Fractured Secrets, page 22
Jack jolted up. The chair skidded across the floor and tipped over with a loud clank. Dumbfounded by Jack’s reaction, Dan sat silent throughout the explosive display. And I don’t want any part of you. I don’t want to be this man’s son. He tried to harness his disappointment and wrap his wounded heart within the blanket of anger, but Jack’s words and hatred curdled in Dan’s soul and replayed in his mind. You’re mother’s a whore. Paid for an abortion. Never wanted you.
A sliver of hope crept into his mind. “Jack, did you ever get a DNA test? Are you sure I’m your son?” That by some miracle I’m not related to a cruel asshole like you.
Jack shook his head. “No. I never asked. Didn’t want more trouble and sure as shit didn’t want Sophie to find out.” Jack’s dark eyes brightened as Dan’s question, and the possibilities of the test, registered in his mind. “You really think there’s a chance?”
“That I’m not your son?” Jack nodded. Dan gripped the edge of the table and clenched his jaw so tight his back teeth crunched beneath the pressure. He wanted to punch Jack, father or not. He wanted to knock Jack out cold and step over his unconscious body. I would if I were anywhere but here in my hospital. If we were somewhere else, you’d be spitting teeth Jack. “There’s always a chance,” Dan said. God, I hope we’re not related. “I didn’t think so when I sent the package, but now.” But what? My mother’s delusional. Maybe you’re another of her sick delusions? “We don’t look alike so there’s that.” Dan shrugged. “I like to believe there’s always hope.” Regardless of the test results, I’ll never be your son.
“Can we do this secretly? You know, without Sophie knowing? I don’t want her to get hurt again.”
Dan didn’t buy the excuse. Narcissists never cared about anyone but themselves, unless it served their purpose. He looked up at Jack’s posture and his eyes, cold, calculating, and cruel. You don’t care about her, just your money, Dan longed to say and wagered against it. Now was not the time or place. He needed to deescalate the drama before someone overheard or wandered into the lounge.
“No one else needs to know,” Dan replied. “And, Jack, for the record, I don’t want to cause Sophie more pain. I’ll never tell her the results. That’s your call. When or if, you want her to know. We can do the test today. I’ll give you a call with the results. I just need to swab your cheek, easy.”
“I’ve got some things to handle right now. Hey, how ‘bout I grab my toothbrush out of my gym bag? It’s in the car. I can go grab it and be back in five.”
“Fine.” As long as it expedited the process of severing ties with Jack, he’d do whatever it took. Toothbrush, cheek swab. What’s the difference? As long as I never have to see this asshole again once Sophie is discharged.
Jack’s jaw relaxed. His tight scowl lifted into a satisfied smirk. “Yeah, that’ll work.” He nodded to himself. “Yes, that should work out nicely. And, if I have any luck…” Jack’s voice trailed off.
“We’re not father and son,” Dan finished Jack’s train of thought.
“Hey, no offense. Right, Dan?” Jack said and winked.
“No offense. For the record, I hope I’m not your son even more than you do, and the name’s Doc.”
Chapter Six
Sophie
LIGHT PULSED AGAINST her eyelids. Voices, hushed and hostile, whispered around her and pulled her back into consciousness. Sophie tried to recognize the voices. Her ears picked up jumbled bits that made no sense. “DNA”—"secrets”—"toothbrush.” She cracked open her eyes. Two, towering figures lingered in the shadows. No, no, no. Her lips parted with ease. No tape.
Sophie screamed as high and loud as her dry throat allowed. The shrill pitch pierced her skull. Her brain pulsated beneath her skin, threatening to explode. She didn’t care. I need to fight. I want to live. She screamed, harder and louder. Her lungs gasped for air. Her throat constricted around her survival cries. Bleach and Old Spice drifted through the air, surrounding her, and assaulting her senses as she struggled to find her bearings. Where the hell am I?
The tall figures hovered over her. Large hands, reaching for her shoulders, encircling her upper arms, pinning her body to the thin mattress. Her nails dug into the edges of the mattress. Her legs flailed and kicked at the blanket constricting her limbs. I need to get away. Need to stay alive.
“Sophie, calm down,” the voice said. Jack? “Sophie, stop!”
She stared up. Her eyes met Jack’s. Their gazes locked with each other, his brown with her hazel. A glimmer of understanding flashed in his inky pupils. Sophie thrashed and kicked harder.
“No, stop. Let me go. Someone, please, help me.”
“Stop it. You’re going to hurt yourself,” Jack barked. “Doc, what the hell’s wrong with her?”
“Mrs. M., Sophie, please calm down,” a younger, calmer, soothing voice said and cut through her panic. “You’re safe, Mrs. M.”
She turned towards the voice, towards the figure the same height as Jack, and searched his face. “DJ? Is that you?”
“It’s me, Mrs. M., and Jack. You need to calm down. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Can you do that for me?”
“You have to help me.” Her left hand reached out and clutched the hem of his white lab coat. “They’re going to kill me,” she whined. “Help me, please.”
“She’s crazy,” Jack said.
“She’s not, Jack. Confused and disoriented, not crazy. It happens sometimes after head traumas. Now, let go of her so I can calm her down, or get the hell out.”
Their voices echoed through her head and mingled with the images haunting her mind. Images of corridors and elevators morphed with shadowed figures, Jack’s face and D.J.’s blond hair. Sophie shook her head, unable to distinguish between the present and the past, between reality and nightmare. She tugged the thin blanket to her chin. Her eyes darted between the two faces encroaching into her space. She felt like a trapped animal, anxious and helpless. D.J. peered down at her. Concern and compassion swam in the blue of his eyes.
“It’s going to be okay. I promise. You’re safe, Mrs. M.,” he cooed.
The tweaked nerves in her neck eased a bit. “No, I’m not,” she whimpered.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Jack huffed. “Soph, look at me. You’re fine.”
His stern furrowed brows and sharp stare made her want to crawl beneath the blanket and hide as she did as a child during a thunderstorm.
“I can’t stay here. You need to let me go home,” she pleaded with D.J. “I’m not safe. She took me. Took me to a dark, cold place.” Her bottom lip trembled as the memories of the darkness replayed in her mind. “They’re going to kill me…and Maddie.” Tears clouded her vision. Sophie blinked them away. “I won’t let them hurt my Maddie.”
“Damn it, Soph. You had a dream.” Jack clamped his hands around her arms, tighter this time, and shoved her deeper into the bed.
“L-let g-go of-of m-me.”
“Jack, that’s enough. Let go of her now or I’ll knock you on your ass,”’ D.J.’s stern voice ordered. When did his voice become so deep? So grown up?
D.J.’s fingers peeled Jack’s hands from her arms. She rubbed her throbbing muscles, but kept her eyes focused on Jack’s face, on his clenched jaw and his pulsating jugular. Why is he so mad at me?
“Thank you,” she whispered. She clutched D.J.’s hand and squeezed his warm flesh, desperate to draw strength from him. “It wasn’t a dream.”
“You’re in the hospital. No one’s trying to hurt you.” Jack said. “You hit your head. Do you remember the accident?”
Accident? The words confused her. She searched her mind. She remembered arguing with Desiree, remembered driving out of the Hellco parking lot, and she remembered being tired. So tired. She remembered the dark corridor and the masked shadow. I don’t remember an accident.
“No.” She shook her head. “They took me. I’m not safe here.” She ripped off the blanket covering her bare legs. Her fingertips grazed over the faded blue johnny. “I’m in the hospital?”
“Yes, Soph,” Jack said. “You had a car accident. No one took you anywhere.”
“But, I’m sure of it. I remember a nurse taking me away.” I know it was real. Wasn’t it?
“You’ve been in this room the entire time. No nurse took you anywhere,” Jack responded.
“Who took you, Mrs. M.?”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, don’t validate her delusions, Doc.” Jack ran a hand over his mouth. His thin lips stretched even thinner as his hand traveled down to his chin. I don’t remember an accident, but I remember I hate you, Jack—asshole.
“Mrs. M.” D.J. gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Who took you?”
“I don’t know.” She looked away, unable to face either man standing over her. “She wheeled me in the bed to a dark place. There was a doctor.” Dr. Z.
“What did they look like?” D.J. asked.
“I don’t know. I did know, but now I can’t remember. Their faces are fading. I’m trying, but I can’t see their faces. Everything’s all fuzzy and mixed-up.” Sophie shook her head. “You can’t let them hurt Maddie. I need to go home.”
“Shh, Mrs. M., I’ll never let anyone hurt Maddie, or you.” He glanced over at Jack’s grim face. “And, neither would Jack.” I don’t believe you. Either of you.
“I swear to you, no one took you anywhere except for a CT-scan. You have a concussion. The trauma’s playing tricks on your brain. You’re safe. I promise,” D.J. said, his warm thumb stroked the top of her frigid hand.
“Don’t worry, Soph,” Jack said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. She forced her body not to recoil beneath the feel of his clammy lips against her flesh. “I’ll be with you every second until you’re released. No one’s taking you anywhere.”
“You need to work. A kitchen needs its’ Chef. Maybe Kyle can sit with me for a little while?”
Jack’s face flushed crimson. She swallowed hard. Shit, why did I say that? Jack rubbed her left cheek hard with his fingertips. She winced. His lips twisted into a nasty smirk, but he didn’t yell. “I want to be here with you,” he said. “Kyle can visit you later, at home. You’re my wife. I’ll take care of you or no one will.”
“Okay,” she whispered, not because she wanted Jack with her, but because she knew better than to provoke him further. Every inch of her body ached. Her head pounded. She couldn’t handle more pain.
“That’s my girl,” Jack said. “I’ll take good care of you. Remember, I vowed to be there in sickness and in health.”
And until death do us part, Sophie thought and shivered as icy dread ran down her spine. Dr. Z. is close. I feel it. I just need to remember his face.
Chapter Seven
Dan
“HEY, DOC. HOW’S things?” Sam said. “Looks like you could use a vacation.”
“You’ve got that right. Been a long day, Sam.”
“I myself had a great night. Met a hot blonde nurse.”
Dan glanced up at Sam. He didn’t give a shit about Sam’s imaginary love life, but the mention of a blonde nurse and Sophie’s dream piqued his interest. “Really?”
“Yeah, really. Hey, I know you don’t believe me, but I swear on my mother’s life. I did. She was like an old-school knockout, reminding me of Marilyn Monroe. A little older than I normally like. But, hey, beggars can’t be choosy. Ooh, she had a smokin’ pair of tits and red lips that I wanted to kiss forever. And, her voice. Wow. Sexy as all hell. I’m getting a woody just thinking about her.”
“Spare me, Sam. Where’d you meet this new nurse? She in triage or maternity ward? Happen to get her name?”
Sam shook his head, cocked it to the side, held up his index finger, and waved it at Dan as he talked. “Hey, wait a minute. No way, Doc. I know what you’re up to. You want to put the moves on her yourself. You know I can’t compete against a guy like you. Looks, money, and a doctor. I won’t stand a chance of banging her if you put the moves on her.” You don’t stand a chance regardless of what I do.
“Believe me, Sam, I have no interest in your nurse. Just curious, making conversation.”
Sam dropped his finger and grinned. “I didn’t get her name. Not sure which department she belongs to. She was wheeling some patient down to do some tests or something…was sort of weird, though.”
Dan’s scalp tingled as it always did whenever she was about to fuck up his life. He’d been six when he first made the connection between the tingle and her bullshit. It’d plague him as long as she was in his life. Can’t be her. It can’t be.
“Weird how?”
“Well, it was the middle of the night. Didn’t know Radiology was still open for biz, you know. When I tried to get a closer look at the patient, Nurse Hottie pinned my body to the hallway wall and planted a wet kiss on me.” He grinned. “Lots of tongue, too.” Sam rubbed a hand over his rotund stomach and shrugged. “Then she up and walked away. Strolled down the hall with her patient and disappeared.” Was Sophie telling the truth? No, impossible. “Doc. Hey, Doc. Earth to Doc Z. You okay?” Sam said, snapping his fingers in front of Dan’s eyes.
“Huh?” Dan shook away his thoughts. “Oh, yeah, happy for you, Sam. Sounds like you’ve got a real wildfire with that nurse. Um, I need to check on a patient. I’ll see you later, okay?” He stopped in the doorway and glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, you don’t happen to remember which floor you had your romantic interlude on, do you?”
Sam smiled and exposed specs of blueberries along with his row of off-white teeth. “Sure do, Doc. 3rd floor.”
Damn it! Dan bolted through the door. I need to protect Sophie.
“See you ‘round, Doc. Oh, and next time I’ll try and get her name,” Sam called out behind him.
“Don’t bother," Dan muttered as he sprinted down the hall. "There won’t be a next time."
SECTION 14
DAY 9,699 – OCTOBER 27TH
Chapter One
Dan
THE DOOR WAS ajar. His pulse quickened. Oh no, not again. He rapped, eased the door open, and stuck his head into the room. Sophie’s petite frame sat in a chair beside the bed. Dan released a sigh of relief. She turned her head towards him and smiled. The morning sun streamed in through the cracked mini blinds and highlighted her facial injuries. The amber rays accentuated the varied shades of purples and greens around her eye and cheek. He hated seeing her like this, vulnerable and broken. He hated himself for the role he played in her misery even more.
“Good morning, Mrs. M,” he said, forcing a smile.
“Good morning, D.J. Sorry, I mean, Dan.” Her weak voice and her haunted eyes tugged at his heart. She’s happy to see me. Jack didn’t tell her who I am. Not yet. “I’m glad you stopped by.”
His eyes scanned the empty room. “Where’s Jack?” he asked. “Walking the dog again?”
“Oh, no. Lucas slept at Kyle’s last night. One less thing for me to stress over.” She cinched the belt of the blue hospital robe tighter and tucked her legs up beneath her. “Lucas adores Kyle, and vice versa.” He sensed there were other reasons for the dog’s impromptu sleepover but decided not to pry. I don’t want to know.
“That was nice of Kyle. He seems like a great guy. You know, from when we chat at the restaurant,” he said.
“He’s the best. He’s family. I’ve known him … it seems like forever. Longer than I’ve known Jack.”
Her eyes brightened as she spoke about Kyle. Dan wondered if it was Kyle or the early morning rays of sun that made the color of her irises dance. She turned and stared out the window. He knew she wasn’t looking at the cars in the lot or anything in particular. Her faraway stare was that of a person lost within a memory. A good or a bad one, he couldn’t decipher.
“I sent Jack home to grab me some clothes,” she murmured.
“Sick of the fashionable hospital gown already?” he joked.
She nodded and blinked away her memory as she turned away from the window. And she’s back. “Figured this way I’ll be ready to make my escape.”
“Well, I have some good news then. I talked with Dr. Foster. He’s going to discharge you this afternoon.” Her face brightened, the deep furrows around her drawn lips disappearing beneath her broad smile. “Before you get too excited, Mrs. M., I need to make sure someone’s going to be home to help you.” Sophie opened her mouth to protest. “It’s non-negotiable. Just for a day or two so you can rest up.”
“I’ll be staying with her,” Jack said. Sophie’s mouth snapped shut. Dan spun around. An exhausted, unshaven Jack strode past him and into the room, a duffle bag dangling from his right hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my girl.”
The corners of Sophie’s lips sank into a tight frown. Her thin brows furrowed above her hazel eyes. She hasn’t forgiven Jack.
“I’m glad. She’s going to be sore and stiff for a few days. She’ll heal faster if someone’s there to pamper her and make sure she gets plenty of rest.”
Jack sat on the arm of Sophie’s chair. Her shoulders stiffened. She shifted her body and leaned her weight onto the opposite arm of the chair, putting distance between herself and Jack. Dan shoved his hands in the deep pockets of his lab coat and rocked on the heels of his shoes. He wanted to turn around and leave but couldn’t. He owed Sophie this much, owed her the respect of getting bad news from someone she knows. Or knew a long time ago. Someone she trusts. She trusts you for now. Soon she’ll hate you, just like Jack.
“Um, I need to ask you something, Mrs. M. Please don’t be offended. Your blood tests came back. There were high levels of Valium in your system.” Sophie’s eyes widened. She shook her head from side to side. “So high, in fact, it’s a wonder you could drive at all.”
“Impossible,” she said, her low voice filled with disbelief. “They mixed them up with someone else’s,” Sophie protested.
