Forget Alice.
Except he couldn’t.
“Yes, that soon. I can hardly believe it myself. She’ll be in the hospital up to a month, perhaps more, depending on how she responds.” She brushed her hands up and down her arms.
“Is it cold in here?” He’d acclimated himself to the cold in hopes of saving on the heating bill. Every dime counted. Although, he’d made a lot of money on the show, it wouldn’t last forever.
Hallie dipped her hand in her pocket and pulled out a stack of phone messages. “I’ll survive. These are for you.”
“Wow, we’ve gotten a lot of orders.” Good for business and for Niko. Staying busy was a lifesaver, one he needed now more than ever.
“These aren’t the orders. These are the phone calls from agents, producers, studios, and talent scouts. All wanting you to call them. Not to mention multiple email follow-ups. Alice was right. You are a hit.”
He inhaled through his nose and tried to squelch the anger her name invoked. Raising a fist, he punched the dummy.
“Enough. What happened between you two? She practically ran out of the house and you’ve barely said a word for two days. What gives? You had a fight. That much is obvious.”
Niko punched harder, indecisiveness creeping along his nerves. He’d debated long and hard on what he should tell Hallie. She was an adult, after all but she was also going through a tough patch and he didn’t want to add to it.
“I’m a big girl, Niko. Spill it.”
Fuck, she knew him too well. “Has Chloe said anything to you about Alice?”
“No, she’s been sick and a bit withdrawn, the only thing that seems to cheer her up is K.C. Does your fight with Alice have something to do with Chloe? Because you’ve always been overly protective of her.”
“It has everything to do with Chloe.” Niko blew out a deep breath and began to pace, needing to cool down after such an intense workout. He also needed time to form the right words. It was difficult to look into her expectant face and ruin her life.
“Niko, tell me what the hell is going on. You’re avoiding my question, why? Did she hurt Chloe, touch her inappropriately? Because there are women pedophiles. Nobody ever talks about them but they’re real. Not that Alice seemed the type, but what exactly is the type? I—”
“Alice isn’t a pedophile.” He barked out a harsh laugh, incredulous that he actually had to say those words. Or that he’d be defending her after what she had done.
Hallie narrowed her eyes, fists on her hips. She was pissed and he couldn’t blame her.
“Alice is Chloe’s biological mother.”
She dropped her hands and swayed on her feet, the color leaving her face. He rushed to her side, scooped her into his arms, and deposited her on the couch. Her skin had turned a dangerous shade of purple and he shoved her head between her knees. “Breathe.”
Her entire back rose and fell in quick succession. His own heart racing, he rushed to the kitchenette and pulled out the drawers until he found a paper bag. Not even after Jon died had she reacted like this and it scared him shitless. Snatching a bottle of water from the counter, he raced back to her side.
“Take this and breathe into it,” he said, forcing the bag into her hand. She clutched it between her fingers, the harsh crackle of each inhale and exhale loud in the cavernous space.
Niko rubbed her back and tried to keep his own breathing under control. The entire situation was a nightmare and he wanted to wake up. After a few moments, she quieted down, and dropped her hands from her face. Pale and clammy, she leaned back and accepted the bottled water he pressed into her palm. “Got anything heavier than this?”
“Yes, yes I do.” Niko retrieved a bottle of tequila, the salt shaker, and two shot glasses. Returning to her side, he poured two shots. “Sorry, I don’t have any limes up here.”
“I don’t need limes. Give me a shot and tell me how the hell you found out about Alice.”
He gave her the abbreviated version, leaving out his feelings for Alice. By the time he was done, Hallie held her glass out for another round. “Alice is Chloe’s mother and she’s donating stem cells to her?”
Niko refilled his glass but sipped at it. He’d spent last night drunk off his ass and he couldn’t do it again. “She doesn’t know if she’s the donor or not. The organization keeps the donors anonymous.”
“For at least nine months is my understanding. And you’re sure she’s Chloe’s mother?” Hallie said, rolling the empty shot glass between her palms. “She told you that?”
“Chloe put the pieces together, although I still don’t know if she realizes the outcome. I tried talking to her without coming out and saying anything to upset her but she wouldn’t talk to me.”
“It would explain why she’s been uncommunicative. She isn’t one to be quiet when she doesn’t have to be.”
“She’s like you that way.” Niko bumped her knee with his. “Have you talked to Ronan?” And has he said anything about Alice? He dared not ask but God help him, he wanted to know.
