Empires Fall (MidKnight Blue Book 2)

by Sherryl Hancock

  It was therefore her opinion that the only reason Rick actually thought himself serious about this one, was because he hadn’t had her there to talk him out of it. But there had been no wedding plans yet, so she still had plenty of time. She was already convinced that the whole relationship was purely sexual. Midnight was a very sultry looking young woman and she probably used that to every advantage on Rick. She was happy that their mother had put them in separate rooms at the house. Maybe this way Rick would cool off and realize that the relationship he thought was love was really only sex. It wouldn’t be the first time for him to have thought that way.

  Rick seemed loathe to let go of Midnight’s hand and she really didn’t want him to. Deborah noticed and suggested that they meet Midnight inside. Midnight smiled a silent thank you to Deborah. The four women went inside, and once inside Deborah turned on Katherine.

  “Just what are you doing?” she asked accusingly, narrowing her eyes at her sister.

  “Whatever do you mean?” Katherine said. She kept her eyes on the couple outside. Midnight was leaning against the car facing Rick as they talked.

  “You know what I mean, why are you giving that girl a difficult time?”

  “She’s not right for him,” Katherine pronounced as if that was the final judgment.

  “I see, and you know this from meeting her once?” Deborah sounded disgusted, and she was, Katherine tried to run everyone’s life, especially Rick’s.

  Deborah was happy for Rick, and she thought that he seemed very happy, but she knew Katherine always discounted people’s appearance and how they thought they felt. Katherine only nodded in response to her question. She was still watching them.

  Outside Midnight moved back toward the car, she was wearing white jeans with a white camisole top, and the emerald-green Italian leather jacket Rick had bought her on one of their few shopping trips. She’d argued with him about even that, saying that he didn’t need to, but he had said he loved the way it looked on her, so he bought it. Now standing in front of her, he was fingering the tassels on the jacket, not sure what he could say to her to make her feel better.

  Midnight was watching him. “You don’t have to change your plans for me,” she told him, already feeling foolish for not being able to handle something as simple as meeting Rick’s sisters. This was all just too new to her.

  “I want to, okay?” His voice was soft. Then he quirked a wry grin. “I guess I should be happy you’re not carrying today, eh?”

  She laughed, knowing he had known what she had wanted to do earlier. “Yeah, I guess you should be. Look I know you and Joe were going to go around to some of your old stomping grounds. I don’t want to screw up your plans, I’ll be okay …” She took his hands in hers then, laughing ruefully. “This is unbelievable you know.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “To think that just two weeks ago we were knee-deep in murder attempts, deceptions, drug deals, everything and now … I’m worried about surviving a day of shopping with your sisters!”

  She made a face and he had to laugh, thinking about how ridiculous it sounded.

  “You’re right love, it is unbelievable. All the same, I want to be here with you. The difference between then and now is that you had backup then, okay?”

  “Is that what you are?” she said, smiling. “Backup?”

  He brought his face down close to her ear then said, “I’ll always be your backup.”

  His voice was so serious and sincere Midnight felt her eyes well up with tears. He kissed her, a slow passionate kiss, that made her feel like she could face anyone with him standing by her side. When their lips parted, her hands were up around his neck and she didn’t want to let go of him. She just wanted to run away with him and not have to deal with families or expectations. But she knew he couldn’t do that. His family meant too much to him, and for that reason she knew she had to try harder with his sisters, even Katherine.

  “I better get in there,” she said.

  “I’ll be back in about an hour,” he said and his voice brooked no argument.

  “Okay” she said, smiling at him again, “thanks.” Then she turned and walked to the double doors of the store.

  Before she walked in, she turned and saw that he was watching her. She winked at him and went inside.

  After she went inside, Rick leaned against the car thinking about her. Poor girl wasn’t used to all these entanglements. He knew another difference between then and now was that she was way out of her element now, and she was struggling to adjust. He felt terrible for putting her in that situation, that’s why he was changing his plans. He loved her and he didn’t want her to have to go too far away from who she was to adjust to his family. Rick knew that who Midnight was, although the best thing in the world for him, would get her eaten alive by Katherine. The last thing he wanted was for Midnight to be exposed to his overbearing, disapproving sister for very long. As it was, he was considering skipping the fitting, but he knew Joe would already be there. He also knew that Midnight was the type of person to take challenges head on, and she would probably resent his trying to protect her too much. It would be too suffocating for her. He turned and got in the car, glancing again at the door she had gone through. He shook his head ruefully, she was tough enough to deal with Katherine. So off he went, but promising himself he would hurry.

  Once inside the store Midnight joined the other women.

  “I need to find a dress for tomorrow night,” Deborah was saying as she joined them. “Midnight, would you help me?” Midnight looked at her for a moment. She wasn’t sure why this sophisticated woman would want her advice on a dress for a dinner party. Then she saw that Deborah was looking at her as if to say just say yes.

  “Sure,” Midnight said, feeling relieved that someone seemed to be on her side.

  “I need to pick up some things upstairs,” Katherine said. “Mandy you come with, we’ll meet you three down here in a little while.” With that she turned and walked away with Mandy in tow.

  Allison turned to Deborah and she was smiling, obviously pleased to have been left behind. Midnight was further relieved when Deborah entwined her arm with hers and said, “So let’s go look at those dresses, come along Allison.” Allison fell into step beside Midnight.

  Once they were in one of the private dressing rooms, Allison and Deborah each tried on a new dress. Midnight sat in one of the chairs.

  “Aren’t you going to try anything on?” Allison asked, her eyes watched her in the mirror.

  Midnight shook her head. “No, I don’t need anything else, your brother was on a shopping spree for me yesterday.” Her voice reflected her chagrin at the idea.

  “Rick likes to spend money,” Deborah said, she too was watching Midnight.

  “Yeah,” Allison said laughing and looking at her sister, “remember the time he bought Teddy Anne that diamond necklace, and Dad almost killed him!” She laughed, but then she looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” she said turning to Midnight. Midnight looked at her for a minute perplexed, what had she said that she should apologize for?

  “For what?” Midnight asked.

  “Well for mentioning another woman of course,” Allison said walking over to sit down next to Midnight. “It was unthinking of me, and I’m sorry”

  Midnight waved her hand to dismiss what Allison was saying. “Allison, I know Rick has been with other women.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me. I had a life before him, if anyone’s has grounds for jealousy it’d be him.”

  “But …” Allison started to say.

  “What my little sister is trying to say,” Deborah broke in, “is that she shouldn’t bring up the past, it’s not important. Rick was always a bit of a tramp, but he’s changed now, and that’s what’s important.” She looked at Midnight, a little smile on her face, her eyes shining mischievously. “But what would Rick have to be jealous of in your past?” She grimaced then, knowing she was as bad as Allison. “I’m sorry, ignore that question”

&
nbsp; Midnight laughed. “It’s okay, I don’t have anything to hide here. I just meant that Rick has more of a reason to be jealous or worried about someone in my past, because he knows him”

  “Knows him?” Allison said perplexed. “But you’re from America, and the only person he knows there is … ” Her voice trailed off as she put two and two together. “Joe?” She looked at Midnight with what looked like admiration. Midnight didn’t understand that, but then she remembered that they all knew each other.

  “Oh yeah,” she said, almost sorry she’d said something now. “I forgot you guys grew up together.”

  “Yes we did,” Deborah said. Then she smiled. “And I had the biggest crush on Joe Sinclair when we were teenagers!”

  “Really?” Midnight said, again thanking her lucky stars to be here with them, rather than Katherine.

  “Oh he’s gorgeous!” Allison said, her eyes shining.

  “Oh yes,” Deborah said, “and from what I’ve heard that’s not all …” Her voice trailed off suggestively.

  “Deborah!” Allison said her voice aghast, but she laughed evilly.

  “Well,” Deborah said, shrugging at her sister. Then she turned to Midnight her face intense, but her eyes reflected humor. “So, how was he?”

  Midnight just laughed, shaking her head. She could not believe her good fortune. Not only had she not totally screwed up by saying something about Joe, she believed that she had actually just earned their respect. “He was …” She looked at them slyly lingering on her answer. Deborah grabbed one of her hands and Allison the other.

  “Midnight!” they both said.

  “Okay, okay … yes what you heard was very true … but …” Her voice trailed off and her face took on a kind of secret look.

  “But?” Deborah said, wanting to know what that look meant.

  Midnight shrugged. “But, Rick is better.”

  “Ugh!” Allison said, grabbing her stomach and flinging herself back in her chair, laughing. Deborah too was laughing, shaking her head. Midnight laughed too realizing that they wouldn’t appreciate the difference since they were Rick’s sisters. They all three laughed, until they were almost in tears when they heard Katherine’s voice.

  “And what’s going on in here?” All three women stopped laughing.

  “Oh, Midnight was telling us … some things.” Wisely, Allison didn’t explain the nature of the conversation.

  “I see … well we could hear you, four aisles away.” It was obvious from Katherine’s tone of voice that she did not approve of their public display of gaiety.

  “Lighten up, Katherine,” Deborah said, standing up.

  “Well what is it that was so funny?” Katherine asked, her eyes on Midnight.

  “She was telling us about Joe,” Allison blurted out, trying to help Midnight, but not succeeding.

  “Joe?” Katherine said, surprised at hearing his name. “What about him?” Her eyes narrowed as she saw the abashed look on Allison’s face. Allison never could hide her thoughts well and she could never lie to Katherine. She always felt that somehow she’d know. “Well, they were together in the States …” She shrugged, looking at Midnight apologetically. Midnight only smiled at the girl.

  “So you were with Joe first?” Katherine said, making the whole thing sound sordid. Midnight’s look didn’t waiver, she only nodded, her eyes never leaving Katherine’s face. She knew that looking away would make her look scared. She was worried about what this would do to the already poor relationship with Katherine, but she knew that her relationship with Joe was not what Katherine thought it was.

  “So you couldn’t catch that fish, so you caught our brother instead.” Katherine’s words fell like stones in the room.

  Instead of answering her, Midnight just stood and walked out of the room. Tears stung her eyes as she walked away. For some reason it had really hurt her to have her relationship with Joe treated so off handedly. She hadn’t seen Joe in two weeks, and she missed him. Now here she was in this awful place with nasty people like Katherine. Suddenly the weight of all the pressure was too much on her. She stood outside the dressing room, facing the wall, her head leaning on the wall, and the tears started to flow. She heard the dressing room door open and heard them come out. She didn’t even look up until she heard Allison say, “Joe!”

  Joe had just found them having finished at the tailors before Rick. Rick had asked him to go and “save” Midnight. He hadn’t realized how true that would be. Midnight turned to see Joe standing not ten feet away. He was dressed all in black, every bit the dark knight. Without stopping to think Midnight ran to him. He grabbed her up in a hug, squeezing her so tight she almost couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t care. He was here and he was going to keep Katherine away from her. Her tears flowed freely now.

  “Night, what’s wrong?” Joe asked, but she shook her head. He looked up at Katherine accusingly. “What did you say to her!” His voice was deadly cold.

  Katherine just stood looking at him, her face cold. “I guess the truth might hurt sometimes.”

  Joe took one menacing step toward her, but Deborah stepped in front of Katherine. “Joe! Katherine was being mean. Midnight told us about you two and Katherine accused her of going after Rick since she couldn’t catch you.” Joe’s eyes shifted from Deborah to Katherine, shaking his head.

  “As usual Katherine is shooting her mouth off about something she doesn’t understand.” His voice cut like ice. He shifted his attention back to comforting Midnight. “Night? Come on, love. It’s okay. Just ignore that stupid fool, she doesn’t understand anything.” His hand stroked her hair as he talked to her. The four sisters stood watching. Joe, was so tall, Midnight’s small frame was dwarfed by his as he held her protectively. And watching him hold her all four women, even Katherine, felt a pang of envy for the depth of caring they saw on Joe’s face.

  Rick turned up and looked around at the scene. The smile on his face disappeared when he saw Midnight in Joe’s arms. Katherine was sure that he was just realizing what kind of woman Midnight was, that he was shocked at seeing his best friend holding his girlfriend and she assumed he would be appalled. When he strode over to them, Katherine was so sure that he would have harsh words to say to Midnight. She was totally shocked when Rick took Midnight’s hand from Joe’s shoulder and held it in his, and turned his accusing eyes on her.

  “Katherine what the hell have you done now?!” His voice was harsh, but he certainly wasn’t addressing Midnight.

  “Me?” Katherine said stunned he was turning on her.

  “Yes you, Katherine Don’t try to play that game with me, what the fuck did you say to her? What is your problem!” His eyes flashed angrily.

  Katherine’s mouth gaped. “Your girlfriend stands there in another man’s arms and you have the nerve to cuss at me Richard Debenshire?”

  “Another man’s …” Rick started to say then he realized what she meant. He knew now what was happening. The smile he gave Katherine was ice cold. “You are so wrong Katherine, you’ve never been more wrong in your life.” He gestured to Joe with his head. Joe released Midnight and without another word, the two men led her away.

  The four sisters just stood staring at their departing figures. Deborah shook her head. “Wow,” she said quietly. “I wish someone was that protective of me.”

  “Me too,” Allison said in complete awe.

  “She must be something special to have the two of them as her knights in shining armor,” Mandy said, pressing her lips together as she widened her eyes dramatically.

  The other three turned to look at her in shock; she rarely spoke out. Katherine made a noise in the back of her throat, thoroughly chastised and feeling a little foolish. She turned on her heel and walked down the nearest isle. The other three followed her, but suddenly she didn’t seem to be their leader anymore. Rick had never spoken to Katherine the way he just had. He usually went along with her on things.

  “He must be really in love with her to stand up to Katherine,”
Allison whispered to Deborah. Deborah only nodded, her eyes on Katherine’s back. She knew that Katherine was not happy about that confrontation, but she wasn’t sure if Katherine was going to give up now or not. She hoped so, she genuinely liked Midnight.

  ****

  Joe and Rick walked Midnight outside. Rick turned to her. “Baby, what happened? What did she say?” Midnight just shook her head, wiping at her eyes, feeling a little foolish. She knew she had just caused not only a major scene but also a major rift between Rick and his sister.

  “Katherine,” Joe said angrily, “said that since Midnight couldn’t catch me, that she went for you instead …” His voice trailed off ominously, indicating what he thought of the accusation.

  “Ah, Jesus!” Rick said, looking up at the sky, wanting to take Midnight away from all this crap. He felt like he was being pulled in a million directions. “Midnight, I’m sorry, I didn’t tell them about Joe … and—”

  “No,” she said, straightening up. “I did.” Her voice was strident, she didn’t like having to defend or hide her relationship with Joe. “I told them.” She eyed Rick angrily.

  He held up his hands in a defensive gesture. “Hey! I didn’t say you shouldn’t. I just meant that Katherine’s the type to figure that I didn’t know about the whole thing and take it the wrong way.”

  “She still didn’t have the right to say that to her,” Joe said, putting his arm around Midnight’s shoulders.