But I believed her. That was the sickest, most shocking part of it all.
Brielle was probably right.
“Because I didn’t think she was really capable of it!” she shouted back. “Sam was my friend, Max. I didn’t want to think she would really do that. I mean, for heaven’s sake, I had a bruised rib and a slice on my head! Those guys assaulted me and who knows what would have happened if that truck hadn’t come down the road! If Sam planned that out, then she did that to me. Don’t you get it?”
I balled my fists, wanting to rip into something. “So what? You just let it go? You don’t say anything at all? Damn it, Brielle.”
“No! I did! I did ask her about it. She said that was crazy and that she was raped. She went crazy, Max, sobbing. Shaking. She asked how I could think that and if I knew what it felt like to be raped. I felt so sorry for her that I never brought it up again. But after all of this with Kari . . .” Brielle looked at me. “I’m sorry, Max. I should’ve said something to you sooner. But who wants to think that someone would do something like that?”
“I’m going to find her.”
“No, you’re not. It’s a bad idea. Just, I don’t know.” She blew out a breath. “I just feel so stupid. It’s no secret I don’t really like Kari, but now I wonder if everything I heard from Sam wasn’t a lie. Wasn’t some twisted mess.”
I grabbed my Saints hat off the floor and stuck it on my head. “I’m going to get to the bottom of all of this, I promise you. If you’re right, she let you be assaulted, Brielle. Forget even what she did to Kari—she let some guy rough you up! Fuck her!” I turned to leave. “Stay away from that crazy bitch from now on. Hear me?” I asked as I walked out the door, not waiting on an answer.
I jumped in my truck and backed down the driveway, dialing a number.
“Hey, Nick, it’s Max Quinn,” I said, calling the private detective Cane used. “Can you run a quick check on a Joe Dumas for me? I’d really appreciate it.”
KARI
“My shift is over, but Chandra will be taking my spot. If you need anything, you just press the button, okay?” I smiled at the old lady in the hospital bed. We were just waiting for a bed to open up for her on the floor and she’d be transferred out of the ER. She was sweet, such a kind smile. I hoped that she would have family come and sit with her soon. I hated when people were alone and this poor little thing had been alone all day.
She patted my hand and nodded and I left the room. I headed to the nurse’s station and gathered my things to leave. I was meeting Isa for a late lunch and was looking forward to it. She wanted to see my ring and help me plan the wedding. Apparently Isa had already talked to Fern and expected some grand affair; I was going to disappoint them both.
“You done for the day?” Connor asked, leaning against the doorway with a chart in his hand.
“I am. Having lunch with a friend this afternoon to talk all things wedding.” I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
“Are you going to be one of those Bridezillas?”
I bit out a laugh. “Uh, no. I’ve had enough crazies for a while.”
“What’s that look about?” he asked, watching me intently.
“Max has . . . I don’t know. A stalker? A friend of his family that I think is kind of obsessed with him. The one I was telling you about before.”
“Be careful with that. I’ve had my fair share of those. Women can be crazy.” He widened his eyes, making me laugh. “What? When you look like me, Kari, it comes with the territory.”
“Oh my gosh,” I laughed harder. “That’s rich.”
He shrugged and winked at me. “On a serious note, is everything okay? Stalkers can be dangerous.”
“This one is certifiable, but I think it’s under control.” I tossed my bag over my shoulder. “So, how was your weekend?”
He rolled his eyes, heaving out a sigh. I could see that he hadn’t rested much and that he was weighed down by something. When he first started at the hospital, he was young and fresh. He just seemed so much more worn down.
“I spent most of it here. The part that wasn’t spent here was consumed by dealing with my mother. She heeded my advice and tried to contact her other son, but apparently he doesn’t want anything to do with her. She’s devastated and is now blaming me.”
“Oh, Connor. I’m sorry. You were just trying to do the right thing.”
“A good deed never goes unpunished. Isn’t that what they say?”
I nodded. “It is. But maybe he’ll come around. It had to be a shock to him to hear from her out of the blue.”
“I’m sure. And I can’t blame him if he doesn’t want to rekindle some relationship with her. But now she’s heartbroken and I feel like shit.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t. You did what you thought was best.”
“Yeah.” He gave me a sad smile. “Go. Go have lunch and plan your wedding to the man that is lucky enough to call you his fiancée.”