Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1)

by Nikki Belaire

  “Why have you been—”

  He yanks her seatbelt and straps it over her. “There’s no time. We’ll talk in a little bit.” He starts to push the door shut, but pulls it back a few inches and locks eyes with her. “Stay with Max.”

  His fierce protectiveness continues to be a constant reminder of his love. He has to know she feels the same way. “I promise. I love you, Nick.”

  He reaches in and caresses her cheek, the tension softening in his face. “God, sweetness, I love you too.”

  As soon as the door shuts, Max pounds the accelerator and they fly backward before the car jerks forward from him shifting into drive. The squeal of their tires echoes across the concrete walls as they race around the corner, passing two police cars with their sirens blaring.

  Once they exit the parking garage, he gives her a quick glance before returning his focus to the road. “Are you okay?”

  She loosens her grip on the seat and lets out a deep breath. “Yes, a little overwhelmed, but okay.”

  “Good. Then I can tell you how pissed I am about the stunt you pulled this morning. Nick went ballistic, and I was right there with him.”

  Heat burns her cheeks at his reprimand. Always the good girl, she never stayed out late or snuck around. Her deceit disappoints herself as much as him. “I’m sorry. Evan talked me into it, but it won’t happen again. I’m not going to let him control me anymore.”

  “Yeah, that guy’s a dick. I would have stopped you from marrying him myself.”

  “I know you would have. You always save us from the trouble we get ourselves into. I’m not sure how you have a life of your own when you’re always babysitting us.”

  “I don’t need a life.” He winks at her before breaking into a smile, relieving her guilt with his forgiveness. “I’ve got you guys.”

  “I’m glad we’ve got you too. You’re like the big brother every girl wants.”

  He shrugs. “I’ve been called worse.”

  She smiles at the thought of them telling Max their good news. He’s as much of an uncle as Carrie is an aunt. And Marta like a grandmother. A baby strengthens the bond of any family, even one as unusual as theirs.

  His fingers relax around the steering wheel as they get closer to her house, and he nods toward her. “I knew you guys would get back together.”

  Max continues to be the wisest among all of them. Unencumbered by their emotional turmoil, he could see what they were blind to. “We still have a lot to figure out.”

  “Nah, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. It’s a done deal.”

  When they pull into her driveway, Carrie runs outside and wraps her arms around Shae as soon as she steps out of the car. “Are you okay? Nathan was called to meet Evan at the hospital. He said Nick broke his jaw.”

  “I told Evan it was over.” Shae squeezes her friend back, welcoming the familiar comfort she provides. “He tried to shove me into the car, and Nick got upset.”

  “Forget upset. He fucking knocked him out!”

  She steels herself for a lecture from Carrie. The man who broke her heart injured the hero Carrie believes Evan to be. Another reason for her to root for Evan and against Nick. “I know, but it’s my fault not Nick’s. I should never have let Evan think we had any chance of getting back together. He’s not the man I thought he was.”

  “Me neither. I realized it this morning with him pressuring you and making you sneak around.”

  The clenched muscles in her shoulders release. Carrie sees it too. Now, she can be free of Evan and focus on the man she really needs in her life.

  “Hi, Max.” Carrie winks at him before turning back to her. “How did the other stuff go?”

  “Good.” A smile crosses her face as her friend engulfs her in another embrace, sharing in her happiness.

  “Here we go.” Max rolls his neck before answering his buzzing phone. “Yeah?”

  His brow furrows while he taps the case with two fingers. “Where’s Nick? Okay. I’ll be there in ten.”

  He shoves his cell into his pocket and pulls out Evan’s car keys. “I’ve got to go. There’s a warrant out for my arrest. Evan’s pressing assault charges against Nick and theft for me stealing his car.”

  An ache burns in her chest. Evan seeks revenge against them because of her. They aren’t the ones who deserve to be punished. “I’ll come with you.”

  Max shakes his head and puts his hand up. “Fuck no! Nick’s head would really explode if you came to the police station. He’s already there, and I’ll turn myself in with his attorney, Luther.”

  “I’m sorry you got pulled into this.”

  “Don’t be. Evan got what he deserved.” He points to Carrie then to her. “No more sneaking around. Stay here until you hear from one of us.”

  Carrie wraps her arm around Shae’s shoulder and smiles. “Okay, I’ll make sure she’s as well-behaved as I am.”

  Max rolls his eyes. “Why does that not make me feel better?”

  As soon as the car is out of the driveway, Shae grabs her phone from her bag. She never expected to have to call him for any reason, but now she has no choice. “Hi, it’s Shae. I need your help.”

  * * * *

  She steps onto the porch as soon as the unfamiliar vehicle pulls up in front of her house. No reaction from the three suited men milling around, except for informal head bobs toward the white SUV, confirms Carter sits behind the wheel. She doesn’t give him or one of the men jogging toward her the chance to open the door. She slides in and fastens her seat belt. “Are you ready?”

  “I guess so since you haven’t really given me any other choice.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just anxious to get this over with.”

  “Me too.” He looks over at her as he pulls onto the street. “Nick’s not going to be happy you left again.”

  “I know, but if I can pull this off, it’ll be worth it.” She gives him a small smile, knowing he risks Nick’s wrath in helping her. “Thank you for coming with me. I thought you might be at the police station already.”

  “I was on my way there, but your call intrigued me. Luther can handle it for now. I can’t wait to see how you’re going to fix this.”

  They drive in silence as Shae responds to texts from Gail, furious from the photos already posted online. The ones of her sitting in the car are tame, but her stomach aches at Evan lying on the ground. Even in her frustration with him, pangs of guilt at his pitiful state stab her chest.

  After they park, Carter escorts her inside the building but she shakes her head as he tries to follow her into the room. She has to do this herself.

  The darkness contrasts sharply with the harsh lighting from the hallway. He lies motionless, his eyes closed. His lips are pursed together, an unnatural stiffness across the bottom half of his face. She takes a deep breath before stepping inside and closing the door behind her. After laying her sunglasses and hat on the side chair, she lightly touches his hand.

  “Evan?”

  He blinks a few times before opening his eyes completely, but doesn’t turn his head. “What are you doing here?”

  The throbbing in her chest grows stronger at his muffled voice, speaking through clenched teeth with his jaw wired shut.

  “I wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?”

  “Wonderful. Now get out.”

  Not before she completes her mission to free Nick and Max. She forces herself to keep going, to convince him to listen to her. “Please, Evan. Give me just a few minutes. I want you to know how sorry I am.”

  “You should be.”

  “Not just for what Nick did, but for me too. I was wrong to consider your proposal. I should have told you right away. It was unfair for me to act like I might marry you, when deep down I knew I would never be able to go through with it.”

  “Because you love him.”

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t love me.”

  Although she doesn’t any longer, she refuses to be cruel. Not after he risked a broken h
eart to help her. “I care about what happens to you. You deserve to have someone who loves you as much as you love them. Don’t settle for a one-sided relationship.”

  “If your mom…” He struggles under the awkwardness of his restrained mouth. “We’d still be together.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. You wanted a stay-at-home wife and mother while I was still launching my career. We might have drifted apart because we both wanted different things.” The truth she never realized is so apparent now. She nods her head, confirming to both of them what she knows. “As much as it hurts to admit it, we weren’t meant for each other.”

  “Yes, we are.”

  They’re quiet for a few moments, the chirping of her phone breaking the silence. His eyes close again, yet his restlessness conveys his agitation.

  “Dr. Patterson called. My test results are good.”

  “Real nice, Shae.” His eyes fly open, and he tilts his head toward her before flinching. “What kind of role model are you now? You’re throwing away any chance you have of a normal life for a thug who doesn’t even want you.”

  Three insults all at one time. The danger of him knowing her so well he understands exactly how to inflict the most pain. Failing to sway him with reason, she takes a deep breath and thrusts herself into the fire with a different approach. “Will you please drop the charges against Nick and Max? They don’t deserve to be punished for what I’ve done to you.”

  “My jaw says otherwise. Nick needs to pay for what he did.”

  “What about what you did to me?”

  His eyes widen, and he gingerly grasps his cheek before turning his head. “What are you talking about?”

  She lifts up her sleeve with a shaky hand. “You bruised me when you grabbed my arm.” Hopeful the crux of her threat will be his breaking point, she issues her ultimatum. “If you don’t drop the charges, I’ll have you arrested for assault.”

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “I don’t want to, but if I have to, I will.”

  “Go ahead. I don’t care.”

  “I think the parents of your patients will care. What kind of pediatrician assaults a pregnant woman?”

  His head rolls back to face the ceiling as his body shakes with anger. “God! I can’t believe you would come in here and do this. You’re just like him.”

  Intended as an insult, she basks in his words as a compliment. Nick would hate the comparison, but she’s proud he’s given her the confidence to stand up for herself when she never could before. “I love my mother more than anything in the world, but I realize she was controlling me and so were you. All that’s behind me. Even if I’m not with Nick, I can take care of myself now.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “You would really ruin my career for him?”

  Nodding her head, she meets his glare. She can be just as protective as Nick.

  “Fine! Hand me my phone.”

  She waits while he makes the call, his angry voice vibrating through the small room. After he finishes, he tosses the phone to the end of the bed. “You’ve turned into a real bitch, you know that?”

  “I’m sorry it had to be this way.”

  “I hope you really know what you’re doing. You’re going to be alone and miserable, wishing you were with me.”

  She lightly caresses her stomach. “I’m going to be just fine.”

  Carter stands when she opens the door. “Well?”

  She can’t help but smile as she puts on her hat and sunglasses. “It’s done. Let’s go pick them up.”

  He lets out a low whistle and shakes his head as they walk out of the hospital. “Are you going to tell me how you did it?”

  “Nope.”

  “Look at you, turning all hard-ass. Nick will be proud.”

  Surprised she could go through with her plan, her guilt starts to grow. Maybe she’s pushed it too far. “I hope so. Or he might be really mad.”

  “I think you’re right. Will it be okay if I just drop you off when we get there?” He rubs his fingers across the bridge of his slightly swollen nose. “I don’t want him to go berserk on me again.”

  She pretends a confidence she doesn’t feel. “I’ll protect you.”

  He laughs all the way to the car. After they climb in, he calls Luther while she endures a text-lecture from Gail for both her earlier drama, as well as her lack of response for the last twenty minutes.

  At police headquarters, she tosses her phone in her bag and watches for the guys to come out. Deep in conversation, Nick, Max, and Luther make it to the bottom of the steps before Max notices them and nudges Nick.

  He stares at her with an unreadable expression. Butterflies swarm in her stomach as she waits for his reaction. Seconds pass, and she can’t decipher the result of the internal argument playing out on his face.

  The corners of his lips turn up into a smile, the only encouragement she needs. She runs to him, wanting nothing else but him, and he scoops her up as she wraps her legs around his waist. His tight embrace steals her breath as he whispers in her ear, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

  “I love you too much to let you go.”

  Carter clears his throat. “Um, can we go now? Your foreplay is grossing us out.”

  She lifts her head and laughs. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset my cohort in crime.”

  Nick strokes her cheek before turning her face back to his. “Speaking of which, we need to talk about that when we get home.”

  Her lips brush his before he sets on her feet. Nothing he can say or do will ruin her jubilance. She’s already home.

  After snuggling against him during the ride to the house, Shae lifts her head from Nick’s shoulder as Carter turns into the driveway, a red convertible blocking the gate. A beautiful woman clutches an adorable blond, curly-haired toddler on her hip as she argues with the security guard.

  All the color drains from Nick’s face before he releases her hand. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  Both Max and Nick climb out. The woman’s rage turns to Nick as he walks up. Max puts his hand on her back and attempts to guide her to her car, but she pushes him away.

  “Who is she, Carter?”

  The answer doesn’t really matter. She already knows the relationship they fought so hard to resurrect is collapsing around them again.

  “Nick’s old girlfriend…” Carter clears his throat, but his voice still croaks. “Jessica.”

  She can’t quite make out the words Jessica hurls at Nick except for “your daughter.” The baby lifts her head from her mother’s shoulder as she yells, revealing Nick’s dark blue eyes.

  It hurts so much, she laughs at the absurdity of it. Far worse than Evan said. She thought she was someone special, and now, she and her baby are just two more people in line for Nick’s heart.

  Carter’s eyes widen at her laughter. “Are you okay?”

  “No.” She opens the car door and steps out.

  Jessica stops shouting mid-sentence, her eyes growing wide as she looks Shae up and down. A smirk crosses her lips before she laughs. “So, you’re ‘her’?”

  Jessica’s mocking tone conveys a familiarity she doesn’t understand or like. “What are you talking about?”

  “No, Jessica.” Nick’s voice rumbles with fury. “Don’t do it.”

  Jessica ignores him, the smirk turning into a huge smile. “You’re the reason why he ended up back in my bed.”

  * * * *

  “Damn it, Jessica! What are you trying to pull?” Nick poses his question to his ex-girlfriend, but his attention transfixes on Shae. The glow of happiness radiating from her beautiful face slowly fades at Jessica’s declaration of his infidelity. He has to prove to her both of Jessica’s claims are lies.

  “It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Nicky. But you climbed out of bed so fast this morning, you didn’t give me the chance. So, I came over to introduce you to your daughter. This is Emme.”

  Their breakup was ugly,
her screaming and slapping him before he walked out the door. But never once did Jessica say or do anything to make him think she was pregnant. “Stop saying that. She’s not my daughter.”

  “Are you calling me a fucking liar? I know who the father of my baby is.”

  Shae’s soft voice interrupts their argument. Even in her pain, she attempts to diffuse the situation, to calm the anger broiling between them. “You have a beautiful daughter.”

  Jessica’s smirk returns, enjoying the torture she inflicts on Shae. And on him. “Of course I do. She looks like her daddy.”

  He shakes his head. “If it was true, why would you wait all this time to tell me? Why are you showing up now?”

  “Because the man I thought was her father, isn’t. So, that leaves you. It’s time for you to own up to your responsibilities.”

  Max’s research about her living situation provides the real answer to the question. Her relationship with her latest victim ended, and she needs someone to take care of her. “I knew it. You’re looking for a reason for me to support you.”

  “Well, that’s all you’re good for anyway, isn’t it? Your dick and your money.”

  He bites back his response as the baby begins to cry. Jessica rubs Emme’s back, and the toddler tucks her head into her mother’s neck. He takes a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. “I don’t want to argue. We can solve this with a paternity test. Take her home, and we’ll make arrangements for one on Monday.”

  “Fuck you! I don’t need some test to know the truth. You’re her father, and you fucking know it. Don’t stand here and act like she isn’t in front of your little pop star princess girlfriend.” She waves her hand at Shae before jabbing her finger into his chest. “Emme needs you, and I’m not going to let you turn your back on her.”

  Shae smiles at Jessica and shakes her head. “He won’t. Nick will be a wonderful father, and you don’t have to worry about me getting in the way. He can focus on her completely.” She steps back and pulls the car door open. “Carter, can you please take me back to my house?”

  Panic churns in his stomach. He refuses to let her leave thinking he’s been unfaithful. “Shae, wait.” He wraps his fingers around her hand as she grasps the handle. “Give me a chance to fix this. She’s lying, and you have to know the truth.”