“What’s her number?” Damen asked.
Stefan told him. He paced as Damen dialed a series of numbers on his own phone. While he listened, his gaze darted about the room. Stefan paced. He wanted to get out of there and check her apartment. He started to leave, but Jerome anticipated him.
“I got someone I trust to drive over to her apartment.” He shook his head. “No one there. The good news is it doesn’t look like it’s been broken into.”
Stefan roared. “Then I need to get out on the street! She could be anywhere.”
Damen swung to face the officer that had followed them up. “Forensics been here yet?”
“No, sir,” the young man who looked like a rookie said. “Not too long since it happened. The detective in charge is pissed the chief let you guys in. You’re tramping all over the evidence.”
“Don’t worry. I got it.” Damen tapped his head. Stefan recalled his brother had obtained a degree in forensics for no other reason than it seemed interesting at the time. He turned to Stefan. “Her phone is close. If she’s with it, she hasn’t left the building.”
“We’ve searched the building,” the officer said. “And the back alley. No one on the premises except us.”
“I should be a cop.” Damen smirked and stooped in the middle of the floor. He made a slow circuit on the balls of his feet. Stefan strained, willing Damen to figure out where Talicia was. If he was just showboating, he’d throttle him. He prayed Damen knew what he was doing. While his middle brother enjoyed joking around, Damen surely wouldn’t choose now to do it with Stefan about to break.
“Damen,” Stefan, growled. “Please.”
“Easy, baby brother. Hang on a sec.”
They all stood still, saying nothing. Stefan swayed on his feet, ready to shout for Damen to fucking hurry up. Talking that way to anyone, least of all his brothers, wasn’t his way, but he felt like he was losing it. Each second might mean the last for Talicia if the blood downstairs was hers. Logic said it wasn’t since the paramedics had carried out a couple victims already. His mental state didn’t allow for clear thinking.
“Over here,” Damen said at last. He moved to an armchair that had been turned out of its usual position. They both studied the wall, and as far as Stefan saw, it looked normal. Damen crouched again and traced fingertips over the smooth surface. He impacted with the baseboard and shifted an inch or two to the right. Something creaked. The next thing Stefan knew, a child-sized panel opened in the wall.
“Holy hell,” Creed whispered over Stefan’s shoulder.
Stefan couldn’t see far into the dark space, but he suspected something was in there. “Flashlight!”
The rookie officer appeared and shined a light into hole. At the other end, not moving, was Talicia. Stefan cried out and lunged for the hole, but he caught his wide shoulders on the wall and winced. He tried turning sideways but still no dice.
Damen grabbed his arm. “Let him try.” He pointed a chin to the small officer, and the man set his flashlight down.
Stefan squeezed his arm in tight grip. “Be gentle with her. Slide her over here so I can get her. Watch her head.”
“Let him work, Stefan,” Creed ordered.
The officer dropped to all fours and crawled into the hole. Stefan realized the opening had been built for two people no bigger than Talicia and her brother. Somehow Talicia had been forced to go into it without Tyjon. He could only imagine the danger she’d been in to have made that decision.
He willed the officer to hurry, and soon the man’s rear exited the hole as he moved backward in the confined space, dragging Talicia to the edge. When he was clear, Stefan shoved him aside to grasp her himself. He gave a sharp cry upon seeing her face. Blood caked in her short hair and smeared on her face. Her soft skin was bruised in several places, and both eyes were swollen shut.
No one made a sound as Stefan raised Talicia into his arms and carried her down the stairs. “The hospital,” he said to Jerome when they reached the car. Stefan snuggled Talicia onto his lap and tight to his chest.
Chapter Nine
Talicia was getting out of the hospital. She had been there several days, and she couldn’t wait to escape. What she wasn’t looking forward to was the fact that Stefan refused to allow her to go back to her apartment. The only reason she agreed to go to his place was that he said Tyjon had been living with him ever since the incident. Her brother confirmed it the way he gushed about the luxury in which Stefan lived.
“Licia, you won’t believe it, but he has a maid and everything. I haven’t had to lift a finger. She even washed my drawers. Can you imagine?”
Talicia sighed. “You told me a hundred times, Ty. Don’t overwork the woman. Just because she’s a maid doesn’t mean you can’t do most things for yourself.”
“Aw, you’re being a spoilsport. I deserve this kind of treatment. As far as I’m concerned, I’m on vacation, and it feels great. You should relax too.”
Talicia reached for the orange juice she hadn’t drank earlier. Her stomach knotted. She’d already heard their secret was good and out. Tyjon had gushed like an idiot to find she’d married her billionaire and chided her for not telling him sooner. He was all smiles, but she saw the fear in his gaze that he tried to hide. Tyjon was scared, and he was the only reason she gave in to Stefan’s taking charge.
As her fingers wrapped around the cup, her brother’s overlapped hers, and he raised it with her to her mouth. She took a sip and pushed it away. “I’m fine. You don’t need to act like I’m an invalid. Just a little bruised and swollen.”
Her brother pouted, studying her face. “Let me put some makeup on you.”
“No.”
“Your eyes opened, but they look fat. I can do miracles with shadows.”
“Buzz off, Ty. I don’t care if I don’t look like a beauty queen.”
He squeezed her fingers, and she winced. Her knuckles were swollen. She’d thrown as many punches as she could. The problem was she was outnumbered and outclassed. In the end, she’d hidden. Knowing Tyjon was with his new lover was the single reason she went in, but she hadn’t intended to stay in that hole. Then the pain was so much and the dizziness made it worse. She passed out. The next time she came to she heard Stefan’s voice, so gentle but terrified for her.
“Ease up, Ty. We’re okay, and when I get back on my feet—”
“You’ll still live with me,” Stefan interrupted as he strode in the door. Her heart skipped a few beats as she looked at him. Her hero, bigger than life, sexy, and he smelled good. The last part she got an up close and personal account of when he leaned in and kissed her.
Talicia turned her head too late. “Stefan, we’re not going to depend on you. The minute I can, I’m putting my life back together. I did it once. I’ll do it again.”
“Too dangerous,” he quipped and held out a bag to her. “Here. I bought you some clothes to change into.”
When he said bought, she assumed he meant he stopped by her apartment and grabbed a few things. Instead, she opened the boutique bag to realize the items were actually from particular boutique named on the bag. Each piece wore a price tag, a hefty one.
“These aren’t mine,” she murmured going through them.
“They’ll fit. Do you need me to help you get dressed?”
“No!”
He looked like he didn’t get her protest given they were married and lovers.
“Get out, both of you.” Talicia waited until both men had vacated her room, and then she took her time dressing. Just as Stefan said, the clothes fit. He’d either noticed her size in her old clothing or was a good judge. She had to admit she was grateful, especially given the clothes weren’t overly girly and nothing like her brother would have worn. At the same time, she wished he had brought a dress. Maybe it would make her feel less like a beast. The bathroom mirror had shown the swelling had mostly gone down, but the bruises lingered. She looked awful, ugly to her own eyes, and she didn’t doubt Stefan’s family would show
up at his house just to see the witch who must have tricked him into marrying her.
A short while later, Talicia climbed into Stefan’s car. “Hey, Jerome. What’s up?”
“Hello, Ms. Talicia. I’m glad to see you’re doing okay.”
“I’m all right. Thanks for coming to look for me with Stefan.”
“Of course. That’s my job.”
She frowned. “I’m not your job.”
He eyed her in the rearview mirror. “You’re his wife.”
She flushed and looked away. Guess he’d heard too. Who knew by his expression what he thought of her. Jerome had been with Stefan a long time, and they were somewhat like friends. She hoped he didn’t think she was a gold digger, but she doubted he appreciated the danger she had brought to Stefan’s doorstep.
At Stefan’s house, Talicia gulped seeing that they had to pass through a security gate. She gaped at the manicured lawn and shaped bushes and noticed a couple men standing around.
Stefan drew her tighter to his side. Since they entered the car, he hadn’t let her far from him. “They’re extra guards. You don’t have to worry about them. They’re there to protect you.”
“Stefan, you shouldn’t go through all this trouble.”
“Colby was released this morning. There’s nothing to pin him to the attack on your club. I want to know you’ll be safe.”
She fisted her hands in her lap. “Those men were his. I know it, and the police have to know it. They even hinted around to it as soon as they started breaking up the place, telling me it was in retribution for getting him arrested. I wasn’t going to let him run drugs through my club or threaten my brother and me. He wanted to get back at me. Now he goes free? It’s not fair!”
Stefan covered her hand with a larger one of his. “I know, honey. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he gets what he deserves.”
She stared at him. “Don’t get involved, Stefan, please. It would kill me if you get hurt.”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t know what you’re dealing with. You’ve been sheltered.”
“I wasn’t always rich.”
“But you didn’t come from the hood, not like where I come from. It seems like every day I had to fight for Tyjon and me. And it was worse because he’s gay.”
He raised her chin and kissed her then leaned back to look into her face. “I’m glad you’re willing to talk to me now.”
She compressed her lips. “I’m not. I’m just tired.”
“You’ll sleep in today, and I’ll stay with you.”
“Don’t you have to get to the restaurant?”
“I took off to pick you up from the hospital. Don’t worry.”
“Stefan—”
“Licia, please do as I say. For now. All I want is for you to recover and feel safe. Is that so hard? Would it hurt to make me feel better knowing you’re not in any danger?”
She sighed and climbed out of the car as one of the men opened the door. Together, they walked into what looked like a mansion to her. The house probably was. Talicia had never lived in a house. All her life it had been apartments, even when her parents were alive. For a while, they moved from one to another. Yet, all of them were in that same crime-ridden side of town. Even the air over here seemed cleaner. She wouldn’t let it go to her head. This arrangement was temporary.
“Which room am I staying in?” she said when they reached the second floor.
“Ours,” Stefan informed her. “The master suite is this way.”
She frowned at the back of his head as he led but didn’t complain. Denying him at this point was useless. She wouldn’t get a lick of sleep being apart from him and knowing he slept in the same house. No sense fooling herself.
Stefan passed through double French doors onto the plushest carpet her feet had ever sunk into. She blinked at the massive bed and the heavy cherry wood furniture. This was luxury, and Stefan didn’t seem to notice. The bedroom was so huge it could be sliced up into three rooms, and from the doorway to her left she looked in on another space that was big enough to be a bedroom. Living room furniture outfitted this one. Beyond that lay a ridiculously oversized bathroom with his and her sinks.
“Are you serious with all this?” she questioned him.
His eyebrows rose. “You don’t like it? I suppose we could use one of the guest bedrooms.”
“No, I mean… oh never mind. It’s fine.”
He strode over to her and caressed her arms. “Let me help you out of your clothes, and then I’ll give you a bath and get you into bed.”
Not a hint of desire showed in his expression. He was really worried about her health.
She wriggled away from his touch because bad thoughts did fill her mind, and every muscle already ached. “I can do it. Thanks.”
“Licia, don’t try to be strong on your own. I’m here for you.”
“I know.” She moved farther away and began unbuttoning her blouse. When his gaze locked on her chest, she turned from him. “Please, Stefan. I’m tired. I just want to be alone. I promise if I need anything I’ll call you.”
She lied because she wasn’t going to call him or anyone else. Well, unless she collapsed on the floor, but her injuries weren’t that severe. She had already gotten the report that Chez was dead along with one of the bouncers. A couple others were hurt, and no one had heard from Kevin. This whole mess was his fault, and when she found him, she’d make him wish he had left New Orleans and never come back.
The door shut silently behind her, and her shoulders slumped as she sat on the bed. She felt bad for lying to Stefan and pushing him away, but she meant what she told him. If he were caught up in the middle of this craziness, she didn’t know what she would do. She loved him, but Stefan didn’t seem to understand he was a musician billionaire who knew nothing of what she had to deal with growing up.
So what he used to be poor. That cutthroat look wasn’t there, the hardness that came from clawing out of poverty and getting loose from the people who would hold a person down. All she saw when she looked into Stefan’s eyes was sunshine. That was okay with her from the first time she met him because it warmed her. Not to mention the touch of his hands and his body.
She groaned, missing him, wishing she had taken him up on the offer to bathe her. He’d probably be good at spoiling her. “No, get a grip, Talicia. We’re only here for a little while.”
The insurance would kick in, she would get a big fat check, and she would redo the club. No problem. After that, she would convince Kevin to go away and leave them alone. Then she would hire better security. Maybe Jerome knew some people. She would have to sacrifice the extra money to pay them higher wages. No problem.
Talicia slept most of the afternoon and then spent the evening with her stomach in knots waiting for Stefan’s family to show up. Not one of them stopped by. In fact, as the three of them—her, Stefan, and Tyjon—sat at the dinner table eating late because she had slept a long time, Stefan didn’t even get a call or text.
She looked over at him as he sat at the head of the table being served by his maid. Jerome was nowhere in sight and neither were the other guards, but Stefan had told her all of them were around. She had never had so many people in the place where she lived.
“Can I have some more of that chicken too, Mary?” Tyjon gushed. “Everything is so good. I’m going to have to stay here forever.”
The maid thanked Tyjon for his compliment and dished him more chicken. Talicia glared at him, but her brother was too busy smacking his lips and moaning. She rolled her eyes and turned to Stefan.
“Stefan, why haven’t your family come? I expected them to grill me the second I woke up.”
He looked at her in surprise. “No, I told them. No one disturbs you until we’re ready. I threatened to block them if they even thought about it.”
“You didn’t.”
He smiled. “Of course I did. You were very hurt. Both my brothers were there when we found you. In fact, if it wasn’t for Damen, w
e might not have. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if we hadn’t.”
“I’ll have to thank your brother.” She knew their names because of Tyjon’s craze over celebrity types not because Stefan told her. Damen was one of them, but she couldn’t remember which one. “Maybe we can stop by the restaurant before I go back home so I can tell him in person.”
She didn’t really want to go, but this seemed like a good opportunity to see Marquette’s. With all Tyjon had told her he’d found online, she was curious. Then of course he had gone there to tell Stefan about her being hurt. She was grateful to her brother but kind of jealous too. He had seen Stefan’s world first hand and probably met them all. That part she didn’t look forward to. Still, thanking Damen was only right.
“Of course we’ll go,” Stefan said. “You’ll be able spend time there as often as you want from now on.”
“Stefan.”
“This chicken is good, Ty. You should taste Mary’s gumbo and cornbread.”
Talicia wasn’t fooled by Stefan talking to Tyjon about the food. He avoided her telling him again she wasn’t staying long.
“Uh-uhn, boo boo,” Tyjon protested. “I make some mean gumbo that nobody can beat. You try me see if I’m right. Will she get an attitude if I take over the kitchen sometimes?”
Talicia laughed. “I thought you were hooked on being served, Ty.”
Her brother waved his fork at her. “I am, but Stefan threw out a challenge talking about Mary’s gumbo. You know I make the best in New Orleans, Licia. Tell him.”
“You do, Ty, but you don’t have to prove it.”
Her brother’s lips poked out, and she cut her eyes to Stefan. Her husband grinned. “I guess we’re in for Ty’s gumbo tomorrow then. And in answer to your question, Ty, no Mary won’t mind. This is your home now. You have free rein of the place. Both of you.”
Tyjon whooped, and Talicia sighed. She didn’t have the energy to fight Stefan on the matter. Then she figured it would make no difference one way or another. When she was ready, she would just go, and Stefan wasn’t cruel enough to force her to stay. Some of the money she had saved in the bank would go to a lawyer who would draw up the papers, and she would be a single woman again. Letting Stefan go was for the best anyway. This situation proved it. She’d held on too long, but it was really good while it lasted.
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