by J. M. Walker
I nodded; my tongue thick.
More people came down the hall. Practically everyone I had grown up with, joined us.
Luna and Zach were first. She rushed toward me, throwing herself around my middle. “God, Vince,” she cried against my chest.
Zach gave a small nod of his head, gently prying his fiancé from me and pulling her into his arms. “My parents wanted to come but both Benjamin and my dad have colds, so Mom’s staying home with them. She didn’t want to pass on any germs. But they send their love.”
A lump formed in my throat.
You feel that, Gigi? Do you feel all of the love surrounding you and our baby?
Ashton and Aiden, along with their parents, Meeka and Asher, came toward us with Piper and her parents following behind. I had never felt this overwhelmed by love and support before. I just prayed that Gigi could feel it.
“Vince.”
I looked up as Dale approached me.
“Listen, I never got a chance to apologize,” I told him before he could say anything to me.
“No need.” He stepped in front of me. “I’m a shithead and shouldn’t have said anything anyway, so I apologize for that. But you’re right. You are more of a man than I ever was and ever will be, but I’ll keep proving to my wife over and over that I am enough.” He cupped my shoulder. “You need anything at all, you don’t hesitate to call. I’d also like to take you out for a beer sometime.” He gave my shoulder a squeeze and joined everyone else in the waiting room.
I watched him walk away just as the doctor came down the hall. My back stiffened.
“Mr. Stone?”
“Yes?” I pushed away from the wall and went up to him. “I’m Vince Stone.”
The doctor nodded. “Angelica is out of surgery and is stable.”
My knees shook. “Oh thank God.”
The doctor smiled. “I agree. It’s still touch and go for the next little while but she’s resting. You should be able to see her in a bit but first, did you want to meet your daughter?”
“What did you just ask me?” I leaned a hand on the wall for support. “My daughter.” I was right. I was fucking right that we were having a girl.
“Yes. She’s in the NICU but she’s a strong little thing.” The doctor spun on his heel. “I’m sure she wants to meet her father.”
My heart pounded against the walls of my rib cage. “I just have…let me tell everyone.” I went to the waiting room and updated them on Gigi. “I’m going to go meet my daughter.”
Mom sniffed, giving me a hug. “You tell your baby girl that we’re all here. She has a big family and we can’t wait to meet her.”
I swallowed hard, pulling free from my mother. “Thank you. For everything.” I kissed her cheek and joined the doctor as he led me to my baby.
While we walked to where my daughter was, the doctor was filling me in on how her lungs weren’t fully developed and how she needed some help to breathe. I was just thankful she was alive.
We rounded a corner and walked through a double set of doors. He swiped his card along a black box sitting on a wall and pushed open the door for me. “You need to wash your hands and gown up but she’s just right in there.”
I did as I was told, waiting with bated breath for the chance to meet my daughter. Gigi’s and my baby girl.
A nurse guided me into the room with beeping machines and monitors. She stopped in front of a small glass box that had tubes coming out of it and gave me a small smile. “Here she is.”
That time, my knees gave out beneath me and I fell.
***
(Gigi)
Every inch of me hurt. I didn’t want to open my eyes for fear that they would hurt too but I felt a sense of loss. Something was missing and I couldn’t figure out what it was exactly.
I shifted, a sharp pain shooting through my abdomen.
I tried thinking back to the past twenty-four hours, but I couldn’t remember much.
The scent of pasta hit my nose.
I was cooking for Vince. Yes, I remembered that now. I had been making supper for us while I waited for him to come home and greet me with his passion and kisses like he always had. But something was different this time. He didn’t come home. Not at first. No. Someone else came home instead.
Tenise.
Mason.
Secrets and betrayal were revealed.
Pain. So much damn pain.
My eyes shot open.
White lights blinded me.
I blinked a few times, the room finally becoming clearer. I was in what looked like a hospital room.
“Vince,” I mumbled, my throat dry.
“Gigi.”
I turned my head, my gaze landing on Vince’s handsome face.
“Baby.” He closed the distance between us, wrapping himself around me as best he could without hurting me. “I thought I lost you.”
“Never,” I said, my throat hoarse.
He kissed me softly on my mouth, my nose, my forehead, and my mouth again. “I love you.”
“I love you.” I wanted to touch him, but my arm was heavy. “What happened?”
“You were shot twice.” He ran the back of his knuckles along my cheek. “The police are here and will want to ask you questions when they find out you’re awake.”
“It was Tenise and…and M-Mason,” I told him.
Vince lifted his head, staring down at me. “What?”
“Tenise.” I cleared my throat. “Mason. They shot me.”
Gigi
While Vince and I filled each other in on everything, I watched his face morph from shock, to sadness, to outright rage.
“I can’t believe Mason was in on this,” Vince murmured, staring down at our joined hands.
“I know. I’m so sorry. I was shocked to see him and then with everything Tenise told me.” I shook my head. “I didn’t know.”
Vince’s shoulders slumped. “I had no idea that she’s technically my cousin. My mom has even met her and never said anything. She obviously never made herself known.” He went to pull away, no doubt wanting to drive through town to confront Mason, but he couldn’t. I wouldn’t let him. Not yet. I needed him there with me and our baby.
I told the police the conversation I had with both Tenise and Mason. I found out that I had been shot twice. Once in the stomach by Tenise and once in the upper thigh by Mason because he had been spooked by a noise.
I needed surgery after the bullet hit some vital organs. I was also made aware that I had an emergency C-section and gave birth to a baby girl. No wonder I felt…empty. I still couldn’t believe that Vince had been right when it came to the sex of our baby. I had only said that she was a girl because that’s what he believed. But I never expected him to actually be right about it.
We couldn’t go back to our apartment just in case Tenise and Mason showed up. But now that the police had their names, they would search for them.
I met Detective Baldwin and gave her all of the information I could. I had a feeling from the beginning that there was something more to Tenise than her just being friends with Vince, but I could never figure out what it was. She made me uneasy and now I understood why. A part of me felt sorry for her. I just hoped the police could find her before she hurt herself, or someone else, and she got the help she needed.
Then there was Mason. I never knew and neither did Vince. He was as shocked as I was, but I felt even worse for him. He lost a best friend. Both him and Rory did. Someone they had considered a brother.
“What are you thinking about?” Vince asked, helping me into a wheelchair.
“Tenise and her desperation and…and…Mason and Rory.” I sighed, my stomach twisting. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for both of you.”
“Why are you sorry?” Vince knelt in front of me and took my hands in his. “I should be apologizing to you. I brought them both into your life.”
“That’s not your fault at all but I know you were friends with them. Even if it was just because Tenise was Rory�
��s girlfriend.” I linked our fingers, taking all the strength I could from him. “That doesn’t matter. But I’m really sorry about Mason.”
“I’m sorry too,” Vince’s voice came out rough. Something dark flashed in his eyes and I knew that if I let him, if I only said the word, he would go hunt him down. He probably would once he was satisfied that I was safe. Couldn’t say I blamed him any. Whatever happened, I would be there to help him pick up the pieces.
“Yeah but I only knew her because of him. So I wouldn’t have been friends with her if she wasn’t his girlfriend. And Mason...” Vince’s voice trailed off.
“It’s not your fault either,” I reminded him.
Vince kissed my knuckles. “The police probably contacted Rory already,” he said, changing the subject. “I just hope they find both of them.”
“Me too.” I thought a moment. “You should probably call Rory yourself and fill him in on everything too. I’m sure he’d rather hear it from you.”
“I already did. While I was waiting for you to wake up, I called Rory. I even called Mason but of course there was no answer. I was going to play dumb. But I’ll call Rory again and tell him about…” A shaky breath left him. “Everything. I hope I never run into her again because…” A dark shadow passed over his face.
“Hey.” I cupped his cheek. I was going to tell him that everything was alright, but I got it. I understood exactly what he was going through. He wanted revenge.
“I need to talk to my parents but first, let’s introduce you to our daughter.” He wheeled me to the NICU so I could meet our baby girl. He parked the chair in front of the small glass box and pulled up a chair beside me. “I haven’t named her yet.”
I stuck my hand in the hole in the box, so I could touch her. “That’s fine,” I whispered. “She’s so perfect.” My eyes welled.
Vince grabbed my free hand, bringing it up to his mouth. “Both of my girls are.”
I smiled at him before looking back at our baby. She was so tiny, but she was strong. “What about Hannah?”
“I love it.”
My heart warmed. “Yeah?”
Vince leaned his forehead against the side of my head. “Yes. It’s absolutely perfect for her.”
“Hi, Hannah,” I whispered, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I’m your mommy and this is your daddy. We love you so much and we can’t wait to bring you home.”
“I know we set up a room for her in the apartment but with everything that’s happened, I’m not sure I want to go back there. Ever.” Vince cupped my shoulder, brushing his thumb back and forth along the base of my neck.
“Where would we go?” I asked, staring at the little life we created.
“I have a surprise for you. I was going to wait but I guess I can reveal it early.”
I frowned. “What surprise?”
He smirked, winking. “I’ll bring you there when you’re stronger.”
“I’m strong now,” I reassured him.
He chuckled. “Patience, baby.” He kissed my temple. “It’s not going anywhere.”
I cupped his jaw, staring at him. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, kissing my palm.
“For not giving up on me when I pushed you away. For just being patient and for giving me her.” I nodded toward Hannah. “And for loving me.”
“You have no idea how much I love you, Queenie.”
I looked back at him, seeing the worry etched in the lines on his face. “Hey, what happened is not your fault.”
His jaw clenched. “It still shouldn’t have happened.”
“No, it shouldn’t have but Tenise is sick and Mason is in love with her. Love makes you do stupid stuff sometimes. She needs help. They both need help.”
“Do not make excuses for them,” he ground out through clenched teeth. A buzzing suddenly sounded, pulling us from our conversation.
Vince reached into his pocket. “It’s Detective Baldwin.” He kissed my head and left the room, only to come back a minute later. “She’s here and wants to talk to us.”
“Okay.” I ran a finger down the bridge of Hannah’s nose. “We’ll be back, baby girl.” I didn’t want to leave her, but I also knew that if the detective needed to talk to us, it must have been important.
“I’m happy to see that you’re doing well,” Detective Baldwin said, smiling down at me as Vince wheeled me closer.
“Me too,” I said as my dad came down the hall toward us. “Daddy, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see how you’re doing, and I actually wanted to talk to Vince for a moment. Your mom was going to join me, but she caught a cold from Brogan and Benjamin. She wanted me to tell you that she loves you and she’ll see you soon.” Dad turned to Detective Baldwin. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m Angel, Gigi’s father.”
“Detective Jessica Baldwin,” she replied, returning the handshake.
“Do you have any news?” I grabbed Vince’s hand, keeping his fingers in mine for fear that I would freak out with whatever she had to tell us.
“I do.” Detective Baldwin paused. “We found Tenise.”
My eyes widened. “Really? Already?”
“How?” Vince asked.
“Where is she now?” I asked, hope dancing in me that we would never have to see her again but wondering where Mason was at the same time.
“Right now, she’s been arrested but she’ll probably plead insanity. Tenise is a very sick woman but her working with Mason, made her think that she’s invincible. She was telling us how it was all his idea. This isn’t the first time she’s done something like this either. Her ultimate goal has always been Vince, but her other victims were practice runs,” Detective Baldwin explained. “She did this with her previous boyfriend before Rory. We’ve been looking for her for a while, but she moved across States. She’s been hard to track down until now. We’re still looking for Mason, but I promise you, we will find him.”
Vince pushed a hand through his hair. “Have you told Rory this?”
“I’ve talked to him.” Detective Baldwin gave us a small smile. “He’s going to need his friends right now. Tenise also won’t bother you again. I’m just glad you survived her wrath because the previous girlfriend didn’t.”
My stomach twisted at the thought.
“Thank you, Detective.” Vince squeezed my hand.
“Of course.” She handed us a business card. “If you need anything ever, please don’t hesitate to call. If you want to speak to a professional, I can refer you to someone.”
“A psychiatrist?” I asked softly.
Detective Baldwin winked. “Something like that.”
Vince
“I need to talk to your father,” I told Gigi, kneeling in front of her.
She grabbed my hands with one of hers, and cupped my face with the other. “I love you. I hope you know that what happened is not your fault. I’m fine and so is Hannah.”
I rose to my feet and towered over her, placing a soft peck on her forehead. She could tell me she was fine all she wanted but it didn’t mean that I wasn’t going to have a little chat with Mason myself.
I wheeled Gigi back into the room to see our daughter. Even though she couldn’t hold her at the moment, Hannah needed to feel the love surrounding her. She was already a little fighter, but I knew that having her mother in the same room as her, would help.
“Where are you going?” Gigi asked when I placed a peck on her head.
“I’m just going to talk to your dad. I’ll be out in the hall.” There was no way that I was going to leave the hospital anytime soon to search Mason out. As much as I needed to confront him, that could wait. I had to stay with Gigi and Hannah. Until they both became stronger and I could bring them home, the shit I had to say to Mason could wait.
“Vince?”
I stopped at the door, turning back to the woman who was my one and only. She was everything I ever needed. Over the years, I saw what my parents had, and I strived for the same. I knew I
would have it with Gigi because I could never consider anything less and that was what anyone else would be. Less because she was everything.
As if she knew what I was thinking, a blush hit Gigi’s cheeks.
“I love you, Queenie.”
Her eyes shone. “I love you, Vince.”
When I left the room, I was met with Angel walking down the hall toward me.
“She know anything?” he asked, nodding toward the room that Gigi was in.
“Nope. Not yet anyway.” I pulled off the gown and mask and threw them in the trash before following Angel down the hall to a more enclosed area.
“You sure you want to do this?” he asked, pulling his cell phone out of his back pocket. “You know that this can mess you up right?”
I crossed my arms under my chest, leaning against the wall. A smirk splayed on my face. “It won’t but thank you for your concern.”
Angel raised an eyebrow. “Now’s not the time to be cocky, Vince.”
“Oh, I’m not cocky.” I scratched my jaw. “I’m confident. Mason messed with what’s mine. Since I can’t confront Tenise about it…” I let my voice trail off, knowing Angel would get the hint. Bottom line, Mason was going to get my full wrath. Tenise was a woman. A very sick woman. But I couldn’t touch her. Society frowned on that sort of thing. Mason, on the other hand, was a different story.
“Fine.” Angel handed me his phone. “I called in a favor. Mason was found lurking around the center. I’ve been told that he looked out of it. Maybe drunk. That was last night. I don’t know where he is now.”
“I’ll find him.” And I would. I had known Mason since I was a kid, I knew all of his favorite hangout spots.
“Does your other friend know about this?”
I handed Angel back his phone, thinking a moment before I outright told him the conversation I had with Rory. “He knows enough,” I finally said.
“Let me go with you,” Rory said, cracking his knuckles for added effect.
“No.” I turned and headed to the door. “I already told you too much. The less you know, the better.”
“Vince, he was my best friend too.”
I spun on him. “Yeah, and he tried to kill my girlfriend and unborn baby.” Rory didn’t deserve my wrath but unfortunately for him, he was in the direct path of my rage.