by Vonnie Davis
Kelcee wiggled around in the bed to find a comfortable spot. Being in her own bed was heaven. No more lumpy hospital beds or intercom announcements or “May I have your name and date of birth, please?” She was home. Halle-freakin-lujah!
Two tiny heads and four paws peered over the side of her bed where they evidently stood on the stack of books she kept on the floor. Their cute little eyes examined her from top to bottom. “Hello, Marmalade. Hello, Sox.” Their claws dug into the sheet and they ventured onto the bed. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. Come on.” She patted the bed and they zeroed in on her moving hand. Kelcee blinked to keep herself awake, but she knew the pain medicines were pulling her under.
Little feathery touches and faint squeaky noises, as if she were being smelled, woke her. The kittens were checking out her face and hair. What a sweet way to wake up. The bed had been so empty since Dustin left. A quick glance at the clock told her she’d been asleep for nearly three hours. Yikes, wouldn’t the kittens need to use the litter box? She sat and lifted one at a time onto the floor and they ran around the corner. Frantic digging could be heard, and Kelcee shook her head in amusement. Her little apartment wasn’t going to be so quiet anymore.
The next couple days were a series of adjustments. Bathing with a cast on her upper arm. Getting dressed with one arm. Fixing light meals with her arm in a sling. Watching where she walked so she wouldn’t accidently step on a kitten.
Sox, gray with white on her face, her four feet, and the tip of her tail, liked snuggling on Kelcee’s shoulder. Marmalade, an orange tabby with a white mask across her eyes, a white belly, and white tail with a few orange spots, was a definite lap kitty. She’d had to call Junebug to find out their sex. The sweet woman assured her they were both little girls.
Before Kelcee ended the call, Junebug told her Dustin had just gotten home from seeing the psychiatrist and asked if she wanted to speak to him. “Junebug, the last time we talked, he hung up on me. Never even gave me a chance to say goodbye. We’ll never work things out like that. He does these sweet things for me, but then won’t talk to me. I just don’t understand him.”
“He hasn’t been himself since he broke things off with you. When he heard you’d been hurt, I thought he was going to pass out or tear my house apart. He waged a battle, don’t think he didn’t. He’s so afraid he’ll snap with this PTSD that he’ll hurt the one woman he cares for. He’s really struggling.”
“Yeah, well so am I. He confuses me.”
Chapter 17
The day before the store was to reopen, Fran took Kelcee to Nina’s beauty shop for a haircut. Kelcee’s attacker had cut a hunk of hair off, leaving her ends very crooked.
“It’s a tangled, greasy mess, Nina. My hair hasn’t been washed in almost a week.”
“Don’t you worry. I’ll take good care of it.” Nina led her to the shampoo bowls. “I think every woman in town is keeping a closer eye on her surroundings after your attack. Mark’s been reminding me every morning and calling me more often, which is nice.”
Kelcee walked out of the salon, her hair ten inches shorter, laying on her shoulders in soft waves and curls. Her head felt five pounds lighter. It also felt less woozy since she’d switched from the strong prescription painkiller to an over-the-counter medicine.
Flipping her sign from “Closed” to “Open” gave Kelcee great satisfaction. Fran was already there, making a pot of coffee and giving the rundown of the latest town gossip. All Kelcee could do was smile. Some normalcy was returning to her life. Her arm might be in a sling, her clothes chosen for ease of one-handed dressing, her hair shorter than she’d worn it in years, but her little store—her pride and joy—was open for business.
Owen was her first customer. He wrapped his arms around her and cried. “You know how much you mean to us here in Warrior Falls. I shoulda’ gone after that creepy dude on that rice burner when I saw him. Indeed, I shoulda’.”
“My sweet man, then you’d be the one with the broken arm and the cut on your back.” She kissed both of his moist cheeks. “Fran’s got coffee made. Help yourself, my friend.”
The UPS man delivered a box of books and she was shelving them one at a time when Jim Dobbins entered the store. He began rummaging through the bin of books for sale. “You’ve got book two of this spy series by Heinrich Knicks. Do you have book one?”
“Gee, I don’t know,” Fran answered. “Best you ask Kelcee.”
She groaned under her breath. Jim was the last person she wanted to talk to.
He sauntered down the aisle toward where she was shelving some paperbacks. “Katrina, do you have book one of this series?”
“Sorry, I only have book two. That’s why it’s—” Dear God, did he just call me by my real name? Her heart pounded in her ears like a jackhammer and she swallowed a mouthful of dust. Surely she’d misunderstood. She looked at the smirk on his face and knew. “What did you just call me?”
Jim leaned toward her, his breath rancid. “I called you by your birth name—Katrina. I have a message for you from Tony. ‘You’ll be dead in three days, bitch. Oh, and your new boyfriend? He’ll be skinned alive while you watch and listen to his sissy screams.’ ” He turned on his heel and walked out.
She grabbed for the edge of the shelf in front of her as the bookstore slowly spun. Her lungs didn’t want to work. Black spots dotted her vision. She slid down the bookshelves and put her face between her knees. Tony knew where she was. He was coming after her. Yet what was a hundred times worse, he was going to kill Dustin, the man she loved even though she was mad as hell at him. Dustin didn’t deserve to be caught in Tony’s insane crosshairs.
Finally, she gulped air as tears flooded her vision, washing away the dark blotches. Because of her, her brother had been on the run for two years, hiding from the authorities. He was a vengeful person. Dustin’s death would not be swift or painless. He’d make her suffer by watching her lover die.
“Kelcee, where are you? Jim just walked out without paying for that book!” Footfalls sounded on the wooden floor. “Oh, dear God, why are you down there? Are you hurt, child?” Her orange-flowered top became a mass of rolling blossoms as she rushed to kneel in front of her. “Land sakes, you’re crying. Tell me what’s wrong. I’ll make it better or try to. Do you need pain pills?”
Kelcee’s teeth had started to chatter. “C-call Clint. I n-need him.”
“Land sakes, what’s going on?” Fran fumbled in her orange pants for her cellphone and thumbed a speed-dial number. “Clint, Kelcee’s in an awful state. She says she needs you.”
She reached for Fran’s cell and held it to her buzzing ear. “My…my cover’s been blown. Jim Dobbins was…was just here. He…he had a message from Tony. He’s c-coming for Dustin. We…we’ll both be”—she swallowed—“dead in three days.”
“On my way. Don’t you worry, now, I’ll take care of you.”
She handed the phone back to Fran, who gaped at her. “Cover? What cover? What are you talking about? Who’s going to kill you and Dustin?”
“Help me up, Fran.” Warm hands held Kelcee as she slowly stood and everything spun again. She reached for Fran’s arms. “I love you. You’re like my heart-adopted mother. I can’t bear leaving you.” The tears started again and she leaned her head on Fran’s soft shoulder. She’d gotten close to so few people and those she had were golden to her. But if Dustin’s life was in danger, she had to do what she could to protect him from the terrible wrath Tony could evoke.
“Land sakes, why would you have to leave me? You know you’re like the daughter we never had. After my fourth miscarriage, we just gave up trying. Neither one of us could handle another devastating loss. I made it to the sixth month with the last child and it was a little girl. We were so sure we’d make it to full term, but our hopes were dashed.” Fran shook her head. “Now, suppose you tell me what’s going on? Why is your life in danger? Or Dustin’s, for that matter?”
“I’ll tell you as soon as Clint gets here. I need his
permission first. I’m under his protection.”
Fran’s eyebrows crinkled and then rose as dawning registered. “You mean like Witness Protection?”
—
ZQ’s cellphone rang and Clint’s number was on the display. “Hey, buddy. What’s happening?”
“Are you at the house?”
“Yeah, entering data in my breeding programs. You sound in a rush.”
“I am. Listen, Kelcee, Fran, and I will be coming out to your place shortly, if that’s alright. Kelcee’s in some serious trouble. Dustin, too. I know about your black ops team. Maybe you could help her and your boy out.”
ZQ’s antennae went up. “Tell me.”
“She’s in Witness Protection and her cover’s been blown. The bad guy says she’ll be dead in three days. So will her boyfriend, which of course is Dustin.”
“Get your asses out here as soon as you can.” ZQ disconnected the call. How did Clint know about his top secret ops team? He’d damn sure find out. Why was Kelcee in hiding? He’d find that out, too. How did Dust get mixed up in this mess? ZQ scoffed. If the bad guy only knew how dangerous Dust was, he’d be shaking in his own damn boots. Fool asshole. He closed down his program and went hunting for Dust and JJ.
As he passed through the kitchen, he kissed his mom on her silver hair. She puttered around the kitchen singing an old Willie Nelson tune about his bucket having a hole in it. ZQ mentioned the company coming and that they’d be meeting in his office.
“I’ll set out cans of soda and bowls of snacks on your coffee table, son.” His office or private sanctum, as his parents had always called it, had three leather sofas forming a “U” in front of a fireplace, centered with a square coffee table. He had no doubt his mom would have it filled in no time.
He trudged out to the stables. JJ and Dust were in the fenced corral, walking the mares due to drop their foals any day. When they saw him coming they must have read the signs on his face, for they both ambled toward the fence.
“What’s up?” JJ tossed a treat for Nance to catch mid-air.
“I’m going to need the two of you inside. We’ve got problems. Or at least Kelcee has.” Dust looked at his boots, then raised sad eyes to lock on his. “Her life’s in danger, Dust.”
He all but exploded in front of ZQ. “What the hell? How? From who? That bastard who ran her down?” Dust grabbed the top rail of the wooden fence, his knuckles white from the pressure of his grip.
“I don’t know all the details, but Clint will fill us in when they get here. You’re in danger, too, Dust. The man who’s after Kelcee also wants you dead.”
Dust’s arms shot out. “Then let him try. Send the bastard to me. I’ll mess him up so bad he won’t be able to hurt my Kelcee.”
“I figured that would be the attitude you’d take. Both of you put the mares back in their stalls, come inside, and clean up. We’ve been asked to help. Did Kelcee ever tell you she was in the Witness Protection Program?”
“Hell, no. I could sense she was keeping secrets and she told me there were things in her life she couldn’t talk about. Not even to me. Just like I couldn’t share about our missions. Some things between us had to remain secrets. I accepted that.”
ZQ nodded. “Get moving. Mom’s setting out snacks. I’ll go see if she needs help. JJ, make sure you get a big rawhide chew for our girl, here. You know how she’ll carry on if strangers are in the house with you and she’s been left outside.” Everyone scattered.
Once Clint, Fran, and Kelcee arrived, ZQ’s mom escorted them to his office. And a damn good thing, too. If he had to hear Dust crack his knuckles one more time, he was going to order him to sit on his fuckin’ hands.
Kelcee halted when she stepped inside the office and her vision landed on JJ. “Hello, Jerryl, I wasn’t expecting you to join us.” Her gaze raked over Dust. “I certainly wasn’t expecting you to give a damn.” She plopped on a sofa next to Fran.
The temperature in his office suddenly dropped a good twenty degrees. Kelcee was one pissed-off woman. Things were worse between the two than he thought.
Dust had bigger balls than ZQ imagined, for he stepped in front of Kelcee and pointed. “There’s not enough room in here for your attitude. From what I’ve heard, we’ve got some serious plans to make to save your precious life. By the way, I like your haircut.”
“Look, I’ve got emotions bouncing all over the place right now. I suggest you leave me alone. I’m scared. I’m hurt. I’m rejected. I’ve got a painful decision to make. Leave. Me. Alone.” She tried to cross her arms, which she couldn’t very well do with one in a sling, so she just huffed. “Thanks for the compliment, by the way.”
Dust took a seat on the sofa directly across from her, next to JJ. He rubbed two fingers over his eyebrows as if he was trying to regain some control. Oh, this meeting was off to a great start.
“Everyone, help yourselves to the snacks Mom set out. This will probably be a long meeting. I expect we’ll all have a few surprises to share today.” ZQ placed his hands on Fran’s shoulders. “Everything said in this room will be confidential, not to be repeated except between the people who are inside my office right now. Do you understand, Fran darlin’?” He had to make this clear. The woman loved to talk.
She brushed her platinum hair away from her face. “You’re telling me not to gossip.”
ZQ gave his patented scowl he used on his men. “Lives will depend on it. Maybe even Clint’s.”
She blanched. “Land sakes, I won’t breathe a word. You can trust me.”
ZQ patted her upper arms. “Good girl. I knew I could count on you.” He sprawled on the remaining sofa space next to Clint.
Kelcee reached for a soda, but her fingers shook too badly to open it. Fran took it from her and popped the top, handing it back.
Clint snagged a cookie and took a bite. “ZQ, thanks for seeing us right away. I could simply place Kelcee in another safe house, but I’d sure as hell like to get this guy. And I’m going to need some help.”
“We’re going to need some details, Clint. Like, first off, how did you hear about my team?” This fact had stuck in ZQ’s craw since he found out earlier.
“Your handler at the CIA and I served in ’Nam at the same time, but in different branches of Special Forces. We did some missions together, forged a friendship, and have kept in touch ever since. He knew I lived in the same town as you and on my last trip to D.C., he came over from Langley to have dinner with me.” Clint reached for a soda and opened it, took a swig. “He told me about Black Eagle Ops and asked me my opinion. I told him I thought it was a damn fine idea, that you were certainly able to man such a team.”
“I see. So my top secret handler in the CIA has a big mouth.”
Clint laughed. “Not with everyone, believe me. I saved his life. He trusts me.”
The two men stared at each other for a bit and ZQ nodded. He could accept that explanation. Saving lives created a special bond. It also hadn’t gone unnoticed that not once had Clint mentioned the man’s name or the office he held. “Okay, who’s going to fill us in on what’s going on with Kelcee?”
“I should.” She stared into her soda can as if it held the answers to the universe. “I mean, it happened to me. Right?” She exhaled a long breath. “Whew, my heart’s beating like a frightened rabbit’s. Let’s get this story over with. It’s lengthy, so stop me if you have questions.”
“Don’t worry, I will.” ZQ crossed one ankle over his other knee.
“I was born Katrina Talamo in Baltimore, Maryland. I was the middle child of an Irish mother and an Italian father. My older brother is Tony and my younger sister is Sophia. My parents ran a restaurant and we lived in the apartment above it.”
After a few sips of her soda, she shifted and curled her legs under her. “Tony, being the only son, was doted on. Our parents felt he could do no wrong.” She lifted a shoulder. “And I guess I felt the same way. Tony had always been my protector. I was constantly in his shadow and he didn’t seem t
o mind my hero worship. He taught me how to play basketball and, in a way, I grew up being one of the guys in his circle of friends.”
Fran’s hand flew to her chest. “Please tell me they didn’t rape you.”
ZQ noticed Dust’s jaw clench and the muscle in his cheek bunch. The mere thought of someone else touching Kelcee evidently drove him batshit crazy.
Kelcee shook her head and took another sip. “Once I began to really develop, Tony refused to let me run with him anymore. Claimed some of the guys looked at me funny. The neighborhood was on the edge of going downhill, drugs and gangs had moved in.” She waved an open hand in a downward motion. “I graduated from high school and started taking accounting classes at a junior college in addition to waiting tables at the family restaurant. Tony became distant and dictatorial toward Sophia and me. Especially me. He ordered us not to leave the apartment without our parents or him, which was ludicrous.”
Dust reached for a handful of potato chips. “I bet you resented the hell outta that. I know I’ve run headlong into your temper a time or two, including just now.”
“Oh, you have no idea. I don’t handle being ordered around at all.”
ZQ could almost imagine the sparks flying between these two. They really were perfect for each other. Too bad they were both too damn hardheaded to see it.
“I felt I was an adult. I worked my butt off at the restaurant when I wasn’t at college. Had my own little compact car, junk heap that it was.” Kelcee smiled slightly. “So, when Tony was out for the evening and I didn’t have to help at the restaurant, I snooped in his room. I found drugs and four stacks of bills, fifties and hundreds, under his floor.” She pushed her hair back and appeared as if she were fighting a smile. “I’d heard wooden boards scraping one night as I accidently had my ear against his bedroom door.”