by Liz Andrews
“Marc, you are insane. This is so embarrassing.” Lily’s skin was glowing a deeper red than the sign that bore her name. “Couldn’t you think of calling it something else?”
“Nope.” Marc was enjoying this far more than he ever thought possible. To think he had bought her a six thousand dollar television and she’d gotten mad. But putting five little letters up on top of a store was making his little Lily shine. “And I’ve added a new store policy, which states that you are entitled to as many Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as your heart desires. Without paying for them, I might add.”
Lily’s eyes widened comically as she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my God,” she murmured through cloth-covered fingers. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
Brushing his hand against her berry-red cheeks, Marc smiled. As if he could forget anything about her. Lily was just as adorable now as she had been as an eleven-year-old grubby imp. “I remember.”
“I’m …” at a loss for words, apparently, Lily finished silently as she turned back to the sign and shook her head in awe. “I mean really, three months ago that little prig told me my checks were no good here, and now …”
“Your checks are still no good here. That hasn’t changed.”
“Oh.” Surprised, Lily looked back up at him, a bit of her joy gone from her face.
Marc realized from her lackluster expression she didn’t get what he was saying. Taking her hands in his, Marc continued with a small smile, “Everyone has been instructed not to take your checks or your money. Anything you want, you get. This is your store. You can manage it if you want or just live off the proceeds.” Reaching into his jacket pocket, Marc pulled out an envelope he’d placed in there specifically for this moment. “Lily’s doesn’t just bear your name. It’s yours.”
Lily stared back at him speechlessly. If he thought she’d been at a loss for words before, he could tell now she really had no idea what to say.
“Lily, baby, are you okay?” She was just staring at him with those big blue eyes as if she was Alice and she’d just fallen through the rabbit’s hole.
“I … I don’t believe this. It’s too much. You can’t.” Lily spoke in a rush, as if all the words she had held in earlier were flooding out.
“Believe it; nothing is ever too much for you.” Pushing the envelope into her stiff, frozen hands he added, “You will never have to wait on anyone else again, unless I command you to, of course.”
If possible, Lily’s face became a deeper shade of fiery red and she buried her nose in the opening of his coat. Marc thought he might have even seen a few tears on her face before she had hidden it.
“Well, girly girl, seems like you must be coming up in the world.” Marc whirled around with Lily still in his arms to see her father, Mike, swaying drunkenly on the sidewalk. Immediately Marc shoved Lily slightly behind him as Griffin appeared by his side.
Lily spoke up from behind him. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a public street. I have every right to walk down it just like all these fine people here.” He sneered as he waved his hand at the crowd.
“Public drunkenness is against the law. If you like, I can assist you to someplace else.” Griffin was trying to separate Mike from Marc and Lily, but Mike wasn’t falling for it.
“Let ‘em come and arrest me. See if I care. Damn kids have abandoned me …”
Marc could feel Lily burying her face in his back, probably embarrassed at her father’s display. But what was really surprising was Griffin’s reaction to Mike’s next words. “… and my bitch wife ran out on me.”
Griffin’s arm shot out and he grabbed Mike. To the rest of the crowd it looked as if Griffin was holding him up, but Marc could see Griffin had Mike’s arm jacked up so far behind him his toes were barely scraping the ground.
Mike was quickly pulled away from the scene by the guards Marc had hired for just such an occasion. It was sad, really, how no one in the crowd offered a word of protest in his defense. Everyone simply turned deaf ears to his complaints and screamed threats.
“I’m so sorry,” Lily whispered into Marc’s back. Pulling her around to face him, Marc tilted her chin up when she refused to look up at him. “Do not apologize to me for him. Do you understand me?” Lily nodded her head before wrapping her arms around him once again, hugging him tight.
“Uh-oh, here comes more trouble.” Griffin shifted his position, moving into security mode, blocking Lily and Marc from the big black car pulling up to the curb.
Son of a bitch. This town was seriously getting on his nerves. Moving Lily until she was behind him again, Marc turned to see what the newest ruckus was and cursed again. He had expected at least one person from the Collingwood family to show up at his little unveiling sooner or later, but Marc would have preferred if it had been later than sooner. “Like a fucking bad penny,” he muttered, much to Griffin’s amusement.
Hamilton got out of the car, flanked by his two sons, Junior and Drew. Marc couldn’t help the sense of satisfaction he felt at the look of disgust Hamilton threw his way. The three men started towards Marc but were stopped by Griffin’s security men, who had begun to circle around them after Mike’s confrontation.
“It’s okay,” Marc called, walking closer to the men. “Let them in. I was going to call you later today, Hamilton, to see if you wanted me to have the crane drop the sign off at your house. I thought you might like something for … nostalgia’s sake.”
“Are you happy now?” Hamilton spewed, his face crimson with anger. “This store belonged to my grandfather. You’re ending four generations of tradition, all for the sake of vengeance.”
“I’m ending it two generations too late from what I can tell.” The whole thing was amusing. Did they really expect him to cower at the sight of them?
“Ripping down this sign isn’t going to change anything,” Junior interjected, trying to smooth things over. Apparently, his memory was shorter than his receding hair line.
“I disagree,” Marc replied coolly. He felt better already.
“How so?” Hamilton questioned with a smirk. “You’re still trash. And so is the whore you named my store after.”
Marc reacted without even thinking. Swinging with all his might, he dropped the other man to the ground with a single punch.
“Bastard,” Drew yelled, charging at him. “It takes a real man to hit an old man doesn’t it?” Acting quickly, Griffin moved between the two, pushing Drew backwards.
“Your father isn’t a man,” Marc spat, still seeing red. “He’s a coward.”
Getting up with the aid of his other son, Hamilton yelled. “You’re trash. Just like your momma, who was willing to spread her legs for a loaf of bread.”
“Griffin, get out of the way.”
Despite Marc’s order, Griffin refused to budge. Instead, he turned to the Collingwood men. “I suggest you three leave immediately before I turn him loose.”
“We’ll be pressing charges,” Junior screamed. “Don’t think you can get away with this.”
Griffin smiled back coldly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. First, we would file countercharges of defamation of character.”
Drew laughed and replied, “Do you think we couldn’t fight that lame ass charge?”
Griffin continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “And, during the trial, other information we have in our possession just might become public knowledge.”
Hamilton’s face went white and then blotchy red, as if he were having a stroke. “Boys, help me to the car.” His sons shot Griffin a look as if to say, ‘this isn’t over yet,’ but Marc knew damn well it was. Hamilton would never dare allow the information to come out that he’d been selling drugs in the grocery, using his delivery truck drivers as pushers.
As the black car pulled away from the curb Griffin nodded to the two security men to finally let Marc go. Marc knew Griffin was only protecting him, but right now all he could think about was Griffin had stopped him from kil
ling Hamilton, something he’d wanted to do for years.
“Marc, man, I …”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now.” Marc turned his back on Griffin before he could see the look of disappointment in his eyes.
Knocking Hamilton down had been damn near orgasmic, but wringing his narrow little neck would have been paradise. Marc had waited years to have it out with the bastard, and Griffin had interfered just at the moment of truth. Right now Marc didn’t know who he was madder at, Hamilton for his parting comment or Griffin for blocking his blow.
Marc needed some space. Some time to clear his head, but just as he began to walk away he spotted Lily, and immediately felt like shit. Today was supposed to be a special day. A day for she and him both, and in a span of five minutes, it had been ruined for the two of them.
Turning to go to Lily, Marc spotted the cameras still rolling. Great, they were going to be on the fucking six o’clock news. Now he’d get to relive this moment over and over. It was damn near poetic justice.
Quickly pulling Lily into his arms, Marc held her trembling form against him. “I’m sorry, Goldie,” he murmured into her ear before calling over to Griffin. “Can you make sure Lily gets home?”
Griffin eyed him coolly, as if Marc were a mere stranger on the street. “Sure thing, it’s what I get paid to do, right?”
“Griff …” Marc hated himself for hurting Griffin. He knew he shouldn’t blame Griffin for trying to protect him from himself.
Griffin ignored his overtures and walked over to the car, opening the passenger’s door and staring off into space, refusing to look at Marc.
Instead of climbing into the car like he wanted, Lily pulled back. “I’m not leaving you here, Marc.”
Tightening his grip on the car, Marc let out a long, slow breath. “Lily, please get into the car.”
“No.” She pulled his hand into hers, beseeching him with her eyes. “The only way I’m getting in that car is if you get in with me.”
“Stubborn fool,” he muttered, pulling his hand away. Marc didn’t want Lily to get caught up in this. Not any more than she already was, that was for sure. “Listen …”
“No, you listen.” Hands on hip, Lily faced him with a frown. Marc could swear that Griffin bit back a smile, before he turned his back to them, granting them a little bit of privacy. “This isn’t just about your wants or your needs. I’m in the relationship, too, damn it, and I’m not going to sit back and watch you beat yourself up. If anyone’s going to beat up on you, it’s going to be me.”
“You’re the sub here, remember, not me.”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Lily refused to budge. “Get in the car and we can leave.”
“Lily,” he growled, more amused than annoyed. Leave it up to his golden-haired beauty to take charge at a time like this.
“Lily, my ass. We’re playing a new game. Lily Says.” Grabbing his lapel, Lily jerked him to the side, and saved his life in the process. A shot rang out as Marc jerked and spun around. A bullet hit him squarely in the shoulder. Sliding down the side of the car, Marc looked around to see Lily crying and pressing her hands over the bleeding wound as Griffin screamed into his cell phone about needing an ambulance.
“Griff …” Trying to talk through the pain, Marc had to speak louder to get Griffin’s attention.
“Don’t talk.” Lily was still crying and looking around frantically as she knelt at his side.
“Got to get you out of here.” Marc coughed suddenly and his body was wracked with pain at the motion.
“Press hard on that,” Griffin ordered Lily harshly, as he knelt down on Marc’s other side.
“Griff, you got to get Lily out of here. Now!” Marc implored, trying to hang on to consciousness.
“Marc, everything’s going to be okay. The cops and ambulance are on their way. Don’t worry. I have it under control.” Griffin was holding his hand tightly, but to Marc it felt as if Griffin were slipping away.
Redemption: Lily’s Surrender
Chapter Thirteen
Lily sat in the waiting room of the hospital, wondering how things had gone so wrong. One minute she was embarrassed but happy, spending time with Marc and really enjoying his doting on her. The truth was she liked that he cared enough to do little things for her. Of course Marc, in his usual way, never did anything small, but Lily had realized that to accept Marc was to accept his gifts.
Unfortunately, it had all started to go so very wrong. Staring down, Lily imagined she could still see Marc’s blood staining her hands. There had been so much blood. Lily shuddered just thinking about what it might mean. Fortunately her morbid thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Griffin.
“I just got a hold of Marc’s mom in Florida. She’s going to try and catch the last flight out tonight.” Griffin looked like a mad bear with his foot caught in a trap. He kept pacing in front of her, searching the nurses’ station every five minutes for the doctor who’d talked to them both before taking Marc into surgery.
“Good. I’m sure Marc will be happy to see her.” Lily felt like an idiot making small talk when she didn’t know what was happening with Marc.
“Where’s that damn doctor?” Griffin finally exploded. “He said it was a simple operation, but it’s been almost three hours. What the hell is going on?”
Lily snagged his hand during his next pass and tugged him down to the chair next to her. “Stop stalking and causing trouble. You’re making me nervous.”
Griffin buried his head in his hands. “I should have been protecting him,” he mumbled.
Lily knew exactly what he was going through. If only she had been able to convince Marc to get into the car with her he might never have gotten shot. “It’s not your fault. There’s nothing we could have done.”
Griffin lifted his head and stared at her with pain-filled eyes. “I’m his security; I’m paid to protect him.” Lily knew he was still thinking about the argument he and Marc got into right before Marc was shot.
“Griffin, it will be okay. And you and Marc will be okay, too.”
“It’s my fault. I should have had more men there or …”
“Or what if Judas never sold Jesus out? Then he wouldn’t have been crucified, and blah, di, blah, blah, blah. Life is full of what ifs. But this isn’t your fault. It’s the fucker’s fault who shot him. And he’s going to pay.”
Gripping Griffin’s hand, Lily held on tight, doing something she hadn’t done since she was a child. Lily closed her eyes and prayed.
“Please, please, please,” she whispered aloud as she made promises to every deity ever known. Lily would have sold her soul right then and there if it meant one more moment in his arms. Because of one cowardly act of rage, her mind instantly went from falling in love with Marc, to head over heels in love with Marc. And she would go mad if he died without her being able to let him know.
The emergency room doors swooshed open, startling Griffin and Lily as her mother and Steven rushed in. Lily stood, desperately wanting to be swallowed whole by the sanctuary of her mother’s arms. She needed to feel safe again, to feel as if everything was right in the world, if only for a moment. “Mom,” she cried, rushing towards that familiar safe embrace.
Helen held onto Lily, comforting her daughter as Lily cried against her shoulder. “It’s going to be all right,” she promised, brushing her hand over her daughter’s hair. It was a gesture older than time, and one Lily needed desperately.
“Mom, he has to be okay.” The brave front Lily had put on for Griffin crumbled under her mother’s loving caress. With Helen she didn’t need to be strong. Helen wasn’t going to break like Griffin seemed on the verge of doing. With Helen, Lily could show her fear, and be comforted.
“He will be, honey.” Helen’s blue eyes were filled with tears as she smiled at her daughter. “Marc will pull out of this.”
“Do the police have any suspects?” Steven directed the question at Griffin, who had once again resumed his pacing.
Griffin let out a harsh laugh, devoid of all humor. “A suspect. The whole fucking town is full of suspects.”
Steven flushed. “I mean do they have any strong leads?”
“It’s been less than four hours. If they have anything they’re not sharing.”
Lily broke away from her mother and went back to Griffin, who looked as if he was hanging on by a thin thread. “I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”
“I have my own guys on this as well.”
Reaching into his pocket, Steven pulled out a business card and handed it to Griffin. “Here’s a number to a friend of mine. He’s a PI. A bit unorthodox, but he gets the job done.”
Surprise flashed across Griffin’s pale face as he took the card. “Thanks. I have to say I’m a bit shocked.”
“Yeah, well, a few inches over and it would be Lily lying in there.”
If possible Griffin’s face became even grimmer. “You don’t have to tell me how close it was.”
“Apparently I do, since your ‘guys’ didn’t see this one coming.”
“Steven, stop it.” Amazingly, it was Helen who spoke, surprising both her children. “This is not Mr. Powers’ fault.”
“I’m just trying to make sure my baby sister doesn’t wind up in the hospital. If that makes me a jerk, so be it.”
“Can we all stop playing the blame game here? It doesn’t accomplish anything.” Lily was starting to feel feisty. “Griffin, why don’t you and Steven go bother the nurses and see if you can find out anything?”
Motioning for her mom to sit down with her, Lily lay her head on her shoulder as her mom wrapped her arms around her. “Thanks for coming to the hospital, Mom. If Steven had come alone or, God forbid, with Logan, I think I would have died from the testosterone overload.”
“Well, don’t thank me too soon. Logan’s parking the car.”
Lifting her head, Lily stared at her mom in dismay. “Oh, no.”
Just then the doors opened again and Logan stomped through with thunder in his eyes. As soon as he saw Lily sitting with their mom his face softened for a moment. “Lily, are you okay?” Logan rushed over and pulled her into a rough embrace.
