“Not in years,” she spat. “Why do you think I kept leaving you?”
“You always let me back in.” He stepped close enough she shot her foot out and caught him in the junk.
He slammed down to his knees, grabbing his crotch with a pathetic sound. Hatred burned in his eyes, though not nearly as hot as hers.
“I’m done with you, Derrick. I may have been stupid in the past, but no more.”
Derrick shot forward, wrapping his hand around her throat. “Give me the money and I’ll leave. You’ll never see me again.”
She gasped for air for a long moment, then he released her, slamming her back in the chair.
Coughing, she struggled for breath. Her eyes narrowed on him. “No. Because the cops will be here soon enough.”
“You lie,” he hissed.
Her lips quirked. “Fine, don’t believe me. There’s no money here. I have nothing to give you. And you will go to jail.”
“For what? I haven’t done shit yet.”
She snorted. “That’s why I have blood running down my face, and I can’t feel my fingers.”
He backhanded her, knocking her head to the side, then he turned away, looking for something. She spotted the gun and tried to kick it away, but he grabbed her foot and twisted until she screamed and kicked him in the jaw with her other foot.
He lunged forward, trapping her arms between the wall and the chair, while pressing up between her legs with an evil sneer. “If you weren’t so fucking disgusting, I’d fuck you senseless. Then maybe you’d give me the combination and this could all be over.”
“Why are you doing this?” she screamed, staring into his cold eyes.
“Because you always had more than enough money. You were always willing to help me. It was easy to take from you. You required so little to be happy, you stupid bitch.”
Her eyes slammed shut as she fought back angry tears. Yeah, she was fucking stupid. It took her too long to shut him out completely, which was purely her fault.
He caught her face, squeezing hard enough to make her squeal in pain. “Tell me where the money is, and don’t lie.”
“You really think your father won’t find you? That the police won’t catch you? You’re an idiot.”
“Why do you care? Thought you were done with me.”
“Answer the fucking question.”
He growled. “I’m leaving. After this, I can’t go back to work. He already knows something’s wrong with the books. I have to go. So you give me money and you’ll never see me again.”
“Fuck you!” she screamed.
He slammed the side of the pistol into her face, then pointed it at her as she glared up at him. “Where’s the money, Arianna? Don’t make me kill you.”
“You don’t have the balls,” she hissed.
Derrick grabbed her hair and yanked her head back, leaning over her. He pressed the gun against her temple. “What the fuck is that?” He pressed her head harder.
The tattoo? She wasn’t saying another word. Someone had to get there soon.
* * * *
The rest of the guys waited on the truck while Isandro and Trent stood at the counter in the diner. They were picking up food for the firehouse and planned to drop something off for Arianna. Didn’t matter that she was leaving soon, he didn’t want to make her cook after working all day.
“You ask her to move in yet?” Trent asked.
“Yeah.” He glanced over with a grin. “She said yes.”
“Aren’t you glad I talked you into buying her a drink?” Trent asked.
Nodding, Isandro smiled. “Yeah. Thanks. Seriously.”
Trent chuckled. “You helped me get the girl. You and the rest of the guys. I owe you as much thanks.”
Isandro grabbed his buzzing phone and hit talk. He heard music. “Hey, Arianna, what’s up?”
There was a clattering sound and a pained cry. Then someone snarling malicious threats.
“Fuck.” Isandro turned and marched out the door. Outside, he ran for Sweet Tooth. He slid to a stop when he saw the shutters down and turned to sprint down the alley, hoping he got in through the back.
The door was ajar and he shoved through it. The office door was open and he watched Derrick hit Arianna with a gun.
Something in his head snapped and he shot across the room and threw Derrick against the desk, pinning him down with his hand on his throat as he swung his fist into Derrick’s face once, twice, and a third time.
The fucker lifted the gun, and Isandro grabbed his wrist, slamming it into the edge of the desk. The fourth time there was a crunch and the gun clattered to the floor.
Derrick let out a scream, feebly trying to pry Isandro’s grip loose with his good hand.
Isandro glanced back at Arianna. She sucked in one breath after another. Blood dripped down her face from a cut above her eye and her nose.
That was it. Isandro looked back down and climbed on Derrick’s chest, pounding his fists into his face.
* * * *
The rage in Isandro’s eyes should have scared the hell out of Arianna. It didn’t. Knowing what his father did to his mother didn’t change anything. Isandro might be capable of violence, but only to protect what he loved, not destroy it.
Derrick had lost his damned mind. Crazy had stared back at her. Not the boy she knew. Not even the asshole who raked her heart over the coals. No, he’d gone absolutely bonkers.
Isandro had stormed in and stopped Derrick from hurting her further.
Her face hurt, her wrists were in agony from trying to pull free. Trent leaned down and gently searched her face. “Shit, Arianna, you okay?”
She huffed. “Am now.”
Trent nodded. “I’m going to turn the chair and cut you free. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
He turned her and sucked in a breath. A second later her hands were free.
“Isandro!” she shouted.
His arm stopped mid-swing and he looked over, his chest heaving. After a glance down, he climbed off the desk and knelt in front of her.
He tossed Trent a look. “Keep an eye on that piece of shit.”
“Don’t think he’s moving anytime soon,” Trent muttered.
Sirens filled the silence. The police had finally arrived.
Isandro took her face in his hands. “I’m sorry—”
She threw herself into his arms, her mouth crashing over his.
He crushed her to his chest while kissing her senseless. At least until she winced.
He leaned back, caressing her cheek with a grimace. “He hit you. I should have killed him.”
Marissa arrived. “No, you really shouldn’t have.”
He glared at his sister. “Look at what he did to her! He was holding a gun to her head when I got here. So yeah, I needed to stop that motherfucker.”
“You stopped the threat. Much further and I’d be taking you in too.” Sighing, she shook her head.
“He ain’t dead, but he sure as hell deserves to be.”
“Maybe, but that’s not your call.”
Arianna spoke up, “You two stop. Derrick was going to shoot me. Isandro saved me. I know you don’t want him in trouble, but he did stop.” Maybe not as fast as he could have, but fuck, the asshole was probably going to shoot her after all.
Marissa nudged Isandro’s shoulder. “Do me a favor and take care of her until we let the paramedics back. They’re going to have to check out this dumbfuck first.”
Isandro smirked at Arianna. “See, she’s not really mad at me. Just doesn’t want to lock me up.”
“Good, because you’re my hero.” She attempted to pull him back for another kiss, but he stayed put.
“Let’s get you checked out first.” He ran his fingers lightly across her brow, then her nose. “Have any ice?”
She nodded. “Freezer, in the kitchen.”
“I’ll get it,” Trent said, slipping past Brian.
Derrick rolled to his side and fell off the desk with a thud. He groaned
, and Marissa sighed when he couldn’t push himself up. “You broke his wrist, Bulldog.”
“He wouldn’t drop the gun,” he replied coolly.
“Where is it?” Brian asked.
Arianna pointed at the gun lying on the floor. “Right there.”
“Fucking bitch,” Derrick muttered.
The look that passed over Marissa’s face was priceless. Arianna thought she might kick Derrick. Instead, she hauled him up and sat him on the desk, reading him his rights.
“I didn’t do anything,” he protested.
Marissa took the broken wrist. “One move and I will cuff you.”
He screamed like a little bitch, then the whining and crying began.
Marissa asked, “You put your buddy Talbot up to the break-ins, didn’t you?”
“Shit. How do you know about that?”
“Answer the question.”
Trent came back with a bag of ice wrapped up in a towel. “Here you go, Arianna.”
“Thanks.” Isandro stood up and took the bag, pressing it gently to her face.
Arianna winced but held his hand and the pack to her face. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Well,” Marissa continued, “did you put Talbot up to breaking into Arianna’s home and the shop? How about crashing into Isandro’s car?”
“You don’t understand. I needed Arianna to take me back. I needed to put the money back in my dad’s company. She had plenty. But the stupid cunt wouldn’t take me back. I had to find someone dumb enough to break in and steal the money, but he couldn’t find it. And then your asshole brother didn’t dump her like he was supposed to.”
Isandro’s eyes closed as his head tipped and his jaw clenched. He wasn’t half as pissed as Arianna.
“You bastard.” She stood up and stalked toward him with her fist raised.
Isandro caught her around the waist and hauled her back with a nod at Brian, who held up a recorder. “He’s going away for a long time.”
“I didn’t want to hurt her. She wouldn’t cooperate. I—I…shit.” Derrick dropped his head into his hands and cried out in pain as the paramedics made their way down the hall.
Kate, one they often worked with, stepped into the office. She looked at Derrick, then at Arianna and back. “What happened?”
Marissa gave her the rundown.
A stretcher was brought back and Derrick was cuffed to it before they rolled him out. Then Kate moved in front of Arianna to check her.
“You need a few stitches, and I want a doctor to check out your wrists.”
Arianna gripped Isandro’s hand. “Can Isandro come with me?”
“Sure, as long as you want him to.”
“I’ll talk to Ramirez,” Trent told him. That was their chief.
Marissa gave her a smile. “We’ll have to treat the shop like a crime scene. Someone will be here at all times. Everything will be safe.”
“Might want to find Miley. She may have let him in. Maybe Isandro was right about her.”
Isandro sighed. “He had a gun. She may not have wanted to.”
“We’ll find her,” Marissa promised.
Chapter 28
Isandro sat in the waiting room, stewing. Seemed like he’d been there for hours. Enrique and Estevan hurried in and plopped down on either side of him.
Estevan nudged Isandro. “How is she?”
“Not sure. She needed a few stitches. Her nose may have been broken. Her wrists are bruised and abraded. She’ll be okay, but I want to be there for her.”
Sighing, Enrique handed his keys over. “Miley is fucking stupid. She let him in.”
Isandro turned toward him. “How do you know?”
“She came to me in tears. Told me what happened. Apparently some guy showed up with a gun, told her to go away and leave the door unlocked. She ran to her car and came to me. She didn’t call the cops. Just let an armed man in.”
“Fuck, I knew she shouldn’t have trusted Miley.”
Enrique shook his head. “She was terrified. That’s why she came to me. And she was a crying mess. I called Marissa, but she wasn’t answering, and after I heard the sirens, I assumed they were already on their way.”
“Yeah. Arianna hit a panic button. Then she called me. I got there before the police did, but I was around the corner.” He flexed his hands. They already hurt, but he hadn’t broken anything. He did let a doctor run X-rays, though he was more concerned with Arianna.
“Shit. Maybe I scared the shit out of her. She watched me beat the piss out of that fucker. They haven’t called me back. What if I’ve lost her?”
“Doubt it. She loves you,” Estevan promised. “She talked about you all day long.”
Isandro scrubbed his hands over his face. “Almost three hours. They should have called me back by now. She needed some stitches. That’s it. Fuck, what if she hates me?”
“Maybe they’re back there taking her statement?” Estevan offered.
“Marissa isn’t answering her damned phone. And I know she has her hands full between Arianna’s statement and whatever they’re getting out of that shithead.”
Arianna’s mother stormed in. Diane stopped before Isandro. “How is she? What happened?” Her eyes shimmered with real concern.
Isandro filled her in. He half expected Diane to accuse him of something.
“You saved her.” Her eyes closed as she covered her chest with a hand. “That bastard held a gun to her head?” She sobbed. “I was so wrong about everyone. I thought he’d eventually learn to love my daughter.”
He glared up at Diane. “She never deserved to put up with his shit. He cheated on her. Tried to change her. Made her feel like dirt. He never deserved your daughter. She’s an amazing woman and needs a man who will treat her with love and respect.”
“I was wrong. I admit it. I didn’t think you were capable of love. Your father…you aren’t him. That’s not easy for me to admit, especially when you’re the spitting image of the man.”
“That doesn’t make me an asshole. I hate my father for what he did to my mother and our family. I’ll never be him.”
“I can only apologize.”
Isandro nodded, unsure what else to say.
Doctor Blake stepped into the waiting room and beckoned Isandro over. “Arianna would like to see you. She’s been asking, but I wanted to run X-rays before I let you go back.”
“What about me?” Diane asked.
He shook his head. “She didn’t ask for you, but I’ll talk to her. For now, Isandro is the only one coming back.”
“Is she all right?” Isandro asked.
“She is, and very impatient to have you with her.”
A smile finally pulled at his lips. He followed Dr. Blake through the door.
Diane called. “Tell her I came, that I’m here.”
“I will,” he promised, though that wasn’t the first thing he planned to tell her.
* * * *
Arianna’s head throbbed, starting at her nose and working its way back and up her skull. Her nose wasn’t broken, but her face was bruised. Derrick managed to inflict a small cut above her brow that had needed stitches.
And the worst part, they wouldn’t let Isandro come back until after the police talked to her. Marissa stayed silent while her partner, Brian, asked all the questions. She only wrote things down and nodded.
Felt like they were purposefully isolating her. Like they wanted to be sure she didn’t corroborate a story or something. Arianna knew she was being paranoid, but it didn’t stop the crazy thoughts from running through her head. Marissa was on their side, not Derrick’s. Maybe that was why they were being extra cautious.
Finally, Doctor Blake promised to bring Isandro back. She didn’t care about anyone else at the moment. Needing his arms around her, she closed her eyes and tried to shake the image of Derrick’s crazy eyes locked on hers.
The door opened and she looked up to find Isandro standing there with so much concern on his face it nearly broke her. She
hopped off the cot and threw herself into his arms.
He caught her, holding her close. “Are you okay, Ari?”
Tears filled her eyes as she hugged him so tight she might have melded into him. “Now that you’re here. They asked me a million questions. I thought they’d never let you back.”
“Been asking for me?” he whispered.
“Begged them to let you in with me. Brian said he needed to interview me before you could come back. Marissa didn’t say a word. I started thinking they were going to somehow blame you for everything.” She sucked in a breath and let it out.
He snorted. “They have to cover their asses, especially since I did beat the shit out of Derrick, and my sister is the one who walked in on it all.”
“Yeah, but if you hadn’t shown up when you did, I probably would have gotten myself killed. I refused to help him. And he looked like a goddamned lunatic. I was so angry and scared.”
He lifted her face and met her eyes. “Shh. I love you. You were in trouble, and I had to protect you.”
She grinned. “You did.”
“I didn’t scare you?” He searched her eyes.
Arianna shook her head. “You’d never hurt me.”
“Never.” His mouth closed over hers, his tongue slipping in to caress hers. She wound her arms around his neck, and he gripped her ass. Her legs locked around him as he walked her back to the table.
The door opened again and he leaned back. “I love you, Arianna.”
“Love you,” she whispered.
Doctor Blake cleared his throat. “Your mother is hassling me to let her come back. That’s up to you.”
“If I have to choose between Isandro and my mother, Isandro’s staying. It’s not like my mother actually cares about me.”
One corner of his mouth tipped up. “I won’t kick Isandro out. Only two can come back, but it’s up to you if you want her.”
Isandro offered a smile. “She apologized to me. For assuming the worst. Then she thanked me for saving you. She’s not being a complete bitch at the moment.”
Sweet Tooth Page 20