Handcuffs and Lies

by Bronwyn Green

  He tried to pull her into his arms, but she sidestepped him and forced a smile. “I should really get to work. I can call a cab if you need to be somewhere.”

  He studied her intensely, his eyes more gold than hazel in this light. “I’ll drop you off. Until this is over, we’ve got appearances to keep up.”

  “Right.” She grabbed her backpack, but he took it from her and put it in his room.

  “There’s no way this’ll be over tonight. You might as well plan on staying here indefinitely.”

  She nodded. Why didn’t she just cut out her own heart while she was at it, too?

  When Michael pulled up in front of the emergency room a little while later, she scrambled off the motorcycle, quickly unbuckled her helmet and secured it to the back of the bike.

  “Call me when your shift ends, and I’ll come pick you up,” he said, catching her hand and tugging her back to him when she would have turned away. He quirked a crooked smile at her. “No goodbye kiss?”

  She forced another smile. “Right…appearances.” He opened his mouth to respond, but she cupped his face and gave him a quick kiss. Before she could back away, he snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. Her breath caught in her throat as he stared at her, eyes filled with emotion she couldn’t identify. She could ask him, she supposed, but it wasn’t like she’d actually get the truth out of him.

  “Kiss me again,” he murmured. “A real kiss this time.”

  Threading her fingers through his hair, she leaned down and brushed her lips across his, opening as he deepened the kiss. He swept into her mouth, groaning as she melted against him.

  Finally, she drew back. “I’ll see you later,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze. It was going to be a long damn day.

  Several hours later, she sat at the break table nursing a screaming headache and a mountain of paperwork. Sighing, she opened another chart, and a steaming latte accompanied by a cheese Danish materialized in front of her.

  “These fat-filled treats can be yours, if you answer the following questions correctly,” Lucy said.

  Tori propped her chin up on her hand and looked at her friend.

  “Well?” Lucy snapped, clearly exasperated.

  “Well, what?”

  “Don’t give me that crap, Tori. Who’s the guy?”

  She sighed. “His name is Michael.”

  “And?”

  “And what?” Yeah, Lucy was her best friend, but how in the hell was she supposed to explain the nightmare that had become her life?

  Lucy picked up the pastry and took a bite.

  “Hey,” Tori said. “I thought that was for me.”

  Lucy grinned, unrepentant. “You’re not answering my questions satisfactorily. I had to resort to harsher methods of interrogation.”

  “Privacy-Nazi,” Tori muttered, trying to decide exactly what to tell Lucy without revealing Michael’s secret. Even the tiniest slip in front of the wrong person could be deadly. “It’s complicated,” she started, trying to ignore the arousal that raced through her body at the memory of Michael cuffing her to the bed and fucking her mercilessly.

  “It doesn’t seem all that complicated. Judging from the fact that he answered your phone at the butt-crack of dawn and the make out session in the ambulance bay, it seems like sex, sex, and more sex.”

  A new nurse looked sidelong at them as she poured a cup of coffee.

  “This is how rumors get started,” Tori whispered.

  Lucy shrugged, apparently unconcerned.

  Tori waited until the nurse left the room and looked at her friend. “Don’t freak out on me, but for the time being, you can only reach me by cell phone.”

  “Did you move in with him?” Lucy all but shouted.

  “Lower your voice,” Tori hissed, taking the Danish from Lucy’s hand. “I’m staying with him for a while,” she clarified between mouthfuls.

  Lucy’s mouth dropped open and she stayed quiet for what must have been a record, twenty seconds, before she finally managed to make her vocal cords cooperate.

  “You’re insane. That’s a clinical assessment, by the way. How long have you known this guy?”

  “About seven years, but I haven’t seen him in…awhile.”

  Lucy frowned slightly and Tori saw the exact moment the light dawned.

  She leaned forward. “Is this the Michael? The one who—”

  Tori nodded.

  “You should know, if he hurts you again, I’ll kill him myself.”

  “Can’t get hurt if my heart’s not involved,” she said taking a sip of the latte, knowing full well it was too late for that. Her heart was painfully involved, but she wasn’t going to admit that to Lucy. Hell, she could barely admit it to herself.

  “Did you just hear yourself? You…Tori Spinelli…talking about having an emotionless fling.”

  The incredulous look on Lucy’s face might have been funny if Tori hadn’t had the sinking feeling she was right.

  “Dr. Spinelli?”

  Tori glanced toward the door where one of the day nurses had peered in.

  “Yes?”

  “You have a couple of visitors in the waiting room. They said it was personal.”

  She sighed, hoping it wasn’t the parents of the dead kid from last night. “Duty calls.” Taking another bite of the pastry, she handed the rest to Lucy and grabbed the latte on the way out. She smiled at the other woman. “Thanks for worrying about me, Luce, but I’ll be okay.”

  “I’m serious,” Lucy called after her. “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him. With a shovel.”

  Tori smiled. “Love you, too.”

  Her smile faded as soon as she saw her visitors. The two guys that had been brokering the drug deal the night before with Michael were standing in the waiting room. Waiting for her. Her steps faltered as she dodged an orderly carrying a stack of files. She considered turning around and pretending that she hadn’t seen them, but she refused to do anything that might endanger Michael.

  Forcing a calm she didn’t feel, she approached the two men. “What can I help you with?”

  “Our boss would like to meet with you,” the skinny one muttered.

  The blood drained from her face, but she nodded. “He can come in at any time. I’ll be on until at least nine o’clock tonight.”

  “He’d like to talk to you now,” the other one said.

  Playing dumb, she looked around the room. “Is he here?” she asked. “I can get him set up with triage, and—”

  One of the men grabbed her elbow and squeezed painfully. “You need to come with us.”

  “I’m in the middle of a shift. I can’t just walk out.”

  The man holding her increased the pressure on her arm, and nodded toward his friend. “Yeah, you can—unless you want Jimmy there to shoot that pretty little girl in the head.”

  Tori’s stomach twisted as she turned her attention to the other man. He stood behind a row of molded plastic chairs where a young mother sat with a clearly feverish child, holding a gun under his jacket. It was pointed at the back of the little girl’s head.

  Tori tried to swallow past the sudden lump in her throat. She’d taken an oath to save lives, but she never thought she’d be trading hers in the process. But it wasn’t like she had a choice. She couldn’t let these guys hurt innocent people when she could prevent it.

  “Okay,” she choked out. “I’ll go.” She turned toward the exit. Maybe she could make a break for it in the parking lot.

  “Just so you know. Jimmy’s gonna wait in here until we’re safely in the car. If you run, call out or try to get anyone’s attention in any way, he’ll shoot her.”

  Tori’s heart pounded wildly and for a moment, she couldn’t quite catch her breath.

  “Nod, if you understand me.”

  Her head bobbed woodenly on her neck.

  “Good. Now walk to the exit. Calmly.”

  She spared a glance for the mother and her daughter, then turned toward the wide sliding glass doors at
the far end of the waiting room. The man kept his bruising grip on her arm as she walked into the too bright sunlight, leaving the safety of the hospital behind.

  The man led her to a white SUV that pulled up just outside the drop off zone, and shoved her into the backseat, climbing in after her. Pulling a gun from the waistband of his jeans, he held it on her while he punched in a number.

  “We’re clear.”

  In under a minute, Jimmy climbed in on the other side of her and the driver pulled away from the curb for what might very well be the last car ride of her life.

  * * * *

  With knots in his gut, Michael drove to the meeting place. If he could get what he needed on Lucky today, this whole thing could be over. Years of trying to get enough evidence to put the dealer away were coming together. He might never see jail time for Alex’s murder, but he’d racked up plenty of other crimes he needed to atone for.

  Michael’s hands tightened on the handlebar grips as he realized this could be the beginning of the end with Tori, too. He didn’t want it to be over with her. He didn’t want her in danger from Lucky or his crew, but he wasn’t ready to let her walk out of his life again, either.

  He’d come to that conclusion while he’d sat in the coffee shop across the street from the emergency room entrance. Worried that Lucky’s guys might be waiting to try something if she left the hospital for lunch, he’d kept watch. He hadn’t left his post until Niko came to relieve him.

  His phone vibrated against his hip. Pulling over on a side street, he checked the caller ID. Niko. Tearing off his helmet, he answered the call.

  “Mike, they’ve got her.”

  Fear clawed at his throat. “What happened?”

  “A white SUV pulled up and Trevor exited the building with her. Jimmy followed shortly and the driver took off immediately. They must have entered through the front—I never saw them go in. I called in the plate, and I’m following. Heading south on Division.”

  Terror like he’d never known shot through him. “I’ll meet you.”

  “Mike, stop and think.”

  Right, like that was fucking going to happen when Tori’s life was at risk.

  “Listen. They’re probably bringing her to Lucky. I’ll let you know if they head anywhere other than the meeting place. In the meanwhile, I’m calling for backup. With any luck, we’ll take them all at once.”

  Michael closed his eyes and tried to focus. If they sent a unit after Jimmy and Trevor now, they could panic and shoot her. After all, their motto was ‘a corpse is better than a witness.’

  “Meet with Lucky as planned,” Niko continued. “If you don’t, they’ll know something’s up.”

  His partner didn’t have to finish the thought. Michael knew what was at stake.

  “You’re right,” he sighed. “Just keep her in your sights. I can’t…lose her.”

  “We’ll get her back,” Niko promised, his tone grim. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Disconnecting, Michael raced to the address he’d be given and prayed for the first time since Alex laid dying in his arms.

  He reached his destination in time to see a white SUV pull into a closed body shop. Looking around, he saw Niko parked down the street. Not much in the way of backup but it would have to do. He wasn’t leaving Tori alone with them for another minute.

  Chapter Four

  Jimmy dragged Tori from the vehicle and pushed her into the surprisingly large office area of what looked like a body shop. A short middle aged man in an expensive suit rose from behind an expansive desk that seemed at odds with the surroundings. He looked like a real estate agent. This was Lucky? This was the man responsible for killing her brother?

  “Dr. Spinelli, I’m glad you could make it.”

  “I wasn’t aware my visit was optional.”

  He frowned.

  Don’t piss off the drug lord, she admonished herself.

  “I’m sorry if my associates were…overzealous. They simply knew how anxious I was to make your acquaintance and extend my business proposition.”

  She glanced at the men in question. Jimmy and the other guy flanked the outside of the door while the driver blocked the doorway.

  “I understand. I have to admit though, you’re not what I expected.” Maybe if she could get him talking, she could figure a way out of this.

  Lucky laughed. “No, I suppose I don’t fit the stereotype, do I? I got my start in real estate, but the market’s a wreck, and I do need to make a living.” He glanced at a monitor bolted to the ceiling in the corner of the room. “Perfect timing. Your boyfriend just arrived.”

  Fear and elation crashed through her body like a wave. Hope that she might make it through this alive, and terror that Michael wouldn’t, swamped her.

  The driver of the SUV left the office and went into the main area of the shop. Shoving her fisted hands into the pockets of her lab coat, she prayed that the other man wouldn’t hurt Michael.

  Lucky laid a gun in the middle of the pristine blotter on his desk. “Dr. Spinelli, why don’t you take this seat over here.” He indicated a chair next to him.

  When she hesitated, he glanced at the weapon. Ice washed through her veins. Circling the massive piece of furniture, she sat as Michael walked through the doorway. The driver patted him down and took his gun.

  “You can have that back later,” Lucky said.

  Michael nodded. His eyes barely flickered over her. Instead, his focus was on the well dressed man next to her.

  “Mike, so good to finally meet you. Take a seat,” he said, gesturing to a chair in front of the desk. “I’ve just been getting to know your girlfriend.”

  Michael sat back in the chair and smiled. “Hey baby.”

  She blinked and forced out a choked greeting. He really was good at his job, because if he cared at all, he sure as hell wasn’t showing it.

  “So, here are my thoughts,” Lucky began. “I want to expand distribution into Riverside, and I need someone with more people skills than Trevor and Jimmy. From what I’ve seen out of you, Mike, I think I’d like to have you give it a try. It would mean a bigger cut, of course.”

  Michael leaned forward slightly, appearing interested. “I’d still want to keep control of my client base here.”

  “Absolutely,” the other man agreed.

  “What about Tori?” Michael asked.

  “I’ve got a job opportunity for her, too.” He turned to her and patted her arm. “It seems I’m in need of a staff physician. Occasionally, my staff members receive on the job injuries that would raise red flags at the hospital.”

  Tori nodded. “Gunshot wounds and knifings do tend to bring out the police.”

  “Exactly, my dear. I knew you’d understand. And you do have the ability to write prescriptions, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Excellent.” He smiled like a benevolent father. “I want only the best for my people. Now, what’s your current salary? I want you to feel this career change is worth your while.”

  Before she could answer, Jimmy dropped to one knee outside the door and fired his gun. Trevor quickly followed suit.

  Michael vaulted the desk and grabbed Lucky’s gun at the same time he lunged for it. Michal was faster. He pressed the barrel to the other man’s temple. “Give me a goddamn reason.”

  Lucky sat stiffly in his chair, his hands at his side.

  “Get behind the filing cabinet,” Michael barked at her. “And stay down.”

  Glass shattered and wood splintered as the gunfire in the shop grew more intense. From under the desk, she saw Jimmy crawl through the doorway. Covered in blood, he aimed his gun at Michael. At the same time, Lucky reached toward his ankle.

  Panic flooded her system. “Ankle holster,” she yelled.

  Michael pressed the gun more firmly against Lucky’s head. “Hands on the desk,” he snapped.

  Without waiting to see if the criminal complied, she yanked the small pistol from the ankle holster an
d stood, aiming it at the bleeding man. “Do it and I’ll kill you myself,” she snarled.

  Michael watch in furious awe as Tori held Jimmy at bay. “Toss me your gun,” she demanded.

  Jimmy shoved the gun across the floor toward her, and she kicked it further away.

  “Lace your hands behind your neck and leave them that way,” Michael ordered.

  The injured man did as he was told, wincing as he lifted his arms.

  “If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll be the one who patches you up,” Tori said sweetly.

  The firefight stopped as quickly as it started, and the only sounds remaining were the moans and heavy breathing of the injured.

  The Special Response Team inundated the room, led by Niko, who was bleeding from a shoulder wound. Tori put her gun on the desk and laced her hands behind her neck.

  Niko tossed Michael a pair of handcuffs and crossed the room to Tori. “It’s okay, Dr. Spinelli. You’re clear.”

  She lowered her hands and began inspecting his wound.

  Niko grimaced. “It’s okay, doc. It’s a through and through.”

  “I’m going to assess the rest of the injured. I trust you have ambulances on their way?”

  Niko nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Michael watched as she dropped to her knees and checked the extent of Jimmy’s injuries. She was amazing. When he’d seen her sitting next to Lucky, he’d nearly died. But she’d more than held her own. He couldn’t wait for this day to be over. He needed to hold her. No…he needed more than that. And so did she. She needed to know how he really felt. Unfortunately, some things needed to be taken care of first.

  Shoving Lucky against the wall, he cuffed him and patted him down. He handed Niko the other man’s gun on his way through and nodded toward his shoulder. “Get that looked at.”

  “I will. Just as soon as the job’s over.”

  Michael frowned at him as he handed Lucky over to the SRT captain. “The job’s over, now.” He squatted down by Tori, and brushed a stray curl from her eye. His heart clenched at her guarded expression and the exhaustion etched on her face. “You okay?” he asked.