She sure hoped Sam knew what he was doing.
For now, she’d have to continue working with her treacherous informant on the inside.
Her only goal was to keep her two worlds apart and get these girls to safety.
Chapter Nine
Kirin had been lost in thought when they reached her house, or she’d have seen the signs. She stared at the throngs of parked cars neatly lining both sides of her long driveway. She hadn’t hit her head that hard in the blast, but for as long as it took her to catch on, anyone would have thought she had. Sam took her hand, kissed it, and chuckled at her confused expression.
“Party time,” his eyebrows wriggled up and down.
So that’s why Rosa didn’t pick her up. She’d bet Rosa had been cooking for days for this sized crowd. As they pulled right up front, it looked like fifty people poured out of her house like ants, smiling and clapping.
Kirin’s hand flew to her mouth. Happy tears this time, pooled in her eyes. She was overwhelmed. Sam parked Rosa’s car and ran around to her side, beaming as he helped her out of the car and up the steps. Her whole family was there, Kathy, Dean, Maggie, Rosa, Arthur and even Steve stood on her porch holding a beer grinning at her. A few of Steve’s FBI team in full gear stood off to one side, not celebrating, and looking uneasy. They must’ve been on duty. She recognized hospital nurses, doctors, and even some cafeteria workers, who hugged and patted her as she hobbled up the steps.
Her farmhouse was lit from within, with music playing from the back yard. Each room had a different welcome home sign. She could tell the ones that were made by her boys. Oregano and the delicious smell of Rosa’s homemade lasagna and garlic bread wafted through the house.
Every person seemed to have a smile and a glass in their hand. Her study had been turned into a makeshift bar with wine, champagne, and beer. As she and Sam ambled toward the crowded kitchen, she spotted Rosa. Using the towel hung over her shoulder, she dabbed at one eye, then winked at Kirin before darting into the pantry.
Her focus turned toward the dining room and the most beautiful sight. Her boys sat at the table eating and coloring more signs. Aunt Kathy spotted her first and ran over to grab her in a fierce hug. Little Jack scrambled off his chair and raced Will to get to her. Ignoring the pain, she lifted them both. Sam was by her side in an instant, holding Will to lessen the weight. Maggie called to them from the other side of the room and snapped a quick family picture.
Just hours before, she’d imagined coming home to an empty house with Sam’s things gone, sitting in a chair trying to put her life back together. Here, with all her friends, family and Sam by her side, this alternate ending had seemed impossible.
One of the docs from her hospital asked when she’d last taken her meds. When she responded first thing this morning, he placed a full wine glass in her hand. An hour later, her brain was tired, but her body was free of pain and relaxed. Walking from room to room greeting everyone, she noticed a few things in her house had changed.
First, Sam’s hideous recliner was missing. She glanced around. Maybe they moved it to her bedroom to make room for the party? But then she ventured into her room and froze.
All his things were gone: clothes, boots, ties, razor, and toothbrush. A huge lump formed in her throat. He must’ve already had the party planned when their relationship hit a snag.
Kirin gulped her wine then ambled downstairs to find him. He was on the back porch in the dark, talking with Steve and a few others at the party. She watched through the door listening in on their conversation.
Steve smiled, raising his beer bottle. The other men followed and so did Sam. The clinks of the bottles hitting and men laughing caused her to strain to hear Steve’s speech.
“Here’s to today’s success. We didn’t get the big fish, but we secured two tons of his most prized powder, twelve girls and we’ve not had a single casualty in recent days. We’ll get him. He’ll screw up one of these times and we will toss his ass...”
As soon as her back door creaked, all noise ceased. They stared at her.
“What’s goin’ on, guys?” She eyeballed each one.
Sam stepped forward, kissing her cheek, “Hi honey.” He added cheerfully.
“You guys plotting to take over the world, ‘cause that’s what it feels like out here.”
“Yep... you caught us.” Steve said dryly, “Good job junior-sleuth.”
Kirin turned and leveled a look at him. “Fine, don’t tell me. You know I’ll end up right in the middle of it anyway. I always do.”
Steve raised his beer bottle again and clinked it with Sam’s. “Ain’t that the truth.”
She shook her head at Steve. He’d been a good friend to both she and Sam through everything. Sam started up a conversation about target shooting with one of the other FBI guys, so she took the opportunity to talk with Steve.
“She texted me,” Kirin whispered, taking a sip of wine.
“She did?” he lowered his beer and moved closer. “What did she say?”
“That she didn’t have anything to do with the blast. And once she found out about it, she tried to warn us. I asked her why she was still living with murderers and she said, ‘It’s complicated.”
Steve looked like he could bite through a nail.
“Dammit... Todd has something over her head. She’s not like this, you know. She won’t even speak to my parents but every once in a while and only for a few minutes. They’re keeping her there somehow... I think she knows I’ve got agents following her. One agent was hidden and took some surveillance pictures of her. She couldn’t have seen him, but somehow she knew he was there. The last picture he took was of her shooting him a bird.”
Steve grinned wide, then took a long pull on his beer. “That was our sign as kids. We flipped each other off behind our parents’ backs all the time. So much so that when we became adults, we still did it all the time. For us, it’s more like a “Hello.” I think it’s her way of communicating with me.”
Steve sounded so sad. He took another swig of his beer. Then asked, “Did she say anything else?”
Kirin waffled whether to tell him Stacy wanted to meet. Knowing him, he’d have a swat team there and screw the whole thing up. She opted to lie.
“Not really,” Kirin looked down at her wine. “I think she just wanted me to know that she didn’t cause the blast.”
Steve glared at her like he could see right through her. He always could.
“That’s it? You’re sure?”
“Want to see the text, detective?” Kirin challenged.
“No. I just hope you’re smart enough not to go if she reaches out and wants to meet. And if you do go, I wouldn’t go alone...they may have some sort of hold on her and she may put you in harm’s way without realizing it.”
Sam caught the last of that part of the conversation. Walking back over, he suddenly looked angry.
“You’re not stupid enough to meet Stacy, are you?”
Sam’s wide eyes indicated he’d clearly said this without thinking it through. Then he backed up, apparently realizing how harsh he’d sounded. “I mean, she could very well bait you...for them.”
Steve was smart enough to back up a step, knowing that Sam had set her off.
Kirin set her jaw and leaned toward Sam, “No, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to meet her, but I’ll figure out a way to bring her back.” Kirin pinned Sam with her eyes and added, “You’re not the only one trying to protect more than one person.”
She turned on her heels, chugged the last of her wine and let the backdoor slam behind her.
~*~
When the last guests had left, the little boys were in bed and Rosa had gone home, Sam and Kirin cleaned up from the party in total silence. She picked up all the paper plates and cups and threw them in the garbage while Sam finished the dishes. The wedge she felt between them seemed wide and cold. She was sure he felt it too. He watched her out of the corner of his eye.
Her pain meds had long since
worn off, but her wine consumption had been keeping the pain at bay. That too was wearing off. Her side and arm both ached. They hadn’t spoken to each other since the back porch.
“Where do these platters go?” he asked innocently.
“Pantry—I’ll get them.” She dropped a paper plate into the loose garbage bag and walked into the kitchen. Then picked the platters up with her good hand, one at a time, and carried them to the pantry placing them on the top shelf. By the third platter, her side began to ache, and her pain doubled.
She searched for her purse to take a pain pill when Sam pointed, “I already put two on the counter and there’s a glass of water. I thought you’d need one before now, so I set it out a while ago.” His eyes held love and kindness. Anticipating her needs was how Sam showed his love, no matter what argument they were in.
She thanked him, took the meds and drank the rest of the water, which ignited her wine-soaked brain causing a relapse of tipsy. She leaned up against the counter and watched him wash dishes, waiting for the feeling to pass. He was so careful with each dish, washing, rinsing and drying each one and being so meticulous handling each slippery plate with his careful hands. This was exactly how he treated her.
“Did you move all your things out?” She asked abruptly, stunning him. He froze in mid wiping of a plate and turned to face her.
“Yes.”
“Why?” Her tone was more of a whine. She didn’t even try to keep the hurt out of her voice.
“I think...it’s best if we have this conversation later. Let’s get the house back to normal and then we can...”
“No,” She crossed her good arm, “Now. Why did you move your stuff out?”
Sam took a deep breath, “To show everyone watching that we’re through.”
“Why?”
Sam sighed and tossed the plate up in the cabinet. It clanged and settled, then he slammed the door.
“So she and everyone else will think that I picked her over you.”
Kirin stared down at her floor. She’d kept the sadness at bay all night, hoping it was a mistake. That his things had just been moved for the party, but now the truth stabbed in her chest like a dagger.
“Go then. I’ll finish up. It’ll look like you changed your mind if you stay much longer.”
Sam turned back around toward the sink, “No.”
“It’s 11 o’clock... you need to go home...” Her breath caught. She didn’t want to know but had to ask. She cleared her throat.
“Will she be sleeping at your house?” The giant knot in her stomach tightened.
Sam spun around, red faced.
“Dammit Kirin, I thought you understood ...” he yelled. “No, I won’t be sleeping with her nor will I be doing anything else with her. She won’t be spending any time at the cabin. It’s just a show, that’s it. I’ve looked forward to holding you in our bed in our house for two weeks and I’ll be damned if I’m leaving.
“I’m staying here tonight, whether you like it or not.”
Sam slammed the last cabinet door, threw the towel onto the counter, and walked menacingly toward her. She stepped back as he reached her, gently took her hand, turned off the lights and then led her upstairs.
Chapter Ten
When she woke the next morning, Sam was gone. She could feel his absence before she even opened her eyes. Too afraid to hurt her, he’d done nothing but hold her all night. There was an empty hole next to her. She felt as though someone had died.
Rising slow, her breath hitched as shooting pains from her side and arm got the best of her. Too much activity yesterday after sitting in a hospital bed for over a week.
Next to the bed, lay her pain pills and a glass of water along with a note.
Take these...don’t be stubborn. Call me when you get up.
~Love you, Sam
Glaring at the note, she complied, then shuffled to the bathroom and stared at her ragged reflection. If she was gonna compete for Sam, she’d better try a little harder to look attractive.
Checking the time, she took a quick shower. Twenty-five minutes later, her hair was straight and shiny blonde, makeup on and dressed in her favorite black pants and a form fitting blue shirt. One she knew Sam loved.
Kirin stared at her jewelry box. Staring back was her shiny diamond engagement ring. She wasn’t supposed to be engaged anymore, so she closed the lid and shook her head. Just a few months earlier she dreaded wearing it to work. Now it was all she wanted.
Will ambled down the hall toward the bathroom. The aroma Rosa’s warm waffles and crispy bacon kickstarted one eye open and made him sniff the air like a dog. She was sure he was only half awake when she squeezed him, but when he held her tight for several seconds longer than usual, she knew he was glad to have her home. Afterward she bounded toward Little Jack’s room to tickle him out of bed.
Kirin needed to rush to physical therapy after driving Will to school. Hospital HR had insisted she take the rest of the week off, so she planned to catch up and get her world back turning.
Downstairs she grabbed a cup from the cupboard. It was bare without all of Sam’s cups. She pushed the sadness down, poured some coffee and sat at the bar.
“Morning,” Kirin said into her coffee.
Rosa eyed her, “You look nice. Going somewhere today?”
“After therapy, I’m gonna drop by and see Maggie.”
“Ah,” Rosa said, busying her hands with buttering waffles.
“What?”
“It’s just...you look nice for a trip to see your Aunt. Especially since Sam is out of town.” Rosa lifted one eyebrow.
“He is?”
“You didn’t know?” She stopped buttering.
“No,” Kirin snapped, not so much at Rosa but at the idea that someone knew where her fiancé was, and she didn’t.
“Did he say where he was going?”
Rosa thought for a second, “No...not really...to visit an old friend, maybe? He just said to watch you and make sure you didn’t get into any trouble.”
“Jerk,” she said to herself, sipping the hot coffee.
Rosa walked toward her as Will and Little Jack bounded down the steps.
“Don’t think for one minute that everything he’s doing, isn’t for you. Because it is.”
Great, even Rosa knew more about the situation than she did. “You know if he’d talk to me and maybe include me, then I wouldn’t worry he was doing something bad.”
With her.
Will ran in and inhaled breakfast faster than any kid she’d ever seen. She stared at him like he had three heads. “What’s the rush?”
“Gotta get there early, mom. We play paper football before the bell rings and I’m in the lead.”
Her competitive little man.
She kissed Little Jack who shoved forkfuls of waffles in his mouth and then Rosa. Only since Saul had died in her backyard, and Kirin had the accident had Rosa become more open to adult hugs.
Will ran to the garage, threw his backpack in the back and honked the horn. Kirin leveled a look at him before climbing inside.
Kirin got her rear handed to her at Physical Therapy. Afterward, she needed a drink to take another dose of pain meds. The sadistic PT had made her contort her body into a pretzel and her arm throbbed in time with her heartbeat. She pulled into her favorite quickie mart on her way to Maggie’s downtown shop.
Just as she was about to pull open the glass door, it opened for her. She glanced up and politely said, “Thank you,” to the woman holding the door. It wasn’t until she crossed the threshold, Kirin realized the woman looked familiar. She looked back and noticed the smug look on the woman’s face.
Heading for the coffee station toward the back, she stopped in her tracks. Sam poured coffee into his mug. He turned and froze.
He was there...with her.
Jealousy sprinted through her body like electricity. If looks could kill, he’d be dead. She bit her cheek and shook her head, brushing past him. The first cup she pulled out of th
e holder, crumpled under the grip she had on it. Chucking it in the trash with gusto, she pulled a second cup down, a little gentler. Sam didn’t move a muscle—as if he’d been seen by a T-Rex closing in on him.
The glass door shut with a thud and Kirin glanced back. The dark-haired home-wrecker strolled slowly to her black convertible carrying her drink. Bitch was laughing, too.
Kirin turned back and filled her coffee. She would not cry. Sam glanced at the door then scooted over behind her, grazing his stomach muscles across the top of her back. He leaned over and placed his coffee cup on the counter next to her.
Fury swept across her as he spoke.
“You smell amazing. You’re wearing my favorite shirt... Hey, how was therapy?” he placed his hand on her waist while grabbing the sugar off the counter with his free hand.
She turned slow, like he’d slapped her in the face. Her mouth gaped. He must have a screw loose.
“Are you...tell me you’re not serious right now? Screw off, Sam. You have no idea how hard this is to stand here and watch. Get away from me with your girlfriend.”
She turned, breaking his grasp and stomped to the island station where the good creamer was kept. She bit her cheek harder to keep the tears at bay. After using too much creamer, she fastened the lid at breakneck speed. She needed to get out of there and she didn’t want to look at him again. She’d cried enough tears for the entire year, and she was not doing it again.
Her heart was hardening by the second.
Sam sighed loud, stopped next to her and added creamer to his coffee, silently. There was nothing he could say. Her jealous side reared its ugly head.
“Were you gonna tell me you were going out of town with her? You know what? Don’t answer that. I don’t care.”
As she stomped around him toward the cashier, Sam grabbed her. Shielded from the view of the parking lot by a tall display of chips, he yanked the cup out of her hand and pulled her to him, hard. His mouth found hers and kissed her, deeply. Her mind fought him at first, pushing against his chest, but her body apparently had other plans.
One of his strong hands held her face while the other was wrapped tight around her waist, holding her body against his. Her arms changed trajectory from pushing on his chest to intertwining in his hair. The moans from their lips were quiet, but she felt his body harden against hers. Faintly, she heard the cashier clear his throat and realized what a spectacle they’d made.
Unraveling Page 6