“Babe,” West began, turning his body towards hers and lacing their fingers together. “If you love someone caring for them isn’t a burden. It’s a privilege. He might be happy but I doubt he’s happier without you. You never stopped loving him and I bet he’s never stopped loving you.”
More staring at the floor, her shoulders stiff with tension. “I don’t think our mother loved us very much. My foster family cared but they didn’t love me or anything.”
Where was she going with this?
“Your mother had an addiction problem so I doubt she was capable of deep emotions. As for your foster mom and dad it sounds like they cared very much but maybe it wasn’t what you hoped for from a parental figure.”
She lifted her head and looked him in the eye. “Maybe I’m just not all that lovable. Some people aren’t, you know. I might be one of those people who are nice and everything but just don’t inspire great love.”
Gigi was completely serious. He’d obviously done a lousy job of showing her just how amazing and spectacular she was. How he’d fallen ass over tea kettle for her and hadn’t been the same since.
“That’s the biggest load of bull I’ve ever heard,” he said bluntly, watching her eyes widen with surprise. “Do you remember the day we first met? That day in the diner? You knocked me on my butt with your beautiful whiskey-colored eyes and your teasing smile. I was so hard I had to sit there and have two extra cups of coffee before I was in a decent enough state to leave. That’s what you do to me.”
“That’s just sex.”
“Is it?” he challenged. “Acting like a teenager with a crush isn’t all that normal for me now that I’m a grown ass man. I followed you around like you were a rock star if you’ll remember. It took forever to convince you to go out with me.”
Gigi laughed and slapped him lightly on his shoulder. “Only Westin Anderson the biggest stud in Tremont would think a week was forever. Considering I never intended to go on a date – let alone sleep with you – that’s pretty darn quick if you ask me. My acceptance was inevitable when you smiled at me and showed off that dimple in your cheek.”
She was tracing that dimple with her finger now and his heart quickened in response. What she could do with a simple touch was positively dangerous.
“People love you, Gigi. My mom and dad think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My brothers and cousins adore you and everyone in Tremont thinks you’re a total sweetheart. If you don’t feel their love it’s because you won’t open yourself up to it. I get why you would protect yourself that way but we’re going to put Morton behind bars. You’ll get your life back. Somehow you are going to have to find a way to let people in. You’re going to have to let me in.”
His Gigi was a fighter but it was clear she’d rather be shot at than take a chance on opening her heart to love. And him.
“I’m not sure I know how. I don’t think I can. Not after all this time.”
She wasn’t just talking about the last two years she’d been on the run. This was about her whole damn life and for a moment West felt despair take a hold of his gut. He didn’t know how to turn around a lifetime of thinking she wasn’t good enough.
He might have thought it was a lost cause but then he saw the light of hope in her eyes. She wanted to believe. To feel love. Give and receive. She was scared as hell but that didn’t mean it was hopeless.
It was hopeful.
He’d need to go out on a limb if he wanted any sort of a chance. This was no time for any of his commitment phobia bullshit. He’d been dancing around his feelings all this time, protecting his own heart. He was supposed to the strong man in this relationship but he’d been just as weak and chicken shit.
Pathetic. It stopped at this moment.
“You’d better figure it out because I love you. And I’ve never said that to a woman before so that should tell you just how damn serious I am. You’re lovable because I love you.”
Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open, clearly shocked at his declaration.
“I–I–”
She was speechless. Good. She needed to be knocked out of her complacency.
“I don’t expect you to say it back. Not yet anyway. I get that you’re scared and that you haven’t really had any practice with this love stuff. So I’m okay with waiting. But I believe that you do love me so I’m going to be saying and showing it all the time. I don’t mind not hearing the words but I do mind your emotions not being shown. Your actions mean more to me than mere words ever could.”
“I–I…don’t know what to say.”
She didn’t look scared or angry. If anything she didn’t believe him. He’d have to spend some quality time showing her he was for real.
“You don’t have to say anything. Just consider this me throwing down the gauntlet. I’m not giving up on you. I want us to be together so I’m going to become a major pain in your ass. When you need a push, I’ll be there. Loving you, and just generally making it difficult to hide away.”
His phone vibrated in his pocket before she had a chance to reply.
Jason. Finally.
West swiped the screen and pressed the phone to his ear. “Talk to me. What’s going on there? How’s Shane?”
“Shane’s doing well. He’s awake and talking to his parents. The doctors are going to keep him for three or four days but then he can go home with a health nurse to care for him. He told me to tell you not to worry and take care of your girl.”
West breathed out a heavy sigh of relief. The surgery had gone on longer than planned and his cousin had been in the recovery room for what seemed like hours.
“That’s good news. I bet he’s loving all the attention,” West laughed, remembering Shane’s predilection for dating pretty nurses. “Tell him we’re thinking about him, okay?”
“I will. But that’s not all the good news I have. I finally got that call back from my buddy in the FBI. He’s been working on the Morton case for over two years now and he’s willing to help us. Says that good old Alan is as dirty as they come. Gambling. Prostitution. Drugs. A veritable trifecta of sins.”
“Do they have enough to make a case?”
“They’ve got some circumstantial stuff but he’d like to get a slam dunk for the prosecutor. Morton hasn’t been a high priority yet, honestly. They’ve been using him to get to targets higher up.”
Adrenaline raced through West’s veins at the thought of putting Morton behind bars for the rest of the man’s miserable life. “Whatever we can do to expedite this I’m all for. I want this guy. Bad.”
“I know,” Jason grunted. “We’ll get him. Now I’m going to stay with Shane but Travis and Jared can fly down and meet you in Vegas if you need them. There’s nothing they can really do here but sit around and watch Shane terrorize the nurses and generally make everyone’s life miserable. I can already tell he’s going to be a piss poor patient.”
All the Anderson men were cursed with little patience. In a few days Shane was going to chafe at having to lie in a hospital bed.
“I’ll call you later today after Gigi meets her brother. I’ll have a better idea at that point when we’ll be leaving for Chicago.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be talking to my buddy again and finding out his plans for Morton. Maybe we can help out.”
Anything that removed Morton from Gigi’s life was okay with West.
“Let me know.” West ended the call and slid the phone back in his pocket. “Shane is going to be okay. He said not to worry about him and to take care of business.”
Gigi closed her eyes as if saying a prayer of thanks. “I’m so glad. I haven’t been able to think of much else.”
“You’ve got way too many things to worry about these days. Let’s see if we can remove at least one of them.”
West pointed to Wyatt who was striding toward their truck, a smile on his face. The meeting with Zach must have gone well. It was time to reunite the woman West loved with her brother. After all these year
s she’d finally have a family.
There wasn’t anything West wouldn’t give to Gigi if it was in his power.
Chapter Seventeen
‡
On trembling legs Gigi walked into the building, her gaze scanning from left to right. A large red mat covered about two-thirds of the floor and the walls were adorned with floor to ceiling mirrors all around. Boxing gloves and pads were stacked on shelving at one end while heavy bags for punching and kicking were positioned in a corner.
The room contained one lone man. Tall with broad shoulders and golden brown hair he stood motionless, his gaze trained on her, seeking and hopeful. She’d changed over the years and perhaps he wouldn’t recognize her. Maybe he’d forgotten her and Aubrey.
She would have known his handsome face anywhere.
He broke into a smile and he took two large strides, wrapping her into his strong embrace.
“Gigi. My Gigi.”
His voice broke with emotion and she hiccupped, trying to keep from crying. Again. It was starting to feel like all she did these days but she couldn’t hold back the tidal wave of love she felt for this big strong man even after all this time. He was her brother. Her protector.
Her throat tightened painfully and she managed to croak out his name, burying her face in his chest. His arms were rocking her as they both cried, this reunion too long in the making. After several minutes he reluctantly pulled back and wiped at her cheeks.
“I was beginning to think I’d never see you again, little sis. I’ve been looking for you for so damn long. But I never gave up hope. Wyatt said you never did either.”
“Never.” Gigi shook her head, his face blurred from her tears. “I can’t believe this is really happening. It just seems so surreal.”
He pulled her in for another bear hug. “It’s real, alright. I can’t wait to hear about your life. No detail is too small. I want to know every single thing about what you’ve been doing and who you’ve become. What are your favorite books? What’s your favorite food? Do you still hate thunderstorms?”
“All the Harry Potter books. Pizza. And yes, I still hate storms. They’re scary. I was so glad to have you there when the thunder and lightning got too bad. I always knew you would protect me.”
Zach glanced behind her where West was standing. “Is that who protects you now? Is he your husband?”
Zach had kept his voice low but Gigi had a feeling West still heard the “husband” remark. Her cheeks grew warm at the implied intimacy she wasn’t sure she – or West – was ready for and she tried to cover her embarrassment with a cough.
“That’s West Anderson, my…boyfriend.” Shit, she didn’t even know what to call him. This was pathetic. “He’s been helping me…”
Her voice trailed off, not sure how to begin telling her big brother how her life was so crazy she needed bodyguards.
Zach’s gaze shifted from her to West and back to her. “Well, that’s good then. Are you going to introduce me?”
“Of course.” She tugged on Zach’s hand and West came to stand by her, his arm around her waist. “West, this is my brother Zach. Zach, this is West.”
The men shook hands, clearly sizing each other up. Something good must have passed between them – or maybe they’d squeezed the ever loving crap out of each other’s fingers – but they seemed to relax, their smiles easier and more genuine.
“It’s good to finally meet you, Zach. Gigi’s told me so much about you. And her sister, Aubrey.”
Zach’s face split into a mile wide grin. “I got so distracted I almost forgot to tell you. I got a call from Aubrey this morning. She found me. Isn’t that amazing? I found both my sisters practically at the same time. She’s still in Chicago.”
West’s brows shot up and he glanced back to Wyatt, who was guarding the entrance but could hear everything being said. “That is amazing. What are the odds? Chicago, you said?”
“Yes, I told her I’d come visit her. Maybe we can all go.” Zach shook his head, his hand still holding her own. “I guess I probably sound pushy but I’m just so damn happy to have my family back. This has been the best day of my life.”
“Me too,” Gigi said, meaning it more than she could express with mere words. She still hadn’t dealt with West’s declaration in the truck earlier regarding his love for her, but her doubt about that relationship didn’t diminish her excitement about finding her brother.
She’d deal with West and his love later. When she could think more clearly. He’d thrown down the gauntlet, issuing an ultimatum, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that either. Having been on her own for most of her life she didn’t take kindly to a man laying down the law about anything, let alone about her future.
“I need to finish up here but why don’t we go to lunch and we can talk? Really talk. What do you think?”
Gigi looked up at West and he nodded his head.
“That sounds good. You know this area—what do you suggest?”
If Zach thought it was strange that she needed West’s approval to go to lunch he didn’t say so. “There’s a really good Italian place just a few blocks down. I just need about fifteen minutes. If you want you can go ahead and get a table and I’ll follow you. It can get busy this time of day.”
“We can do that. Where is it located?” West asked, checking his phone. He was waiting for more news from Jason about the agent who would help them put Alan behind bars.
Zach gave them directions and she hugged her brother one more time before they exited the building, her heart still pounding in her chest.
She’d found Zach. And Aubrey too. After years of it being just her she was no longer alone.
It felt strange. But good. Gigi had a family that loved her. West said he did too.
Everything had changed but it didn’t feel quite real.
She had to believe in it. And that was the hardest part.
* * *
West pulled Wyatt aside as Gigi and Zach chatted away at a corner table in the Italian restaurant. The food was as good as Zach had promised and the newly reunited brother and sister had spent the last hour catching up on their lives.
Unmentioned so far?
Gigi’s control-freak stalker ex-boyfriend and Zach’s life since leaving the military. He’d told her all about his years with a foster family that had eventually adopted him. He’d also talked about his time in the Middle East but he’d pretty much stopped talking at the point of his discharge.
West and Wyatt stood by the swinging kitchen door, far enough away that they wouldn’t be overheard by Gigi and Zach. The place was busy and between the chatter of diners and the tinkling of silverware they hadn’t had to move far.
“Did you hear Zach earlier? Sister Aubrey just happens to get in touch with him, today of all days. I’m getting a hinky vibe about this.”
Wyatt nodded grimly, his lips a flat line. “If I were in your shoes I wouldn’t like it at all. What do you know about this sister? Could she be working with this Morton character? It’s just too much of a coincidence for me.”
“I’ll have a friend of mine look into her past. Now that we know she’s in Chicago and that she has a new last name he should be able to find out what she’s been doing all these years.”
“Do you think it’s a trap?”
West laughed but the situation wasn’t remotely funny. “Yes, but I don’t think we have any choice. There’s no way I’m going to talk Gigi out of seeing her sister and we need to go to Chicago to meet up with Jason’s agent friend if we want Morton behind bars. It doesn’t leave me many options.”
Wyatt jaw tightened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I can go with you if you want. Never been to Chicago.”
“Are you sure?” Wyatt hadn’t been over a hundred miles from his house in over three years. “I could use the help but I know you don’t like traveling or being away from home.”
His friend rubbed his chin and grimaced. “About that…I think maybe I’ve been a hermit for too long. I shoul
d get out more. Live a little. Hell, if Gigi can leave her home every day with a madman trying to turn her into some sort of pet or plaything the very least I can do is drag my ass out of the house. No one’s trying to kill me.” Wyatt grinned. “At least I don’t think they are. I could be wrong. There was that high-stakes card game in Tijuana.”
Wyatt had a world class poker face. He could have gone professional if he’d had ambitions in that direction. “Then I accept your offer with gratitude. I’ll call Jason and have him and Jared meet us in in Chicago. No sense them coming all the way down here when we’re just going to up and leave.”
“Got a plan for this trip?” Wyatt arched an eyebrow.
“Nope, but it’s early yet.” West grinned. “We haven’t seen any of Morton’s men, but if Morton had Aubrey call Zach then he has to know we’re here. We need to assume he’ll come at us.”
And West would need to be ready.
Chapter Eighteen
‡
“So you work in a karate studio? That sounds like fun.”
Gigi sipped her iced tea, her gaze fixed to Zach and still amazed he was sitting across from her eating a large plate of ziti. He resembled Aubrey more than Gigi with his long legs, light brown hair, and blue eyes. Their mother had always said Gigi got her blonde hair from her grandmother and Zach and Aubrey got their brown hair from their grandfather. Gigi had never met any of her mother’s family so she didn’t know if it was true or not.
“Actually it’s mixed martial arts, which is very different. It takes the best techniques from several disciplines. My job is to run classes for the kids and I also help coach the fight team.”
One look at Zach and anyone could see he was in fantastic shape. “How did you end up here in Vegas?”
Her brother shrugged nonchalantly but his shoulders stiffened. “An old friend runs the gym. He offered me a job so here I am. I’d never been to Vegas so it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Hiding From Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 2) Page 11
