Nightclub Surprise

by Michelle Love

  “God, are you okay? Jesus, please, sit down, I’ll call 911.”

  Ori was completely discombobulated and let him lead her to the couch. “David, I don’t need 911. I’m fine; what are you …?.” She trailed off as she placed a hand on her belly to quell the rising panic—and her hand came away wet. She looked down.

  Blood. Ice flooded her veins … what the hell? She pulled up her T-shirt to find a shallow but definite stab wound just right of her navel. What the hell was going on?

  She suddenly felt lightheaded and she must have paled as David, who was always professional with her, stuck his arm around her to steady here. He was talking rapidly into his phone, only pausing when she turned frightened eyes towards him.

  “I’ve been stabbed,” she said in disbelief and he nodded, grim-faced, relaying that news to whomever was on the other end of the phone. A second later she discovered it was Maceo, also frantic; as David handed the phone to her, she could hear him yelling her name.

  “Ori, mio Dio, are you okay?”

  “Maceo, calm down, I’m fine. It’s not very deep … I just don’t understand how it happened.”

  She heard heavy breathing as Maceo tried to gather himself. “Maceo … why was David pounding on the door? Has something happened?”

  “God, Ori … it’s Janek. He’s been found dead.”

  Shock rippled through her—shock, but not sadness. “That’s … not important to us anymore.”

  Maceo sighed. “Look, David is going to take you to the emergency room and I’ll meet you there. Where the hell was Alex all day?”

  “Sweetheart, he has a job. I told him I’d be fine….” Jesus, she had no idea what was going on, and she suddenly felt exhausted. “Okay, look, I’ll go with David. You’ll be there?”

  “Of course.”

  Maceo, his handsome face lined with fear, wrapped his arms around her. The doctor smiled at him. “She’s fine. It’s just a little cut. I’m more concerned about the sedative.”

  Maceo was confused. “What?”

  Ori touched his face. “They think I was drugged with some kind of sedative. That’s how come I didn’t feel it when I was stabbed ...” She looked to the doctor, who nodded.

  “We’ve called the police, obviously. Look, you have your antibiotics. I’d like you to stay in one night for observation.”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary.”

  “Yes, it is,” Maceo interrupted her protest in a tone that she’d never heard before. Hard, angry, shocked. She nodded at him, squeezing his hand. Calm down.

  “Fine. Thanks, Doctor.”

  Maceo pressed his lips to hers. “I’m so sorry, baby. I should have protected you.”

  She clung to him, needing to feel his solid, strong body against hers. She felt chilled to the core. Maceo buried his face in her hair and she suddenly remembered what he had told her.

  “Tyson’s dead?”

  She felt him nod. “They think he may have fallen from the roof of his building.”

  “Fallen or jumped?”

  “They don’t know exactly.”

  They sat in silence for a long moment. Maceo stroked his finger down her cheek and she leaned into his touch. “Ti amo. Let’s go home, Ori. It’s time.”

  “Agreed.” She sighed and kissed him again.

  “Knock, knock.” The doctor reappeared, looking uncomfortable. “Ori, the police are here.”

  Ori noticed the doctor didn’t look at Maceo and wondered at his attitude, but gave her permission for the men to enter. Two police detectives entered the room, nodding at her.

  “Are you here about the stabbing?” Maceo stood and offered his hand. The police officer ignored it.

  “No … it’s about the death of Tyson Janek.” With a sympathetic glance at Ori, the officer reached into his pockets and drew out a pair of handcuffs. Suddenly Ori realized what was happening.

  “No, no, please, not that.”

  Maceo looked at her, his handsome face even more confused as the police officer reached for his wrist.

  “Maceo Bartoli, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Tyson Janek….”

  Nightfall Part 3

  Midnight Club Part Three

  Lisander Duarte did not speak to anyone the entire flight from Buenos Aires to New York City. The flight attendants fussed over him, bringing him champagne, but Lisander barely registered their presence.

  Maceo. Arrested for murder. Jesus. What was shocking Lisander more than anything was that somehow this had been inevitable—Maceo had always been the one to get into trouble—but at the same time, out of all of The Midnight Club, Maceo was the one Lisander would have sworn blind would never, ever be violent. Leave that to Alex or me, he thought now, shaking his head. But maybe Maceo’s love had been in serious danger … Alex had called Lisander and filled him in, and Lisander had taken a look at the website. Seeing Viola’s dead body like that … god. Lisander had swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. Alex had also told him about Maceo’s alleged victim.

  “Janek was a rapist and a pedophile,” Alex spat out, “and he was going to murder Ori. Maceo swears he didn’t kill him, but would any of us blame him if he did?”

  No way. He and Alex had always been the most similar of their group; no nonsense straight shooters who would do what it took to protect the people they loved. Had they underestimated Maceo’s capacity for violence?

  Alex had arranged for a car to pick Lisander up at the airport. At Alex’s hotel, he greeted his friend with a hug. “Where is Maceo now?”

  “Holding cell. He’s got a lawyer, but bail’s not been set yet.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  Alex half-smiled. “He’s Maceo. A little shocked to be banged up, but he’s pretty confident this will be sorted out.”

  “What about Ori?”

  Alex sighed, his expression softening. “A mess. She got hysterical when they arrested Maceo, so the doctors have kept her in the hospital, sedated. They think whoever killed Janek … well, they saved her life. Cops believe that Janek stabbed her and was stopped from going all the way. There were signs of a struggle in the room.”

  Lisander ran a hand through his pale brown curls. “Jesus, what a mess. Do we think Janek was behind that website?”

  Alex shook his head. “No. Ori is the only connection between the two cases.”

  Lisander studied his friend. Alex looked older and grayer, the grief of Viola’s murder etched on his handsome features. “And how about you, my friend?”

  Alex tried to smile. “The main thing is to get Maceo freed and to make sure Ori is safe. Seth thinks the best way is for me to take her out of state while Maceo is locked up, but she’s chafing against leaving him.”

  “What does Maceo say?”

  “Keep her safe. At whatever cost.”

  “Who’s his lawyer?”

  “Kathryn Garcia. She’s a junior at Fielding, Lawn, and Greg’s.”

  “Wait … junior?”

  “It was short notice, Sander. Maceo is happy with her.”

  Lisander’s face tightened. “Look, I want to see Maceo and talk to this lawyer.”

  Alex shrugged. “No problem. Look, I can drop you at the prison if you’d like. I’m going to see Ori to try and talk some sense into her.”

  Kate Garcia tried not to grimace as she was being patted down for the third time that day. “How would I have smuggled something in when I haven’t been outside since the last time you did that?”

  The guard gave her a withering look and Kate grinned. “No sense of humor.”

  The guard buzzed her through the gate, and she walked quickly down to the interview rooms. Maceo was already waiting for her, his eyes tired and stressed, but he still had a warm smile for her. His green eyes crinkled at the edges.

  It would be quite easy to get a crush on you, Kate thought, but quickly pushed the thought away. Firstly, she was a professional. Secondly, Maceo Bartoli was crazy-nuts for his lover—the deceased’s stepdaughter. Kate had s
een the press conference where Ori had outed Janek for his abuse of not only her but his biological son. Kate had cheered on the brave young woman and had been amazed when, not twenty-four hours later, she had been called to represent this man, Ori’s love, for the murder of Janek.

  “Did you sleep?” She studied Maceo’s handsome, scruffy face. He shook his head.

  “Not much. How is Ori? Have you seen her?”

  Kate smiled. “She’s fine, Maceo, just worried about you. The doctors haven’t released her yet, but I’m sure that when they do, her first visit will be to you.”

  Maceo shook his head. “No. I don’t want her coming to a place like this. Seeing me like this.”

  “Maceo – “

  “No. Please. I couldn’t bear it. Alex will know what to do.”

  Kate sighed. “Okay, well, I’ll stay out of it, but Ori won’t be happy.”

  “I just want her safe.”

  “I know.”

  Maceo fixed her with a steady gaze. “I didn’t kill Janek … but I would have. For her. He stabbed her … god, when I think about it … ”

  “Don’t think about that,” Kate said sharply, “Ori is fine. And don’t ever say that again to me or anyone else. At least not while we’re fighting this case.”

  Maceo agreed and drew in a deep, shaky breath. “So, did they tell you how it happened? Why they think it was me?”

  Kate looked at her notes. “Janek’s throat was cut; he was almost decapitated. They found the knife … the same knife used to injure Ori. How did he get into the hotel?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “As far as evidence, they don’t have much that isn’t circumstantial—apart from the knife. They wanted to try and pin Ori’s stabbing on you at first. I know, I know,” she said as Maceo’s face flashed with horror. “Don’t worry, they quickly dropped that idea when numerous people told them that there was no way you would hurt her. They’re tilting at windmills, mostly, but it’s just the knife. They say they have found DNA that doesn’t belong to Ori or Janek on it. Any chance it could be yours?”

  Maceo shook his head. “None.”

  Kate sighed. “Well, we’ll get some lab work done and see where we go from there. We do have witnesses that say they saw you leaving MOMA around the time of Janek’s death, so there’s that. Look, let’s just see if we can get bail set and go from there.”

  She was walking back to her old Volkswagen in the parking lot when she saw him. She recognized him, of course. Who wouldn’t? It just wasn’t every day that a world-famous fashion designer leaned against her car, giving her the kind of look that would have shriveled a meeker person than she. Instead, she got irritated.

  “Mr. Duarte, I suggest you step away from my car,” she said as she approached, and to her satisfaction, he did.

  “Miss Garcia, I wanted to talk to you.”

  “Then call my office and make an appointment, Mr. Duarte,” she said shortly. God, were all of Maceo’s friends as gorgeous as he was? This one was tall and looked like he could bench-press an entire football team. His bearded face was framed by wild, light brown, almost auburn curls, his beard full, and thankfully, not “manscaped.' No, this guy looked as if he should be chopping wood in the Pacific Northwest, not designing clothes.

  “Miss Garcia, this will only take a second.”

  “Call my office, Mr. Duarte,” she said firmly and opened the driver’s door. Lisander put a hand gently over hers and electricity snapped up her body. He leaned in so that his face was close to hers, but strangely, Kate didn’t feel threatened.

  “I will call,” Lisander said softly, “but for now … just tell me how he is.”

  His hand felt huge over hers, the warmth of it against her skin. Kate cleared her throat, aware her face was burning.

  “Mr. Bartoli is fine. Tired, but that’s understandable.”

  Lisander removed his hand, and Kate felt bereft. “Thank you,” he said.

  God, that voice … deep, smoky, the heavy accent. Kate nodded sharply and got into her car. She watched as Lisander returned to the waiting taxi cab she hadn’t even noticed was there. Damn. She let out a long breath. It had been a while since anyone had had that effect on her; even, she thought now, guiltily, her longtime boyfriend, Nikos.

  She pushed the thought away. What the hell is wrong with you today? First Maceo and now his friend? Are you extra horny for some reason? She chuckled to herself as she drove back into the city. A half hour later, she got her answer as the monthly stomach cramps hit. Of course, she thought, but then felt a strange pull of relief. Not pregnant. Again.

  She and Nikos had been together for six years, all through Harvard Law, and now their careers had taken off. So when Nikos had said six months ago that he’d like to have a child, Kate had been surprised both at his request and at her own reaction. A child? Now? Nikos hadn’t pressured her, but told her he would happily be a stay-at-home dad.

  “Hell, I’d even carry it for you if that was possible,” he’d joked, and she had laughed.

  They talked about it for a couple of months until finally Kate had said, “Let’s not try try. Let’s just stop using the condoms and see what happens.”

  Nikos had agreed, but now every month they were on tenterhooks. She picked up her phone now and dialed his number.

  “Hey, babe.”

  “Hey, you. Well … red sky in the morning.”

  “Oh,” she heard Nikos sigh, “Well. Damn.”

  “I’m sorry, babe.”

  “Not your fault, sugar, just had a feeling this was the month.”

  She smiled down the phone. “It will happen, Nikkynoo.”

  “Don’t call me that. At least not in public,” he chuckled. “Did you go see your sexy Italian perp?”

  “I did, and I did check. He’s still sexy,” she teased, knowing Nikos would see the funny side of it. He did.

  “How come all I get is dyspeptic old men with toe fungus, and you get sexy billionaires?” Nikos grumbled, and Kate laughed.

  “Because you chose medicine instead of criminal law, sucker.”

  She was still giggling when she hung up the phone, but when her boss shuffled down the hallway to see her, she immediately switched into her professional mode.

  Gerard Greg nodded at her as he listened. “Okay, well, I can’t suggest a better way, so just keep on what you’re doing. I assume they’ve shown you how to bill hours?”

  Kate hid a grin. “About two years ago, Gerry.”

  Gerry waved his hand. “Forgive me, Kate. I lose track of time.”

  When he’d left her office, Kate reflected again on how far she’d come at such a young age. Of course, her work ethic had driven her there … could she really halt everything for a child? She was only 29. The answer is that I simply don’t know, she thought. I don’t know if I want a new life.

  For some reason, her mind flitted back to Lisander Duarte, and she wondered idly what his children would look like, before imagining him naked and fucking her, his machismo a total turn on. Kate wriggled in her chair. Stop that, right now. She sighed and got back to work.

  Orianthi Roy had already packed her things by the time Alex turned up at the hospital. She greeted him with a hug, and he laughed as he watched her shoving her clothes into a hold-all.

  “Have the doctors actually said you can go?”

  “Yes,” she said firmly, then grinned. “No, but they will. The doctor is due here any minute.”

  “How’s your wound?”

  “Hardly feel it,” she said brightly, “Really, I think people were making a big fuss over nothing.”

  “A stab wound isn’t nothing,” Alex said softly, noticing her wince at the word stab.' Ori fixed him with her cool hazel eyes.

  “Alex … I want to go see Maceo the minute we get out of here.”

  Alex shook his head. “Not going to happen, sweetheart. Maceo does not want you near that prison.”

  “Tough noogies,” she said shortly, “I’m going.”

  Al
ex sighed. “Ori, look … Maceo and I talked, and we think the safest thing for you is for me to take you out of state until Maceo is bailed.”

  Ori gritted her teeth. “Alex, do I get a say in this?”

  “Not really, angel. It’s for your own safety.”

  Ori was silent, and Alex could see the conflict in her eyes. Finally, she turned to him. “I will go with you on one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I get to see Maceo once before we leave New York.”

  Maceo had agreed reluctantly, and Ori would never know how Alex or Maceo’s lawyer had swung it, but they had arranged for Maceo and Ori to have a private room to themselves for a few hours.

  As soon as she saw him, she ran into his arms, and his lips found hers. “God, I missed you,” he murmured, and with tears in her eyes, she nodded.

  “Let’s not waste time,” she said, her eyes locked onto his, “I want you, now.”

  With a growl, Maceo pulled her to him and soon they were shedding their clothes, not caring that the door of the room they were in was locked from the outside.

  “I need you inside me,” Ori gasped as Maceo’s cock drilled into her, her legs clamped around his hips.

  It was a hard, furious, desperate fuck and afterward, Maceo stroked his hand slowly, languorously over her soft skin. He touched a fingertip to the butterfly stitches over her small wound. ’Does it hurt?”

  “No. It never did. If it hadn’t been for the blood, I doubt if I would have even noticed it. It truly is nothing.” She nestled closer to him as they lay naked, using their clothes as a blanket. Maceo tightened his arms around her.

  “We’ll get through this, you know.”

  “I know. I’m just scared that they need a scapegoat for Tyson’s death and you’re it.”

  “I’m not sorry he is dead.”

  “Me neither. Hey,” she grinned up at him, “now I only have one psycho after me. Score.”

  “Don’t even joke,” he said, but couldn’t help laughing at her mischievous grin. “In all seriousness, Ori, you will go with Alex, yes? Until I make bail?”