by Vivien Dean
“I’ll get the docs ready,” Gino said, opening his door before the car came to a complete stop.
Kate was alert again as Gino jumped out, and she leaned over when the driver followed to get the back door. “Cab?” she whispered.
“Yeah,” Cash said. “Around the side. I’ll—”
He stopped as the door swung open and the driver poked his head in. “Should I get a gurney?”
Shaking his head, Cash eased Maddy off his lap so that he could get out unencumbered. “I’ve got her.”
He turned as if to reach back in and pick her up. At the last minute, Cash shoved his elbow backwards, slamming it into the driver’s diaphragm before swiveling to throw a heavy blow at the man’s jaw. The driver crumpled unconscious to the ground.
“We could just use the club’s car,” Kate said as she came around the back of the vehicle.
“No.” Cash’s voice was terse as he reached back in and scooped Maddy gently into his arms. “I’m not giving them an excuse to bring cops into this.”
“What about me?”
Gino’s unexpected presence made Cash stiffen. The larger man stood by Kate, arms folded across his burly chest. His dark brows were drawn together, and while he looked like an impenetrable wall for them to get around, hurt lurked in his eyes.
“You going to leave me out in the cold?” Gino continued. “I thought we were friends, Cash.”
He felt the first stirring of Kate’s magic as she edged closer. “Don’t,” he said to her, not looking away from Gino. “Not yet.”
“What’s she going to do?” Though he didn’t move, Gino’s eyes kept jumping around, as if he was unsure where he needed to direct his attention. “More of whatever it was you two were up to in the back of the car?” He shook his head. “I thought you were a stand-up guy, Cash. I never expected you to do Maddy like this. Not for some torcher.”
Indignation flared at the accusation. “Stay out of what you don’t understand,” Cash warned. When he tried to step away, though, Gino immediately countered to block his path.
“Even if you don’t want to help Maddy,” Gino said, “I’m not willing to let her die. Just give her to me, and you and your chippy can scram, no questions asked.”
He held out his arms, his eyes pleading with Cash to do what he asked. In that second, Cash made a choice.
“Kate, reach into my pocket.”
She looked at him quizzically, but did as he asked, her slim hand disappearing just long enough to pull out the bullet he’d slipped inside his coat. Gino’s eyes widened when he saw it, and some of the tension dissipated from his body, to be replaced by confusion.
“So you see,” Cash said carefully, “it’s pointless for me to take her inside if there’s nothing for the doctors to do.”
He knew it was a gamble, but if anybody in this dimension had proven loyalty to Cash and Maddy, it was Gino. Having an ally would help them tremendously.
Slowly, Gino took a step forward, but where Kate grew more tense with the approach, Cash remained still. “Is she…?” Gino started, but his voice was barely a croak.
“She’ll be fine if I can get her home,” Cash said. “Now get out of my way.” He paused. “Please, Gino.”
Traffic whizzed by on the street behind them while he waited for Gino to comply. His stomach sank when the other man shook his head.
“I’m coming with you,” he said. “Mr. Lombardi is expecting me to check in and let him know how Maddy’s doing. I can call him from your place and keep him off your back while you tell me how the hell any of this is possible.”
Though it was uttered as a declaration of fact, there was enough of a question in his tone to prompt Cash for approval. “Help Kate get a cab for us,” Cash said. “Once I get Maddy settled, I promise, I’ll tell you everything.”
The first thing Mack felt when he woke up was pain, searing and deep along the length of his arm. It made his bones ache, but the sudden influx of what had caused it hurt even more. As he opened his eyes, a flash of Cash’s angry sneer appeared on the sterile white of the ceiling above Mack’s head, a reminder of the kaleidoscope of events that had put Mack in the hospital in the first place. It wasn’t the first time he had ever been in a fight; he hadn’t risen to his position of power by being an altar boy. It was, however, the first time anybody had attacked him so uniquely.
He hadn’t seen the fire coming, but he figured Cash must have had a matchbook in his pocket to use in case of emergencies. Flick a match across his thumbnail, then toss it. It was bold and chancy, just like Cash Vinci. Mack really should have seen it coming.
What he hadn’t seen coming was the bouncer moving in on Maddy. Nobody infringed on Mack’s territory, but maybe this last trip had been unwise. Maybe he should have insisted Maddy go with him this time, or maybe he should have found a way to get out of the business that had to be done. If things had been different, maybe Maddy wouldn’t have sought companionship in the first good-looking guy to catch her eye.
Lots of maybes. The only definite was that Cash was the one now sharing Maddy’s bed. Cash was the one who had wormed his way into her heart. Cash was the one who was likely manipulating her into believing that Mack had never cared for her in the first place.
Nobody else would have the balls to pull such a stunt.
It made exacting punishment simple. One man responsible. One man to target.
Cash Vinci was dead.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Her dreams were dark and chaotic, images of fire and flashing sequins and men with empty eyes filling every corner, occupying every breath. Maddy struggled to wake up, eager to be rid of the rampant fear that seemed to distort scenes that should have been light. When she opened her eyes to soothing darkness, however, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe she was dead after all.
She remembered the fight at the Rising Sun, and she remembered the overwhelming need to protect Cash, both from Marty and from himself. Stepping between the two men had been instinct, and while she had little recollection of what had followed, Maddy was certain she hadn’t imagined the bullet hitting her. The pain had been raw and excruciating, unlike anything else she had ever felt. Breathing had become thick and wet. She was pretty sure she should have been dead.
But she wasn’t. Something satin-soft covered her bare body, and the scent of Cash’s shampoo lingered on the pillow beneath her head. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, Maddy saw the faint outline of the looming wardrobe against the wall. This was the second bedroom in their apartment.
And she was alive.
Where was Cash?
A piece of the darkness moved, shifting from one shadow to another, and a flash of something shiny scattered across the bed. “You’re awake,” Kate said, her voice low and modulated. “Good.”
Maddy tried to sit up, only to discover she lacked the strength to do so. “What…what happened? Where’s Cash?”
The mattress tilted as Kate sat down on the edge of the bed. “He’s out talking to Gino. I’ll tell him you’re awake in a minute.”
Her somber tone did not go unnoticed. “What happened?” Maddy repeated, and this time, reached out to grasp Kate’s arm. In her weakened condition, it was more of a pat than a squeeze, but the physical contact helped to reassure Maddy she wasn’t still dreaming. “Cash didn’t get hurt, did he?”
The soft exhalation of Kate’s breath filled the room, and another dance of light played across the blankets. She still wore her sequined gown from the club. That meant not too much time had passed since the fight.
“Cash asked me to save you,” Kate said quietly. “I borrowed some of his power to extract the bullet you took for him. It would have killed you otherwise.”
Though she was relieved to get confirmation about the shooting, Maddy was even happier to hear Cash had escaped the worst of the fight. “As long as he’s all right,” she breathed, letting her hand fall back to her side. “That’s what matters.”
Her eyes drifted shut again, but Kate
’s voice drove them back open.
“You’re the first woman Cash has loved since losing his magic.” Kate’s voice was even, her gaze steady. “Did you know that?”
She hadn’t. But Maddy had no idea what to say to her.
“He’s impulsive, and he’s protective,” Kate continued. “And he’s going to do things that will drive you absolutely barmy. But he’s a good man, and the last thing I want is to see him get hurt because the woman he decided is Ms. Right can’t see past his shortcomings.”
Now she knew what she wanted to say.
“I know exactly what kind of man Cash is.” She gathered what strength she could to project it into her tone if not her muscles. “He’s conceited, arrogant, and will do almost anything to get a rise out of someone. You have no idea how many times I’ve wanted to kill him myself, just because he ran off at the mouth.” She wished it wasn’t quite so dark in the room. She wanted Kate to see the effect her accusation had had. “But what I also know is that nobody has ever looked at me like he does. Nobody has ever made me see the world the way he does, and nobody sure as hell has ever made me believe in him like Cash has. If tonight didn’t prove to you exactly how I feel about him, then I don’t think anything ever will.”
She was stunned when Kate started chuckling.
“Oh, I do like you,” Kate said. “You’re what Mum would call spunky. Thank you for convincing me I didn’t waste my time saving your life.”
Amidst her spluttering, Maddy managed to snap, “I’m glad I pass inspection.”
The bed evened out again when Kate rose to her feet and headed for the door. “If I were you, I’d tell Cash how I felt about him. I think he deserves to know, don’t you?”
She left the door slightly ajar as she slipped out into the living room, leaving Maddy to stare at it, wondering what in hell had just happened. The low murmur of voices drifted back to her, and then a heavier step neared the room, and the door pushed wider so a swathe of light cut across the bed.
For a moment, Cash stood in the doorway, a black outline against the brighter light of the outer room, with Gino’s larger shadow standing behind him. Then Cash came forward, long steps quick, ending at her bedside as he reached down and switched on the nightstand lamp.
She smiled when the soft illumination revealed his worried eyes. “I’d say you owe me one, but maybe this time, we’ll just call it even, okay?”
The fear in his face was instantly replaced, the deep lines in his brow smoothing as he returned her smile. “I think I could live with that.”
He touched her cheek, glossing over the skin, as if he couldn’t believe she was really there. His fingertips trembled before he pulled away again, and she wished she had the strength to reach up and bring him back to her.
“Gino would like to see you for himself,” Cash said quietly. “Do you mind?”
She frowned, her gaze flickering to the shadows in the doorway. “Kate said…you two were talking?”
Nodding, Cash glanced back to motion Gino farther into the room. “You were the one to trust him first. And I needed an ally to cover why you’re not in the hospital.”
Gino’s step was wary as he approached the bed, his hands fisting and unfisting at his sides as his dark eyes scanned along Maddy’s covered form. He flushed when he saw her bare shoulders, but didn’t turn away.
“You look good,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“Gino knows everything,” Cash said when Maddy hesitated to reply. “We don’t have to pretend in front of him any more.”
By the way Gino kept inching away, she got the impression he would have preferred a few more lies, and gave him the warmest smile she could muster to alleviate his fears. “I’m glad. I hated keeping you in the dark.”
“So…” He glanced around at the shadowed accoutrement scattered through the room. “…you and Cash…all of that was a sham?”
It wasn’t the question she expected him to ask. If Gino knew everything, that meant he knew about the magic too, needing to see her with his own eyes to prove that it had actually happened. Her relationship with Cash should have been a secondary concern to him.
But Cash seemed just as interested in her reply as Gino was, his eyes so intent on Maddy that she shivered.
“Only the being engaged part,” she said. She directed it more to Cash, hoping he could hear what she wasn’t actually saying. “The rest of it…that was all real.”
A muffled knock from outside the bedroom made Gino jerk and stare back at the doorway. “That’s…”
“Probably Ava,” Cash finished. He placed a careful hand on the big guy’s shoulder. “You should go talk to her.”
Even in the dim light, Maddy could see how bleak Gino’s eyes were. “What am I supposed to say? She’s…I always….we…”
“Believe it or not,” Cash said smoothly, “she’s the same old Ava. Maybe some of your memories aren’t real, but what you and she have gone through since she got here is. You two will figure this out together.”
Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Gino ambled to the door, pausing at its threshold. “You really do look good,” he said to her, and then left, closing the door behind him and leaving her alone with Cash.
An awkward silence fell between them. “You called Ava?” Maddy finally managed to ask.
He nodded, taking the time to move back to the edge of the bed and sit down. “If anyone can make this easier for Gino, she can.” Tentatively, he began stroking her arm, feather touches that had her wishing for more. “I didn’t have a choice but to let him in, you know. He was ready to use force to get you into the hospital.” He grinned. “And you’ve seen those meat hooks he has for hands. I’m rash, but I’m not suicidal.”
It was a relief to be able to smile about it. “Should I be jealous? I knew you how many years before I found out the truth? And a week after meeting Gino, you’re bosom buddies. I think I should be insulted.”
His fingers found the inside of her elbow, curving to linger along the bend before continuing upward to the slope of her shoulder. “All you had to do was ask.”
Maddy snorted. “Yeah. Right.” In spite of her light tone, however, the moment his hand touched her cheek again, she leaned into the caress, letting her eyes drift closed as she sighed in satisfaction. “Have I mentioned how glad I am that you’re okay?”
“Not as glad as I am about you.” She felt the cocoon of the blanket ease around her body, and then Cash’s long length was stretched out beside her, careful not to press too closely. “Why did you do it?” Her eyes flew open, and she saw the confusion gleaming in his face, his sensual mouth tight with unanswered questions. “What on earth possessed you to do something so foolish?”
Her warm breath skimmed along his palm, heating her face where it came back to her skin. “I wasn’t thinking. I just knew I couldn’t let you get hurt.” She hesitated, and then decided that it was pointless to hold back. They’d come too far to play at these games any more. “You did the same thing, remember?”
As his eyes softened, Cash leaned in and dropped a small kiss along her mouth. “You need to get some rest.” Slipping his arm carefully across her waist, he rested his head on the pillow. “We can talk more about everything in the morning. I promise.”
She drifted off to sleep with his name on her tongue and love in her heart.
For the first time since meeting Ava—though, really, how long was that anyway?—Gino stared at her, at a loss for what to say. She was dressed in the same simple sweater and skirt she had worn before work, but she had left the club too quickly to wash away the heavy makeup, and now he wasn’t entirely sure which was the real Ava. Was she like…this in the place she came from? Or was she more like his Ava?
He blushed furiously when he realized he’d referred to her as his.
Cash’s sister was resting in Maddy’s room, leaving Gino and Ava alone in the living room, both still standing, but with the couch a wall between them. She was the one to first break the silence.
“You look like you have a million questions,” Ava said gently.
“Maybe,” Gino conceded. “Except none of the answers I already have make any sense.” When she started to come around the edge of the couch, he countered in the opposite direction, choosing to settle in the chair. It was the only way to keep her from sitting next to him, and by extension, keep his head straight.
“You know what the kicker is?” he asked, his hands knotting in front of him. “My gut is screaming at me to trust all of you, but my head doesn’t know how to put all this straight. It’s the first time I’ve ever questioned the only smart part of my anatomy.”
He was graced with a soft smile and watched as Ava curled into the nearest corner of the sofa, leaning against the arm as she spoke to him. “If it makes you feel any better, I was pretty much the same way when Cash and Maddy told me what was going on. One minute, I was at work. The next, I’m getting pinched and falling on my ass at the Rising Sun. It’s a little disorienting, to say the least.”
He grabbed on to the more neutral topic with frantic need. “Your work? I take it, you don’t sell cigarettes where you’re from.”
Ava shook her head. “I work as a restorer in the same museum Cash and Maddy do.”
“And Keating is your boss?” Gino shook his head before she could confirm it. “I still can’t cotton how a bruiser like that can have a job using his brain instead of his mitts. Everything I know is a lie.”
“It’s not.” The force in her voice drew his gaze back to her. “Would I be here right now if it was? Would Cash have trusted you with something this big? No. But he did because he knows he can trust you. Because you’re our friend.”
Her word choice both thrilled and wounded him. He could still feel her lips on his from their earlier kiss, but maybe that was all part of the pretend for her. Now that he knew the truth, maybe Ava was only interested in cultivating their friendship instead of something more.
“Nobody told me what happens when you guys leave,” Gino said, changing the subject yet again.
