Smooth Moves
Page 10
He pulled out, grabbed his robe, and headed toward the living room. Her hand flew to her face, realizing tears were present on her cheeks, before she jerked alert at the smell of smoke. Her gaze flew to the window before Rich’s gruff voice yelled, “FIRE! Candice, get out of there!”
She scrambled off the bed, grabbing a robe on the way out, and ran for the bedroom door. Thick smoke filled the hallway. Rich yelled, “Hit the floor, Candice, and crawl toward me.”
The realization that his house was on fire flooded her with panic. She screamed, unable to see that her uncle was already out of the spare room. Fear muddled her mind, sending her crawling toward the room. Hands suddenly grabbed her and dragged her away from the door.
Fighting them, she coughed and gagged as Rich ran with her out the patio door. She saw her uncle safely sitting on the other side of the pool before passing out. When she came to, firefighters tackled the blaze while a barrage of EMTs were checking vital signs and fussing over them. She vaguely heard someone say something about arson before Rich’s voice sent her gaze flying his way. Seeing his pale face, smudged with blackness from the smoke, she gasped and started coughing.
Rich’s gaze jerked to her. He was at her side before she even knew he’d moved. An oxygen mask was placed over her face as pain flared in her abdomen. Gasping and curling into a ball, anxiety tore through her as she shrieked into the mask, “No, NO!”
Rich uttered the word pregnant before she was whisked into an ambulance. He stayed with her though the blur of pain and panic. When she could speak, she breathed, “Uncle Mike…”
Rich assured her that he was fine, “My mom’s caring for him. Just relax, Candice.”
He never left her side, explaining the pregnancy test and her Lupus to the attending physicians. After a myriad of tests, the physician returned, “You are definitely pregnant and the baby is fine. We’re going to keep you overnight just to make sure. You’re lungs have suffered from the smoke damage and, with Lupus, that’s not good. The pain you’re experiencing is from a pulled muscle…coughing can do that.”
Both of them visibly relaxed. He stayed while they transported her into a room, greeting Cassie when she appeared suddenly. At the sight of her future sister-in-law, Candice’s brave exterior crumbled. Although embarrassed at breaking down and unaccustomed to having caring female friends, she gratefully accepted Cassie’s embrace.
After crying herself out on the woman’s shoulder, Cassie patted her back, “I have to talk to Rich for a second but we’ll be right back.”
She watched them step outside the room, trying to hear what was said but their voices were too low. By their stance, it wasn’t good news. Knowing what she’d heard about arson, she nervously waited for them to return. When they did, she asked Rich, “Who started the fire? I heard someone say arson?”
Appearing reluctant to tell her, he finally said, “Candice, I don’t want to stress you out any more. I know that not telling you will stress you out worse, though. They’re trying to find Nadia. My mom said Nadia left a weird voicemail on her phone before the fire. She left one on mine…an apology.”
Her grip on Cassie’s hand tightened, spurring her newfound friend to quickly say, “We won’t leave your side. She cannot harm us here.”
Confused, Candice asked, “Where’s Ben?”
Rich’s face paled, “They don’t know but that’s nothing new. He has a habit of ditching a date when he sees something he deems prettier. Who knows…that might have set her off.”
He smoothed a strand of hair out of her face, “Don’t worry about them. There are people searching. Stay calm and focus on you and the baby.”
Nodding, she tried to take a deep breath but winced and started coughing. Rich immediately tensed, gently rubbing her stomach. A nurse arrived to administer something through her IV. Before she had a chance, all three asked what it was. Grinning, she assured them that it was safe for both mother and child but would help with the cough.
After enduring misdiagnosed issues and seeing the bad within the medical field, Candice wearily eyed the nurse throughout the whole procedure. To distract her, Cassie launched into a lengthy description of the gown she’d previously mentioned. Partway through, Rich was called outside the room by a uniformed police officer.
When Candice’s gaze focused on the door, Cassie gave up on discussing the gown but told her, “He’ll tell you what’s going on when he gets back.”
Growing sleepy from the medication, Candice anxiously watched Rich return to the bed and say, “They found Ben. Apparently, he and Nadia had a spat before he left her at her home. They’re still searching for her. He has an alibi but they found evidence at Nadia’s home. They also found a bunch of photos of her and…”
Cassie suddenly barked, “What are you doing here, Isabella?”
Wearing an arrogant expression as if it were armor, she slipped into the room, “Ben sent me to check on the new mother.”
Rich’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t voice his thoughts. Instead, he calmly asked, “Where is Ben and why didn’t he come to see her?”
“He’s…um…helping them search for Nadia.”
Having just spoken to the police, Rich saw through her lie so he asked, “What’s up with you and Nadia?” Motioning toward the door, he spotted the same officer as he said, “They found your photos and…”
The officer suddenly barked at a nurse, “Hey! Stop that woman.”
All eyes flew to the door before a click from the end of the bed dragged their alarmed gazes back to Isabella. The pistol in her hand was aimed at Candice as she hissed, “I was supposed to get Ben while Nadia worked on Rich. Then you dropped into the picture. Yeah, Rich…Nadia and I are lovers. Ask your twin about that sometime. I’m surprised he hasn’t crowed about it before now.” Her face twisted in anger as she sneered at Candice, “Like an idiot, Ben screwed up the juice we laced for you.”
Candice’s mind flew back to the juice she drank at her uncle’s bedside. She’d poured it down the drain, thinking it was off. Her mouth worked but nothing came out. Rich raised a hand but froze when Isabella snapped, “I will take her out if you move another inch.”
Cassie tried to reason, “Isabella, that cop will be back any second. Just put the gun away. You can leave. We won’t say anything.”
“Do you think I’m stupid, Cassie? The minute I’m gone, you guys will rat me out.” Curling her lip, she growled in frustration, “You have no idea how long and hard Nadia and I have worked.” Her hand shook as she spat at Candice, “Before Rich fell for you and wrecked our plans. Nadia was supposed to lure him away, leaving you…”
Unaware of the armed person within the room, a nurse walked in and distracted her. As Isabella’s arm swung toward her, Cassie tackled her. At the same time, Rich threw himself over Candice. The gun fired, crumpling the nurse on the spot. Mass chaos erupted as the police swarmed the room.
When calm was restored, the police let everyone know that the nurse was okay. The bullet had hit her arm. Having caught up with Nadia, she’d told the police how Isabella had seduced her and set in motion a plan to infiltrate the Danton empire. Well aware of their worth, Rich was in shock over the lengths they’d gone to take out their presumed competition.
Greg appeared as doctors checked Cassie to ensure she wasn’t harmed when she tackled Isabella. Over the next few hours, more information came to light. Isabella tried to blame Nadia for the bee attack on Uncle Mike but, when they checked Isabella’s residence, her laptop produced a plethora of research regarding poisons and allergens.
Ben was cleared, having been an ignorant pawn in their arrangement. They released Candice after an overnight stay. Since Rich’s home was a complete loss, the twin’s parents secured a home near them and hired a nurse that was unknown to everyone.
The drama didn’t stop the wedding ceremony. Cassie texted photos of the dress to Candice who was thrilled, directing her to immediately purchase it. After minimal fittings, her uncle walked her down the flight of stai
rs and gave her over to her waiting groom.
The ceremony was small but Candice wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the aftermath of the excitement, Ben surprised everyone with a rare reflection on something other than himself, “Hey, Greg. The name Smooth Moves may have transformed over these last few days. Do you think customers will remember the juice or the women that tried to worm their way into our business?”
Their father barked a laugh, “I’ll get public relations to put a spin on it. Maybe they can wring more juiciness from the story.” Winking at Candice, he grinned at Ben, “In the meantime, you need to give that playboy persona a rest.”
Everyone watched with stunned fascination as Ben shrugged, “After watching some of Isabella and Nadia’s smooth moves, I can’t think of a better suggestion.”
Candice’s gaze flew to Rich, “I think your twin just got his world rocked.”
Grinning, Rich nodded, “It’s about time. Are you ready to create some smooth moves of our own?”
Thinking he meant their honeymoon, she grinned but gasped when he pulled her into his arms, “I was referring to our wedding dance, Candice.”
~~ The End ~~