Wicked Nights

by A. D. Justice

  10

  CHAPTER TEN

  “I received an interesting call from a doctor in Texas,” Steve’s oncologist said as he entered the room. “Dr. Daryl Stanton. Name ring a bell?”

  “It sounds a little familiar.” Steve smiled. “Were you two talking about me behind my back?”

  “Absolutely,” Dr. Patel replied jovially. “We talked about you for quite a while. I emailed him some pictures of you—fairly compromising pictures, at that.”

  Steve and Sara chuckled while Dr. Patel took a seat and opened the chart to read from his notes. “I believe he said he explained some of the clinical trial information to you, correct?”

  “Yes. He stressed that there was no guarantee that I’d be accepted. I also understand that it doesn’t mean I’ll be instantly cured either,” Steve answered.

  “The trials have shown very promising results from the test group. Dr. Stanton called back this morning and informed me that you’ve been accepted into the trial.” He smiled.

  Steve and Sara both gawked at Dr. Patel for several seconds before either was able to speak. Sara finally forced the words out. “You’re serious? He was accepted?”

  Dr. Patel nodded. “Yes, this is very good news. Should I tell him you accept?”

  “Yes,” Steve exclaimed. “Yes, I accept!”

  “You’ll start phase one of it here with me, but we’ve set up a process so he can also monitor your status. I understand his initial assessment was done via FaceTime, so we’ll continue that in the office. Once you finish the first phase, you’ll have to relocate to Texas to start phase two, the more intensive phase,” Dr. Patel explained.

  “What am I looking at, Doc?” Steve asked, suddenly serious.

  “The first phase is the administration of a single chemotherapy drug that’s still under trial status with the FDA. Essentially, the preliminary results have shown that the new drug better prepares the body to accept and positively respond to the specific mixture of the two chemotherapy drugs in phase two.

  “As with any chemotherapy treatment, every experience is individual. You can expect many of the standard side effects—weight loss, diminished appetite, nausea, vomiting, hair loss. But it’s very likely those side effects will be more severe in phase two as the toxicity builds up in your body. The number of rounds you have to do depends on how well your cancer responds to the drugs,” he concluded.

  “When do we start?” Steve asked, unfazed by the daunting days ahead of him.

  “I’ll contact Dr. Stanton today and let him know you’ve agreed. We have some paperwork for you to complete, and then he’ll ship the medication to me. We’ll start phase one as soon as we receive the medication,” Dr. Patel replied. “It should take about a week at the most, but we’ll call you when it arrives. Since you’ve just finished a complete cycle of the current chemotherapy drug, we’ll wait and start the trial drug next.”

  “That’s great news, Dr. Patel. Thank you,” Steve said as he stood to leave.

  After stopping at the receptionist’s area to complete more clinical trial paperwork, Steve took Sara’s hand in his and they walked out together. Roman was waiting outside to drive them home. They climbed into the back of the SUV and Steve pulled Sara close to his side.

  “I have an idea,” he murmured in her ear.

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?” she whispered back.

  “We need to get away together for the next week. Before the new trial drug arrives. Before our lives are centered around this cancer and my treatments again. Just the two of us—and our security detail. What do you say?”

  “I say let’s do it. Where do you have in mind?” Sara asked.

  “Roman, do you have a girlfriend?” Steve asked.

  “I’m seeing someone,” he answered vaguely.

  “Have you ever been to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee?” Steve probed.

  “No, can’t say I have,” Roman replied.

  “Call your girlfriend. We’re going on a trip to the mountains for the next week,” Steve announced.

  “Don’t worry about our son. We’ll take care of him,” Sara added.

  Roman shifted uncomfortably in his seat but didn’t argue.

  Steve retrieved his phone from his pocket and soon had a mountain cabin hideaway reserved for the week. He then dialed Noah’s number and smiled at Sara. “Hi, son,” he said when Noah answered. “Are you home? Okay, your mom and I are coming by right now. See you in a few minutes.”

  “You didn’t give him much time to say anything in reply,” Sara laughed.

  “It’s best not to,” Steve chuckled. “Keeps him guessing.”

  Roman laughed and shook his head as he drove, but even he had to admit it was a good idea to get Steve and Sara away from the area while Turan was still on the loose. If that meant that he had to spend a week in the mountains, Roman decided he’d gladly take one for the team.

  When they were securely inside Noah’s garage, Roman opened the door and began to mentally prepare his argument for why his latest love interest should join him and the Steeles for their impromptu vacation. Before Roman joined them inside the house, he sent his girlfriend of the month, Tawnee, a quick text to persuade her to join him for a week away. After he pressed send, he slid his phone into his pocket and walked into the house to rejoin the Steele clan.

  While Roman was busy on his phone, Steve and Sara found Noah inside the house and approached him together to present their idea jointly.

  “Hey, Dad,” Noah greeted him. “Hi, Mom. What’s happened?”

  Chaise heard them enter and joined her family in the foyer. She hugged her parents and stepped back. “What’s going on, you two?”

  Sara wrapped her arms around Steve’s waist. “Your father has been accepted into the clinical trials with Dr. Stanton. Dr. Patel said the initial results have been very promising. Since your dad just finished a round of chemo, Dr. Patel said he’d wait until the new drug gets here to start the next round. So we have a week free of all treatments, and we want to take advantage of it.”

  Steve picked up where Sara left off. “I’ve rented a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, and we want to leave right away. Can you spare Roman to go with us and your pilot to fly us up there tonight?”

  Noah’s eyes darted between the two of them as he processed all the information that had just been thrown at him and Chaise. “First, the clinical trial is great news. I’m so relieved you got in. You definitely need a week off, and going to the mountains is a brilliant idea. Until we stop Turan, the farther away from here you are, the better.

  “That is great news,” Chaise exclaimed. “I’m so glad Dr. Stanton was able to get your approval so quickly.”

  “We are, too, sweetheart,” Steve replied. “So very thankful.”

  “Roman, are you okay with going away for a week on such short notice?” Noah asked.

  “I’m good, boss. I just need to make a quick phone call, throw some clothes in a bag, and I’ll be ready to go,” he replied.

  “I’ll call and have the plane ready to go as soon as possible,” Noah replied. “I’m really glad to hear this news, Dad.”

  “We are, too, son,” Steve replied. “Thank you both for everything you’ve done for us. We love you both, so much. We only wish your brother could be here, too.”

  “I love you, too, Daddy,” Chaise replied. “I wish he were here, too. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him.”

  Noah was surprised by the sudden outburst of affection from his father. He reasoned it could be just a natural side effect of the stress of the treatments, the news of the promising clinical trials, and sincere gratitude for helping them escape from it all. He hoped that was the cause behind it, but with his run of luck lately, he couldn’t count on it.

  “I love you both, too. But, Dad, you don’t have to thank me. I’m happy to do whatever I can to help,” Noah replied.

  “Roman, you need a date for the week,” Liz stated as she sashayed across the room toward him.

  H
e flashed his sexy grin at Liz. “I actually just asked my girl about going with me. But, if she can’t go…” He intentionally let his voice trail off, leaving Liz to infer whatever she wanted.

  “You’re trouble.” Liz pointed her finger at him. “So, of course, I like you.”

  “Glad to hear that.” He winked.

  “Look at you, with your sexy little smile and your come-hither wink. Throw in your rugged, faded beard, that black hair, and those drizzle-melted-milk-chocolate-all-over-my-body-and-lick-it-off brown eyes…” Liz paused. “Dangerous combination. I’m not sure this ‘girl’ of yours will be safe. I should probably go and chaperone.”

  “I’m afraid we’d get in even more trouble if you went, Liz,” Roman replied, his deep voice lowered to be more intimate. He’d watched how Liz interacted with the others, throwing them off-kilter because they didn’t know how to take her. He knew how to flirt back, catch her off guard, and take control of the scene. “I’m sure my girl would be very jealous.”

  Liz put her hand on her side, cocked one hip higher than the other, and looked Roman square in the eye. “As well she should be.”

  With that, Liz turned and left the room, leaving the others in stitches as they tried to catch their breath from her comic relief.

  “I have to give it to her. She knows exactly how to lighten the moment,” Roman said when his fit of laughter subsided.

  “I’ve missed her so much,” Brianna said and wiped the tears from her face. “No matter how selfish it is of me, you can’t take her with you this week. I need her here to help keep me sane.”

  “I don’t know, Brianna.” Roman shook his head. “I think it’d be best if she came with us. Steve may need her to call Dr. Stanton while we’re away.”

  “I’ll make sure to get his number for you before you leave,” Brianna deadpanned. “You can call him from your own phone.”

  “You both can quit fighting over me now. My mind is made up. I’m staying here,” Liz called from the other room. “I need to be here in case my boys catch Lee. They need to make sure he kisses my ass!”

  Roman bit back his laugh when he met Brianna’s shocked gaze. “You win.”

  “Obviously,” she retorted, and they both laughed again.

  “I have no idea how I lost control of my house,” Noah said to his team, his dry sense of humor exaggerated in his tone. “One day, everything was fine. Everything ran like clockwork, with precision, down to the minute details. The next day, it just all went to shit.”

  “You probably just need some Pepto Bismol,” Liz called. “It helps stop that problem really fast.”

  Snickers and coughs filled the room as Noah worked hard to resist replying. He turned back to his parents to find his mom with her hand over her mouth, covering her laughs, and his dad’s broad grin lighting up his entire face. “I’ll go call about the jet right now,” Noah said before walking into his office.

  “I’m going to my place to pack a bag and pick up Tawnee for our trip,” Roman announced as he slipped his phone into his pocket. Noah stepped out of his office and lifted his eyebrow up in question at Roman.

  “Is that your little tart?” Liz yelled from the den.

  “That’s her,” Roman replied. “You want to go with me and meet her?”

  “Nope. I sure don’t,” came Liz’s clipped reply.

  “Tawnee and I will take you to your house to pack your suitcase. She works for Noah, too, so she can help with security,” Roman said to Steve and Sara, consciously avoiding making eye contact with Noah.

  “You sly dog,” Rebel laughed.

  “We’ll be right here. Thank you, Roman,” Sara replied. “Sorry we’re disrupting your life so much.”

  “No problem at all, ma’am. I’m looking forward to a week in the mountains,” Roman assured her before he left.

  Steve wrapped his arms around Sara and lightly kissed her lips. “I can’t wait to have this time with you.”

  “I know this whole thing with Ali is added stress you don’t need right now,” Brianna said, her voice full of empathy. “Please remember that he’s dangerous. You could be a target even if you’re not right here with us.”

  “Brad finished the software upgrades on our fleet of vehicles so Ali can’t control them any longer,” Bull told them. “When he realizes that, it’ll probably piss him off so much that he reacts irrationally. So far, he seems like he’s a bit of a control freak.”

  “We’ll be careful,” Sara promised. “The cabin Steve reserved doesn’t have Internet access and is very remote. It would be very hard for him to get to us from here.”

  “Just don’t underestimate him,” Brianna warned. “We don’t know what all he’s capable of or who he’s in league with. There’s always the possibility that he’s not a lone wolf after all.”

  “I’ve lived in enough fear ever since the day I found out I had cancer,” Steve replied. “We’ll be safe and we won’t put anyone’s life in danger, but we’re still going to live our lives.”

  Noah walked up between his parents and put his arms around their shoulders. “The jet is being fueled and prepped to go. A car will be waiting for you at a private airstrip outside of Knoxville. Let Roman do his job, Dad,” Noah warned. “He and Tawnee know how to check the car and verify it’s safe before you and Mom get in it. Enjoy your relaxing week in the mountains. I hope your cabin has a hot tub.”

  “It does, and we plan on putting it to good use.” Steve elbowed him in the ribs.

  “Really don’t need that visual of my parents.” Noah shook his head. “Could’ve gone all year without that.”

  “We’ll take selfies and send them to you while we’re away,” Sara laughed.

  “Send me some selfies of Roman in his mountain-man au naturel state,” Liz yelled.

  * * *

  “Mom and Dad are safely tucked away in their mountain hideaway,” Chaise told Noah. “It’s been a long day for them, so they got takeout on their way to the cabin and they’re staying in for the night.”

  “Good. They need the break from everything,” Noah replied. “I wish we could get in touch with Silas.”

  “His handler still hasn’t called back?” Chaise asked and Noah shook his head.

  “Our brother is better at hiding than you are, Noah.”

  “It does seem like it, doesn’t it?” One corner of his mouth lifted in amusement.

  “Who’s ready to play ‘kick the Turan’?” Brad asked as he walked in.

  “I am.” Liz appeared out of nowhere. “What do you have in mind?”

  “He just ordered pizza delivery. I think it’s time to use his own tactics against him,” Brad replied.

  “What are we going to do? Increase his order to one hundred pizzas and breadsticks? Change his toppings to all pineapples and anchovies? Play ding-dong ditch at his front and back doors at the same time?” Liz asked excitedly.

  “Actually, I thought we’d intercept the pizza delivery guy, attach a listening device on the inside flap of the pizza box, and monitor his conversations from here,” Brad replied, suddenly unsure of his plan.

  “Oh, well, if you want to go the boring route…” Liz dismissed him.

  “Let’s do it, Brad,” Noah confirmed. “Shadow, you’re up.”

  “On it.” He smiled as he walked out.

  “Bull, while he’s distracted with the delivery, let’s get one of our new devices on his vehicle. When he does leave, we need to know where he’s going,” Noah directed.

  “My pleasure,” he replied, retrieved the device from the office, and made his exit.

  “Rebel, I had some luck in getting a few files from our missions since we’ve been drafted—I mean, reinstated. Why don’t you take a load off and look through them, see if anything jars your memory?” Noah extended a large envelope toward Rebel.

  “Sure thing, Reap,” Rebel replied and took the thick package. “Anything that’ll help take this shithead down.”

  “That’s the highlight reel of our missions in the ar
ea we think he’s originally from. Could be nothing in there that helps. I haven’t had a chance to look through it myself, but I trust your eye anyway.”

  Rebel took the package into the dining room, cleared all of Brianna’s decorations off the table, and started separating the documents and pictures by mission. He picked one, took a seat, and started going through every piece methodically. Many of the names and other identifying information had been redacted, but there was enough viable information left for him to fully recall the mission. When he reached the pictures, he carefully studied every face, remembered their words, dialects, and accents, and tried to make a connection to Turan.

  Shadow waited outside the pizza restaurant for the deliveryman to return to his car. When he did, Shadow casually approached him, careful not to seem threatening or intimidating.

  “Hey, buddy. How’s it going?” Shadow asked like he was a long-lost friend.

  “Good. How about yourself?”

  “Can’t complain.” Shadow smiled warmly and glanced at his name tag. “I’m hoping you can help me out with something, Bobby.”

  “Sure, if I can. What do you need?”

  “A buddy of mine is getting married this weekend, and a few of us have tried to get him to go out for a bachelor party tonight. He won’t do it because his soon-to-be bride forbids that he have any fun at all,” Shadow explained.

  He leaned in close to Bobby, lowered his voice, and established eye contact to feign a friendly connection with the young man. “I have a feeling that pizza is for him, and that he’s holed up inside in front of his computer again tonight.”

  “That sounds like the guy,” Bobby confirmed. “He orders pizza several times a week. He has his whole living room set up with nothing but laptops, wires, control sticks. Guy’s a serious gaming nerd.”

  Shadow shook his head exaggeratedly in mock contempt. “Not the games again!” he exclaimed. “Let me guess. The little Japanese creatures that don’t really talk, just make strange sounds instead?”

  “Every time I’ve seen his games, he’s either playing a warfare game or a flight simulator game,” Bobby replied.