by Nikki Duvall
Gus cracked a window. “Too much change,” he said, shifting in his seat. “Every time he wakes up, he wonders where he is. Children need routine.”
“Do you think he’ll recognize the New York apartment?” asked Halee. “We were only there a few weeks.”
“Hard to predict. We’ll know when we get there.” He glanced over at her, wrapped in a blanket and angled sideways. “How are you holding up?”
“About as well as Ty.” She absent-mindedly adjusted the shawl that hid the tender wound on her neck. “I never thought I’d give up the will to fight. Right now I just want someone to take care of me.”
“Your young fella will be glad to hear it,” said Uncle Gus. “He’s all fired up to play hero.”
“I could use a little hero right now.” She took Gus’ free hand. “You’ve been quite the hero to me over the years. Now you’re rushing in to save me one more time.” She raised the old man’s hand to her lips and planted a kiss on the rough knuckles. “You’ve been my rock, Uncle Gus. How will I ever thank you?”
Gus kept his eyes on the road and his expression as neutral as possible but Halee could tell the words affected him deeply. “You’re a constant source of joy, Honey,” he said.
“Even with a screaming baby in the backseat and a gang on our trail?”
Gus laughed. “Well, we’ve had better days, for sure. I’m going to miss you, though. Rita’s been mopey since you left.”
“Is there something going on between her and Bobby?”
“I hope not,” he said. “It would be some form of hell to be married to a cop. It’s a nasty business. Every time he leaves she’d sit wondering whether she was ever going to see him again.”
“I wonder if Mom felt that way about Dad.”
“Probably. A lot of firemen don’t come home either.”
“Is that what came between them?”
Gus sighed and shook his head. “Maybe. Your mom came from a small family back east. She was well educated, especially for her day. Liked to dress nice, serve dinner on china plates, go to the theatre. Your dad was south side Chicago, through and through. Big Irish family. Everybody was either a cop or a fireman. He had simple tastes- big meals and a nice TV set. Your mom fell in love with his brave spirit but she never really understood him. Thought she could tame him but there was no taming Robert McCarthy.”
Halee thought for a moment. “Maybe that’s what I’m trying to do, tame J.D.”
“If you are, you’re headed for trouble. He’s a determined man. Determined about his career and determined to have you. I can’t see him changing easily on either front.”
“He might not have a choice. J.D. has some torn cartilage in his shoulder. It needs surgery. If he injures it further, he may never play again.”
Gus whistled. “That’s tough. What about you?”
“Me?”
“You gonna stand by him?”
Halee laughed. “I’ve never cared for fame or fortune. If J.D. wants to play baseball, I won’t stand in his way. If he wants to be a rancher, that’s fine, too.”
“Got more of your dad in ya then.”
“Guess so.”
Several hours later they crossed the George Washington Bridge and after navigating a maze of Manhattan traffic they pulled up in front of Halee’s apartment building. Gus blew out a huge breath of relief. “I never want to do that again,” he declared.
“You need to drive the whole way back.”
“Think I’ll parse it out over four or five days, hit a couple casinos in the Catskills.”
Halee laughed. “You’re going to stay in New York for a few days, aren’t you?”
“Just until I know you’re safe.” Gus eyeballed the doorman with suspicion. “You recognize that guy?”
“That’s Murray,” she said, handing Ty to Gus. “He and Ty are friends. Give him your keys and he’ll park your truck for you.”
“How about these clowns?”
Halee turned in time to catch Stephen in her arms. “Holy Cow, Girlfriend!” he exclaimed. “Cam and I have been so worried about the both of you! I see you got him back,” he said, leaning over to kiss Ty on his fat cheek. “Studly told us the whole story.”
Halee glanced around. “Where is J.D.? Is he alright?”
“Oh,” said Stephen with a quick smile. “I detect a change in attitude toward our prince charming. Is Cat Woman out of the picture?”
“Ran off with Batman. J.D. nearly died saving Ty,” said Halee. “I’ll bet he didn’t tell you that part.”
“Of course not, but we’ll be glad to drag all the details out of you.”
Halee turned toward Gus. “Stephen, Cameron, this is my Uncle Gus, the most important man in my life.”
“Gee, I wish someone would say that about me.” Stephen genuflected. “Thanks for bringing our princess home.”
Halee locked arms with Stephen. “Tell me you cooked a big meal in our honor. I’m starving.”
“Every pot and pan is in use, Darling. We’re going to fatten you up before we send you back into the workforce. Follow me, King Gus,” he said, dragging one suitcase and draping another across his lean torso. “Your palace awaits you.”
***
Two plates of lasagna later, Halee sank into the deep cushions of her slipcovered sectional and sipped her second glass of red wine. Ty had crashed soon after a warm bowl of pasta and Uncle Gus was right behind him, making all kinds of excuses about the heavy food and alcohol. After a dozen trips to the terrace to gaze over at J.D.’s apartment, Halee had begun to wonder why the rooms across the courtyard were still dark and whether she would see him tonight or ever again. She’d spent most of the ride here fantasizing about their reunion. She had so many things to thank him for, so many plans to make. She couldn’t wait to get started.
Stephen slapped a dish towel on the kitchen counter, grabbed a tall cocktail, and settled in across from her.
“Dinner was amazing, you guys,” said Halee. “I owe you big time.”
“Payback begins now,” said Cam. “Tell us every detail of the big rescue.”
“Ask me questions,” said Halee. “It’ll be easier.”
Stephen kicked back and thought a moment. “Who got there first?”
“Rita and I did,” said Halee. “Except we never really made it because I got jumped in the bathroom at the 7 Eleven across the street.”
Cam dropped his jaw. “Where was J.D.?”
“With Bobby, our friend the cop. He made it just in time to send me off in the ambulance.”
Stephen made a visual inventory of Halee’s physical condition. “Ambulance?”
Halee lowered her scarf and touched the red slash on her neck lightly with one finger. “Missed anything important.”
Stephen and Cam moved in for a closer view. “Good heavens!” cried Cam, squeezing her hand. “Honey, you have to see a shrink. I’m looking at post traumatic stress if I’ve ever seen it. Doctor Newton is the best. She’ll fix you right up…”
“I lost the baby,” said Halee, breaking down in a torrent of tears. “It’s too late. I lost her…”
“Lordy, lordy!” Cam slid over next to her and pulled her into an embrace. Halee rested her head on his shoulder.
“I nearly lost everybody. Ty, J.D., they barely made it out alive.”
“But they’re here now, Halee,” Stephen assured her, “safe and sound.”
“Uncle Gus says it’s not over. J.D. offered Chantrell and Demarcus a half million dollars to give me Ty. Gus says they’ll come after us for the money.”
Stephen glanced toward the door with a worried expression. “Who’s they?”
“Demarcus and his gang.”
Cam met Stephen’s panicked stare. “When are you going back to work, Honey?”
“Tomorrow. Mrs. Pryor said I need to be there tomorrow first thing or she’ll fire me.”
“And who’s watching Ty?” Cam inquired casually.
“I’m not letting him out of my sight,” said
Halee, heading to the kitchen for a tissue. “He’s going to be strapped to my chest all day.”
Stephen sighed audibly.
“Good plan,” said Cam brightly.
“Can you entertain Uncle Gus while I’m at work tomorrow?”
Stephen frowned. “What would he like to do?”
“I don’t know. Guy stuff.”
“Don’t look at me,” said Cam to Stephen.
“We’ll think of something. Oh, look. Studly just got home.”
Halee nearly spilled her wine on the way to the terrace. She watched with a pounding heart as one light after the other came on in J.D.’s apartment.
“I doubt he knows you’re home,” said Stephen, coming up behind her. “Why don’t you go over for a little visit?”
Cam nudged him. “Gangs!” he mouthed.
“Gus can stay with Ty, right?”
“I suppose so,” said Halee. Her eyes were pinned on J.D.’s bedroom. She watched as he stripped off his golf shirt and unzipped his jeans, unaware that he had an audience.
“Jesus,” whispered Cam. Stephen slapped his shoulder.
“Just saying…”
“You could call and invite him over.”
Halee sighed. “Maybe I could leave Uncle Gus a note…”
“That would work,” said Cam, motioning Stephen to the door. “We’ll be across the hall. Good luck,” Stephen called, closing the door softly behind him.
Halee spent the next few minutes pacing from one room to the next, checking on Ty and staring across the courtyard toward J.D.’s apartment. Then she grabbed her keys from the counter, locked the door behind her, and headed for the next building over.
***
J.D.’s cell phone vibrated in his back pocket on the way to the shower. He pulled it out and frowned. Why was Dan calling him so late?
“I got a counter offer from Hank I think you’ll like, J.D.,” said his realtor. “I didn’t think the old man had it in him, but it looks like he’s made up his mind to sell to you after all.”
J.D. settled on the edge of the tub. “What’s the offer?”
“Now hear me out before you get all fired up,” said Dan. “I know we started at five fifty but the old man’s been all over the board, changing his mind every few hours. Right now he’s at six fifty.”
J.D. groaned. “That ain’t reasonable, Dan. The land’s in bad shape. Hank’s been fighting a drought for five years.”
“It’s still underpriced, J.D. I know what you’re thinking, but prices will go up and when they do you’ll be sitting on a piece of land worth a cool million.”
“In the meantime I gotta ship in feed from out of state. This ain’t a hobby farm, Dan, it’s a working ranch. The price of the land has got to be reasonable or I’ll lose my shirt.”
“You want to counter?”
J.D. rubbed his shoulder and considered. Everything was riding on him finishing the season. If his shoulder failed him he’d have to return all the money to Victoria Pryor, his sign-on bonus and all the salary he’d collected. Even though his bank account held close to a million dollars, it wasn’t really his to spend.
“Naw,” he said with a sigh, “he can sit on it a while.”
“Well, there’s something else I didn’t tell ya. Somebody else is bidding on the property.”
“Who?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“They got cash?”
“I doubt it. They’d probably be working with the bank.”
“Well, I got cash. Remind Hank of that.”
“I will.”
“Say hi to everybody for me,” said J.D.
“We’re all watching you on the big screen,” said Dan. “Makin’ us proud, J.D.”
“I’ll wave to the camera next time,” said J.D. “Tell Fat Jimmy if I hit a homer the drinks are on me.”
He disconnected and stripped off the remainder of his clothes, catching his reflection in the mirror. His already battered shoulder was now painted in a sickening hue of purple. He should have rammed Demarcus with his left shoulder. He should have hurt that punk bad enough to scare him away for good.
Shoulda, coulda… didn’t make any difference now. What was done was done. Either way, Demarcus was in jail and Halee and Ty were on their way back to New York. All his plans were coming together and nothing was ever going to get in his way again.
He leaned closer to the mirror and stroked his chin. He needed a shave- a shave, a shower, and about twenty four hours of uninterrupted sleep. More than anything, he needed to hold Halee again. But that would have to wait.
The doorbell rang just as he was rinsing off his razor. His senses went on high alert. Most of his friends didn’t know his new address. Tony would never drop by without calling first. Cat was long gone. She’d packed up the bags she’d brought with her and several more, swearing she’d never talk to him again. Since then she’d texted once a day to tell him what a rat he was. He didn’t expect she’d come back to New York anytime soon and if she did, she’d arrive with a lot more fanfare.
He slipped back into his jeans, then stepped out into the hallway leading to the kitchen and listened. The bell rang again. Grabbing a baseball bat, he headed for the foyer. A million images ran through his head, most of them a variation on Demarcus and an AK47. For all he knew, New York’s overcrowded legal system had already spit Demarcus back out on the street with an ankle bracelet and a slap on the wrist. From what Bobby had told him, the criminal had plenty of backup to finish the job, even if he landed in jail for the long haul.
He paused at the door and waited for any sign of what could be lurking outside. His pounding heartbeat was all that he could hear. This was crazy, he told himself. He needed to relax.
He took a deep breath and pushed his ear against the door. Whatever was outside didn’t want him to know it. He peered through the peephole and saw nothing but a shadow of movement.
The baseball bat slipped out of his damp hands and crashed against the tile floor as loud as a fire alarm. “Shit!”
“J.D.?”
“Halee?” He kicked the bat out of the way and threw open the door.
She fell into his arms. He gripped her body tight to his strong chest and breathed in the sweet smell of the woman he loved.
“Halee, Baby, you’re home.” He rained kisses down her neck. “When did you get back?”
“A couple of hours ago.” She pulled his body tighter. “I dreamed about this every day,” she said. “Uncle Gus told me what you did. He told me you went after Ty… he told me they shot you….”
“It’s okay, Honey,” he whispered against her hair. “Everything’s okay now.” He pulled her into the apartment and locked the door behind her. “Let me get a look at you,” he said, holding her at arm’s length. He pushed her hair back from her face and stared into her eyes, searching for any sign of pain or illness. A hint of sadness drooped at the tips of her eyelids as if what she’d seen would forever cloud her vision. All the innocence and wonder in her expression that had thrilled him to the core were gone. It was clear in that moment that Halee McCarthy would never be the same woman again.
He ran both hands down her arms, fighting a new wave of despair.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. But her eyes said something different.
He kissed her once, then twice, desperate for the taste of her, searching for the Halee he used to know.
She pushed away. “I’m okay. Really.” She caught sight of his bruised shoulder and gasped. “Oh, my God, J.D.!” she exclaimed, running her fingertips lightly along the red and purple flesh. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” he lied. “Just ran into my locker.”
“But that’s the shoulder…”
He caught her sentence in a kiss. There was no way he would add to the worry that was already overwhelming her. This was one lie worth telling. His lips trailed from her mouth to her throat. Gently he pulled back on the scarf she’d wrapped around her neck. “I hate the person who did
this to you,” he murmured, tracing her scar.
“Hating her won’t change anything, J.D. It’ll only make you bitter.”
He kissed the red stripe across her throat tenderly. “No one will ever hurt you again, Halee, I swear it. Not you, not Ty.” He kissed her gently, then with the urgency he had felt since the night on Sam’s boat. “Stay,” he murmured against her lips.
She shook her head. “I can’t. Ty is alone with Uncle Gus and I don’t know if I can trust him to wake up if he cries.”
“Then I’ll come to you.”
Halee let her fingers glide across J.D.’s bristled chin. “You would do that?”
J.D. smiled. “Baby, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
***
Halee woke to the sound of the shower and Ty racing his walker across the wooden floor and into the edges of every piece of expensive antique furniture in her bedroom. A minute later she was coherent enough to recall the bliss of sleep in J.D.’s arms, enough emotional reinforcement to keep her strong for the coming week. There was a note on the pillow next to hers.
Your son is bathed, fed and dressed for the day. Come kiss me.
No need to ask twice. She leapt from under the down comforters and pushed open the double doors to the luxurious bathroom. Through the misty steam she could just make out the perfect form of J.D.’s naked hard body behind the glass shower enclosure. He turned. She gasped. In another minute she was under the water with him, memorizing every inch of his body with her lips. He was gentle, careful with her as if she were a china doll that would easily break.
She reached down, guiding him closer.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.
“I’m sure,” she whispered against his lips.
“What if we make another baby?”
“I want your baby,” she said. “I don’t want to wait another day.”
He slid inside her carefully, watching her expression. She sighed.
“Too rough?”
Halee broke into a grin. “You fill me perfectly.”
J.D. groaned. “You make me crazy, you know that? You’re all I think about.” He lifted her, bracing her against the shower wall. “I want you so bad!”