Guarded Heart (Dubicki's) Page 5

  Dubicki’s had been a pillar in northeast Minneapolis for three generations. Northeast Minneapolis had many similar bars that were nestled in amongst the neighborhoods, and there was still a sense of competition among the businesses, although it was mostly friendly competition. This neighborhood had a definite clannish feeling among its business owners and residents. Technically, Jesse lived upstairs from the bar, but he usually missed his family due to his training hours that conflicted with all of their schedules.

  He smiled as he opened the door to the bar. It was early afternoon which meant there were only a few patrons inside. Kelsey looked up and saw him. She smiled and ran around the bar to give him a hug.

  “Jesse!” Kelsey said as she sized him up in a motherly way to assess his overall health, emotional and otherwise. “You look good, but what’s wrong?”

  Jesse answered her with a sheepish grin that conveyed he was busted. He was relieved to be in his sister’s presence again. She knew him so well. Jesse took a seat at the bar while Kelsey got back to work.

  “I’ve been losing it, Kelsey. Not totally, but enough so that Pablo is really frustrated with me. I’ve got a big fight coming up, and I’m not bringing everything I have to the table,” he said and then sighed.

  “Why is that?”

  “Remember that night a couple of weeks ago when you wanted me to help a drunken girl out of here?”

  “I think so, but you know I see a lot of drunks in here. Remind me,” she said as she held up the shaker of drink she was mixing and shook it.

  “It was the girl that passed out when I was trying to help her get home. You told me you thought she’d been roofied.”

  “Oh, that girl. I remember her. You should have taken her to the hospital. Or called the cops. Neither of which you did, little brother.” Kelsey looked up at him from the drinks she was mixing.

  “You just love to scold me, don’t you?” Jesse teased her, continuing. “Anyway, as I was saying. I didn’t know her name or where she was from, and she ended up staying at my apartment. We didn’t do anything, but she got mad the next morning and told me she hadn’t asked for help and then stormed out.”

  “And you are interested in this girl because she was a mess and you saved her? Be careful, little brother,” she said as she put olives in the martini she’d just made.

  “Kelsey!” he exclaimed in frustration. “There’s just something about her. I don’t know what it is. I would like to believe she tried to push me away because she was embarrassed. You know how girls sometimes are mean to boys they like?”

  “That’s supposed to be the other way around, Jess.”

  He grinned mischievously. “Well, I think that’s what it was, but I want to find her again to see if she meant it or what.”

  “So, you want to go out with this girl? I don’t get it, but whatever. I like the thought of you with someone. You just have to make sure she’s not really a bar fly. That would be bad news.”

  “Okay, Kelsey, let’s just give her the benefit of the doubt right now. And hello, we own a bar. What’s so bad about bar flies!” Jesse exclaimed, as Kelsey rolled her eyes at him. “I need to find this girl. I know her first name is Carissa, but I don’t know how to find her. I was hoping you could help me.”

  “Since I’ve never seen her before, I don’t really have a recollection of her except having blondish hair and high heels. That girl was in heels so high I’d trip if I were wearing them. I have respect for anyone that can walk in a pair of those.”

  “That’s her,” he answered and was silently thankful that she remembered Carissa.

  “Listen, Jesse. I’ll ask around. It would be more helpful if she came in here again, but I’ll ask around to see if anyone knows anything. Okay?”

  He affectionately put Kelsey in a headlock and kissed her temple.

  “Thanks, sis. So, do you and Jason have the nursery set up yet?”

  “Well, Jason has promised he’d help me paint the nursery, but between the two of us, we’re always so busy. It’s hard to find the time. I think I’m going to have to organize a family painting day soon. You in?”

  “Yes. It would be better if it were after my fight with Damon Velasquez, though.”

  Kelsey slammed her hands down on the bar and rushed out from behind the bar as fast as a woman that pregnant was able. She charged him and slammed her hands on his chest. She probably would have been able to actually shove someone who wasn’t Jesse.

  “What the fuck, Jesse? You didn’t think to tell me or the family that you were fighting him? He almost killed you two years ago, and you want to let him do it again? And you don’t even have the courtesy to tell your family?”

  Kelsey threw her hands up to the air and paced as if she were making a plea for their parents to intervene from Heaven. The fight two years ago had not gone so well for Jesse. Damon fought dirty and pulled off the win. Jesse left the ring with a broken arm, one hell of a bleeder over his eyebrow, and had almost been suffocated in a choke hold before his team threw in his towel of submission for him.

  Jesse knew he had been close to losing his life that day. If he had it to do all over again, the only thing he’d change was who was nearly killed. He was still not sorry for resisting submission. He was proud, and sometimes pride might cost a fighter his life. Luckily, it had not cost him his.

  Adam, the eldest Dubicki sibling, walked out of the back room.

  “What’s going on out here?” Adam said, his voice clearly warning them to hold it down with customers in the bar.

  “Do you want to tell him Jesse, or should I?” Kelsey asked.

  Jesse’s only response was to look down at the floor.

  “Adam, our brother’s next fight is with Damon Velasquez.”

  “WHAT!” Adam yelled so loudly that by this point half the bar was watching them. “You promised us. Promised, Jesse, that you would stay away from him!”

  “Clearly, neither one of you understands what it’s like to be a fighter. He took something from me that day that I will never get back unless I fight him again.”

  “Jesse, what if he really kills you this time?” Kelsey asked, putting her head in her hands and starting to cry.

  Adam walked behind the bar and smashed a glass with his fist. “Do NOT expect me to watch that fight, or to come and see you in the hospital when he puts you there again!”

  “Thanks for your faith in me, guys. I totally appreciate it.”

  Jesse was mad at them. He knew they’d be upset, but couldn’t they at least try to support him?

  “Ow.” Kelsey suddenly put her hand on the bar to steady herself and her other hand on her back.

  Adam and Jesse both rushed to her side.

  “What’s wrong, sis?” Jesse asked.

  “I don’t know. I think it was a contraction. This shouldn’t be happening. I’m not ready yet; the baby’s not ready yet.” Her face showed visible pain as she reached out for support.

  Jesse took her arm. “Should we call Jason?”

  Kelsey and her husband Jason lived a few streets away, but Jason worked a few miles away and it was still a time of day that Jason would be at work. Jesse worked his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed.

  “Jason Rourke,” his brother-in-law answered the phone as always, announcing his name. He spent half the day on the phone for his real estate business.

  “Jason, I hate to worry you, but something is wrong with Kelsey. She’s had a couple of contractions and needs you.”

  “Oh my God, is she okay?”

  “She seems to be, for the moment. Just meet us at the hospital.”

  “I’m on my way,” Jason said and disconnected.

  “See what you’ve done, Jesse. Good job, little brother. You were always getting into trouble with your fists before you made it a career!” Adam yelled at him.

  “Shove it, Adam. You were always good at laying on guilt trips, and today is no exception. I’m sorry for the stress of it and feel bad enough on my own without you being a
dick about it. I highly doubt you want this to come to blows, so help me get our sister to the hospital.”

  They spent the next few hours as a family at the emergency room, waiting for the final word on Kelsey. It was a couple of Braxton Hicks contractions, but the doctor was concerned about how much she was on her feet. She negotiated with the doctor, and they reached an agreement that she would cut her shifts at the bar in half. If this happened again, she would have to stop working until after the baby was born.

  That night, after all the family drama, Jesse’s thoughts shifted to Carissa. He didn’t know what she was doing to him and why he was so determined to find her, but he figured there had to be something to the saying “when you know, you know.” Perhaps that was a bit presumptuous of him, but he didn’t care. He wanted what he wanted, and what he wanted, he usually got.

  As he was getting ready for bed, his phone rang. It was Kelsey.

  “I’m sorry, Jesse. I tried, truly. I asked all around about that girl you like, but I couldn’t seem to find anything out. I will keep asking but just wanted you to know.”

  He sighed in disappointment. “It’s okay, sis. I can’t believe you made some inquiries after the day you had.”

  “Well, you know I can’t sit still for long. It kept me busy and kept me from worrying about the baby. The doctor assured me everything will be fine, but it was still scary. I know what Adam said to you, and it’s not your fault, Jesse.”

  “I still feel a little responsible, but thanks for saying that. And thanks for trying to find Carissa. That means a lot to me that you would even remember.”

  “I love you, Jesse. I remember these things. I’m still mad at you, though. Mad that you’re fighting him again, and mad that you didn’t tell me.”

  Kelsey was like a mama bear sometimes. He liked it that way.

  “I know, Kels. I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry. You know? I’ve wanted vengeance for the last two years. I know you don’t understand. I know you’re worried. I will try to make you proud and win this one.”

  “Jesse, I hope you do win. I trust your judgment in this. It’s just hard. Whatever you do, please don’t let him kill you. I still have nightmares about that night two years ago.”

  “I will do my best, sis.”

  “I’m counting on it, little brother.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 9

  Carissa was tired. It had been a long day at work. One of the Alzheimer’s patients had escaped, and all hell had broken loose. It took two hours and the police to recover the patient. Before he’d left the premises, he’d also hit another patient. Belligerence was a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, when one of her Alzheimer’s patients hit someone like this man had, that meant he’d be shipped out to a “high-security” nursing home. It was sad but necessary. Alzheimer’s patients had ankle bracelets and were in a lockdown unit in case they escaped. It was for their safety that the place was in lockdown.

  Today, after recovering of the patient, there had been tons of paperwork to fill out, both with the police and with the home to report the act of violence. Then there was more paperwork to get the transfer for the patient to the high-security home. Carissa had to do the paperwork since she was on that unit that day and was the newest and, thus, often delegated paperwork. She’d also had to call the patient’s family, and the news about what had happened and the transfer to the high-security home was not well received.

  She walked into her apartment door, reached down to pet her cat Cal, and put her purse over the back of the chair at her kitchen table. She got herself some iced tea and made her way into the living room. She’d have to get in the shower soon but needed some down time. She liked to read and took out her e-reader and turned it to her novel of the moment. Reading was a good release and helped her escape reality.

  She nestled herself into her big, comfy reading chair. Carissa loved her big reading chair. When she purchased it, even though she’d been looking at thrift stores for furniture, she knew she wanted a big, inviting chair that she could curl up and read a book in. Someday she wanted a library or office in her home with lots of books and book shelves, a picture window, and a big, comfy chair to read in. She could even see Cal sitting near her, perched in the window just like a cat would be when she imagined it. Books and reading were just nourishment for her soul. They helped her escape life in some of her hardest moments; now that the moments were better, she loved reading all the more.

  As she was just settling into a steamy sex scene, her phone rang. Damn. She sighed and put her book down since it was Dana’s vanity ring that came on only when her bestie was calling.

  “Girrrllll, have I got a surprise for you,” Dana purred as Carissa picked up the phone. When Dana talked like that, she usually wanted something.

  “Uh oh. What do you want, Wheeler?” Carissa teased as she prepared for the bomb to drop.

  “Well, my new boyfriend Kyle loves UFC fighting. You know what that is, right?”

  Dana had been dating Kyle since the night of Carissa’s incident at Dubicki’s. Carissa shuttered just thinking about anything associated with that evening.

  “Duh, yes. I don’t really get it, but, yes, I know what it is. It’s cage fighting, right?” Carissa yawned with disinterest.

  “Sort of. Anyway, Kyle has tickets to go see a local MMA fight tomorrow, and we were going to take his buddy with us, but his friend can’t make it,” Dana said expectantly as if asking her to go.

  “Dana, I have to tell you something, and I don’t want you to get upset. That night at Dubicki’s when you met Kyle?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I fell apart after you left. I thought I was drunk, but I only had two drinks. I’m pretty sure I was roofied by one of those guys that Carrie and Melissa had with them.”

  “What? What the FUCK, Carissa? How could you not tell me? I thought you were alright, or I never would have left you like that! I’m going to ask Carrie and Melissa if they know which one it was; when I find his name, you better hope I don’t hunt him down. You should have him arrested.”

  “There’s more to the story. When I basically passed out in my own vomit, one of the bouncers, Jesse Dubicki, found me. He took me upstairs to his apartment because he didn’t know I’d been roofied or where I lived. When I woke up, I was mad. I’m not sure who I was more upset with, him or the guy that roofied me, but the whole experience was traumatizing.”

  Carissa felt nauseous just discussing it, but knew she had to tell her best friend. She’d put it off for long enough.

  “Carissa, you’re lucky that Jesse saved you. That guy who roofied you could have raped you.”

  “DON’T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT, DANA! God!”

  Carissa paced, wanting to hit something. Cal got scared seeing her upset and fled the room.

  “Carissa, I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how bad this must be with all that happened to you when you were young.”

  “Do NOT say his name, Dana. Do NOT say the name Ray. I never want to hear it again.”

  Carissa fought the bile she felt creep up her esophagus at just mentioning his name herself.

  “Shhh, Carissa. I’m so sorry, sweetie. Do you want me to come over?”

  “No, D, I’ll be fine. It’s just that bringing it all up makes me remember things I would rather not. That was a close call. I never want to see either of those guys again.”

  “Well, in saying that, I hope that you mean that you don’t want to see the rapist and potential roofie rapist. Because that fight tomorrow that I was inviting you to features Jesse Dubicki as the headliner.”

  “What? I thought he was a bouncer! What are you talking about?”

  “How can you NOT know who Jesse Dubicki is? He’s one of the best MMA fighters in the Midwest. In this city, he’s pretty much a local hero. People love him!”

  Carissa felt a headache coming on trying to process all this new information.

  “So do you want to
go, or not?” Dana pressed.

  “No. I don’t want to see anyone associated with that night again.”

  “Carissa, come on. I can’t imagine how much fear that brought up in you, but it sounds to me like Jesse was trying to protect you. Not only am I thankful he did that, I think that it’s kind of hot. Don’t you?”

  Dana could never resist the impulse to try to match-make for her. It was annoying most of the time, and this was no exception. She loved her best friend who was ever the romantic, but she stopped believing in true love long ago.

  “Carissa, I can almost hear the wheels of your mind turning. Will you please go? Just try, and if it makes you really uncomfortable, you can leave. I want you with me if I have to go to an MMA fight, pleeeaaasseee?”

  “I don’t know, Dana,” Carissa said as she fought the smile that was threatening the corner of her mouth at the moment. She couldn’t resist Dana sometimes, even if it was for her own good.

  “Carissa, it’s not like he’s even going to see you. Stop worrying.”

  Carissa pursed her lips.

  “Alright. I’ll go. Happy?”

  She gave into Dana every time. She wasn’t even sure why she bothered to protest.

  Dana laughed, “I knew it. Even when you bitched about him seeing you puke the other night, I could hear something in your voice that sounded like you might have judged him incorrectly. I’ll meet you after work, and we can go shopping for a new outfit. You need a good push-up bra for this one.”

  Carissa laughed. Normally, she thought Dana was a little over the top, but sometimes that’s just what she needed to get her out of her shell.

  Chapter 10

  It was finally the day of the big fight.

  “See you later tonight at the arena, Dubicki,” Pablo said as they toweled off in the locker room of the gym.

  They’d had a morning brush-up practice that went well; just to give them more confidence as they went into that night’s match. You never knew what tricks a fighter like Damon Velasquez would pull out, but they wanted to cover all the bases.