“You two need therapy,” I laugh, taking my daughter away from Torch. “Give her to me, and if her first words have anything to do with you-know-whats, I’m coming after both of you.”
I think it’s the first real smile I’ve had in days. I follow Katie and Torch down the hall, suddenly feeling hungry. We’ve only taken a few steps before the inevitable happens though: we run into Skull. It’s much worse than I imagined, however, because not only is he there, but he’s standing with—
“Dr. Torres,” Katie growls, standing in front of me and Gabby as if to protect us. It’s sweet, and there was a time I needed it. Not now. I’m not backing away anymore. It’s amazing how much strength you find when your world is shattered.
“Sweetness, they’re not…”
“If you dare tell me that Skull and her aren’t fucking, that woman on your shirt is the only woman who will be sucking your dick,” Katie growls. I cover Gabby’s ears because I think my daughter might be hearing a little too much today. Still, even with my pain, I could almost laugh. Torch is wearing a shirt that has a woman on her knees in front of a man obviously diving down on his cock. She’s got a ball and chain on her ankle and above the picture is the caption: “Off the market”. At the bottom is another caption: “My wife makes me happy”. I never thought I’d see Torch so crazy over a woman. The fact that it’s my sister is even more surreal, but I love them together. They’re good for each other in ways Skull and I could never manage, even when it was good.
“I was going to say Skull and Beth aren’t together anymore,” Torch says, bringing me out of my thoughts. His words are like a slap across the face.
“That…”
“Katie, stop,” I tell her, walking around them to face the woman I might just hate more than anyone in the world right now. Since Matthew and Colin are still alive, that’s saying something.
“Torch is right,” Skull says, his face looking unmovable. It might be my imagination, but there’s a hint of discomfort about him. I’m glad. I want to make him uncomfortable. Maybe he’ll let me leave sooner. “We’re not together. I’m not sure we ever were,” he says, his eyes locking on mine. Okay, maybe I was wrong. He’s not uncomfortable; just a fucking asshole.
“Gabby would seem to argue with that point,” I remind him quietly.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Gabby yells, pulling on my hair.
I turn my attention to her. “That’s right, baby. Let’s go find you some food.”
I start to walk around them, and Skull stops me. “You don’t have a right to be upset.”
“I never said I was upset, Skull. Why would I be? You’re right. We’re not together, we’re nothing anymore.”
I keep my face blank, even if inside I feel like I’m dying.
“I think I’ll just go, amante,” Teena says, and I want to scratch her eyes out. I can’t stop myself—even if I should.
“Things are starting to get so clear. Tell me, doctor, when you delivered Skull’s little package to me, did you really intercept it in admissions like you said? Or did he just give it to you after you two had fun in the bedroom?”
“I…”
“I bet you knew all along who I was. Right? I mean, why else would you even think to come to me? The envelope clearly said Beth Donahue, a name I would never use. And how could I have been the only Beth in the whole hospital?”
“You were the only Beth in the maternity wing,” she defends, but she doesn’t look in my eye.
The bitch is lying. “Sure, I was. And you, a person who has lived here forever, never realized who Skull was enough to tell me what he looked like?”
“What are you talking about?” Skull asks, but I ignore him.
“Listen, Beth, I realize that you’re upset, but I don’t have anything to do with this. What Skull and I share came along after you were gone.”
“Sure it did. You’re as fake as the blonde in your hair, Dr. Torres.”
“Bitch.” Teena makes to grab me, but Skull grabs her arm first.
“Don’t touch her,” his cold as steel voice says. My eyes go to him, but he’s barely looking at me. “Get my daughter out of here if you’re going, Beth.”
“If you would let me move out, I would have her out of here already,” I growl, starting to walk away.
“I told you, you could leave after your brothers have been found. Not before. I want my daughter safe.”
I look over my shoulder at him. “Yes, sir. Whatever you say.”
“If you had that attitude sooner, it might have saved us a lot of heartache.”
“Do you even have a heart?” He shifts, and before he can answer, I shake my head. “No, don’t answer that. Obviously your heart and other attributes belong to Dr. Torres now.” I turn away so he can’t see the pain that causes. I walk to the kitchen, not looking back even when I hear Katie behind me.
“Fucking asshole,” she growls.
I love my sister.