Billionaire Auction by Brynn Paulin

Chapter Eighteen

Kendrick lay still beneath Moriah’s hands as she kept them pressed to his wound. She couldn’t see through her tears.

“Ma’am, let me take over.” Frank knelt beside her and nudged aside her bloody hands. The guard looked torn apart, probably because he’d been forced to wait outside instead of being in here.

“He can’t die, Frank. He can’t…” A sob cut off her words.

Warm, feminine hands circled her shoulders, and the woman from Social Services guided Moriah to her feet. Two of the police officers dropped down next to Frank to help him.

“Paramedics will be here in a couple minutes,” the woman said. Though her words were calm, they trembled slightly. Gently, she edged Moriah toward the door.

“I can’t leave him!” Moriah protested. “I can’t…I… I promised to stay with him.”

“We’re not leaving. We’re just giving them space. I’m Nancy, by the way. I’ll stay right here with you.”

“Ma’am,” Mario said. Moriah blinked at him because she knew he hadn’t been there moments ago. She didn’t think he had anyway. Ever efficient, he handed her a damp cloth while he held a second one and a towel. When she didn’t move to clean up, he said, “Miss Jade will be back soon.”

Right. And her sister couldn’t be covered in blood. “I need to take care of her, but I can’t leave Kendrick,” she murmured, torn. Her eyes didn’t leave him for even a second as the three men leaned over him. Blindly, she wiped at her hands with the cloth. She didn’t even look when Mario took it from her. He grasped her arm and ran the other cloth over it.

“She has a nanny, correct?” Nancy asked.

“Yes,” Moriah answered numbly.

“We’ll take care of your sister,” Mario assured her.

“And…I’ll explain that her father is going away and that she will be in your care,” Nancy added. “With details appropriate for her age, of course. There’s no need to tell her exactly what’s going on.”

“Thank you,” Moriah said. She could barely think beyond knowing the man she loved lay on the floor bleeding out from being shot by her father—a shot aimed for her!

“Moriah,” Kendrick murmured. His eyes were closed and she wasn’t even sure if he was fully conscious.

“I’m here,” she said, moving closer.

“O-okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine. You protected me. My father’s been cuffed and taken out of here.”

“Should have already been god-damned cuffed,” Jones grumbled.

Moriah ignored him, though she figured she’d get answers later. Her father could be smooth. He’d probably asked them to preserve what little dignity he had left and to cuff him at the car rather than parade him past the staff while bound.

“I’ll…always protect…you,” Kendrick told her.

“I know,” she sobbed. “I know. Just…don’t… Just get better!”

“Never leaving you, kitten.”

Before she could reply, the EMTs rushed in and Kendrick passed out again. And he did leave her, because she wasn’t allowed to go with him. Because of his injuries, he was being transported via helicopter and only Frank was allowed to go.

Agony crushed down on her. Moriah couldn’t help but fear she’d never see Kendrick again, that he’d die before she was allowed at his side again.

* * * *

“I’m sorry, but you can’t go up. Only family or those on his approved list are allowed,” the nurse told Moriah.

“I’m not on his list? Moriah Cabraro?” Moriah repeated. Frank didn’t make sure she could get in? “I have my ID if you need it.”

“No. I’m sorry. I—”

The rest of her words were lost on Moriah as she backed away, her thoughts whirling. Frank had gone with Kendrick when he’d been airlifted while she’d gathered her purse, phone and car keys then driven to the hospital, leaving the police to comb over the house, with directions to Mario to help in any way they needed. Nancy, the social worker, was meeting Jade. Beyond her sister, Mariah’s only thought was in getting to Kendrick. And now…she couldn’t.

Feeling lost, she pushed her hand into her hair and looked around. She could sit in the waiting room until…

Until what? Until Kendrick remembered her? Or Frank? Or… God, what if he died. She could be sitting there waiting while he was… dead. Moriah choked on the thought, her chest going so tight with pain and panic she feared she might pass out.

She stepped back up to the desk. She had to ask. She had to… “He’s alive though?”

The attendant’s eyes filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry but I can’t give out any patient information.”

Right. Privacy laws.

Moriah nodded, not feeling any better. She didn’t know what to do.

“If you want to leave your contact information, I can make sure it’s delivered to his people.”

Moriah nodded again and took the paper and pen the woman offered then quickly wrote her first name and call phone number. After she’d handed it over, she left the hospital to go home to Jade. Her sister was supposed to be her main focus, her purpose in all this. She couldn’t lose sight of that.

She’d wait until Frank had her information and got this cleared up so she could see Kendrick. She’d take care of Jade and wait for Kendrick to call.

* * * *

He didn’t call. Frank didn’t call. And as the long days passed, Moriah grew surer that she’d been forgotten. Well, perhaps forgotten wasn’t the right word. More like pushed aside like an inconvenience one wished they could forget. She wouldn’t have thought that of Kendrick, but as the days stretched into three weeks, it became clear that despite his promises, he’d changed his mind. Perhaps, getting shot because of her had made that decision for him. Just in case, she’d tried to call him at the hospital a few times but hadn’t made it past the switchboard. Apparently, being a high-profile patient kept unapproved callers from getting through. She wasn’t approved.

Her bank account hold had been cleared, so she now had access to her cash. It felt like dirty money, but until she was settled with Jade and found employment, she had little choice other than to use it. She’d earned it, hadn’t she?

Moriah bit hard into her cheek, refusing to cry again. She took a deep breath and glanced over at her sister. They were mid-flight to Orlando where Moriah intended to take Jade to all the attractions. To the little girl who’d never really been anywhere, it was the trip of her young life. Right now, Jade had in headphones while she watched a movie on her tablet. Moriah, in the aisle seat, stared blindly over her at the clouds outside the small window. Silently, she vowed they’d have an adventure together while Moriah got her shit together. Meanwhile, the mansion was being closed down. It couldn’t be sold until Jof was in prison, but she’d seen to removing all of her and Jade’s things, storing them until she decided where they’d live.

She hadn’t felt an ounce of guilt when she’d cleared the cash from her father’s safe—the police had only wanted the files hidden in there. From the stash, she’d given the staff generous severance packages. Mario would oversee them through today, then everyone would be gone.

And now, she and Jade were essentially homeless. It was an odd feeling, having no real address, no place to call home. They were two people with no roots, no place to have mail delivered.

After their two weeks in Florida, Moriah would take care of that. She might not have her college degree yet, having another year to go, but she had experience, smarts and enough cash to see them through for a long while. She’d find them a small home, have their things delivered from storage and go from there.

An overhead announcement came on to tell them they were about to land, and Moriah nudged Jade. “We’re going to land. You need to shut down your movie.”

“Aw!” Jade protested.

Moriah clicked her tongue and gave a half shrug. “It’s the rules. You can watch it again once we get to the rental car, okay, sweetness.”

Jade gave a dramatic sigh. “Okay. Can we have McDonalds? I’m hungry.”

“Maybe. Or maybe…” She hadn’t told Jade where they were headed. “Maybe we can see what Disney has to eat.”

“Disney?” the little girl asked in hushed awe.

“Yes. We’re staying right there and doing all the things.”

Jade sucked in a breath, shaking in her excitement. “Moriah, you are the bestest sister in the whole world! Really? We’re going to see the princesses and Mickey?”

“Really.”

The little girl was practically jumping though belted into her seat. And the first joy Moriah had felt in weeks, slide through her, lightening the stone that had taken up residence in her gut. This was good. Coming here with Jade was the best decision she could make.

She held Jade’s hand as they landed, knowing everything was worth it. Jade had been her core reason. Knowing she was safe and happy was the world to Moriah, and her own personal drama faded—at least for now. She didn’t fool herself into believing it wouldn’t slam into her full force when she lay in bed tonight.

With Jade practically bouncing beside her the whole time—sometimes actually bouncing—Moriah gathered their luggage and picked up her rental car. She hadn’t lied when she’d told Kendrick she could drive. In fact, she was a great driver, something that came in handy in the Orlando traffic.

Jade talked a mile a minute and before Moriah knew it, they’d gotten to the resort and checked in. Her sister was still a ball of vibrating energy once they got to their suite, while Moriah sank bonelessly onto the couch. Jade would likely run her into the ground this week. Already mentally exhausted, Moriah would be physically exhausted, too. Probably not a terrible thing. Sleeping like the dead would keep her mind off Kendrick.

“Hey, Jade Bug,” she wheedled. “How about you go check out your room and give me a few minutes to check my messages, okay?”

“Than can we go see Mickey and Ariel?”

“We can try. I’m not sure we’ll find them, but we’ll have some fun. And find some yummy food,” she said, adding extra emphasis to the last.

“Good. I’m starving,” Jade replied with the over-drama of a typical six-year-old.

Moriah grinned. “Give me a few minutes then we can go wander.”

“Okay, Rye-rye.”

Jade skipped off while Moriah reached for her phone. It was still shut off from the flight, so she waited what seemed an eternity for it to boot up. It started ringing immediately with a number she didn’t know. Her brow scrunched as she looked at it, but before she decided to answer, the call went to voicemail.

Suddenly, notifications of missed calls and texts started popping up. The phone started ringing again. The same number. It was from her home area code, so taking a deep breath, she answered.

“Hello?” she said cautiously.

“Where the fuck are you?”

“Kendrick?” she breathed. Despite his harsh greeting, her heart soared at his voice.

“Moriah,” he growled in warning. “Where are you?”

His tone pulled her from her shock and surprising anger leapt up in its place. “Where are you?”

“Trying to find you.”

“Funny, no one’s bothered to call me or send me any messages in the past three weeks. When the hospital wouldn’t let me in, I give them my information for your people. Nothing. Way to show me how much I matter as I sat worrying myself sick over you, wondering if you were dead or alive. It’s okay though—”

“Moriah—”

“No, really, it’s okay. I get it. It was just a…fling, I guess. You were saying all the right things to make me comfortable. Flings shouldn’t expect hospital-room access. It’s not like I was actually your fiancée or something.”

“No! I—”

“It’s fine. I get it. I’m fine. Apparently, you’re fine—and I’m happy for that. Now, it’s time to move on. Thanks for the memories.”

“No, it’s—”

“Rye, my stomach’s growly. I wanna go see Mickey,” Jade said from a few feet away. Moriah held up a finger for her to wait a second.

“I have to go,” she told Kendrick. “I’m glad you’re well. I—”

“No—”

“’Bye, Kendrick.”

“Moriah, don’t you hang—” he was yelling as she disconnected.

Standing, she powered off the phone then tossed it on the couch before holding out her hand to her sister. Inside, she was broken. Kendrick sounded great. Absolutely fucking perfect, and here, she’d been losing her mind over how bad the shot must have been. But when nothing had been reported on the news, she’d known. Hearing him so hale and demanding drove that point home.

She just wasn’t that important to him.

Where the fuck are you?

Kendrick’s tone had made it clear he obviously expected a relationship of convenience with her, for her to wait around to answer his beck and call. Pfft. Nope. She didn’t have time for his games—not with Jade to care for. Kendrick couldn’t even bother to have his people contact her to let her know he was okay or better yet, call her himself to let her know he was thinking of her, that he wanted her to come see him in the hospital, that he missed her…or that he loved her. For three weeks, she’d been so sure he didn’t want her anymore. And when she’d finally come to terms with that heartbreaking fact, he had the nerve to call her.

“Come on, you,” she beckoned Jade, deciding here and now to move on. “Let’s go have lunch then find some fun.”

“Yay!” Jade squealed, resuming her exuberant jumping. “I wanna be a princess!”

Moriah smiled. “Don’t we all.”