by A. R. Ford
The EMT knelt beside Leah. A few minutes later she had a dressing on the wound, a blood pressure cuff on one arm, and answered questions about how many fingers the EMT held up. The EMT recommended that she go to the hospital to be checked out. Leah declined, frowning at me when I overrode her decision.
“She’s going. Get the squad over here now. And I’m going with her,” I said.
Leah
FLASHES OF THE EVENTS that followed are the only thing I can remember, other than Nick refusing to leave my side. Even in the emergency room of the hospital I was taken to, he remained steadfastly there. The man I loved more than life itself saved me.
A man identifying himself as a trauma surgeon hovered over me in the emergency room. “You’re one lucky lady. You have a concussion from the accident. The laceration on your head is superficial. We’ll keep you overnight to make sure you’re stable, but it looks like you’ll be able to go home then.”
“Where’s Nick?” My question brought Nick’s haggard face into my field of vision. His hand found mine.
“I moved to a corner to give them some room, baby. I’ve been here the entire time,” he said.
The trauma surgeon glared at Nick. I couldn’t hold back a laugh. The effort brought a sharp pain lancing through my head. “He can be a pain in the ass sometimes, doctor, but he’s a great guy all the way around. My head hurts.”
“We can get you some pain medication for that, Leah. Do you want this guy to hang out here?” the doctor asked with a smile.
“If he goes, so do I.”
“I think we’ll keep you both then,” the doctor said. He gave my hand a pat before barking an order for pain medication.
Fuzziness overwhelmed me minutes later as the pain medication took effect. “Promise.”
“Promise what, baby?” Nick asked, one hand caressing my cheek.
“Stay with me.” My eyes closed involuntarily as a heavy warmth consumed me. I felt his hand enfold mine with warmth, and reassurance.
Lips brushed my forehead before I heard him speak again. “Always. Always for you, Leah.”
Chapter 23
Nick
LEAH LAY SLEEPING IN the hospital bed. I held her hand with one hand as the index finger of the other traced the outline of her knuckles. A knock at the door came before Agent Brendel stepped inside the room.
“How is she?”
“Same old Leah. Doctor says she can go home tomorrow. What happened to Soranno?” I desperately needed to know he was dead. It was the only way Leah would be safe.
“Soranno is in federal custody. He’ll be going to trial on numerous charges. Mendez, and half a dozen of Soranno’s men, are dead. Our guys suffered a few minor injuries. There’s someone who wants to visit if it’s okay, Nick.” Agent Brendel paused, eyes falling on Leah. “She’s a hell of a woman.”
“She sure is,” I agreed, hand tightening around Leah’s hand. “Who’s the visitor?”
David, Leah’s stepfather, walked into the room with a woman who looked a lot like Leah. Agent Brendel discreetly excused herself. “Nick, I know we didn’t have time earlier to introduce ourselves, and get to know one another,” David said once the door was closed. He motioned toward the older woman with Leah’s eyes, and smiled. “This is my wife, Elena Craig Jamison, Leah’s mother.”
Elena stepped closer to the bed, her eyes flickering from me, to Leah. She was tall and lean like Leah. Long hair that had long since turned grey was worn in a single plait down the center of her back. Eyes the same color as Leah’s gazed hesitantly at me.
I stood, and hugged her. “Thank you for coming, Elena.”
Elena hugged me in return, a hand patting my back before she pulled away. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter. I can never thank you enough.”
I shook David’s hand before returning my attention to Elena. “Thank you for everything you did to bring Soranno to justice, and to protect Leah. Without you and David, I’m afraid this wouldn’t have turned out as well. I don’t know what I would do without her.”
“You love her,” Elena replied.
“Unequivocally.” A groan from the bed drew our attention. Leah struggled to sit up. I came to her aid instantly, sliding an arm behind her back. “How are you feeling?”
“Like a semi ran over me, then backed up to make sure he did it right the first time,” Leah muttered. Her eyes widened upon seeing Elena in the room. “Mom, what are you doing here?”
Elena approached the foot of the bed hesitantly. “I wanted to make sure you were alright. David told me what happened. I’m sorry you met him under such dire circumstances.”
“David?” Leah’s eyes moved to the man standing at her mother’s side. A stranger, someone that neither of us knew but apparently held a place of importance in Elena’s life.
“David is your stepfather. We were married a couple years ago. He got me to go to rehab.”
David stepped toward the bed with a hand held out. Leah took the hand, shook it, then held it while she remained silent. “So, you’re my stepfather?”
“Yes, I’m your stepfather, Leah. I was there with Soranno when the shooting started. I moved you to safety. I promised your mother I would protect you if I could,” David replied.
Leah released his hand. “Thank you.” Her attention turned to her mother, as I hoped it would. Elena took a seat on the bed by Leah. David stepped aside as any man would when mother and daughter work to resolve issues, and rebuild a relationship.
I caught David’s attention before motioning toward the door. Leah and her mother needed privacy. Years of unfinished business complicated their reunion. I prayed they could work through it, and find each other again. Once we were in the hallway, and the door to Leah’s room closed, I invited David for a cup of coffee in the hospital cafeteria.
We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before David spoke. “I know you want to know more about how all this went down,” he said. “I’ve already agreed to testify, or provide any information the feds need to put Soranno’s reign in Warner to bed.”
“How did Mendez fake his death?” Dark coffee swirled within the styrofoam cup. It was a nervous movement meant to distract me from a painful memory that still made no sense.
“I’m not sure of the finer details,” David replied with a wry smile. “I do know that a homeless Hispanic man the same height and weight met a horrible fate the day the safehouse was compromised. A lot of money exchanged hands. There are people on the take in the city medical examiner’s office, so it was easy substituting a body, and faking an autopsy report. Similar wounds were inflicted...” David’s voice broke. He looked at the ceiling, eyes glistening.
“Why did you turn on Soranno?”
“Elena had more to do with that than anything. But I knew I couldn’t let Mendez have Leah after our first meeting. He came to see Soranno a few weeks ago. I did my job, and kept him back until we could frisk him. He punched me in the kidney before putting a gun in my mouth. Soranno laughed. When I heard about the plan for Leah, I knew what I needed to do,” David shared. He laughed softly. “Soranno and Mendez were sick bastards.”
“That they were. Do you have any idea where Jacinda is?” Although there was no love lost between me and my ex-wife, I didn’t want harm to befall her.
“There’s a pretty good chance she didn’t make it,” David muttered. “She did something to piss Soranno off. He gave her to Mendez. I’m sorry, Nick. How did you know her?”
The knowledge that Jacinda was involved with Soranno hit me in the gut. “Ex-wife. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to get back to Leah’s room.”
“Of course.”
The door of Leah’s room swung open to reveal something I thought would never happen. Leah and her mother lay side by side in the hospital bed talking. I hoped this was just the beginning of a new phase of their relationship. David and I stood watching our women as they conversed.
“Looks like you ladies have enjoyed the visit,” David remarked.
Elena hugged Leah before joining David. “We’ve had a good conversation. Thank you for letting me stay with you for a while, Leah. I’ll be in touch.”
“I can give you my cell number,” I volunteered. “We have company issued cell phones now.”
Elena smiled while entering the number in the contacts list of her cell phone. She hugged and kissed me before taking David’s hand. “I’d like for us to get together some time, Nick, after Leah is up to it, of course. Maybe dinner?” Elena waited hopefully for my response.
“I’d really like that, mom,” Leah replied. She blew her mother a kiss before she and David left the room.
I resumed my seat on the edge of the bed before reaching for Leah’s hand. “How did things go with your mom?”
“I’m glad you gave us some time alone. I think she’s being honest, Nick. She goes to NA meetings, and has a sponsor now. She sponsors other women in recovery. We have a lot of catching up to do.” Her gold-flecked brown eyes held my gaze. “I’ve always wanted my mom in my life. Now, I think she’s here to stay.”
Leah fell asleep not long after David and her mother left. I lay beside her, taking in the peaceful face of my soulmate. It would be a long time, if ever, before I could leave her alone. My greatest fears were almost realized after Soranno kidnapped her. I took the ring from the front pocket of my jeans. The diamond shimmered after I slid the band onto her finger. I couldn’t wait to add a wedding band to the same finger. Leah Craig was mine to have, and to hold, in sickness, and in health. Life was definitely better with Leah in it.
Leah
THE NEXT DAY MOST OF the Knight Security crew came to visit. Lukas and Sarah dropped by with Nicholas. How could I not be happy with the cutest guy in the entire world sitting in bed with me? My heart melted the instant the chubby four-month-old baby came to rest in my arms. He sat looking somberly at me with midnight blue eyes. My hand instinctively stroked the silky wisps of hair covering his head. The yearning ache to be a mother rose within me.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Leah,” Lukas said after chuckling at his son’s attempts to blow bubbles. The effort sounded more like a miniature motor boat spewing saliva.
“You scared us half to death,” Sarah said. “Do you need anything?”
“A hot date with this little guy.” Nicholas giggled when I pressed my face against his neck and inhaled the sweet baby scent that clung to him.
“We wanted to come by early. Afternoons tend to be a busy time with visits. At least that’s how it was when we had Nicholas,” Sarah explained. She picked Nicholas up when he began to tug on the EKG leads protruding from my hospital gown. “It’s getting close to his nap time.”
“Take care of your little man. I’ll see you soon. The doctor said I could go home today. A nurse came by earlier saying the discharge paperwork could take some time.”
The reassurance brought a smile to Sarah’s face. Lukas shook Nick’s hand before kissing my cheek. “We’ll see you soon, Leah,” Lukas assured.
Nick paced the floor while waiting to take me home. After a few hours, a sheaf of paperwork, and wheelchair ride later, I was free to go home. Riley Briggs waited for us in an SUV in front of the hospital. He held the door open when Nick helped me into the back of the vehicle. “It’s good to see you up and about, Leah,” Riley said before pulling the SUV onto the roadway.
Nick held my hand, eyes feasting on my face during the drive. I knew there were so many things we needed to discuss, but the lack of privacy held off our conversation.
Once we arrived at Knight Security, I wanted nothing more than to take a nap. Agent Brendel met us when the elevator doors opened on the residency floor. “Leah, I hate to bring this up, but I need to debrief you.”
“Not here. This is my home away from home.”
The conference room served as Agent Brendel’s office for the debriefing. She recorded our conversation as she dug for any information I could give her about Soranno, and Mendez. After an hour of nonstop questions, my head throbbed. I wanted nothing more than to lie down in a quiet dark place.
Nick came to my rescue. “I think she’s given you all the information she can, Agent Brendel. Leah was unconscious after the accident. At least let her get some rest before you start digging again.”
“I’m sorry, Nick. You know how these things are. I think I have what I need. Combined with the other statements, I can submit a report to my superiors.” Agent Brendel turned the digital recorder off. “Thank you for everything you and Nick did to help us get Soranno.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied. “Ryder played an important role as well.” I glanced at the floor, uneasy with the conversation. The next time I wanted to play solo detective, I would listen to Nick’s concerns before getting in over my head. The events of the past few days served as a valuable learning experience. One I would not soon forget.
“Yes, he did. I’ll let you get some rest, Leah.”
The soft pillow and bed in our room felt amazingly comfortable after a night spent in a hospital bed. Nick spooned against me, an arm around my waist. The touch of his lips against my ear made shivers run down my spine. “Promise me you’ll stop being such a daredevil,” Nick muttered.
Laughter came at his words. “I’m not into the daredevil lifestyle, at least not after all that’s happened.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” he muttered. “Now take a nap before my caveman instincts take over.”
“Caveman?” I giggled at the mental image of Nick carrying a club over one shoulder while wearing a loincloth made of animal hide.
“I think you know what I mean,” Nick growled in my ear.
His lips claimed mine in a scorching kiss that bordered on desperation. Fingers combed through my hair before a hand fisted in its length. Who needed a nap when the sexiest man in the world wanted to fool around? I certainly did not. It was a hell of a homecoming.
The next morning, I poked Nick in the ribs. “Are we living here forever?”
“I don’t think there’s a need to stay here,” Nick replied.
Thankfully, we were able to begin searching for a place to live. The new residence inn on the northwestern shore of Lake Orion caught our eye. It would give us a place to live while construction started on the new house on Nick’s property. The entire Knight Security crew helped us move in the next day.
One thing continued to bother me. Ryder had been conspicuously absent since the meeting with Enigma. He knew that Nick and I knew about his role in helping my mom learn about the dark web.
We settled in to watch a movie that evening only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. Ryder stood there, head down, refusing to meet my gaze.
“I’m glad you’re here, Ryder. Come on in.” I stepped back, opening the door wide. Nick glanced at me, then Ryder. His face was impassive. I prayed it meant he would remain calm while Ryder was here.
Ryder sat in a chair near the sofa. It seemed to take forever before he spoke. The floodgates opened with the first word. Nick and I let him talk without interrupting.
“I should have told you everything. I realize that now. Your mom wanted to make amends with you. I thought helping her connect with you was the right thing to do. She knew some things, but other people—David, others she didn’t know. A lot of people wanted Soranno gone. I’m so sorry, Leah, that things didn’t go according to plan. Nick, I hope you can forgive me. I would never hurt either of you. You’re good friends. I don’t have a lot of those.”
Ryder stood up, hesitating for a few seconds before walking toward the door. “Thanks for hearing me out.”
“Why don’t you stay, Ryder?” Nick’s offer caught Ryder before he could open the door. “We ordered pizza. Leah wanted to watch a movie.”
Ryder hesitated, but returned to sit in the chair. “Thanks. I’d like that,” he accepted with a grin.
Forgiveness is a powerful action. I learned more about forgiveness in a few days than I could learn in a lifetime. A peace I have never felt before f
illed my heart while Ryder and Nick talked about sports while waiting for the pizza to arrive. Forgiveness, I learned, is an eraser for the past while fostering peace in the future.
Chapter 24
Leah
NEARLY A MONTH LATER, Nick and I paid a visit to the site of our new home. The unmistakable sound of construction and tools filled the air. We walked from the street to the wooden framing of the home. The foreman recognized Nick. He gave us hard hats before leading us through the construction site.
“It might not look like much now, but in a few days, you’ll start to see the floorplan take place. Our goal is to get it roofed by the end of the week,” the foreman said. He led us toward a roughly constructed table consisting of two sawhorses, and a scrap piece of plywood. He motioned with an index finger at the blueprint. “You can see the shape of the great room taking place now on the first floor. Once the stairs are constructed, we can start working on the second floor.”
“I think this will be a nice home for us,” I murmured. I wandered off to inspect what would soon be our backyard. I could envision a deck, and even a swimming pool one day.
Nick’s shout pulled me back to the present. He motioned for me to join him. “Are you happy with the progress?”
“It’s beautiful. With the dry weather everything should move along well,” I replied. I shook the foreman’s hand. “Thank you for everything. Give us a call if anything changes.”
“Will do,” the foreman replied before shaking Nick’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to work with you folks. My crew promised to work extra hard to get you into a house as soon as they can. That Leo Soranno was a piece of work. I’m glad he’s off the streets.”
Nick waved at the crew before wrapping an arm around my waist. “How do you feel about car shopping?”
“You miss the Charger.”
“Of course, I miss the Charger. I’m tired of mooching off of Lukas and Morgan. What do you say we go look for a car? I might even sweeten the deal with another steamboat dinner.” Nick opened the SUV’s passenger door, but stood waiting for my response.