Pure (Trenton Security Book 4)

by J. M. Dabney

  Death was something they’d talked about a lot over the years. His time in the military and Trenton, how easily things could go wrong. Her job as a nurse. They both knew tomorrow wasn’t a guarantee.

  “How much did you cry?”

  She rolled her eyes and rubbed his cheek. “Plenty and then I went to the shooting range.”

  “Best therapy ever. Where’s Raul?”

  “Texas. He was taken there the day after you were rushed to Atlanta. You were transported by Sin and Saint, with Gibson acting as medic straight from Horace and Freddie’s. They didn’t have time to stabilize you in Powers.”

  “When are the cops coming for me?”

  “Pelter, Gibson, Sin, and Saint, along with Trenton, came up with you were off on a job and injured in the process.”

  “I don’t forgive them.”

  “And I understand, but maybe they thought it through. Why was Raul not as a part of the team as the rest? He’s been around several years, but he’s still the new guy. It’s only been a few years where you two have been an exclusive team. How well do we know anyone, Nicolas?”

  “I trust him with my life.”

  “And that is the reason I didn’t hesitate to help, but now we have to stay inside the lines on this one. We have to play nice with the men with badges.”

  “Do I gotta?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. You know I see shit in the ER, trauma, and we see the worst of humanity and what people do to it, especially people we’re supposed to trust. Now, if you’re still free of infection by the end of the week and getting around, I packed us bags. You can’t fly until your lung is completely repaired. So, we’re heading to Texas to be close to Raul for his incarceration and trial. They denied bail.”

  “I knew that would happen. I didn’t tell him I loved him.” As he confessed, tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.

  “I’m sure he knows even without the words. You two, I may not like the profession or what he does, but I knew from the way you looked as you talked about him. That smile I always hoped you’d get when you allowed yourself to trust someone.”

  “I told him he’d make pretty, feral babies.”

  She snorted and dropped a kiss on his forehead.

  “Of course you did. Men love to know their acceptable breeding partners.”

  “He didn’t…he didn’t make me feel bad about the things I wanted—want. Raul didn’t push…he respected my limits. He didn’t make me feel dirty.”

  “There is nothing dirty about you. The bastard who created that hatred inside of you…the sense of degradation…he’s the one who should’ve suffered. But your emotions and thoughts were violated along with your body. Strength is being able to—”

  “Love past the pain.” He finished the single line that she’d spoken to him the night it happened. The words he’d inked into his skin the day he’d returned to Powers with the determination to find a way through.

  “Love isn’t a cure-all, baby, it’s just what helps us move beyond that which attempted to destroy us. You were my strength the day you were born. Your first cries were what eased the betrayal. My gift for surviving. And you need to do the same for Raul, be his gift.

  “And maybe search for a bit of forgiveness. At least for Gage because I tell you, that man is free with the spanking threats. And that is one sexy man. I might just misbehave to give him an excuse.”

  “He’s got a boyfriend.”

  He appreciated her change of topic, and her attempt to lighten the mood. He had so much he had to do, plans to make, and he wasn’t quite ready to start mending fences. The resentment was still too strong.

  “I’m aware but I ain’t blind.”

  “You need to start dating.”

  “There is this very handsome new ER doctor, considerably younger but, let’s just say I’d totally ignore that if he even hinted, but he’s been off the schedule. So, maybe he was temporary.”

  We laughed and hugged, but there was still an elephant in the room. The fact that a few feet closer and he wouldn’t be there, but they put that fear and pain into the embrace. Celebrating silently that they were both alive.

  “Mr. Warner, Nurse Warner.” A deep voice with a hint of an accent made us part.

  “Dr. Fenway, are you slumming? I noticed you were off the board.”

  He rolled his lips between his teeth at her thickening southern accent as he studied the man in the doorway. Slim and elegant with that silver at the temples thing that made men a bit sexier. When his mother developed a crush, she went all out.

  “Very much so, I was asked to do a week rotation. May I examine you, Mr. Warner?”

  “Nicolas is fine or Pure. It’s my nickname at work. Not many people other than Mom call me Nicolas anymore.”

  The doctor spoke as he checked his surgical incision, tested for tenderness, and the entire time, Pure watched his mom staring at the doctor. He smiled at her blush when she noticed him studying her. He loved that she was coming more out of her shell every year. It began with nursing school and her job in the emergency room. She’d found her place and as weird as he’d found it, he wanted his mom to find someone.

  “Nurse Warner, your son is healing perfectly. Nicolas, because of the infection, we want to make sure you don’t relapse so we’ll be keeping you a few more days.”

  “Her name is Jenn,” he said.

  “Jenn, it’s a very beautiful name. I’m still new, and my former employer was stricter about doctor/staff formality. Well, we’re going to lower your pain medication to wean you off. I’ll see you tomorrow morning for rounds, and maybe we can determine a definite time to prepare you for discharge.”

  “I’ll be taking personal leave to stay with him while he heals.”

  “Very good. Nurse…Jenn, Nicolas, I’ll leave you to visit.”

  The doctor left, and Mom watched him the entire way. “Shame about the doctor’s coat.”

  “He has the cutest, roundest ass I’ve ever seen. I get nothing done when he works.”

  He laughed and groaned. “Don’t make me laugh.”

  “Get well,” she said as she sat on the side of his bed. “Everything is ready to go when they discharge you. We’ll do everything within our power to get Raul home.”

  “I know, but what if he doesn’t—”

  “He’ll survive. He knows he has you to come home to.”

  He hoped that was enough. They’d spoken about the possibility that he wouldn’t be found not guilty. He was told to move on, but how could he? He’d waited years to find that one person who would make the darkness fade. Three weeks he’d laid in a hospital bed, what if no one was giving his Daddy updates? What if Raul thought he was dead? He had to get out of there, but he needed to be patient. He had to make it back to the top of his game or what use was he?

  HIS BOY CAME FOR HIM

  He dropped his book to his chest as a baton banged against the bars of his cell. He marked his page and rolled from the lower bunk.

  “Martinez, you have a visitor.”

  “Who is it?” He was hoping Peaches was coming back with more information. The weeks were passing too quickly but slowly also. He still wasn’t given information about Pure or the case. Squeak apparently wasn’t as skilled at cock sucking as he was informed because he still hadn’t gotten the files for the names he’d asked for. The kid wasn’t as burnt as he’d first thought, but that wasn’t saying much.

  “How the fuck should I know?”

  The officer called for the cell to open, and he stepped out. He tried to push down his rage as he was shackled and handcuffed. He had one man in front and another behind him as he was escorted through the prison. At one point, he caught Benito’s gaze as he passed his cell. He shrugged at the lifting of the man’s brow.

  His curiosity and suspicion grew as he was led in the opposite direction of the meeting rooms for prisoners and their attorneys. That meant it wasn't an official visit. Which meant he had no idea who would be on the other side of the glass. A buzzer soun
ded, and he was led down the narrow space with bolted down stools and cubicles. There was a community visiting area for prisoners with privileges.

  He froze as he caught sight of his visitor. His boy looked thinner and paler. He lowered himself onto the stool and loathed the glass that separated them. He couldn’t stop staring and fumbled the receiver. It took him two tries before he pressed it to his ear. He’d started to give up. Accepted that he was alone.

  “Hey, baby boy.”

  “Hi, are you okay?”

  “Yeah, ready to go home.” He leaned forward, and his boy did the same.

  “I’m working on it. I rented a furnished apartment here. Mom’s staying to help me get settled then she has to get home to this hot younger doctor.”

  “Hot, huh?”

  “The whole sexy British thing doesn’t really do it for me.”

  “It better not, you know who owns you, whether I’m in here or not.”

  “What a possessive Daddy.”

  “You’re asking for punishment.”

  “Yeah, yeah, you were a lot more reckless before you got in my pants.”

  He wanted to kiss his boy’s curved lips and savor that Pure was alive. Still there to joke like they used to post jobs.

  “What was the damage?” he asked as he saw his boy shifted uncomfortably. He wanted to be able to touch and kiss, check every inch of his boy to make sure he was okay.

  “Shattered rib, but I’m fine. Nothing that won’t heal.”

  “I hate this fucking glass. No one told me shit about you. As far as I knew you could’ve been dead and I just want to check you over.”

  “One day soon. Now, what can you tell me?”

  “There’s my Pure.” He knew him so well, and he could see the wheels already turning. “I got a few names that might be good for some information, but so far it hasn’t panned out.”

  “I got it covered. Whatever you need, just give me a list. I brought all my supplies with me.”

  “You know how sexy you are when I think about you in your tactical gear.”

  “I do.”

  “Brat.”

  “You can take care of that when you come home.”

  “I’m keeping track.”

  Raul snorted, and he couldn’t help smiling at his boy. Alive but maybe not safe. “You go nowhere without a vest.”

  “It’s in the car with Mom, and she has her own.”

  “Send her home.”

  “Mom said you’d say that and she told me to tell you...no. She’s armed, and she’s a better shot than you.”

  “Ouch, baby boy, way to hurt my feelings.”

  “I taught Mama everything she knows. Alone in the city, her job can get dangerous, and I got her a concealed permit.”

  “I should have a harder time picturing your flowery apron-wearing mama carrying, but it’s pretty easy after meeting her.”

  “Well, all I’m saying is she can take care of herself, and she’s only here for a few weeks to take care of my bandages, then she’s headed out. She’s going to run interference for me from back home.”

  “I should tell you to cut your losses and go on with your life.”

  “But you’re not, because I need you home and safe. And you need me here. I’ll do what needs to be done in the streets while you work everything from your side. Who do I need to contact?”

  “I have a truce with Benito Feeley. He’s watching my back for now.”

  “Find out what’ll keep him loyal for the time being. I left you a little something. I’m sure they’re searching every inch of the package at the moment. I got a landline for collect calls and a P.O. Box. We gotta go a bit old school.”

  “Nothing wrong with old school.”

  They spoke until the officer behind him said it was time to go.

  “Baby boy—”

  “Tell me when you’re out of here.”

  “What if—”

  “There’s no what if. You’ll be out, and if not, not a bad city. I have plenty of skills to find another job. Weekly visits are better than nothing.”

  “Nicolas.”

  “Ouch, going stern Daddy on me. You tell me what you need, and you’ll get it.”

  “Will do.”

  “Time to go, Martinez.”

  He reluctantly hung up the receiver, and he noticed his boy’s hands fist as the officer jerked him up from the stool. He also didn’t miss the way his boy seemed to memorize the bastard for Pure’s crosshairs. Outwardly his baby boy was calm, but after years of careful study—anticipating his boy’s moods—Pure had reached homicidal.

  I’ll be fine, he mouthed, and Pure nodded, but he knew his agreement wouldn’t last if Pure could get his hands on the C.O.

  He was pushed forward but caught one more look at his beautiful boy’s face. Pure was alive and close by, that would have to be enough. When they made it back to his cell, he was released from his restraints and locked back up. He picked up the box with the ripped paper that sat on the small desk. There was a letter with a number and address on the envelope—supplies for him to write.

  “Now, baby boy, you have outdone yourself,” he whispered to himself as he lifted out the book. A page was marked with a poem card. It was a mix of regular and block letters, an alphanumeric code. Block letters were numbers. It was the way his boy had written passwords and account numbers. They’d shared that information in case of emergencies. It wasn’t something people would pay attention to, but his boy knew he’d notice.

  He sat down to get to work until it was time to line up for lunch. That night he’d work on a letter with the information his boy needed to handle an outside investigation. He needed someone he could trust to do what was necessary, and his boy was close enough to see.

  “Visitor?”

  He jerked his gaze up to find Benito staring through the bars.

  “Yeah.”

  “Squeak has something for you. You might want to take a trip to the library after lunch.”

  “From the look on your face, I’m not gonna like it.”

  “Man, the names he has for you, you’re gonna need someone who’s willing to go above and beyond.”

  “No one more vicious than my boy when he needs to be.”

  “I still got a few friends on the outside if your boy needs some backup.”

  “Why?”

  “I got shit to atone for, and against my better judgment, I don’t want to kill you.”

  “Thanks, I think.”

  “Remember, after lunch.”

  “Got it.”

  He waited for the man to leave and looked down at the partial message he’d deciphered.

  I love you. If you don’t survive, I’ll show up at your funeral just to shoot your casket.

  His boy had a way with words. He tucked the plastic-coated card back into the book along with the piece of paper. They’d call lunch soon. He’d have names to send Pure.

  He didn’t want to get his hopes up too much, but things appeared to be coming together. He knew he had time on him for the escape, but that was better than a life sentence on top of that. He stood and paced the length of his cell, five steps to the wall and as many back to the bars. The last time he was in a space this small, Little had locked him in the weapons cage. Little had thought they needed sex lessons with the puppets he’d picked up. His boy had looked sexy when he’d taken that shot at Little. He smiled to himself, his boy was alive, and that’s all that mattered. His freedom was second. Pure’s happiness would always come first, and what would make his boy happy was them together. He’d do everything in his power to get out of there, except putting his boy’s life on the line.

  He needed to make sure his boy had backup, and he knew the Trenton guys were out as an option. That meant he was going to make a deal with a sadistic psychopath. What could possibly go wrong?

  ENEMIES WERE CLOSER THAN THEY EXPECTED

  He’d received a letter a day for five days and had them laid out—each one was deciphered, and he was shuffling throu
gh files to get rid of as much of his electronic footprint as possible. What he was done with was burned in the fireplace in his temporary apartment. As fast as the list grew, the more he marked off when he found they were dead or supposedly living the good life.

  “Talk it out.”

  He turned to find his mom standing in the entryway of the kitchen with her suitcase beside her feet. As much as she wanted to stay, she was called back to work because all hell had broken loose without her.

  “I just have this bad feeling that…they’re out there and closer than I’m comfortable with.”

  “Raul said you were going to meet some people that could help you.”

  “Yeah, but I trust him, but I’m just not so sure about taking reinforcements from a hitman.”

  “At least you’ll be cautious.”

  “Yeah.” He went through some more papers. “There’s this guy inside named Squeak. He trades sexual favors for information he’s paid to find. The kid’s record reads like a manual on how to build the perfect serial killer. He was serving time in Juvie before he fucking hit puberty.”

  “But has his information panned out?”

  “A bit but not fast enough.”

  “You have a month and a half until the trial.”

  “I don’t know if Raul has that kinda time.”

  “He will. He’s not going to leave you alone.”

  “I don’t want him worrying about me, Mom. He needs to worry about his own ass.”

  She scoffed, and he accepted her hug when she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Not going to happen. You mean everything to him. And you two will do whatever is necessary to get back to each other. You have to accept that he’s at least going to be doing time for the escape.”

  “The one I planned and executed without his knowledge.”

  “There is that. What about the victim?”

  “Good kid, no boyfriends, no record.” He picked up the file on the victim. “Working his way through college as a bartender. His boss and co-workers said he wasn’t the type to leave the bar with a customer. You don’t buy your meat where you make your bread.”