Hidden Betrayal (O'Connor Girls Book 1) Read online

  “Your niece is looking for you, Mr. Decker.” Dean glanced at the young officer in the doorway. He was relieved not to see anyone he recognized or who would know him.

  “Thank you.” Dean walked to where they’d brought Peyton when he arrived.

  “Keep all the family separated.” he’d heard one of them say.

  “D, oh God.” She sobbed as she practically fell into his arms. “Mom… she…. she wouldn’t… hurt dad.” Peyton sobbed through heavy gasps.

  “Shhh… Pey, the police will figure out the truth.” Dean held her while she sobbed and helped her when she struggled to breathe.

  Peyton’s condition declined more then he thought. His sister had hired a full-time nurse to be with his niece when Hannah couldn’t.

  He wished he knew what happened because now he was in the middle of a shit storm and no fucking idea what to do. He couldn’t involve his friends in any of this. They just got through their own version of hell with Mike's wife and her niece.

  Dean had to deal with his family trouble on his own. His father’s death had been plastered all over the papers for years and still showed up around the anniversary of his accident. He managed to keep out of that without it coming out who he was.

  Now it was about to hit the fan, again. He’d protected his sister and niece from most of the media blowback back then, but he couldn’t protect them from it now.

  Present….

  Dean paced the office while he waited for Steve to give him the okay to leave. It would take a couple of days for the autopsy report but the more he thought about it, the more he knew the truth.

  “Bull,” Dean stopped in the middle of the office but didn’t turn toward the door. He knew the voice, and for the first time in years, he was ashamed to look his friend in the eyes.

  “Not now, Rusty.” Dean’s eyes zoned in on a nail in the wall as he referred to his friend by the nickname given to him years before.

  “Brother, I’m not here to give you shit. I’m here to help. We’re here to help.” Keith stepped further into the room, and Dean heard the shuffle of several feet.

  When he turned to face the door, James, Aaron, Nick, Caden ‘Rex’ Dixon, Hunter ‘Crunch’ Crawford, Ben ‘Trunk’ Murphy and Sandy formed a semi-circle at the entrance of the office.

  “Don’t all of you have jobs to do?” Dean found it difficult to speak.

  “Family first.” James smiled.

  “Brothers always help each other.” Nick winked.

  “We got your back.” Aaron slapped Dean on the shoulder.

  “I might want to kick you in the jewels for holding out, Chrome Dome, but I’ll wait until your sister is out of jail and we find out what happened to your niece.” Sandy stood in front of him as she poked him in the chest.

  Dean couldn’t help himself he pulled the feisty woman into a hug and was relieved she hugged him back without the damage to his balls.

  “Right now, we need to get out of here. Kristy’s taking you back to her place. She said you haven’t eaten or slept and it’s after eleven.” Kurt squeezed through the men and stepped in front of Dean.

  “I’m not tired, and I’ve got to go see my sister.” Dean sighed.

  “Bull, I’m not in the mood for another fucking argument. My daughter practically bit my head off because I told her you were not going back to her apartment. I’m about this far from pounding the piss out of you.” Kurt held up his thumb and index finger about a centimeter apart. “I know how my daughter feels about you and I swear on my life if you hurt her again I’ll rip your arm off and beat you to death with it.”

  “Wow, that’s the most words I’ve ever heard Kurt say at once.” Sandy chuckled but stopped when Kurt glared at her. “Oh, don’t be such a grump or I’ll call Nan and tell her you’re picking on Chrome Dome.” Sandy pushed Kurt’s shoulder playfully.

  “Why the hell did we let you come?” Kurt covered his eyes with his hand and groaned.

  “You didn’t let me. I told you I was coming with or without your permission.” Sandy nudged Kurt with her shoulder and left the room.

  “How the fuck does Ian handle that woman?” Kurt turned around and shook his head.

  “Please don’t ask her that. She’ll start telling you about their sex games.” Aaron laughed.

  “Guys, if you don’t mind, can I talk to Kurt alone for a minute.” Dean glanced over Kurt’s shoulder at the men behind him.

  The group filed out of the room, and Keith closed the door but didn’t leave the room. Dean knew it was useless to ask him for a chance to speak with his uncle in private.

  “Kurt, I want to apologize for all this.” Dean met Kurt’s blue eyes. “I do want you to know that I never wanted to hurt Kristy.”

  “Not now, Bull. Go and get in the car before she gets her mother on the phone again or worse, she could call my mother.” Kurt put his phone to his ear.

  Dean didn’t say another word as he walked toward the office door. Keith opened it and met Dean’s gaze. It was obvious his friend wanted to say something, but he held back. Either Keith was worried about his grandmother giving him grief or too pissed off to be civil.

  The last thing Dean heard as he left the office was Kurt’s booming voice giving orders to whoever he called.

  “I don’t give a fuck what it takes. I want every piece of information you have on Ivan Humphrey’s murder and I want it yesterday.”

  Chapter 8

  Kristy made her way to the staff room to grab her things before she headed home. The shouting match with her father had given her a headache. It wasn’t her fault Dean didn’t tell her or her family about his business. It didn’t reveal all his secrets to her because the truth was he’d gone out of his way to avoid her.

  Still, no matter how much she hurt over him there was no way she’d let him push her away anymore. The kiss they’d shared earlier in the day proved that Dean Nash wanted her more than he’d admit.

  Kristy plopped down on the bench in front of her locker. Dean had so much more to deal with at the moment than a relationship.

  Poor Peyton.

  Why would someone want to hurt her? It didn’t matter that the sweet girl probably didn’t have much time left, but there was still a slim chance. How could someone be heartless enough to hurt a terminally ill woman?

  “You okay?” Kristy looked up.

  “It’s been a hard day, Sandy.” Her cousin’s wife sat next to her and draped her arm around Kristy’s shoulder.

  “Chrome Dome has kept a lot from us.” Sandy squeezed her shoulder.

  “Will you please stop calling him that?” Kristy sighed.

  “Sorry. Do you want to talk about it?” Sandy was a bit of a hardass, but she did have a heart as big as Newfoundland.

  “Peyton was such a sweet woman. It was bad enough that she’s been sick her whole life, but someone kills her. For what?” It took a lot to make Kristy cry, but the tears spilled out and ran down her cheeks. “She didn’t deserve this.”

  “Honey, we’ll figure this out.” Sandy grabbed the box of tissues next to the cabinet by the entrance of the staff room.

  “Dean is lost. I’m sure he’s worried about his sister’s reaction to this.” Kristy wiped her face with a tissue. “His sister. I didn’t even know he had one. Hell, we didn’t even know who he really was.”

  “Oh, I sort of knew,” Sandy grumbled. “I didn’t know all of it.”

  “How come you never told me? How could you not know everything? Don’t you search the entire internet for things you want to know?” Kristy nudged Sandy with her shoulder.

  “I would never do such a thing.” Sandy’s fake shock made Kristy laugh.

  “No, not you.” Kristy stood up and closed her locker. She threw her knapsack upon her shoulder and linked her arm into Sandy. “Let’s get out of here. Dean’s coming back to my place so he can get some sleep.”

  “Ohhh… are you sure he’ll get sleep with you there?” Sandy winked.

  “You’re a pervert.” Kristy
rolled her eyes.

  “It’s what your cousin loves most about me.” Sandy sighed.

  Sometimes Kristy wished she was more like Sandy. The woman had tenacity and said whatever was on her mind. It’s not that Kristy didn’t have confidence or afraid, to be honest with people but when it came to Dean the only time she had the guts to make a move she felt stupid.

  She didn’t want to read more into their kiss, but he wanted her as much as she wanted him. The problem was Kristy more than wanted him; she was in love with him.

  “Bull’s in there talking to uncle Kurt,” Nick told her when they met everyone outside of Sophia’s office.

  “Probably getting the ‘keep your hands to yourself’ speech.” Aaron laughed.

  “Shut up, A.J.” James slapped Aaron on the back of the head.

  “I swear, between my brothers and uncle Kurt it’s a wonder I don’t have brain damage.” Aaron rubbed the back of his head.

  “Oh, you do, Honey.” Sandy slapped Aaron on the shoulder.

  “You took the words right out of my mouth, Sandy.” James laughed.

  “Why do I stay around you people?” Aaron feigned a sigh as he leaned on the small reception desk.

  That was her family. Always teasing but they loved each other. It’s the way Kristy felt about them and Dean. If only he felt the same way about her. Sure, he was attracted to her, that was obvious, but that’s not all she wanted from him. He was about to tell her something when Steve showed up, but he didn’t finish.

  Kristy glanced over her shoulder toward the exit. Leah and Gemma looked as if they were in a heated discussion. She found it odd because Leah told her during training that she disliked Sofia’s assistant.

  “That looks intense.” Nick nodded his head toward the two girls.

  “Yeah, I’ll be right back.” Kristy liked Leah and was more than a little pissed at Gemma for her attempt to get her in shit. The woman had her priorities entirely out of whack. Her priority should have been to tell Sophia about Peyton’s death not trying to get Kristy fired.

  “You had no right to be in that room.” Leah snapped.

  “I had every right to be there. I’ve got to check and make sure you’re doing your job.” Gemma flicked her hair over her shoulder, and Leah looked ready to strangle her.

  “That isn’t your job. You’re Sophia’s assistant and not the head of the medical staff. That’s Dr. Dickson’s job.” Leah took a step toward Gemma.

  “Leah, what’s going on?” Kristy touched Leah’s arm because the girl looked about ready to give Gemma a black eye.

  “This doesn’t concern you, Ms. O’Connor. I’m sure you need to make sure you’ve got all your things so that you can leave.” Gemma raised an eyebrow. Maybe she should have let Leah punch the woman.

  “I have my things, Ms. Grimes.” Kristy glared at the arrogant bitch.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t work together longer, but your inappropriate actions can’t get swept under the rug.” Gemma tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “What are you talking about, Gemma?” Kristy remembered Sophia asking about what happened with Dean, but the woman didn’t say anything about being fired.

  “Your contract states that you can’t fraternize with patients or families of the patients. It’s immediate dismissal.” Gemma’s expression changed to anger.

  “Considering what happened today, I doubt Sophia was concerned with your gossip.” Leah snapped at Gemma.

  “It wasn’t gossip. I was doing my job.” Gemma raised her voice.

  “So, is it your job to try and seduce Peyton’s uncle?” Kristy spun around at the sound of the male voice.

  Graham stood behind Kristy and looked mad enough to kill. Gemma’s cocky attitude vanished. Leah crossed her arms over her chest, and it was all Kristy could do not to laugh at the grin the young nurse now had on her pretty face.

  “I… I didn’t…. I didn’t try to seduce anyone.” Gemma stammered over her words.

  “I’m going to say this once and once only. You may be Sophia’s assistant, but I own this place as well, and I can tell you without a doubt Ms. O’Connor still has a job here as does Leah. You’re walking a thin line.” Graham’s voice was deep and threatening. “Do you understand Ms. Grimes?”

  “I…Yes, Mr. Frost.” Gemma spun around and practically ran away.

  “Thank you, Mr. Frost.” Kristy was relieved her job was safe because getting fired on her first week would be humiliating.

  “I think considering the circumstances of what happened today, we’ve much more to worry about then that vindictive bitch.” Graham squeezed Kristy’s shoulder. “It’s possible someone took a life here tonight, and I won’t rest until we find out for sure.”

  “Mr. Frost, I understand how you feel, but you need to let the police handle this.” James stepped next to Kristy. “It’s why we’re here.”

  “Officer, I understand it’s your job, but my wife and I have worked our asses off to create a safe and comfortable place for the patients. To know that someone may have got in here to murder that girl makes me sick to my stomach.” Graham looked as if he was about to burst into tears.

  “Yes, Mr. Frost, this is my job, but it’s also personal to all these people and me. Bull’s practically a brother and Kristy’s my cousin.” James was right they would move heaven and earth to help anyone in trouble.

  “Bull?” Graham glanced between her and James.

  “It’s Dean’s nickname.” Kristy smiled.

  “Well, he’s about the size of one.” Graham chuckled.

  “Not sure if that’s where he got the name or not.” James glanced over his shoulder toward the office. “I hope we can figure this out. He’s gone out of his way to help us over the last few years.”

  James wasn’t wrong. Dean had been one of the first to volunteer whenever there was any family drama. It was the O’Connors turn to help him. Maybe one of the other staff saw something.

  She turned to speak to Leah, but the nurse stepped back when Graham chastised Gemma. Kristy scanned the foyer, and at first, she didn’t see her friend, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of her outside with her back against the window.

  “Tell Dean I’ll be outside.” Kristy kissed James cheek and then made her way through the door.

  Leah didn’t seem to notice when Kristy walked toward her. The young nurse was deep in concentration with something on her phone. There was a lot of tension in Leah’s stance.

  “Hey,” Kristy stood next to her.

  “Sorry about that in there.” Leah shoved her phone into her pocket.

  “Don’t worry about it. I don’t know what the hell Gemma has against me, but she seems to want me out of here.” Kristy shook her head and gazed out at the grounds. It was dark, except for the street lights around the perimeter of the parking lot.

  “She hates anyone that gets more attention than she does. Especially, from men.” Leah leaned her head back against the wall.

  “Why were you here so early? You weren’t supposed to start until eight?” Kristy asked.

  “One of the other nurses was out sick today, and Sophia asked if I wanted to split a shift with the other night nurse. I need the money, so I said yes. What a night to do over time?” Leah sighed.

  The door to the building opened, and Nick ran down the front steps to one of the cars parked in front of the door. He dug around in the trunk for a bit and then made his way inside the building again. Gave her a quick wave before he disappeared inside.

  “At least the view is amazing.” Leah nodded toward Nick.

  “Yeah, he does nothing for me.” Kristy smiled.

  “Are you freaking blind?” Leah stared at her.

  “Nick’s my cousin. Most of the bunch in there are related to me or might as well be related.” Kristy chuckled.

  “Damn, I’m moving to Hopedale.” Leah sighed.

  “You want to tell me what the argument with Gemma was about?” Kristy asked.

  “I was in the staff ro
om earlier, and she was in there,” Leah glanced at her then to the ground.

  “What’s the big deal about her being in the staff room?” Kristy didn’t understand.

  “It’s the staff room. Management has offices with bathrooms. That bitch had no right to be in there.” Leah grumbled. “She was in there to show me who has the most power in this place.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Put it this way. If she doesn’t like you, it wouldn’t surprise me if she tried to put something in your locker or spread a rumor about you.” Leah stood up and stretched. “Be careful around her.”

  “You sound as if you know from experience.” Kristy stood as well.

  “Not me but she manipulates people.” Leah sighed.

  “Do you know if she was near Peyton’s room earlier?” It was a long shot and getting someone fired was a far cry from murder.

  “I don’t know. When the code was called everyone came running.” Leah stood next to the entrance.

  “You aren’t going home?” Kristy started to head down the steps.

  “I’m here until eight in the morning.” Leah smiled.

  “You need sleep, Leah.” Leah looked exhausted.

  “I’ll sleep on my day off tomorrow. Plus, I’ll get a couple of hours when everyone is down for the night.” Leah stopped. “I just realized, I only have two patients now.”

  “Yeah, poor Peyton.” Kristy swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Kristy hurried through the parking lot to her car. It was creepy to walk through it at night, and after what happened she probably should have gotten someone to walk her to her car. A feeling tickled the back of her neck, and she increased her pace toward the vehicle.

  Kristy glanced behind her as she got to her car. Trunk jogged down the front steps and made his way to his jeep in front of the building. He looked agitated and had his phone to his ear. Kristy laughed as she got into her car. Trunk had gotten close to a friend of Mike’s wife. From what Kristy had gotten from Jess, Abbie Martin had Trunk in a spin.

  Kristy pulled her car directly in front of the entrance and waited for Dean. She’d warned her father not to give him shit about staying at her place. Her dad was aware how Kristy felt about the man thanks to Cora. Not that she’d said anything to her aunt but with her cupid thing she made it very clear Kristy was meant to be with Dean.