by Snow, Nicole
21
Open Mic (Valerie)
“You’re sure you’re sure?” Wes Anderson asks.
I nod, feeling like a bobblehead.
I’ve done a lot of nodding today at endless questions.
Truly, I’m not sure of anything right now, but the thought of being pulled into more cloak and dagger stuff just makes my stomach hurt.
Sighing, he leans forward, giving me a tense look. “You realize with the cache of information we collected at King Heron Fishing, we’re going to RICO the entire Cornaro Outfit, here and abroad. It’ll take months—you know how legal moves—and rats will be coming out of the woodwork. Implementing a witness protection program for you and your family would help ensure your safety during that time, Ms. Gerard.”
Flint lays his hand over mine. “He’s right. Still plenty of pricks out there trying to save their own skins.”
I glance at him, then let my gaze circle the table to my brother, who can finally open both eyes without them swelling shut. Ray’s forehead still has butterfly stitches and a big, round, red burn.
Then I glance at Mother, who’d been flown back to Oahu by the FBI. Then to Beverly, who’s been playing nursemaid to both Ray and I. And finally, to Cash, our unforgettable doctor.
Letting out a sigh of my own, my eyes bounce back to Flint. “I lived most of my life in hiding. I just didn’t realize it. I won’t go back to that. I can’t.”
He squeezes my hand. “Then you don’t have to, Val. This is your decision. Not something forced on you.”
That’s part of what I love so much about this man.
Even when I had amnesia, he never forced anything, never dictated unless it kept me safe.
I look at Wes, a burly, no-nonsense man with curly blond hair. “I can’t believe there’s a house out there that’d be safer than this one. Especially with the beefed up security system Flint installed last week.”
“It’s top-notch, certified by Enguard Security, the best of the best,” Wes says, “but Cornaro’s group also has the latest equipment needed to breech any system ever made. They managed it once.”
“Actually...that was my fault.” Cash clears his throat, hanging his head. “When I returned the first time, I didn’t come through the gate. So when they shorted out the power system, the gate wouldn’t open. I had to climb over it, and by the time I got to the beach, the boat was already taking off. That lost minute was critical...time enough to steal them away to sea and then transfer them to another runner back to the yacht. It’s a miracle Nate was able to capture the boat we got.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Flint says. “We were all busy. I should’ve had a secondary power backup, fully protected from surges. Lesson learned. It’s going in today.”
“I’m not pointing fingers,” Wes says, holding his hands up. “Valerie’s right, this place is as close to a fortress as any safe house we’d have access to. My point is, if she declines a safe house, and doesn’t stay with Flint, she could be in danger. Same goes for Rayman and Lorelei Gerard.”
The implications of what he’s saying fully sink in.
For me to stay here, with Flint, in his secure environment, it means my family needs the same level of protection. Ugh.
I can’t expect Flint to house Ray and Mother for months on end. I’m not sure my sanity would make it, either.
“I’ve already discussed that with Flint,” Mother says. “His friends are lending us a hand. We have a state-of-the-art security system being installed at my house by the end of the week.”
“Flint had the same system installed at my place,” Beverly pipes in. “And it’s safer than Fort Knox.”
Mother looks at me and nods. “You’re right, doll. We’ve all practically lived in hiding for years. Well, no more. King Heron Fishing must rise from the ashes as the same respectable business our reputation was built on. We’ll be working with the FBI to put every single member of that hateful man’s organization behind bars. He killed my Stanley, and he’ll pay.”
She rakes her nails across the table.
I flinch a bit inside, having never seen my mother display such passion.
“They have my backing, Wes,” Flint says. “They can all stay as long as needed, until the systems are rigged up and tested.”
“And my backing!” Beverly chimes in.
“Same,” Cash adds.
“I have no doubt they’re well supported by the former Damysus team.” Wes smiles knowingly. “Including me. I just have people I have to answer to inside the bureau. They need to know I’ve given you the disclaimer, what it means to decline formal witness protection.”
“We know, Wes,” Flint says firmly. “And we thank you.”
He shrugs. “To be honest, I think staying with Flint and his people is the best option. The Outfit has to be falling apart with the head decapitated. They’d be hard-pressed to try anything with diminished assets.”
“Then it’s settled,” Flint growls. “You’ll keep us updated on everything. We’ll follow whatever guidelines you suggest.”
As happy as it makes me, there’s a part of me that questions if I’m doing the right thing.
By staying here, I’m drawing Flint and his family deeper into a situation my family caused.
A very dangerous one.
The weight of it clouds my mind as the day drifts on. Beverly takes over the kitchen, insisting on cooking a ginormous meal for everyone, even though Mother suggests moving Webster into the house to take over, plus one maid.
No freaking way, I insist. We’re not continuing the stuffy, time-honored Gerard tradition of having full-time household staff.
Flint reaches out to a security company he knows, Enguard based in California, and sits down with my mother and Ray to work up security systems for the rest of our family properties, including the King Heron offices.
Then there’s Bryce. He’s on the beach playing with Savanny. Still trying to teach the cat how to fetch.
Savanny just greedily pounces on the ball and tries to keep it every time.
So maybe you can’t teach an old cat new tricks, but you’ve got to appreciate the kid’s spirit.
I head outside for some fresh air, and he plops down on the beach towel beside me. Digging his toes into the warm sand, he lets out a long sigh.
“You doing okay, buddy?” I ask. “I know it’s a ton of people all up in your space.”
He grins, and his blue eyes sparkle as he looks up at me. “It’s cool, Val. I’m happy you’re gonna keep living with us for now. It’s like having this big extended family.”
I smile. “Yeah, well, I’ll have Mother and Ray out of your hair in the next day or two. Lord knows Mother looked scarred for life when she saw those pickle rolls your grandma made.”
“Hilarious!” He laughs, reaching down to pet Savanny, now sprawled out near our feet. “Gotta say, I love having people around. I always wanted to.”
“Yeah?” I wonder, lifting an eyebrow.
“Yep. I never told Dad, because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but...it’s been lonely around here, ever since we moved to Hawaii. When it was just us, I mean. And I love Grandma, but she’s Grandma. It’s nice having other people around to mix things up. You always find fun stuff for us to do.”
I ruffle up his hair. “What, like furniture shopping?”
He laughs. “Well, that was a crazy shopping trip, but it was worth it, seeing how the rooms turned out. Loved the trip to Pearl Harbor, too. You’ve made Dad happy, Valerie. Like...really frigging happy. He’s almost moonwalking around the house when you’re around.”
Can’t help the messy laugh that snorts out, imagining Flint actually moonwalking.
“I guess I’m just saying...life’s a lot more exciting since you showed up, you know? And, um...” His cheeks flush pink and he gives me a lopsided grin. “I like you. Not boy-girl like, I mean, but...hey, friends?”
This boy.
I love how he’s hit the adorably awkward stage every teenag
er goes through.
He reaches out his skinny hand. I take it and give it a hearty shake.
“Friends, kidlet. I like you too, Bryce. It’s awesome knowing when I’m appreciated, so thanks for that.”
A short time later, while I’m watching Bryce and Savanny float around on his paddleboard, Flint sits down next to me, swinging his thick legs out on the sand.
“How you holding up?” he asks. “How are your hands?”
My heart skips a beat at his nearness.
I hold up my bandaged hands, which Cash stresses I should keep covered for a few days. “They’ve started healing. I’m alive, it’s a beautiful day, and I’m with you, so...no complaints. How about you? Must feel like you’re back in business again, huh?”
“Yeah, shit, the last forty-eight hours could give my Damysus days a good run.” He smiles, looking off at the sailboats along the horizon. “But I like feeling useful again. Forgot how much I enjoyed playing defense, fiddling around with technology and assessing buildings for weaknesses. Hope your brother appreciates his new fortress. He’s not a total asshole, I guess.”
I snicker. “Actually, though...I hope he doesn’t get too sucked into his own legal situation. We still need to have words.”
“Yeah, babe. He did the right thing in the end. Any judge worth their salt won’t make him do hard time for past sins. Still, it doesn’t excuse the past. Can’t make up for years of you being treated like a fucking shoe.” He reaches for my hand, pushing those big fingers through mine, and squeezes with a warmth that goes to my soul.
“Those days are done. After almost dying ten freaking times, life’s too short to let anybody push me around. I don’t care who they are.”
“Don’t think anybody could ever move you again, Val. You’re too smart, and now you’ve got one hell of a backbone.” He leans over, brushing his lips below my ear, and whispers, “Fun fact: stronger also means sexier, woman.”
I close my eyes, relishing his heat, drawing a deep breath.
I wish I could just enjoy his heat without feeling fogged up with worries.
“Thanks, but...I don’t know about this, Flint. I’m having second thoughts. Maybe your friend Anderson was right. Should we be in witness protection? A real one, I mean? By staying here, I’m just pulling everyone else in deeper to this total clusterfrack.” Opening my eyes, I have to swallow a sudden lump of guilt in my throat when I see Bryce and Savanny on the water, so content and carefree. “What if something happens to them?”
Shaking his head firmly, Flint wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “Let’s get this straight. If I thought for even a nanosecond I couldn’t keep my boy safe, or keep you safe, I never would’ve let Cash leave you here the first night.” He kisses the top of my head.
“Flint...”
“It’s your choice, but know by staying here, you aren’t pulling anyone deeper into anything. It’s the opposite, Val. I couldn’t let go of that shit in Bali for the life of me before you showed up. I was already pulled in, whether I knew it or not.” His gaze locks on to me, so fierce it makes me shiver. “You gave me a second crack at that evil fuck, and now he’s behind bars. The only person you hurt was a pirate who had it coming.”
“But he still has men out there. The guys you talked about with Wes, henchmen who’ll want revenge for—”
“Honey, trust me, that’s not how this works. Nobody avenges the fallen alpha in the underworld. They pick whatever meat off his bones they can and then scram.” His voice doesn’t waver, not for a second. “Most of those guys are too busy figuring out how to piece together new identities and running from the law in eight different countries. Hell, they were at war with a well-equipped criminal group out of Hong Kong. That’s why the King Heron ships went missing. Got hit in the crossfire of the mafia war. They’re not gonna show up here or at your family’s places. The security upgrades are just overkill, really.”
He squeezes me tighter. I take a long second nuzzling into his massive chest, breathing him in, finding my peace in his strength and his word.
It’s not hard to believe this man knows his stuff when he’s proven it time and time again.
“So that’s what he meant about gambling with things besides money. People’s lives, even the bad men who worked for him,” I say. “It’s so sad.”
“It’s over now. The authorities were working on busting his ass for years, but Cornaro had his fingers in so many pots, every trail was a maze of dead ends. They couldn’t get a clean shot at him.” He twists, looking directly at me. “And nobody’s gonna take Savanny, either. I called the Governor’s office this morning. They’re jumping through a few last hoops to grant you a special exemption so you can keep him. Make it official.”
I sigh, smiling happily. “You’re too good to me.”
His gravity just draws me in. I couldn’t look away if I tried.
“I owe your family big time, honey. If Ray hadn’t pieced together everything he did, the authorities wouldn’t be dismembering the whole network right now. If you hadn’t snuck onto that boat, and if Ray hadn’t thrown you into the skiff, and if I hadn’t nursed you back to your bad, beautiful self...Joel Cornaro would still be out there, turning the Pacific red with blood. Now he’s behind bars, where the fuck belongs.”
I shake my head. “You make it sound so simple, so...” I shrug. “So right. Like it’s meant to be.”
“Because it is.” He kisses my forehead. “Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes that reason just takes its sweet-ass time revealing itself. And you’re the reason I get that now.”
My heart dies then and there.
I nod, going over in my head how everything just went full circle. And how much he demolishes me in the best way when I read between his words.
“Like I said, it’s your choice to stay or go. You know my vote: don’t want you leaving. Want you right here with me and Bryce.”
I’ve never felt so wanted, like I just belong. “I don’t want to go somewhere else, Flint, but having to look after my whole family? That’s a lot to take on.”
“It’s nothing. I’ve already got my guys heading out this evening to install the new systems. Your ma and Ray can pack up and skedaddle in another day or two.”
I love how easy he makes everything sound, and show my gratitude with a quick kiss.
I smile into his eyes. “Bet you never thought this would happen when Cash dragged me in like a stray.”
He grins, touching his nose to mine. “Nah, baby, but I already thanked him. He’s a good friend. Sometimes.”
His lips touch mine then, softly at first. It quickly grows into the exquisite slow-burn I’ve come to love with this handsome giant. It’s hard to keep worrying over every little thing when his tongue delivers pure euphoria.
Then it delivers a whole lot more later that night, when we’re in his bedroom, after the rest of the house is sound asleep. We’d barely slept last night, considering the sun was rising when we’d gotten home this morning, and the house filled up with people a few hours later.
Fresh out of the shower, I’m brushing my teeth in nothing but a towel when Flint pads into the bathroom. He steps up behind me, folding his arms snug around my waist.
His lips attack the side of my neck, hot and sweet and oh-so-bothered. “Bad timing. I was hoping to catch you in the shower. But this works just fine.”
“Oh?” I put away my toothbrush, all the while watching him in the huge mirror in front of me. “Can I help you with something, sir?”
My little coy act must be working. He breaks into a savage, bright-eyed grin.
“Depends. How are those hands?”
I hold one up to the mirror. “Better. I changed out the bandages, just need to be careful for a few more days.”
“Then we’ll be careful, Val. Keep your hands behind you when we fuck,” he growls, gingerly running his fingers up my arm.
Oh, wow.
He untucks the edge of the towel between my breasts and lets i
t fall to the floor. “Also think you need a full exam from someone more qualified to handle this body than Cash. Gotta make sure you don’t have any bumps or bruises from yesterday.”
His hand cups my breast and I tumble back against him, loving the feel of him touching me, holding me up, making me weak at the knees. “Hmmm. And what will you do if you find any sore spots?”
“Kiss that shit and make it better. And if I can’t...I’ll make other places sing so loud they drown out everything else.” He kisses my shoulder.
I lean my head to the side, rubbing my shoulder. “Come to think of it, this is kinda sore.”
He kisses my shoulder, softly at first, then adding a quick, electrifying brush of his tongue. “Better?”
“I think so.”
I let out a husky moan, letting him know exactly how it feels.
“Just think?”
I nod. “Not sure, yet. Might need a little more convincing...”
Biting back a grin, he trails more smoldering kisses down my shoulder, up my neck.
“Val?” he growls between more kisses.
“Mmm, I think...oh. Oh. Definitely better.”
Then his hand wanders down, finds my nipple, and rolls it between his fingers. “And these? Do they need some therapy too?”
I arch my back, inadvertently pushing my boob into his hand. “Well, now that you mention it, doctor...”
Growling, he spins me around, lifts me up, and sets me on the counter.
My pulse quickens even before his mouth attacks one of my nipples, pooling between my legs in this steady throb. I lean back, arching into him, giving over everything.
Flint turns less caring doctor and more hungry thief. He claims every aching bit of me with his lips, his teeth, his hands, leaving me a squirming mess on the counter.
His fingers find my folds, moving in, thumb against my clit with just the right pressure.
There’s no time to think anything more nuanced than how flipping good he feels.
When his face pushes between my thighs and kisses upward, when his tongue replaces his fingers and makes me shake, when I’m grasping at his head even with the cuts on my hands stinging, creating this mad, magnifying clash of pleasure and pain...