Nurses ran into the room and worked with a thrashing, screaming Adele. They ushered Charlene and Tamara out the room.
“What happened?” A nurse asked looking pissed.
“She… she remembered what happened and couldn’t handle it,” Charlene said and then wiped her face. The nurse’s face changed to one of pity or sorrow.
Tamara couldn’t think beyond the horror of Adele’s words. This made things worse. Had Adele been beaten and raped? Max hadn’t said anything about the rape. But someone violated that woman. Goosebumps raced across Tamara’s skin as she remembered Adele’s ragged whisper, as if she relived the horror during the telling.
“Can you believe she went through that pregnant?” Charlene whispered. “How fucked up is this world?”
Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, Tamara wiped her face and shook her head.
“Some job we did of keeping her safe,” Charlene snorted. “Jose must be turning over in his grave over this bullshit.”
Tamara glanced at Charlene who sounded more like Charlie. “I need to call Max.”
Charlene nodded and strode off. Tamara envied how well she moved at a fast clip in four inch heels.
Max answered on the second ring.
“Baby, Adele was raped and I think someone wants to kill her baby.”
Chapter 9.
Max strode down the hall of the hospital and met Brock, who stood next to a woman in a white coat. Extending his hand, he read the name on her coat. “Thank you doctor for your time. Last night Adele became agitated, claimed she’d been raped. When you examined her did you find any evidence of that?”
“There were no signs of genital injury or semen. But if the victim was unconscious, and the attacker prepared, that would explain the lack of those things.”
Max ran his hand through his hair and looked at the floor. “So it’s possible?”
“For someone to have sexual relations with the patient without her consent, yes. Given the blows to her head, she may have been in and out of consciousness. If she were sexually assaulted, the attacker wore protection, I did not find any semen when I examined her.”
Max nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”
“I’m sorry,” she said and walked off.
“Son of a bitch,” Max growled as he walked in a tight circle. His hands opened and closed. “Who’s watching her room?”
“Skinny. I got some information on Barretti’s operation.”
Max exhaled and looked at Brock. “What?”
“Guy named Pascale runs it. From Jersey, been in the Raleigh area for the past five years working with Barretti. No family, few friends, just a determined small fish in a big pond. He’s been in clean-up mode since Barretti disappeared. Heard there’s pressure on him to meet the same quota’s Barretti had but he doesn’t have the same infrastructure.”
“Anything to do with Adele?” Max needed to connect some dots soon or he’d explode.
“Not sure. But he’s restarting and she had a relationship with Baretti. Maybe he thought she knew something, tried to get some information. It’s a stretch, but…”
“So far, we got nothing else. After we check in on Adele, let’s have a talk with him.”
“I made an appointment, we have an hour.”
Max’s brow rose and his lip curled. “Appointment?”
“Yeah, for lunch.”
In much better spirits, Max laughed as he headed toward Adele’s room. “I’ll still bust his ass, crowd or not.”
“Honey or vinegar, we’ll try honey first,” Brock said following him into the dim room. Adele lay still on the bed. Without makeup, she looked so young lying there bruised and battered.
“Adele?” Max said moving closer.
She blinked and parted her lips.
“Water?” Brock said moving forward and picking up a cup.
“Ice,” she whispered.
Brock picked up the plastic spoon, dug into the cup and gently placed a piece of ice on her lips. She sucked it down.
“Are they taking good care of you in here?” Max asked instead of diving into the questions he wanted to ask.
“So far. You find him?”
Max leaned forward to hear better.
“Find who?”
“My baby. They want to kill him, but I hid it.”
He frowned. “What did you hide? I’ll find it for you.” What was she talking about?
“No… he hurt me, Max. He hit me and he hurt me.” She started crying. Bending forward, Max placed his face against hers gently and exhaled while she cried.
“I’m so sorry this happened. Tell me what you can so I can find the bastard. He won’t get away with this.”
She inhaled and turned her cheek. He stood.
“Was it Vincente? Or one of his men who attacked you?”
“What? Vince? My friend? He saved me, took me home to Maria.”
Lost, Max had no idea how Baretti figured in all of this. Was he the father of her child or not? Why would he rape her if they were friends?
“Adele its Brock, do you want more ice?”
Max moved aside so his friend could take his place.
“Ice.”
Brock placed another piece on her lips and waited. “Is there anything I should tell Vince? We’re having lunch with him and Pascale.”
She frowned. “Pascale’s… helping me… run. My baby, they want my baby…” she started crying again. Brock wiped the tears and leaned down.
“Who wants your baby? Do you know?”
She stared at Brock for a few seconds. “No.”
“How did they tell you they wanted your baby?”
Surprised someone threatened the child, Max moved closer to the bed and watched her struggle to answer questions.
“Note. Guns.” She blinked fast. “I’ve got to go away.”
“Adele,” Max said sharper than he’d have liked but he didn’t want her to melt down again.
She stopped and looked at him. “I am not going to let anyone take your baby. No one will hurt you again. Do you understand?”
“But…” her eyes slid around the room and then returned to his.
“I have security standing at the door. The only people allowed inside this room is medical personnel and those I approve. You know me, Adele, believe me when I say, I’ll find the fucker who beat and threatened you.”
She didn’t release his gaze.
“Do you understand me?”
She dipped her head once, closed her eyes, and released a sigh.
Max met Brock’s concerned gaze. They had been focused on the beating, and more recently the rape. Someone shot at her? Why didn’t he know about that? Were these events connected? He believed they were. But threats to an unborn child, that changed things. Somehow they missed something. She said something about a note. When did she get it? Where was it now? What was the specific threat?
He watched her press a button. “Are you in pain?”
“Yes. My head hurts… when I think about all this,” she whispered and he knew they couldn’t ask any more questions right now.
He looked at Brock, read the same resignation in his eyes and took a step toward the bed. “Get some rest, Charlene and Tamara are coming a little later. My man, Skinny, is standing guard at the door.”
Her eyes flew open and darted around the room. “You’re… you’re leaving?”
“Yes, I’m looking for the men who want to hurt you and the baby. I’m going to stop them.” He refused to release her gaze and tried to infuse his confidence into her.
“Okay, Max. Okay.” She turned her head toward the wall and stared off.
He started to pat her arm and changed his mind. She had so many bruises, he didn’t want to cause more pain. Instead, he backed off and walked out the door. After reminding Skinny to stay alert and to call him if anything happened, Max and Brock left.
“Thoughts?” He asked once they were in the elevator.
“I didn’t take the threat to the child seri
ously before, but we need to look into it. What if the father is someone of influence who doesn’t want or can’t afford anyone to discover he has a love child? That would be motive for the attack.”
Max nodded. “Barretti was married.”
“Ten years, two kids. Wife named Maria. She’s older than him by five years, one of the kid’s hers before the marriage. No sign she’s involved in the business.”
“Strange, but I want this to be about Barretti. He got off too easy.” He turned to meet Brock’s gaze. “But I’m wrong, huh?”
Brock shrugged. “I don’t know, it could go either way.”
“One of our own pissing in my back yard?” He hadn’t wanted to deal with the possibility that someone who entered his establishment, drank his beer and ate his food would rape his brother’s wife and then threaten her life.
“Let’s talk to Pascale first, see how that plays out and talk when we’re done.”
Chapter 10.
Max and Brock entered the restaurant a few minutes late, and saw Pascale immediately. The tall, slender man with a Mediterranean complexion sat facing the door and nodded when their gazes met. During the car ride, Brock talked him down to the point he could sit and listen without punching the smirking bastard in the face.
“Pascale?” Brock said as they walked to the table.
“Sterling, Delgado?” He said with a slight accent.
Max nodded but didn’t speak. He pulled out a chair and sat next to his partner. They agreed Brock would do most of the talking and he’d watch Pascale’s body language. A waiter approached, Max ordered sweet tea, Brock water. Pascale held up his cocktail glass for a refill.
“Gentlemen, you wanted to speak with me?” Pascale said after they received their beverages.
“Yes, someone broke into Adele Fleming’s house a couple days ago and beat her black and blue,” Brock said in a low voice.
Max noticed the slight tightening of Pascale’s lips and flared nostrils.
“Is she alright?”
“The doctor is concerned about the blows she took to the head. Someone used her like a kickball,” Brock said his hand forming into a fist.
Jaw clenched, Pascale slapped the table with the palm of his hand and turned slightly. “Who? Do you know who does this?”
“No. We’re looking for information. Adele said she and Vincente were friends–”
Pascale released a bark of laughter, leaned forward and pointed at them. “You would mention his name to me… after what you’ve done? I know you killed him, or had him killed. For what? Adele? They were friends from teenagers.”
“Adele said he wouldn’t hurt her. Do you know if the baby is his?” Brock asked without admitting or denying the accusation about Barretti.
Pascale shrugged. “I do not believe so. They were friends, no benefits. She and Maria are close as well. At least they were. I have just recently returned so…” He shrugged.
“Maria, his wife?” Brock asked.
Pascale looked at Max. “His wife and lover for over almost two decades. They have children who miss their papa. More fatherless sons.”
Max forced back the guilt as Pascale’s words hit home.
“Maria and Adele are friends? Good friends? Someone Adele may have told about her problems?” Brock pushed.
Pascale waved his hand as if the words held no meaning. “Perhaps. She called me last week.”
“She did? Why?” Brock asked.
Pascale took his time and lit a cigarillo while watching Max. After he blew smoke from the corner of his mouth, he pointed toward Max. “Why did you kill him?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Max said returning his pensive gaze.
“Then I don’t know what you’re asking.”
Max nodded and took a few more sips from his glass. “How’s business?”
Pascale’s eyes darkened. “Business is good I believe. How is your club? Everyone accounted for?”
Max nodded. “Yes.” He looked at Brock. If they didn’t leave soon, he would jam his foot down this fool’s mouth.
“Did she talk to you about money or about the note she received?” Brock asked into the silence.
Pascale stared at Brock for a few moments and then released a sigh. “She is foolish at times. Every baby has a papa somewhere, no?”
Brock nodded.
“There is still a matter of outstanding debts owed to her; she wanted the money to run. This note scared her. At the time, I thought she was over dramatic, but maybe not, eh?” He pulled on his cigarillo. “I promised to get the money for her soon, when things settle.”
Max heard the sincerity beneath the words.
“Do you have any idea who would attack her?” Brock asked.
Pascale snorted. “You would chase this person? Seek retribution on her behalf?” He paused and smiled. “How noble of you.” He pointed at Max. “With the blood of my friend dripping from your fingers, you seek to avenge someone who was beaten. This country has interesting paradigms.”
“I didn’t kill Barretti,” Max said.
Pascale waved away his words. “You ordered his death.”
No one spoke.
According to Brock’s reports, Barretti and Pascale had been in the middle of a power struggle when the man died. All of this staging, or window dressing was for anyone watching. Max understood, but wished the man would get on with it. They had other things to do.
“And you now own his operation.” Max stared at him, daring him to say more. They both knew Pascale profited from what Max had done.
“What did Adele tell you about the note?” Brock asked.
Pascale looked at his nails for a few seconds and then put out his cigarillo. Leaning forward, he crossed his arms on the table and looked at Brock. “Someone threatened to kill her if she went through with the pregnancy.”
“When did she get the note?” Brock asked.
“Before Vincente went missing.”
“Did she mention someone shot at her?”
“No. When did that happen?” Pascale asked.
Brock waved off the question. “I’m not sure.”
Max watched a tall, striking woman, who reminded him of Angelina Jolie, walk in their direction. Her gaze pinned Pascale with a tight smile. When the man noticed her, a flash of aggravation crossed his face before settling into a lazy grin.
“Maria, are you following me?” Pascale asked before the woman spoke.
She snorted and placed her manicured hand on her hip. “In your dreams, asshole.”
Max met Brock’s amused gaze.
“What do you want,” Pascale asked in a hard tone.
She pushed her long, black hair behind her ear, displaying a diamond stud and gold hoop. “You know why I’m here, you’re late and that’s unacceptable. Do I need to remind you why it’s unacceptable?” Her tone went from soft to hard as she leaned forward.
Pascale’s jaw tightened as his eyes flicked from her face to her breasts peeking from the vee of her top and back to her angry face.
“Adele’s in the hospital,” Pascale said softly.
Maria jerked upright. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and then snapped shut. She turned to look at Brock for the first time, her gaze asking if it were true.
“Someone broke into her home and attacked her,” Pascale continued. “These men are investigating, trying to find the bastards.”
Maria reached for the chair, pulled it out and sat hard. Closing her eyes, she shook her head in denial before looking at them again. “What hospital?”
Brock gave her the name and asked. “Do you know who did this to her?”
Her head snapped up and her eyes narrowed. “Why should I tell you? None of you liked her. She knew you only tolerated her because of her husband. Why act all concerned now that its’ too late?”
“Adele is alive, so it’s not too late. As for why… she’s family,” Brock said simply.
Maria snorted. “If that’s how you treat family…” Sh
e stood. “I need to go see her.”
“Do you know who the father of her child is? Someone threatened her life.”
Maria shook her head. “So… she told you about that.”
“Did you read the note? She said you were friends,” Brock pressed.
“She thought she knew but now isn’t sure who the father is. There were two men… she doesn’t know which.” Maria closed her eyes tight. “I’ve known her since she was in high school. Vince brought her home after… after she was attacked.”
“Attacked?” Brock asked.
Max watched Pascale’s jaw tightened and wondered if he were one of the men Adele had been with.
“Raped. She was seventeen; a guy named Bobby walked into her mom’s house, snatched her from the living room, took her out back to the shed and raped her. Vince had gone by to give her a package, and heard noises. He found them.”
Max’s stomach clenched at the pain he heard in her voice. Adele told them she met Vince after high school.
“What happened then?” Brock asked.
“He whipped Bobby’s ass, called the cops and when she left the hospital, she came to live with us. If she stayed at her mom’s it would’ve happened again. The woman had men in and out the house all the time.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Next time you judge someone’s actions, consider everyone has a past that’s shaped their present. Adele was robbed of something precious that night, not just her virginity, but her belief that when you do right, good things happen.”
“In the hospital, she said she’d been raped,” Brock said slowly.
Maria’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes watered.
Pascale’s head snapped up, and his fist clenched as he stared at Brock.
“But I’m wondering if she confused it with what happened back then. The doctor found no indication of sexual relations or rape during the examination,” Brock said looking at Maria and then Pascale.
“Oh God, I hope so. It took so long for her to get over the last time. Not just mentally either. I don’t know what he did when she passed out, but it messed her up inside, there was some scarring. The doctor said she might not be able to have kids. Made her miserable when she and Jose couldn’t have a baby, she tried everything.” She looked at Brock and then Max. “Adele loved Jose as much as she’s capable of loving anyone. She needed to be the focus of his world to feel safe. When your mother tosses you aside, and men use you for what they can get, it changes you. Makes you hard. Complicated.”
That's Not My Baby Page 5