“I couldn’t stand by and let what happened to Beth repeat,” he said, ignoring his mother’s slight censure.
“Where is Ava?” Levi’s mom asked. “She and Paco never made it to the ranch.”
“What?” Levi came abruptly to his feet. “They should have been there hours ago. Paco hasn’t called?”
“No. We thought maybe he changed his mind and turned around because they storm’s so bad. They had to be facing a real blizzard this morning.”
“Damn.” Concern for Travis warred with worry over Ava and Paco. What happened to them? Did they slide off the road, into a ditch? “I think we better call the State Patrol.”
“I’ll call home first. Maybe they have word there,” Liberty offered. “I can’t use my cell here, so I’ll go downstairs to the lobby area.”
“No.” Levi grabbed her arm. “You and Mom stick close together. I’ll go.”
He rode the elevator to the ground floor, where cell phones were allowed and checked his messages. He’d been so worried about Travis he hadn’t even thought to look before. Two missed calls. One from Paco and one from the ranch. He listened to Paco’s call first. He’d wrecked, had a broken leg and was in a hospital in Laramie, Wyoming. The second from his mother wondering where Paco was.
Levi hung up the phone, stunned.
Travis was in Denver General.
Paco was in Laramie’s community hospital.
And no one seemed to know where Ava was.
He hurried to the elevator, rode it upstairs and found his mother and Liberty. He filled them in on the new developments.
“My God.” Ginger Callahan sagged into her chair. She’d been through a lot in her life, including surviving her husband being sent to prison and bringing up six kids on her own, but this development seemed to shake her. “This is insane. Travis here, Paco there. Both laid up in hospitals.”
Levi agreed. “Yeah, it is.”
Their attention was drawn to a harried-looking doctor. He walked their way and they stood, bracing for the worst. “How’s my son?”
“You’re Mrs. Callahan?” At her nod, the doctor said, “Travis needed twenty stitches. No concussion. His head is going to hurt for a while, but basically, he can go home. ”
Levi put his hand on his mother’s shoulder. “He’s going to be okay?”
“Yes. He’s lucky. A blow to the base of the skull like that could have killed him if it hit right.” The doctor began to move away. “I’ll leave a prescription with the nurse.”
“Thank you.” Levi pulled his mother to her feet. “Did you fly in? I need to get to Ava right away. With Paco laid up, she might be in danger.”
“We came in the Cessna,” Mom said. “Colt stayed behind at the airport until we knew how bad Travis was hurt.” She furrowed her brow. “Didn’t Paco say where she was in his message?”
“No.”
“Call the hospital and see if they’ll tell you if she’s there,” Mom suggested. “They may not since you’re not family, but it’s worth a try.”
Levi walked to the nurses’ station and asked a cute nurse for the number of the Laramie hospital. She gave it to him with a smile and pushed the phone toward him. “Use mine.”
He dialed and when someone picked up, he asked, “I’m looking for a patient named Ava Demassi. She was in a car accident yesterday along with a man named Paco Spadafora.”
“Let me check.” In a minute, she came back. “Are you a family member?”
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “Absolutely.”
“I can’t give out specific patient information over the phone,” she said. “But we do have a Ms. Demassi here.”
“Thank you.” He hung up and dialed his brother’s cell. “Colt? Fire up the plane, will you? Trav’s okay. He has stitches and a headache, but he’ll live. We’ll meet you in an hour at the airport. I need to get to Laramie.” He hung up.
His mother moved to his side. “Did they tell you anything?”
“Ava’s in the hospital, but they won’t tell me how bad she’s injured, or even if she’s hurt.” He stuffed his phone in his front pocket. “Colt’s getting the plane ready to fly in an hour. We need to get Travis checked out and on the plane.”
Liberty went to the nurses’ station and spoke to one of them for a minute. She returned and said, “They’re bringing Travis down in a wheelchair.”
“The hell they are. I can walk.” They turned toward Travis, who had a large white bandage wrapped around his head. His limp was more pronounced than usual. His face looked pale, his eyes bright.
Liberty and Ginger both leaped to his side and took an arm.
“You okay?”
“You should be in a wheelchair.”
He grinned at them. “I’m fine. I just have a little headache.”
Levi stepped forward. “I’m sure sorry, big brother.”
“For what? Did you hit me on the head and stuff me in a stall?”
“Not lately.”
“Then I can’t see what you’ve got to be sorry for.”
The ache around Levi’s heart eased a little. “For involving you. Getting you hurt.”
“I’d be hurt if you didn’t include me. Now, can we go home?”
Levi nodded. “I gotta ask…did you see who attacked you?”
“No. I went out to the barn to get better cell service and the next thing I know, I’m waking up here.”
Levi didn’t have a doubt in his mind of who hit his brother.
Dario Abruzzo.
~*~
Ava woke, unsure where she was.
The overwhelming smell of antiseptic and medicine told her she was in a hospital even before the sterile surroundings did. Something to her right rustled and she turned her head that way. Agony shot through her skull and she moaned. She lifted her hand to touch her head and a wave of pain raced through her wrist.
A woman in bright purple scrubs, a nurse, laid her hand on Ava’s uninjured shoulder. “You’re safe.”
“What happened?”
“The doctor will be in to see you soon. He’ll tell you everything then. But there’s a policeman here to talk to you.”
Ava tried to nod, and the motion reminded her how much her head hurt. Where was Levi? She couldn’t remember, and a cramp of fear tightened her stomach. Had Dario finally caught them and murdered him? Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
A short, balding man wearing a sheriff’s uniform approached her bed. His nametag read “Richards.”
“Miss. How are you feeling?”
“Awful.” She swiped at her eyes.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Can I ask you a few questions?”
She bit her lip. A vision of Dario and the cop in Las Vegas flashed through her head. “I guess.”
“I’m investigating the accident today. Do you remember it?” He took a small notebook and pen from his coat pocket.
“Not really. We were driving in the snow and then we were spinning…” She swallowed hard. “It was terrifying.”
“I’m sure.” He made a note. “Were there any other vehicles involved?”
She recalled the light-colored SUV and shuddered. Had Dario gotten to this cop, too? Maybe it was best to keep quiet about his possible involvement. “Not that I remember.”
He wrote something down. “Okay, then. I guess that’s it for now. Take care of yourself.”
A doctor who looked like he couldn’t be more than twelve came into her room, carrying a clipboard. He studied her with a critical eye. “Sheriff, my patient needs to rest.”
The sheriff nodded and left.
“How are you feeling?” the doctor asked.
“Terrible,” Ava said.
“You have a sprained wrist, but are otherwise unhurt.”
“How is Paco?” Dread twisted her stomach.
“The driver?” The doctor consulted his clipboard. “He’s worse off than you. A broken leg. It says here you were both wearing seatbelts, which probably saved your from much wo
rse.”
She sagged into her pillow and closed her eyes. Paco was badly hurt. All because of her. Levi would be so upset.
“I’ll prescribe something for the pain. You’re best plan is to rest…”
The rest of his instructions went in one ear and out the other. Her mind was on Levi. Just as she’d feared, she’d brought bad troubles to his family and friends. Paco was injured, unable to work because of her. When the doctor finished his instructions, she mumbled her thanks.
After the doctor left, Ava pushed the covers back and swung her legs to the floor. A wave of dizziness overtook her and she closed her eyes, willing her head to stop swimming.
“Miss, you can’t get up.” A nurse came to her side and lifted her legs back in bed. “You’re not strong enough to go anywhere just yet.” She handed over two white pills and a paper cup. “Take these.”
Ava dutifully did as told. “I have to see Levi.”
“Do you have a number I can call?”
“No need. I’m right here.” Early morning sun fell across the speaker’s face. Both women turned to look at the tall cowboy in the doorway. He moved into the room. “I’m Levi Callahan.”
The nurse clucked at him like an old duck. “The patient needs her rest, Mr. Callahan. You can only stay a minute.”
“I’m not leaving until Ava does,” Levi said.
The nurse nodded reluctantly. “Okay, then. Can I bring you a cup of coffee?”
“That’d be nice. Thanks.”
Ava waited until she left, then said, “How did you find me?”
He perched on the edge of her bed. “Paco called and told me what happened.”
She moaned. “Paco’s hurt.”
“I know.”
“I’m so sorry.” She twisted the fingers of her uninjured hand in the white sheets. The drug began to move through her veins, making her groggy.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for. Paco hit a slick spot and the truck flipped.” He removed his hat and set in on the bed. “I’m more worried about you right now.”
“I’ll be okay. Just a headache and a sprain. Nothing serious.” A little less pain shot through her head when she shook it. “The accident wasn’t from ice. I didn’t tell the policeman we were rammed by a light-colored SUV.”
“What policeman?” He stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Are you sure you were hit?”
“I don’t know his name. And I’m almost positive I saw a white vehicle through the snow right before we crashed. And I felt the bump.” She licked her dry lips. Her eyelids were drooping as it became difficult to stay awake.
“Did you see the driver?”
“No, but I think it was Dario.”
“He’s driving a black Town Car,” Levi reminded her. “Not an SUV.”
“Dario has plenty of money. He could have bought a car, or rented one.” She was simply defeated. “I can’t get away from him. He’s going to get me. And you, too, if you don’t watch your back. I need to let the police and let them handle it. Just like I was afraid of, one of your friends is hurt because of me.” Her head felt woozy and she began to float on a cloud the drugs provided.
“Did you tell the cop about Abruzzo?”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Good.” Levi took her good hand and held it gently. “Christmas is only a few days away now. Let’s go to the ranch, as planned. You can rest. Recover. No one can get to you there.”
She knew she should refuse, but her tongue felt so thick she couldn’t seem to form the words. “’Kay.”
“Good.” He placed her hand on the sheet. “Get some sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up. I’m going to go see Paco, but I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
“Okay.” The medication had really set in, making it almost impossible to think. “Levi?”
“Yes?”
“We can have sex if you want,” she mumbled.
His chuckle lulled her to sleep.
Chapter Nine
Levi couldn’t stop grinning as he walked down the hall. He had no intention of taking Ava up on her offer until she was completely drug-free and knew exactly what she was doing. But that she said she wanted to make love tickled him.
His grin disappeared as he entered Paco’s room. His friend’s swarthy complexion was pale, his eyes closed. His left leg stood straight out, casted and in a sling. “That you, Levi?”
Levi moved close and slid into the chair next to the bed. “How’re you feeling?”
Paco opened his eyes and turned his head. “Been better. How’s Miss Ava?”
“Ava will be fine. Just a sprain. She’s resting now.” He placed his hand on Paco’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “I’m sure sorry you got hurt.”
“I hit a slick spot and skidded.”
Levi hesitated. “Ava said someone ran into you. You didn’t feel it?”
A deep frown etched Paco’s face. “No. I don’t know. Maybe.”
“She says there was a light-colored SUV that rammed into you and sent you into the slide.”
Paco’s frown deepened. “I hit my noggin pretty hard, I guess, because I don’t remember anything like that.”
“Just rest. I’ll take you home tomorrow.”
He reached for his hat. “Hell, I’m ready to go now.”
“No, my friend, you’re not. You need to rest.” Levi stood. “Did the cops come to talk to you?”
“Yeah. A guy named Richards. I didn’t say anything about Miss Ava, or what’s going on with her.”
Levi exhaled. “Thanks.”
Paco said, “How could somebody run into the truck and I not know?”
“I’m not sure, but Ava seems convinced.” Levi didn’t have any reason to doubt her, but maybe her fears were getting the better of her, making her see things that weren’t there. Paco had never lied to the family in his life. He wouldn’t start now. “I’ll come see you later.”
Deep in thought, Levi walked toward the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. He didn’t have a doubt in his mind Abruzzo had knocked out Travis. Had he followed Ava, caused the car accident, then circled back to Denver to try and kill him, too, and got Travis instead? Or did he have an accomplice? As part of the Las Vegas mob, he probably had a whole posse of killers he could call on for help. Levi stiffened his back. Abruzzo had bit off more than he could chew if he thought he could run over a Callahan and walk away unscathed.
~*~
Dario opened a door and slipped inside an empty hospital room, dragging Tiffany behind him. He locked it and turned to her. With virtually no makeup and her hair in a high, messy ponytail, she looked about five years younger. Almost innocent. He’d sent her into a big-box store for a set of scrubs, and if no one looked twice they’d easily mistake her for a nurse. Hopefully, no one would notice her lack of ID.
The idiot woman at the help desk had given him Ava’s room number without question. He sniffed. Small towns. Dumb people. A bouquet and a charming smile could get you anything. He tossed the flowers in a trashcan and pulled a syringe from his pocket.
“Let’s go over this one more time. You sneak into Ava’s room, inject this into her IV line. I’ll get the car and park by the front entrance where I’ll be waiting for you.” He handed her the poison. “Get in, get out. But don’t draw attention to yourself by running or acting suspicious.”
Tiffany nodded. “Okay, Dario.”
He grabbed her chin. “Don’t mess this up, or you’ll live to regret it.”
Fear flashed in her blue eyes. “I won’t.”
He smiled at her. “Good. I’ll see you out front in”—he glanced at his Rolex—“exactly ten minutes.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her hard. “That’s a good girl.”
She took the syringe from him as if it were a hissing snake and stuffed it into her pocket. “You’ll be out front for sure?”
“Absolutely.” He opened the door. “Now, get going.”
She gave him a frightened look before walking through the door.
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Dumb bitch. If she thought he was hanging around to take the fall, she was crazier than a loony-bin resident. He waited until she turned the corner to walk casually toward the elevator. Two nurses and a doctor flew by him, obviously en route to something important. He didn’t think Tiffany had time to do her dirty work, but maybe she’d gotten lucky and Ava was dying right now.
Keeping his gait steady and his gaze up, he entered the elevator and rode it to the ground floor. The helpful old lady who had given him Ava’s room number was busy with a group carrying a large “get well” sign, balloons and flowers.
Snow had begun to fall again and the two other people in the parking lot had their heads down, against the howling wind, paying no attention to him. He found his white Hummer and climbed inside. For a moment, he looked at the second floor to Ava’s room. Had Tiffany done what he’d told her to yet?
He started the ignition and backed out of the parking spot. As soon as he was on the highway, he dialed 911 and reported an attempted murder in room 210. Before the operator could ask more questions, he hung up. Driving out of Laramie, he began to chuckle. Using one girlfriend to kill another amused the hell out of him. Tiffany had gotten on his nerves a month ago and Ava deserved what she got. Nobody ratted out Dario Abruzzo.
Tiffany might give him up to the cops—he doubted it—but if she did, he planned to be in Vegas by nightfall with a stone-cold alibi. One or more of his father’s men would swear on a stack of Bibles he’d been there the whole time.
By now, someone had probably discovered Callahan’s body. But he wasn’t worried about getting fingered for that one. Tracking the cowboy to the horse barns where he’d been alone had been a stroke of pure luck. Cracking him over the head with a shovel and stuffing his body in a stall had been too easy. He hadn’t even needed to use his gun. There hadn’t been a soul around; he’d walked away scot-free.
Ava had been much harder to kill.
But the deed was done now.
~*~
“Ava, wake up.”
In her drugged state, Ava had a hard time waking, but the voice was insistent. She opened her eyes and blinked. A blonde woman stood at her shoulder. It took a minute to recognize her, but when she did, Ava opened her mouth to scream.
Ride A Falling Star (The Callahans) Page 7
