Bourbon Blaze Read online

  “Christ,” Susan and Connor said.

  “I spent a week in the hospital. I received around two hundred stitches to close the wounds. It was winter in Florida, which allowed me to get away with wearing sweat pants. Fast forward six months, which would be the end of May this year. Tomas’s unemployment was about to run out. I came home fifteen minutes late. I didn’t call to let him know. I never had to do that in the past, our relationship wasn’t like that. I was exhausted and snarky. There must have been something in the air that day. He was just as snarky as I was. He demanded to know where the beer was, I snarked it wasn’t my job to buy it. He punched me in the side of the head.” She moved her hair at her temple to the side, revealing the scar in her hairline. Sophia paused and looked at Susan. “I know I should have moved out after that first attack, but Tomas apologized, said it would never happen again. I believed him. I also didn’t have any place to go. I had no family, and the only apartment I could afford on my own was in the bad part of the city. That’s the only reason why I stayed with him. It wasn’t like we were in love with each other.”

  Sophia continued to unknowingly rub her thigh. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly before she continued with her story. “As he punched me, he called Dawg, giving him the command to attack. I dropped down into the fetal position, covering my head, hands, and face. While Dawg was attacking me, Tomas began beating me with his belt. Thank god, my boss had forgotten to give me my paycheck. He swung by my house on his way home. When he arrived, the neighbors stopped him from coming to the house. They had heard Tomas and Dawg and called the police. By the time he had arrived, the cops were there in less than a minute. They used their tasers on both Tomas and Dawg, once they were taken care of, I was rushed to the hospital.

  “Because I had been so torn up, I was rushed into surgery. Dawg had torn a tendon in the back of my arm. I ended up with over four hundred stitches. I woke three days later. My boss told me what happened. He’s Curt’s brother.”

  “Uncle Chris?” Connor asked in shock. “Remember? Justin is my best friend.”

  “Yes, Chris Bannerman. He called Curt, told him what happened. Two days after I woke, infection set in. I had to stay for another two weeks. Because I hadn’t been able to press charges, Tomas had been released. The first thing I did after leaving the hospital was press charges against him. I can see the shock on your faces about Tomas being released. Let me tell you, I was just as upset about it. The DA had explained that because I hadn’t been able to make formal charges against him, along with his squeaky clean record, they couldn’t hold him. He was re-arrested, denied bail. It took three months to get a trial. I testified against him. He was given three to five years. I packed my shit and left to come here the day he was sentenced.”

  “So, what happened today?” Susan asked.

  “On my trip here, I had no problems with anything. I took my time, stopped when I wanted, or when I became hungry or tired. A couple of times I even stopped at some tourist attraction. I wasn’t in any hurry to arrive. The day before I got here, I was on the interstate when I had to use the bathroom. I was about two hours away from Stormville at that time. I pulled off at a rest stop. Barely making it in time. I came out and I wasn’t paying attention. Not until I looked up to see a German Shepherd standing on the walkway. It came toward me. I froze until it licked my hand. I screamed, unable to do anything but stand there as stiff as a board.”

  “I don’t know how long it took before a man said I was safe and that the dog was gone. Once I could breathe without wanting to throw up, I left.”

  “At least you went pee before you saw the dog.” Connor laughed when Sophia snorted. It felt good to be able to laugh about it now. She began to breathe easier.

  “There is that.” Sophia said. She relaxed enough to stretch her legs out and reach for the pizza. “Today, I was waiting for my client to arrive. There was a dog there. I swear to god it was the same one. It was a huge, black and tan German Shepherd. It licked my hand and I lost it. It took several minutes before I realized someone was talking to me. They were saying I was safe over and over again. Something about his voice made me feel like he was telling the truth.”

  “Do you know who it was?” Susan asked, trying to figure out who had a huge black German Shepherd.

  “It was my client with his dog.”

  “Who is your client?” Connor asked. “I’m asking because maybe we know who it is. If we do, maybe we could tell them about your fear. Have them keep the dog away from you. Who knows, it could even be a friend of ours.”

  “You don’t have to.” Sophia sighed. “My client is Sean, I can’t remember his last name, I know his dog’s name is Kilo.”

  “Oh, crap.” They said at the same time.

  “What?”

  “It’s Sean Kilduff. He’s a deputy for the sheriff’s department. Kilo is his K-9. I know you probably don’t care, but Kilo isn’t a German Shepherd. He’s a Belgian Malinois.”

  “So, they’re together all the time?”

  “Yes, they’re always together except when Sean’s riding his motorcycle. If they’re not working, Kilo lives with Sean.”

  “Oh.” Sophia released a deep breath as a ball of disappointment rolled over her.

  “What is it?” Susan asked. Sophia looked at Connor. Susan had him leave the room, telling him it was women’s talk. He couldn’t leave fast enough.

  “Talk to me,” Susan said.

  “I liked the guy, I vowed I’d never get involved with a man ever again, but he was hot.”

  “Stop it. You’re too young to make that vow. Hell, you’re not even thirty yet. I can tell you from personal experience Sean Kilduff is a wonderful man. We went out a couple of times, but there was no spark between us.” Susan didn’t tell her cousin she’d had sex with him, some things were better left unsaid. “Does he give you a spark?”

  “If you mean when we shake hands, lightning shoots up my arm, and I feel myself getting turned on, then I guess the answer is yes.”

  “Go for it. Sean is a great guy.”

  “What about Kilo?” Sophia asked. “I know a dog is man’s best friend. If Kilo is Sean’s work partner, and a pet, I can’t ask him to give up the dog. I don’t see how I can be around Kilo without freaking out. What kind of relationship would it be? I can’t ask him to get rid of the dog. I used to love animals.” She let her thought trail off.

  “You don’t know if you can have a relationship with someone who has a dog?”

  “Correct. I don’t know if it’s German Shepherds or if it’s all dogs. I never tested the theory.”

  The two women sat in silence for a long time. “Would you like to get some help?”

  “Help how?”

  “To manage your fear. Help to see if it’s all dogs or just big ones. To see if you could ever be able to be around Kilo without freaking out every time.”

  “How could I? I don’t know if I can even afford it. Not with buying the car. I’m not strapped for cash. I have some that I was able to save because I lived with Tomas. However, I’m leery of spending money that might not bring me the results I want.”

  “What kind of results are you looking for?”

  “To be able to go out on a date with Sean. Go back to his place without being a screaming, snot-dripping, crying baby at the sight of his dog.”

  “That’s pretty accurate.” Susan turned her head and stared at her.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “You know I’m a nurse, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “A new doctor started at the clinic attached to the hospital. Dr. Malcolm specializes in trauma-induced PTSD. He transferred in from Chicago.”

  “Why would he come to a small town like this? No offense against your town, but it’s not a bustling metropolis.”

  “I know.” Susan nodded and took a bite of her pizza. She held up her hand. “His mother is sick. She lives here. He, along with his wife, came home to take care of her. Both Dr. Malcolm’
s are from Stormville.”

  “Oh, is he accepting new patients?”

  “I can ask, I may have to tell him how bad your fear is.”

  “Tell him, if you have to scale it, like one to ten, with ten being the worst, tell him it’s about a fifty-seven.”

  “I will,” Susan said. Connor rejoined them. The three had a lazy night watching TV and eating pizza. For the first time in a long time, Sophia was tucked in her bed, sound asleep by eight o’clock. After checking on her, Susan went outside with her cell phone, before dialing.

  “Kilduff.”

  “Sean, it’s Susan.”

  “Are you okay? Is it Connor?”

  “No, we’re fine, it’s about Sophia.”

  “Swanson?”

  “Yes.”

  Sean pulled into an entrance to a field. “What’s up? Why are you calling me about Sophia Swanson?”

  “She’s my cousin. I found her on Facebook a few months ago. She’s staying with us.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yes, before I came home tonight, Connor let me know Sophia was already home. I picked up a pizza for supper. Sophia wasn’t drunk, but she was sipping bourbon when I arrived home. I asked what was wrong. She told me what happened today, along with what happened a couple of weeks ago out on the interstate. She also told me what happened several months ago in Florida. The reason why she’s here. Sean, it’s bad.”

  “Do you need me to come over?”

  “No, I wanted to give you a heads up. Even though it didn’t work out between us, I feel we’re still friends.”

  “I feel the same way.” Not knowing what else to say, he remained quiet.

  “Sophia admitted she likes you. I mean likes, likes you. Like she might want to see if you could have a relationship, but she’s petrified of Kilo. Connor pointed out Kilo would never hurt her, not even if provoked. He’d harm her only if you gave the order.”

  “Correct. Only me.”

  “I know. Sean, I’m not going to get into deep details, but she showed us the scars. Her whole backside. I’m not talking about her ass. I’m talking about her back, arms, legs, the back of her neck. All covered in red, jagged, vicious, still healing scars. She mentioned her ex-boyfriend told his dog to attack her. The dog was in an illegal dog-fighting ring, run by the ex’s brother. She didn’t admit it. However, I think the boyfriend was involved with the illegal activities.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Yeah, she doesn’t know if it’s Shepherd’s or all dogs that frighten her.”

  “Kilo’s not a Shepherd. He’s a Belgian Malinois.”

  “We know, we told Sophia that. I called because I wanted you to know we have a new Dr. at the clinic. The one attached to the hospital. Do you know Marion Malcolm?”

  “Older lady, lives on the opposite side of town from you?”

  “Yes, her son and his wife are doctors. Both used to practice in Chicago, they moved back because Ben’s mother is ailing. She refuses to go to a home. Ben’s wife is taking care of her while she’s not in the office with him. They take turns staying with Marion.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because both Dr. Malcolm’s specialize in PTSD associated with trauma.”

  “Tell me more.” Sean nodded, his mind going back to his conversation with the sheriff.

  “Sophia wants to see if the two of you can have a relationship. She won’t if Kilo scares her.”

  “How do you know she wants to have a relationship with me?”

  “She said shaking your hand makes lightening shoot up her arm. You woke her girly parts.” Susan laughed, hearing Sean sputter.

  He couldn’t stop his grin. “I can work with that.”

  “I thought you could. I have her permission to talk to Dr. Ben tomorrow to see if he’s accepting new patients. I wanted to give you a heads up in case you get a call out of the blue about discussing trauma, or at least a phone call about Kilo.”

  “Thanks, Susan, I appreciate the call. Now I have a question for you.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Do you know if Dr. Malcolm takes patients with military PTSD?”

  “He does, or he did in Chicago, it’s his field of study. Why? Are you experiencing PTSD?”

  “Not me, I’m concerned about a friend of mine. Could you give Dr. Malcolm my contact information? Tell him I’d appreciate a call from him?”

  “I can, it might take him a couple of days to get back to you.”

  “Not a problem, I’ve talked to Curt, he’s going to talk to his friends for me. I have a feeling they won’t be able to help. I’m keeping my options open.”

  “All I can say is I’ll talk to him tomorrow. The ball will be in his court.”

  “Thanks, Susan, I don’t know if you know I’m on afternoons. I don’t get home until midnight. I get to sleep around four. If you can’t get ahold of me, call Phil.”

  “The sheriff?”

  “Yes, I’ll call him when I hang up from you, give him a heads up.”

  “I’m worried I might have overstepped by calling you. Sophia became distraught when she talked about her reaction to Kilo. Her biggest fear is she can’t give you the time of day, for fear Kilo will be there.”

  “I’ll make sure he stays home if she calls me in for the paint job on my bike. Thanks for the heads up. Is there anything else I need to know?”

  “I told her you were a great guy. I even told her we went out a few times. However, I did not tell her we’d slept together. I figured it was between us. I don’t kiss and tell. Because it didn’t work out between us, no reason to trash talk the other.”

  “I agree, thanks, Susan.” Before he hung up, he laughed. “You going to the Bannerman’s this weekend?”

  “For?”

  “Something about a haunted house, and hayride.”

  “It’s this weekend? Crap, I forgot. I promised Dana I’d make something. Yeah, I’ll be there. See you there.”

  “Thanks again, Susan.” They hung up. Sean continued to sit there for almost half an hour, processing what Susan had told him about Sophia. He’d have to make sure to get the minute details from her in the future. When Susan said Sophia was interested in him, it gave him hope for the future.

  7

  Three days later, Sophia answered her desk phone in her office. With no receptionist, she and Curt took turns answering the phone. Since he was in the paint booth, she was stuck answering all the calls. She couldn’t continue the design she’d been working on. Not until she talked to Sean, she needed his input. However, she was afraid to contact him. What if he brought Kilo with him? What if she freaked again? She knew deep down she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

  “Sophia Swanson, please?”

  “Speaking, who’s calling?”

  “This is Dr. Ben Malcolm, Susan Phillips told me about your fear of dogs. I’m calling to see if you could come in for a consultation? We can see if I’d be able to help you.”

  Sophia sat up and dropped her feet to the floor with a thump. “When?” she demanded.

  “How about after work tonight? I’m sure Susan told you I’m new here. I don’t have many clients yet.”

  “Yes, where are you located? I’m new in town, but I know where the hospital is.” When Dr. Malcolm didn’t say anything, Sophia sighed.

  “Ah, we’re in the office building next to the hospital.”

  “I can be there by five-thirty.”

  “Whenever, plan on being here for at least an hour, it may be more. It’ll depend on how it goes.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Malcolm, you don’t know how much I need help.

  “I have a good idea. That’s why you’re coming in. So we can discuss it. I’ll see you at five-thirty. If you don’t mind my wife Alice will be joining us.”

  “Does she specialize in trauma, too?”

  “She does, you’ll be getting two doctors for the price of one. You can choose which one of us you’d like to work with. And.” He paused. Sophia braced herself. “Susan told us
we needed to see your back. We wouldn’t understand until we saw it. My wife will be in the office. A precaution for both of us.”

  “I understand.” Sophia didn’t know what else to say, so they hung up. Several minutes later, Sophia jumped when someone knocked on her door. Expecting Curt, she turned not disappointed. Knocking seemed to be his way of getting her attention.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” Sophia sighed. “You got a couple of minutes?”

  “Yep.” Curt walked in, taking her spare chair, keeping distance between them.

  “I have to leave right at five today, maybe a few minutes before.”

  “Dare I ask why?”

  “Remember how I freaked the other day?”

  “Yes.”

  “I went home. Told Susan everything, she said a couple of new doctors started working at the clinic next to the hospital. A husband and wife team. They’ve been practicing in Chicago, his mother lives here. They specialize in PTSD. I’m going to see them today.”

  “Good for you.” Curt nodded. He didn’t point out she was talking fast, he figured she needed to get it off her chest. He’d stop her if he couldn’t follow what she was saying.

  “Thanks, I have two other things to discuss.”

  “Go on.”

  “Did my health insurance from Daytona transfer? Or do I have to have new? Am I even covered?”

  “I don’t know, I’ll have to look into it,” Curt said as he grabbed a pen and scratch paper from Sophia’s desk. He jotted a note down, he looked at her. “What else?”

  “I need to show you something. You won’t see it all, you’ll get the jest of what I went through. The reason why your brother sent me here.”

  “You don’t have to.” Curt stared at her in shock.

  “I do, you need to understand why I freak out. I’ll be working with the doctor, one or both, I meet tonight. I’ll be honest here, I like Sean, I’d like to get to know him. I can’t, not if the thought of seeing his dog frightens me. I’ve been sitting here for the last three days, trying to get up the courage to call him. I can’t move forward with his bike unless he approves what I’ve done.”