"Good plan." He kissed her once, then smoothed his hand down her face. "I'll miss you, babe."
"I'll miss you, too." She twined her pinky with his. "I'll show you how much when you get home."
His eyes softened. "I like the sound of that."
He opened the door, glanced over his shoulder, then grabbed her for another long kiss. It tasted like a promise, and she twined her hands with his. Finally, he let her go and closed the door behind him. She hurried to the window, where she waited for him to appear. When he walked into the courtyard, he looked up at her window. Smiled and waved.
She pressed her fingers to her mouth, remembering the feel of his smile on her lips, watching until he disappeared around the corner. When she couldn’t see him, she exchanged her dress for yoga pants and a loose tee shirt and threw herself onto the couch. Her apartment had always been her refuge. The place she retreated to when she needed to regroup or relax or just be.
Tonight, it was lonely. Too quiet. Too empty.
Without Connor, her refuge wasn't home. It was just a place to wait for him.
***
By ten o'clock, she'd glanced at her phone so many times that she'd memorized every tiny scratch on the screen protector. But Connor still hadn't called. Or texted.
She could text him. Just to ask if he was okay. Her hand hovered over the phone, then she snatched it away.
She was pathetic. Of course he was okay. The shooting had happened hours ago. He wasn't in danger. He was busy investigating. Doing his job.
She missed him. Wanted to be pressed close to him on the couch, cuddled into his side, watching television. Not paying attention to it because they were talking. Laughing together. Being together.
He'd call when he could. Or better yet, he'd come home when he could.
She picked up the phone and held it like a talisman as she stared into the darkness of the courtyard, illuminated only by the dim gas lamps. He'd come here when he was done with work. He'd promised he would, and Connor kept his promises. Until then, she'd wait. Maybe catch up on her sleep.
She smiled as she stood up. She'd said she'd show him how much she'd missed him when he returned. Until she fell asleep, she'd figure out exactly how to do that.
She'd stripped off her yoga pants and was brushing her teeth when her phone rang. Spitting out the mouthful of foam, she grabbed the phone and answered it. "Hello?"
Silence.
"Hello?" she said again, clutching the phone.
"M...m...s Taylor?" a shaky, hitching voice asked.
"Yes." One of her girls. "Who is this?" she asked gently.
"It's B...Bella," the girl whispered. Crickets chirped in the background.
Raine sank onto her bed, holding the phone so tightly that her fingers ached. "Bella, what's wrong? Where are you?"
"I'm at school," the girl said, and her breath hitched again. "My mom threw me out."
"What?" Dread and fear thundering in her head, Raine grabbed the yoga pants with hands that shook. "What happened?"
"She said it was my fault. That my stepfather was in jail. It was my fault we didn't have any money and I couldn't live there anymore." Bella’s voice broke as she sniffled. Took a deep breathe, as if trying to hide her sobs.
Oh, God. Propping the phone on her shoulder, Raine tugged the pants on. The school was in an okay neighborhood, but no child should be there at this time of night. What was safe in the light of day became menacing after dark. And the school was only a handful of blocks away from the Insane Street Vipers gang territory.
"Bella, are you on the playground?” It was too dark back there. Too hidden. Her hands trembled as she pulled on her running shoes.
"No. It’s scary back there.” The girl swallowed. I’m by the front door. On the steps."
"Okay." She laced up her shoes, grabbed her wallet and keys and hurried to the door. "Can you see that lilac bush we like so much?"
"Yes." Bella's voice steadied a little.
"Okay. Stay right there. But if you see anyone walking down the street, hide behind that bush. Okay?"
The lilac bush hadn't been pruned in ages. It was a dense clump of leaves and branches that would hide Bella completely.
"Um, okay." Bella's voice wavered again. "I'm scared, Ms. Taylor."
"I know, honey. I'm on my way. I'll be there in ten minutes, okay?"
"Okay," Bella whispered.
"I have to hang up now," Raine said as she unlocked her door. "But I'll call you once I'm in my car. So we can talk while I drive to get you. All right?"
"Yeah. Hurry, Ms. Taylor," she said in a rush. She sniffled once, then cut the connection.
Raine's hands shook as she unlocked her door. Fear for Bella roiled in her gut along with anger at the girl's mother. How could a parent throw their child out of the house at ten o'clock at night?
She stepped into the hall and froze. Connor.
She'd sworn she'd stay in her apartment. Not go out.
Oh, God. She didn't want to break her promise. But she couldn't leave Bella at the school, alone and frightened.
She scrolled through her contacts and pressed his number. It rang several times, then went to voicemail. "Connor, Raine," she said. "Bella just called. Her mother threw her out and she's at the school. Alone. In that neighborhood. I'm sorry, but I have to get her. It’ll be safe. Peter's in jail by now, right?" She swallowed, wondering what else she could do. "I have Alex Jennings' phone number. I'll give him a call. See if he can meet me there." She hesitated. "I don't want to break my promise, but I can't leave Bella on the street. Please call when you can.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I lo..I'll be careful."
She'd almost said she loved him. Because she did. The realization had been tucked away in her heart, but the ache of breaking her promise to him had broken it loose.
She wasn't going to say it to him the first time over the phone, though. He deserved to have her holding his hands, looking into his eyes, when she told him how she felt.
She locked her door carefully and dashed down the stairs. Poking her head out the door, she smelled the fresh, clean scent of rain in the air as she scanned the courtyard. The bushes were dark shadows, illuminated only by the decorative gas lamps and the faint glow of the distant streetlights. The wind whipped through the open space, rustling the leaves and bending the tops of the insect-ravaged ash trees. When she was sure there was no one in the court, she ran toward the gate.
When they'd retrieved her car in the middle of the day yesterday, there had been plenty of parking on the street. She'd found a spot close to the gate, so it took only seconds for her to slide into the driver's seat and lock the doors. Needing both shaky hands to insert the key in the ignition, she started it and eased the van away from the curb.
At the stop sign, she scanned the streets for anyone on foot or lurking in the shadows. When she saw no one, she pressed Jennings' number. It, too, went straight to voice mail.
Of course. He was a detective in the same precinct as Connor. He'd probably been called to the scene, as well. Feeling like an idiot, she left him a voice message to call her. To tell Connor to call her. Covering her bases, she texted Connor, as well. Finally she dialed Bella's number.
As she drove through the rain-slicked streets, talking quietly to Bella, the yellow glow of the streetlights on every corner reflected off the wet pavement. Water in the street distorted the puddles of light into grotesque shapes. Had Bella been caught in the rain? Was she wet and cold?
Raine pressed the accelerator a little harder. She glanced into her rear view mirror and saw headlights far behind her.
She froze, staring at the lights behind her. They glowed like the eyes of a predator at night.
The blare of a horn jerked her attention back to the street in front of her. A car pulling out of a parking spot rocked on its springs, the driver holding up his middle finger.
Raine took a deep breath. Of course there were headlights. She was in a city. Even at ten-thirty on a Sunday night, there
were people on the streets. Coming home from dinner. From parties. From dates.
Headlights didn't mean a car was following her.
When she turned onto the street toward the school, the car continued past. She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She had a vivid imagination. That's all it was.
As she pulled up at the school's front door, she didn't see Bella. The streetlights didn’t quite reach the steps, and the door was bathed in dark shadows. Her heart racing, she opened the door and stepped into the street. "Bella?" she called in a quiet voice. "Where are you?"
The leaves of the lilac bush rustled, then Bella emerged from behind it. Raine hurried toward the girl, who pelted down the steps toward her. Bella threw her wet arms around Raine. Sodden clumps of the girl’s hair dripped cold water down Raine’s neck. Bella sobbed against her chest.
"Ms. Taylor," she choked out. "I'm so glad you came. I'm scared."
Chapter 30
Holding the shivering Bella tightly against her, Raine glanced down the empty street. There were lights shining out the windows in most of the homes, soft beacons of shelter reflected in shallow puddles. Thunder rolled in the distance, but the rain had stopped.
Cars lined the street, but none were occupied, as far as she could tell. No one had followed her to the school. But her hands shook as she opened the car door and helped Bella inside.
She turned on the engine and locked the doors, then drew in a deep breath. They were less exposed. Less vulnerable in the car.
"Talk to me, Bella."
The girl stared at her lap as she pleated the hem of her sweatshirt. "My mom was crying. A lot. She went to the jail to visit him today." Her hand clenched on the sweatshirt. "He told her he's going to be there for a long time before the trial." Bella swiped the back of her hand across her eyes. "He said it was my fault. That everything would be okay if I was gone."
Tears trailed down Bella's cheeks, and Raine's heart ached for the girl. "Oh, Bella." She reached across the console and pulled Bella awkwardly into her arms. Bella clung to her and sniffled into her neck. Hot tears fell onto Raine's skin, and she held the girl close as she watched out the windows.
Drops of water trailed down the van windows and disappeared, distorting the view of the car-lined street. It was empty of people, though. They were safe. For now.
She tightened her arms around Bella and realized the sweatshirt she wore was soaking wet from the rain. Shivers wracked Bella, and she curled into Raine's arms, seeking her warmth.
"Hey," she said, leaning away from the girl and brushing her wet hair away from her face. "You got caught in the rain, didn't you?" When Bella nodded, Raine said, "You're wet. And cold. You need to take that sweatshirt off."
Raine tugged at the hem and helped Bella peel it off. Then she took off the hoodie she'd thrown on and gave it to Bella. "Put this on. It's dry."
Bella's teeth chattered and her hands shook as she pulled the hoodie over her arms and zipped it. Raine turned on the heat in the van, and in a few moments warm air filled the interior.
Raine took Bella's cold hands. "I'm going to take you home," she said, squeezing when Bella tried to draw her hands away. "Your mom loves you. She would never want you to be out in the rain, at night, with nowhere to go. She was upset and scared, and she said things she didn't mean." Of course she hadn't meant them. How could a parent throw her child out of her home? "Okay?"
"Sh...sh...she told me to leave," Bella said, fresh tears streaming down her face.
"I know she did." Raine squeezed Bella's hands more tightly. "But Bella, have you ever said anything you regretted? That you wished you could take back?"
The girl stared at her for a long moment, a combination of hope and fear in her expression. Finally she nodded once and looked down at their joined hands. "I told Renata she was stupid once," she said on a sob. "Because she borrowed my favorite pen and lost it."
"You were upset, because it was your favorite pen." Raine stroked Bella's hair, over and over. "But Renata’s not stupid. She’s your best friend, right? You love her. I bet you felt really bad when you said that, didn't you?" Raine asked softly.
Without looking up, Bella nodded. "Yeah," she whispered.
"Your mom probably feels the same way." Raine squeezed Bella's hands, then gripped them between her own to warm them. "She's scared and worried sick about you. Why don't we go home so she can see you're safe?"
Bella nodded again. "Okay." She looked up at Raine, her mouth trembling. "But what if she tells me to leave again?"
Raine ran her hand down Bella's wet hair, tucking a curl behind her ear. "I don't think she will, Bella. But if she does, we'll figure it out together. Because I won’t leave until you're safe. Okay?"
Bella nodded. She sniffed and rubbed the back of her hand across her nose. Raine reached into the back seat, found the box of tissues on the floor and handed them to Bella.
She took one more last look up and down the block and didn't see a soul. So she put the car in gear and asked Bella her address.
They arrived at Bella’s home in ten minutes. But it would have taken far longer to walk from there to the school. In the dark and the rain. Bella must have been terrified.
Rain had no idea what she'd do if Bella's mom turned her away. But she’d make sure Bella was safe.
She took a deep breath and turned to peer down the street. Like at the school, no one was walking down the sidewalk. The curbs were lined with cars, all empty.
She'd watched all the way here. One car had followed for a few blocks, then turned down a side street. Another had appeared a couple minutes later. But when she'd turned onto Bella's block, it had kept going.
They were in a city, she’d reminded herself. There were cars on city streets twenty-four hours a day. There was nothing to worry about.
Before she got out of the car, she checked her phone. No texts from Connor or Jennings. No missed calls.
She drew in a deep breath. They were busy. And she was fine. She'd re-unite Bella and her mother and go back to her apartment. She'd be safe. Waiting when Connor got home.
"You ready, Bella?" she asked.
"Yeah." Her hand on the door handle, she studied Raine. “You look scared, Ms. Taylor.” Her lip quivered. “It’s because you think my mom will tell me to leave, isn’t it?”
“No, Bella.” She took the girl’s hand. “I was just checking to make sure no cars were coming. In the dark, they might not see me open the door.” That was pretty lame. Any other time, Bella would have called her on it. Tonight, though, Bella had a lot more on her mind.
Taking one last look around, Raine swung out of the van. By the time she reached the sidewalk, Bella was there, too. She shifted from one foot to the other, staring at the front door. The porch light was on, and the blinds in the living room were open. Bella's mother had been watching for her. The light from the room poured out, glittering like diamonds in the streetlight.
They'd climbed only two of the wooden stairs when the front door of the house flew open. "Bella!"
Her mother charged down the steps and swept Bella into her arms. She held her tight, rocking on the stair and murmuring into her hair. Bella was clinging just as tightly to her mom.
Raine looked at the wet wooden step, unwilling to intrude on the intimate, private moment. Leaves from the storm clung to the wet wood. Beneath them, the dark green paint on the stairs was chipped and flaking. A large splinter had broken off one step, leaving a gash in the wood. Bella's worthless stepfather clearly hadn't done much maintenance around the house.
"Ms. Taylor?" Bella's mom's quavering voice made Raine look up. The woman kept one hand around Bella's shoulders and reached for Raine with the other. Shiny tear tracks, like the rain on the windows, trailed down the woman's cheeks, overlain by fresh tears. "Please. Come inside."
Raine took her hand, and the woman squeezed tight. Then, without letting go of either Raine or Bella, she led them into the house.
Every lamp in the livin
g room was lit. A battered old piano stood along one wall, and a couch covered in red plaid fabric faced it from the other side of the room. A matching loveseat sat in front of the window. The remaining walls of the living room held bookshelves crammed with paperback books. A small television sat on one shelf, bracketed on either side by more books.
A younger girl who could have been a Bella clone was asleep on the loveseat, covered by a crocheted blanket in bright rainbow colors.
Bella's mother let go of Bella long enough to throw her arms around Raine. She hugged so tight that Raine could barely breathe. When she finally let go, she studied Raine with green eyes that looked just like Bella's.
"Thank you so much for taking care of my Bella," she said, reaching for the girl and curling her arm around her shoulders as if she'd never let her out of reach again. "I did a horrible thing. Unforgiveable. Telling my daughter to leave." Tears leaked out of her eyes. "What kind of monster does that?"
"It's okay, Mom," Bella said. "You were upset." She glanced over at Raine. "I've said stupid stuff, too. I didn't mean them, either."
"I'm glad Bella called me, Mrs. Abrietto. And I'm happy she's home."
"Please, call me Gabriella." She drew herself taller. "And I'm not Mrs. Abrietto. Not anymore. I'm ashamed that I listened to Julio and told Bella to leave." She glanced at Bella and tightened her arm around her daughter. "Ashamed that I let him stay so long. I'm filing for divorce tomorrow and going back to our old name. I'm Gabriella Stefano now."
The tight knot of anxiety in Raine's stomach began to unravel. "I'm glad, Gabriella. You deserve so much more than a man like him." Raine hesitated, then said, "I have a friend who works with the Department of Child and Family Services. Emma Sloan. She can help you get the kind of services you need. Counseling for you and your daughters. Help with financial matters. Job training, if you need it."
Gabriella's eyes had widened at the mention of DCFS. Now her expression filled with fear. Raine put her hand on the other woman's arm. "Not to take your girls away. To help you. You're going through a rough transition right now, and Emma's the perfect person to help you. She's done this for other families at our school. She'll help you with whatever you need."
Trust Me (The Donovan Family Book 4) Page 27