Page 29 of Iron Will
“What? Laney, finish your damn sentence. What were you going to say?” I demand.
She turns those gorgeous green eyes back up at me. The look she gives me is so obviously troubled, I know something is definitely up.
“I can’t tell you,” she breathes. “It’s unprofessional.”
Her lip slides between her teeth again.Jesus fucking Christ, she cannot know how sexy that is.
“Laney.” I lean forward, until my face is inches from hers. “I know you don’t exactly fuckin’ trust me. I know you don’t wanna do the wrong thing here. And I get that you’ve got professional obligations and shit. But I think you wanna do the right thing by Paisley. And so do I.” I pause. “Sometimes, the right thing to do is different from what everyone else is tellin’ you you’re supposed to do.”
She shakes her head, her eyes glancing away from mine. She doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. But I’m waiting her out, and I’m not taking no for an answer.
Finally, she sighs.
“I hope I don’t regret this,” she murmurs. “But there’s something else the doctor found when Paisley was brought in.”
12
Laney
Against my better judgment, I end up telling Rourke about the bruise Doctor Methaney noticed on Paisley’s arm.
When the meaning of my words sinks in, Rourke’s face transforms into a mask of pure fury. “Jesus fucking Christ,” he hisses. “Are you tellin’ me what I think you are?”
I nod. “I talked to Bethany about it. She said it happened the night before Paisley’s fall. She swore it was the first time it’s happened.”
He stares at the wall, his features turning to stone. For a second, think he’s going to punch it.
“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him.”
Rourke doesn’t shout the words. He speaks them quietly. Without any inflection. And somehow, they seem even more frightening that way.
“Rourke, please,” I stammer. “Listen to me.” My heart begins to pound.
“Ain’t no more to be said.” His jaw is clenched tight.
“Yes there is!” I retort, then stop myself. His face is an angry mask, and I know he’s going to have trouble hearing anything I say right now. I need to do my best to exude calm through my voice.
“Rourke,” I say softly, to get his attention. “Look at me. Please.”
I wait, several seconds. Finally, his eyes flicker and turn to mine, dark as coals.
“First,” I begin, “it doesn’t make any sense for you to go to jail for hurting Mickey. He’s not worth it. And that’s what will happen if you beat him up here at the hospital. Okay?” I wait, but his features don’t change. I try again. “And second — and more importantly — did you hear what I said before? Bethany kicked him out of the motel for hurting Paisley. Which means, she might be on the verge of being strong enough to leave him for good. If we can help her to be.”
I stop for a moment, to let my words sink in.
“Not to get all social worker on you,” I continue. “But on average, it takes a woman several attempts to successfully leave a toxic or abusive relationship. Bethany has clearly been caught up in this role with Mickey where she’s supporting and taking care of him. It looks to me like she might be on the verge of breaking that cycle. The best way by far to help her get him out of the picture permanently is if she realizes once and for all — for herself — that he’s not worth her time.” I pause. “If you hurt Mickey now, it might actually backfire. Bethany might let her guilt and caretaker tendencies come roaring back, and feel like she has to stay with him longer.” I take a deep breath and let it out. “Does that make sense?”
“Not if I actually kill him.”
“Rourke, stop joking,” I say, not at all sure that’s what he’s doing.
“Fuck!” he rasps. Suddenly, he pounds his fist on the table, hard enough to make the other customers in the coffee shop jump in their chairs. One of them scurries up out of her chair and quickly leaves the shop.
“This is fucking bullshit,” he seethes. “That motherfucker needs be out of the picture.”
“I don’t disagree.” I wrap both hands around my coffee cup for comfort and keep my voice steady. “I wish there was something we could do to keep Mickey away from Bethany and Paisley, long enough for Bethany to really feel how much easier her life is without him. It’s pretty obvious he’s a petty thief, to say the least. That can’t be good for Paisley to be around.” I blow out a disgusted breath. “Do you know, he was trying to get morphine from the nurses the other day?”
“He what?” Rourke grunts, expression still stormy.