Crime & Punishment 2: Master Delacroix

by Trista Ann Michaels

  The older man moved to Josh and checked for a pulse. “It’s there, but weak. We need to get them some help.”

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “Nathan’s father. I assume you’re his girlfriend?” he asked as he put pressure on Daniel’s wound.

  “Yes…” She let out a sigh. “No.”

  “Well, that was clear as mud.”

  Connelly snorted at the comment, remembering Daniel had said the same thing recently. She finally found the phone and dialed 911.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Connelly paced at the foot of Nathan’s bed, mentally kicking herself over and over again. She shouldn’t have shot Andre. She should’ve known his finger would’ve squeezed the trigger in reflex. It was stupid. So stupid.

  Nathan was still out. A small fracture ran along the side of his skull from the track of the bullet, but there was no brain swelling so the doctors believed he would be fine. Daniel was in surgery but stable. Josh was listed as critical. Nathan’s father had gone down to the cafeteria with the other FBI agents who were waiting on news about Josh.

  She glanced at Nathan as she continued to pace, biting on her thumbnail in anxiety. She just wished he would wake up. If he did, she would feel so much better. God, it had been so close. Even a millimeter to the right would’ve…

  She shook her head, refusing to think that way. Nathan’s father had said he would be fine, and that was all that mattered. If she hadn’t fired when she did, it could’ve been a lot worse. Connelly wasn’t sure she agreed with that assessment. For all she knew, Nathan could’ve gotten to Andre before he had a chance to fire, therefore not getting shot at all.

  Or he could’ve been late and been shot point-blank in the chest or, God forbid, right in the face.

  Nathan’s father walked in and offered her a cup of tea. She shook her head, not sure her stomach could take it. She was likely to throw it right back up.

  “You need something, sweetheart. Nathan would have my head if he woke up and you were dehydrated and I didn’t do anything to stop it, so have a heart. Don’t give my son another reason to be angry with me.”

  Her lips twitched slightly, but she took the cup. “Thank you.”

  The warmth seeped into her cold hands and traveled up her arm. Just holding it was comforting.

  “Has he stirred at all?” he asked.

  She sighed. “No. Have you heard about Daniel or Josh?”

  “Daniel is on his way to recovery, but it will be a while yet before I can see him. Josh is still in surgery, but his status changed from critical. They were able to stop the bleeding and repair the lung and artery. Now it’s just a wait and see.”

  “That’s good…that they were able to stop the bleeding. There was so much.”

  Nathan’s father put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t think about it.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  A moan sounded from Nathan, and Connelly quickly set her tea down and rushed to the bed, Nathan’s father on the other side.

  “Nathan?” Connelly asked.

  He cracked his eyes open briefly and glanced up at her before quickly closing them again. He lifted his hand and blindly reached for her face. She grabbed it and held tight.

  “Hey, pet,” he croaked. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “So is Daniel, and your father is here as well.”

  Nathan opened his eyes and glanced toward his father. “What about Josh?”

  “He’s still in surgery,” his father replied.

  “How bad?” Nathan asked as his eyes again closed.

  Connelly reached over and hit the button, turning off the lights. “Does that help?”

  Nathan opened his eyes again and nodded, then winced in pain. “Damn. What the hell hit me?”

  “It was a drive-by, .22 caliber I think, although you probably know guns better than I do,” his father answered.

  “Drive-by. Cute, Dad,” Nathan murmured. “Feels more like a head-on collision.”

  “Your girlfriend here is a hell of a shot.”

  “Was that the first shot I heard?” Nathan asked.

  He looked over at Connelly, and she cringed. “Yes. If I hadn’t fired…”

  “We would all be dead,” Nathan’s father finished for her. “You did good, Connelly.”

  “I agree,” Nathan added.

  “But—”

  Nathan squeezed her hand. “No, Connelly. You did good.” He turned to his father and winced at the pain that any movement caused. “Now to you. What the hell were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking about saving my son,” he replied.

  Nathan’s frown deepened.

  “Both of them,” his father growled.

  Connelly took that as her cue to leave. They needed to talk. When she let go of Nathan’s hand, he asked, “Where are you going?”

  “The FBI wanted to talk to me. Now that you’re awake, I believe it’s as good a time as any. Besides, you need to talk to your dad.”

  The words I love you died on her tongue. She did love him, but this life… She’d experienced enough violence. If staying with him would bring more, she didn’t want any part of it.

  “I’ll be back later.”

  NATHAN FELT HER pulling away, and the pain in his chest hurt worse than his head. He wanted to call her back, but he knew and understood why she distanced herself, so he kept his feelings quiet. He wouldn’t force her into this life. How did he know this wouldn’t happen again? He didn’t. And neither did she.

  “How bad off is Josh?” Nathan asked, stalling for time. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this talk.

  “He was bad, but they believe he’ll pull through.”

  “Good,” Nathan sighed.

  “He’ll probably have a desk job after this, though.”

  Nathan snorted, then cringed at the pain any movement sent slicing through his head. “Not Josh. He would die of boredom.”

  “Sounds like someone else I know,” his father mumbled, but Nathan ignored it. “Nathan,” his father began. “I know you’re in a lot of pain, so now isn’t the time to have this discussion, but I want you to know…I’m sorry.”

  Nathan could feel his father’s regret, his sincerity, and Nathan’s eyes began to water. He closed them, forcing the tears back. “Dad, this isn’t—”

  He should forgive his father. He needed to forgive him. Unfortunately, right now his head hurt so bad he couldn’t think straight and was afraid he’d say something stupid or something he didn’t mean.

  “I know,” his father interrupted. “But I wanted you to know.”

  Reaching out, Nathan grabbed his father’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “So am I.”

  Later they would have a long talk. Right now… “Would you please tell the nurse to bring me something for my head?”

  His father grinned just a little. “You’re already attached to a morphine pump. Just hit the button.”

  Nathan hit it twice, then let the sweet bliss of sleep take him back under.

  * * * *

  “I saw Connelly earlier today.”

  Nathan glanced over at Josh as they very slowly made their way down the hospital hallway. Josh had been out of CCU for a couple of days and driving the nurses crazy with his impatience to be free. Unfortunately, Josh’s body wasn’t quite as fast to heal as his mood and mind.

  “Did you?” Nathan asked. “How is she?”

  He tried to ask as nonchalantly as possibly but knew deep inside that he failed miserably. It was safer for her this way, but he missed her.

  “She’s fine. She left this afternoon for a conference. Her first since her husband died.”

  Nathan gave a nod. “Good for her.”

  Josh snorted. “You’re pathetic. I lied, Nathan. She’s just as miserable as you are.”

  Nathan frowned. “I’m not miserable.”

  “So it’s miserable you object to? At least you know you’re pathetic.”

  “Keep it up, Josh,” Nathan gro
wled. “I have no qualms hitting an injured man.”

  “Nathan doesn’t have qualms about a lot of things,” Daniel said.

  He stepped out of his room just as they passed by.

  At least this time it had been without their dad. It had taken some doing, but Nathan had finally convinced him to head home. Their dad needed to get back to his chemo treatments, and besides, Nathan could take care of these two. Provided they didn’t drive him to violence.

  “Did you see Connelly today too?” Josh asked.

  Daniel smiled. “I did. She brought me a mocha from Starbucks. I’ve been dying for one for days. She said it was a getting-out-of-the-hospital-today gift.”

  Nathan ignored their attempt to make him jealous. He knew Connelly wanted to keep her distance, and he would respect that, despite how much it was tearing him up inside. She was scared, and he could certainly understand why. He was scared for her.

  Josh scowled. “Kiss my ass, you lucky dog.”

  Daniel and Nathan both chuckled.

  “Is he grumbling again?” a young nurse asked as she stopped to watch them slowly walk with Josh between them.

  “He’s always grumbling,” Nathan replied as he held tight to Josh’s elbow. Sometimes he was still a little unsteady on his feet, but the doctors all said that would pass with time. Josh was just impatient as hell.

  Josh smacked Nathan’s stomach with the back of his hand. Nathan grunted, but his friend’s punch lacked its usual enthusiasm.

  “Don’t listen to him,” Josh said. “He doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.”

  Nathan pursed his lips and shook his head, making the nurse giggle. Josh glared at him. Nathan froze, giving his friend an innocent grin he knew Josh didn’t believe for a second. They’d been friends a long time and knew the other like the backs of their hands.

  The nurse pointed her finger at Josh. “Behave yourself, Agent Barnes, or I won’t turn my back the next time your friend here sneaks in a beer.”

  Josh’s lips twitched. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She smiled. “That’s better.”

  She walked away, and Nathan couldn’t stop the snicker. “I’ll be damned. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you straighten up so fast.”

  “Shut up,” Josh growled. “Your beer runs are the only things that make this place tolerable. I’m not about to screw that up.”

  “Feel up to taking a walk outside?” Daniel asked. “The weather is nice today.”

  “Yes, please,” Josh replied.

  Nathan didn’t miss the tired sigh that escaped his friend. The chest and lung injury had taken a lot out of him. It would be a while before he fully recovered. Josh wanted to push, though. He was anxious to be back at work and out of the hospital.

  “Are you sure?” Nathan asked.

  Josh nodded. “I could use the fresh air.”

  They headed toward the garden positioned in the center of the square-shaped hospital. A large fountain took up the center with trees, flowers, and various plants filling in every corner possible, giving the space a tropical feel.

  Josh walked to the fountain and slowly sat on a wooden bench positioned beneath a Japanese maple. Josh winced as he tried to find a more comfortable position on the hard wood.

  “You okay?” Nathan asked as he watched his friend carefully. Josh had a habit of overdoing it, so everyone who visited kept a close eye on him.

  “I’m all right,” he replied, his voice quiet and strained. “I’m trying to get through this with as little pain meds as possible. I hate how I feel on them.”

  “All I ever did was sleep,” Daniel said.

  “Same here.” Nathan dropped onto the bench next to Josh. “But I think they make Josh sick.”

  Josh cringed. “Very sick. Changing the subject, did you talk to your dad?”

  Nathan glanced up at Daniel. “I did. The company is in bed with the mob.”

  Daniel rolled his eyes. “Son of a bitch! Did he tell you the file names?”

  “He said he didn’t know. The mob brought in their own person who handles it all from the accounting department.”

  Daniel scowled. “He just let the mob place someone on the inside?”

  “Do you remember when Mom had that car wreck a few years ago?” Nathan asked.

  “Yeah,” Daniel replied.

  “The car was tampered with. The mob came to him after and told him the next one would kill her if he didn’t do what he was told. Dad took them at their word.”

  “So it’s like I said,” Josh said. “He was backed into a corner.” He looked up at Daniel. “Which means if he steps down and you take over, they’ll come to you next.”

  “Why would they? They already have someone on the inside.”

  “They’ll want to make sure they have your cooperation,” Josh said.

  Daniel snorted. “Great. Any suggestions, Agent Barnes?”

  Josh nodded. “Give me a few days and I’ll come up with something. This might be our in to finally get these guys.”

  “Are you sure you’re up for this, Daniel?” Nathan asked.

  Daniel shrugged. “What choice do I have?”

  “At the moment, not much,” Josh replied. “Sorry.”

  Daniel sighed and dropped onto the bench facing him and Josh. “It’s not like we didn’t see it coming.” Daniel turned a concerned look to Nathan. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”

  Nathan nodded. “He was.”

  Nathan could feel it. All the aggravation, the fear, the uncertainty, even the hopelessness of getting his company mixed up in all this and leaving his sons to clean up the mess. “I promised him we would fix this.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow. “We?”

  “I’m not going to leave you to do this by yourself.”

  Daniel sat forward, braced his arms on his knees, and clasped his hands. “Why did you let Connelly walk away?”

  Nathan frowned. “What does that have—”

  “Stay here, Nathan. Make things work with Connelly. The two of you belong together. Let me handle the company.”

  “You came here to try to talk me into coming back. Remember?” Nathan replied.

  “I changed my mind. You distanced yourself from Connelly because you don’t want to put her life in danger. If you help me, you will. Let me and Josh deal with all this, and you…get up off your sorry ass and tell her how you feel.”

  “She’s afraid of my life, Daniel, and I don’t blame her. She’s been through enough.”

  “Would you give it a rest?” Josh growled. “I swear to God you’re the most stubborn asshole I think I’ve ever met.”

  Nathan rolled his eyes.

  “Trish’s death wasn’t your fault, and neither was this. He was one sick fuck out of thousands. The odds of anything like this happening again, especially since you’re no longer an active agent, are next to none.”

  “Josh—”

  “Shut up, Nathan,” Josh snapped. “Do you love her?”

  Nathan sighed. Did he? Maybe. Probably. Being with her felt more right than anything had in a long time. And he knew she cared for him. He could feel it when they were last together. But would she be willing to try?

  “Well?” Josh snapped.

  Nathan glared at his friend. “Just because you’re injured doesn’t mean I won’t smack the shit out of you.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Either smack me or answer me.”

  Nathan let out a frustrated breath. “Maybe.” At the disbelieving looks on his brother and Josh’s face, Nathan shook his head. “Okay, fine. Yes.”

  “Then go talk to her,” Josh argued. “I’ve put my career first my whole life. I’ve run off girlfriends and pretty much accepted this is it for me. You have a chance to have something. Don’t let that pass.”

  Nathan sat back and crossed his arms. “And how do you suggest I get her to agree, oh swami-donna?”

  Josh grinned. “You do what you do best, Master Delacroix.”

  Chapter Twenty-Sev
en

  Connelly finished signing what must’ve been her hundredth book. Her wrist hurt; her fingers hurt; her back hurt. Hell, even her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. She’d forgotten just how tiring these things could be, but also how rewarding. She loved seeing her readers. They made her feel so special and energized, and that was something she sorely needed right now.

  She hadn’t been sleeping much. She missed Nathan. Twice now, she’d picked up the phone and started to call him, then changed her mind. To stop temptation, she’d deleted his number from her phone, then cried for over an hour. Poor Peter had begun to think she’d lost her mind, but after that first initial cry fest on his shoulder, he hadn’t said much, just sent her annoying looks that clearly said you’re an idiot.

  Maybe she was. Maybe she was being smart. Or at least that’s what she tried to tell herself. Unfortunately, that sentiment made for cold, lonely nights alone in a big bed.

  None of it mattered anyway, because Nathan hadn’t even tried to stop her. And that was probably what hurt the worst. He’d just let her go. Connelly stared at the page in front of her and sighed.

  Sign your name, dip wad. Don’t cry. Don’t think of him. Just move on.

  She signed her pen name, then handed the book back to the reader with a smile and, “Thank you.”

  The reader beamed and moved away. Connelly stared at the now mostly empty ballroom where the signing had been set up. Two hundred authors and most of them gone except for her and two other New York Times best sellers who had remained to make sure everyone who had waited in line got a signed copy.

  “That’s the last one,” Peter said as he placed a much needed cup of coffee in front of her.

  “Oh, Lord, thank you,” she said with a grin as she lifted the cup and took a sip of the strong blend. After sighing, she smiled up at him. “What would I do without you?”

  “Flounder helplessly, of course,” he replied.

  “Of course,” she repeated, making Peter chuckle.

  “We have about three hours before the big costume party later. Why don’t you go to the suite, take a long hot bath, and I’ll meet you at about six thirty?”

  Connelly stood and pushed her chair under the table. “Where are you off to?”

  “I have dinner plans.”