Nicole tried to yank free, but Bella had a pretty good hold on her. “Let’s go get some air.”
“I don’t need no fucking air! Get off me!”
For her own protection, Bella wrapped an arm around Nicole. Despite Nicole’s reluctance, she walked her toward the door. “Listen, we don’t want the secret service bursting in here.”
“Fuck the secret service!” Nicole spat. “He ain’t gonna win no way!”
Lincoln hurried and opened the door for Bella. She was practically dragging Nicole at that point.
“Come on. We gotta keep it together,” Bella urged through a soft breath.
Once they crossed the threshold, Nicole started wailing like a Spanish widow. Everyone in the hall turned to watch the display, starring a grieving daughter slash envious sister. But if sympathy was what Nicole was looking for, she wasn’t going toget it from Bella. For years, she’d watched Nicole hurt Taylor and pay no consequences. It was time for her to start answering for some of the bullshit she’d put her family through.
Lincoln closed the door, and as soon as Bella heard the click of the knob, she shoved Nicole with force that sent her flying. Her body crashed into the wall and bounced off. Bella caught her by the neck in mid-flight. Nicole gagged and clawed at Bella’s fingers, but her grip was fixed.
Bella turned around when someone grabbed her arm. It was one of Victor’s secret service agents. She glared down at his hand and then looked him in the eye. “Get your fucking hands off me,” she demanded through gritted teeth.
The agent frowned, but he didn’t budge. Lincoln stepped in and grabbed the agent’s wrist. “This isn’t your job.”
More than likely, the agent realized that Lincoln was right. His job was to protect Victor, not the shit-starting bitch choking beneath Bella’s fingers. When Nicole realized she wasn’t going to free herself by pulling at Bella’s hand, she started flailing her arms and kicking her feet.
Judging from the rage in her eyes, if Nicole could speak, she would have called Bella everything but a child of God. But she couldn’t speak. So, Bella took the opportunity to get her point across. “Your mother is dealing with the worst day of her life. Instead of being there for her, you decide to attack your sister, who, by the fucking way, just found out that her father died.”
Nicole’s eyes widened. She stopped fighting and her arms dropped to her sides.
Bella glared at her and tightened her grip around her neck. “Oh, you hear me now? You’re paying attention now?”
“Bella,” Lincoln interjected. “Hospital security is headed this way.”
Bella didn’t bother to look up. She pulled Nicole’s face close to hers. “Now, I’ma let you go. And when I do, you’re gonna go back in there. You’re gonna kiss and hug your mother and you’re gonna stay away from your sister. In a nutshell, you’re gonna go in there and act like you got some fucking sense!”
When Nicole’s eyes rolled up into her head, Bella thought it best she not kill the grieving widow’s daughter. She opened her hand and allowed Nicole to slip through her fingers. Luckily for her, Lincoln was there to catch her before she hit the floor. Like a fish out of water, Nicole gulped and gasped for air. She was pale, almost blue. Her skin was clammy and her eyes were blurred with tears.
While tending to her, Lincoln looked up at Bella and frowned. “Really?”
“It had to be said,” Bella muttered.
Hopefully, an understanding had been reached. God willing, they wouldn’t need to have another discussion. Nicole stood and slapped Lincoln’s hand away. She gave Bella a hateful look but said nothing. She fixed her clothes and swiped a tear from her cheek. Lincoln walked over and pulled the door open.
Bella thanked him and gestured for Nicole to go inside. “After you.”
After fixing her blouse and twisting her skirt in place, she rolled her eyes at Lincoln and walked into the family room.
Lincoln raised a brow. “You would think I was the one who had kicked her ass.”
Bella chuckled. “Linc, this chick is off the chain. Why would she go in there and act a fool?”
She had posed the question, but Lincoln didn’t respond. He was completely engulfed in something going on behind her. Bella turned around to look, but she was looking down an empty hall.
“What are you looking at?” she asked.
Lincoln shook his head and then smiled. “Nothing, sis. I thought I saw someone I knew. Go inside with the family. I’ll be in there in a sec.”
“Um... okay.” Bella looked down the hall again. Still, she saw nothing. And she didn’t want to leave Nicole unattended for too long. So, she went back into the hospital’s family room. Like Bella had hoped, Nicole seemed to be prioritizing her mother. She looked over at Taylor who offered a grateful smile. Bella nodded.
“Thank you,” Taylor mouthed.
Bella winked at Taylor before walking over to join Lucas in the kitchenette. He handed her a bottle of water and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, girl.”
