Bad to the Bone

by Wendy Byrne

  “That’s what who wants?” Enrique asked.

  Could the guy who called and threatened her be connected to what happened to Chloe? Oh, God, she hoped not, but she had to consider the possibility. But who was he, and how was he connected to her uncle?

  “I don’t know, but I would bet whoever set up my uncle also had something to do with Chloe. They want this place closed down. I can feel it. It’s the only thing that makes a damn bit of sense.”

  …

  Sammie’s grasp on Enrique’s hand tightened while they stood at Chloe’s bedside. Her face was distorted and discolored, her dark brown hair wrapped in a swath of white cloth. An IV bag hung at her side, a breathing tube inserted through her nose.

  He’d seen people die of drug overdoses, snitches cut open for ratting out to the cops, mothers using their young kids as prostitutes in order to maintain their habits, and everything in between. But seeing Chloe scared him to the core. She wasn’t a druggie or an undercover officer who’d gotten caught up with the bad guys. She was an innocent kid. Like one of his sisters.

  And she’d gotten dragged into something that wasn’t of her doing. He, like Sammie, believed it had something to do with Jack Murphy.

  Sammie touched at Chloe’s hand, stroking the length with trembling fingertips. “Hey, Chloe, it’s Sammie. You’re going to be all right.”

  After conferring with the doctor, Bryce came to the other side of the bed. He rested his hands on the bars confining Chloe inside the bed, even though by the looks of things, she wasn’t going to be making any sudden moves.

  “The doctor says there’s still brain activity.” He stopped to look first at Enrique then Sammie. “Do either of you know anybody by the name of Lincoln?”

  Sammie sucked in a rush of air, the sound coming off as a sob. She shook her head. “No. Why?”

  “The doctor said she came around for a few seconds. He was pretty sure that’s what she said. Assumption is he’s our man.”

  “She never mentioned a boyfriend by that name.” Sammie’s fingers were locked tight around the bars surrounding the bed, the knuckles going pale from the strain. Her face was white, her eyes glistening with moisture.

  “You okay?” He put an arm about her waist, pulling her in close.

  She nodded, but tears began to run down her cheeks. This was a side to Sammie he’d never seen before. Normally, she was stoic and steadfast. The woman before him was broken. This wasn’t a woman who sold drugs for a living. A memory of Teresa doing the exact same thing flittered through his mind. But Sammie wasn’t Teresa.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “No way, I’m not going on that thing,” Sammie protested when Enrique pulled her toward his motorcycle sometime around two a.m.

  “Don’t be so damn picky. It’s here and it’s fast.”

  “If I go on that thing, I’ll end up dead for sure. You forget I’ve seen you drive. I can only imagine what that would translate to on two wheels instead of four.”

  “And I’ve seen what you consider cooking. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t take up you up on an offer for dinner.”

  “Humph.” She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot against the asphalt. The normalcy of the moment was welcome amid the craziness that had preceded it.

  “Get over it and hop on.” He held onto her hand while he mounted the bike. When he turned over the ignition, the bike roared to life, the rumbling sound piercing through the still night. “Come on.”

  Since he wasn’t letting go, she didn’t have many other options. Reluctantly, she moved in behind him, encircling his waist with her arms. “Where are we going?”

  “A place to make you forget.”

  Sammie closed her eyes and rested her head against his back. The noise of the bike made conversation impossible as Enrique opened up the throttle.

  Somehow, his confidence must have rubbed off, because she discovered the lull of the highway relaxed her. The purr of the engine and the twist and turn of his body as he maneuvered around each curve became hypnotic. So much so that she barely noticed when he stopped.

  “We’re here.” He tugged at her fingers holding tight to him. “You’re stopping the circulation in my legs.”

  “Sorry.” Sammie shook her head to pull herself out of the hypnotic state she had slipped into.

  He threw down the kickstand, got off, then helped her. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d be so accommodating. I’m not so sure I like it.”

  “Don’t get used to it. I’ll be back to normal as soon as I get my bearings.”

  Sammie took in her surroundings. Quiet. Peaceful. Those were the first two words that came to mind. Exactly what she needed.

  The lapping of water against a shoreline could be heard. Small boats littered the dock. No yachts. No cruise ships. Just old, seaworthy vessels made for a crew of no larger than five or so. Judging by the amount of time they’d been riding, they were on mainland Florida, somewhere south of Miami.

  Tiny houses littered the edge of the water. Only a smattering of lights could be seen.

  “Where are we?”

  “My friend Jared’s family home. It’s quiet. Out of the way. Almost as if in another world.” He snuggled in close, placing a chaste kiss at her temple. “Seems to me it might be what the doctor ordered.”

  “But everyone must be asleep.” Something about this trip felt different. Maybe it was the trauma they’d endured together with Chloe, maybe it was something deeper, but she felt a sense of comfort with him she hadn’t in the past. Almost like a next step in a relationship. She felt bad that she’d enlisted the lawyer Jonathan’s help in determining whether or not she should trust Enrique.

  “Don’t worry, nobody’s here right now. Jared only comes down here a couple of times a year.”

  She wanted to say that was the least of her worries, but before she could, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along the small, narrow dirt path. Enrique seemed comfortable in negotiating the uneven terrain in the dark and led the way.

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Sleep here, at least for the night.”

  “Maybe I should go back.” As irrational as it sounded, something about being here with him made a sense of unease come to life. But it had nothing to do with fear. This game she was playing with her emotions was getting far too dangerous.

  “It’s four o’clock in the morning. If you think I’m bringing you back now, you’re crazy. You wanna walk or take my bike, by my guest.”

  “I don’t have a lot of options, do I?”

  “Right.” The door clicked open, and he ushered her inside, placing his hand on the small of her back.

  “Where do we sleep?” Trying to get acclimated to unfamiliar surroundings, she stayed put while her eyes adjusted to the dark.

  “Guest room is to the right. The bathroom is down the hall.” He kicked off his boots by the front door. She followed his lead and slipped off her shoes. He grabbed her hand. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat.”

  They stopped outside the bedroom, and she peered inside. “Is that a double bed?”

  “Yep, but that’s okay. You don’t take up much room.”

  He stripped off his clothes, and she followed suit. He lay down, pulling her next to him. Her body adjusted to the fit like they snuggled this way on a nightly basis. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Shh. Don’t think. Just relax. It’s been a long day.” His words whispered against her neck and a ripple of pleasure ruffled her insides. She was such a pushover.

  He wound his arm across her middle and put his other hand under the pillow at the end. Then he did the most surprising thing of all. Kissing the column of her neck, he whispered, “Good night, Sammie.” Like they hadn’t been to hell and back over the last few days. Then, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, he promptly went to sleep.

  Just like a man.

  …

  Sammie stretched in the bed and sniffed. Her stomach grumbled as the aroma
of something delicious wafted through the small home. But even more than that, it was the singing that drew her attention. Enrique?

  It couldn’t be.

  She stumbled out of bed and threw on her clothes and walked into the kitchen. Her heart stopped as she rounded the corner and spotted him hard at work frying bacon in one pan while he scrambled eggs in another. Music came from the radio, and his butt swayed in the most tantalizing way.

  Swoon.

  “You can cook, dance, serve drinks, get my back when the going gets tough, drive away snakes. What can’t you do?”

  “I’m sure you’ll figure it out and tell me all about it.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. He knew her well. Why couldn’t she say the same about him? “You were right to take me here. I feel more relaxed than I have since I left Providence. If I can just find out who set up Jack, I can go home and die a happy woman.”

  “Another one of my attributes. I aim to please.”

  “Right…” She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “I’d love to take a look around this town. It looked amazing in the wee hours of the morning. I can only imagine what it looks like in broad daylight.” She peeked out the window and spotted a host of fishing boats bobbing in the bluest water she’d ever seen.

  “I hit the farmers’ market this morning and picked up some food and found out they have a festival this evening. I’m not sure what it’s about, but I told them we’d be there.”

  “Sounds interesting. How long you planning on holding me captive here?”

  “As long as it takes.” He snaked his arm around her waist and sucked her into him and gave her one of those kisses that never failed to rock her down to the core.

  …

  Celebratory lights strung like giant waves outlined the perimeter. Colors of blue, yellow, and red cast a glow on the partygoers. Two tables brimmed with food, while the aromas of spices filled the air.

  Sammie held onto Enrique’s arm as they strolled through the crowd. “This is amazing. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat again.” She patted her stomach. “I will gain fifty pounds if we stay here too long.”

  “It’s some kind of fishing festival. Not sure what they’re celebrating, but with this kind of spread, it doesn’t really matter.”

  “It seems like people know you here.”

  “I’ve come here a couple of times with Jared in the past.”

  “Ah, so that’s how you scored the invite.”

  “That, and I made a promise.”

  Stuffed from too much food, she relaxed in a chair. Enrique’s arm loosely covered her shoulders when music began. “What sort of promise?”

  Music began to play from some kind of karaoke setup. “I think you’re about to find out.”

  “Enrique has graciously agreed to sing a few songs for us. He’s going to start with ‘Here I Am’ by Al Green,” one of the men from town announced.

  Enrique grabbed Sammie and dragged her along toward the stage. When the music began, he crooked his finger. “Come closer, Sammie.”

  Her knees started to wobble, and her heart boomed as she made her way to the front of the small, newly constructed stage. That damn moth began to flutter inside her stomach.

  His dark pants hugged him like his jeans, but different. Several buttons of the white shirt he wore were undone, the sleeves rolled up to the middle of his forearms. Sammie couldn’t imagine him looking any sexier as he began to sing.

  Oh, man, the guy could really sing, too—not just in a sing-along-with-the-radio kind of way. How could she resist him now? His voice whispered of unspoken promise while sensuality wound around her, tugging at her heart, squeezing until she felt like crying out.

  The sway of his hips and arms told the story as much as his voice. His voice rasped the words while his body and eyes promised her things that made her blush. The moth inside her became a butterfly with big giant wings.

  “Dance with me, Sammie.” He motioned for her to join him onstage.

  She resisted with a shake of her head. But he seemed determined to make a spectacle of the whole thing, and the crowd surrounding her was encouraging him. She had no choice but to acquiesce. He helped her onto the stage, wrapped his arms around her, and danced with her while the Al Green song played in the background.

  The crowd broke into a spontaneous cheer, as if a miracle had happened. Maybe it had.

  Something squeezed her heart. Everything about him made her dizzy. The way he moved. The way he spoke. The way he smelled. The way he looked. And now there was the additional temptation of the way he sang. So sexy and laced through with promises she couldn’t imagine.

  A fantasy. For now, this moment in time, that’s all she needed. Thinking and dwelling on anything else would get her nowhere.

  She thought of nothing but giving in to the overwhelming feeling. Even if it was a fling, she should enjoy it while it lasted and worry about her broken heart later. He was what she needed right now, almost as if she’d conjured him up in her imagination.

  After a round of applause arose from the audience, Enrique bowed, jumped down from the stage, then helped her down as well.

  “I hope you can overlook those sharp notes.”

  “Are you kidding? You’re a beautiful singer.”

  Twirling her around in a circle, he kissed her. Vaguely, she could hear the crowd laughing and clapping. For once, she didn’t feel embarrassed by the attention.

  “And maybe you’ve had a little too much sangria.”

  He teased her lips with another light kiss. “Let’s take a walk along the beach. I bet I can make you fall in love with Florida after all.” His breath whispered along her cheek. Goose bumps broke out on her arms.

  “Don’t count on it.” Lacing his fingers into hers, he guided her the short distance to the shoreline. Bright stars lit up the sky, pointing them toward the small beach. “Where did you learn to sing like that?”

  “My parents were opera singers. There was always music—from opera to classics to pop—in our house. We all have a bit of their gift. Some more than others.”

  “How many people in your family?”

  “Three sisters and a younger brother. I’m the oldest.”

  “Wow. I can’t imagine having so many siblings. Do they live in the area?” A part of her was surprised by his revelation.

  “Pretty much. And it’s pretty loud when we’re all in one place. My dad died ten years ago, but my mom is still alive and doesn’t shy away from giving her opinion. She’s Italian. My dad was Spanish.” He chuckled. “So you can see there’s a lot of passion running around these bones of mine.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that.” She stopped, forcing him to look at her. The light of the moon cast a shadow across his face, making him look mysterious.

  “Have you ever been married before?” It was something she’d been itching to ask for a long time.

  “Yep, her name was Teresa. We were both way too young. Suffice to say it ended badly and I moved on.” He drew in a breath and grasped her hand. “How about you? Have you ever been married?”

  “Nope. Like most teens, I thought I was in love numerous times, but then reality slapped me upside the head and I saw the error of my ways.”

  Forgoing shoes, both waded into the water to their midshins. Explosions of color rocked the skies overhead as the first of the fireworks began. She kicked at the water with her foot.

  “I’ve never had much family except for Uncle Jack.”

  “You know what they say about Italian families—even with only first cousins you could have several hundred people. We tend to have large families.”

  “Another reason we could never get together. Besides the fact I would never live in Florida for longer than I have to, I can’t imagine having eight or nine children.”

  He circled her back, forcing her to stand in front of him. “Oh, I’d settle for three or four.”

  Bringing his arms to encircle her neck, he kissed her. The kind of kis
s that she’d been waiting for all night.

  “Don’t get any ideas.” Despite her words, she slipped her tongue inside his mouth.

  Her body plastered against him like a second skin. “You look beautiful.” His fingers trailed the outside of her breasts, tugging at the elastic neckline. The movement caused her right breast to spring free. Rolling the nipple between his fingers first, he bent his head down and captured it in his mouth.

  While he suckled, he yanked the other side down, causing her other nipple to slip out of the shirt. The cool breeze caused it to pucker immediately.

  The moan she emitted came from deep inside her chest as she pulled his head down toward her chest. “Enrique…” All other words seemed to be lost from her. She was going to miss him when she left.

  “You don’t have to do anything. I’ll take care of it all.” Running his hands up under her skirt, he whispered in her ear, “I have a really good idea.”

  “I bet you do.” Her words came out through lips holding a hint of a smile.

  “Ever see the movie From Here to Eternity?” He nuzzled her neck.

  “I know where you’re headed with this, and I’m sure it looks sexier in the movies than in real life.” She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Besides, there’s the whole Jaws theme playing in my head.”

  “Trust me.” He slipped off her panties. His fingers on her skin felt better than she could have imagined.

  She rubbed her hands down the front of his pants, making his dick swell more than she thought possible. She wanted him to be inside her more than she wanted to breathe. She slipped down the zipper and maneuvered them over his hips, followed by his briefs. He yanked off her skirt as they walked toward the water.

  “You sure there’s no sharks here?” she whispered into his neck as they waded into the water.

  “Absolutely.”

  She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist as he settled into the water. “I’m going to trust you on that.”

  He brought his finger inside her. “Why do I always pick crazy positions to have sex that involve me pulling all the weight?”