“So that’s when he fell for you?”
“Well, not really—it’s really complicated. Joe was a real mess, and he and Rick were coming to blows over Midnight. It was a really awful time. Then Tim was killed.”
“Who’s Tim?”
“He was a young man that was trying to help Midnight catch the leader of the Scorpions.”
“Wait a minute.” Jessica held up her hand. “That was the gang that shot Joe, wasn’t it, and they’re the ones that took Midnight and… well, you know.” Randy nodded somberly. “I read it in a file at Joe’s office today.”
“Yes, that was the gang that was trying to get rid of FORS altogether. They almost succeeded.”
“So what happened? How did you two get together?”
“I took care of Joe after he was shot. He got to go home from the hospital, but the doctors insisted that he have someone with him round the clock. I was the logical choice since I was his secretary, and Midnight already knew I was in love with him…” She trailed off as she remembered the first time Joe had made love to her. He had been so gentle and sweet. The memory made tears come to her eyes.
“Wow,” Jessica said. “So did he fall in love with his nurse, then?”
“Well, I guess he had already cared about me a great deal, but he was adamant about not making love to me until he knew he could give me everything he had to give.”
“Did he tell you that?” Jessica asked, surprised that a man would be so unselfish.
“Yes, and in fact it was me that demanded that he make love to me. I told him I didn’t care if he loved me or not, but that I wanted him to be my first.”
“Oh my God, he was your first, too?” Jessica couldn’t believe the storybook romance she was hearing. She gave Randy a conspiratorial look. “How was he?”
Randy closed her eyes, as if remembering it again. “Wonderful.”
Jessica threw herself back on the couch dramatically. “I just knew it! I knew he’d be one of those real romantic types.” She sat up again. “It’s kinda hard to tell, with that rough exterior he likes to put on, but every now and then, you see just a glimmer of his gallant ways. Like today, when he showed that girl his wedding band—I thought that was so cool.”
“Yeah, me too.” Randy felt like a high school girl with her best friend, talking about the boys they thought were just the coolest. It felt good; she’d never really had a lot of girlfriends in school. She’d certainly never discussed sex with anyone, being a virgin and also painfully shy.
“So, he’s really sweet and all that?” Jessica asked, dying to know more.
“You have no idea,” Randy said, shaking her head. “You know, when he asked me to marry him, he actually handed me that pinky ring he wears. He told me he wanted me to hold on to it for him.”
“Why?” Jessica was confused, because the ring Randy wore now was not like Joe’s.
“He said he wanted me to hold on to it until he could get a real one. When I asked him a real what, he said, ‘An engagement ring,’ and then he looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘That is, if you’ll marry me.’”
Jessica sighed lustily as she lay back on the couch again. “Why can’t I find a man like that?” She looked at Randy. “Does he have any brothers?”
Randy shook her head. “Nope, he’s an only child.”
“Bummer,” Jessica said, shaking her head too.
When Joe walked in late that evening, he looked exhausted. He had yet another bruise on his cheek as well as a nasty gash on his arm. Randy and Jessica were still talking in the living room, and upon seeing Joe, Randy went to him.
“Are you okay?”
Joe nodded, but she could tell he wasn’t. Joe had actually fallen asleep in the passenger seat of Spider’s car on the way home. Randy led him over to the couch, and Jessica moved to let him lie down. Randy pulled his boots off and looked up at Jessica.
“Can you get me a towel out of that closet over there?” She pointed toward the hallway. Jessica nodded and went to get it.
When she came back Randy had Joe’s jacket off. She saw his bloodied forearm and gave him a scathing look. “Yeah, this looks okay, alright. You lie here—I’ll be right back.” She looked at him sternly, and Joe nodded, clearly tired. Jessica stood watching from behind the couch. She looked down at the man she and Randy had been discussing pretty much all evening. It astounded her how much action he seemed to see. Here she was, put off by a single incident when she had been fired upon—she hadn’t even been injured, and she was too scared to return to the street. She couldn’t even imagine being in Joe’s shoes, getting shot, beaten up, knifed, and all other assorted evils. Jessica realized Joe was looking up at her, watching her face. She could tell he knew what she’d been thinking.
Joe shook his head slowly. “I basically ask for this stuff, Jess. It’s not all like this.”
Jessica nodded, not believing him. “Sure you do. You’re a glutton for punishment.”
“Bad guys don’t like cops—that’s the choice we make.”
“I know. It just doesn’t look like much fun, that’s all.”
“What, this?” Joe held up his arm. “This doesn’t even hurt.”
“That’s because you’re too damn tired to feel it,” Randy said as she reappeared with a bandage and some peroxide.
“And whose fault is that?” Joe said, a lopsided grin on his face.
Randy looked immediately contrite. “Mine.”
“Ours,” Joe said. “And I wouldn’t have given it up for anything—it was worth it.” He saw a slow smile start to cross her face and grinned. “So fix me up so I can go get some sleep,” he said, his voice lively now.
Randy proceeded to clean the cut, finding that it wasn’t as bad as it had looked; his jacket sleeve had just smeared the blood, making it look worse. After she had wrapped the gauze bandage around his arm and taped it off, she helped him up off the couch. He leaned down, kissing the top of her head. “Thanks, Nurse.”
“Anytime, Sergeant.”
Joe looked over at Jessica and realized she was still thinking about what he had said. “Hey,” he said, his lips twisting in a grin. “Don’t blow a gasket or anything—you don’t have to make a life decision tonight. We’ll talk more tomorrow, okay?”
Jessica nodded, smiling. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I’m always okay,” Joe said brightly. Randy led him down the hallway to their bedroom and Jessica watched them go. These people were definitely a different breed. She knew if Joe were her husband and she’d seen him cut up and bleeding, she’d have freaked, but Randy handled it like it was any other night. Jessica realized she could learn a lot from them—that she could learn not to take things so seriously. Life was indeed short, and you had to do something important with it. She went to her room and fell asleep thinking about Joe, Randy, Midnight, and, interestingly enough, Tiny. The last thought she had before drifting off was how Tiny had come through the evening’s raid. She doubted seriously that anyone would mess with a man of his apparent strength.
****
Carrie Chevalier was sitting in Midnight’s hospital room, watching her daughter as she slept. Her condition had temporarily worsened, and they’d had to go in and do another exploratory surgery on her. They had found yet another slight perforation in her uterus and had repaired it. Midnight was still sleeping off the general anesthetic they had given her. She had not allowed Carrie to call anyone, saying that Joe was just getting back into his life; the last thing he needed was to have to drop everything again and come running to her side. She also told her mother not to call Rick, that she didn’t want to see him anyway. Carrie wasn’t sure it had been a good idea, but since the surgery had gone well, she had decided it was a moot point.
Watching her daughter now, Carrie could see what a strong will Midnight had, and how much strength of character. Midnight was not wishy-washy; she didn’t pine miserably, even though her husband had told her two days before that his girlfriend might be pregnant. Midnig
ht had taken it in her stride, at least outwardly. Carrie suspected the turmoil in Midnight’s personal life had in some indirect way caused the new problems in her body. If Carrie had known Midnight better, and if Midnight had been capable of it, she would have known that Midnight would have handled her anguish the same way she always had, by working herself half to death. In fact, when Midnight woke the following morning, the first thing she did was text Joe.
Joe answered from his car phone, on his way to the office after having dropped Randy at the range again.
“Aren’t you supposed to be resting?” he said. He had no idea she had had surgery again the day before, and Midnight was not about to tell him.
“Buzz off, Sinclair,” Midnight replied irritably. “I have nurses and doctors harassing me about that shit—I don’t need you doing it too.”
Joe was silent, taken aback by her quick temper. He also didn’t know that she and Rick had fought a day and a half before, and that Rick hadn’t been back to the hospital since.
“Look,” Midnight said after a few moments, “I want you to send someone over with some of the files I’ve got on my desk. I need some distraction.”
“No,” Joe said simply, sensing her disposition.
“Don’t give me that shit, Joe. I am still the boss, you know.” She sounded angry, and Joe could tell her nerves were on edge for some reason; she hadn’t pulled rank on him in a long time.
“Yeah,” he said evenly. “You’re the boss, and you are currently out of commission, and I’m not letting you bury yourself.”
“I’ll just call someone else,” Midnight said, sighing.
“Do it. But they’ve all been warned, and I’ll back it up again this morning that you are not to get any cases or files.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Joe,” Midnight said icily. “I’m not in the mood.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Midnight. I’m not in the mood either,” Joe retorted. Then his voice softened. “I’m not gonna help you kill yourself, Night, so don’t ask me to.”
“What’s reading a few case files going to hurt? You tell me,” Midnight said, changing tactics.
“Yeah, first it’s two case files, then it’s three. Next you’re in the office half the day, then all day, and after that you basically live there. I won’t let it happen, Midnight. I don’t care what I have to do.”
“You’re a real asshole, you know.”
“You got it,” Joe said, and promptly hung up on her.
Midnight held the receiver tightly, her knuckles turning white. Joe had never been so immovable before. Of course, she thought, the other times she had tried to bury her problems in work, the problems had been about him, or he hadn’t been around, so he hadn’t been able to stop her. She did as she had threatened and contacted other members of FORS, but they all staunchly refused to bring her anything. She even resorted to trying to sweet-talk Tiny, who she knew would basically move mountains for her any other time.
“I’m sorry, boss,” Tiny had said, sounding anything but. “But Joe says that you’re real touch and go, and I’m not going to take any chances.”
“What?” Midnight said mockingly. “You afraid Sinclair’ll fire you? He can’t, you know—I am the boss.”
“I’m not afraid he’d fire me,” Tiny replied easily. “Shoot me, yes—fire me, no.” Midnight could almost see him smile.
“I give you permission to shoot him back,” Midnight said, smiling in spite of herself.
“It’s not Sinclair I’m worried about, boss—it’s you.” Tiny sounded so sincere that tears came to Midnight’s eyes.
“Don’t worry about me, Tiny. I’m okay, really.” She was almost imploring him; she hated to have people worry about her, especially in the business they were in—distractions were dangerous.
“And you’re going to stay that way.”
“Okay, okay,” Midnight said, surrendering. “You win, Sinclair wins. Jesus!”
Midnight hung up a few minutes later and looked over at her mother, who had been watching with interest.
“That shit has bullied everyone in my unit,” Midnight said.
“I think he told them that you needed to rest. And I think they care so much about you that they don’t want to risk it.”
Midnight looked at her mother for a long minute, then shrugged. “I guess it could be that too.”
****
Two hours later, Rick stood in the doorway to Joe’s office. Joe saw the serious look on his face. He put down the report he had been reading and glanced over at Jessica, who had been reading as well. She had noticed Joe’s movement and looked up, and then over at Rick.
“I’ll go and get some coffee,” Jessica said, standing and moving past Rick. She could tell that he and Joe needed to talk.
Rick watched her go distractedly, then looked back over at Joe. He walked into the office and sat down heavily in the chair Jessica had vacated. Joe could see the clouded look in his friend’s eyes, and he wondered if Rick had talked to Midnight about Sheila. It was obvious that something had happened. Joe waited, and Rick finally brought his eyes up to meet Joe’s. His eyes were bloodshot, and it looked as if he hadn’t had much sleep lately. Joe assumed it was because he’d been at the hospital with Midnight.
“I’m goin’ back to England,” Rick said finally. Joe was so shocked that he just stared at him openmouthed.
“You’re what?” Joe asked after a long moment, shaking his head as if not believing his own ears.
“You heard me right,” Rick said sullenly.
Joe gave him a knowing look. He shook his head, his lips pressed together into a disapproving line. “In other words, you’re gonna run.”
“What choice do I have?” Rick retorted, anger flaring. “Midnight hasn’t left me any.”
“Midnight hasn’t been runnin’ your life—you have. You’re just pissed because you’ve run it into the fucking ground.”
Rick was surprised by Joe’s anger, but realized he shouldn’t be. Joe was nothing if not Midnight’s constant champion—but he was wrong this time. “I tried, Joe,” he said harshly. “I told her about Sheila. I told her that I wouldn’t marry her. I told her everything, and she didn’t care. She told me that she hates me now. What am I supposed to do? Wait around for her to love me again?”
“No.” Joe was disgusted that he had to tell Rick what to do. “You should stay here and try to make it up to her.”
“Like that’s gonna work.”
“Well, I guess you won’t find out, will ya?”
Rick stood. “No, I guess I won’t.” He turned and walked out of the office, heading directly to the elevators. Joe watched him go, his face drawn and angry. Jessica walked in a moment later and, noting the look on Joe’s face, turned and left again. She didn’t know what had happened, but she was sure that it wasn’t good.
Two hours later, at lunch, Joe told Randy about it.
“He’s just going to leave?” Randy said, shocked.
Joe nodded, his expression full of disgust.
“Jesus,” Randy breathed. She didn’t know what to say. She had always assumed that Midnight and Rick would get back together.
“What about Mikeyla?” she asked, and Joe realized he didn’t know what Rick was going to do about his daughter.
****
That evening, Midnight received a short visit from Rick’s parents. They had Mikeyla with them. She ran over and tried to clamber up onto the bed. Carrie lifted her granddaughter up to sit next to her mother. Midnight glanced at Rick’s parents. Anabelle looked unhappy, and Robert seemed resigned. Midnight knew instantly that something was up.
“Where’s Rick?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
“He’s at the house, dear,” Anabelle said hesitantly. She wouldn’t meet Midnight’s eyes. “He sent us to talk to you, to tell you…” She trailed off, looking to Robert.
“He’s coming home with us, Midnight,” Robert said as gently as possible.
Midnight stared back at him blankly, as if n
ot understanding.
“He’s going back to England?” she said finally, quietly, her shock evident. Then her expression turned wary. “What about Keyla?”
“She’s going to go with us,” Anabelle said, her voice implying she thought it was for the best.
“Like hell she is!” Midnight said fiercely, putting her arm around her daughter as if to physically keep it from happening.
Carrie jumped to her defense, turning to the Debenshires. “What right does he have to take their daughter?”
Robert looked at Carrie, surprised by the woman’s sudden defense of the daughter she’d never cared about until recently. “He’s not taking permanent custody—it’s just a trip.”
“Like I’ll be able to fight all of you from here,” Midnight said, her voice weakening. She hugged Mikeyla close. The child had begun to cry when Midnight yelled. “It’s okay, baby,” she said, kissing the top of her head gently.
Anabelle stepped closer to Midnight. “Midnight, we aren’t trying to take Mikeyla away from you.” Her eyes searched Midnight’s. “Richard needs time away, and he thinks that being home will help him sort things out. Taking Mikeyla with us will help make your recovery easier.”
“And make it easier for him to keep her.” Midnight was not convinced, but it was obvious that her fight was leaving her. She was reeling from Rick’s apparent abandonment; she just couldn’t muster the strength to fight his parents too.
Robert and Anabelle left a little while later, but not before a heart-wrenching goodbye between Midnight and her daughter. Mikeyla had looked up at mother, her eyes wide and innocent.
“So I guess you and Daddy are going on a trip,” Midnight said, purposely cheerful.
Mikeyla nodded slowly. “Daddy says we’re going to where he came from.”
“That’s right.” Midnight hugged her close, feeling like her heart was being torn out and burned but trying desperately not to let her daughter see it. “And while you’re gone, I want you to do something for me.”
Betrayals Stand (MidKnight Blue Book 5) Page 4
