Page 42 of Rockstar Untamed
“Girl, sit down. You only just got here and you haven’t met Buddy properly yet. Tom, tell her.”
Tom took Sailor’s hand. “Stay, Sailor. It’s early. Please, stay.”
Hedda Shaw grabbed the adult diaper pads and turned to walk out of the maternity ward’s huge supply closet. She was startled when she realized someone was standing in the doorway. With the light behind her, she didn’t recognize the figure at first, until she spoke.
“Hey, there.”
Hedda shielded her eyes. “Soleil?”
Solly smiled and stepped into the room, letting the door swing shut behind. “I thought I saw you…I didn’t realize you transferred.”
Soleil was smiling, but Hedda heard the edge in her voice. Soleil stepped forward, and Hedda swallowed hard. “Um, yeah, sorry, it was last minute…why are you here, Soleil?”
“Visiting a dear friend. Bay Tambe…you know her?”
Hedda nodded slowly.Oh fuck…“Of course, she just had a baby.”
Soleil put her head to one side. “And was just nearlymurdered. That’s surely worth a mention, right? In a secure hospital…guess someone really dropped the ball on keeping the patients safe, huh?”
“It’s unfortunate, but it happens.”
“In a locked ward?”
Hedda looked away from her gaze. She knows…Hedda’s eye drifted to the boxes where they kept scalpels. Could she get to one before Soleil went for her?
“I wouldn’t, Hedda.” Soleil’s voice was like ice. “Now, I think it’s strange that Stuart Lawson was able to gain access to Bay’s room so easily…and just after you transferred, too. Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
Hedda risked it and lunged for the scalpels, but Soleil was too fast and too strong. Hedda squeak in terror as Soleil pushed her against the wall, gripping her throat and got in her face.
“You littlebitch…how long have you been working for Bartholomew Foy? Before we fucked or after? How much is he paying you to help Lawson kill Bay?”
Hedda shook her head, terrified. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…”
“I don’t give a crap about your apology. I care about the people I love. Bart Foy is going down, Hedda, and you can either go with him as an accessory to murder or you can help us. Because believe me, there’s no way I’m letting you get away with what you did. Think about it. You have my number. And one last thing…you’re being watched so don’t try to run. If you do, you’ll have to deal with me.”
Soleil released her grip and stalked out. To Hedda, as Soleil opened the door, she looked like a beautiful avenging angel, only Soleil was most definitelynoton her side.
“Shit…shit…” Hedda sank to the floor, trembling uncontrollably. Bart Foy scared her even more, but Solei had just proved that she too was not someone Hedda wanted for an enemy.
It was only then the weight of what she had done hit Hedda Shaw, and with no other option and no idea what to do, she began to cry.
Sailor and Soleil left the hospital just after noon, and Soleil insisted on showing Sailor around the city. Sailor loved the cool vibe of the place, down to earth and laid back. They went to the top of the Space Needle and looked out over to the Olympic Mountains and Mt. Rainier. They ate chowder from the concessions stand, sitting at one of the little tables on the viewing deck.
They chatted amiably until Solly’s phone buzzed. “Hey, it’s Claudio.Ciao Fratelli!”
Sailor smiled as Soleil chatted away in Italian, so quickly Sailor couldn’t even begin to translate the little she knew. She concentrated instead on the delicious chowder and the incredible view. Yeah, she could imagine living here, not as hot or busy or as fast-paced as L.A. She wondered idly if Bodhi would be up for moving then checked herself. Despite the intensity of their relationship, she really didn’t think they were ready to discuss moving his whole life entirely on a whim of hers.
Sailor rocked back a little, realizing, despite his great generosity, she really didn’t have parity with Bodhi in their relationship, and not just financially. The thought depressed her.I was meant to do…something,she thought now.
“Hey.” Soleil had finished her call. “You’ll never guess where Claudio is right now. Seattle. Uh-huh,” she nodded as Sailor looked surprised. “He had a last-minute meeting with Grady Mallory at the art museum and flew in yesterday. He wants to know if we can be free for dinner tonight?”
“Of course,” Sailor was delighted; she had liked Claudio Fonseca very much.
Claudio threw his arms around both of them as they arrived at the restaurant. Claudio’s companion, Grady Mallory watched with a grin on his handsome face as his friend made a fuss of his sister and her friend, then Claudio introduced him to Sailor, Soleil was clearly already acquainted with the other man.
Over dinner, Sailor discovered Grady was a Seattle native, part of the very rich, very famous Mallory family and had recently had a new baby with his wife, Floriana. He showed Sailor the photo of his new daughter. She was adorable and Sailor told him so.
“You have any more children?”
