Yesterday Is Ours (The Yesterday Series Book 3) Page 15

  “Take it easy, man. This is a new truck since Whit is driving my old one. You’re about to beat it to hell.”

  I snag my dead phone from my back pocket. My girl drained it trying FaceTime out and checking out every single one of my apps. Didn’t think about charging it this morning and have to plug it into Jessie’s charger, then flop back in my seat. “No way a freaking wreck would stop the highway for four hours. Four fucking hours and we still have an hour and a half to go.”

  “Shut up and sit back,” Jessie barks. “You have no idea how close I am to turning this around and going back home.”

  “Try it,” I seethe at him.

  “I’ll knock you out with one punch,” Max pipes up, “if you don’t get your shit together.”

  I have no other choice but to relax and regret every single damn second of leaving my girls. What a freaking idiot. Yeah, Bertie has options, but from this point on, I’ll be involved in every single second of them. I just witnessed a little girl nearly being run over with all the life taken from her. This shit’s over. Game over. I’m in her life, and if she doesn’t like the choice I make, she can kiss my ass, and then I’ll make her coffee.

  An hour out. Clear highways. Jessie is pushing the speed limit. Thirty minutes out. Jessie still pushing the speed limit. Twenty minutes out and my cell phone goes off. A shrilling ring lights up the cab of the truck, cutting through the thick silence. I’m no fool and have felt the frustrations of my friends with each mile that has passed by.

  By the time I grab my phone, the call has ended. Reaching under the seat to where it slid, I finally find it, barely managing to wrap my fingers around it. It takes all my flexibility and strength to bring it up to my face.

  Missed Call: Bertie.

  I squeeze the phone so damn tight it slips right back down on the floorboards.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I roar.

  I do the same thing, grabbing for the phone. It begins ringing before I have the chance to redial her number. It’s a FaceTime call. I press the green button before thinking twice. There’s some weird nose then complete darkness.

  “Cody?” I ask.

  Darkness. No bright blonde curls on display. Nobody responds.

  “Cody, are you there?”

  Again, nothing but blackness. A scream fills the background.

  “Get out!”

  “Stop.”

  “Garrett. No!”

  The sound of Bertie fighting for her life echoes around the cab since she’s on speakerphone.

  “Cody, are you there?”

  “Yes.” A slight whisper comes through the end of the phone.

  “Where are you?” I whisper.

  “Under my blankets.”

  “Good girl.” I glance over to Jessie, giving him a nod. He picks up on it, pushing the limits of speed.

  “Where’s Scotty?”

  “I-I-uh, don’t know.”

  “Probably sleeping.” My words are cut off with another scream of horror. “You stay right where you are.”

  “Junior.”

  “I’m coming. I’m only a few minutes away.” I glare at Jessie again, urging him to run red lights or whatever the hell he has to do.

  “You went home. Momma needs help.”

  “She does, and I swear I’m coming.” I pause, gripping my forehead. “Cody, please, please do not leave where you are.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “I know, baby girl. I’m almost there.”

  “You promise?”

  “Double pinky promise with sprinkles on top.”

  “He’s hurting Mommy.”

  I shoot straight up in my seat. “I see your house. I’m here.”

  “You are.” Her voice peps up.

  “Yes, but.” I raise my voice into a stern tone. “Cody, don’t you dare come out of your blankets, do you hear me? If you hear my voice, you stay put. Don’t you dare move.”

  “O-Okay, but how will I know?”

  “I’ll slide a yellow marker under the door.”

  “Okay, Junior.”

  “Cody, I’m giving my phone to my friend Max, okay? Don’t you dare hang up. You talk to him. Remember Finn that I told you about?”

  “Yeah. He’s weird like me.”

  “He is. And this is his dad. He’ll talk to you. I’m going to save your mom.”

  Max grabs the phone after ending his call with 911. Jessie brings the truck to an abrupt stop in the driveway. He killed the headlights when he pulled in. It devastated me giving the phone to Max. I’d give anything to be Cody’s lifeline, but with her shrilling cries, I have no choice.

  The garage door is open with the light illuminating out. Then I see it: blood, pools and pools of it. Nell lies unconscious on the ground. Jessie stays back, tending to her while I burst into the house. There’s an eerie silence that coats the hollows of the house. Scotty doesn’t even make a peep.

  I take the steps two at a time. A dull glow comes from Cody’s room. She’s listened to me, remaining tucked under blankets talking to Max. Her sweet little whispers float out into the hall. She’s safe. I move on. It’s what I see next that turns my blood ice cold.

  Bertie, beaten and shattered, is sprawled out on her bed. She’s like a starfish, strung out taut. Her blonde hair is no longer recognizable, her features a thing of the past. I remain still, shock taking over my body. Her lamp lies on the carpet, broken and the glass shattered.

  “Hey, baby, that ring looks great.” Garrett strides out of her bathroom, rolling up his sleeves. “We can tell my parents you were in an accident. I know how to wreck a car without the police looking into it.” He nears the bed. “Oh, and we can tell the authorities your lawyer was some cheap bastard looking to take down a Chief of Surgery to make a quick buck.”

  He leans down, brushing back her hair. It takes everything inside me not to leap into action and beat the life out of the fuck.

  “I’ll always be here for you, Roberta.” He kisses her lifeless forehead. “We can buy that daughter of yours a new dog, too.”

  Garrett settles on the bed, giving me his backside while he whispers fucked-up promises to Bertie. I wait seven, eight, nine seconds before making a move. If he sees me coming, who knows what he’d do to Bertie?

  I’ve never known what self-constraint was until now. Everything before was child’s play. I don’t give a shit if he sees me or not. That mother-fucker’s hands don’t deserve the grace of her skin. The enchanted, self-centered son of a bitch doesn’t even pick up on my footsteps tromping on the plush carpet towards him. It’s when my boot squishes in crimson blood that I see red.

  I don’t think. I don’t care about anyone but the primary goal of killing Garrett. That bastard will flatline under my own hands. I clock the bastard in the back of the head. My knuckles creak and crack when they collide with the base of his skull.

  It’s enough to knock him off the bed. I pounce on him, throttling the hell out of his face until he’s limp, but it’s not enough. My hands wrap around his neck, squeezing until I don’t feel anything below them.

  “Cody,” a whisper comes.

  I swear it’s my imagination.

  “Junior, please.” It’s softer this time. “I need you.”

  I glance up, squeezing tighter on the motherfucker’s throat, to see Bertie staring at me, pleading with her gaze.

  “Cody needs you.” Her hand flops to the side.

  I leap up into action, making sure to stomp on Garrett’s chest and throttle him in the ribs with my boots. I grab her in my arms, cradling her to my chest.

  “Junior.”

  I look up to see Bertie’s mini-me staring at me with a frightened stare.

  “Just a minute, baby girl. Hang up on Max and call 911.”

  I scoop Bertie up in my arms. Her body is heavy and utterly lifeless. My knees weaken at once, but I carry on for the little girl in the middle of the hall.

  “Go downstairs. Get out to the garage, baby girl. I’m right behind. So is your momm
y.”

  She follows my instructions, racing down the steps and out into the garage. Cody trips on the first step, but I see it. Scotty’s bloody body next to Nell’s. Jessie sees us, doing his best to cover it all up.

  “Daddy!” Cody’s voice screams. “Daddy, I’m so scared.”

  Max grabs Bertie from my arms. Parts of me want to punch him straight in the face, and the others are thankful.

  “Come here.” I open my arms to Cody. She races into them, burying her face in the crook of my neck.

  “I got you, baby girl.” I run my hand up and down her back. “I got you.”

  She sobs and wails in my arms. Her tiny feet are kicking against my stomach. “I’m so scareded, Dad.”

  “I know. I have you, sweet girl.” I continue to run my hand up and down her back, knowing the trauma she’s gone through has been hell and she’s talking to the picture frame near her bed.

  “Jun—Dad, please help me.”

  Her words stun the shit out of me. I remain quiet for a few ticks and then speak, clutching her tighter to me. “I’m not letting you go, Cody. I won’t let you go.”

  “Mom was so bloody.”

  Red and blue lights serenade the inside of the garage. “Yes, she was.” I rub my hand faster up and down her back. “But I hear your crazy uncle Trent is working. He’ll take real good care of your mom.”

  “Where’s Scotty?” she cries out.

  I don’t have a chance to answer her before the cops are yelling in our faces. It’s Max who comes to the rescue, telling them exactly where Garrett is. The rest is a blur. All I do know is that I keep my sweet little girl in my arms tucked against my chest until we get word on her mom and my future wife.

  Chapter 19

  Cody

  There was so much damn blood. I can’t get over the horror scene I walked into. Closing my eyes, relaxed back on the waiting room chair, it’s all I still see, even with sweet Cody cuddled against my chest and asleep. Minutes feel like hours and hours like an eternity as we wait and wait. Max and Jessie forced me to quit pacing a while ago.

  Nell is being treated for a concussion and getting some stitches. She ended up with a nasty head wound, hence all the blood.

  “Max, can you take her? I’m going to check in again.”

  He nods, taking Cody from my arms and settling down onto a worn leather couch.

  “I’m coming with you,” Jessie adds. “We don’t need your temper flaring up. It won’t get you anywhere.”

  I nod, not giving a shit what he says or anyone else for that fact. She has to be okay. She just has to be. I pace the hallway outside the ER until I spot a nurse.

  “Excuse me, is there any word on Bertie Cooper?” I’m quick to correct myself. “I mean Roberta Cooper.”

  “Are you family?” she asks.

  I stall, knowing it’s going to take a lie here. More than likely, this nurse knows Bertie from working at the same hospital. She’s an only child. I’m not sure how public Bertie has made that fact.

  “I’m her brother.” I run my hands through my hair. “Got here as fast as I could. Can I see her please?”

  “And you are?” She points to Jessie.

  “Just a friend of his.” He hitches me a thumb towards me. “Here for moral support.”

  “Okay, give me a few minutes to go check. Wait here, and you won’t be able to go back just yet.” She points at Jessie.

  “Thank you.” I clasp my hands on top of my head in relief.

  “Cody, you need to keep your cool.” Jessie slaps a hand on my shoulder. “You don’t need to go getting upset and losing your shit at the sight of Bertie. The cops will be here anytime to question you.”

  I nod, continuing to wear holes in the tile.

  “The last thing Bertie and Cody need is your ass behind bars.”

  “I was protecting her,” I grit out.

  “I know that. You know that. And she knows that, man. But you really fucked him up, so you’ll really need to keep your cool when they interview you. Keep all emotions out of it and stick to the facts.”

  I nod, knowing he’s right. “I will. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize being away from my girls.”

  “Sir.” The same nurse pokes her head out from behind a door. “You can come back.”

  Jessie squeezes my shoulder. “Keep your cool and be strong for her.”

  I don’t reply, following the nurse, balling and unballing my fist and then shaking out my fingers. I never wanted to smell the stale, putrid aroma of a hospital again. But here I am, breathing it in.

  “She’s been through quite a lot of trauma. She’s awake, but if we can’t get her to settle down, then she’ll have to be sedated. She keeps calling for a Cody.” I burst past the nurse, striding to Bertie’s bedside.

  “Baby, I’m here.”

  Her head whips to the side. At the sound of my voice, she erupts into uncontrollable tears.

  “Hey, hey, none of that.” I kiss the top of her head. “I’m here.”

  She struggles to get words out but can’t through her hiccupping sobs.

  “Ssssshhhh, baby, listen. Cody is fine, Nell is fine. Everything is all good.” I kiss the top of her head. God, I want her lips, but they’re cracked and swollen. Her face has been beaten so badly she’s unrecognizable.

  “Garr—” She points to her face. “Did.”

  “Sssshh.” I nod, agreeing with her. “He’s in custody.”

  Which isn’t a full lie, but I did leave out that he’s also here in this hospital in far worse shape than she is. Jessie is right; I’m going to have to play my cards smart when I’m interviewed.

  “Cody,” she stutters out.

  “She’s out in the waiting room with Max and Jessie. Nell is getting stitches. Everyone is just fine,” I repeat over and over, hoping to offer her some comfort.

  “Jules.” She pauses, gulping down, her dry lips sticking to each other. “Want her to take care of Cody.”

  “Yeah, baby, she’s on her way up. We are all here for you.”

  I catch sight of a nurse walking by. “Hey, excuse me?”

  Moments later, the curtain is pulled back by the same nurse. “Yes?”

  “Can she have some ice chips or something?”

  “Just a moment. I’ll be right back.” She disappears behind the curtain.

  It’s a good thing Bertie is still in the ER and not rushed into surgery. That’s what I keep telling myself over and over. It doesn’t take away the fact she’s so beaten it brings me to my knees. The nurse returns with the ice with strict instructions to not to overdo it.

  “Now.” Bertie struggles to raise an arm.

  “Okay, just one, baby.” I dig the smallest one from the cup, placing it between her lips, making sure to wet her lips.

  “I love you, Cody,” she whispers, moving the ice cube around in her mouth.

  “Don’t talk, baby.” I want more than anything to cup her cheeks. “Everything is fine.”

  Once the ice cube melts in her mouth, she speaks. “I want to go home.”

  I hold my wince inside, feeling it tug on my insides. I don’t dare to tell her. Scotty didn’t make it. He fought the battle until Nell showed up. Tears build up in my eyes thinking about my old buddy.

  “Okay, baby, you need to rest here, and then I’ll take you to your house.” I mentally calculate all the manpower I have on my side. My family will pull through. They’re not blood but so much more. They’ll clean up the mess. “You just need to rest, baby.”

  “No.” She manages to reach up and squeeze my wrist. “No, I want to go home with you, back to your place.”

  “You do?” Jesus, it takes everything inside of me to not devour her lips.

  “My home is where you are, Cody Sterling. It always has been.”

  I give her another ice cube as she coughs over her words. I give her seconds to let it melt against her tongue.

  “I always knew it was where I belonged,” she whispers, with her eyelids fluttering shu
t.

  As much as it pains me to leave her touch, I rush to the curtain, ripping it open and hollering for a nurse. She reassures me it’s the medicine they’ve given her and that she’ll be coming in and out.

  She quirks a brow at me. “And I’ve never seen a brother so cozy with his sister.”

  I clear my throat, no way in hell ready to be kicked out of the room. “We are a close-knit family. I’m her only living sibling, and we, uh, lean on each other.”

  “Sure.” She shakes her head. “The doctor will be a while. Whatever and however you two do things, just stay by her side. She needs you.”

  “Sure thing.” I wink, thankful as hell she’s letting me stay with Bertie.

  I go back to her, lacing my fingers in hers, rocking back and forth, hoping like hell she remembers saying it and even more it’s what she truly wants. Hours tick by as Bertie remains in her peaceful slumber. I check my phone every few minutes. It remained on silent, but I’ve found out Jules made it and has little Cody at a hotel room where she never woke from her slumber. I can’t imagine the fear Cody will experience waking up in an odd place with an unfamiliar face after what she went through the past few hours.

  There’s no one else I’d trust besides Jules. I don’t even have to remind her to FaceTime. She’ll know exactly what to do. The next text message that comes through is that Nell is with Jules in the hotel suite. It lays some of my nerves to rest.

  “Cody.” Bertie stirs in the bed, gripping my hand.

  “I’m here, baby.” I keep hold of her hand, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “I’m here. Everyone is safe,” I repeat over and over again.

  Not long after she stirs awake, the fucking doctor finally appears. The nurse’s words “it will be a while” was a complete lie. It was more like hours.

  “Doctor Roberta Cooper, it’s good to see you awake.”

  “Bertie.” A dry cough splutters deep from her throat. “Don’t call me Roberta.”

  He rubs his temples and starts over again. “Okay, Bertie, it’s nice to see you awake.”

  He pauses, but nobody talks, so he takes it upon himself to carry on.

  “Thank you, Doctor Reid,” she croaks.

  Of course, she knows him. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable this has to be for her. The pain she’s experiencing trumps all of it.