Forbidden Kiss (Carson Cove Scandals 1)

“Yeah…” I sighed again.

“You should really get that looked at.” She motioned to the side of my face. “You may have a fracture hiding under all of that bruising.”

“I’ll be okay.” I looked up at her and forced a smile.

I stayed by Shaina’s side until Sarah arrived—and there was a whole lot of crying when she

saw her daughter—followed by concern for the way my face looked. Sarah wouldn’t let me brush off her concern, and I learned a long time ago that her stubbornness was worse than mine. I ended up back in the ER, waiting to see a doctor, while she sat with our daughter. My injury wasn’t serious, and nothing was broken, but it was pretty clear that I had a concussion. I got a lot of literature about what I should do when I got home and a prescription for pain pills I would never get filled. Sarah met me in the emergency room as soon as I was released.

“There, they confirmed I’m not going to die.” I walked up to her and sighed.

“How did we screw this up so badly?” Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, and she grabbed me for a hug.

I didn’t return her hug at first—it was a little painful to have her arms wrapped around me after she walked out on our marriage. I finally succumbed and hugged her while she cried on my shoulder. I tried to reassure her, but I had too many concerns of my own to ease hers. We decided to spend the night in Shaina’s room so we would be there when she woke up. At some point, we had to have a very serious conversation, but I wasn’t sure when that would be. I wasn’t sure if the drugs had a grip on her or if she was just in the recreational stage—but it was clear that she needed help. If she didn’t want to be a lawyer, then she didn’t have to be—I had to be the one to tell her that I was proud of her no matter what she did with her life—as long as she got off the drugs. The next few days were going to be trying for our family.

Hopefully I can convince her to move back to Carson Cove, and take some time to recuperate before she decides what she wants to do next.

* * *

A few days later

Shaina was released from the hospital and after a long discussion, she agreed that she should spend thirty days in rehab just to be safe. She wasn’t having withdrawals or showing any serious signs of addiction, but she needed a fresh start. We got her set up with a facility in the city, and Sarah said she would check on her daily. We talked with Victoria and Dylan to let them know what was going on. Dylan said he would check in with Shaina as often as he could, and Victoria was ready to book a flight home, but I convinced her to wait—it wasn’t like she could do anything if she was there, and she needed to focus on school. I stayed behind for an additional day to handle things at the university and pack up her apartment.

After that, it was time for me to return to Carson Cove—and the next chapter of my fucked up life. I did my best to handle things remotely when I could while I was away, but there was one problem I would have to handle face-to-face—the biggest problem of all. I had to figure out what the fuck I was going to do about Alexis, but she wasn’t the woman I started texting when I boarded the plane—there was someone else on my mind that I just didn’t know how to stop thinking about.

Bryant: I know you don’t want to hear from me right now, but I miss you…

Taylor: Please don’t say that.

Bryant: Why? Do you miss me too?

Taylor: It’s over, Bryant. What we had was special, but—we knew it wasn’t going to last.

Bryant: Why?

Taylor: It was too complicated.

Bryant: We knew the risk. We decided to take it. I don’t regret a single second, and neither should you.

Taylor: I’m sorry. Please don’t contact me again. That will make it easier for both of us…

Bryant: If that’s what you really want.

Taylor didn’t respond—that was her answer. It truly was over. There was no way to repair whatever had torn us apart, and I still didn’t understand what that was. Alexis was waiting on me when I arrived at Benson Enterprises, and my willpower was shattered. I didn’t have an ounce of fight left in me. I agreed to marry her in order to protect my daughter, even though I had no idea if the video would actually harm her—I just wanted it to go away. The faster I married Alexis, the faster we could get divorced, but I had a lot of shit to figure out before she got her claws in the money she was after.

“Hey, Cassie.” I walked to the door after Alexis was gone.

“Yes sir?” Cassie looked up at me.

“I need you to set up a meeting for me—Addison Regan. This one doesn’t need to go on my calendar. Just text me the information…” I exhaled sharply.

“Sir? She’s not one of your clients—or one of our attorneys.” Cassie tilted her head in confusion.

“I know.” I closed my door and walked back to my desk.

That’s the fucking point.

Chapter Twenty-One