking the seat next to me rubbing his face in his hands. Even unshaven and tired he’s still gorgeous and the man I’m in love with. I wish I could take away his pain, seeing him like this is heart wrenching.

"What am I going to do without him Olivia?" he looks at me pained, at a loss and seeking guidance. I sigh shakily trying not to cry and pull his chin towards me.

"Look at me Calvin,” when he does, I continue.
“I will get you through this. I made a promise to Ashton that I would and I won’t let any of you down. We will get through this together. You’ve done so much for me, and I will do the same for you. I promise." I get down on to my knees in front of him bringing him into my chest as he sobs for his brother.

I try my hardest not to let him hear me cry because I need to be strong for him now. I will fulfill Ashton’s promise and never let Calvin down. How could I?

Calvin is my life now.

We have each other.

***

“I have to organize a funeral. Fuck. I have to organize my brother’s funeral. I have to tell my grandparents. How the fuck are they going to handle this?”

We have booked a hotel room near the hospital on the Doctors advice for the night and
I have ordered a hire car for the morning. Calvin was going to do it but he couldn’t speak to the provider. He has been frantic ever since we’ve arrived here.

He’s marching around the hotel room in a frenzy. I try to calm him down but it’s like he’s in his own world. In a trance. He’s pacing, clutching at his hair, talking fast and going around in circles.

I sit on the bed tapping my foot anxiously. After another few minutes of Calvin speaking to himself and I shout over him. My head is spinning by his behavior.

“Calvin!”

He swings his body around to face me, momentarily stunned at my outburst. I take a deep breath trying to figure out how to approach the situation. I almost which I never yelled his name. I almost wish I left him in that trance like state. But he was driving himself mad.
And me.

I walk towards him and approach with caution. “You don’t have to do this on your own you know. I’m here Calvin. Anything you need. Just ask.”

He doesn’t look at me but I catch brief hints of melancholy. He looks down at his feet pinching the ridge of his nose. “I can’t ask you to do any of those things for me Olivia.”

I disagree, determined to make him realize I am there for him and he can ask of me anything.

“Of course you can.” My voice is gentle as I take his hands away from his face to look at him. “You need me as much as I need you. Maybe you don’t admit it, but I know.”

His head shoots up this time looking straight at me. His eyes are grave, his voice low.

“I need you more than you will ever realize. But I need to do this. He was my brother. They are my grandparents.”

I offer a different substitute. “Okay. But I can be there with you every step of the way.”

Calvin walks towards me, and kisses me on my forehead several times.

“I’m so grateful for what you’re doing for me. I am. I know you want to go home. But I need to see my grandparents. I need to let them know what has happened.”

“I understand.” Because I do. This is important. Not that my mother isn’t important but this is simply a scenario that can’t hold out.

“Ashton sent my grandparents to a national park reserve not far from here.” He points into thin air when he speaks. “We will have to go there. I’ll give them a ring. Tell them we will meet them there.”

I nod agreeing that it’s a good idea. I think Calvin needed the reassurance. “We will do whatever you want. But listen, it’s late. Why don’t I run you a bath and you can try get some sleep. We’ll leave in the morning.” I know he won’t sleep a wink but I still need to try and comfort him.

“How can I stay here while Ashton’s body is left at the morgue in purgatory?”

“Calvin, they won’t be able to do anything tonight. They will him safe until you have made arrangements don’t worry.”

He sags onto the bed
after my statement. I walk past him into the bathroom, take our wash bags with me and iPhone press play to Ellie Goulding; how long will I love you, and begin to run the water in the egg shaped tub. Calvin has paid for this luxury hotel like everything else. I tried to use my credit cards but they have all been blocked. I know Calvin has a lot of money and would never ask me to pay for a thing but I don’t want to take advantage.

I undress completely and perc
h myself on the edge of the tub and watch the water running from the faucet mindlessly. I feel helpless and hopeless. I feel numb and at a loss. If Mauricio sent them men to kill, then will they come back to finish us off?

My disturbing
thoughts are thankfully banished when Calvin walks into the bathroom completely naked. As always, it takes my breath away. But sex is the last thing on my mind right now and probably the last thing on Calvin's. He doesn’t have that heated lust in his eyes that he has for me when he spots my naked body. His pupils are listless and absent. But my eyes drift over his statuesque beauty. His bruised ribs are only slight and have turned yellow in color. His once was black eye is also clearing up. He’s healing on the outside but inside he’s tortured.

He walk’s past me in a daze and climbs into the bath. I’m about to object as the water is boiling in temperature but as he steps in it doesn’t seem to faze him. I quickly turn on the cold water while Calvin sits saying nothing
until I’ve turned off the faucet.

“The pain of the water is nothing compared to what I’m feeling. Will you hold me?”

His voice is unrecognizable, it’s vulnerable and lost.
He’s
vulnerable and lost. Calvin asking to be held is rare. His question tugs tightly in my chest but I hold back my emotions.

Be strong for him. Be strong for him.
I repeat in my mind while stepping into the bath. I sit on the opposite end to him. He doesn’t look up at me. It seems like he doesn’t notice I’m there.

He stares blankly at the walls resting his arms on either side of the bath. I feel awkward. I almost don’t know what to do with him. I don’t know what to say.

My instinct seems to take over. I move through the water towards him and straddle him. He suddenly seems to notice I’m there by pulling me into him and shifting so I can wrap my legs around his waist. He rests his head onto my bare chest and stays silent while I embrace him, holding his head into me, listening to Ellie’s enchanting soothing voice from my playlist. I’m aware I’m holding my breath. I am conscious of it being because I haven’t a clue of how to approach this situation or the strained emotions of a damaged soul. The soul of a person that happens to be the man I am unconditionally in love with.

Calvin sighs deeply against my chest. The first response I’ve had off him since he
climbed into the tub. I think he’s about to talk but he doesn’t.

“How did we get here
, hmm?” I say what’s on my mind because it’s true. Calvin kisses my shoulder blade and says nothing. It’s true, how the hell have we got to this place in a space of a week? I leave my home and get to Hazels. I think I’m safe but then we have to go on the run away from a sadistic asshole. He has my mom held hostage and I’m helpless. Georgia’s has lost her life because of him, Ashton is gone and that man is still at large. How is life fair? How can any more suffering be passed our way?

I
seize this opportunity to take care of him. Moving away from him, I fish into Calvin’s wash bag I placed beside the tub and pull out his body wash, shaving foam, a razor and shampoo.

“Turn around.” I order him gently. He vacantly does
so, his back facing me. I pull his shoulders down, forcing him to lay until the back of his head is just above the water between my thighs. After wetting his hair, I squirt shampoo into my palms, then massage his scalp and rinse. I hear a low thankful groan from him.

After washing his hair, I push him back up and tell him to face me. Taking the shaving foam, I about to
smother it onto his jaw, but he moves back, retreating warily. “I’ll be careful.” I promise looking into his lost eyes. He sighs deeply giving me the go ahead. I have no idea what I’m doing but I’m going to give it a go. I smooth the white foam onto Calvin’s cheeks, his jaw and chin. Taking the razor blade I start shaving across his jaw almost professionally, taking my time. I rinse of the foam that’s built up into the water and repeat until he’s shaven, fresh faced and gloriously beautiful. Not that I don’t like his designer stubble, but I want to make him feel better. When I’m done his head bows. He closes his heavy lids almost like he’s been defeated. But he hasn’t. My heart hurts seeing him this way. I caress his head between my hands making him look at me and carefully plant soft loving kisses onto his lips, skimming across his freshly shaved jaw, his chin, then back to his mouth. “I will do everything I can to make you happy.” I murmur against his lips. He doesn’t answer me, instead he takes my hips, silently ordering me to turn around. I willingly do as he wants sitting with my back to his chest between his parted legs.