Dangerous Love

by Casey Clipper

  12

  Seated on her bed, dressed in a pair of black boy-short panties and a white tee−sans bra−Mac was smokin' with a capital H-O-fucking T. Derk caught himself staring at her a couple of times. Like a fucking ninth grade kid about to spew in his own jeans. It had been two days since she’d taken a header off that damn bar, and she still wasn’t back to normal. He’d often catch her eyes bouncing rapidly, and when she stood to go to the bathroom, he would throw a hand out to make certain she didn’t tumble from an onset of dizziness. Yep, he’d had a couple of concussions in his past and they were not a joy.

  A piece of him that he didn’t quite comprehend wanted to take a torch to that dive of a bar since it was the cause of her pain. But the rational part of his brain, the one that rarely appeared, said that’d be overkill.

  A pizza box sat opened on the bed with two remaining pieces. A bottle of beer settled between his thighs while he lounged against the headboard. Mac flicked through the television channels to find something decent to watch for the evening. Two hours ago, he’d finished tailing a job for Mr. Murphy, parted ways with Smith, and dropped by to check on Mac. Her blonde roommate…Kim? Karen? Whatever. She’d been on her way out the door when he made his way up the apartment steps. Now, he found himself too relaxed, about to doze in a woman’s bed. Unheard of.

  “What do you do for a living?” Mackenzie surprised him with her soft, hesitant tone.

  “Huh?” he asked, lifting his head.

  “For a living? You seem to have flexible hours. What do you do?”

  Well, now, wasn’t this a pickle? Never, had he’d gotten close enough to a woman for her delve into his life. This was new, uncharted, unwelcome territory.

  He shrugged. "I freelance."

  Her mouth gaped open. "You're a writer?"

  Spitting out the swig of beer he just took, he laughed. "Ugh, no. I do odd jobs but enough to keep me busy."

  "Like what?"

  Naturally she wouldn't let that answer go.

  "Research." True. "Debt consultations." A stretch of the term. "Investment advice." Strongly advise to pay up. "Finalize contracts." Wet work.

  "Oh," she said, sounding doubtful, but she didn't probe further.

  Interesting, he mused. She only questioned to a point. For a woman, that was unusual. Normally when he didn’t answer their inquiries, women would nag the hell out of him. That always sent him packing. Don’t give him the third degree, you get to see him again. It was as simple as that.

  Setting his beer on the nightstand, he leaned his head back against the board and closed his eyes. Exhausted didn't begin to describe how his body felt. Smith and he had been chasing their target's reported sightings around for nearly two weeks, hours upon hours crammed into a car, only to come up empty. Who knew where the Western territory leader had taken off with the missing money, guns, and dope? It was a dangerous game the man played, but then again C.D. Maler wasn’t exactly playing with a full deck. The man was certifiably crazy. And apparently had a death wish by stealing from Mr. Murphy. Until the missing man, products and cash were recovered, Derk and Smith remained in the game.

  "Do you like it?" she asked, interrupting his silent thoughts.

  "Yep."

  "That's good."

  Opening one eye, he slid her a side glance. "Do you like your job?"

  She shrugged but wouldn't make eye contact. "Right now, no. But I do make great money, and when I'm not falling off the bar, it keeps me busy and keeps my mind from my depressing thoughts."

  Part of him wanted to quiz her about the numbskull she'd married, but that would be digging too deep into something he didn't give a shit about. Anyway, he knew just about everything there was to know about that marriage. Well, except for the intimate details to answer the question why.

  He knew she'd been dropped off at a church at the age of four when her mother no longer wanted the responsibility. No relatives offered to take her in, so to the foster system she went. She was bounced from home to home, but no one took an interest in adopting her. Again, there was no record as to why. She'd been a B student, participated in school activities that didn't require finances, and tried to hold part time jobs when she reached the legal age. She'd been accepted to college but never attended. Derk guessed that was due to lack of money. Instead, she worked relentlessly since the day she graduated high school. He didn't find anything about boyfriends until she reached the age of twenty-nine, when she married after six months of dating. There was no record of a pregnancy. If he was a psychologist, and clearly he wasn’t, he would guess it was a daddy and mommy issue. Which should have him running for the door. But no. Instead, he figured he must have some masochism in him somewhere because he found himself drawn to her. In fact, the last couple of days had been comfortably and disturbingly…domestic. A shudder ran through his body.

  “Are you cold?”

  “Nope.”

  He wasn’t quite sure how to dote on M, but each night he showed up with food, beer, and blue rays to watch, something other than the news and repeats of comedy shows. All right, so he bought her a damn blue ray player. Big deal. It was more for his own sanity than a gift to her. Mac's choice in television programming needed to be adjusted.

  After they ate each night, they would lie in bed together and watch the movies until a headache usually kicked in on Mac and she’d close her eyes and fall asleep. Poor girl. Derk would finish watching the movie then slink out of the room, leaving her undisturbed, late at night.

  Mac groan and rubbed her belly. “I’m so full.”

  She slid down and burrowed herself under the blankets. Making quick work of tossing the pizza box and paper plates onto the floor, Derk slid in next to her and hit the start button on the player. Absently, his hand went to her stomach, slid under her tee, and ran light circles against her belly.

  Within minutes, she was sound asleep, softly snoring. Derk wondered if she knew about the sounds she made while she slept. Probably not. She talked, cooed, chuckled, moaned and groaned. The latter were his faves.

  Derk needed to be careful with M. She could unman him. He would never allow a woman to accomplish that task. He’d seen too many buddies lose their balls to their women. At eighteen, he’d buried his parents over his mother's shenanigans as she recklessly played games with his dad's heart.

  Nope. Not him. Not going to happen. He refused to let a woman break him. Even Derrick fucking Murphy went insane when his wife had left him close to two years ago.

  Fuck that shit.

  Derk watched the action movie with his arm wrapped around Mac the entire time. At some point she’d turned, curled into his body, and snaked a leg between his. Man, he had a permanent hard-on around this woman. If they didn't get grinding soon, he might have to call Claire to tide him over until Mac gave it up.

  Officially, they weren't a couple. In fact, Derk had no plans on changing his single status, but he did plan on riding M out until their time together grew monotonous. Boredom wasn't high on his list of favorite stages.

  Around midnight, Derk slid out from underneath Mackenzie, leaned down and kissed her soft cheek, slid into his boots, and made his way to the door.

  "Goodnight," M croaked softly.

  He glanced over his shoulder. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."

  Those large blue eyes blinked at him with some form of emotion he couldn't decipher and frankly didn't want to. "I'll see you tomorrow."

  "Okay," she whispered.

  For an unknown reason he hesitated, hand on the doorknob. "Are you all right? Does your head hurt?"

  She blinked at him, her eyelids fluttered and eyes bounced. Shit.

  "I just need more rest."

  Toeing off his boots, he took off his belt and tee, but this time stripped out of his jeans. "I'm staying, Mac. You don't look so hot."

  "I'll be fine." She tried to argue but her voice was unsteady.

  "No you won't," he said and climbed back into bed. "Come here." He pulled her into his body. "Get so
me sleep, baby. If you need me, wake me."

  "Thanks."

  He kissed the top of her head. Fuck, he hoped she was going to be all right. She didn't seem close to recovering. That fall must have been one hell of a bitch.

  13

  "There's something not right here," Derk said to Smith.

  They'd been sitting outside the restaurant for fifteen minutes waiting for C.D. Maler to show. Derk's tap on the man's phone was crystal clear. The man was meeting a "friend" to "get rid of some items."

  It was their first break in the two weeks they'd tried to get a bead on the man, whose death warrant had been signed.

  "Man, I'm fucking bored," Derk complained.

  Smith remained mute, seated in the passenger's seat, his eyes on their surroundings.

  "Why can't I just put a bullet in his head and be done?" Fuck he was in a foul mood. That usually happened when he didn't get a good release in more than a week. His personal hand-jobs weren't cutting it. All because for some ungodly reason he was holding out for Mac. He was convinced he was turning into a woman.

  A familiar black Cadillac Escalade pulled into a parking space across the street, in front of the restaurant.

  "What's Mrs. M doing here? Murphy didn't call and ask us to watch her." Derk sat up straight. For the past couple years, Derk and Smith were the two men given the duty to tag along with Mrs. Murphy when she ventured out. Apparently she preferred their company as opposed to other men on Mr. Murphy's staff. Derk only knew this because he'd actually overheard her admission to her husband. Naturally, he'd never admit that he was personally pleased Courtney enjoyed his company. A man occasionally needed his ego stroked.

  They watched her step around the car and approach a sporty Lexus. A car door opened and a man in a sharp suit climbed out of the driver's seat. They smiled and greeted one another with a short kiss on the lips. The man wrapped an arm around her tiny waist and escorted her into the restaurant.

  "What. The. Fuck?" Derk spat. "Why the hell would Courtney cheat on her husband, who she knows would not only kill the guy but probably kill her?" Derk demanded aloud.

  Naturally, he received no response from Smith. When he turned to look at his partner-in-crime, Smith's features had changed to a scary ass vision of fury.Tapping his hand off the steering wheel, both their gazes trained on the front door of the restaurant. Neither knew what to do. Out of his peripheral vision, Derk saw Smith pull out his cell. How the hell had this mission changed from catching a traitor to snitching on the boss's wife in a matter of seconds?

  Out of nowhere, taking Derk and Smith by surprise, Courtney Murphy stood in front of Derk's parked SUV, hands on hips, smirking. Yep, she was too fucking smart. Her awareness was something she’d gained over the years. Being married to a crime boss tended to have that effect on a spouse.

  "Man, I'm in love with this woman," he confessed, even though seemingly something shady was happening.

  Smith slowly nodded.

  They watched her actually stalk the SUV then knock on Smith's passenger side window. Quickly Smith hit the automatic button to lower the window.

  "Are you following me?" she barked.

  "Guilty of something?" Derk retaliated.

  Her eyes narrowed. "Fuck you, Derk."

  "Language. Wouldn't want Mr. Murphy to know about that potty mouth that's slipping around behind his back," he challenged. Of all the shit the men, who were employed for the inner circle of the Murphy family, went through because of Courtney, she had no business giving him hell. He personally logged in too many hours tracking the woman down when she always disappeared, even if it was for only hours. Now she was having an affair?

  "Watch it," she snapped. She jerked her head. "Come on, I'll show you what you're following."

  He and Smith refused to divulge they weren't actually tailing her. They happened to stumble upon her little tryst. Man, Derrick Murphy was going to lose his shit.

  They scampered out of the SUV and followed her across the street to the small Italian restaurant. Inside, Courtney waltzed to the back of the place. Seated at a small table for two, sat the extremely good looking man. He looked to be in his forties, and his eyes were trained on Mrs. Murphy as soon as she came into his view.

  "What the fuck?" Derk mumbled.

  Courtney whipped a glare over her shoulder. She approached the table and the man stood, beaming at her.

  "Thank you for waiting, Carlo," she said and kissed him on each cheek. "Security.” She waved at him and Smith. “Don't mind them."

  "Of course not."

  All four sat at the table, after Derk and Smith pulled chairs up close and made room by crowding Mrs. M. They watched Carlo set a medium sized black box with a silver logo on top on the table and slid it her direction.

  "Here's your finished product," Carlo said, his Italian accent prominent.

  "Carlo, this isn't a product, it's a work of art," she praised.

  They watched the man blush like a teenager. "You are too kind."

  "No, you are for putting up with my demands and constant changes. I can't thank you enough. My husband's going to love it." She nodded. "May I?"

  "Please," he answered, his eyes lit up like Christmas.

  Courtney opened the box and inhaled, her hands going to her chest and her eyes watering. Derk and Smith slid each other questionable glances.

  "Oh, Carlo," she whispered. "It's gorgeous."

  She threw her arms around the man, who returned her embrace.

  Smith cleared his throat and reached for the inside of his suit jacket, his face tight with anger. A rare form of any sort of expression from the man.

  Courtney pulled away and subtly grasped Smith's hand and squeezed gently. His friend literally stiffened. She let go and swiveled the box for them to look at the contents.

  "I've been working with Carlo to design a watch for Derrick. We've been going over it for months, perfecting it," she explained.

  "Mrs. Murphy has wonderful taste. She wanted only the best for her husband. We imported most of the material," Carlo said proudly.

  Derk leaned over and gave a low whistle. "Sweet."

  Courtney beamed. "You think?"

  "Yep," he approved. Now this made much more sense. Fuck, they jumped to the entirely wrong conclusion.

  "It's for his birthday next week," she said. "He has everything. Carlo's watches are seen on the red carpet on every Hollywood actor, so I figured getting my hands on one of his designs would be the perfect gift. This watch is one of a kind. Only Derrick will ever own this design. I also had it engraved."

  She pulled the watch out of the pouch and turned it over. Smith and Derk leaned over to read the inscription. To the man who owns my heart & soul. Love, Your Court.

  Well, shit.

  Smith sank back in his chair, his shoulders slumped and his head hung. Derk felt his guilt. Murphy's loyal and loving wife hadn't been up to no good. She'd been pouring her heart into a gift for her husband. All men should have a woman that devoted to them by their side. Unfortunately, Mrs. M was one of a kind and to come across another like her was impossible. Idly Derk wondered if Mackenzie might fit the same bill that Mrs. Murphy did. He rapidly squashed that random and unnecessary thought.

  The trill of her cell phone interrupted them. She glanced at the caller ID and furrowed her brow.

  "Mom?" she answered on the third ring. Derk watched Courtney's face go pale and her body shake. "When?" she whispered. "I'm on my way," she breathed, ending the call. "I have to go, Carlo. I'm sorry." She jumped up and ran out of the restaurant without any explanation or a proper farewell to the jeweler.

  "Courtney," Derk called after her as they chased her out to the street.

  Even in spike heels, the woman bolted toward her SUV.

  Smith caught up to her first and spun her to face him.

  "I...my...my dad," she sobbed.

  "Courtney, we'll take you," Smith insisted. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to Derk's vehicle.

  The three of them q
uickly clamored into the SUV.

  "Where are we going?" Derk asked.

  "Presby," she answered, her voice shaky.

  Oh, shit. UPMC Presby Hospital. Not good.

  Twenty-five minutes later, Derk squealed the car to a stop in front of the ER. Courtney jumped out with Smith right behind her.

  Derk quickly parked his car in the garage and found his way to the waiting area of the emergency room. Courtney and her mom were sobbing in a firm embrace, their heads buried into each other's necks. Courtney's cousin Ryan, along with his own mother and father stood with them. Derk approached Smith, who stood off to the side.

  "What happened?"

  Smith shook his head. "Don't know."

  Courtney released her mother and went to her cousin, aunt and uncle. Quiet murmurs between the Millen family started. Ryan wrapped an arm around his cousin and aunt.

  "He'll be okay," Ryan said. "He's a tough man."

  Shit.

  ***

  For two hours, Derk watched Courtney pace, her mother sob, her aunt hold onto her mother, and Ryan walk in and out of the ER area. No one was allowed to see Courtney's father, which caused the entire family to sit on edge.

  Derk approached Courtney.

  "Do you want me to call Derrick?" he asked, again. He'd tried to get her to call Murphy immediately, but she refused, knowing he was in an important meeting. But Derk knew the deal going down wasn't anything that couldn't be put off. Derk and Smith wanted to argue that her husband would drop whatever he was doing to be by her side, but decided it was best to keep their opinions to themselves. For the moment.

  Before she could answer, Sean, her cousin and Ryan's brother, stepped into the waiting area along with another doctor. Derk was a bit shocked Sean was present. First, no one mentioned he'd arrived. Though his appearance made sense since he was a cardiologist, especially given his relative status. But there remained a riff between Courtney and her cousin that kept the two from speaking to each other. Well, it was more one-sided with Sean ending his close relationship with his formerly beloved cousin. Their battle stemmed from an overheated dinner party where things got out of control with Sean’s then girlfriend, now wife and mother of his twin girls, Beth.