13

 

       Tripp felt the throbbing start in his stomach and then his shoulder, he rolled over and groaned, he found Lee curled up in a ball beside him the cat by her head and the dog by her feet, the dog lifted his head and Tripp put his finger to his lips, the dog just looked at him and then went back to sleep. He looked at her sleeping form and tried to go back to sleep but the pain was starting to become unbearable. He turned the light on by the bed and set out towards the kitchen, he couldn’t remember much and his mouth tasted like a trash can, dirty and grungy, he shuddered and detoured to the bathroom instead to brush his teeth.

            “I think my painkillers are in there anyways.” He looked around and realized he was talking to himself and sighed. He really messed up tonight; he didn’t remember how he messed up but knew he did. He reached the bathroom and stared in the mirror, his skin had a deathly pallor to it and there was stubble growing in on his face. He looked in the medicine cabinet and smiled, his toiletries and his pills were right there. She was always thinking of him and he still hasn’t done much to return the favor, ok well saving her life was a big thing but what it boiled down to the bare facts, he really hasn’t treated her all that well. He spit into the sink and brushed his teeth harder grumbling, there was that Michael character that was nosing around. Tripp tapped out two painkillers and downed them; he rubbed the stubble growing on his chin and shrugged. He heard scratching outside the bathroom door and he tensed, it was probably just one of the animals that’s all.

    He smiled at his foolishness and smiled when the idea struck him, Tripp padded across the tile floor to the door and opened it. The cat bolted in and hid in the shower, he raised an eyebrow and tensed again there were voices coming from the bedroom. He closed his eyes and felt the pain killers starting to take effect, that was quick he thought. The cat hissed from the shower and he chuckled, it’s already bushy tail looking ten times larger. He heard the male voice louder now and gritted his teeth; it was time to actually get rid of this pest for the night. He looked at the cat and smiled savagely, “You don’t like him anymore than I do? Guess we’ll have to team up if you don’t bite him or scratch his eyes out then I’ll have to kick his a*s. I won’t let your mommy fall for his charms.” He reached out his hand carefully not to scare the cat, he really didn’t feel like being scratched either, the cat pushing her head against his hand, and purring loudly rewarded him.

            He smiled and scratched her head; he knew things were going to work out just fine. “That’s what I thought girl.” He examined his fuzzy reflection in the mirror and ran a hand through his hair, yes things will certainly be changing, he vowed to himself as he walked unsteadily into the hallway.

                Vincent was smiling and trying to charm the pants off the intriguing Miss Isabel, but she just wasn’t buying his charm and to top it off his dog refused to come near him. He eyeballed the pair and sighed inwardly it was a losing battle and he may as well just throw in the towel for the night. If it weren’t for Michael, Vincent probably would have had her in the sack and dead by the morning. He stared at the man coming back from the bathroom, the guy was unsteady on his feet and Vincent had the uncontrollable urge to just thrust a knife in his rib cage and watch him bleed. He shook his head and nodded at the other man who was regarding him with such suspicion Vincent felt like he knew all his secrets. He smiled and turned his attention back to the girl and the dog, he needed to get her away from him and then he can work his magic but how?

            “Hey Brandon your phone is ringing you may want to answer it?” He came out of his thoughts and pulled the phone out of his jacket pocket, he saw the number and wrinkled his brow, he didn’t know who it was and if it was the Van Bastian b***h she’ll leave a message.

            “That’s ok I’ll let voicemail pick up, so how are you doing Michael you look like you need some sleep.” He glanced over at Lena and she was staring at the other guy with concern in her eyes and there was something else. Vincent made a mental note and cursed again, this was definitely going to be harder than he thought.

            “Well I hope it wasn’t your girlfriend or someone calling, and we were sleeping before you knocked on our door, if you don’t mind, could you come back in the morning and chat?” Tripp ran his hands through his hair and caught the steely look in Lee’s eyes, she wasn’t happy and he was going to pay for that later. “Sorry dude, I’m just a bit cranky, I hope everything went well with the errands you had to take care of?” he sat down and put his arm around Lee she stiffened and he saw her clench her jaw, she was really pissed off this really wasn’t going to be good for him later.

     “I’m really sorry I just wanted to pick up my dog, I saw a light still on I honestly didn’t know you guys were sleeping.” Vincent smiled at Lena and she raised an eyebrow at him, ok the dumbass sitting next to her must have turned her into the frost queen and there was no way he was going to actually get to her tonight. He stood up and made his way to the door, “sorry guys but I must make a few calls and then head home you don’t mind keeping the dog until later today?” he winked at Lee and she smirked he felt even cockier when he saw the other guy flinch.

                 “It will be no problem I’ll bring him over when I wake, thanks for stopping by Brandon it’s always a pleasure to see you.” Lee smiled to herself and tried to suppress a laugh at the look Tripp’s face, she’ll show him for being jerk.

            “Great, maybe we can take the dog to the park and then go to lunch my treat.” Vincent flashed his best smile at her and knew he won this battle. Tripp eyeballed the guy and fought the urge to punch his teeth in. He looked at Lee and saw how smug and happy she was so he shrugged and smiled; let the guy have it his way this time he wasn’t going to argue.

                  “I’d love to it’s a date then.” She got up and went over to him and hugged him, she inhaled his scent and was overcome with hormones and other desires, she wanted to throw him down and rip his clothes off. She pulled away and smiled then showed him out the door.  Once he was gone she turned to Tripp who sat on the couch with his jaw hanging open, she crossed her arms and stared at him. “You really need to work on your manners, that was unnecessary and you know it, now I’m going back to bed you can sleep in your own damn bed since you’re up and doing fine.” She stalked down the hallway and slammed the door, Tripp heard the click of the lock and then let out a huge sigh, and the cat came around the corner and sat staring at him. He got up unsteadily and went to her door, well she may be pissed at him but that was no need to lock her own damn cat out of her room.

            “Hey bitchy mcbitcherson you left your cat out here,” he banged on the door again and heard nothing, he tried the handle and it turned. She sat on her bed holding the phone in her lap and looking as white as the walls. Something was wrong, horribly wrong. He made his way towards her and stood above her. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean the bitchy mcbitcherson comment.” He wanted to hold her but knew when she was mad just to let her come to him.

                   “It’s not that Tripp, we’re in bigger trouble than I thought. Ally left a voice mail, Biesel is dead, and Van Bastian has infiltrated headquarters.” She stared at him; he knew things had hit the proverbial s**t fan. “That’s not all Tripp, Sumyi was in on it, and Van Bastian knows where we are.” That last sentence hit him like hitting a brick wall he sat down beside her and stared at the rug.

                    “Is that all?” he swallowed the lump forming in his throat, he didn’t think he could handle anymore bad news but he knew there was going to be more coming and it had to do with the contract out on them. If she found out that he knew about the contract she really would not forgive him. The shock of the man who was like a father to him being dead filled Tripp’s veins with ice.

            “There is much more but I think you know about it, why didn’t you tell me?” she stared at him her eyes misting over slightly but he could tell by her tone that she felt betrayed.

            “I did it to protect you, I was hoping this could truly be a new start and that you would be able to have a regular life, I can protect you, I will.” He looked away he couldn’t bear to see the pain in her eyes anymore.

“We’re partners, how could you know something like that and not tell me?” she stood up and pacing. She made her way to the closet, found a bag, and started stuffing clothes into it.

            “What are you doing? We don’t have to leave until morning.” He wanted to get a hold of Vivian to see if she was ok. He caught Lee’s eye and knew he made a big mistake.

            “I’m going to see if I can stay with Brandon, keep the cat here with you, I don’t want to see you right now.” She whistled for the dog and they walked out the bedroom door, he heard the front door slam and then he lay back on the bed and felt himself slip into a pain killer coma.

Reviews

[Marie]

Love Tripp.