Page 96 of Breaking Conviction

“Knock-knock,” Nora announced. “Can we come in? We’re from that clinic you asked for?”

There was a deep grumbled assent before Nora pulled back the curtain.

“Hi, my name is Nora, and this is—”

“Dean? What the fuck are you doin’ here?”

Nora’s head whipped from Naomi to her ex that lay on the hospital table. No doubt he’d connived his way into the ER with a fake name to add to his real injuries he’d received days earlier. The place was swarming and probably too busy to recognize him.

“Naomi...” His smug smile made her blood boil. “Good to see you again, sweets.”

“Dean, I have a protective order against you. This is a violation. I could have you arrested.” She hissed the last and noticed Nora was backing away, her fingers subtly pressing against her phone screen. Naomi stepped between the two to keep Dean’s attention off the woman, who was no doubt calling for help.

“We need to talk, sweets. That place you’re stayin’ at ain’t safe. That maniac you’re fuckin’ has enemies and you and Thea need to come on home. Drop this bullshit DV charge. You know I didn’t mean it. If we get outta Ashland, it’ll be better, I promise. It’s all this stress we’re under that’s fuckin’ us up, but I can get us outta Ashland, once and for all.” He reached out his hand. “Come away with me, Naomi. We’ll be that family you want so bad. It’ll be different this time, I swear. Everything will be better if it’s just you, me, and our baby girl.”

She whipped her hand back, hoping that Nora’s call had gone through so she could get away from this man as fast as possible.

“Wait...” He looked around. “WhereisThea? I requested you bring her.”

Naomi scoffed. “You’re un-fucking-believable, you know that? Of course I’m not gonna bring our four-year-old daughter to a hospital. Are you outta your damn mind?”

Dean’s bruised face blanched, and she couldn’t help but feel a weird sense of karmic retribution that he was now the one on the patient bed.

“Where is she, Naomi?”

Something in his voice made her pause and she narrowed her eyes at him. “She’s not here, Dean. I’m not bringing her—”

“Whereisshe? I’m not fuckin’ playin’ around. Where the fuck is she—”

“With Wes,” she spat out finally.

“You left her withhim? AtBlackStone?”

Dean’s shout made her jump, but she relaxed a fraction when she noticed an officer make his way to their corner.

“Dean, what’s wrong?”

“She’s at BlackStone, isn’t she? Fuckin’ A. Fuck, fuck,fuck! You only had to do thisone thing, Naomi, why didn’t you just bring her?” He grabbed his phone and started jabbing his fingers at the screen. “Call your stupid boyfriend. Get her out of therenow.”

“Sir, you’re gonna have to keep it do—”

“Why, Dean? What are you sayin’—”

“Call himnow! I’m not fuckin’ around.”

Naomi snatched her phone from her purse and began the call just as Dean took his from his ear and started to curse.

Nora went back to her phone while Naomi dialed Wes. But after several rings, it went to voice mail. Nora frowned at her phone and shook her head, telling her whoever she’d called hadn’t answered either.

Dean cursed again and threw his phone on his lap. He ripped his hands into his hair and stared at her with wide eyes.

“Did you get him? Anyone there?”

Naomi shook her head. “No, it’s goin’ to voice mail. What the hell’s goin’ on Dean? Is Thea in trouble? Nora, call the cops again.”

“Naomi, God. You just had to bring her. That’s all you had to do. Now…” Dean collapsed back against the bed, shaking his head as his eyes grew glossy and red-rimmed. The officer made his way toward Dean and Naomi vaguely registered that Nora stopped him to talk. Naomi couldn’t get her eyes off Dean’s though, as he began to plead and shout incoherently.

“Dean, what is goin’ on? Is Thea in danger?” At his sudden silence, Naomi clutched her purse closer and cursed. “Nora, I’ve gotta g—”