My phone rang, mercifully interrupting a conversation that was headed in a bad direction. “Daniel.”
There was a lot of noise in the background, nothing I recognized.
“I want you to go to this address.” He rattled it off, and I punched it into the GPS. “It shouldn’t take you long to get there. Maybe half an hour. You can trust the people there to help you.”
“Thank you.”
“The security team will follow you.” He hesitated. “How is he?”
“He says he’s okay. In fact, he was telling me it’s just a scratch.” I looked over at Stone and shook my head.
“If the physician wants you to stay overnight, do it. You’ll be fine. Vivian and I will come get you tomorrow.”
“What? You are not coming home. I don’t want you to.” I said, irritated.
“Too bad. I’m hanging up so you can concentrate on the road, but I expect to hear from you soon,” he commanded.
“I want to talk to her,” Vivian demanded in the background. “Hey.” Her voice broke on the one syllable, and I could hardly stand her fear.
“Master says we need to hang up so I can drive,” I said dryly, and she snorted.
“You’re driving?” Vivian asked between sniffles. It wasn’t often I got behind the wheel, although Daniel had taught me almost as soon as I arrived in New York. “I’ll tell you all about it later, but I can’t talk to you if you’re going to cry,” I said, sounding far tougher than I felt. Actually, I sounded a lot like her.
“Fine. I’ll try to stop by the time I see you. I promise nothing.”
“I told Daniel I don’t want you to come home.”
“Too fucking bad. We’ll bring chocolates. You’ll change your mind right away.”
“I better go. The GPS is barking out instructions.”
“Tell Stone we’re thinking about him.”
“He can hear you.”
“We love you both so much, M.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Stone
My side hurt like a bitch.
Every bump we hit was like getting shot all over again. But as long as it was me instead of Muriella, I could handle it.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in Texas?”
“Don’t remind me,” I said, already dreading having to tell Zegas I wouldn’t make the interview. “I left my phone at the apartment. Found your stuff. Lost my shit.” My head rolled toward her. “Sorry.”
“You shouldn’t have come.” She glossed over my language.
“I hoped you’d think I was your hero cowboy. Guess not.”
She cut her eyes over to me, her gaze withering. “You could’ve been killed.”
“If it kept you from going back with him, I’d call that a fair trade.”
“Don’t talk like that.”
“You’d have done the same for me. That’s why you shot him. To protect me.”
She bristled. “I would have escaped.”
“I don’t doubt that. But there was no chance in hell I wasn’t going to be your backup.”
“It was stupid. You have no idea how dangerous he is.”
“And what if your brother hadn’t been on your side, then what?” I challenged, though I didn’t want to think about that possibility.
“He was, so it’s irrelevant.” She lifted her chin and slowed the truck.
A massive wrought iron gate opened on our approach. We rolled through and crept down a long driveway lined by a thick forest of trees. Other than the headlights, it was pitch black.
The forest eventually gave way to an estate mansion spread out a country mile. Muriella wheeled around the fountain in the center of the circular drive. Five figures in dark clothing awaited us near the massive entrance.
“Wait here.” She pointed at me and jumped out of the truck before I had a chance to respond.
Like hell I’d sit still while she confronted strangers on her own.
I pulled on the door handle, cursed under my breath as pain sliced through me, and gritted my teeth as I managed to maneuver one leg out of the cab.
“He’s not as bad off as Daniel indicated?” said a man approaching the car with Muriella.
“I’m not sure if I’m glad to see you or should be looking for a weapon,” I said when I recognized Donato Salvatore.
We’d only been recently introduced when his brother and that other son of a bitch had threatened to kill Muriella and Vivian in Daniel’s apartment. He’d defused the situation, and Daniel seemed to trust him, so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
His white teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “Probably both.” He snapped his fingers and a gurney appeared. “Let’s get you inside.”
“If you think I’m getting on that—”
Muriella cut me off with a look. I winced as I swung my other leg out of the truck. Donato offered me an arm, which I ignored. Bracing on both sides of the door, I pushed out and landed on my feet. That wasn’t so bad.
A guy who was the size of about two of me, and I was no small fella, lowered the gurney when he realized I wasn’t going to let anybody help me on it. I glared at the white bed, gritted my teeth, and took a step toward the front door.
“Stone, you’ll hurt yourself.”
I flashed Muriella a million-dollar smile. “Just a scratch, darlin’.”
“Don’t you darlin’ me.” She spun around to the two men closest to her and pointed. “Help him onto that.”
They towered over her, yet both of them looked warily from her to their boss.
“Better do as the lady says.” Donato leaned toward me, his voice low. “I don’t want to piss her off, son.”
“Appreciate the help,” I said acidly. Like he’d ever get on that thing.
I pushed past the brutes, cursing every step. At least the faster I moved, the faster I got to the house.
A hand landed on my shoulder when I reached the three steps of the front stoop.
“This is as far as you go.”
The men picked me up as if I weighed nothing and deposited me on the gurney. They lifted me into the house and rolled me into a room set up like an infirmary. Guess I wasn’t the first person to need medical attention here.
An older gentleman wearing scrubs wasted no time cutting off my shirt and removing the makeshift bandage Carlos had put on me.
“You’re very fortunate,” he said, without looking up. “Another inch and you’d be dead.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Muriella
Another inch and you’d be dead. Another inch and you’d be dead.
The statement was on repeat in my brain and wouldn’t shut off. I folded my arms over my stomach. I was going to be sick.
“How’d he find you?” Stone’s voice carried in the darkened bedroom.
“I thought you were asleep.”
He’d been stubborn about taking the pain medication once we’d gotten him settled in one of the guest rooms, but I’d eventually gotten him to. Donato fed us, though I couldn’t really eat, and I had no idea how long I’d been laying in bed awake next to Stone.
“Are you avoiding the question?” His voice was weaker than I was used to.
“A photograph of us. The day you came by Paths.”
“Shit,” he croaked, sounding more pained than he had at any point since the shooting.
“No—”
“I didn’t think.” He shifted in the bed, trying to sit up. “I’m sorry, Muriella. I was so selfish.”
“Lie still.” I placed a hand on his arm, but he still struggled.
“You were in real danger of being back with him because of me.” He turned his face away, the light from the bathroom hitting him. His features were contorted in anguish like I’d never seen.
“Stone.” He refused to look at me. “It’s a miracle I’ve avoided him this long.”
“But you had,” he snapped. “How could I forget about the fucking paparazzi?”
“Because y
ou don’t live your life like a celebrity,” I said. This time I was the calm one.
“I’ve brought one hell after another on you.”
“You’ve also shown me I’m capable of more than I ever dreamed.” I pulled the comforter over him. “Get some rest.”
The thickness of what might have been settled over us. Between us.
“I’m so damn sorry,” he mumbled, slumping back down on the bed. I prayed the pain meds would give him a restful sleep.
“Me too,” I whispered.
I’d made a mistake.
I should’ve killed my father. If I had, we might have had a chance to heal. Try to move forward. But I’d hesitated. Now my family would pay the price.
If there was one thing I knew about my father, it was that he would not let me go, not now that he’d found me. He was a master at getting what he wanted. He’d find what meant the most to a person and threaten to take it away. Then they’d do anything he wished.
He knew my weakness was Stone, Daniel, and Vivian. Would he start with one of them, or go after all three at once?
I eased from the bed and tip-toed to the bathroom, carefully closing the door. Once inside, I ran to the toilet, barely making it before I vomited.
Shaking, I slumped against the wall and pulled my knees to my chest. As long as my father drew breath, this nightmare would never be over.
I trusted Daniel and Stone with my life, but they didn’t know who they were up against. If I’d been afraid before, when he thought I was dead, I was terrified now that he knew otherwise. Certainly for myself, but that was nothing compared to the fear I had for my family.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. There were two choices.
Surrender myself in exchange for their safety.
Or kill the bastard.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Stone
“Mama, I—”
“Don’t you dare give me some flimsy excuse, Stone Jacobs. Tell me you can’t talk about it, but don’t lie.”
Underneath all that pissed off tone was worry.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve called.”
“You sure as hell should have,” she said before lowering her voice. “Where are you? We’ve been worried sick.”
“I got held up in New York.”
“They not have phones up there?” she snipped.
If my side hadn’t hurt like hell, I’d have laughed. I couldn’t tell my mama the truth. She’d reach through this phone and strangle me for not calling her sooner.
“What’s happened to you, boy?” Dad’s voice thundered down the line. “You keep saying you’re gonna show up and then you cancel at the last minute or just plain skip out? We raised you to be a man of your word.”
Age didn’t matter in the Jacobs household. Nobody was too old for a good scolding.
“He’s gotten too big for his britches,” I heard Grandmama say in the background.
“I have not,” I protested, even as Mitch’s accusation came back to me. “Muriella was in trouble.”
“Is she okay?” Mama’s voice turned to worry in an instant. “What can we do? And why didn’t you say this was about her in the first place? When are you going to bring that girl to meet your mama?” I did manage a smile at that.
“As soon as I can.”
There was a rustling noise, and then it got quiet. “I want to know what happened.” Dad spoke low into the receiver.
Hell, I was going to end up telling them eventually.
“Her father showed up yesterday. It’s a long story, but I’m telling you he’s nothing but trouble. Planned to take her back to Nicaragua with him against her will.”
“And you stopped him,” he said with pride. He had no idea of the situation, but did have enough faith in me to read between the lines.
“I got shot in the process. Just a graze. And don’t tell Mama,” I said hastily, glazing over the severity of my wound. “Not for now at least.”
“Good Lord Almighty!” he boomed.
“Dad,” I hissed like my mother could hear me all the way from Connecticut.
“You okay?” His voice returned to a normal volume.
“Fine.”
His sigh was heavy. “I’ll come up with something to tell the family.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Come see your mother soon. She wouldn’t say anything because she doesn’t want to bother you, but she misses you like hell. We all do.”
“I miss y’all too. I’ll call you later.”
I tossed the phone on the bed and pulled back the curtains. It was pitch black outside. Those pain pills had knocked me on my ass. No way could I stay cooped up in here a minute longer.
I managed a shower using the hand-held nozzle. Getting dressed was a little tougher, but I did it.
“Stone.” Muriella rushed toward me when she saw me walking down the hall. “What are you doing out of bed? And how did you change clothes? I was just bringing you something to eat.”
“Never been one to stay in bed all day, darlin’.”
Her mouth flattened. “Let’s find somewhere for you to eat your soup.”
“What about yours?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re up.” Donato strode toward us. “Perhaps you’d like to dine in the den.”
He motioned toward a set of double doors behind us and opened them into the ultimate place to chill. Leather sofas. Biggest television I’d ever seen. Pictures of who I assumed were his family everywhere. And a decked out Christmas tree as big as a sequoia was positioned near the fireplace where stockings were hung.
Muriella dumped the tray on a coffee table and helped me sit.
“Thank you,” I said tightly. I appreciated her doting on me, but I had my pride.
“It’s time for your pills.” She shook two out in her hand.
“Don’t need them.”
“You’ll take them.”
“Soup smells good. What is it?”
“Chicken tortilla.” Donato brought the tray over.
“One of my favorites.”
“I know that.” She aggressively dumped the pills back in the bottle.
“Some water would be nice.” I’d meet her halfway. Her pinched face relaxed a fraction as she passed me a glass. “Thank you.”
“The doctor will take another look at your wound after you eat.”
“That’s not—” I started, but Muriella growled, and I quickly amended. “Can’t think of a thing I’d like more.”
She dipped the spoon in the steaming soup and held it to my lips. I blew on it before I opened.
“We should all be so lucky to have such a dedicated nurse.” Donato glanced appreciatively at Muriella.
“Maybe I should be helpless a little more often.”
Her answering look was scathing. “You already tried that with the horseback ride. Didn’t work out so well.”
It was the first time since we got to Donato’s she seemed almost normal. I hoped like hell it was a sign of things to come.
The next moment, Vivian burst through the door, Daniel on her heels. She ran to Muriella, who set the bowl down and met her halfway. They embraced, tears streaking down Vivian’s cheeks. Daniel closed in the circle.
The three of them stood like that for a long time. Thank God she had them.
Vivian finally broke loose and rushed over to me. She lifted my shirt.
“Hey, I’m excited to see you too, but I usually like a little conversation before we get to this part.”
She paused to glare at me only to turn that toward the bandage covering my wound. “I can’t see it.” She peeled at the edge of the medical tape.
“I’m doing all right, since you asked. Think I might have been driving Muriella crazy since you’ve been gone, but she’s getting used to it.” I winked at her, but she held onto Daniel.
Vivian immediately halted. And smacked me in the head. “I’ve missed you.” She straightened and kissed my forehead. “Couldn’t you have sa
ved the girl without getting shot?”
She pretended everything was normal, but I didn’t miss the strain behind her words.
“How else was I going to get all this attention? Sometimes you gotta do something drastic.”
She hugged my neck. “Thank you,” she whispered in my ear. “If you hadn’t been here…”
“It all worked out, so there’s no need to think about it.”
“I’m glad you’re okay.”
“You said you knew how to use a gun.” Daniel shook my hand.
“Thank the Lord the other guy didn’t.” Muriella recoiled at my words, her arms wrapped around her middle. “Darlin’, I didn’t mean—”
“This isn’t a joke,” she said.
“I know it’s not. I just don’t know any other way to cope.”
She nodded once.
“I’m sorry I let that bastard get so close to you, Muriella,” Daniel said. “I’ve been scared shitless since Stone called yesterday and said you were gone. I suppose I’m not handling it well.”
“I forgive you.”
His shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“No, I mean, I forgive you.” He blinked at her. “I tried to call you a few days ago to tell you. I couldn’t reach you.”
“I didn’t know. I would’ve called you back,” he said, running a hand through his hair.
“It’s okay.” She touched his cheek. “You hurt me, but I know you didn’t mean to.”
He stared at her in disbelief, then pulled her in for a hug, squeezing his eyes shut. Daniel murmured something in her ear.
She pulled back, her eyes watery. “We’ve made it this far together. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
“You don’t have to. I’m not going anywhere.” He hugged her again, like he needed reassurance. Gratitude Muriella had that kind of love and support flooded me. I owed Daniel a lot for taking care of her all this time.
“Donato, you have a lovely home. No offense, but I’m ready to get these two back to ours.” Vivian flashed him a disarming smile.
“I can’t thank you enough for your help,” Muriella said. “I expect to see you for dinner some time.”
Three Dates (Paths To Love Book 2) Page 24