[Ash]
"You're sure you'll be okay?" I ask once more.
"Better than okay, really, all the Real Housewives is really helping the healing process." Camille flat out pushes me onto the porch. "Go home Ash, there's an actual baby that needs you there."
I hesitate, but concede. She's right, I've been gone all day. My sister comes first. "Okay, just... feel better then."
"I'll certainly try." She tips an imaginary hat at me then turns to shut the door.
"Wait." I stick my hand out.
"Yeah?"
I push her golden hair back behind her ear and press a kiss to her forehead, partly to check her fever, mostly to have my lips on her once more.
"Goodnight, Camille."
"Good. . . ahem. Goodnight." She blushes and ducks back into her house.
The Doctors' Collins normally work late, it worries me that she's home alone so much. Part of the reason I subtly encourage her to stay with me more.
I rev the engine in my Porsche and speed out of the gated community, heading for Audrey Rose and Brookdale.
My phone rings on bluetooth and my Mother's name lights up the screen. This can't be good.
"Asher Klein speaking." I answer.
"Perfect as always darling." She titters over the line.
"What can I do for you mother." Strictly business as always.
"I was calling to check in with you about Paris."
"What about Paris? I'll be there."
"Your father told me you insist on bringing the baby. Make sure your sister doesn't cause a fuss on the plane."
"Your daughter, will be no trouble at all, I'm sure she'll love to see you both as well." I smart.
"Very well. You'll be working on the Clements Account this summer, you were specifically requested." Of course I was.
"Alright, Goodnight Mother."
"Good afternoon for me, but yes goodnight for you I suppose."
She cuts out with a click and I sag into my seat, pressing harder on the gas pedal. Family is not the Klein way. Audrey Rose doesn't deserve that.
I pull into Brookdale only for my phone to ring again. It's Liam
"Hello?." I greet tiredly.
"Asher? Oh hello sweet boy, you never visit anymore! Though I suppose that's a good thing."
"Ms. Lucy?" It's Liam's aunt. Why was she calling me? And from his phone? My stomach rolls.
"Yes dear, you're Liam's emergency contact. You and Samuel."
"What's wrong?" I slam on my breaks in the middle of the lot.
"He came stumbling into my house a few minutes ago, calling for you and denying an ambulance."
"I'm coming just hold on." I glance up longingly at the penthouse but race out of the lot anyways. She'll be safe.
"I have him stable, but he's demanding you."
"Alright, thank you. I'll be there." I end the call and a dark look takes to my face.
I don't like this. Emmett shows up yesterday and today Liam is stumbling to his Aunt's out of his mind? He makes point to never bother the poor widow outside of school.
I don't want to have to make a mess that even I won't be able to clean up.
***
[Liam]
He tackled me and it didn't take me long to have him on his back. Didn't he learn his lesson yesterday? Before I know it he's reaching back with a switchblade and raking it across my chest. Not deep, but shocking.
I begin to bleed immediately. I won't win this fight unarmed, I can't drive sliced in half either. Lucy lives nearby though.
I kick his head into the pavement and take off running. The snow is blinding when I turn onto Main Street. Five more blocks and I'll be okay.
What is his deal? Sam never did anything to him. If anything, he should be watching his ass praying Ash and I don't put him in the ground for what him and his brothers did to Sam.
I stumble and cough, my shirt is soaked with blood and my head spins. I hadn't expected him to fight dirty, though I don't know why.
The audacity to jump me in the parking lot moments after my friends left. . . it's laughable.
My knuckles come down on the cheery yellow door. I hear footsteps inside, but I'm already swaying on my feet.
"Liam?"
"Lucy help." I breathe. "Ash, call Ash."
My hands are slippery with my own blood when I fumble for my phone.
"Liam James Davis! You have some serious explaining to do. Shirt off, now." She orders. "I'm calling an ambulance."
"Please, Lucy. . ." I groan in pain. "Don't, it's too expensive."
She does as I ask.
It's been so long since I was in this house. I love my Aunt Lucy, but really, she's always been a painful reminder of my mom. It's hard enough seeing her at school.
I peel my shirt off with a grimace and collapse on her kitchen floor. My head is spinning. He brought a fucking knife.
My last thought is this: I so badly want to play lacrosse with everyone. To be good at something non-destructive. My heavy eyes close.
***
[Ash]
"Ms. Lucy." I greet her with a clipped tone.
"He's in the kitchen here." She guides me through her home and on the island, Liam's chest is bared.
"Did he say who did it?" I ask. Deep down I know. Emmett.
No one from here would dare jump Liam. They know who backs him and what the consequences are. At the very least from a business perspective. He's one of my best fighters. But to attack him knowing he's basically family? It never happens. Never has, never will.
"No! Asher, dear, please tell me what's going on. She wouldn't like this one bit." Liam's Aunt refers to her sister. She's right, the late Mrs. Davis wouldn't like it at all.
"Can you stitch him up here?" I try to stay level headed, I don't want to scare the poor woman.
Inside I'm boiling. Untapped, barely contained, rage fills me. I hate being out of control. Emmett is an unwanted wild card in the midst of a deck that's already seemingly stacked against us all.
"Are you crazy?" Ms. Lucy shrieks. "I'm only a school nurse for starters. Second of all, you cannot perform surgical sutures in a kitchen. He refused an ambulance though."
"Is it safe to move him?" His life is in no danger, but it's best to get him sewn shut sooner rather than later.
"If it's just to Somerset General, then it should be alright. I'll call ahead for you."
"Ask for Dr. Collins to meet me." The power of networking boys and girls.
I set Liam's heavy body on my backseat with a huff. I really hoped I'd never get blood on the leather again. I floor it towards the North hill that houses SGH and as promised there's a team of interns waiting to take him.
"Ash! Is everything alright?" Dr. Collins asks alarmed. "Who is that boy?"
"That's my broâbest friend. He was jumped tonight." I watch him get carted off. "Nothing serious, but his Auntâwho's a nurseâthinks he may be in shock."
"It certainly does seem like we're headed for a blizzard. It's been a few years since the last one, but none of us expected another this late in the season."
"I'm his emergency contact, he's an orphan. I'll settle billing and all that."
"You will?" Camille's mother raises a brow.
I ignore her scruples and try to control the ticks seizing me. I haven't seen Audrey Rose all day, Camille is home alone, Sam is MIA, Liam is in trauma, and now I'm going to have to deal with Emmett fuckface Milligan.
"Get back to work, Dr. Collins, I'll be just fine here."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, thank you." I give her a genuine, warm smile.
"Strange, wonderful boy." she murmurs to herself, turning away to answer her page.
I school my face, but restless energy rises in me. No one else needs to know what happened tonight, least of all Sam. What I can do now is put the metaphorical bomb into a box and tie a neat little bow on it. I step into a quiet hallway to make a call.
"I need a discrete profile on Emmett Milligan. New SHS transfer. Get me files on him and his immediate family, all except Samuel."