It's Code For You (Parallel NurseryVerse Series)

Chapter 20- Haven

(Minor content warning- discussion of forced drinking)

Autumn had always hated the smell of pubs like this, the desperation and sweat mixed together just made her cringe in disgust. The fact that this was where Bradley wanted to meet the Knights only added to her nausea. He had requested that it be just Reece and Autumn, and despite Reece agreeing to it, he had set Marjorie and Vivian at a table in the back. After all, this was Vivian’s partner’s life on the line, and Marjorie refused to not be able to punch Bradley in the nose if he touched her fiance. Autumn glanced behind her to make sure they were still seated. What she hoped would look like inconspicuous chatter between friends, instead looked like a bad knock off of a James Bond movie. Marjorie was peeking over her bar menu with her ‘angry eyebrows’ and Vivian was clutching her head in annoyance. She wanted to be annoyed with Marjorie’s antics, she really did. But all she could do was smile a small little grin. Marjorie being nothing less than herself brought peace to her nerves. She was thankful for that moment of peace when she heard the bell by the door sound again, pulling her eyes back to it. There he was, Bradley White. He hadn’t changed even the slightest bit from what Autumn had remembered him as. His dirty blonde hair was still styled the same, wavy and tousled to the side. His smile was still the brightest in the room, practically blinding anyone who looked at it. Autumn scowled watching him saunter over, all but demanding attention from everyone in his way in his fancy suit.
“My god, if it isn’t Autumn Knight!” Bradley walked directly past Reece and his outstretched hand, headed straight for Autumn.
“Oh no he didn’t” Marjorie mumbled at their table, stumbling off her barstool angrily.
“Easy tiger, we have to let them interact. Sit down.” Viv threw her arm out, clotheslining Marjorie. “Now.” She turned her head to make eye contact with Marjorie. Vivian was a scary woman when she needed to be.
“Bradley.” Autumn deadpanned.
“Oh come on now, baby. The last time we were in a place like this we made some damn good memories!” Bradley ran a finger down Autumn’s cheek. Her eyes widened angrily as she looked across to Reece, whose jaw was all but on the floor. Her eyes slowly panned back over to Bradley.
“I’m not interested in recreating those memories. Now if we could get to the point of this meeting-” She smacked his hand away. “I would greatly appreciate it.” Reece cleared his throat, attempting to draw any of Bradley’s misplaced attention away from his sister.
“Listen, Bradley. As much as none of us want to be here- we need your help.”  Bradley clicked his tongue against his teeth in annoyance. 
“Well I assumed you weren’t here to chaperone your sister on a date with the one who got away.” Autumn swallowed down a gag threatening to escape her throat. Bradley slid a barstool across the floor to sit with the Knight siblings. “What seems to be the problem, mate?” Reece gripped the fabric of his jeans under the table. He wanted nothing more than to take his fist and plant it right into that perfectly sculpted face.
“Our father’s ex girlfriend-”
“Oh yeah, I heard your dad kicked the bucket. Killer stuff.” The word killer echoed in Autumn’s ears as Bradley spoke. She didn’t regret her decision, she had to save Siobhan’s life. But the way the word rolled off of his tongue made her brain feel like it had taken a jump out of a plane with no parachute.
“Right- erm.” Reece looked to Autumn, noticing she was less than present. Concern took over his body, knowing full well that she hadn’t even begun to confront the actions they had both taken to settle Roger’s demise. “She has been taken to this... private facility for treatment. She’s 36 and yet her father has had her detained.” Bradley nodded his head along with Reece’s story.
“Treatment for..? I’m sorry Reece but a lot of detainments are not up for legal debate.” Reece felt his frustration growing.
“She was held at gunpoint for loving a woman, by my father might I add-”
“Reece!” Autumn cut him off, shaking her head violently. They had conveniently left out those details to the police- and until that moment, no one but the 5 of them knew. Bradley raised an eyebrow, a sinister look plastered on his face.
“The point is... Siobhan fell in love with a woman, and even though we live in the twenty-first century- her father has decided she needed to be cured of that. She’s been there for three days... I don’t know how long she will last. We need your help to find a way to get her out of there. Now.” Reece bit his tongue, watching Autumn shift uncomfortably at the thought. Would Roger have done the same to her if he had the chance? Did he know long before she had gotten with Marjorie, is that why she was going to marry the blonde haired idiot next to her? All for the point of ‘conversion’?
“Excuse me...” Autumn stood to her feet quickly. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She took off towards the door, leaving Reece alone with Bradley. Reece shot a look back towards the back of the bar, meeting Marjorie’s worried eyes in an instant. He nodded, cutting loose the invisible chain for Marjorie to chase after Autumn. As she bolted past, she purposefully rammed her elbow into Bradley’s back.
“Hey!” Bradley turned quickly, but Marjorie was already gone. “What is with the women in this bar tonight?” Reece smirked behind his hand.
“Must be lesbian night.” Bradley snapped around.
“What!?”
“So back to the matter at hand. You are the best of the best, Brad. Siobhan needs that in her corner. Do you think you can help?” Bradley breathed in deeply through his nose, before nodding once.
“I can. But it’s not going to be cheap.” Reece rolled his eyes.
“Name your price, White. I have no other options.”