Chapter Eight
Claudia Alister had been frightened by the previous night's events She had called his home immediately after the news broadcast needing to know if he was physically unharmed. She was glad that he was willing to accept psychological help of he needed it. She wanted to drop by and see him later that day. When he happened to see her in the supermarket Rick invited her over for a late lunch, saying Drew should be awake by then.
"Knowing your brother and food. I'm sire he will be glad to see you."
Drew had just swallowed two extra strength Advil followed by a bottle of water when he heard his family return. He wasn't surprised to hear his sister. He gave Claudia a big hug when she stopped into the kitchen.
"I'm so glad to see you!" Claudia exclaimed.
"Hey sis," Drew replied. "I would have had you called if there was anything to worry about. I'm fine."
Across town at nurse Kenny Fournette's apartment things weren't as relaxed.
The news reported that the shooting in the bar parking lot was the work of a local biker gang. A gang he was heavily in debt with from his gambling habit. The report said it was believed that one of the guests at the private gathering was in same predicament. He didn't know who to tell about his problem; Drew and Rick would distance themselves the moment they found out, for the sake of their family, their daughters' safety and Rick's connection with the police department.
And Kenny couldn't really blame them; Brianna had been through far too much as it was. Baby Avery didn't deserve to lose her new family either. Kenny could hear Drew telling him to "get his shit together and get some fucking help." Drew and his husband wouldn't bail him out of his debt either. Because he could hear this too, It was not their problem. Besides these people weren't like the bank, they didn't stop. How could Kenny have been so stupid to get involved such people? If they bailed Kenny out even once, he wouldn't learn and he would just do it again. As much as Drew cared about him, Kenny wasn't his responsibility.
It was clear as day to T.C. that Kenny was distracted at the start of the shift. He knew the look; the constant looking over his shoulder. The wide-eyed look at every mention of the shooting and the biker gang. T.C. had been there at some level but not with such dangerous people. If the doctor's suspicions were right Kenny was in big trouble in more ways than one. The most alarming being in physical danger of he didn't pay up soon. Kenny was also putting those close to him in danger, that included Brianna and Avery.
T.C. yanked the male nurse aside at the end of the shift and abruptly demanded how much Kenny was in debt and how much. He didn't bother to ask with who. He wasn't going to listen to a bullshit answer. Shocked and partly intimidated by T.C.'s sudden inquiry and demeanor Kenny stammered he owed ten grand and had to have it to them by tomorrow.
"Here's what you're going to do," T.C. said. "You're going to call 'em when you get home. I'm going with you; you're going to pay them the money you owe them, my money and that will be the last time you place a bet with anyone. You're going to get your shit together or else I'll tell Topher. The people who work here are in enough danger and don't need you to make it worse. Do you understand?"
Kenny nodded and stammered "t-thank you, T."
"Don't thank me, yet. After, you're gonna tell Drew and Rick. And if they refuse to be around you after that, it's on you. And I don't blame them, you haven't thought about Brianna and Avery."
Kenny's gambling problem wasn't a shock to the couple. Both men had suspected it but they hadn't thought he would get involved with a group he had the sense to know wouldn't hesitate to beat someone within an inch of their life. The ER treated many victims who made the same error, some who didn't have good outcomes.
T.C. was right.
There was no feelings but Drew and Rick couldn't have him in their home or around their daughters anymore. The risk to the family was too great.
Though saddened, Kenny understood it was his own doing.