by S Cinders
After Kim relayed what she knew, Agent Jackson asked, “Does Vauban have power-of-attorney over Ms. Vauban’s medical care?” Tyrone asked.
“No,” Kim stated firmly. “Of course, you would need to speak with my husband for the details. Alyssa said that Frank has some kind of hold over her inheritance, but Nate said it’s archaic and won’t likely stand up in court. Do you know what kind of man he is?”
Jackson nodded. “You don’t have to tell me. The bastard is as slippery as an eel. I wish to God they hadn’t called him without checking with us first. They didn’t know Agent Tabor was FBI—or at least that’s the story.”
“I will have the police down here in five minutes if you don’t release her to me,” Frank demanded hotly.
The flustered nurse looked close to tears. Not only was everyone in the waiting room staring, two individuals had their phones out live streaming. Jackson pulled out his badge again and flashed it at the people filming.
“Stop filming. You’re violating patient privacy.”
They quickly complied, then Jackson approached Frank. They exchanged a few heated words in whispers, but then Frank blustered, “I don’t care who you are. I have the law on my side.”
Thankfully, Nate and Tyrone walked back into the emergency room at the moment. After kissing his wife’s temple, Nate turned to Frank and Jackson to exchange pleasantries.
Frank continued to be hostile. “You don’t know who I am. I control my niece’s fortune.”
“It’s funny you should mention that,” Nate said affably. “I am Nate Livingston of Livingston, Cooper & Jones. I represent Ms. Vauban and as of earlier this morning, we signed no such documents assigning you power-of-attorney. Since my client is under medical care, I have to assume that nothing has changed.”
The ruddy complexion of the older man deepened into a purple shade that reminded Kim of beets.
“Listen, this isn’t something you want to get involved in, Livingston. I take care of my family, not you.”
“I appreciate your familial concern with Ms. Vauban,” he replied smoothly. “However, as her attorney, I cannot in good conscience take such a statement as fact. You can imagine how I’d be laughed out of court.”
Kim smothered a smile with her hand. Nate’s witty replies and refusal to get angry were really ticking the older man off.
“Don’t be smart with me, boy. I have friends in powerful places.”
Tyrone ignored the slur, cleared his throat, and said, “I would be more than happy to talk about those powerful friends. How about we go over to headquarters, and you can tell us anything you’d like us to know.”
Frank laughed. “You think your little FBI badge makes you all badass. You’re all just a bunch of overgrown Boy Scouts. I don’t have to go anywhere with you.”
“Hmmm,” Tyrone pretended to consider. “What about probable cause? I think with the way you’re carrying on here, terrorizing the hospital staff, we could safely say there was probable cause to detain you.”
The smile slipped from Frank’s lips as a mean, ugly visage washed over him.
“You don’t know who you are dealing with.”
Tyrone just stared at Frank, willing him to keep talking or to walk away.
“Your superior is going to hear about this,” Frank warned. “You have no idea what kind of mistake you are making. I’ll be back in the morning, and by noon you will be looking for a new job. I know people. Just wait until this crosses Jackson’s desk.”
“Thanks for the head’s up,” Tyrone said with a wide smile. “I’m sure I will fall into something. Perhaps a money-laundering gig or a Ponzi scheme will be willing to take on an ex-Fed.”
Kim gasped at the look of pure hatred that washed over Frank’s expression. Apparently, that barb hit a little too close to home.
Frank moved in close, so Kim really had to strain to hear.
“Laugh it up, boys,” he hissed. “You don’t know what’s coming to you.”
Then he turned on his heel and stormed out the same way he’d come in.
Kim stood and went to Nate. “He was pretty angry.”
He nodded absently. “Yeah, he was.”
“Aren’t you worried about how he’ll retaliate?”
Nate frowned. “What? You mean Frank? Nah, he’s harmless. Honestly, he’s a joke in the business. Always too emotional, Frank yells and threatens, but it doesn’t amount to anything.”
“You can’t know that,” Kim said worriedly.
He took her into his arms and gave Kim a warm hug in which they sat for a few moments just being thankful that this crazy world had pulled them together.
“Promise me that you’ll be careful,” Kim pleaded.
“I will,” Nate said, kissing the top of her head.
Kim shook her head. “I can’t explain it, but I just don’t trust him.”
Nate’s expression softened. “Sweetheart, I know you’ve been through a lot with your ex and your parents. But that doesn’t mean that every weasel is going to be the same way. Frank Vauban is far more ’bark being worse than their bite.’”
Kim blew out a deep breath, “You say that now; however, we don’t know how violent he can be when pushed. Just please be careful.”
“Mr. Livingston?” the nurse called out. Nate and Kim made their way to the nurses’ station.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Your patient is awake and would like to see you again.”
“Ma’am, you’re going to need to calm down. Everything is all right, but you need to calm down.”
“You don’t understand!” Alyssa cried out. “This is a matter of life and death.”
The nurse assigned to Alyssa just shook her head. “Child, all I know is if you tear your stitches or get an infection, that will be the end of you. So, unless you want to be knocked out, I suggest you pull yourself together.”
Nate opened up the curtain and found the two of them fighting.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“No.” Alyssa shook her head. “There is so much I need to tell you.”
Nate pulled up a chair. “Shoot.”
Alyssa shook her head again. “No, I just want to say this once. The nurses said that Mandy and Elliot are here, as well as Kim. I need to warn all of you. I should have listened to my instincts. I am such a fool.”
“You aren’t a fool,” Nate insisted. “However, it would be foolish to keep going on as you have been. Nothing and nobody are worth risking your life. Just a moment and I’ll be right back with everyone else.”
It was a little tight in the recovery room with everyone, but Alyssa felt, for the first time in quite a while, that she actually had people who cared about her.
In short, halting statements she relayed to them her uncle’s odd behavior, starting with her parents’ death and his insinuating himself into her life. Then she bravely told them about the murder. For a moment the room was silenced by her confession.
Kim glanced at Nate, her eyes wide with worry.
“We don’t want to alarm you,” he began.
“I’ve witnessed a murder, lost nearly every earthly possession, and now he wants to kidnap me and do heavens knows what. What else could go wrong?”
Mandy out sigh. “You shouldn’t say that. It’s tempting fate.”
“Too late,” Kim said with a sigh, “Frank was just here demanding to see you released into his care.”
Alyssa paled. “No, no. no, no. This can’t be happening.”
The monitors on the machines began going off. Alyssa felt something running out of her nose and grabbed a tissue to wipe it. It came away red with blood.
The last thing she remembered was the nursing staff running inside the room.
16
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Freddy said as Kim walked around the counter at The Grind and tucked her purse away. Snagging an apron, she walked straight to the pastry case and pulled out two fudgy brownies.
Freddy cocked a brow.
<
br /> “Don’t judge,” Kim replied right before taking a large bite. Then, moaning like a porn star with her eyes closed, Kim managed to utter, “Oh my God, this is amazing.”
Freddy cleared his throat. “Um, Kim, it’s just a brownie.”
Her eyes popped open. “This is hardly just a brownie. It’s a chocolaty, fudgy nugget of goodness that brings happiness to my life.”
“Huh,” Freddy replied, not knowing what else to say. He watched her devour the first brownie and eyed the second one speculatively.
“Lately, it’s seemed as if there have been few things that give me pleasure, and before you go all guy on me and interpret that statement sexually, I will stop you.”
Freddy lifted his hands as if he was in a holdup. “I wouldn’t dream of talking to my boss about her sex life.”
Kim snorted. “I don’t know why not. You had plenty to say when Nate and I were dating.”
Freddy laughed and leaned one hip against the counter. “That was just pathetic. The poor schmuck was head over heels, and you were freezing him out. Speaking of Nate, how are things with that chick in the hospital?”
Kim’s expression fell, saying, “They were able to stop the brain bleed with medication. Now they just need to make sure there weren’t any neurological repercussions.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Freddy said.
“The doctor said she could have speech or memory issues, or even mobility problems.”
“How is the FBI agent?”
“Scott?” Kim replied. “He’s doing well. They were supposed to release him sometime today, but Alyssa will be in there until Monday at the earliest. Nate has been working hard on making sure she’s got a safe place to come home to.”
“What about the creepy uncle?” Freddy asked.
“Nobody has seen him since he fled the hospital the night of the accident. Scott thinks that he’s hiding out now that he knows the FBI are providing Alyssa round-the-clock protection.”
Pushing up the sleeves of his Henley shirt, Freddy inadvertently exposed more of his tattooed arms.
“Is that a new tattoo?” Kim asked.
Freddy blushed.
For a man that rode a motorcycle, was covered in ink, and swore like a sailor, Freddy seemed awfully easily embarrassed. However, something about this new tattoo had him coloring up.
“What’s this?” Kim teased, dropping the second brownie. “Is that a girl’s name?”
Freddy’s cheeks flamed hotter. “No, it’s definitely not that.”
“Rosie,” Kim read. “No, that doesn’t sound like a girl’s name at all. What could I have been thinking?”
Freddy yanked his sleeves back down. “It’s nothing. I was drunk. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Kim’s eyes danced. “But I do! And since when do you get drunk tattoos? I feel as if we’ve entered an alternate universe.”
“Fucking hell,” Freddy muttered. “If I tell you, will you stop?”
Kim crossed her heart. “Cross my heart, hope to die.”
“God, you are never going to let me live this down,” he replied grumpily.
“Probably not,” Kim agreed. “Now spill it.”
Freddy let out a shaky breath. “You know how I started going to the community college so that I could eventually convince you to let me buy you out?”
Kim laughed. “Yes, I seem to recall something about that.”
“There’s this girl there,” he said so softly that Kim had to lean in to hear him. “She’s utterly breathtaking. I go completely stupid around her. She’s smart, funny, hot as hell, and I am…”
“In love?” Kim supplied helpfully.
“Her student,” Freddy confessed, dropping his head to the counter.
“Shut the fuck up! You’re in love with your teacher?”
Freddy nodded miserably, not bothering to lift his head. “I may have asked her out once or twice.”
“What did she say?” Kim inquired.
“Inappropriate, unethical, no chance in hell. It was a combination of those words. I don’t know—it’s sort of a blur. So last Saturday I saw her at Pan’s Palace, you know that dance club uptown?”
“I’m married, Freddy. Not dead. Yes, I know of Pan’s Palace.”
Freddy rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I was there last Saturday, and, low and behold, Ms. Rosie Bennett was there with a fucking date. He looked like a banker or worse, an accountant.”
Kim stifled a laugh. “The worst sort of profession.”
Freddy glowered at her.
“Anyway,” he said exaggeratedly, “I tried to cut in when they were dancing. Rosie got really pissed and then her date thought I was besmirching her honor or some other bullshit and came after me. I didn’t have any choice but to lay him out. Only the bouncer didn’t see it my way, so they tossed me out on my ass.”
“I still don’t see how you ended up with the tattoo,” Kim pointed out.
“I’m getting there,” Freddy growled. “So, I was pissed as hell and looking for a fight, and that led me to O’Donnell’s.”
Kim winced. “The O’Donnell brothers are training to join the MMA. Were you looking for a fight or looking to die?”
“Just let me finish the story,” Freddy replied.
“Of course,” Kim teased with a wink. “Not another word.”
She mimicked zipping her lips closed.
“We started playing pool and drinking vodka. I don’t remember when we started changing up the wagers. All I know was the younger O’Donnell was arrested for peeing on a tourist, and I woke up with this tattoo. I lost all of my extra money to the brothers and can’t afford to tattoo something over it. Now I’m stuck wearing long-sleeved shirts until I can get this covered. “
Kim howled with laughter, causing Freddy’s lips to twitch.
“It’s not that funny,” he said.
“Oh, but it is! Ian O’Donnell was arrested for peeing on a tourist. That will be child’s play compared to what his mama will do to him. MMA fighter or not, Mama O’Donnell is scary as fuck.”
Freddy nodded. “No argument here. I feel like such an idiot.”
“What happened when you went back to school?” Kim asked. “Did Ms. Rosie Bennett fail you from the course?”
Freddy looked down and shrugged.
After a moment, Kim clued in on what he wasn’t saying. “Freddy!” she half shouted in exasperation. “You haven’t been back to class?”
“I can’t go back there,” he said hurriedly. “I made a complete ass of myself. Besides, if she catches a glimpse of this tattoo, she’s likely to get a restraining order.”
“You’ve got to go back and face the music, Freddy. If anything, you need to go back and finish the semester. But you also need to apologize. If you want her to respect you at all, be the man I know you can be.”
Freddy glanced up through his shaggy hair. He really was stupidly handsome. Kim felt a smile forming on her lips as she saw the deliberation in his expression.
“Do it,” she urged. “And then hurry back. You don’t want to miss my surprise baby shower.”
“What?” Freddy threw his hands up. “How in the hell did you figure that out?”
“Besides the balloon shadows that I can see from around the corner?”
Freddy turned, then scowled as he saw the same shadows dancing against the wall.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered.
“Just go, Freddy,” Kim urged.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a few, I promise.”
Freddy yanked off his apron and grabbed the keys to his bike. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here?”
Kim snorted. “I think I can handle two hours by myself. I do own the place. Besides, I would imagine that Mandy and Elliot will be here soon enough to finish decorating?”
“You are impossible to surprise,” Freddy stated, shaking his head.
“And you need to leave.” Kim motioned toward the door. “I’ll be fine. What could happen?”
17
>
Carrying two bags full of presents and holding a dozen pink roses, Nate pushed inside The Grind. The familiar sound of popular hits being played as instrumental pieces hit his ear. Carefully he began to set things down, expecting to see his wife at any moment. “Kim,” he called out.
Instead, a kid in his late teens was there instead. His dark hair was greasy and pushed back off his forehead, and his face looked as if he needed to shave every six months or so. He looked like he could use a few meals, and as if he hadn’t quite grown into his frame.
One thing was for certain, he shouldn’t have been in Kim’s coffee shop.
“Who in the hell are you?” Nate demanded.
The kid glanced up at him from his phone, all the while smirking at Nate as if he had a secret that he wasn’t willing to share.
“Calm your tits, man. Frankie has a message for you.” The kid's voice held a note of boredom that nearly put Nate over the edge.
“Fuck that,” Nate replied hotly. “Where is my wife? Why would she leave you here with the store?”
“It’s not like she had much of a choice,” the kid said with another smirk.
In a matter of seconds, the kid’s phone hit the floor with a sickening crunch. Nate had the kid bent over backward across the front counter while he held his neck in a vise.
“Listen, man,” Nate mocked. “You’ve got five seconds to tell me where my wife is.”
“She’s fine!” the kid choked out. “Frankie didn’t hurt her. He just wants to make a trade. Your wife for his niece.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Nate roared. “He took my wife. My very pregnant wife?”
“Whoa, what’s going on here?” Elliot called out as he entered. “Who’s the kid?”
“I’m not a kid.”
“Shut up,” Nate and Elliot replied at the same time.
“What’s going on?” Mandy said from the doorway.
Behind her came Mrs. H, Robert, and a handful of others.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble,” the kid began again. “I’m just here to pass the message.”
