Chapter 52

(Rylan)

Once Aaron left for his meeting, I jumped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to get ready for my day. I took a tad longer in the shower than I normally do for multiple reasons. One being that Aaron was very vigorous with his lovemaking this morning.

The other reason is that I am just not looking forward to what is happening in a few hours.

Taking Rosalie to the clinic is going to be rough for both of us, but I will do everything I can to shove my feelings aside for her. Today is all for my little sister and not about my sadness. I am sad that Rosalie is even in a position to need an abortion.

I am so angry that I wasn’t there for her sooner.

I know that there isn’t anything I can do to change the past, but the anger and regret are still there. Everything I am doing now feels like damage control in a way. I will do anything and everything she needs me to do so that she can get through this.

Even if it is leaving her alone to work through her emotions.

I am sure that is what she will want to do when we get home later. So, I ordered everything Annie suggested for post-abortion patients. Heating pad, comfy sweats, peppermint tea for the nausea, and some Tylenol for the pain. Annie gave me something stronger just in case, but I will keep those in my room.

After getting dressed for the day in a pair of faded jeans, a loose-fitting light blue blouse, and my trusty comfortable sneakers, I head down to the second floor to knock on Rosalie’s door. She opens after a few minutes with her purse and a small cloth tote bag in her hands. I can only assume that she has some loose-fitting clothing in there, like Annie suggested she wear home afterwards.

“Are you ready to do this?” I ask, even though I can see the resolve clearly on her face.

All she does is nod her head, so I take that as a yes and lead the way downstairs. I am not surprised to see Kimiko and Jennings waiting like two sentinels standing guard at the door. I give them both a nod of acknowledgment, then I walk into the kitchen for some much-needed coffee.

Aaron, bless that man, must have set a timer on the coffeemaker because it is just finishing brewing as I walk into the room.

I grab a to-go mug from the cabinet above the coffeemaker and then make my coffee how I like it. After I put the lid on, I grab two bottles of water and stuff them into my bag. Once I am done, I walk back into the foyer where I left Rosalie a few minutes ago.

She is standing next to Jennings, and they are talking softly. I can’t hear what they are talking about, but I am just happy that Rosalie is talking to someone about anything at all. She needs more social interaction with people that are not me, Aaron, or our family circle.

Out of the corner of my eye, I also notice that Kimiko is watching my sister. That gives me a moment of concern, but the look in his eyes makes me almost drop my coffee. Tenderness.

Kimiko, the shadow assassin, is looking at my little sister like she is a treasure to him.

Where the fuck did that come from? They have only met twice now. That morning with the pancakes must have made an impression on him. Interesting, and something I will have to talk to Aaron about later.

I am not opposed to the idea of Kimiko and my sister being a thing at all. I know he would never hurt her like Grant did, but there are other ways to hurt someone. Kimiko lives a dangerous life, and death chases him everywhere he goes.

Would Rosalie even be receptive to him if he were to act on what I am seeing in his eyes when he looks at her? That is a thought for another day. Right now, we have an appointment to get to.

“Let’s get going,” I say to Rosalie as I walk towards the door.

She nods her head.

Jennings opens the door, then walks out, Rosalie behind her, then me, with Kimiko at the rear. We make our way to the elevator and then ride it down to the garage. There is a black SUV parked right in front of the elevator, waiting for us.

It is like they are protecting a diplomat or something. I know the SUV is bulletproof. All of Mac’s company vehicles are. He is in the private security and investigation business, after all.

Rosalie and I ride in the back, much to Jennings disapproval. She states one guard should sit in the back and one should drive. I told her I was sitting with my sister, and that was that.

Halfway through the drive to the clinic, Rosalie reaches for my hand and grips it tightly. I glance over at her with concern. When she looks at me, I can see fresh tears streaking down her cheeks, and there is fear in her eyes.

I do the only thing that comes to mind instinctively: I unbuckle my seatbelt and slide over to her, then wrap her in my arms. For the rest of the drive, I rock her gently and whisper soothing words in her ear. By the time we pull into the parking lot at the clinic, her sobs have quieted, and she pulls away from me.

I give her hand a squeeze, then get out of the car. Jennings gets out of the driver’s seat and opens the door for Rosalie. Kimiko does the same for me, and then the four of us make our way inside.

To my surprise, Vivien and Tori are in the waiting room when we walk in. I don’t question it at all, but I will once Rosalie is in the procedure room. These two women are the type of mothers that I have always wished mine was. I will let them shower my sister with all the love that she needs right now.

“What are you two doing here?” Rosalie asks after she checks in with the receptionist and joins us in the waiting room. I took a seat next to Tori while she checked in.

Vivien is the first to stand, and I can see my sister’s face when Vivien envelopes her in a hug. Surprise is the first emotion to flicker across her face, then relief. She now knows that she is not alone anymore.

When Vivien steps back, Tori stands up and repeats the gesture. These two women showed up for my sister when they barely know her and didn’t need to be here. That will never be forgotten.

“We are here for you, my dear,” Tori tells her as she guides her to a seat. “Aaron called me this morning and mentioned that you may need some shoulders to lean on. So, I called Vivi, and here we are.”

Tears spill down Rosalie’s cheeks, and she buries her head on Tori’s shoulder.

Aaron called his mom to be here for my sister. Tori, being the amazing woman that she is, called Vivien. These two women will forever have my gratitude. I reach over and gently squeeze Tori’s free hand.

She gives me a nod and then continues to stroke Rosalie’s back.

I look over at Vivien, and she has a sad look on her face. We got to know each other pretty well when I was helping Annie with her and Quinn’s wedding. Vivien knows some of my history with my mother and how that woman has treated me. Now she knows it wasn’t just me that my mother treated badly. She was better with Rosalie because of her husband, Rosalie’s father. He doted on Rosalie, and our mother tried to assert her control, but he never let her. That was until he passed away when Rosalie was fifteen.

In her grief, Rosalie only had my mother to rely on since I was already in the Army then. That was when my mother finally took control and had Rosalie under her thumb. Now she is free of that control, and I will do everything I can to help her find her wings.

“Rosalie Donovan?” A nurse calls out my sister’s name.

I stand up when she does and walk with her to the door that will lead her to the procedure room. Rosalie turns to me, and I give her a hug before she turns and lets the nurse lead her away. This part she has to do alone.

I walk back to my seat slowly, then the three of us hold hands and wait for her.

(Aaron)

I stare at Grant Donovan for a few seconds before I shake my head. His demeanor is calm, but there is anger in his eyes. I can tell that not being able to get to his wife is frustrating the hell out of him.

I love it.

“Let me guess, Helena told you my name. How long have you been stalking your wife?”

“It isn’t stalking. She is my wife, and I have come to take her back home with me,” Grant says in a tight voice.

“So, the restraining order she has against you means nothing to you, then?”

I watch as he clenches his fists, the first outward sign that he is getting angry. Good. Let him get angry enough to come at me. Let him add assault charges against him in two states.

“That restraining order was a mistake, and she knows it. Also, it only applies to the state of South Carolina.” There is a snug confidence in his voice as he says the last part.

I chuckle darkly, which causes him to frown.

“What the fuck is so funny, Carter?”

“The restraining order is valid no matter where she goes, and it is permanent. The Violence Against Women Act mandates that all states recognize and enforce protection orders issued by courts in other states. I looked that up the day it was granted to her.”

“No, that isn’t true. My lawyer said I could come here and talk to Rosalie. I came here to convince her to come back home.”

“By convincing her, do you mean threaten and intimidate her? Or do you mean lay hands on her until she agrees to go back just so you will stop hurting her?”

Grant’s face turns a deep shade of red as I say this. He clenches and unclenches his fists a few times before he speaks again. The rage in his voice lets me know he is very close to snapping.

“Where the fuck is my wife? I went back to the house today, and no one was home. The neighbor I spoke to said that Rosalie and her whore of a sister left a few days ago and hadn’t been back.”

“So, you admit to being one of the men watching Rylan’s house? That is stalking, you know.”

“No, it isn’t!” He grinds out, clearly not liking that I am not giving him what he wants. “I was just watching my wife while she lived with that whore. I don’t want Rosalie to become like that. So, I have come to take her back to where she belongs.”

If he calls Rylan a whore one more time, I will not wait for him to attack me first. I will lay him out hard and fast. I already have one assault charge against me, so what is another?

“So, you say that Rosalie belongs with you, her abusive, narcissistic husband, instead of being with people that love her, cherish her, and want to see her happy? You know, the things a husband is supposed to do?”

“I can see she has been spreading lies again.” He smirks this time.

“Lies? No, Grant, I saw the evidence of your abuse with my own eyes. The bruises all over her back, her throat, and her face, none of which could have been self-inflicted. I also saw the video that your neighbor turned over to the police. You remember that, don’t you?”

I wait for him to react to that little tidbit. Like I expected, his face flushes crimson. He takes a few steps forward and then stops himself. That surprises me, since I can practically feel his rage from where I have been standing this entire time.

“You remember that, don’t you? How you were finally caught on film being the monster that you truly are. No more hiding behind the kind, charitable doctor façade, Grant. People know who and what you are now. Have you felt the fallout of it yet?”

I know he has because I have kept track. He lost his positions on the boards of all his charities. He also lost the mistress that Rosalie slapped the heck out of. Then there was my favorite part: he was put on administrative leave while the hospital investigated the allegations against him.

Actions have consequences, and Grant Donovan is now facing his. Well, some of them at least. The San Francisco police are looking for him for violating the restraining order, and then he will be extradited back to South Carolina for the domestic assault and rape charges that the DA has charged him with.

“Those charges will go away when Rosie recants them. My job is secure, and the rest will fall back into place. I just need to talk to my fucking wife!” He screams the last part at me.

“Well, that will not happen anytime soon. In fact, the next time you see Rosalie is when she is telling the court everything you did to her during your marriage. Every sordid detail.”

After I say that, Grant’s restraint snaps, and he lunges at me. I wait until he is almost in my face before I snap my hand up and punch him in the throat with one hand and then in the gut with the other hand. He drops to his knees, winded and gasping for breath.

“It sucks when someone fights back, doesn’t it, Grant?”

I watch as he opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out.

A noise behind me causes me to look over my shoulder. There are two security guards behind me with their guns out and pointed at Grant. I smile and step away so they can do their jobs.

Shortly after he is restrained, I hear police sirens as a squad car pulls into the garage. I watch as two uniformed officers get out and take Grant into custody. I give my statement to one of them and then ask for an email so I can send them the video footage from the garage.

Unfortunately for Grant, the cameras in the garage all have very high-quality audio capabilities. Every word he said can and will be used against him. I got your back, Rosalie.

You are not alone anymore.