by Caryn Carter
"Where's the man I once knew, Kevin? You're not him. I could talk to him, once." Somehow she had managed to get the words out while the pain in her shoulders spiraled up her neck.
His laugh made her blood run cold. "You're right Bella, I'm nowhere near the man I used to be. Do you know why? You know all those stories you hear about guys in prison? About what happens to them when they're locked up day in and day out with no one but each other? They go crazy, baby. They go crazy."
"Why did you really do it, Kevin? Why?"
He twisted her arms again. "Enough talk. I know ex-cop, Nick Fuller is your boyfriend. I also know you're betting he'll come after you." He upped the pressure on her arms and she couldn't hold the scream back.
"Aren't you?" he goaded, again.
Oh God, yes. Yes, she had been hoping Nick would come after her. But not now. Now she was praying that he wouldn't. Because now she knew for certain Kevin wouldn't hesitate to kill if he had to in order to get the money he was after.
There was only one thing left for her to do, if she hoped to save Nick. She had to get Kevin into the storage unit so he could get the money and leave before Nick got here. She had to think fast. "If you're in a hurry," she said, with forced bravado, "we'd better get inside. There are a lot of boxes in there and it might take a while to find the ones you need."
She had nearly fainted when Kevin had confessed, as he was forcing her into the car, that the money he had stolen was in one of the boxes she had in storage for him. Boxes of personal belongings he'd piled into the closet of the extra bedroom in her apartment weeks before their impending marriage. Boxes she had agreed to store for him after his conviction with the understanding she would ship them to his sister in Ohio--who had refused to take them when Bella called.
The strategy about finding the right boxes seemed to work because Kevin released the pressure on one arm. He patted the gun under his jacket. "In case you're thinking about pulling a fast one, remember this." He patted the gun again, then reached down for the flashlight he had tossed to the floor.
Kevin walked behind her to the unit until they reached the metal door. When they stopped, he directed the beam of the flashlight on the combination lock. "Now open it."
She willed her hands to stop trembling so she could dial the correct numbers the first time. She wanted to get inside, find the right boxes and give Kevin what he wanted as fast as she could. She needed him gone before Nick arrived. Because she knew as surely as she knew her name that Nick would be here. She knew just as surely that she loved him too much to let him walk into this danger without doing whatever she could to protect him.
The lock clicked open and Kevin pushed her inside. He closed the door behind him but before he could drop the inside latch in place, the door came crashing open again.
Chapter Seventeen
Nick narrowly avoided an oncoming car as he entered the Interstate from the on-ramp. Driving on I-10 probably wasn't the smartest thing to do in his agitated state, but it was the fastest route to the area where the storage facility was located. Time was of the essence. Every minute he took to reach his destination meant another minute Bella was in danger.
He had no doubt Bella was in as much danger at the hands of Kevin Pitre as Debbie had been on the last ride of her life with him. He had seen men in Pitre's position more than once when he was on the police force. Men who would do anything for drugs or for money the drug trade offered them. Desperate men. Men as desperate as Kevin Pitre likely was at this very moment.
Seven years ago, Kevin had merely been stupid to get so high he lost control of his vehicle. But now, with a conviction in his past and only stolen money on which to build his future--money he had to first retrieve and then hide from the law--he was far more desperate, and far more dangerous. His actions now would be deliberate, dictated by what his twisted mental state viewed as the necessary means for survival.
Weaving dangerously in and out of the thick Interstate traffic, Nick repeated over and over the combination to the outside lock on the security gate Franny had given him. He pressed the accelerator even harder, pushing his speed perilously close to the point where one wrong move on his or another driver's part could end in a tangle of twisted metal and shattered lives.
It was this last realization that calmed him enough to lift his foot from the gas pedal and bring his car, along with his thoughts, under reasonable control.
He wasn't a praying man, but right now it seemed the only avenue left to him. It kept his mind focused, even if it was for only a few seconds at a time.
Unless something had gone terribly wrong, he shouldn't need the combination to the storage unit itself because he'd either find Bella and Kevin still there or... God forbid, he couldn't think of the alternative. If anything happened to Bella he would wish for death for himself.
He took one last, what he considered necessary, risk at the intersection at the foot of the exit ramp, and flew across the double lanes before the amber light changed to red. He was close enough now to his destination to harness his thoughts again and formulate a plan of action.
The one thought he had refused to dwell on these past few minutes was the possibility that there would be no trace of either Bella or Kevin when he reached the storage unit. He had no other lead to follow if he were faced with that all too real possibility. He punched down his fear, reminding himself that his years of training on the force had taught him to deal rationally with even the most unpredictable of situations.
He skidded to a stop before the security gate at the Safe and Secure Storage Sheds, hopped out of the car and quickly entered the combination. The gate was only three-quarters open when he sped through. Now he only had to remember Franny's directions to the unit where Bella would be. Where he hoped Bella would be. Where he prayed desperately she would be.
There were only two cars parked near the unit. One belonged to Vince and the other he didn't recognize. Some of his fear subsided. It was a miracle Vince had made it here so fast if he was on his way to the nursing facility as Nick had assumed during their recent conversation.
But it was a miracle he would gladly accept. It might even turn him into a God-fearing man when this was over if Bella was safe. No, not if. She had to be safe. Vince had to have made it here in time to rescue her.
Raised voices reached Nick the moment he got out of the car. He withdrew his gun from the holster on the seat next to him, thankful for his profession that made it legal for him to carry one, and followed the sounds, praying his damaged finger would do his bidding if it came to that. The years of training took over and he approached the unit quietly.
The door to the unit was partially open. Cautiously, he stepped up close to the door, flattened himself against the outside wall and looked inside.
The first person he saw was Vince, his gun drawn and aimed.
Pulling in a quick breath, Nick quietly adjusted his position so he could see across the room to the area where Vince had trained the barrel of his gun.
His heart missed a beat, then kicked in furiously, slamming against the wall of his chest like the kick of a wild stallion. Kevin and Bella were directly opposite Vince and in line with his aim. Kevin had one arm clenched around Bella's waist and the gun in his other hand was pointed at Vince.
Nick knew it wouldn't take much for either Vince or Kevin to start shooting. That when they did, Bella would be caught in the crossfire.
He had to plan his next move very carefully. Bella's life depended on it.
* * * *
Bella felt as though the life was being squeezed out of her. Kevin's grip around her waist was even tighter than the one he'd had on her arms earlier. She was finding it difficult to take a deep breath and she needed one right now, desperately.
She'd been shallow-breathing ever since the older man had burst in on them. Before he arrived, she had only Kevin to deal with, and as frightened as she was of him, she still felt that if it came down to the wire, she could negotiate with him. Plead with him. Get dow
n on her knees if necessary. But it was a different story now. There was no connection with this strange man that she might rely on to save her at the last minute.
Afraid to cross either of them, she'd done exactly as Kevin had instructed. While he held the other man at gunpoint, she'd moved boxes and lighter pieces of furniture out of the way so he could get to the boxes where the money was stored.
It sickened her to her very soul to know the cartons she believed contained only Kevin's personal possessions held further proof of his greed and corruption. She shuddered as much at that thought as she did from the imminent danger that surrounded her.
Then she thought of Nick, and what a shock it would be for him to learn his own partner was as corrupt as Kevin. She'd found it hard to believe herself, when she figured out who the man Kevin called Vince, really was. Then, everything had fallen into place in a few short minutes.
She knew now it was Vince, Nick's partner, who had followed her those few weeks. It was from him that Kevin had found out so much about her life, and her relationship with Nick.
Out of the corner of her eye, to her right, she saw a shadow. Her heart lurched. It was Nick. She was as certain of it as if he'd stepped directly inside the lighted unit.
Bella pulled in a quick breath and held it, afraid to let the air out for fear Kevin would sense the change in her rhythm and follow her gaze. She closed her eyes, opened them again, hoping Nick would be gone and out of danger when she did. But he wasn't.
Instinct and common sense told her she should remain as still as possible, so she wouldn't give Nick away before he was ready to make his move. She gave a slight, imperceptible nod in his direction, certain Kevin wouldn't notice since he was yelling at Vince.
"You're a fucking ass-hole if you think I'm splitting the money in half with you. I took all the risks, did all the fucking time. All you did was turn your back to the evidence I brought in and sign some fucking reports that you dummied up. The deal was one-quarter for you, and that was a generous split. Take it or leave it."
Something caused Vince to glance toward the open door.
She knew what it was and she wanted to yell for Nick not to come in.
She wanted to scream at him to run, call the police, let them handle it. She wanted him out of here, away from all the danger. She didn't want him risking his life for her. Especially since she hadn't even had the chance yet to tell him that she loved him.
The stuffy room grew dark around the edges, a loud buzzing started somewhere deep in her ears. She felt herself drift to the edge of consciousness and just as she was about to give in to the blackness, she knew she had to do something ... anything, to help Nick.
Suddenly, the shadow stepped deeper into the room.
And that's when the red-hot, blinding fury took hold of her. In a hundred years she would probably not be able to recall just how she connected her heel with Kevin's groin and destabilized him for just that one split second Nick needed to get his shot off.
The bullet hit Kevin in the heart at almost the exact second the shot Kevin fired struck Vince in the head.
Everything had begun and ended between one breath and the next.
Now, she could allow herself to slip into the dark hole. Nick was safe. Nick was beside her.
Nick caught her before she fell.
* * * *
The sirens stopped just as Bella looked up at Nick and smiled. Her skin was a ghostly white, proof of her near blackout, but he knew in a couple of minutes she'd be almost good as new. On the outside, anyway. The shock of the past few minutes would cling to her insides for a long time. He breathed deep with relief that she was safe at last.
Before he took another deep breath, two uniformed policemen rushed into the unit, guns drawn and aimed. They took one look at the lifeless bodies on the floor and turned to Nick. The older of the two officers recognized Nick and they exchanged nods. "You put in the call?"
Nick told him he had, gave them the identities of the two fallen men and proceeded to explain what had happened and what he knew about the events that had led up to tonight.
The younger of the two officers, the one unknown to Nick, asked his partner if they should call for backup. "No need," the older officer replied. "We have another car on the way. For now, we'll handle this like any other homicide." He looked over at Nick and Bella. "You two okay?"
Nick glanced at Bella. She seemed a little steadier now, although he noticed she hadn't once looked at either of the two blood-soaked men sprawled out practically at her feet.
She gave him a thin, forced smile, belied by the glisten of tears in her eyes and the steady trembling of her body.
"I think she could use a little air," Nick said, smiling down at Bella. "We both could. Is it all right if we step outside while you do what's necessary in here?"
The officer gave Nick a nod, but reminded him that he'd need a full report from both of them before they left the scene. Nick assured him he understood correct procedure, that they'd only be a few feet away and to call if they were needed. He tugged Bella closer to him and guided her outside, her head resting heavily against his chest.
"Your partner..." she said, her pain for him reflected in her voice.
"I know. I caught it all while I was at the door. It never once occurred to me that Vince, being in charge of the Evidence Room, could have been involved in any of this. It's going to take me a long time to accept how he had me fooled so completely, for so long, and how cleverly he manipulated me."
No need to tell her yet how Vince had almost convinced him a couple of times that she was part of this from the beginning. He froze at the thought of what Vince had planned for Bella to keep her from implicating him, had he been successful in his devious scheme.
Still supporting her, Nick sensed Bella's hesitation even before she pulled away from him. "Maybe you should go back inside while they..."
He held her tighter and urged her forward. "There's nothing I can do for him, now. My place is here with you." He moved them farther down the narrow space between the units, far enough away that what was going on inside would not touch her.
More angry sirens came close, then stopped, and two more policemen hurried into the storage unit, barely glancing at Nick and Bella as they passed.
"I'll never be happier to see the Cindy Marie than I will the next time I step on board," Bella said, pressing deeper against his chest, her words coming out muffled. "All I want to do is get away, just the two of us. Away from the world."
"No one has earned it more than you, sweetheart, and I promise, as soon as I can, I'll take you there. Only," he said, with a sense of optimism for the first time that night, "it won't be to the Cindy Marie. The next time you see her, her name will be Bella F."
When the meaning of his words registered, Bella wrapped her arms around Nick and hugged him tight. "If that's a proposal," she said, trying to smile in the midst of a sob, "I accept. Although this is probably the most unlikely place to receive one."
Nick didn't answer, just held her while she cried. He was already years ahead in his life with her. The mother of the brood of kids he'd always wanted. The kids he'd reluctantly put out of his mind until she had come along and turned the tables on him. Ended up seducing him right out of his mind. He put his mouth to her ear. "When this is over, be prepared to spend a week on board the Bella F. without seeing the light of day."
Bella turned her head and caught his ear, nuzzled it with her lips. "I doubt you'll leave me enough time or energy to do anything else."
He crushed her to him, his heart overloaded with love. In spite of all the havoc around them and what they had both just been through, he felt happier than he'd been in a long time.
In a flash, his relationship with Debbie became crystal clear and he knew what had held him back from making that one final commitment to her. All the while he and Debbie were together, whenever he looked into his future, it was a blur. Whenever she brought up the subject of a date for their wedding, he got cold feet. He n
ever really knew why he could never take that final step. Until now. Until he met Bella and fell in love with her beyond reason. He had never loved Debbie enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her.
He felt bad that he hadn't dug deep enough inside himself to come face to face with his real feelings and lay the cards on the table with Debbie. But at least he had been faithful to her while they were together. It was she who had ultimately made the decision to end everything. Only she hadn't had the decency to do it the right way.
Finally, he could accept it was not his faults or his failures that had driven Debbie to Kevin Pitre. To the man with whom, by some ugly twist of fate, her life would come to a tragic end.
It all seemed so clear now.
Cheating on him with another man had been Debbie's decision--her guilt, not his.
He welcomed an old, tired cliché. It truly did seem as though the weight of the world had just been lifted from his shoulders.
He looked down at Bella in the dim light. She looked up at him at precisely the same moment, her eyes filled with love, and he saw his whole future ahead of him.
At long last he had come to terms with Debbie's death.
Now, the rest of his life and his love could forever belong to Arabella Quinn.
Epilogue
In their respective cars, Nick and Bella pulled up to the Yacht Harbor within seconds of each other. Nick had arrived first, so he was out of his car by the time Bella cut her engine.
The intermittent rain that had been around for most of the day was now coming down in a steady drizzle. Nick held the giant golf umbrella high as he walked first to the trunk, lifted out Bella's overnighter, then proceeded to the driver's side to help her from the car.
"No luggage for you?" Bella asked as they started to the pier.
"Brought it down earlier today when I stopped by to check on a few things."