Marsh quickly glanced back and forth between the two men. Damn it, they were good! Fuck, he was hoping that threat would be the final nail in the coffin. Marsh exhaled and walked away from Nic's cell.
Later that night, Amber was leaving one of her favorite little hot spots. She was drunk off her ass, but refused to catch a cab home. So, she drove, crossing a few lines here and there, but she managed to make it back to her apartment just fine, stumbling out of the car.
When she entered her swanky apartment, she didn't bother turning on the lights, as she started removing her boots and walking very unsteadily toward her bedroom. Fuck, it was already three in the morning, and that annoying twit, Detective Marsh wanted her to come back down to the station again in the morning. Although this was the perfect revenge, it was taking a lot out of her. She was depending on Marsh to keep her identity hidden, until the day she had to testify. Then she would turn on the tears and recite her script to the jury and judge. "Your honor, when we were married, I was scared all of the time that he would turn back into a monster. He hurt people. Good innocent people, and all I could do was stand back and watch, too afraid that if I told, he would hurt me too. But I'm tired of living a lie!"
Her mind drifted to Nic. She would never admit it out loud, but she missed him. And not in a romantic way, although the sex...she really did miss, but she missed walking into a room knowing he was usually the most dangerous man in there. That had really turned her on the first night she met him. She had been dancing her ass off at his club. She had heard of him and his reputation, but she had never had the chance to meet him. And that night her friend pointed him out as he talked to the DJ. He had two guys beside him, who looked more like bodyguards. It took her off guard how handsome he was.
So, she and her friend devised a plan. They snuck up to the VIP section, and she bribed the guard into letting her in. Once she was up there, she saw him sitting in a dark corner, talking to a few people. She knew her short dress and long legs would catch his attention. She hiked up her skirt even more and walked right past him, pretending to ignore the group. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw them all looking...including him. And from that night, her plan fell into place. She had to cut several women down to size, who were his regular...well, 'other women', but Amber put them in their place. She knew he still messed around on her, but as long as they all knew she was the top, and they were just for his quick amusement, then she didn't mind. The houses, cars, clothes, jewelry and vacations were more than enough to squelch any feelings of jealousy.
Even after they had separated, she still knew that she was the main woman in his life. His wife! Until that girl. She didn't know how, or why she was in Nic's life. At first, she thought she was like the others who would do anything for him, just to have him acknowledge them. But this girl seemed different. She actually seemed like she didn't like him, and that is the part that Amber didn't understand.
But Amber had trashed her bedroom when she had found out he had gotten married and had moved out of town. With a baby on the way?! Nic Andretti?? Married with a kid? What the hell did that girl do to him? It just wasn't right. What did she have that Amber didn't? It would never work. Nic wasn't the domestic type.
Amber knew of the detective who had been giving Nic a hard time for years. She had also thought he was annoying, but when he called to tell her that Nic's new wife...oh, those words burned in her mind. New wife... Anyway, his new wife's father died, so Nic would more than likely be coming into town, and if she snitched on Nic, and agreed to testify in an open court, then Marsh could for sure put Nic away for a long time. Revenge is definitely sweet. And his wife would be without a husband and have to raise the baby by herself. Stupid whore, Amber thought, right as she tripped over something, and fell to the floor. She laughed at herself, until she noticed what she had tripped over was a black leather shoe. A man's shoe...that was still connected to a man's leg...and body. She followed the path up until she saw the stranger sitting on her couch in the dark. Only, it wasn't a stranger.
"Hiya, Amber," his familiar voice said, right before a black bag went over her head.
"No fucking way!!" Marsh screamed. This was not fucking happening. How could the bad triumph over good? Was there no justice in the world?! Was he the only sane person alive that knew Nic Andretti was nothing but bad news?!
"Yep. Apparently Mrs. Andretti...I mean, well, the ex-wife...she will no longer testify and she says she was mistaken. She said her ex-husband isn't involved in any type of underground crime. She was just a jealous ex-wife," the Police Chief told him.
"But sir, can't you see someone got to her? Jesus, we're just going to let him walk? Just like that?!"
"Yeah we are, because the DA said there's no case and he's dropped the charges. Nic doesn't even live here anymore and from what you've told me, he's legit, so quit wasting valuable man hours on a dead-end case. You copy that?"
"But--"
"Jesus fucking Christ, Inspector Javier! Give it a rest unless you plan on drowning yourself too."
Marsh ignored the reference to Les Miserable's. He could hardly think straight and wanted to throw up. He stared down at the ground. How had that bastard managed to pull this? How did he know it was Amber? How...? That was all Marsh could repeat over and over in his head.
Then he perked up for his last attempt at fucking Nic Andretti over. "Could I still hold him on charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer?"
The Police Chief turned to look at him. "Are you kidding? Get the fuck out of my office and start working on people who are actually STILL in the underground crime circuit...you know, the bad guys." And with that, the Chief glanced back down at his desk, and shuffled through some papers.
Marsh shook his head and walked out of his superior's office. He slowly walked over to his desk and stared down at years and years of files, paperwork and pictures of Nicolas Andretti IV. That prick had finally won. Marsh slung everything on top of his desk to the floor in a fit of rage. Damn that son of a bitch!!
Nic slid on his watch, and grabbed his wallet before he walked out of the jail. A place he never wanted to see the inside of again. Although he knew Reuben was the best at what he did, his freedom was because of Jimmy.
Jimmy had always come through for Nic, ever since they were little kids, and now was no different. Nic saw his best friend and Raymond waiting in the SUV. He walked over and hopped in the front passenger seat.
"Good to have you back," Jimmy stated, as he pulled onto the street.
Nic turned to him. "Do I even want to know?"
Jimmy kept his eyes on the road. "Well, Amber had a change of heart. I guess being sedated and waking up in a cold morgue drawer can do that to you. I think she thought because you're out of the business, that you've changed your ways—gone a little soft, and she wouldn't be in trouble for being disloyal. Well, I told her...as I opened up the drawer every now and then, that just because you were out of the biz, didn't mean I was. So, I said that this time I would be friendly and let her out if she promised to play nice. Next time...I told her I might be forgetful."
Nic faced the windshield. He tried to feel sorry for Amber...but he couldn't. Not one ounce of remorse. She was a vindictive bitch, and she was lucky that it had been Jimmy who 'persuaded' her to play nice. The old Nic...maybe even the new Nic, would have dangled her ass upside down from a building until she got the message...and still, the thought of letting her drop eased his mind.
"And by the way," Jimmy said, in afterthought, "Detective Marsh's car was blown up, and he was beat up and mugged. Crazy world we live in."
"When did this happen?" Nic asked.
"Oh, it hasn't happened yet. I'm psychic, didn't you know?" he smiled over at Nic.
Nic nodded. Karma was certainly a bitch.
Nic's palms started sweating the closer and closer they got to Jimmy's house. He had asked everyone not to tell Victoria that he had been released. He wanted to surprise her.
But at the moment, he
could hardly swallow or keep a single coherent thought in his head. He would be seeing his son, Sebastian, for the first time. And he had to laugh at the fact that he didn't want to disappoint him. Although Sebastian was less than three days old, the thought of not being the father he wanted to be, frightened the shit out of Nic. He had already missed one important event, and he swore to himself that he wouldn't miss another.
When they pulled up to Jimmy and Isabelle's house, Nic exhaled, and wiped his palms over his pants.
Jimmy patted him on the back. "You'll be fine. I'm telling you, you have a handsome kid, man." Nic nodded and got out of the car.
When Nic walked in, several people quietly greeted him, including his mom, who couldn't stop hugging him. Everyone was trying really hard to keep quiet, so they wouldn't alarm Victoria who was in the back room with Sebastian. Nic removed his coat and followed his mom towards the back, his heart beating a hundred miles a minute.
Nic exhaled again and gently pushed the door to the master bedroom open and walked inside. He saw Victoria sitting on a small sofa, nursing their baby. She quickly glanced in his direction, and then back down at the baby. But obviously something registered in her head that this wasn't the regular persons checking in on her. She immediately did a double-take, her eyes growing wider, as she tried to stand. "Nic!" she squealed, but then quieted when he put his finger to his mouth. He could see that Sebastian was bundled up and at peace, and he didn't want to disturb him.
Victoria quieted, but was smiling from ear to ear. Her glassy eyes housed tears that were at the brink of spilling over and down her face at any moment. Nic walked over to the sofa and kneeled down in front of her. He finally broke eye contact with her to stare down at their son. Sebastian's eyes were closed, but his little jaws flexed in and out drinking as much milk as he could.
If someone offered to pay Nic a billion dollars to explain how he felt at that moment, he would have lost out, because he honestly had no words. Nothing came to his mind, as he sat watching in awe at this beautiful moment. He looked back up at Victoria. She was staring at him, and then quickly wiped a tear away with her free hand.
"Hey baby," he whispered, as he leaned over his son and kissed his wife.
"Hey," she whispered back, returning the kiss, and feeling empty again when he had to pull away. She could have continued kissing him for the rest of the afternoon.
After a few more tugs, Victoria felt Sebastian let go, and his little mouth opened. They both could see his tiny little pink gums as he fell back to sleep.
"Want to hold him?" Victoria asked.
Nic looked up at her. "Um, sure. But I've never done this before, you know," Nic nervously said.
"I know, but you have to learn, right?" Nic sat down beside her on the sofa, and Victoria smoothly passed a sleeping Sebastian to his father for the first time.
"Is this good?" Nic whispered to her, his arms feeling like steel bands, although his son felt surprisingly light.
Victoria giggled. She wasn't used to seeing Nic so unsure of himself. For the most part, he had been the most cocky, arrogant guy she had ever met. Now to see him looking to her for help, amused her. He was so cute when his guard was down.
"Yes, but just relax. You aren't going to hurt him," she said, sliding closer to the two men in her life.
Nic finally took a breath and relaxed. He gently pulled Sebastian away from his chest, so he could get a good look at him. His eyes roamed over every inch of his son's tiny fragile body. From his dark hair, to his cute nose, tiny feet and even his fingernails. Everything about his son was perfect.
Funny, he had just met Sebastian less than ten minutes ago, and already Nic knew in an instant without thought that he would give up everything he had, including his life, for his son. That was the truest statement he'd thought in a long time.
Nic gently rubbed Sebastian's forehead and his soft, full cheeks. He lightly tapped his nose and then he bent down to kiss him. "First time I ever kissed a boy," Nic joked. Victoria laughed and leaned over to kiss Sebastian as well.
Sebastian surprised both of his parents by suddenly waking, staring up at Nic. He gave a small yawn and continued to stare.
Nic's eyes widened. "He has blue eyes," he whispered in surprise.
Victoria looked down at Sebastian. "Yeah, for now. There's no guarantee that they will stay that color, but who knows."
And for a moment, it looked as though he smiled at them, before he closed his eyes, yawned again and went back to sleep. Both Nic and Victoria looked up, when they heard the door close. Nic chuckled. No doubt his ever-watchful mother looking in on them. But he was happy for her. This was something she had wanted for a long time.
"I hope Marianna hasn't driven you crazy," Nic said.
Victoria smiled, "No. She definitely smothers, but you know what...I haven't had that for a long time, so I welcomed it."
Nic continued to look at the little bundle in his arms. "God, he's just so amazing. I can't believe we created this. We definitely have to do this again."
Victoria scoffed. "Slow down there, buddy. I'm still healing up down there, and you're talking about more? Um, nope...you don't get to mention more until a few years from now."
Well, that would be up for debate, but for now, Nic would let her think she won.
"Whoa, whoa," Nic said, getting tense again. His son's face was contorting and turning red, as his legs started moving all around. He sucked in a few breaths of air before he belted out a strong cry. "Oh, shi—crap, what did I do wrong?" Nic didn't know what to do, so he just handed Sebastian back to Victoria.
She stood up from the couch and walked him around.
Nic leaned back observing his wife. He watched her cute full hips sway back and forth, as she lightly bounced Sebastian. He couldn't think of a more beautiful sight.
How the hell did life bring him here? A little less than two years ago, he looked at people differently. In one glance at Victoria, he thought he knew exactly who she was. Someone who would never matter to him, and who was weak. Someone he could prey on. But Victoria sliced and diced that version of Nic Andretti to shreds, and amazingly she didn't do it by force. She didn't do it by being more cunning, or by any other sneaky methods. She accomplished a feat no other had, and she did it with love. Selfless, generous, unwavering love.
He remembered thinking that he had planned to teach her a lesson the first night they met, for trying to throw a temper tantrum in his restaurant. But boy, did he find out he was the one being schooled.
He had been such an asshole back then. Nic got up and walked over to Victoria. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you, Victoria. I'll never forgive myself for that."
"There's nothing to forgive. I don't blame you for that, Nic," Victoria whispered back to him. "All that matters to me is in this room right now."
Nic smiled down at his wife, before he captured her sweet lips. "Ti amo, bella."
"I love you, too," Victoria whispered back. Life back in California had really changed. From the moment Sebastian was born, Victoria had been constantly surrounded by people, but now...the scariness of being a new mom started setting in. Luckily, Marianna had practically moved in with them, so she was a tremendous help. Especially on those days when Victoria cried herself to sleep from lack of sleep.
And Nic was amazing. Even though he had to get up early in the morning for work, he took turns with her when Sebastian would wake up in the middle of the night. One night, she had woken up, and Nic was gone. She walked to her son's room, and Nic was leaning over his crib, just watching him.
But tonight was a different story. Both of them had been worn out, when Sebastian flexed his little lungs and belted out a cry.
"It's your turn, baby," Victoria mumbled, digging her head further into the warm comfort of her pillow.
"No, he's calling for you," Nic mumbled back.
"What?"
"You can't tell the difference in his cries? This cry is for you, not me."
Victoria raised up and st
ared down at her husband with one eye still shut. "You are so full of shit."
"I have to get up in four hours...that trumps your card," Nic retorted, and turned over facing away from her.
Victoria slid closer to Nic, and pushed him right out of the bed. She had to hold in a giggle, when she heard him hit the floor with a thud. "Fuck," she heard him whisper.
"First off, you didn't carry an entire other person inside your body for nine months, and you damn sure didn't squeeze a watermelon through a hole the size of a lemon like I had to do...so that does, and will ALWAYS trump any card you throw my way. Now...I think your son is calling you," Victoria spat out, folding her arms across her chest.
She didn't hear anything for a few moments. Shit, maybe she pissed him off. She was just joking.
"Nic?"
"It's actually comfortable down here. Can you hand me my pillow?" he asked, yawning.
Seven Days: A young black woman makes a deal with a mob boss. Page 44
