Temptation: A Reverse Harem Romance Page 15

  “I’m too upset to start pointing fingers,” Michael states, handing me back my phone. “The kid’s all I can think of right now.”

  His response convinces me to stop talking. My friend has a point. Now is not the time to ponder who could have done something so terrible. At any rate, I have no doubt about their identity, and I’ll try and prove it to him later on.

  The click-clacking of high heels resounds through the walls of the hall. Within moments, I see two, familiar faces as a brunette and a redhead enter the waiting room. Emily and Karlie stride past Michael, without saying a word. They head towards the closed door of the emergency room, when he decides to address them.

  “It’s polite to say ‘hi’ where I come from,” he protests, slipping his hands into his pockets.

  “Who gives a shit about polite?” Emily grumbles, whirling her head around to face him. “Did you see what happened?”

  “Alright, relax everybody,” I interject, assuming a calm tone. “We did,” I add, moving slowly towards her. “Some big-ass SUV blocked their way. They both took a nasty fall. Dean’s in serious condition. I think Stacy’s in much better shape, but I don’t know for sure.”

  “You think?” She squints up at me.

  “Yeah,” I affirm with a nod. “She was wide awake when they brought them in. Dean…”

  “Shut up,” Emily growls at me, her face twisting into an expression of rage. “Shut the fuck up. None of this crap would have happened if she hadn’t met you. Or you,” she goes on, shifting her gaze over to Michael. “If anything happens to her, I swear to God…”

  “What?!” Michael’s stentorian voice rumbles like thunder. “You’ll do what? Our brother and your friend are in there, and all you want to do is bitch about us? Stacy’s lucky to have you, I’ll say that much.”

  “You…”

  “Emily, stop!” Karlie shouts, stepping in front of her friend. “He’s right. Stacy’s life may be hanging by a thread for all we know. What good can come out of blaming anybody for this?”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a hospital,” I point out, staring down at Emily. “As for Stacy, she’s a big girl. She agreed to date us of her own free will. We didn’t force her into anything.”

  “It was an accident, Emily,” Karlie says in a sweeter sounding voice, raising her hands up to her friend’s shoulders, “a big, terrible accident.”

  “I don’t think so,” I disagree, shaking my head sideways once. “I mean, yes; that SUV blocked their path, but they’d been chasing them for a couple of miles at least.”

  “Excuse me?” Surprise sends Karlie’s voice up an octave as she turns her head right to face me. “They were being pursued? By whom?”

  “I don’t know,” I puff air out of my cheeks, choosing to keep my theory to myself. I’m not in a mood to explain it to them. I don’t like to discuss my past with strangers, even if those strangers happen to be Stacy’s closest friends. Mainly though, bringing up Laura’s threats to Emily can only result in one more of her outbursts. I’ve already suffered one, and I can’t say that I enjoyed it.

  “If you suspect foul play, then why didn’t you call the police?” Karlie asks me, a hint of disapproval in her tone. “I assume you didn’t, because I didn’t see any police cars outside.”

  “You’re right, we didn’t,” I declare, taking a short step nearer to her. “Whoever did this, knew what they were doing. The bike didn’t really crash into the car. They didn’t swap paint. It barely touched its rear bumper. It’s not even a fender bender. When they passed us, I thought I should take their number plate, but that thing was too damn fast. What are we supposed to tell the police? That a black Range Rover was involved? There must be hundreds of them out there.”

  Karlie parts her lips, ready to continue our conversation, but at that moment, a young, female doctor walks out of the emergency ward.

  “Stacy Dexter?” She calls out Stacy’s name in a heavy, Greek accent, glancing around her.

  “Doctor, we’re her friends,” Emily speaks in a shaking voice. “How is she?”

  “My name is Dr. Galanou. Stacy is still in a state of shock, but she’s going to be fine.” The doctor’s words send a wave of relief washing over me. Yet, they have a more profound effect on Emily. Letting off a deep sigh, she thrusts her arms around the doctor.

  “Oh, thank you so much,” She whispers as a small smile bursts upon Karlie’s lips.

  “As I was saying, her life is not in danger,” The doctor goes on as Emily leans back. “She’s got a few minor abrasions on her arms and legs and a mild concussion, but she’s otherwise in good condition. We’ll monitor her for another twenty-four hours; it’s standard procedure. After that, she can go home.”

  “What about Dean Ryan, the guy she was with?” The physician’s face tightens at Michael’s question, tearing any pleasant feeling within me to shreds.

  “I’m afraid Mr. Ryan wasn’t so lucky,” She begins, her voice losing its nerve. “He has sustained blunt force trauma, minor internal bleeding and swelling on the brain. The swelling ceased late last night, otherwise we would had have to put him in a medically induced coma. It’s a good sign, but he’s still in critical condition. The next twenty-four hours are critical.”

  “Can we go see him?” I pose a question, fear and dread storming into my heart.

  “I’m sorry, you can’t,” She responds, her gaze staying on me. “He is heavily sedated. He won’t wake up for another fifteen hours or so. Ms. Dexter isn’t, but she needs to get some rest, so I suggest you don’t stay in there for too long. Now, excuse me.”

  The doctor’s statement ruins every hope I have of finding out more about the incident. What’s worse is the fact that Emily and Karlie can go ahead and strut into the emergency ward. I need to be alone with Stacy, so that she can shed some light on this. But, even if they weren’t there, I don’t have the courage to see her. The possibility of losing Dean forever is a lot closer than I thought. I want to stay put, just in case our brother wakes up. Our next conversation might be the last.

  26

  Stacy

  Horror and disgust dominate my heart and mind while I try to wrap my head around what has transpired. Another, even more dreadful emotion is beginning to gnaw away at me: regret. I should have kept my distance from those three. Not because they were bad in any way, but because we complicated an already complicated situation even more. Tonight’s incident will serve like a constant reminder of my recklessness. As if I don’t have any strong memories from them, I will remember every single moment of that horrific crash. Perhaps this is my punishment for acting like a spoiled brat who wanted everything for herself. Michael wasn’t enough for me. No, I wanted someone more easy-going and less romantic. Ray? Sure, he fits the profile, but he’s not the badass biker Dean is. Damn it, Stacy… How could you even consider doing this? As the minutes roll by though, it occurs to me that maybe tonight’s ordeal isn’t the worst thing that’s befallen me. Thinking about it makes me want to jump onto the first flight out and disappear. The destination doesn’t matter. It can be Athens, Rome, Barcelona, or Chicago for all I care. Anywhere that’s far away from them would be fine.

  I stare at the green line on the monitor at my left, wishing I suffered from temporary amnesia. The sound of high heels fills the room, compelling me to avert my gaze from the machine. Emily and Karlie are wearing their brightest smiles as they make their way towards my bed. Emily bends towards me and kisses me on the cheek, stroking my temple.

  “You scared the crap out of me, girl,” she whispers, gently pulling me in for a hug.

  “Me, too,” Karlie admits, reaching down to pick up my hand. “I’m amazed you haven’t broken anything.”

  “Thank God for that bush,” I respond in a faint tone, sitting up as I remember the sight of that vegetation on the side of the road. “I wouldn’t be here talking to you if it wasn’t for that thing. Anyway, where’s Dean? Have you heard anything about him?”

  “He’s hurt
pretty badly,” Karlie informs, her wobbly voice revealing to me much more than she intends to let me know. I can count the times she’s gotten emotional on the fingers of one hand.

  A long, heavy sigh escapes me as I turn to her. “Go on. Give it to me straight.”

  “He’s got head injuries,” Karlie explains. “The doctor said it’s touch-and-go. I’m sorry, Stacy. I’m really sorry.”

  I don’t dignify her words with a comment of my own. Dropping my head into my hands, I feel guilt consuming my heart and soul. In a split second, the familiar sting of tears strikes back with a vengeance. I press my fingertips into my skin, my lips trembling as I recall my last discussion with him. And, sadly for me, this was another consequence of my agreement to that arrangement.

  “Stacy, you’re shaking for crying out loud,” Emily remarks, trying to pull my wrist away from my face.

  “Poor Dean…” I sob, sliding my fingers up my cheeks. “He just wanted to go for a ride with me.”

  “A ride?” wonders Emily, leaning closer. “What, that’s it? I thought you guys were going out on a date tonight.”

  “That was the plan,” I tell her, running my hands through my hair. “But after what happened with Michael and Ray, I just couldn’t do it. I knew how it was going to play out. Dean’s a great guy. Don’t let that macho posture fool you. I’m sure you remember what he did on the night I got drunk. Tonight?” I suck a deep breath into my lungs. “He blew my mind one more time.”

  “What did he do?” Karlie asks, tension creeping into her voice.

  “He wanted to take me someplace east, I don’t remember where,” I sniffle, staring into the void. “When I told him we couldn’t keep on doing this, he said: ‘Then let’s just go for a ride to Malia and back. You’re the only person I’ve ever enjoyed riding with.’ How could I say ‘no’ to him after that?”

  “Stacy, I’d love to analyze your situation, I really would, but there’s something else you need to know,” Karlie states, her tone firm. “Michael and Ray saw a Range Rover pursuing you on the freeway. According to Ray, tonight was no accident. What’s your take on this?”

  “They did?” I wonder, pitching my voice higher.

  “Yes,” Karlie affirms with a nod. “What happened out there exactly?”

  “A lot,” I murmur, dropping my gaze down to my lap. “Five, maybe ten minutes after we turned onto the freeway, the driver of a big SUV flashed his lights at Dean. He slowed down and let the guy catch up. But when he did, he pointed a gun at him. Of course, Dean freaked out. He floored it. At some point, we were doing more than a hundred-and twenty-miles an hour. The guy did chase us, but he never shot at us. And yeah, Ray’s right. It wasn’t an accident. He slowed down enough for us to bump into him. The Harley lost its balance. You know the rest.”

  “Maybe that biker of yours isn’t as great as you think,” Emily voices her opinion. “I mean, why would someone try to kill him?”

  “I don’t have a clue,” I shrug my shoulders, shifting my attention back to her. “All I know is that I want to get out of here, ASAP.”

  “I thought you loved it here,” Karlie says, a touch of surprise in her tone.

  “I do,” I confess, wiping my tears off my face. “Still, I’ve broken my own rule. Michael, Ray, and Dean helped me break it, one way, or another.”

  “The ‘no strings attached’ rule,” Emily presumes, the certainty in her tone startling me.

  “How do you know?” I wonder, my voice starting to wobble yet again.

  “Oh, please, girl,” she scoffs, flashing me a scornful look. “You did it with Ray. After you came back from your date with Michael, I saw that same glint in your eyes. And I’m sure I’d see it again right now if you hadn’t been through this ordeal.”

  “You have feelings for three men at the same time?” Karlie inquires, setting my forearm back down on the bed. “Is that…?”

  “Possible?” I attempt to guess her question. “I guess it is. Guys, I never meant for it to happen. It’s just that they were all so good to me that I couldn’t help it.”

  “Most people consider themselves lucky to fall in love with just one person in their whole life,” Karlie remarks, a smile of bitterness spreading across her face. “How could you fall for three in a couple of weeks?”

  “I can’t blame her,” Emily says with a sigh. “They’ve done some amazing things for her, especially Michael. The guy probably spent a month’s salary just to organize something special for her. He confided in her. In fact, they all did. This shows they trust her, they value her. And don’t get me started on the sex. Hearing about it turned me on. I wanted to be in her shoes, just for one night. Still…” she pauses. “I’d hate to be in her shoes right now.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” I mutter under my breath, lifting my gaze up to hers. “This is why we should leave Crete as soon as we can.”

  “Leave?” Karlie cocks an eyebrow.

  “Yeah,” I affirm with a nod. “I can’t choose between them. They’re all amazing in their own way. And I can’t come between three men. It’s just wrong. But even if I could, how long would it last? Six days?”

  “What about Dean?” Emily poses a question, crossing her arms over her chest. “You can’t leave him now, can you?”

  “No, I can’t,” I say, pursing my lips. “I can wait a couple of days, see how his condition develops. Besides, I can’t go anywhere until tomorrow night.”

  “It’s wrong,” Karlie speaks her mind, her voice rising in volume. “We’re talking about just four days. Changing your flight ticket is expensive. It’s August; the chances of finding an available seat on an earlier flight are next to none. And last, but not least, I don’t want to go back to Miami just yet. You wish to end things with them? Fine: avoid them. Don’t flee.”

  “I’ll try,” I whisper, understanding her point. “Can I get a hug?”

  I close my eyes as they both bend down towards me. In an instant, their arms go around my shoulders and my upper back. More tears well up in my eyes as I find myself in a tight group hug. Karlie’s suggestion is the logical thing to do. Yet, logic and I haven’t been getting along. I’ve let my heart dictate my actions, even though I knew that I couldn’t have a future with any of those three. Now, I’m going to pay the price of my naivety. Am I ready? I don’t know, but I’m going to pay that price nonetheless.

  27

  Ray

  Sunbeams coming through the window of the waiting room pry my eyes open. Michael is still fast asleep, lying along a row of seats across from me. I sit up and check the clock on the far wall. It’s 7:25am. Dean won’t wake up for at least another five hours. It’s also too early to pay Stacy a visit. Just then, an idea pops into my mind. I need to confront Laura, and to do that, I have to head back south once again. Nevertheless, I’m forced to put that idea aside. I don’t know where she’s staying. More than that, a crowded beach isn’t an ideal place to accuse someone of attempted murder. We would draw too much unwanted attention. The most important reason has nothing to do with her accommodation or any prying eyes around us, though. I need to appeal to emotion. Wherever Laura is, I can’t barge in and start yelling at her. Maybe Michael or Dean would do that, but not me. That’s not the way I’m made. A calm approach will make her feel comfortable around me. Once she’s relaxed, I will make my move. Finding out the truth is going to be much easier, or so I believe. Therefore, I send her a text:

  “You know where I’m staying. Be there in two hours. I’m ready to talk.”

  Perhaps it’s a little unsentimental, but sweet-talking her is out of the question. I was way too blunt the last time we saw each other. Such a radical change in my behavior would not go unnoticed. It’s only a matter of time before she suspects something is wrong.

  Back in my suite, I take a quick shower, leave the door slightly ajar and wait for her in my living room. However, concentrating on the task at hand soon proves to be much more challenging than I thought at first. The image of Dean’s fa
ce covered in blood is haunting my mind. I didn’t show my horror to Michael, knowing how much such a reaction can affect him, but I’ve never been more horrified. I was aching to scream at the top of my lungs, and yet, I kept it all inside. And I am just minutes away from coming face-to-face with the woman responsible for all this.

  Hold on to your temper, Ray. Don’t take out your frustration on her as soon as she walks in, or she’ll run like hell and Dean will never find justice.

  A triple knock at the door snaps me back to reality, sending a shot of adrenaline rushing through my veins.

  “Come on in,” I say, standing in the middle of the living room, hands in my pockets.

  “Heyyyy!” Laura chirps, pushing the door fully open. “How are you? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you,” she continues, strolling inside our suite.

  “Well, people change,” I tell her, my voice coming out lazier than usual. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

  “Some orange juice would be fine,” Laura requests, with the same, sweet smile on her face. Two years ago, I loved that smile. I loved that voice, those gray eyes, and those long, slender legs. And if I had seen her in that small, tight denim shirt, I would have taken her straight to the bedroom and fucked her for hours. But this isn’t two years ago. Her betrayal is still engraved in my memory. I can’t erase it, and I doubt I will ever forget the most embarrassing day of my whole life.

  “Here,” I murmur, handing her over a glass of juice.

  “Thanks,” she nods, tossing her red purse across the couch behind me. I watch as she downs the drink, somewhat surprised by her attitude. This doesn’t resemble at all the angry Laura I ran into just days ago. That woman was fuming with rage. She seemed ready and willing to slap me in public. “I’m sorry,” she says, lowering her tone of voice. “It’s a hundred degrees out there.”