by Kari Lemor
Sagging against Jack as the immediate danger passed, she was afraid to unclench her cramped fingers from his shirt front. The sights and smells of the city gave way to the lighter traffic of the Parkway. More greenery appeared and fewer buildings. It was all a blur as her mind raced through the near-death experience. When he slowed the bike down and pulled into a rest area she managed to rouse from her coma-like state. Jack slipped his fingers under hers and loosened her grip.
“Where are we?” she asked, pulling off the helmet. She pushed the hood off her sweaty head as Jack took the helmet from her and looped it on the handlebars of the bike.
* * * *
Jack swung his leg over the side of the bike and arched his back, groaning. Callie slid off too, repeating the action. His eyes darted back and forth, noting the rest area was empty. Good, he didn’t need too many people around and it looked like they hadn’t been followed. “We’re about twenty minutes from your house, in Waterbury.”
Callie ran her hands through her hair, looking at him like a lost child. God, this should not have happened. How in the world did someone spot them in Central Park? Or know he was going to be there? The people shooting at them sure seemed ready for them. It wasn’t some random sighting.
“I…um…left my car in Danbury,” she stammered, her lip trembling. Always so strong, his Callie. Wanting to keep it together even in the wake of being shot at. When he reached out to touch her shoulders, she melted into his arms. Her body shook—her breathing shallow and quick.
“Don’t worry about your car. I’ll have Scott get it for you. Right now you need to be home to rest.”
The shaking didn’t subside so he continued to hold her. This had been his desire for so long, though not for these reasons. But he’d take anything he could get. Her soft body molded to his and he breathed in the floral scent that was Callie.
“I’m sorry, Calico, I never should have asked you to meet me in New York City. That was stupid. I figured the city was big enough that no one would even notice I was there. Someone knew. Either Steve can’t be trusted, or I was spotted this morning with him and they followed me. Either way, I’m sorry.”
Her head nodded, though she didn’t move away from his embrace. If holding her was what she needed, then he wanted to be there for her. It was the least he could do as he hadn’t been around to help her with anything else in the past and this was his fault. The thought he needed to remove himself from Callie and Jonathan’s lives pounded in his head once more. It was the only way to protect them from danger. But if he did, he might as well end his life; there’d be no reason to go on living.
Jack gave her a few more minutes of comfort then eased away. “Are you ready to get back on?”
“I think so.” Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her shaking hands. “I guess I’m not in any shape to be driving now, anyway. I’m sorry I’m such a baby about this. I feel like the cowardly lion.”
“Calico,” he said, sliding his fingers into her loose curls. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Believe me, I’m shaken too. I know how to hide it better, that’s all. It’s a man thing. Not allowed to get emotional. They’ll kick us out of the Man Club.”
She chuckled at his stupid joke and he leaned over, pressing his lips to hers. A desperation born from fear rocketed though him and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him. He kissed her harder, assaulting her mouth. You’re frightening her. Back off. But before he could, she grabbed his head and responded with the same turbulent passion. They held each other close, losing themselves in the other, taking what they needed as a reminder they were alive.
“I was petrified you’d get hurt,” she cried against his mouth as his lips crushed hers. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I know, Calico, I know.” He couldn’t say much more, wanting to make the world perfect for her. If he couldn’t do something about Victor soon he might have to permanently walk away from her and their son. It would break him into pieces but he’d rather die than have them hurt in any way. Today that had almost happened.
Clinging to her, he allowed her time to get her strength and composure back then eased her away. “Come on, let’s get you back home. Jonathan’s probably there already and will want to see his mom.”
Nodding, she slipped onto the back of the bike again. Twenty minutes later, he guided the motorcycle to the woods behind her house. Helping her off the back, he removed the helmet she’d worn. Self-consciously, she pushed her hair back and he grinned. She’d always complained about the mass of curls she had. How did she not know how beautiful they were and how much he loved playing with them, especially after all the times he’d told her?
They reached the back door and when they walked in, Heather rushed into the room, her face worried. “Where’s your car? What happened? Jack, why are you here? Weren’t you meeting in New York?”
He placed his hand on Callie’s shoulder. “Yes, but we ran into a little trouble. How is Jonathan?”
Heather looked confused. “Jonathan’s fine. He went down for his nap a few minutes ago. I’m more concerned about you. Why does that look like blood on your shirt?”
Damn, he’d been hoping no one would notice. Callie hadn’t until now. But Heather never let anything get past her. Shrugging, he pulled the shirt away from his side. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch. I need to call Scott to get Callie’s car back from the Danbury Park and Ride.”
Turning to look at him, Callie squinted at the stain near his waistline. “What happened? Was it one of the bullets? Why didn’t you say anything?” She lifted the sleeve of the denim jacket she wore. It was covered in crimson.
“I was holding you the whole time on the bike. You didn’t say anything.”
“I’m fine, Callie. Not worth worrying about. I’ll call Scott while you go check on Jonathan then rest for a bit.”
“How about I call Scott and make arrangements to get Callie’s car,” Heather suggested then reached for the extra keys Callie kept hanging on a hook by the back door. “Callie, you need to give Jack a little first aid. We’ll be back with your car in a few hours.” After asking which exit the car was at, she headed out the back door and was gone.
Callie slipped the jacket off her shoulders and hung it on a chair then walked toward him. “Let me see what happened.”
He shook her off. “Jonathan first.”
Scowling at him, she took his hand and pulled him along after her. “We’ll both go and check on our son then I’ll fix you up. The first aid kit is in the upstairs bathroom anyway.”
Jonathan was sleeping peacefully, his thumb hanging out of his mouth. Pushing past the gate he, knelt by the bed, gazing at the boy he hadn’t seen in a few weeks, the reason he was taking these chances. He pushed a few strands of hair from the boy’s forehead, making sure not to wake him. Not that he didn’t want to see him awake, but Jonathan needed his nap. A nap sounded great about now. His side was aching.
As if she read his mind, Callie patted his back and nodded in the direction of the bathroom. Placing a soft kiss on Jonathan’s head, he followed her from the room. She made him sit on the closed toilet seat and dug in the closet for a basket filled with first aid materials.
“Jonathan is at that age where he falls down and scrapes a knee or gets hurt in a million other ways so I need things here for every occasion. Take your shirt off.”
“I haven’t heard those words from you in a while.”
The look she sent was meant to chastise him. But as he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it from his pants, her breath hitched. She wasn’t as unaffected as she wanted him to think. He slid the shirt from his shoulders then dropped it on the floor, trying not to wince. Her eyes were glued to his torso and they gleamed with admiration. When she noticed him looking at her, she dropped her eyes and blushed. God, I love when she does that.
“When did this happen? My arms were around you the
whole time we were on the motorcycle.” Confusion crossed her face as she wet a soft washcloth with hydrogen peroxide. When she touched it to his wound, sharp pain pierced through the injury and he sucked in a breath.
“One of the shots in the park grazed my side. But it’s a flesh wound, nothing more. I knew it wasn’t anything to worry about.”
Continuing her ministrations, she then bandaged the damaged skin. As she examined her work, her eyes fell on the long thin scar on his stomach. Her fingers moved to trace the path and she looked up, a question in her eyes.
“What happened here? You didn’t have this three years ago.”
He stilled her wandering fingers with his own. “This was my parting gift from Angelo.”
“You said he tried to kill you. Not how. This doesn’t look like a minor injury.”
“He got the jump on me but he wasn’t expecting an injured man to attack back. Too bad for him.”
Too bad for me. It ended any hopes and dreams I’d had for a life with Callie. But he couldn’t allow him to hurt Callie or their child. Not that he’d tell her Angelo’s plans. She didn’t need to know.
Tears filled Callie’s eyes as she stared at the mottled skin. The guilt she carried was obvious in her eyes.
“Don’t you dare even say this was your fault.”
“But it was. He did this because of me.”
“You weren’t alone in that relationship. I could have controlled my urges better. I was as much, if not more, to blame. I should never have gotten involved with you. It wasn’t professional but I couldn’t help myself. You’re too irresistible.”
“How did you manage to stab him after he did this to you?”
“He came over to gloat, a little too close and I pulled the knife out and stabbed him with it. I still don’t understand how I made it through and he didn’t. He must have had medical care long before I got any.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Tony Pascucci came running as Angelo fell. He never came after me so I assume he stayed to get Angelo help.”
She traced her fingers over the scar again, then pressed the edges of the new bandage to make sure they stayed down. Her lips pressed together and her face was tight. “I think that should do it but you want to make sure to change the bandage every few hours. It’s still bleeding a little. But you’re right. I don’t think it’s too bad. You’ll probably live.”
With that, she stood, turned around, and made a show of putting away the first aid materials, but Jack could tell she was upset. Her voice cracking on the last few words was a definite giveaway.
When she’d put the basket in the closet, he stood and took her hand. “Now it’s time for you to lie down and get some rest. Jonathan should be asleep for a few hours, use that time to relax and recoup from what happened.”
She walked with him to her room then turned around at the door. Apprehension covered her features. “You should rest too. You just got shot. Maybe a short nap would be good. The Man Club wouldn’t be opposed to that, would they?”
He chuckled. Leave it to Callie to find a way to let him regain some of his lost energy and still retain his dignity. “Sure, I think it’d be acceptable if I took a little rest. I can use the recliner downstairs.”
She looked down the hallway then back at him, fear shining from her eyes. “Do you think, um…”
Was she still freaked out by the shooting? Too proud to admit she needed him? “Do you want me to hold you while you sleep? Like I do with Jonathan?”
She gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “Like mother, like son, huh?”
Nodding, he moved over to the bed with her. Unzipping her sweatshirt, she draped it on a chair then removed the folded quilt from the end of the bed and spread it out. Jack waited for her to lie down then settled in next to her. She pressed herself close and bumped his wound causing him to wince. Muttering “oops,” she climbed over him to lie on his other side. The action was more than a little intimate and Jack had flashbacks of the two of them rolling all over the bed.
She reached down and adjusted the quilt over them then threw him a shy smile. Good, the quilt would hide the reaction he was having with her this close. Slipping his arm under her, he pulled so her head was tucked into his shoulder, like they used to sleep too long ago.
Snuggling in close, she rested her hand on his chest. His shirt was still off and she began to swirl her fingers in the hair scattered across his torso. Was this a mistake? Her breathing softened and grew rhythmic and he hated to wake her up to put the shirt back on. She’d always loved playing in his chest hair and now in her subconscious, she went right back to her old habits. No complaints though. He might never get to be in this position again.
* * * *
“What was so important I had to cut out of my meeting early?” Scott complained as he leaned into the window of Heather’s car. “I was with the architect who’s drawing up plans for the college dorm renovations I’m proposing.”
“Get in and I’ll tell you.”
He opened the door and lowered himself into Heather’s low-slung black sports car. Must be nice to have the extra money for a vehicle like this. His beat-up pickup truck was all he had to drive around in as his money was all tied into his business. Looking at her tense face, he noted the clipped tone of her voice. As they drove away apprehension filled him.
“What happened? Is everyone all right? Callie? Jonathan?”
She reached over and patted his thigh. The warmth crept along his leg and moved to parts of him that shouldn’t be awake in her presence. Taking a deep breath, he willed them to calm down and waited for her answer.
“Everyone’s fine. We’re going to pick up Callie’s car at the Danbury Park and Ride.”
Pick up a car? Heat of a different kind suffused his body. “You pulled me away from important business to go get a car? Seriously, Heather? You may have nothing better on your agenda than driving around doing errands all day but some of us actually have a living to make. We don’t all have rich families to provide for us.”
“Oh, stow it, will you, Scott,” she snapped back, rolling her eyes at him. Yeah, he’d gotten under her skin. He liked doing that. Liked seeing her with her armor plating and warrior shield extended.
“You know damn well I happen to have an extremely successful real estate business. I pay for everything I have without the help of my family.”
Lifting his eyebrow, he caressed the leather seats. “Like this baby here?”
An exasperated huff escaped her mouth as she scowled. “Fine, this was a gift from my dad but everything else…”
He chuckled and received a smack on the arm for his audacity. She was too fun to rile up. And she always rose to the bait. It never got old.
“Ow, hey, watch the merchandise.” Rubbing the spot she’d hit, he said, “I make a living using these arms. You damage them and I’ll have to sue. You know a good lawyer?”
She laughed softly and sighed. “Callie took the bus into New York to meet Jack in Central Park. He needed her help with some information he had.”
“Information about Victor? He mentioned he was going to start digging again. I didn’t realize he would involve Callie. He’s usually overprotective of her and Jonathan.”
“I think they were only supposed to meet, have her look at a few things, then she’d come back. Something happened. I didn’t wait around for a play by play. All I know is that Jack brought Callie back and she was visibly shaken. And Jack had some sort of bleeding wound on his side.”
“A wound? What kind of wound?” Scott remembered vividly the day he’d found Jack practically bleeding to death from a stab wound, after a run in with Angelo Cabrini. His cousin refused the hospital and it had taken Scott a few hours to get one of Jack’s FBI buddies to round up a doctor to fix him. At times he wasn’t sure his cousin would make it. Scared the hell out of him.
; “I don’t know. Callie mentioned something about bullets but Jack shrugged it off.”
“Did he look like it was bad?” He was shaking now. How serious was it? Jack had been through hell the last few years but it hadn’t been easy on Scott either, the constant worry eating a hole inside him.
“He was up and walking around fine. There was a large blood stain on his shirt near his waist but Callie hadn’t even noticed it. She’ll take care of it and if he needs more than she can provide, she’ll let us know. I promised her we’d get her car. Figured that would give them some time together, the two of them.”
“Yeah, they could use some time together, though I’m not sure it’s the best thing in the long run.”
Heather threw him a nasty glance. “Why do you say that? They love each other. It’s obvious whenever they’re in the same room, even if they try and avoid being too close.”
“I know they do. But being together doesn’t result in anything other than realizing what they’re missing. It’s like giving a man who’s dying of thirst a tiny drop of water. It’s simply a tease of what he needs but can’t have.”
Turning her head, she gazed out the window. Did she have tears in her eyes? The warrior princess herself was getting emotional? Yeah, she cared for Callie, but he’d never seen her like this before. Something inside him began to melt and warm.
He reached over and patted her knee. “We should help them find more time with each other. It’s not like we can do anything to put Victor away but maybe we can find a few more ways to sneak them into the same place at the same time.”
Heather sniffed and wiped her fingers against her eyes. She tried to hide it, so Scott looked out his window to give her time to pull herself together without being embarrassed.
“Yes, that’s a great idea. I’m not sure how we can do it, but we’re both pretty smart people. We should think of something.”
“This deal I’m cooking up with the state colleges could help. They want to renovate all of their dorms over the next ten years, one or two at a time. If I can get the contract, Jack would have the opportunity to be close to Callie and Jonathan. Not sure how safe that would be though. Victor has people everywhere. It’s a thought.”