Cooper marched them to the front door and motioned for Nate to open it. He reached for the handle, but the doors both swung back. Mimi stood in the foyer, wearing a dress like the one she’d worn at the club. Only this one was blue, not tangerine.
Cyan struggled against his hold.
Mimi spread her hands wide for a second. “Why all the fuss? I’m sure we can figure this out.”
Nate glanced back and saw the determination in Cooper’s eyes. He wrapped his arms around Cyan and drew her away from the other man. “Enough.”
It was clear she didn’t want Cooper to touch her. Nate didn’t even want the man to look at her. The only think that kept him from doing something about all this was the fact he and Cyan weren’t bullet proof. Even his brother Ben—invincible, save-the-world Ben—got hurt from time to time. Nate’s injured ankle was proof enough he wasn’t invincible, either. Especially up against a gun instead of a defensive lineman.
Mimi laughed, a high sound. “True love! Cooper, darling, you can’t stand in the way of true love.”
They all turned to look at her.
Only a few short weeks ago she’d caused havoc in Sanctuary and pain to two of Nate’s nephew’s friends. Nate wasn’t interested in anything much she had to say that wasn’t on point.
Nate folded his arms. “You want the SD card; we get Daire. That’s all.”
Mimi narrowed her eyes at him, and yet the skin on her face stayed in the same place. She was pushing late fifties at least, if not older, and she had the bearing and personality of an old crone. Nate didn’t need to spend much time with her to notice that. He wondered how long she’d been planning to take over the club, and whether this was the club owner’s house.
Surely the police would have come looking for that guy or the woman who’d been seen with him at the club. Especially after an altercation where blood was left in the hall. Or were the police busy on something else?
Mimi and Cooper had to be planning to kill Daire if they’d already covered the issue of evidence that implicated Nate. They would probably gift the police with the murder weapon with Nate’s prints on it.
Grant needed to get back from vacation fast. Nate didn’t think he could handle this, as much as he wanted to take care of it himself. The whole thing had spiraled out of control.
“I have to go to the bathroom.” Cyan raised her hand like an elementary school child.
Mimi moved toward him, and Nate stepped back. He didn’t care how it looked. It was a retreat.
She sent a gracious smile Cyan’s way. “We’ll wait for you in the sitting room.”
Cooper waved the gun toward the hall. “This way.”
“Goodness, Cooper, put that gun away. There’s no need for it here.” Mimi tsked. “We’re here to work this out, not make things worse.”
They walked away, and Cyan flashed him a nervous look. What was she up to? Maybe she did need to use the bathroom, or maybe she had some other plan.
Nate looked around, trying to figure out where Daire might be.
“You like my house?”
Was it even hers? “Sure. It’s a little small, but I’m certain you’re able to suffer through the injustice of that.”
Mimi’s lip curled. “Your friend regrets he can’t join us.”
He really wanted to ask her what she’d done with Daire. Instead, Nate shot her a look. “I have what you want. You have what I want. I’m sure we can come to some agreement.” He paused. “Although why it’s you here, and not the ‘boss,’ is telling. I take it your new job is as a mafia middle man. Am I right?”
Mimi’s smile was almost predatory. Did some men really find her attractive? He couldn’t see how they would; he’d be worried she was going to skin him alive and leave with all his money.
“The question is, whether the ‘boss’ authorized you to make this trade, or if you’re horning in on something that’s going to drag us all down.”
Mimi was quiet for a moment, then she said, “It’s my aim that this will be mutually beneficial for us all.”
“But you can’t be sure.”
“Nothing is sure in this life.”
Nate said, “So a straight trade. That’s what you want? Daire for the SD card. I want Cyan left out of this, no matter what Cooper wants.” Nate folded his arms, trying to figure out what Ben would do. His brother John, the sheriff of Sanctuary, would pray. How was that going to help? Like God could mystically download instructions into his brain?
Instead, Nate bit his lip and waited for her next move.
“The ‘boss’ is Max Turneau.”
Nate’s eyes widened. The local man was ruthless and rumored to have his hand in nearly all organized crime in Miami.
“He’ll be back in thirty minutes to take care of Daire. I take it Cooper had you catch a gun?”
Nate didn’t answer.
“That was Turneau’s plan. If we don’t get you out of the picture, he won’t pay us. But that’s not why Cooper and I are in this.”
“Why are you in this?”
She waved away his question. “That’s for later. But you need to know I’m helping you, both of you. And your friend.”
The real question was what she wanted in return for that ‘favor.’
Nate said, “Understood.”
“Thank you.” She blew a breath through pursed lips. “Turneau had Alan killed. Ron, Cyan’s manager, took off. He’s nowhere to be found, but the boss wants him out of the picture, too.
“Alan is the club owner.”
“Was.” She didn’t look too cut up by that, but there was a slight dip in her chin. She felt something. “That’s why I’m going to help you. Your bodyguard is in the next room.” She strode to the hall with Nate on her heels. When she stopped by a wood-stain paneled door no different from any other in this house, she motioned to it. “I didn’t help you. If he asks, you broke in and took your friend back.”
Nate let himself in. The single chair in the middle of the room was empty, except for the stain of blood on the white material that covered the arms. Rope lay on the floor, discarded. What was left of the blind hung in front of the open window.
Beside him, a scream welled up in Mimi’s throat. The noise grew but was cut off abruptly. Nate spun and saw a considerably bloody Daire with his hand over her mouth.
Daire’s bloodshot eyes flicked to Nate. “I really do not like the sound of this woman’s voice. It’s continual, like a screeching siren that will. Not. Shut. Off.”
“How are you Daire?” Nate didn’t bother surveying his friend’s physical state for himself. The bodyguard would take it as an insult that he wasn’t allowed to make that assessment on his own.
“I’ve had better days.”
Nate figured that meant he could barely walk.
Mimi moaned behind Daire’s scratched up and smeared with blood hand.
“No one is interested in what you have to say.”
She moaned louder. Down the hall, Cyan screamed, followed by a thud. Nate strode to what he assumed was the bathroom door and tried the door handle.
It was locked.
**
Cyan’s plan to ditch Cooper and search this giant house for Nate’s friend wasn’t going so well. Cooper pressed himself against her so close the sink dug into her hip.
His lips touched her ear, and he whispered. “I’m your number one fan.”
Why couldn’t he just shoot her?
Instead he was dragging this out, making sure she understood what was about to happen. Her breaths came in pants, each one shallower than the one before. Pretty soon she was going to run out of air completely. At that point, “over my dead body” would be applicable and not just wishful thinking.
Her eyes searched the ceiling. Where were the vents? A bathroom should have vents. Okay, focus. Someone slammed into the door—the one Cooper had locked after he’d forced her in the bathroom.
“Cyan! Are you in there?”
Cooper’s head whipped around to glare at the do
or.
She renewed her struggle against him. “Nate!”
He thumped the door. Someone said, “Let me.”
Cooper backed up, lifting the gun to aim at the door. Cyan rushed at him, grabbed his forearm, and slammed Cooper up against the shower door. He yelled and the gun blasted all the air from the room, filling it with thunder and the smell of fireworks. They hit the glass and it broke. Cooper fell backward with the rain of shards, pulling Cyan with him. She put her hands out and slammed into the pieces, sliding forward so that she screamed with the pain of being cut by a hundred knives.
The door cracked against the wall, and then she was lifted off Cooper. The gun lay on the floor, out of his reach. Cyan opened her hands and sucked in a breath at the cuts on her throbbing palms.
“Don’t look at it. Just come with me.”
Nate’s arm wrapped around her waist, and he walked her out of the bathroom. Daire stood in the doorway, surveying the scene with hard eyes. His face was marred with cuts, and blood trickled from his temple. He didn’t look like he felt much better than she did.
Daire stepped aside and they kept walking, faster than she normally walked so that Cyan stumbled and Nate’s arm held her tighter.
Mimi stood in the hall.
As they approached, Nate said, “This ends now.”
“Why is this my fault? I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
“You take care of your man.”
Her face morphed into something grotesque. “I want that SD card.”
“Why?”
“I need that SD card.”
“Not now. There’s no way. Whatever leverage you had is gone.”
“Give it to me!” She was desperate, while Cyan’s hands were dripping blood on the floor.
Cyan shook her head, still in the grip of Nate’s arm. “You think after what Cooper just did you have the right to demand anything of us?” The pain was overwhelming, falling down her cheeks in hot streams.
Mimi fisted her hands at her sides. “I need that SD card.” She was almost hysterical. “He’ll kill us.”
Daire walked past Cyan and Nate, and stood in front of them. He held Cooper under his arm, the man now completely limp and bleeding down his back. Daire said to Mimi, “You’re coming with us. Now. You had your play time. As soon as I tell Grant Mason what you’ve been up to, your butt is going to jail.” He pulled her along with his free hand while she struggled and grunted. “Not so tough now I’m not tied to a chair, are you?” Daire pulled her to the door.
“Keys are in the ignition.”
Daire turned back to shoot a questioning look at Nate, who said, “I’ll drive.”
Daire shook his head. “Mimi and I are up front.”
“What are you—”
Daire popped the trunk and shoved Cooper inside.
Guess that answered that question.
Cyan looked at Nate. He clearly wanted to argue with this whole thing, but Daire shot him another look and climbed in the front seat, pushing Mimi ahead of him to the passenger side. Once they were in, he reached for something from the glove box and used it to tie up Mimi’s hands. She was going with them?
Cyan got in the back, and Nate sat beside her. Unlike Cooper, he gave her personal space. Enough space to unbutton his shirt and then pull the white T-shirt underneath off. Cyan nearly swallowed her tongue. She’d seen guys with no shirt on before, at the beach, but none of them had looked like Nate. It was…
“Sorry. It’s not completely clean, but it’s the best I can do.”
He pressed the shirt against one palm and wrapped it around loosely, but still it hurt really bad. Then he wrapped the other so her hands were basically tied together. “You need a hospital.” He glanced at Daire, who was driving—and scowling. “She needs a hospital.”
“No hospital.”
“What?” Nate said, “She needs stitches.”
Daire didn’t think she needed stitches? Nausea crept up her throat, and Daire’s particular brand of evasive driving through Saturday traffic wasn’t helping. She couldn’t open the window with her hands all cut up and wrapped in a T-shirt, but she needed air or she was going to be sick.
“Okay?”
She shook her head, deep breathing, not wanting Nate to see the tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t know Cooper was going to do that.” She looked at him then. “I wanted to get lost and search the house for Daire, to try and find out if they had him and where he was. So we could get him out. But Cooper shoved me into the bathroom and he wouldn’t leave.”
Nate stroked the side of her face with his thumb as his fingers sank into her hair. She tilted her head to the side and soaked up the warmth of his skin and shivered.
“She needs a hospital.”
Cyan shifted to lean low against the chair, her eyes closed. Their conversation blurred into background noise she couldn’t really focus on. Exhausted and injured, she didn’t know how Daire could even drive. What had they done to him?
And what kind of man shoved someone in the trunk of a car?
Her thoughts—and her emotions—were all over the place. But at least she wasn’t about to be sick anymore.
Nate shifted on the seat beside her and whispered, “Get some rest. I’ll make sure a doctor treats your hands.”
Best offer she’d had all day.
Cyan shifted enough to touch her lips to his shoulder where he’d replaced his shirt.
Chapter 10
Nate stared down at the woman who had just—unconsciously—kissed him.
“Never said I wasn’t going to get her a doctor.” He didn’t look up at Daire. “I just said we weren’t going to the hospital.”
Nate studied her face. The dark lashes fanned on her cheeks. “You know someone?”
Daire huffed a laugh. “Of course I know someone. You think I have insurance?”
“My brother doesn’t provide you healthcare?”
Daire laughed. “The perks more than make up for it.”
They drove to a storage unit. Daire entered the gate code and then hit a bunch of buttons on his phone. The door of a double garage-sized unit whirred and rolled up, and he pulled inside.
A desk and computer were against one wall beside a futon. A weight machine. A car was parked in the far corner, covered so Nate couldn’t see what kind it was, but it was low and the lines were vintage, like a muscle car. A single two-drawer file cabinet with a printer sat beside a mattress leaning on its end against the wall. Beyond that was a gun safe.
Nate lifted one eyebrow. “This is—”
“Don’t say it.” Daire popped his door and then let Nate out. “Bring her over here.” Daire waved him to the ratty, old futon.
Nate sat, keeping a slow-breathing Cyan on his lap. He shifted her enough to see her face, careful not to jostle her hands.
“She’s really asleep?”
Nate nodded. “It’s a stress thing. She falls asleep.” It sounded ridiculous just saying it, but Cyan had told him and he’d seen it for himself. So she reacted strangely to adrenaline, so what? He was glad she could sleep through what had to be a huge amount of pain from the cuts in her hands.
Daire called his doctor, who promised to be there in ten minutes, and then got Mimi out of the car.
“You could have just left her in there.” Nate didn’t particularly want to make small talk with her or look at her. Not after what she’d allowed Cooper to do.
“Too much trouble to be had alone in a car.” Daire set a bound Mimi on the floor. The woman Nate had been watching in the club was gone, replaced by a calculating shrew whose eyes never stopped moving. What was she going to do next?
“I could have helped you, but that’s gone now.”
Nate didn’t respond.
“Turneau is going to kill all of us now.”
A rap on the garage door preceded Daire hauling it up just enough so the man outside could bend over and step in. Silver hair was stylishly cut arou
nd a tanned and lined face of at least sixty years. Tailored silk shirt, fifty thousand dollar watch, and a fresh manicure.
Daire led him to Cyan first.
The doctor frowned. “I thought I was here to see you.”
“She’s first.”
“Very well.” The doctor crouched by Cyan and looked at her hands before donning rubber gloves and then touching the T-shirt now saturated with blood at her palms. “My usual?”
Daire said, “Times two.”
The doctor glanced back at him, but Daire shook his head. “Her first.”
He got to work, injecting Cyan with something he said was for pain and removing half a dozen bits of glass before he sewed up the cuts. She was going to have a hard road ahead of her before she could fully use her hands again.
As the doctor was finishing up, Cyan sucked in a breath and woke. “Ow, ow, ow.”
Nate held her so she wouldn’t hurt herself before she realized what was happening. “Easy.”
She looked at her hands, red and raw and peppered with lines of stitches and let out a low moan.
“It’s going to be okay.” Yeah, so he didn’t know that, and it was going to suck in the meantime, but what else was he supposed to say?
“Why doesn’t it hurt?” Her voice was drowsy and thick with sleep.
The doctor gave her a kind smile. “My meds are really good.”
A dull thud came from the direction of the car’s trunk, followed by a yell, then more thudding. Cyan started, so Nate shifted his hold. He rubbed her arm from her shoulder to her elbow. She turned her head and gave him a questioning look.
Nate just smiled at her.
The doctor glanced at the trunk, where the noise continued, and then at Daire. “I’m not going to ask.”
Daire folded his arms, covering Mimi just in case she decided to move. “Good call.”
The doctor put a gel-like cream on Cyan’s stitches and then wrapped her hands with bandages. He gave Nate a small pill bottle of antibiotics for her and then went to look at Daire’s injuries.
Mimi turned to focus on Cyan.
Nate shook his head. “Don’t.”
“I was trying to do y’all a favor, but you screwed up that one.” She huffed. “You might think she’s something, but she’s not. Trust me. I know all about Cyan Greene.”
Team Love on the Run Box-Set #1 Page 24