Their Kitten: Chapter 27

While the paramedics quickly attend to Talon and carry him off to the nearest hospital, two officers pull Tristan and me aside to question us. Tristan is calm and cooperative despite all the chaos going on around us, as well as his brother getting shot, but my mind is still reeling from everything that happened. Prior to the guys coming in, Garrett had stepped into the bathroom to “prepare” for my punishment, saying he was going to take a pill that would ensure his longevity to make me pay for whatever he thought I’d done.

I remember praying to whatever God would listen to me, that they’d send Talon or Tristan to come save me. I told myself that if they came through for me, I’d take back all the horrible things I’ve said, the way I’ve acted, and would keep them around because they continuously show up for me despite me pushing them away.

When they burst through the bedroom door, I’d never felt so much relief in my life. Seeing the way they came to rescue me after the way I’d last treated them only showed me the kind of men they truly are. I can’t hold their father’s mistakes over their heads because they are not their father. I definitely have to talk with both of them and tell them the truth.

It’s the least I can do after the way they’ve risked their lives for me.

“Ma’am?” the officer says.

I notice the two officers watching me expectantly, as if they’re waiting for an answer. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” I ask.

“We were asking about your relationship to the deceased,” he repeats.

I run a shaky hand through my frizzy hair. “He and I dated really briefly, but I ended it when he showed that he wasn’t a nice guy,” I explain. I tell them about Garrett’s stalking and the lengths I went to remain hidden. The officers both jot down notes on their notepads and ask Tristan and me to give our version of events. Just as I finish telling my story, a couple of people come into the bedroom with a body bag. The last time I saw a dead body was when Tristan and Talon’s mom died, but I’ve never seen someone die in front of me. While it was traumatic, there’s a peaceful feeling that washes over me as I watch the coroners put him in the bag, zipping it up.

“I think that’s all for now,” the officer says, pulling my attention back to them. “We’ll be in touch if we have any other questions.”

Tristan and I watch them walk away before he turns to me. “I need to call Dad and let him know what happened.” He sighs deeply. “Do you want a ride back to the apartment?”

I shake my head, the mentioning of his father bringing those previous walls back up. Of course, he has to call him; his father would be concerned to know that his son has been shot. A paramedic approaches me.

“Ma’am, do you have any injuries that we need to check?” the woman asks me as her eyes scan my body.

Tristan excuses himself to make his phone call and a sick feeling settles in the pit of my gut. Once Tristan tells him what happened, I know he’s going to ask about me or discuss wanting to see me. That means I don’t have much time to get to the hospital to see Talon before their father gets there.

“Ma’am? Do you need any help?” the woman asks again.

I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. Just a bit shaken up, but I’m physically fine,” I say softly even though there is an ache between my legs. There is no sense in going in for a rape kit when there is no one left to charge with a crime.

While the active crime scene procedures continue on, I step out onto the porch and order an Uber. Tristan’s car is still in the driveway, but I don’t see him anywhere outside. It would’ve been easier to just hitch a ride with Tristan, but I don’t want to run the risk of running into their father.

I anxiously wait for the car to arrive, and Tristan comes to a stop next to me. “Sure you don’t need a ride?” he asks again.

I shake my head, wrapping my arms around my body. “The officer wanted me to stay put because he had a couple more things to ask,” I lie.

Tristan frowns. “I can stay with you⁠—”

“I’m fine.” I force a small smile. “He said he’d give me a ride back into town. Besides, you should probably go get Talon a change of clothes so that he doesn’t have to leave the hospital in bloody clothes.”

He contemplates what I’ve said before he slowly nods. “You’re right,” he says. “I’ll stop by the apartment to check on you after I check on Talon.”

I nod to acknowledge his words and watch him leave, breathing a slight sigh of relief. Just as Tristan pulls out of the driveway, my Uber arrives, literally passing him as he continues on down the road. I wait for a few moments before I enter to give Tristan enough time to get further down the road before I get in and finally leave Garrett and the terror he’s caused today behind me.

I walk up to the registration counter at the ER, scanning the waiting room to make sure I don’t see Tristan or his father around.

“Are you here to be seen?” the guy behind the counter asks.

I clear my throat. “Um, my brother was brought here not too long ago. Talon Steele?”

He types something onto his computer and grabs a visitor sticker and hands it to me. “Room 22,” he says. I thank him and walk through the automatic doors when they open. My heart races a little faster as I say a quick mental prayer that Talon is alone long enough for me to check on him. As soon as I can confirm that he’s okay, I can sneak back out before Tristan gets here.

Talon is awake when I get to his room, a small smile on his lips when I walk in. I return his smile and quickly make my way over to his bedside.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, but then shake my head. “That’s probably a stupid question. I’m sure you’re in pain since you got shot.”

“It’s not so bad now. Pain medicine works wonders,” he says with a light chuckle.

I look at his arm, which is now bandaged. “Was it bad? What did the doctor say?”

“It’s not as bad as it could’ve been.” He winces a little as he shifts in the bed. “The bullet went through, so it was just a matter of stopping the bleeding.”

“Did you lose a lot of blood? You passed out before the ambulance arrived.”

“Not as much as I thought. Probably just went into shock from everything that happened.”

I put my hand on top of his. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so worried.” I pause for a moment. “I really do appreciate you coming for me. And I’m sorry about the way I treated you the last time I saw you. You didn’t deserve that.”

“We weren’t going to just ignore something like that if we thought you were in danger.” He holds my gaze. “Regardless of whatever you think, we’re not these evil assholes that you keep trying to make us out to be.”

“I know.” I sigh. I give his hand a light squeeze. “But I appreciate you guys for not giving up on me.”

“Well, can you start showing that appreciation by getting me something to drink?” He clears his throat. “That pain medicine has really dried my mouth out.”

I look around but don’t see anything in his room. “Sure, I’ll go find something,” I say. “Anything in particular?”

“Coffee, if they have it.”

I walk over to the nurse’s station and ask for directions to the vending machine, only to be directed back out to the waiting area. I find the vending machine area and see a machine that dispenses both coffee and hot chocolate for visitors, so I grab a cup for the both of us. Right when I round the corner onto the hall Talon’s room is on, I spot the one person I never wanted to see again.

My breaths come in fast as I take slow steps backward. Mr. Steele stands in the hallway talking with a nurse, listening intently and nodding to whatever she’s saying. All of the memories of him flood my brain all at once and everything in me screams at me to run. He looks like he did when I was younger, aside from his hair being more gray, but with the fear coursing through my veins, he may as well have been the devil.

He looks away briefly and spots me, recognition and surprise filling his face when he realizes who I am.

I quickly toss the cups of coffee into a nearby trashcan and make a beeline for the door. I have to get out of here before he tries to come after me for one reason or another. Hot tears burn my eyes, but I keep moving, only stopping when Tristan materializes in front of me.

“Where are you going?” He studies my face and frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to go,” I mumble, but he stops me from leaving. “Can you let go of me?”

He keeps his hold on me and leads me out of the ER. When we’re a few feet from the door, he finally lets go. “Is it Talon? What’s wrong with you?”

“Talon is fine. I just have to go.”

“Why the hell won’t you ever tell me what your problem is?”

“Because you wouldn’t believe me anyway!” I snap. “Just leave me alone. I’ll stay away from you guys, so you don’t have to worry about me anymore. Just stay away from me.”

“Here you go with this again.” Tristan huffs. “We literally just saved your life and now you’re back to acting like a basket case yet again.”

I know he’s not going to let me go without some kind of fight, so I say the one thing I know will really set him off. “You want to know the reason why I left all those years ago?” I chuckle mirthlessly. “I left because all of you became so unbearable when your mom died, and I couldn’t stand to be around your grief and sadness. So I took the easy way out. There’s your answer. Now you can leave me alone for good.”

At first, he doesn’t say anything. His face slowly turns red, and he clenches his hands into fists and, for a second, I’m worried that he may hit me. The muscles in his jaw tick a couple of time before he releases a long breath.

“You have twenty-four hours to get out of the apartment,” he says, his voice low and even. “I want nothing to do with you anymore.” He walks away but pauses long enough to add, “Stay the fuck away from me and my brother. But that should be easy for you to do, since you’re so good at abandoning the only people who ever gave a fuck about you.”

I watch him disappear back into the hospital as the impact of his words sting my soul. With a reluctant sigh, I walk away from the hospital to the nearest bus stop and prepare to pick up the pieces of my life yet again.