Fort Collins

by Christian, Claudia Hall

“Nadia,” Nash said. He looked down at the ground. “I didn’t know. . . I mean, I knew she was beautiful and smart and speaks, like, seven languages and. . .”

  “You didn’t know about the money,” Fin said.

  “I knew she had money, you know,” Nash said. “She’s a doctor and everything, but . . .”

  Nash shook his head.

  “Does that change anything?” Fin asked.

  “I feel. . . I mean, how can I. . .” Nash touched his chest. “I mean, me?”

  Nash’s eyes held his confusion, and his head drooped with sorrow.

  “Ah,” Fin said.

  “Ah?” Nash asked.

  Fin put his hand on Nash’s shoulder and leaned forward to make a kind of huddle. Nash looked up at the fairy.

  “You’ve met Abi?” Fin asked.

  Nash nodded.

  “Do you know anything about her?” Fin asked.

  Nash shook his head.

  “She is my mother’s equal,” Fin said. “Gilfand tells a story of how mother became queen. He said they had to choose between Abi, my mother, and her sister. Abi denies this is true, but she’s just being polite.”

  Nash was pretty sure Fin was telling him something — he just wasn’t sure what.

  “What are you saying?” Nash asked. His eyes filled with tears.

  “She is much bigger, more powerful, smarter, and more experienced than I,” Fin said with a nod. “She’s led the Fairy Corps since it was invented. I have no idea how she gets all those stubborn fairies to do what they’re told. My sister, Mari, was supposed to take over from her, but there’s no way Mari could replace Abi. She doesn’t even bother to try.”

  Fin nodded. Nash gave a confused shake of his head.

  “I met her when I came home from the first war,” Fin said. “I was young, opinionated, and unformed. Not unlike you. More arrogant, of course. After all, I was a prince. That was enough for me to get any fairy to fall for me. Not Abi. She didn’t want anything to do with me. She was not impressed with me at all.”

  “Really?” Nash asked.

  “Really,” Fin said. “She told me that if she couldn’t hold a conversation with me, she had no use for me. Me! Prince Finegal!”

  Looking incredulous, Fin’s hand went to his chest.

  “I am first in line for the entire land,” Fin said. “I am handsome, strong, a legendary lover, and. . .”

  Laughing, Fin shook his head.

  “What did you do?” Nash asked.

  “I became very angry,” Fin said. “I left for the outer edges of the Queendom. There, I ruled my own province. I married and had children.”

  “And Abi?” Nash asked.

  “I didn’t see her again until my wife and children were killed,” Fin said. “She is the one who beheaded the men who raped and murdered my wife. Personally. By herself. She brought me their heads.”

  “Wow,” Nash said.

  “‘Wow,’ is right,” Fin said. “I was heartbroken, angry, and intimidated.”

  “What did you do?” Nash asked again.

  Fin looked at Nash for a moment before grinning at him.

  “I became better,” Fin said. “I grew to match her.”

  “But. . .”

  “If I were you, I’d start learning languages,” Fin said. “Communicating to people seems a priority to your beloved.”

  “I can do that,” Nash said.

  “I’d ask Anjelika to help you,” Fin said. “She is older than Nadia but has the same depth and interests. She grew up in a similar household, so she’ll know what you need to learn. In fact, she’s standing right there. Ask her today.”

  “Today?” Nash asked.

  “Abi came around when she saw that I was making an effort to grow,” Fin said. “She helped me learn. She continues to push me, even now. She wants our Queendom to be a modern society. We can only do that if I keep up with modern life. In fact, this medical-school thing was her idea. I am enjoying myself immensely.”

  Nash smiled at Fin.

  “You can do this, Nash Norsen,” Fin said. “You can become the man your beloved deserves. I just know it.”

  “Is that a blessing?” Nash asked.

  “You don’t need one,” Fin said.

  Fin looked back to where they had been standing.

  “Those cretins from the bathroom are courting our loves,” Fin said. “We must get back.”

  “I’m going to talk to Anjelika, first,” Nash said.

  “You do that,” Fin said. “I will fight them off.”

  “Thanks,” Nash said. “And. . .”

  “Don’t mention it,” Fin said with a grin. “Just make it happen.”

  “I will,” Nash said.

  Fin nodded and walked away. Nash watched him shoo away the men they’d met in the bathroom. Nodding to himself, he went to talk to Anjelika.

  Chapter Three Hundred and Sixty-seven

  Tomorrow

  Sunday night —8:20 p.m. MT

  Over the United States

  Feeding her new baby boy, Heather looked up when Jill walked toward her. They were flying back to Denver after a long weekend of fun and adventure. The mood on the plane was markedly different than when they went to New York City. Just a few days ago, they’d hoped to get to Sissy before she died. Tonight, everyone was happy and relaxed from an afternoon and evening of music and food on the roof.

  Heather glanced to where the teenagers were hanging out. Tink was fast asleep. Heather looked up when Jill neared. Jill pointed to the spot next to Heather, who nudged Sandy to move over. Sandy looked up from her magazine and nodded to Jill before moving over. Jill sat down next to Heather on the bench couch. Her head in a textbook, Tanesha sat in a chair facing them. Her long legs stretched across the space so that her feet pressed against the couch they were sitting on..

  “How is he?” Jill whispered.

  “Perfect,” Heather said with a smile.

  Jill leaned over to look in his face.

  “I feel like I never see him,” Jill said.

  “You were really nice to breastfeed him after I was shot,” Heather said. “And now.”

  Heather gestured to the bottle she was feeding her baby.

  “I certainly have enough milk!” Jill said with a laugh.

  “Thanks,” Heather nodded.

  Jill put her arm around Heather in an open hug.

  “Mack was ready to go the moment he was born,” Heather said. She gestured to the chair next to Tanesha, where her eldest son was sleeping. “I didn’t get this kind of snuggling with him.”

  “Like Katy,” Sandy said. “You have to catch her for a snuggle.”

  The friends nodded.

  “This boy is a love,” Heather said. She leaned over to kiss his cheek.

  “He is,” Jill said.

  Jill stroked the baby’s tiny head before leaning forward to touch Sandy’s knee. Sandy looked up at Jill.

  “How are you?” Jill asked Sandy.

  Sandy shrugged and looked back at her magazine. The girlfriends waited for Sandy to respond. When she didn’t say anything, Heather knocked her shoulder into Sandy.

  “Oh, how am I?” Sandy asked with a sigh. “At this moment, I feel pretty good. The concert went well. Everyone had a great time. Jeraine won, and I got to see my gorgeous friend Tanesha celebrated on live television.”

  Tanesha looked up, and Sandy smiled.

  “But give me a minute,” Sandy continued. “I’ll go right back to feeling bad for leaving Sissy in New York City all by herself.”

  “Like she asked for,” Tanesha said.

  “More like begged,” Heather said.

  “It feels crummy,” Sandy said.

  “You’ve just been there — night and day — since she got shot,” Jill said. “It makes sense that you feel weird for not staying.”

  “What is she going to do?” Tanesha asked the question that she knew was soothing to Sandy.

  “She should get out of the hospital tomorrow morning. Bestat i
s going to help her move in to her home, where Sissy will stay for a week or so — maybe a month.” As she had a few times already, Sandy repeated Sissy’s plans. “When she’s able to move around on her own, she’ll move in with Ivan and Nadia. That gives them time to make a space for her in their loft.”

  “What’s the loft like?” Heather asked the other question that made Sandy feel more confident.

  “Kind of barren, really,” Sandy said. “Concrete floor, lots of open space and open windows. But also really nice. They are going to make a couple of rooms and a bathroom for Sissy. She’ll move in when she’s ready.”

  “Will she move in by herself?” Jill asked the last question that made Sandy feel better.

  “No, Charlie’s moving in with her,” Sandy said with a smile and a nod. “He has to testify this week, but then he’s going to move in with them. Ivan’s going to help them rehabilitate from their injuries. Charlie’ll just stay there until he’s strong again. He’ll be home by the fall, at the latest.”

  “Tink’s going to visit him this summer,” Heather added.

  Sandy smiled and nodded.

  “Thanks,” Sandy said. “I was feeling a little guilty.”

  “What’s happening with Nash?” Jill asked the question that would calm Sandy’s next worry.

  Sandy grinned at Jill.

  “Well?” Tanesha asked.

  “He talked to your mom, Jill,” Sandy said. “She’s going to take him under her wing to help him get cultured.”

  Sandy leaned forward so her ample chest pressed against her knee.

  “Me, too,” Sandy said. “I get to go to museums and stuff. Anjelika bought us a family pass.”

  “Me, too,” Jill said.

  “And me!” Heather said with a smile.

  “I catch up when I can,” Tanesha said. “It sounds really fun.”

  Sandy smiled and nodded.

  “And tomorrow?” Jill asked.

  “That horrible trial.” Sandy’s mood darkened. “The whole thing is so awful. I mean. . .”

  “No — I meant in the evening,” Jill said.

  “Marriage classes with our priest,” Sandy said with a smile. “We’re getting married at the Cathedral in June.”

  Heather and Tanesha shared a look.

  “What was that?” Jill asked.

  “Better you than me,” Tanesha said. “I cannot imagine what Jeraine would have to say about it.”

  She shot a look to where he and Jabari were fast asleep.

  “Did you ever talk Jacob into going?” Heather asked.

  “Oh, he’s going,” Jill said with a firm nod. “Why wouldn’t he?”

  Heather and Tanesha laughed. Jill smiled and Sandy chuckled.

  “They’re scared shitless,” Sandy said.

  “Jacob and Aden,” Jill said with a nod.

  “Did I tell you?” Heather asked.

  “That Blane’s coming home tomorrow?” Tanesha asked.

  “Only about fifteen times,” Sandy said.

  The girlfriends laughed.

  “What?” Heather asked. “I’m excited!”

  They laughed again and then fell silent.

  “Tomorrow,” Sandy said with a sigh.

  Heather, Jill, and Tanesha looked at her. Sandy nodded. Caught in their own thoughts, they fell silent.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday night — 11:50 p.m.

  Denver, Colorado

  The buzzing sound woke Sandy with a start. She sat up in bed. The glowing red numbers of the clock told her that they had climbed into bed only ten minutes ago. She groaned and got up to get her cell phone.

  “Hello?” Sandy answered without looking at the number.

  “Sandy?” Samantha Hargreaves’s voice was on the phone.

  Sandy pulled the phone away from her ear to look at the number.

  “Sami?” Sandy asked. “What number are you calling from?”

  “I’m calling from Art’s,” Samantha said. “I didn’t know if you’d pick up.”

  “111-222-3333 is Art’s number?” Sandy asked.

  “Sure,” Samantha said in a dry tone.

  “Oh,” Sandy said. When Samantha didn’t say anything else, Sandy said, “Well, we’re home. See you in the morning.”

  She hung up the phone and set it down. Hoping it wouldn’t ring again, she backed away from the phone with her hands up.

  “What was that?” Aden asked.

  “Samantha,” Sandy said. Her eyes never left the phone.

  “Ah, shit,” Aden said. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing,” Sandy said. “I hope.”

  They stared at the phone. When it didn’t ring, Sandy went to use the bathroom. When she came out, Aden was holding her cellphone.

  “It’s Samantha,” he said.

  Sandy scrunched up her face and shook her head.

  “Can I tell her what this is regarding?” Aden asked.

  “Very funny.” Samantha’s voice was loud enough for Sandy to hear.

  Sandy held out her hand, and Aden gave her the phone.

  “I’m here,” Sandy said.

  “You know how I warned you. . .” Samantha said.

  “The defendant’s last chance to fuck with the kids is tonight,” Sandy said.

  “Did I say that?” Samantha said with a laugh.

  “Not in those exact words,” Sandy said.

  “They want Charlie, Tink, and Nash, and a few of the families,” Samantha said. “I was able to keep the younger kids out of it.”

  “Thanks,” Sandy said.

  “They have to come downtown,” Samantha said.

  “Tonight?” Sandy asked.

  “Right now,” Samantha said. “This is his last chance to accept the plea bargain. The victims need to approve the plea bargain, so they need to be here.”

  “Tink has to testify tomorrow!” Sandy said.

  “She’s scheduled,” Samantha said. “But the schedule is shifting. If the plea goes through, they won’t have to testify, and that’s really what we want. If the plea doesn’t go through, the DA wants to spend the first day on procedures like picking a jury. Did I tell you he’s decided to try this himself?”

  “So everything is up in the air,” Sandy said.

  “All we have to do right now is go,” Samantha said. “We sit in a room with each other while the lawyers work. The DA will bring us a deal. If we accept it, no one has to testify. If we don’t, they start jury selection in a few hours.”

  Sandy grunted with disgust.

  “You don’t sound confident that we’ll reach a plea tonight,” Samantha said.

  “I am confident that this is another game to convince these children not to testify,” Sandy said.

  “You know I can’t respond to that,” Samantha said with a yawn. “Will you meet me? Please?”

  Sandy looked across the room at Aden. He nodded.

  “We’ll be there,” Sandy said.

  “The Marshalls offered to send security,” Samantha said. “But I’ve recruited my own security. Do not leave the Castle until someone comes for you.”

  “Someone?” Sandy asked.

  “Someone you recognize,” Samantha said.

  “You won’t tell me who?” Sandy asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Samantha said. “That’s part of the security. See you downtown in a half hour.”

  “I don’t know when we’ll get there,” Sandy said. “The kids just got in bed. Charlie’s taking meds and Tink is. . .”

  “Just do what you can,” Samantha said. “I’ll be in touch.”

  Sandy clicked off the phone.

  “What can I do?” Aden asked.

  “We have to get them up,” Sandy said. “Just Tink, Charlie, and Nash.”

  Aden pulled on pajama bottoms and went out into their living room, where the kids were sleeping together for one last time. They were wide awake.

  “There’s no freakin’ way we’re not going,” Noelle said to Aden when he came in the room.


  “No way,” Wanda said.

  “If they have to go, I have to go,” Ivy said.

  “They only need the older kids,” Aden said. “Charlie, Tink, and Nash.”

  “Too bad,” Ivy said. “He did the crime to us. He’s going to have to deal with all of us.”

  Aden looked at Sandy as she came into the room.

  “It’s not going to be any fun,” Sandy said. “Most likely, it’s just some stupid thing meant to intimidate you.”

  “I’m not intimidated,” Noelle said with a stubborn tilt of her chin.

  “I’m not either,” Ivy said.

  “I don’t know, guys,” Aden said.

  “I do,” Noelle said. “We’re going — even if we have to walk there.”

  “Sounds like they’re clear,” Sandy said.

  Aden looked at her. She gave him a grim smile.

  “Looks like we’re going to the courthouse,” Sandy said.

  The children’s heads went up and down in a nod.

  “Okay, we have two bathrooms,” Sandy said. “Use them as fast as you can. We’ll leave as soon as our ride gets here.”

  “Our ride?” Ivy asked.

  As if on cue, there was a knock at their apartment door. Aden went to answer it. He paused for a minute before opening it. Bruno, Otis’s long time bodyguard, was standing on the other side of the door.

  “Aden!” Bruno said. “I heard you needed a ride downtown.”

  “We have to go to the courthouse,” Aden said.

  “Lucky for you, the wife and I are visiting Colorado this week,” Bruno nodded. “We’re staying at Ivan’s apartment just around the corner. Nice place.”

  “Thank you so much.” Sandy came to the door to take his hands. “We need help.”

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I called a few good guys,” Bruno said. “In exchange, they want to speak with the Oracle.”

  “Delphie?” Aden asked.

  “She had agreed, so the deal is set,” Bruno said with a nod. “Now, they will do anything we ask.”

  “What guys?” Sandy asked.

  “Bratva,” Bruno said. “I’ll wait right here. We go in eight minutes.”

  The kids jumped up and started running around. Soon, Sandy, Aden, and Bruno were alone in the living room.

  “Works every time,” Bruno said.

  “What does?” Aden asked.

  “Get the children moving,” Bruno said. “Bosses, too.”