Ivory Causeways Framed Distant Outposts by Arman Steele 24

Dean 

After dinner that night, she went to bed early. She called Mallory and the others. I don’t know who would join her. Something was bugging the hell out of her. To others, it would seem like she was her normal self, but we saw more to her. Before I left for work, I made sure to call the realtor and told her who to expect after making sure she understood who was calling. 

We kissed her before we left. She mentioned that Rea and Mallory would join her. The minute we got to the office, everyone just kept looking at us, I had an early meeting. Aleck was headed over to the bank to transfer the money. I guess one of the benefits of people knowing exactly who we were was that we would get things done faster. 

Around ten, Aleck came into my office and sat down. “Those fuckers at the bank were too fucking nice and helpful, especially the female manager. I transferred six million. She called me an hour ago, freaking the hell out about the money.” 

“She’ll get used to it soon. We need a security detail for her,” I said, looking out the floor–to–ceiling windows. 

“I was wondering when you would get to that.” 

I tossed the ball I had at him. Just then, Diego came in. 

“What have you got for us?” Aleck asked him. 

“Nothing. During your time at the college, there wasn’t any security in the dorm hallways, only at the entrance. There is no way to pinpoint exactly who, unless she still has the threat notes.” 

I grabbed my phone and was about to call her when I saw she was calling me. 

“Yes, princess?” 

“Dean, this place is bigger than I thought. Are you guys sure about this?” 

“Yes, baby girl, we are,” Aleck said. 

“Layla, do you still have the notes that you received back in college?” 

“I did, but they were in my apartment,” she said quietly. 

“Okay, don’t worry about it. Are you there alone?” 

‘No. Rea is here; Mallory will be over soon.” 

“Okay, be careful and have fun.” 

I ended the call. “Diego, you’ll be her shadow. Make sure she’s safe.” 

‘Yes, Boss.” 

We put everything aside and continued working. Shortly after lunch, I saw Mallory calling me. 

1/4 

5:30 pm 

Chapter 24 

m 

“Yes, Mallory, are you three having fun?* 

‘Dean. The way she said my name had me scared. I stood up instantly. 

“Mallory, what happened?” 

‘Get to Mercy West Hospital now. Something happened to Rea and Layla,” she said hurriedly. 

I ended the call and ran out of my office straight to Aleck’s office. He wasn’t there. I found him leaving a meeting. “Something happened. Hospital. NOW. 

We ran all the way to the elevator and into the garage. Aleck drove like a madman on the way to the hospital. When we got there, we left the car right at the entrance and ran into the emergency room. I saw Mallory. I knew whatever had happened wasn’t Mallory’s fault, so I tried to think rationally before 

saying anything. 

“What happened, Mallory?” 

“When I got to the apartment, the door was open. I called out for them but didn’t get an answer, so I went in. I found Layla and Rea on the ground, both of them covered in blood. I called an ambulance and rushed them here, then I called you and Nella and Chris. They were rushed into surgery as soon as the doctors saw them. The police will be here soon.” 

I think my heart stopped. My ears began ringing, and I began seeing blurry. I fell into the chair behind me. I saw the others running. 

“Mal, what happened?” 

‘Dean? Aleck? You good?” Andrew asked us. 

‘I can’t…” 

‘Hey, relax. What did the doctors say, Mal?” Chris asked her. 

“They were both rushed into surgery. We need to wait.” 

“Aleck, call Mom and Dad.” He just nodded. 

We sat in the waiting room. Two hours passed, and nothing. Around the third hour, our parents showed up, and so did the police. They asked where her parents were; my parents explained that she was their intended daughter–in–law. They asked for a next of kin, but she didn’t have anyone. Her mom was the only person she had, but she had already passed away. 

Mallory told them about Rea. Rea lived alone and had no connection with her family. They took our numbers, and after that, they left, saying they’d investigate and keep in touch. We sat waiting for what felt like forever. It was close to six when Mallory saw the doctor. He came straight to us. 

‘Where are our friends?” Chris asked. 

‘One patient, Rea Kingsley, suffered a fractured wrist and a broken foot. Her injuries weren’t as severe as they looked. I assume the blood on her belonged to Ms. Travers.” 

‘Layla?” I asked him. 

“Ms. Layla Tavers suffered multiple stab wounds and head trauma, intracranial injury, and blunt force trauma to the head. There was bleeding in her brain. We did the best we could to stop the bleeding. As of this moment, Ms. Travers is in a coma.” 

3 

214 

3:36 pm P PM M 

Chapter 24 

I fell into the chair behind me. They tried to kill her. 

‘Where is she?” Aleck asked him. 

‘Ms. Tavers is in a ward upstairs.” 

“Move her to a private room. Dean, Aleck, get a security detail for her. No one visits her during the week, only on weekends, and unless my sons say so,” Dad 

said. I just nodded. 

“Very well, Mr. Cavanaugh. That will be done immediately. Once she is moved, you will be able to see her. Ms. Kingsley should be awake in a few minutes. fl let you know when Ms. Travers is in her room.” 

After he left, we all sat there. “What the hell happened in that apartment?” Chris asked, looking at us. 

“There’s only one person that can answer that as of this moment, and that’s Rea. We need to see her,” Mallory said. 

‘Dean, we need to take care of some stuff. We’re shifting here until Layla is better,” my mother said, looking at me. I knew we wouldn’t be able to convince them otherwise. They always had a soft spot for her. I just nodded. 

2 

Shortly after our parents left, the doctor returned. “Ms. Tavers is in her room. Please follow me this way.” All the way up to her room, I kept praying that she would wake up soon. When we walked into the room, I stopped short. Her hands were covered in bandages; she looked like she was asleep. 

I walked over to the bed and stood looking at her. “Ms. Tavers needed to be kept on the ventilator. One of the stab wounds hit her lungs; luckily, it wasn’t 

severe.” 

“How long do you expect her to stay in a coma?” Aleck asked. 

“The injuries to her head were quite severe. There is no telling when she will wake up. Maybe in a few hours, a few days, a few months,or a few years. I’m sorry, we’ve done everything we could. I can refer you to some specialists if you wish to have her checked again.” 

“Thank you.” 

After he left, I texted Diego. I sat on her left, and Aleck was sitting on her right. Mallory and the others were quiet. Who did this to her? Do they really hate her so much that they want to kill her? After what felt like hours, and she didn’t show any signs of waking up, Mallory, Nella, and Chris went to see Rea. Andrew stayed with us. 

“What are you guys going to do now? You need to find the person that did this. They tried to kill her, and I’m sure when they find out that she is still alive, they’ll try again to kill her, and I’m afraid the next time she won’t be so lucky,” Andrew said from across the room. 

“We know, Andrew. It wasn’t Macy. She said she didn’t post it online, and I don’t believe her, but there is no proof,” Aleck said, looking at him. 

Just then, the room door opened, and Mallory and Nella walked in with Chris helping Rea into the room. The minute she came in and saw her on the bed, she began crying. 

‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything to help her or to protect her. It all happened so fast. One minute we were alone, and then we weren’t,” she said through tears. Nella tried to calm her down. 

“What exactly happened, Rea?” Aleck asked her. I knew from his tone alone he was about to lose his shit, and so was I, and I didn’t want to lose it in front of everyone. They knew we had tempers, but seeing the person that you love–the one that means everything, the one person that you would do and give anything in the world for–lying in a hospital bed, broken and hurt, does things to you. It makes you feel like you’re losing your mind. 

3/4 

3:36 pm PPM M 

Crossing the lines (Sleeping with my Best friends)