by Marni Mann
“Nope. Not at all. That’s why I’ve contacted a friend…he’s a private investigator. He’ll be by later tonight to look over the equipment, pull the video feed, take fingerprints and interview each of the security guards. If something isn’t right, he’ll find it.”
“Good. Let’s hire a second PI, too. Two opinions can’t hurt and the more information the better.” I didn’t know of any, but I knew who would. “I’ll ask Hayden who she uses as soon as we hang up.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll give her a call and get it all setup. I’m going to call Brea, too. From the sounds of it, that girl has connections everywhere.”
“I like that idea.” I checked the time; it wasn’t even noon yet. There had to be plenty of flights still heading to the east coast today. “I’m going to try to get home by tonight.”
“You don’t have to do that. You know I’ve got it all handled. Just try to enjoy the rest of your trip. I’ll call with hourly updates.”
“You know me better than that, Will.” There were few people who did, but he was one of them. Therefore, he knew how I felt about these men—that they were my responsibility, part of the family I had created. They’d been hurt indirectly because of me. I belonged with them, not in Napa.
“I’ll see you soon, buddy,” he said.
I hung up and went across the street, finding Frankie in one of the aisles. I wrapped my free arm around her navel and buried my face in her neck. Her smell was the only thing that was keeping me from shaking with rage.
She put the shirt back that she was holding and covered my hand with hers. “Everything okay?” When I didn’t answer, she turned around and searched my eyes. “What happened?” She continued to look at me, her expression as worried as what I was feeling inside. “Derek, talk to me.”
“There was an accident.”
Her eyes widened, her arms crossing over her chest. “Oh God, no. At Timber Towers?”
I filled her in on everything I knew. Before I had even finished telling her about the PI Will had hired, she’d pulled out her phone and was tapping the screen.
“Who are you calling?”
“Brea,” she said, not answering me, “we need to get back to Boston today. The soonest flight you can find with the fewest layovers.” I gripped her waist and held her tightly. She was fucking amazing. “We’re fine, don’t worry. But there was an accident at Timber Towers and Derek needs to get home to be with his guys.” I brushed my hand across her cheek. “Okay, we’ll head to the airport now.” She put her phone back in her purse. “She’s going to get us on the first available flight. If anyone can get us home, it’s Brea. And if she can only get one ticket, then you’ll go and I’ll meet you at the hospital whenever I can get there.”
I pulled her closer to me, both hands now cupping her face. “You are the most incredible woman I have ever met…and you’re all mine.”
“Derek, you brought me back to life after I lost Anna. I wouldn’t have survived had you not been there. There isn’t anything I won’t do for you.”
I brushed my lips over hers. “I fucking love you.”
TWELVE.
FRANKIE
THE LAST TIME I’d been at this hospital was a little less than three weeks ago. Anna’s tender, fragile fingers had rested in my hand. I’d listened to her voice for the last time, kissed her soft cheek. There were so many hazy details, but I would have done anything to have those moments with her again. Standing in the hallway with Will, waiting while Derek spoke to one of the families, I realized that things were no longer hazy. In fact, they were clear…too clear, and much too painful for the man I loved.
“Derek told me how you reacted when he shared the news with you.”
I turned my head, startled by the gravity of Will’s voice. We hadn’t had much time to really get to know each other, but Derek cared about Will in the same way I cared for Brea. I needed more time with him. I hoped I would get that soon.
“I did what anyone else would do,” I told him.
He shook his head. “No, you didn’t. You have your own pain to deal with. But you put it aside, and you put him first; not everyone would do that. Most would put themselves first.”
“Like the both of you, I work with a big team. I get the importance of being there for your team members.”
His reaction told me we were talking about two entirely different things.
“Frankie, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him. He may not always do the right thing when it comes to you, but he has every intention of trying.” He glanced down the hallway and back at me. “I don’t say any of that lightly…I’ve never said it before, actually, and I’ve known Derek a very long time. If anyone ever asked, I would deny every word.”
Guy code. It was the same as girl code. Brea would have done the same thing had roles been reversed.
“I never heard a thing,” I told him.
His grin was soft, unassuming. “I knew I was going to like you.”
I laughed, pushing myself a little higher on the wall I was leaning against. “Brea told me she’s helping out a little with…this.” I didn’t want to say too much; the hospital was too public to have an open conversation about what had happened.
“She’s been great. One of her guys is going over tonight.”
The text Brea had sent when we’d landed in Boston had said something similar. Since losing her boyfriend, which had been around the same time I’d lost my baby, she’d established deep connections within the city. I believed it was something for her to focus on, helping her move past the grieving. She never showed me this other life she had, but I knew it was dark, and part of me knew it was even sinister. But in moments like this, I really appreciated it.
“I’m worried about what he’s going to find out and how that’s going to affect Derek,” I said. “If anything happens to him…”
Will’s hand rested on my shoulder. “Nothing is going to happen to him.”
That was something Derek would have said, in the same tone, with the same certainty in his eyes. How could they be so sure? Randy was obviously much more dangerous than they thought. So really, weren’t we all at risk?
Will reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone as it rang. “It’s Brea’s guy. I’ve got to take this. I’ll be right back.”
“No problem,” I said, watching him walk down the hall.
I didn’t know where I wanted to go, but I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. So I walked. I hadn’t been to this hospital enough to know my way around, and yet my feet began to lead me.
I took an elevator to the sixth floor, stopping just outside the door to the ICU. Small details started coming back to me. The bleach and alcohol. The coldness. The bright lights and the floor Derek and I had sat on. I looked to my right, believing that was the exact spot where he had hugged me, where I had cried until I had no voice left.
“Being here must be bringing back a lot of memories,” a man said. He was close…too close. It caused every hair on my body to rise off my skin.
I slowly turned toward the sound of his voice…it only took a second before I recognized him. The first time I had seen him was on the balcony at the gala. More recently I had seen his picture on the website for White Construction.
Randy White.
We’d been in such a rush, Derek hadn’t called my security guard when we’d returned to Boston. I hadn’t thought too much about it at the time. But God, didn’t I wish now that he had.
Fear was gnawing at me. I knew how dangerous he was, how many people he had hurt. The only reason I was in this hospital was because of the men he’d injured with the so-called accident. It didn’t matter that we were in a public place. If I weren’t careful, I could become one of his victims, too.
“Randy…” It came out as a whisper because the way he was staring at me made my skin crawl.
“Why don’t you call me Uncle, since we’re practically family now.”
“What do you want?”
/>
“You’re not going to thank your uncle for the flowers he sent?”
I couldn’t stop the shiver that ran through me. I’d play nice, even if I didn’t mean it. “Thank you for those. Very thoughtful gesture. Now, what do you want?”
“The same thing I’ve wanted all along.” He slid a finger over the outside of my arm. I slapped it away. “I want a fucking answer.”
“You’re not going to get one from me.” This time he clamped his fingers around my throat, his hand holding me so tightly I felt my skin bruise. “I don’t…” I stopped, choking on the little air I was taking in. “…know anything.” If he squeezed any tighter, I wouldn’t be able to breathe at all. The thought made me panic and so did knowing I couldn’t give up Derek’s truth.
“Are you stupid, girl? Protecting his secrets will only get you killed. So I’m going to give you a choice. You can either—”
“Get your fucking hands off her, or I’ll kill you right in this goddamn hallway.”
Derek. I wasn’t sure if I had wheezed his name out loud or only in my thoughts. But I was incredibly relieved to see him, and equally worried about what he was going to do. The look on his face, the intensity in his eyes told me he was going to follow through even as Randy loosened his grip on my throat.
“Son, I’ve been expecting you.”
Derek pulled me away from him and I finally took a deep breath. His hands cupped my cheeks. “Are you okay?” Once I nodded, he moved me behind him until I was fully blocked by his body. “You’ve got some serious balls showing up here and putting your fucking hands on her.”
“I was already here. You’re the one who showed up.”
I expected Derek to flip out, to accuse him of tampering with the scaffolding. I didn’t expect his voice to stay as calm as it was, with a fierce edge. “Then I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“I’m giving you one last chance. I wouldn’t want you to find out what happens when there are no chances left.”
“I don’t respond well to threats.”
“They’re not threats. We both know that, son.”
“Get the fuck out of here.” It sounded like his teeth were gritted together, using every bit of restraint he had to not kill him.
When Randy took a step, Derek shifted his weight, blocking me even further until Randy disappeared down the hall. Then he turned and pulled me into his arms. “Jesus fucking Christ,” he sighed, his hands running all over my body as though he were checking for scrapes and bumps. Then he placed them on my neck, taking his time to scan both sides. “Does it hurt?”
“No, Derek. I’m fine. How did you know where I was?”
“I just had a feeling you were up here.” His hands moved to my waist. “Will told me he left you in the hallway to take a call and when he returned you were gone.”
“I needed to come up here…I guess.”
“I get it.” There was tiredness and pain in his eyes, but a gentleness in his stance. “I don’t like that you wandered off by yourself and I want to fucking kill him for touching you, but I understand why you came up here. From this moment forward, your security guard is not going to leave your side.”
“I figured.” After what had happened, I was more than happy to comply with that demand. I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Are the guys okay?”
“They’ll be okay. They’re pretty banged up, but they’re getting good care and their pain is being managed.”
“It’s a relief to hear that.”
“Not completely…Hayden called before I came up here. She wants me to come in and give my statement. They want to get all the victims on record.”
“Now?”
“First thing in the morning.”
“But you’re not a victim.”
He shook his head. “No, but I’m the only witness. I’m the last one to be interviewed before they process all the paperwork. Frankie, I want you to come with me.”
I ran my hands over his beard. “Are you sure?” That meant I would be going to Hayden’s office, listening to the cause of his father’s death at the very same time she was. This would be the first time I was in her presence since I’d told her to fuck off. I hoped she could put our differences aside for Derek; I knew I could for a situation like that.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Does the timing of this have anything to do with what happened at Timber Towers?”
“I don’t know.” He looked toward the door of the ICU and back at me. “Whatever the investigators find out, we’ll pass onto her firm. But for now, they need to hear my testimony.”
“Does that mean he’ll be arrested soon?”
I held my breath as I waited for his answer. I didn’t know how quickly these investigators would work, but I wanted Randy to be taken into custody before Derek got back the results of what happened at his building…and before he really processed what Randy had done to me.
“I think so.”
I leaned against his chest and his arms folded around me. The warmth of his body was the exact opposite of what this place represented, what I felt while I was in there, Randy’s lingering touch on my skin. I held onto him as if he was the only thing that was keeping me standing. He likely was. We stayed just like that, unwilling to move. Just holding each other again as we had once before in this same space. I didn’t know how much time had passed; I didn’t care.
This was where I wanted to be.
In Derek’s arms.
THIRTEEN.
DEREK
“I’M SORRY for the short notice,” Hayden said when she met us in the lobby of her building. “I wish I could have given you more time to prep, but time isn’t something we have right now.”
“I don’t need to prep.” I took her in my arms and hugged her. “The story is the story. Having more time won’t change the details.” I brought Frankie into the circle and held her hand, and Hayden’s. This wasn’t how I wanted to bring the two of them together. Frankie was here for me, but I knew being around Hayden wasn’t easy for her. “I won’t insult either of you by introducing you.” I glanced back and forth between them, waiting for one of them to speak.
“Hi, Hayden.” Frankie’s voice was light, not anxious. She seemed more comfortable than she had in the car.
My sister looked relieved. She clearly wasn’t expecting Frankie to even speak to her. “Frankie,” Hayden said. “Thanks for being here. I know it means a lot to my brother. It means a lot to me, too.” We followed Hayden to the elevator. “We’re going to be in one of the conference rooms. There are about ten people in there. I’ll introduce you to everyone and then you can—”
“Don’t bother. I don’t want to know their names or who they are. I just need to get this all out. We can focus on who’s who later.”
“Gotcha.” She pushed the button for the top floor. “To bring you up to speed, we’ve signed thirteen victims. All of their statements have been recorded and processed. Their financial records have been analyzed. We’re also looking into Randy’s financials.”
“How’s it looking?”
“I can’t reveal much, but I can tell you we’re making lots of progress.”
“Hayden, cut the shit. You’ve got to give me something here.”
She leaned in, the professionalism leaving her face. “He’s fucked, brother.” I smiled. It was the only bit of good news I’d heard all day. “How are the guys?”
“They’re doing better.” We’d gotten only a few hours of sleep and had gone back to the hospital early this morning. Both men were awake and much more alert than the night before. “Hayden, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to my men.”
“We’re going to make sure it won’t ever happen again.”
“Should I include the accident at Timber Towers at the end of my statement?”
“No.” Hayden glanced at the numbers that were lighting up over the door. “Not a word of it…unless you have evidence that you haven’t told me about?”
I pulled at the colla
r of my flannel. It felt tighter than normal and I was sweating underneath it. “I should know more in a few days.”
“If we need to make it part of the case, we will, and he’ll be charged separately.”
Hayden led us out of the elevator and down a long hallway. At the end was a single closed door. “Any last minute questions?” she asked.
“No.” I squeezed Frankie’s hand. “I’m ready.”
In the middle of the room was a large oak table, a flat-screen hung on the far wall; framed abstract scenery hung on the others. Had we been there for a different reason, I would have checked out the view of this part of the city from the long paneled windows. But nothing about today was enjoyable—not what I’d seen at the hospital before I’d come here, not the testimony that was about to come out of my mouth.
Hayden pulled out a chair for me to sit in, placing me in the center of the oval. Frankie sat on one side of me, Hayden on the other. I tried not to stare at anything too long, especially the faces that were looking back at me.
“Derek,” my sister said, and pointed at the head of the table, “this is Fred Lester. Fred is a partner here at the firm and the lead attorney assigned to this case. He’s going to be conducting this interview. All answers should be directed to him.”
“Mr. Block,” Fred said, my eyes slowly shifting to meet his, “as Hayden pointed out, I will be conducting this deposition. Your answers will be recorded. Please let me know if you have an objection to that.” He knew I didn’t have a problem with it, to be recorded was the reason I was here. When I didn’t respond, he continued. “Then let’s get started. Please state your legal name.”
“Derek Block.”
“Is Derek Block your birth name?”
Frankie’s hand touched my leg underneath the table. She pushed down, trying to keep it steady. I hadn’t realized I’d been bouncing it. When it stilled, she kept her hand there. “No, that would be Derek White.”
“Can you state your relationship to Peter White?”