by SUE FINEMAN
“Yeah,” she said, snuggling into his arms.
He sat beside his sister, Ginny, a uniformed officer with the River Valley Police Department, and pulled Taylor onto his lap. “Any word on Alex?”
Ginny shook her head. “I told Taylor I was your sister. Charlie, you need to tell her.”
Charlie’s parents came in and Mom rubbed Taylor’s back. “We’re here for you, sweetie.”
“I want my mommy.”
“Mommy is hurt, Taylor,” said Charlie. “She’s sleeping right now, and the doctors and nurses are taking care of her.”
“But she needs me to hold her hand.”
“Tell her,” said Ginny. “If you don’t, another family will claim her tonight and you might never see her again.”
Ginny was right. Taylor had to be told. This wasn’t the best time to do it, but they couldn’t wait for Alex to recover. His daughter needed to know now, tonight. “Taylor, remember when your grandmother said you didn’t have a daddy?”
She looked up. “Yeah.”
“She was wrong. I’m your daddy, but I didn’t know until yesterday, after you got hurt at school. That’s why I stayed at the hospital with you. Because I’m your daddy and I love you. I’m going to take care of you until Mommy is all better.”
Taylor grew quiet. On top of being upset about what she’d seen tonight, this poor kid was probably overwhelmed. Charlie rubbed her back and talked softly to her, calming her like he had last night. “You’re safe with me, Taylor. You can trust me, Punkin. We’re going to stay in the house with the round corner with Hannah and Donovan. Hannah is your grandma, and Donovan is your grandpa. They love you, too, and so does Aunt Ginny.”
Taylor rubbed her eyes, and he knew she was trying not to cry. “Can we go see Mommy now?”
Ginny shook her head. “Mommy can’t have any visitors until she gets better.”
“That mean man hit her.”
“He won’t hit her again,” said Dad. “We won’t let him hurt her again, and we won’t let him hurt you. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Ginny leaned forward. “Taylor, did Mommy know the man who hit her?”
“Yeah. She called him Scott. I remember because there’s a boy in my class named Scott.”
“Did she say his last name?”
“No.”
“Have you ever seen him before?” Dad asked.
Taylor shook her head.
Charlie glanced at his mother. “Grandma, can you take Taylor to the restroom and wash her face while I check on Alex?”
“Sure.” Mom took Taylor’s hand and they walked toward the restrooms.
Ginny said, “My partner is packing Taylor’s bag. She’s going to need counseling after this. No kid that age should see her mother being beaten like that. I don’t know what Alex looked like before, but her face is a mess now. When she wakes up, she won’t be able to see, because her eyes are both swollen shut.”
Charlie and Ginny walked back to the tiny curtained cubicle to see Alex. One look and he understood why Ginny didn’t want Taylor to see her mother. Charlie wouldn’t have recognized her. Seeing her lying there with blood-soaked hair and her face a swollen mess, he wanted to hold Alex and tell her she’d be all right. And then he wanted to kill the man responsible.
He leaned in close, unsure if she could hear him. He took her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Alex, it’s Charlie. You’re safe now. You’re in the hospital. Taylor is scared, but she’s all right. Your attacker didn’t touch her. She’s worried about you, but she’ll be okay. I’m taking her home with me for now. Okay?”
He felt a slight squeeze and knew Alex had heard him. “I know you hurt, but you’re going to be okay. We have things to talk about after you recover, but for now, just know that Taylor is with her daddy, and you’re going to be all right.”
Her lips opened slightly and she moaned. A single tear slid from her swollen eye and rolled into her bloody hair.
Charlie pushed the curtain aside and motioned to the nurse. “She’s awake.”
“Where in the hell is my daughter?” an old man bellowed, and Charlie had a feeling he was about to meet Vinnie Porcini.
Vinnie stared at his wounded daughter and the words whooshed out. “Oh, my God!”
“Careful what you say,” Charlie said quietly. “She can hear you.”
Vinnie stared at him. “Who in the hell are you?”
“Charlie Kane.” He turned to the nurse. “Tell her I’ll be back.”
“The hell you will,” the old man said.
Staring him in the eye, Charlie said, “I’ll be back after I get Taylor settled.”
The old man might try to take Taylor away from him, but Charlie was the kid’s father, and while Alex recuperated, he had physical custody of his daughter. If Vinnie wanted the kid, he’d have a fight on his hands, and Charlie never backed away from a fight.
Taylor and her suitcase and teddy bear were waiting by the door with Charlie’s parents. He spoke quietly to Taylor. “Mommy woke up for a minute and squeezed my hand. I told her you were coming home with us tonight.”
“Is she all better?”
“Not yet, but she’ll be better in a day or two.”
Taylor was too big to carry, but she looked like a frightened little waif, so he scooped her up into his arms. “C’mon, Punkin. Daddy’s taking you home.” He had to get Taylor out of here before Vinnie made a scene. The poor kid couldn’t handle any more trauma tonight.
<>
Vinnie stared at what was once his daughter’s beautiful face. He hadn’t cried since his father’s funeral, but he stood beside her bed and sobbed. Just hours ago, he’s slapped her for refusing to spend time with the bastard who did this to her. He didn’t believe her earlier when she said Mario expected her to have sex with the son-of-a-bitch. What kind of games were his sons playing? Why would they put Alexandra’s life in danger like this?
He felt a hand on his shoulder. Antonio said, “Papa, we’re in the way.”
Antonio steered him back to the waiting room, where Mario paced with a guilty look on his face. He should look guilty for what he’d done.
“Didn’t you check this guy out?”
“We checked his business,” said Antonio. “It’s on the level.”
Vinnie glared at Mario. “Why in the hell would you send this guy to meet your sister in a motel room? Why didn’t you go with him?”
“C’mon, Papa, would you take another guy along when you went to meet a woman?”
“You knew what he wanted?”
“I figured she could handle him like she handled all the others. I didn’t think he’d hurt her.”
Vinnie stabbed his finger at his younger son. “This is on your head. Find the son-of-a-bitch who did this and take care of the problem. Capisci?”
“Come on, Papa, the police will get him.”
“Antonio, find Vanessa. Tell her to get her ass over here. Mario, I don’t care how you do it, just do it. Nobody hurts someone in my family and gets away with it. Nobody.”
Chapter Four
By the time Charlie and his family arrived at Livingston Avenue, Taylor was sound asleep in the backseat. Charlie lifted her out and carried her into the house and up the stairs to Ginny’s old bedroom. Mom turned down the covers and pulled off Taylor’s shoes, and Charlie tucked her in with her teddy bear.
Knowing she’d be scared if she woke up alone, he kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the second bed in the room. Mom turned on the nightlight. Charlie didn’t intend to stay all night, but he had to stay long enough to make sure Taylor didn’t wake up with nightmares. After what she’d seen tonight, he half expected her to wake up crying.
Or maybe he’d wake up crying. Seeing Alex like that could give anyone nightmares.
Charlie dozed off and woke to giggling. He pried his eyes open and glanced over to see Wilma on the other bed with Taylor. The dog nuzzled into Taylor’s neck. She giggled and hugged Wilma. The dog was bigger than the kid,
but Wilma was a gentle collie who loved kids, and Taylor needed something to cuddle and love.
He’d intended to take a short nap and go to the hospital to stay with Alex, but from the sun streaming through the window, he must have slept all night. “Good morning, Punkin. Did you sleep well?”
“Yeah. Can we go see Mommy now?”
“How ’bout if I go by myself this morning? If she’s better, I’ll bring you in to see her this afternoon. You can stay here and take care of Wilma this morning.” Taylor should probably go to school, but it wouldn’t hurt her to miss a couple days. She wouldn’t be able to concentrate when she was so worried about her mother.
“Okay, but you have to hold her hand.”
He nodded. “I will definitely hold her hand.”
Mom poked her head in the door. “We’ll make cookies for Mommy this morning.”
“And for me?” said Charlie. “I love cookies.”
Taylor giggled, and he knew she’d be fine here without him.
<>
Alex heard someone moan and realized the sound came from her own throat. She couldn’t see, couldn’t open her eyes, but she felt someone touching her, heard a woman’s soft voice talking to her. A nurse.
“Taylor,” she whispered.
A deep voice said, “She’s fine, Alex. Taylor is with my mother. She’s dog-sitting with Wilma, although I’m sure the dog thinks she’s baby-sitting with Taylor.”
“Charlie?”
“I’m here, and I’ll stay until your parents show up and kick me out. Taylor said I had to hold your hand.” She felt him pick up her hand. His hands were big and rough, a man’s hands, but his touch was gentle, caring.
“When you hurt, squeeze my hand, and the hurt will go through you and into me,” he said gently. “I’d take all the hurt away if I could.”
“I know.” Her eyes stung with unshed tears. She’d hidden his daughter from him, yet he was here, holding her hand, trying to make her feel better. “I can’t see.” Talking through her sore lip hurt. Her whole head hurt.
“The swelling will go down and you’ll be beautiful again.”
She must look awful. How could he stand to look at her?
“Alex, my sister is here. Ginny is the police officer who answered Taylor’s 911 call last night. Can you tell her who hurt you?”
“Scott.”
“Do you know his last name?” Ginny asked.
“No. Ask Mario. My brother. He knows.”
“We’ll do that.” She rubbed Alex’s arm. “We’ll get him, and Taylor won’t be alone for one minute until he’s caught.”
“Thank you.”
Charlie squeezed her hand. “Alex, can you tell us why you were at the Whippoorwill Inn last night?”
“I had a fight with Papa. I quit my job, and he wanted me to go back.”
“What job?” Ginny asked. “Did you work for your family?”
“Yes, for my brothers. Entertaining clients. Scott was a client, but he was creepy and I didn’t want to be around him.”
“Creepy and dangerous,” Charlie said. “Did you expect him to come to the inn?”
“No.” She moved a little and moaned. Just thinking about Scott made her hurt.
“That’s enough for now,” said Ginny. “I’ll talk with your brothers. You just rest and get better.”
“Head hurts,” she whispered.
Charlie called the nurse. Alex was in no shape for an interrogation, although he understood why Ginny didn’t want to wait. She wanted to catch this guy before he hurt another woman the way he’d hurt Alex. Before he came after Taylor. The kid got a good look at the creep who beat her mother, and she could probably identify him in a lineup. Charlie prayed that wouldn’t be necessary.
Vinnie barreled into the room around nine and stared at Charlie. “What in the hell are you doing here?”
“Holding her hand. Did you come to make Alex feel better or to stir up trouble?”
“It’s okay, Papa. Charlie can stay. Taylor asked him to come.”
Vinnie grumbled under his breath, and Charlie moved away from the bed. Vinnie sat in the chair Charlie had just vacated. “Your mother didn’t come home last night, and I don’t know where to look for her.”
“She doesn’t have to be here, but I’m glad you came.”
Ignoring Charlie, Vinnie spoke directly to Alex. “I was outta line yesterday. I didn’t know the boys didn’t check this guy out.”
“It’s over now, Papa. The police will get him.”
“We’ll take care of the bastard. Where’s Taylor?”
“With my family,” said Charlie. “She’ll stay with me and my family until Alex has recovered. She’s playing with my dog and making cookies with my mother this morning.”
Vinnie twisted around and glared at Charlie. “I thought you left.”
“Nope.”
“Stubborn Irish bastard, just like your father.”
“That’s me.” There was a time when he thought he was in love with Alexandra Porcini, a time when he thought she loved him, too. Then she broke it off and disappeared from his life. He never understood why, until now. This blustery old man was without a doubt the reason Alex dumped him, the reason she didn’t tell him about Taylor. Vinnie didn’t want his daughter with a Kane.
Vinnie Porcini didn’t look like much of a threat now, but thirty years ago, he and his cousin must have presented a frightening presence to Charlie’s mother. The woman they kidnapped back then was now lovingly entertaining Vinnie’s granddaughter. Her granddaughter. Hard feelings remained on both sides, but the two families would have to find a way to get along. For Taylor’s sake.
The doctor came in and the nurse chased Charlie and Vinnie out. They walked down to the waiting room, together, yet separate. After they sat down, Charlie said, “Alex didn’t deserve to be raped any more than my mother deserved to be raped thirty years ago.”
“They said Alex wasn’t raped, and I didn’t touch Hannah. Hell, I thought she was going into the business like her mother.”
“What business? Prostitution?”
“Yeah. Monique was one of the best, and my cousin said she taught Hannah everything she knew.”
Charlie knew virtually nothing about Mom’s mother, and this little piece of news stunned him. His grandmother was a prostitute? Why didn’t he know that before? Why had Dad withheld that piece of information? Or was Vinnie making it up to make himself look better?
He couldn’t believe Mom had ever been a prostitute. “Your cousin was wrong.”
“Yeah, I figured that out after they arrested me. I didn’t do nothing wrong, but your old man sent me to jail anyway.”
“She was drugged.”
“I made a mistake, okay? I believed my cousin, and I made a mistake. If you’re comparing me to the man who hurt my daughter, forget it. I never touched your mother. I don’t beat on women, and I never forced a woman to have sex. Hell, women used to line up to be with me.” Vinnie gave him a sideways look. “Probably like they line up to be with you.”
Charlie shook his head. He’d dated a lot of women and had sex with most of them, but the only one he’d even considered staying with was Alex. But she dumped him because her old man resented Charlie’s father. It wasn’t the only time a woman had dumped him, but it was the only time he’d ever been in love.
After Alex broke it off, he tried to put her out of his mind and move on, but it wasn’t easy. Now he wasn’t sure he could ever forgive her for keeping Taylor from him. Family issues or no family issues, she had no right to do that to him or to Taylor. She was sorry now, but it was too little, too late. If he wanted an ongoing relationship with his daughter, they’d have to cooperate for Taylor’s sake, but they could never get back what they had. He couldn’t put his heart out there to be stomped on again.
The old man asked, “Are you in love with my daughter?”
“I was a few years ago, but you killed any chance we had of making it work.”
Vinnie took a long,
hard look at the boy. Donovan Kane’s kid had a strength he didn’t see in his own sons. Charlie Kane didn’t back down, and he treated Alexandra with respect and kindness. But he was a Kane, and the son of Vinnie’s enemy would always be his enemy. “Alexandra can do better than you.”
“Of course she can, and I’m sure she will.” Charlie leaned forward. “But make no mistake about this. Taylor is a Kane, and she’ll grow up knowing she’s a part of my family.”
Charlie walked over and punched the elevator button. The doors opened, Charlie stepped on, and Vanessa stepped out.
“Where in the hell have you been?” Vinnie snapped. “Your daughter was attacked and nearly died last night, and nobody could find you.”
“I was with friends. I didn’t know about Alexandra until I got home. Where is she?”
He walked her down to their daughter’s room. He didn’t want to fight in the hospital, but fight they would, as soon as they got home. This wasn’t the first time his wife had stayed out all night and come home the next morning smelling like sex. As much as he hated the thought of another divorce, he couldn’t avoid it any longer.
Vanessa could go live with her lover. The house was his, and they had a prenuptial agreement. She wouldn’t get much in a divorce, and the way he was feeling toward his sons right now, they wouldn’t get much when he died. The boys could have the business, and he’d leave the Porcini family home to Alexandra. Maybe she could find a decent husband to live there with her and Taylor. Someone outside the Kane family.
Whatever Charlie said, Taylor was more Porcini than Kane, and she would grow up in the Porcini home on Villa Drive.
While Vanessa talked with Alexandra, Vinnie stepped outside and called his attorney. “I want you to get the papers ready to file for divorce. Damn bitch has been screwing around on me again. As soon as we get that done, we’ll change my will.” He would not reward his sons for treating their sister like a common whore and nearly getting her killed.
<>
Frustrated over the scene at the hospital with Vinnie, Charlie drove to the brick bungalow on Wilson Street and went to work. His brothers had stripped the kitchen cabinets out and taken the paper to the recycle center, so he dropped to his knees and scraped the old linoleum off the kitchen floor.