Protecting You (The Boston irkpatricks #1) (12 page)

Chapter Twenty One

Joella

I had to go with Carmen to the private room. I didn’t want to, but men tend to talk when they are aroused. I know Brendan is pissed, but he needs to understand my job.

“Tiffany, I want you to show me a good time,” Carmen said, following me up the stairs.

“We’ll see about that, Mr.
Fenner.”

We climbed the stairs to the second floor. I had no doubt that Brendan would be up to stop this encounter. I opened the door and Carmen followed me in. The doors didn’t lock.

“Sit on the sofa,” I demanded. I was so bad at this.

“I want to stand.” He was like a three year old boy.

“How can I dance for you if you’re standing?”

“I want to dance with you.”

“That’s not allowed, sorry.”

“I make the rules in this place.” Hmm…He does?

“Oh so you own half of it,” I asked playing dumb.

“No, but I should.”

Yeah okay, buddy. Carmen was a very good looking man. He was buff with tattoos and he was always dressed very nicely. He could probably get any girl he wanted… except me. He didn’t wear a ring on his finger, so I’m assuming he’s single.

He tried to reach for me. I told him he couldn’t touch me.

“Rules are made to be broken,” he said.

He clearly doesn’t know me. I don’t break rules.

All of a sudden the door slammed open and then shut. Thank God, Brendan is here. I turned around and it was Billy.

“So, Joella it is, right?”

“No, I’m Tiffany.”

“Don’t play dumb with me. We know who you are. We followed Brendan to the hotel.”

“Check her for wires,” Carmen instructed Billy.

“She’s clean,” Billy answered.

They didn’t know about the earrings… dumb asses. I was getting all this on video as we speak.

“You’re boyfriend isn’t here to save you. He’s tied up in the office,” Billy said sarcastically.

“I don’t need him and he’s not my boyfriend.”

“Well you must have some hot pussy because he’s been going gaga over you since you got here.”

“Whatever! What do you want, Billy? I know about you the same way you know about me. I know this guy over here runs your life. I know Roxy’s your girlfriend. I know you thought you had a kid with her and it ended up being Connor’s kid and that pissed you off. You wanted it to be yours. Did Connor have everything you wanted? Were you jealous of him?”

“No. You’re completely wrong.”

“Yeah I think he did. Come on you can tell me. Who am I going to tell? I’m in a room with you and Carmen.”

“Billy, don’t tell her shit man,” Carmen yelled at him.

I was going to get the truth out of him. I’m pretending I’m in the interrogation room, which I’m great at.

“Did Connor want what belonged to him back and you couldn’t handle it, so you killed him?”

“I didn’t kill Connor. I would never. He was like my brother.”

“Well, that’s not what it looks like. You had a fight that night and then Connor turns up dead. You miraculously find him.” I continued.

“Oh, My Gawd,” Billy said with a shocked look on his face. “I didn’t kill Connor.”

“Well who did and who’s dealing drugs in here? I’ve caught you numerous times with drugs on you and making drug deals. Come
on Billy tell me or I’m arresting you for Connor’s murder.”

“No, I didn’t do it.”

“Billy, don’t! You have to kill her, she knows too much.”

“I’m not a killer, Carmen.”

“If you don’t do it, I will.”

Brendan came through the door…finally. “What’s going on in here?”

At the same time Brendan came in and distracted me, Carmen grabbed me and put a gun to my back. Billy still looked like he was in shock and disturbed.

“Billy, you can still tell me the truth,” I said.

“I can’t. I can’t tell you. I can’t betray.”

“You’re not betraying anyone. You’re saving yourself and you’re getting justice for Connor. You said yourself he was like your brother.”

“Billy, don’t be weak,” Carmen said.

“
Fenner, let her go!” Brendan yelled.

“No way.”

“Come on Billy. I love Joella, just like you love Roxy. I don’t want to lose her,” Brendan pleaded to him.

He loves me?

Billy got this look on his face. “I don’t love Roxy. I hate her. She ruined my life.”

Brendan gave me a look. Billy was going to come clean, I just knew it. He needed to be pushed further.

“If you hate me so much, how come you fuck me every chance you get,” Roxy said in the doorway holding a gun in her hand.

“Oh great, it’s a damn reunion,” Brendan said

Leave it to him to crack a joke. I gave him a serious look.

“I’m tired of protecting this bitch,” Billy spewed.

“What?” I asked.

“The night that Connor and I had the fight, Roxy went to his house “to make up with him.” I didn’t trust her, when I found out she was going there. Even though we had a fight, Connor and I, I still loved him. He was always there for me no matter what. I was very upset about the fight. I went there to stop her, but it was too late. She drugged him. She had told me she was going to see him and call a truce. She said they would have a couple beers and make up. I just knew she was up to something. She said on numerous occasions that she wanted him dead and out of her life.”

“Yeah, now that he’s gone, I can live my life with my daughter in peace. People make mistakes, but they can be erased.” Roxy said as she stood in front of the closed door.

I was in shock. I think my chin was on the ground. “So where does Carmen fit into all of this?”

“He’s Roxy’s husband. They have an open relationship.” Billy said.

“You can say that again.” I blurted out.

“Connor didn’t know that he was her husband and when he found out, he was pissed. It was too late, she was already pregnant. She would come around all the time and try to seduce him and then try to seduce me. She slept with both of us, at first we didn’t know, but she got me hooked on drugs and decided I was more useful to her. Connor was stronger. I needed the drugs so I kept sleeping with her. She tried to turn me against Connor every chance she could. The night that Connor came to her house, we hadn’t been speaking for a week. She planted stuff in my head about him. I was high as a kite. My world was torn apart when I found Connor dead. You have to believe me. I have nightmares about it. I drink and take pills not to think about it. Roxy supplies me drugs in exchange for my silence about her killing Connor and I also let her run her drugs through here.”

“Wait, hold on. Back it up… Roxy’s the drug dealer, not Carmen?’

Carmen wasn’t saying a word. Was he going to let his
wife
go to jail?

“Who are the guy’s that are always with Carmen?”

“They are Roxy’s employees,” Billy said.

“Listen, Bitch. You know too much, right now. You must die.”

“Roxy put the gun down,” Brendan said.

“No.” she said. She was becoming irate.

“How could you turn on me, Billy?” Roxy screamed at him. “You work for me. I own you.”

“Roxy, I’m tired of your shit,” Billy said.

“Carmen, kill her,” she yelled.

He hesitated. I was grateful for that. Someone needed to be sensible.

“Roxy, just surrender. It’s too late.” Carmen advised her.

“No honey, I can’t. Callie will be taken away.”

“She will be well taken care of,” he said.

“No, I’m not surrendering,” Roxy said as she aimed the gun in my direction.

I didn’t think she would have the guts to shoot me, but on the other hand she did kill Connor.

“Roxy, put the gun down,” Billy said. “It’s over.”

“You’re damn right it is,” Roxy said, as she pulled the trigger.

That was the last thing I remember before I saw stars and everything went black.

Chapter Twenty Two

Brendan

“Noooooo… Joella! Nooooo… Someone call a fucking ambulance!” I screamed out.

Roxy shot Joella in the arm between her shoulder and chest. Blood was everywhere. I tore off my shirt and wrapped it around her to apply pressure. Joella was still breathing, but she was passed out from all the blood loss.

Roxy tried to run, but Billy grabbed her. She had dropped the gun on the floor. Jeremy and the police squad came barging in. They put Roxy in handcuffs and took her out immediately. I sat on the floor with Joella in my arms holding her. I couldn’t lose her. She means everything to me.

“Come on, sweetie, stay with me. I love you. Come on I want to hear it back.”

“Where’s the fucking ambulance? I’m going to carry her myself.”

“Brendan, No, they’re here. They’re coming now, hold on buddy,” Jeremy said holding my shoulder.

“They’re here,
gawgeous
. They’re gonna save you. Please don’t leave me. I need you in my life. Come on, you’re going to be okay,” I cried out to her.

The paramedics took her off my lap. They started working on her. I wasn’t leaving her side.

“Brendan, let them work on her,” Jeremy said.

“I’m riding in the fucking ambulance with her.”

“Let’s go. They are taking her down.”

“Get the earrings out of her ears. They have everything. The one has a chip in it. It’s a video recorder. She has been taping
everything while undercover. The whole confession is on there.”

Jeremy looked at me. “I’ve known her for five years. She’s lucky to have you. Do you know about her fiancé?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s been hollow since that happened. Some things happen for a reason. Let’s go.”

I now knew how she felt over Roger’s loss. If I lose her, my world will fall apart. It’s amazing how someone can come into your life and affect it in such a short amount of time. I just want to hold her close and kiss her. I may never get that chance again.

I ran down the steps behind the stretcher. The paramedics were screaming stuff out. Her blood pressure was dropping. They were saying they needed to get her in surgery right away.

As I was getting ready to leave, I yelled for Mike to take charge and close the club. Billy and Carmen were both taken in by the police as well.

I didn’t even get to see her before they took her into surgery. They ran straight through the hospital doors and right to the operating room. I didn’t know what to do. I was left standing there. I just sat on the floor and cried. I cried for Connor. I cried for Joella.

A few minutes later, which felt like hours, I was being picked up off the floor by someone. It was my Ma. I needed her.

“Come on, baby, get up.”

“Oh Ma, I love her.”

“I know,” she said holding me in her arms the same way I held Joella.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Billy was arrested and Aunt Carol called me. She was beside herself. When I pulled up to the club, they sent me here.”

“Ma, it’s horrible. It’s all my fault.”

“How’s it your fault?”

“I put her in this situation. She was shot and I didn’t do anything to stop Roxy. I never thought she would shoot her.”

“You had no idea what was going to happen. I’m sure she wouldn’t blame you. I think you need to call her family or see if Jeremy has contacted them. He’s out in the hall talking to another policeman. I’ll go get him.”

I was grateful to have my Ma with me. She is my strength when I am weak. She was walking back with Jeremy and Jocelyn as well.

“I called Joella’s parents, Mildred and Tom. They are on their way up here with Joella’s
sister and brother-in-law. They should be here in a few hours. They’re taking a plane because the drive would take too long,” Jeremy explained.

“Thanks,
Jer, I love you man. Joc, can you call them and arrange everything. Pay for their plane fare and put them in the Holiday Inn near my house. Put all their expenses on my card.”

“Sure, Brendan.” Jocelyn said. “She will pull through she’s a tough girl.”

“I hope so. Thanks Joc.”

“I actually need to talk to both of you,” Jeremy said. “I know this is a tough time, Brendan, but there’s another issue that needs
to be addressed. Callie is being taken by the state. Roxy has no other family besides her husband, Carmen, but he’s been arrested as well.”

“Who’s Callie,” my Ma asked.

Jeremy saw the look on my face. He knew I didn’t want to tell her, so he did.

“Callie is Connor’s daughter.”

“What?” Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“Ma, I’ll tell you about it later.”

“One of you can pick her up from the state, but you are going to need proof that she is Connor’s child.”

“How are we supposed to get that?” My Ma asked.

“Go with Jocelyn to my house. There’s a file on my coffee table. The proof is in there. Joella was the one that figured this all out.”

“Can we use it? Is it Police property?” she asked.

“I can verify everything for you and confirm it with the state. I’ll go with you,” Jeremy said.

“She’s probably so scared. How old is she?”

“She’s seven. She was one when Connor was murdered.”

“What did you say?” A look of horror came over my Ma’s face. Jeremy slipped and he was kicking himself in the ass for it.

“It’s okay, Ma. I’ll tell you later. I promise. Just get Callie and bring her here. She’s met me a couple times at the club. I can’t believe I never put it together.”

“Will you be okay by yourself?”

“I’ll stay with him.” I turned around and Mike was standing in the doorway.”

“Hey Mike. Thanks for everything.”

“Sorry about Joella. She’ll pull through. I just know it. Do you mind if we talk?”

“Sure.”

Everyone else left to go retrieve Callie from the state. I know Connor would want that. I feel it in my heart.

“What’s up Mike?”

“Candy has my key. She is waiting for the police to leave. She will close up after they are gone.”

“Why is she there? I asked you to close up. I don’t know if I can trust her. I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”

“You can trust us. I need to talk to you. It’s important.”

“Okay.”

“I just want you to know that I have nothing to do with everything that’s going on. Billy is a good guy. He’s just fucked up right now. Connor’s death and the drugs are taking a toll on him.”

“I see that. It doesn’t excuse what he did. He protected a nut over my brother.”

“I know. I don’t know how to tell you this.”

“Just be straight with me, man. You’ve been working for me for six years.”

“I know. I don’t know how you’re going to react to this.”

“Try me.”

“I applied for the job. I begged Billy to hire me. I told him I was friends with Connor, which is true… I still am.”

“Excuse me? What are you talking about?” I sat there giving him a crazy look. I think he just told me that he’s friends with Connor still. “You do realize that Connor is dead right?”

“Connor is still alive. He lives in Louisiana.”

“That’s impossible. I saw him dead.”

“You saw him quickly at the morgue. He was not dead. He faked his death. He made the funeral parlor convince you to have a closed casket. He made them sign an agreement, never to reveal. He paid them $100,000. We set the whole thing up,” Mike explained.

“That’s why he needed $100,000. Where is he? I can’t fucking believe this. Where did he get the money, he asked me for it?”

“I gave it to him.”

“You? If you have money, why do you need a job as a bartender in a club? You know I’m scared to ask that question.”

“He asked me to work there to watch over you and Billy and report back to him. Billy has no clue. Roxy’s been using him to distribute drugs. She runs things and she succeeded in killing a guy that owed her money. Connor knew that she planned on killing him next. We pre-planned everything with the morgue and the funeral parlor. Roxy was so predictable that it was so easy to set up. She did exactly what Connor said she would do. She thinks she killed Connor. He has the proof of the other murder. He decided to break away because he was tired of Roxy’s shit and couldn’t handle not seeing his daughter. He needed to make his death seem real. Billy ended up hiring Roxy at the club. When this happened, Connor sent his fiancée “Candy” to work at the club and watch Roxy. She goes back and forth every other weekend to see him. That’s why she only works part-time.”

“I thought Candy had a thing for you.”

“We are usually discussing Connor or something of the sort.”

“He really had me fucking fooled. I don’t know if I should be pissed or happy. Pissed, because he lied to me or happy, because I have him back. Does he know what just went down?”

“I called him. He’s ready to come back home.”

“Oh, is he? That’s nice. How the fuck is he surviving down there?”

“I gave him start up cash. He owns some businesses and he has paid me back every penny that he borrowed from me.” He’s really happy. He has a son that’s four years old. His name is Connor as well.”

I was pacing the floor. I couldn’t believe the turn of events. My brother is an asshole, but I love him to death. I don’t know how I would have reacted if I was in his situation. I should be so happy because my brother is alive, but my mind is focused on Joella.

“When is he coming home?”

“Tomorrow. He is calling Jeremy tonight and telling him everything.”

“I need to worry about Joella.”

“I know. I’m sorry to put all of this on you.”

“I just can’t believe he went through all of this because of Roxy.”

“She kept threatening him.”

“My family has a bunch of nuts in it. I’ll tell ya. I need time to process all of this. I feel like
I’m
going nuts right now.”

“I understand. I’m going back to the club to relieve Candy.”

“Oh, my sister-in-law.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for taking care of him. Tell him I’m pissed, but I love him.”

“Will do.”

I sat there for the next hour dwelling over what Mike told me about Connor. It was too good to be true. I was also wondering what the fuck was going on with Joella. I was waiting for Joella’s family to arrive. Jocelyn said they were coming straight to the hospital.

I’m assuming this is her doctor coming at me down the hall.

“Are you Joella Soriano’s family?”

“Yes. We live together. How is she?”

“Great. I’m Doctor Mansfield. Can you come with me so we can talk?”

I followed the doctor. It didn’t sound good. I guess because I wanted him to say that she was okay and awake.

“Have a seat. What is your name?”

“Brendan Kirkpatrick”

“Mr. Kirkpatrick, I did surgery on Miss Soriano. We removed the bullet successfully. She lost a lot of blood. We had to give her a transfusion.”

“Oh, My
Gawd
.”

“I expect her to recover, but we put her in a medically induced coma for now. The next twenty-four to forty-eight hours are crucial.
Here’s my cell number in case you need anything.”

“Her parents and sister will be here very shortly from Philly.”

“Great. I can speak with them when they arrive just in case they have any questions.”

“Can I see her?”

“She’s in ICU. Two people at a time can go in. You need to wear gowns, gloves and masks. I’ll be in touch. Don’t hesitate to call. I will be here until tomorrow morning.”

“When will she be taken out of the coma?”

“If all goes well, possibly tomorrow.”

“Thanks…Doc?”

“Yeah?”

“I can’t lose her.”

“I’ll try my damn hardest to make sure you don’t.”

“Somehow I believe you.”

“She’s in room 285.”

I went to the ICU floor and told the nurse I was there to see Joella. I washed my hands and put the appropriate dressings on. The sounds of the machines were frightening. She looked so helpless. She was strong-willed and determined, so it hurt to see her lying there this way.

I held her hand and put my head on the bed.

“I know you can’t hear me, but I miss you. I know you’re still here but I want to see your pretty smile. I want you to yell at me or give me the sideways glance. I want to kiss you and tell you how sexy you are. I want to fight with you in car dealerships. I’d rather do all that than have you lying here like this. Your family is on their way here. I hope you’re not mad. Everyone cares about you and wants you to pull through. I don’t know if this is too soon to say, but I love you. When I see you this feeling overtakes my heart.”