“My…” The officer stood and left the room, locking the door behind him. Rocco got to his feet, rolled his shoulders and glanced at his face in the mirror.
He’d have a scar on his lip from the assassin's metal -rings.
A second later the knob turned again. Rocco took his seat and a short bald man in his fifties, wearing a gray suit and red tie, came in and shook his hand.
This man seemed too affluent to be a public defender. Rocco scooted his seat away from the table and asked, “Mica sent you?”
The man opened a manila folder with Hellworth written on the tab as he said, “Michaela Murphy? Yes. She’s waiting for you once we get you squared away. I told her to leave the waiting room full of germs and take her son across the street.”
Waiting. A good man deserved someone like Mica to be outside--he'd tried to be a good man, and failed.
He'd probably never see her again after this, whatever was happening. Anything he said to a lawyer was confidential so he leaned forward, met the thin man’s face and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Brickenridge.”
Okay. Rocco scooted closer and once he was less than a foot from the other man he said, “Look, Mr. Brickenridge, the police officers are going to look me up soon. They know my name. My prison number is 127361. I escaped and they’ll send me back now. If you can just tell Mica that I am happy I could help her in any small way and she needs to hire herself a team of body guards, I’d appreciate it.”
The lawyer held up a printed paper and said, “Mr. Hellsworth-”
“You’re the second person today with the Mister.”
Brickenridge then said, “Mr. Hellsworth, let me do my job now. Don’t answer any questions unless I give you permission and stick to answering only the pertinent details. Yes and no answers, with no elaboration will be best.”
Rocco slumped back in his chair. Hopefully this man gave Mica the message but for now, he nodded and said, “Sure. My last lawyer never gave me signals, so thanks.”
Brickenridge snorted and glanced at the paper he held. “From what I’ve read so far about your case, your last lawyers were horrible and their law licenses are under review at the moment. I’m not.”
“Okay.” Rocco's mind raced. If Brickenridge knew who he was, the cops would too. Were they just waiting till he gave them something?
If he protected Mica, and she continued to help his mother, then what happened to him didn’t matter.
Brickenridge stood and banged on the door like they were done.
Officer 4973 returned with a pad of paper and took the seat opposite him. Brickenridge sat beside him like they were friends, or at least on the same side.
Once everyone settled, 4973 asked, “Mr. Hellsworth, do you work for Miss Murphy?”
Mr. Brickenridge gave him a pointed stare.
Rocco scratched his neck as this wasn’t how he remembered the last time he was questioned. The last time the cops all had acted like he was guilty and talked down to him, but he nodded as he said, “Yes sir.”
4973 then asked, “Did you ensure she and her son were safe before you scouted the house for danger?”
Again Brickenridge’s gaze was penetrating and he didn’t blink. This must be his sign to answer simply.
Rocco folded his hands together. “Yes sir.”
4973 then played with his pen between his fingers and glanced up, “Do you know who you fought?”
Brickenridge’s blue eyes seriously didn’t move. It was like he saw everything. Rocco’s face felt hot and he shrugged as he said, “No. He hit me from behind with my boss's flower vase and started the fight.”
4973 hit the button of his pen and it clicked as he said, “You’re clearly an expert brawler, Mr. Hellsworth. You survived a former professional boxer’s assault.”
A professional wouldn’t need metal rings. It was a low end trick, like his brother would have used on him as a boy. Rocco had survived because this wasn’t his first run-in with bruisers. “I see.”
The officer stood up and held his hand out to shake.
Rocco’s stomach twisted.
Was this some sick joke? He half expected to be thrown against the wall and handcuffed.
But he stared at the man’s hand again as he stood.
The older lawyer with the tie wouldn’t be must help and would be probably be knocked out in any fight fast. Rocco would go out of his way to avoid brushing against him in the ruckus. He reached forward and shook 4973’s hand who then said, “You can go now, but stay close in case we need to question you further.”
He didn’t care that his eyes opened wider. He knew because of the slight sting in his cut eyelids from the fight, but he ignored that and asked, “Is Miss Murphy still in danger?”
4973’s lips pressed together and he stared at him like they were equals. “We believe she is, yes. The perp was paid a large sum of money to locate her whereabouts and we believe he signaled her location to his boss.”
“Got it,” Rocco said.
His job wasn’t over then. Somehow he was being let out, and he’d get his chance to ensure that Mica and Jacob were safe from harm.
The officer patted his arm and said, “Keep her safe.”
Then 4973 opened the door.
Rocco’s body tightened, certain they were going to cuff him again, but as they were buzzed through to the waiting area, he asked his short bald lawyer, “They’re just letting me go? That’s it?”
His lawyer adjusted his red tie and said, “I told you. I’m a good lawyer.”
They made it to the door and the cool night air brushed against his battered face that must look more like a mangled mess. He crossed his arms and glanced down at his lawyer as he asked, “But they didn’t look me up?”
Brickenridge shrugged as they went down the few steps and said, “Miss Murphy wants you with her and with her kind of money, we all do what she wants.”
Until he’d met Mica he hadn’t believed women like her existed. Half of him still didn’t, but he glanced up and down the street. The lawyer said she was in a nearby diner as he said, “I see.”
Brickenridge walked with him to the bottom stone step and clicked his Lexus on as he said, “She’ll make this town a fortune when she opens next year and brings in high-end clientele who will eat at our restaurants and shop in our stores.”
“Still, I would think just searching my name in the database would matter.” How had she done it?
Brickenridge pointed across the street to a diner. It took a second for Rocco’s gaze to focus but then he saw Mica waving at him as his lawyer said, “There is Miss Murphy now, sir. Have a good day.”
So she had waited for him.
Her smile was brighter than the moon that was now starting to show up in the horizon. He was transfixed as he crossed the street and walked into the warm restaurant.
Jacob was in a highchair playing with banana slices. Rocco halted in front of Mica. She went on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, holding onto his arm as she said, “Glad you’re out. We need to eat and then get going.”
He nodded his agreement. Mica needed more protection than he could offer right now all he wanted to do was stick his bruised face in the freezer. He sat opposite her at the table and asked, “Where to?”
She shrugged and then sipped her iced tea as she said, “I have no idea honestly. I just know we need to get moving. They've found me and won't stop until…”
If she ended up leaving the country, he’d go if she asked. He wanted to see his mother before going. “My mother-”
She took his hands. He stopped talking and breathed in, searching for calm. She nodded like he’d asked a question and said, “Florida is a couple days by car and I want to avoid registering a flight path. Are you game for a car ride?”
Adrenaline rushed through him again. He was a wreck, but she was a beautiful angel. “You’ll take me… home?”
She let go of his hands and sipped her tea like she was in total control and nothing out of the ordinary had happened
today. “And you’ll protect me. Sounds fair to me.” The aches in his cheek muscles where he’d been beat with metal ached, but he didn’t complain. Being able to see his mother meant the world. She leaned closer. “Are you hungry? I’d like to drive for an hour or two to get away from where I turned on my tracking app. Then we’ll stop and sleep.”
App? Somehow he'd missed a beat but that wasn’t the first time in his life he’d been behind and confused. He scratched his head and decided not to ask as he leaned back. “If you want me to drive, let me know.”
She blinked and pushed a menu at him as she said, “You didn’t answer my question. Are you hungry? You should order something while we’re here.”
He glanced around the diner that had metal walls and red chairs that reminded him of the 1950s and didn’t bother to open the menu. “Oh. Yeah. A coffee will be fine for the road to keep the adrenaline up and maybe a cheeseburger and a soda for now.”
The waitress in a blue-striped skirt stopped and Mica told her the order. “Burger it is then. I’ll go with a cranberry chicken salad. For take-out, let’s get coffee and some snacks. I’m thinking popcorn and an order of fries.”
The waitress wrote everything down. “Yes ma’am.” She gave him the once over but didn’t say anything.
Once they were alone, Mica squeezed both of his hands. “Rocco?”
Her touch set off sparks he shouldn’t have. He sighed and said, “Mica, I just want to thank you.”
Her hues darkened like he’d confused her as she asked, “For what?”
“For sending your lawyers. I wish… I wish I’d had someone like Mr. Brickenridge at my side a few years ago.”
Her cheeks reddened as she glanced at him. “You have me.”
“And you.” She was the best person he’d ever met. Until now he hadn’t thought anyone might ever be on his side. He sat straighter, took his hands back and said, “Mica, I should probably call you Miss Murphy from now on.”
Her nose wrinkled and she lowered her head as the waitress came from the back and headed toward them. ”From you, that’s worse than ma’am. Just call me Mica as I said. And we need to talk…” The waitress put the plates of food down and Mica briefly closed her eyes. “After we eat.”
She seemed upset about something, when she hadn’t done anything wrong. “Then let’s eat and get going. This isn’t the best town to be caught in if international bad guys start showing up.”
She pointed toward the door and the huge windows that overlooked the station he’d just left as she said, “Or it’s the best as we’re this close to the police station.”
True. He picked up his burger. “As long as you and Jacob are safe. That’s what matters.”
Rocco hardly tasted the food he ate. His mind kept replaying today. The cops should have known who he was. He should be in jail, but somehow the sweet angel in front of him had saved him.
15
Mica’s heart raced so much she was absolutely sure that she might just melt into a pile of water and be done with living.
Rocoo was confident without needing to take charge and most men weren’t comfortable with her. And now that his record was clean, he could just leave her when she… cared.
Rocco buckled her son into the Versace stroller as Jacob was asleep and held the door to the restaurant for them.
She pushed the stroller but straightened her shoulders.
She had to tell him right now. The last place she should head was the car with such tight quarters for passengers.
Not as every cell in her body flared.
It was time to come clean.
She sucked in her breath like this might be the last one she’d ever have and noticed the black swinging gate to a small park to her right.
At least there she could stand and face him. And give him room to leave.
So she pointed and said, “Rocco, walk with me.”
He motioned toward the parking lot where her car was and said, “We should get you out of here.”
And in a few minutes she’d drive them out of here. Jacob might wake from the night air, but Rocco might want to leave. Now she needed to explain. So she pointed the stroller where she wanted to go and said, “We will. I’m not veering far from the station, but I figure the park is a better setting for what I have to say.”
He stayed beside her but shook his head like he hated her plan. “It’s late at night and parks are open to public and often have homeless…” She reached for the gate and he dropped his hands to his sides. “Okay. Just for a minute.”
Her body was tight. “Thanks. I just need to stand and not worry someone is going to interrupt us.”
He let the gate close behind them and then glanced around the park, instantly directing them to the brightest spot with a bench beneath two street lights bearing down. “This sounds serious. If you don’t want me to go with you, I understand. I have to tell you. I have a prison record. I escaped from prison so there is no way I should be anywhere near you.”
She saw how white his face was. She wished she could hug him, but her own body trembled. She rocked the stroller in her hands as she tried to get her nerves to be calm. “Believe me, I know everything.”
He widened his stance. “What?”
Interference wasn’t a lesson she’d learned. Tears formed in her eyes. She never cried, but she met his gaze and said, “Look, I figured out who you were almost after we met.”
He crossed his arms and his huge biceps showed under his t-shirt. “I’m sorry for what my brother tried to do to you.”
Okay, so he knew part. Now she needed to expand and explain. The last time she’d done this though… it had ended bad. Angelo had broken his arm on their ski vacation and she’d paid for his care which was the reason he’d left her or so he said because ‘she went behind his back for decisions.’ She ignored the chill that raced down her own spine. “I had my lawyers look you up.”
His face hardened as he stared at her and clearly pieced together what she said. "The police came to the door with your name and I put everything together. I had my lawyers look you up.”
“What else did you do? I should be in prison right now and not standing here with you?”
Now it was game over. Her stomach flipped as she said, “Your record is expunged. You’re a free man. I didn’t want to tell you until you were cleared.”
Drat. If he didn’t look at her like that, then maybe she’d calm down. The words physically hurt like she was spitting out knives as she said, “I had my lawyers dig into your case. You were staying in my house. And you mentioned you were set up. So I wanted to know all the facts about you and once I read your file, I had them clear your name.”
His eyes shadowed with confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Spell it out Mica. It’s not like he’ll walk away in the middle of the park. She swallowed the thought and said, “You escaped from an imprisonment that shouldn’t have happened to you.”
He dropped his hands to his sides. “How would you know that?”
This was harder than it seemed. Rocco’s freedom meant he might not be help her anymore. If electricity didn’t spike in her, she’d probably faint as she said, “Your own mother testified she thought your brother Roger was to blame.”
This time he tensed and he paced toward a few bushes on the path they’d left and then back at her. “She wasn’t there.”
“Why are you arguing that you’re somehow guilty?” She tilted her head and for once her adrenaline lowered as she argued, “I read your case. Your former superior officers in the marines testified there was no way you could have robbed anyone. You’d just left and expected to start a new job after a vacation you decided to take in Las Vegas.”
He covered his face as if to shield himself from her words. “I had nothing to do with robbing a casino bank. I’m not entirely stupid.”
“My lawyers were able to prove that there was a lack of evidence and had your entire record expunged.”
He lowered his hands, his
expression hopeful. “What does that mean?”
If this was good news, her gut shouldn’t twist but here it was. Goosebumps grew on her arms as she said, “Not only are you a free man, you’ll be getting a settlement offer in a few days that will probably be in the millions.”
Rocco stopped, stared at the moon and made the sign of the cross as he said, “Wait what? I’m truly free to go see my mother?”
“Entirely.” She glanced at the grass.
He took a step toward her and she saw his sneaker swoosh design glow in the dark. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Okay. The shaking in her body wasn’t normal but she met his brown eyes and explained, “I was learning to trust my judgment again. I’ve been burned badly in the past.”
He backed off and she calmed down as he asked in his normal relaxed, no judgment tone, “So you wanted to be sure I was innocent before you told me?”
She let out a laugh. If only it was that simple. “And then I… didn’t know how.”
He didn’t move at all as he asked, “You didn’t know how to tell me?”
Her mind raced. Ali had been so mad when she’d confessed she’d caught him cheating. He hadn’t expected to be confronted and that had deadly consenquences. She tugged her ear as she said, “I interfered. I took it upon myself to make decisions for your life. And now you have a choice on what you want to do, go with a domineering woman in her car or take the next plane to Miami.”
He tapped his cheek like he studied her as a science experiment and not a person. “And you do that a lot?”
Her entire body wanted to explode as she met his gaze and said, “It’s why Ali wanted to kill me in the first place.”
He blinked and dropped his hand. “What?”
Her breaths were short as she wished she was calm and relaxed. “I decided I didn’t just want to be a token princess. I took it upon myself to make political decisions, like freeing the political dissidents and ending beheadings.”
Rocco widened his stance as the street light in the park shined on his head while he said, “So you became a target.”
Her cheeks were so hot, she wasn’t sure how she wasn’t that puddle already as she said, “I did and now Jacob could pay the price.”
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 93
