Beyond Black & White Series Book 1: Bishop
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A. Duncan
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Bishop is a gifted, guilt-ridden doctor who runs from duty and lands in a shadowed town. He stitches strangers by day and outruns himself by night. Quiet is his refuge—until Kallie. She is fierce, clever, and deaf; her silence steadies his storm. With her, the ache softens. But Bishop holds a secret with teeth, the kind that makes death keep its distance and turns a man into something else. When danger prowls and choices tighten, he must decide what to risk: the lie that keeps her safe, or the truth that could set them both on fire. What will Kallie see when the mask slips and the monster looks back?
Chapter 1
KALLIE
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I finish the night’s look with a swipe of red lipstick. I step back and take in my reflection. The beautiful red gown falls to the floor, with a scandalous slit running all the way up to my thigh. The fabric is silky against my skin, hugging every curve delicately.
Spaghetti straps are all that hold up the plunging neckline. I finish the look with a pair of strappy silver heels.
I feel him before I see him. He’s dressed to the nines in his tux, ready for the night ahead. His soft, warm hands start at my wrists and slowly glide up to my shoulders, sending chills across my skin.
No words are spoken. None are needed. I look into the mirror and find his gray eyes watching me from behind. He lowers his face to my hair and inhales my scent.
I feel the tip of his nose travel across my cheek, down my throat, and stop at my shoulder. He looks at me in the mirror as he slowly slides the spaghetti strap down and kisses the soft spot between my shoulder and neck. My breath catches in my throat.
He’s so beautiful. His hands are so soft. Those gray eyes never leave mine as his fingertips trail over my collarbone to my neck, around my throat…and squeeze.
My eyes go wide with fright, and my hands do everything they can to pull him free. Fighting for air, I claw, I kick and try with all my might to make him release me. The only thing I hear is his deep voice against the shell of my ear.
“There’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing anyone can do.”
***
His eyes in the mirror are the last thing I see before I wake with a start, drenched in sweat. But those eyes weren’t gray. They were blue, sky blue.
My sheet is twisted around my legs, and the more I kick to try and free myself, the worse it gets. I can’t breathe. I wake to find my own hand wrapped around my throat, as if I was actually trying to fight my way free.
It’s been quite a long time—years, even—since those nightmares of my husband visited me. And what the hell was up with those blue eyes? I’ll have to ask Sandra, my therapist, what she thinks at our next appointment.
Looking at the clock, I see it’s five a.m. Too early to start my day, but too late to try and go back to sleep. Not that I would be able to anyway.
So I decide to just get up, take a quick shower, and get dressed.
After I put on some black leggings, a sports bra, and a white tank top, I head to the only place I know that can make these thoughts and dreams go away. The gym.
By the time I make it to the parking lot of the Iron Edge, my anxiety over the dream is through the roof. I put my car in park, lay my head against the headrest, and take a deep breath.
In…two…three…four. Out…two…three…four. There’s no reason to have a full-on panic attack in the gym parking lot at this hour.
I always feel better after working out with my best friend, Tarek. He knows me. He knows my moods and he can read me like a book. I’ve also learned exercise helps clear my head and all the negative thoughts that roam around in it.
Besides, he owns the gym and after a round of kickboxing, I feel like my legs are jelly and my lungs are on fire, but my mind is now absolutely clear.
One of the things I wanted to do as soon as I returned home—other than change my name, of course—was go back to school. I have my business degree, which I’ve never used. I met Wyatt in my senior year of college.
After graduation, he never wanted me to work, and I was stupid enough to think that was chivalrous of him. He would probably turn in his grave if he knew I used the money from his estate after his death to fund the Wade Center. A way to give back. A way to give others the help they need that I couldn’t find myself.
Though even now, that degree helps me with the Wade Center, something was still itching for me to do more.
So, I went to the community college here, and about a year ago, I finally finished my degree in nursing. Now, when the Wade Center or the hospital is low on staff, I throw on some scrubs and lend a hand, like today.
Today I’m in the hospital’s nursery. Usually, I get asked to help for a while in the ER, but I’m happy to hold these babies for as long as I can today.
Some of them are waiting for the adoption agency or foster care and aren’t held like babies should be. I’m more than happy to give them one-on-one bonding treatment.
“You ever thought of having kids one day, Kallie?” Shelly asks.
I look up at Shelly, the head nurse, and try not to cringe. At one time, babies were all I thought about.
Having a son that looked just like Wyatt, or maybe a little girl that looked just like me but with her dad’s gray eyes. Now, the thought makes me shiver—and not in a good way.
“Not anytime soon, Shelly. Besides, to even think of having a family, you have to be in a relationship first.”
“Not necessarily,” she says.
My eyes snap to hers, and I watch her smirk, hard. She’s an older woman, extremely sweet, but has a very dirty mind.
Ever since her husband left her for his much younger office assistant, she has literally gone wild. She grins. “You really only need one thing.”
“Yeah, well, that one thing has been on backorder for me for quite some time. I’m happy just to hold these beautiful faces.”
Her face perks up and her eyes sparkle with gossip. “Have you heard about Dr. Menendez retiring? Such a shame. She is one of the best around.”
“Yeah. They’ve already hired a new doctor to replace her. I haven’t met him yet. Though I’m pretty sure I will before too long. He has to bring me a copy of his credentials and malpractice insurance for his employee file.”
I look down at this chunky baby and notice he just barfed. So, I grab a cloth to quickly clean him up. You and me both, sweet pea, you and me both.
Looking at the clock, I notice shift change is close. I hand over baby boy Hernandez and start cleaning up.
I need to run by my office before I leave, then meet Ellery for dinner.
“Thanks for helping, Kallie!”
“No problem! I don’t consider loving on babies a job. Let me know if you need help again.”
“Will do.”
***
I’m running inside Jalapeno Hut to meet my other best friend, and Tarek’s twin sister, Ellery. I stop dead in my tracks when I make it to the table and see the destruction in front of me.
“Holy crap, Ellery. How many tacos have you had already?” I ask her astonished.
“Ten.”
My eyes widen to saucers, and I start to wonder where this skinny bitch puts everything. “Tell me you didn’t order the beans.”
“No! I ordered guacamole instead.”
“You know that gives you disastrous gas and bloats you like a stuffed balloon.” I say taking a seat and moving all the plates away.
“That’s why I have Gas-X. Already took three and I’ll shove three more after I eat. Plus, my pants are already unbuttoned, so that helps.” She shrugs.
Stuffing my own taco away, I look at her and notice she seems to be in a mood. “Why the meat fest? It’s not like you to overdo it like this during the week.”
“I saw John and his wife this morning.” She rolls her eyes.
“How did that happen?”
“Cake order.”
“Not following.”
“I didn’t realize the cute rubber ducky cake order I did for a kid’s birthday was for his kid. The wife ordered it. They both came in. She’s all bubbly and beautiful and ready to walk the runway. He looks like he’s about to pass the fuck out.”
“Holy moly.”
“So, I did what any respectable businesswoman would do. I went to the back and grabbed a cupcake that hadn’t been iced yet and rubbed it around the rim of the garbage can. Made sure it picked up all those leftover coffee grounds from yesterday and whatever else was there. Iced it with pistachio icing, since I know he hates pistachio, and told him it was on the house since he looked a little peaked. Last thing I needed was a customer passing out on me. I looked at him, daring him not to eat it.”
“Did he eat it?”
“Every damn bite. You should have seen him after he ate it, garbage on it and all. He really did look like he was going to pass out.”
“You’re part pure evil, you know that?”
“The whole time the wife is thanking me for being so thoughtful and caring. How she’ll remember just how well I took care of her husband and how she’ll tell everyone about it.”
I snort my water and burn my nose. Grabbing a napkin, I press it against my face. “If she only knew just how well you actually took care of her husband,” I say.
“Crap. I’ve got to take Tarek his to-go order. He’s teaching a late endurance class tonight at the gym.”
As we’re headed out the door, a man with his phone glued to his ear pushes his way inside. He knocks Ellery into my side without noticing.
Leave it to Ellery to open her mouth. “Excuse me, asshole. An apology would be nice.”
He turns his head and looks at both of us and smiles.
My breath hitches. Not from the smile, but from his eyes. I’ve seen that color blue before.
“It would be, wouldn’t it? But since you bumped into me, I’ll just let it go, beautiful.”
“You…”
Let’s go, Ellery. Don’t give the asshole the time of day.
Fine.
He looks at us funny for signing to each other instead of speaking, but on the way out, we hear him still talking on the phone.
“Naw, still here, B. Just some chicks wanting my attention, like always. This smile is going to be the death of me. I’m here at this taco shack you wanted to try. I’ll grab us a table. See you in a minute.”
“What a complete asshole! I should go give him a piece of my mind!”
“Take Tarek his food before he starts calling and that guacamole starts working.”
“Crap. Where’s the Gas-X?”
“Just make sure you stop and grab a can of Lysol on your way home. I’m not letting you in my house when your brother kicks you out for stinking up yours.”
