“Yeah.” I brought the edges of his jacket closer together and breathed in his familiar margarita-like scent.
“Warm enough?” he queried.
“Yes.” I nodded, burrowing deeper into it.
“Good. Then let’s get out of here.” He gave me a weighty look. “Your brother and I were having a disagreement about where you would want to go.”
“To my duplex.” I cocked my head to the side. “Where else?” I saw the flash of disappointment in his gaze. What had he expected me to say? “Can you tell Mike I’m being discharged?” My best friend was almost as busted up as I was thanks to me. “Have him bring the car around, please.” I started to get off the examining table, but sucked in a swift breath the moment my feet hit the floor and pain sliced through me.
Juaquin noticed. “Let me help you, Reina.”
“No,” I countered sharply.
My brother turned. He and Juaquin exchanged a worried glance.
“Stop it, alright? Both of you. I want to do things on my own. Even something like getting down from this table makes me feel like I’m taking at least a little bit of myself back. I think you can understand that.”
I heard a sudden commotion out in the hall. The ER doc appeared with my ex-boyfriend, my uniformed ex-boyfriend, who I realized now had serious acting skills, better than my own. I had been brought up to speed on a lot of things. My head was spinning from all the details, but apparently a few of them had been left out.
“What’s going on?” I asked him. I didn’t know how I felt about Frank right now. He had deceived me, but if he hadn’t I might not be breathing air right now. Me or Juaquin. I had talked to the investigators. I had the chain of events since my capture mostly straight. I knew the important things like who had busted open the door, freed me and carried me to the ambulance. “You’re a federal agent?”
“Didn’t anyone tell you?” Frank gave my brother and Juaquin a chastising look.
“We haven’t had a chance to yet,” my brother explained. “More pressing matters.” He inclined his head toward me.
“Yeah, I can see that.” Franks gaze swept over me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner. I had to get Vincenzo squared away.”
“You were investigating Campanella?”
He nodded. “He’s been filming little kids right inside the basement of his hotel. Jasmine caught on to it pretty early. Her quick thinking probably saved your life. Street-smart and feisty, yet observant and even at her young age, knowing the difference between right and wrong? Enough that she turned that thumb drive over to someone who could help expose her father? Her father’s not going to be Mr. Popular in prison. That I can guarantee. None of his guys will be.” His tone gentled. “I wanted you to know we got all the ones who assaulted you. We’ve got enough to put them away for a long time.”
“I don’t feel sorry for them. I hope they all rot in hell.”
“Chiquita pero picosa,” King stated softly, approval glittering in his gaze. I lifted my chin. I found his approval a much better balm to my damaged psyche than his sympathy. One made me feel powerful instead of coddled and small.
“So our relationship?” I focused a little of the power Juaquin’s approval gave me on Frank. “It was all a lie?”
“It sounds pretty evil when you say it that way, but yeah. Mostly.” He smoothed his hand over his military crewcut. “The business about the trips was, anyway. I was just going into my regular office here. Staying on top of the case. I really did go to New York, though, to coordinate my operation with the investigators handling the Joe Campanella case. I gave the agents my personnel cell.” He moved his gaze to my brother and Juaquin. “That’s how I found out so quickly after your friend Justin gave them the heads up.” His gaze swung back to me. “The one thing that always was true was the way I felt about you, Miriam. Can you forgive me for deceiving you?”
“I don’t think I’m in any frame of mind to be absolving anyone for anything. Can you understand that?”
“Actually, I can. I think we all can.”
I nodded succinctly, though I wondered how any of them could truly grasp how I felt right now. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Not now. We might need you to ask you a few more questions down the line, but they can wait.”
Juaquin frowned at me as if he didn’t like that idea much. “Is she at risk here in Vegas?”
“If Joe wasn’t already behind bars, maybe. But the Campanella reach has been shortening ever since his incarceration. Desperation is part of the reason I think Vincenzo went down the path he chose. Beside the fact that he’s a truly despicable human being. No one is really loyal to him. No other children besides Jasmine. His ex-wife despises him. He’s alienated all of his associates. Even criminals don’t tolerate the kind of shit he was involved in.” His gaze cut to me. “I wouldn’t worry about staying in town. But I wouldn’t leave Miriam unattended until she gets an alarm system for her house. My agents got in there far too easily at the beginning of my investigation. No need to take any chances.”
“It’s going to be a long while before any of us rests easy.” Frank shook his head, his gaze encompassing us all. “But I hope the worst is over now.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
King
“You’re barely in better shape than she is.” I noted Mike’s battered face and how he hovered discretely nearby.
“I’ll be fine. I have an idea of the trials she has ahead of her. Her bruises are bad, but those are only on the surface. Deeper ones will emerge, the emotional kind. It’s gonna be rough going before it gets better.”
“Sounds like you might be speaking from personal experience.”
“Sadly, yes. Not all strip clubs have security as good as Sexxy. But that was a long time ago. She knows about it. Alex knows.”
“Now I do. I appreciate being inside a circle of confidence that small.”
“Yeah, well. I figure if she trusts you, then why shouldn’t I? And she needs you right now. She’s fragile. She’s processing a dozen different emotions at once. Guilt. Shame. Anger. But at least she’s processing. At least she hasn’t completely shut you out.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“I am.” He nodded. “I saw how well you handled things with her. It took me many failed relationships after my assault to find someone who had the patience to wait on me.”
“I love her. I’m here for the duration. I just…” I glanced in the direction she had gone. She’d said she needed sleep after a teary call to her mother and sister. But I worried about her being alone. Worried about me being without her. I was feeling restless and unsettled. I wanted to hold her, but she had kept me at arm’s length since the rescue. She seemed resentful that I had insisted on coming to the house with her and Mike. Did she really expect me to go a hotel with her brother and Sager?
“I know you need someone to lean on, too. When someone you love gets hurt under your watch you can’t help but blame yourself. In some ways it makes you feel violated too. It’s a natural response to that kind of stress.”
I nodded. “I see why she loves you so much.” My voice was thick.
“Yeah, I get that a lot.” He put his hand on his hip trying to affect a lighter tone, but the darkness in his eyes betrayed a heavier emotion. Frank had gotten it right. It would be a long time before any of us would rest easy.
“So listen. Don’t take this the wrong way and all. I mean I know you’re capable of keeping her safe but for my own sanity, I have to stay here with her tonight. I’ll call the alarm company in the morning. We’ll figure things out from there.”
“I have no problem with that. The couch folds out. You’re welcome to stay…for the duration.” He grinned. “She might not like it. Knowing how these things go, she’ll probably want to avoid the issues, but between the two of us, we’ll draw her out again. Agreed?”
• • •
Miriam
Overhearing Juaquin’s words of affirmation made my
steps lighter as I returned to my bedroom. The glass of water I had come to get could wait. I’d drunk plenty at the hospital. The phone calls, one with Jasmine to thank her and to make sure she was ok with her mom, and then the other with my own mother and Ann had brought everything back to the surface. I was worn out. I needed rest more than anything.
Well, maybe not rest more than anything. What I needed most was what I already had, a best friend like Mike, and a man who might love me like Juaquin. I had no doubt that Mike would always be there for me. I needed King desperately, but I was afraid I might be too messed up for him to hang around. The duration he had spoken of might very well end up being shorter than he imagined.
• • •
“No! No! Stop! Please, stop!” I bolted upright in my bed. Two strong arms immediately banded me. I tried to escape them.
“Miriam. Reina. It’s me. It’s ok.” As his bear hug loosened, I opened my eyes, focused on him and slowed my breathing.
“I came in when I heard you cry out. You were thrashing around so much,” he explained, “you nearly cracked your skull on the headboard.” He pointed at it with his chin. The nightlight in my room cast mysterious shadows on his face. In the low light with his rakishly handsome features and soul patch he looked like a pirate. A very hot one. “You ok?” He stroked my hair softly.
I nodded.
“It’s a dumb question. You’re not ok. Are you? But we’ll get you there.” He didn’t know I had heard him talking earlier with Mike.
“You ok?” Mike skidded to a stop in front of my room. His hair stuck up all over his head. He had white tape on his nose, and he was wearing only long white tube socks and boxer briefs. I might have laughed out loud if my heart didn’t hurt so much for him and the injuries he had endured for my sake. “Ah,” he declared, assessing the situation quickly. “A nightmare. That’s to be expected.”
“Not fun though,” I admitted. “Scary. I’m so tired, but I’m afraid to sleep. I don’t trust my subconscious mind.” I shrugged. “Sorry to wake you.”
“S’ok.” Mike yawned. “Looks like you two have it under control.” He gave me a firm look that said don’t hassle King.
“We do,” I agreed, and it was impossible not to notice the pleasure my words gave the man on the bed beside me. “Thanks.”
“Night.” Mike knocked on the door frame three times. A private signal that meant he loved me.
“I better let you rest.” Juaquin stood. My mouth went dry at the full-frontal view of his ripped physique. Nothing cute about his maroon boxer briefs and the royal sized appendage they barely contained. Maybe I should have gotten a glass of water before bed.
“Could you stay?” I whispered.
“Absolutely.” He lowered himself back down. I tensed suddenly, thoughts of other less benevolent men filled my mind. I clinched my fingers into fists to keep from panicking.
“I mean.” I pulled in a breath. “I want you here. Only can you…would you mind sleeping on the floor next to me?”
“I wouldn’t mind at all.” He grabbed the extra blanket from on top of my foot locker and threw it on the floor.
“Thank you.” I handed him one of my pillows.
“Smells like you.” He was smiling when he withdrew it from his nose. My stomach fluttered in a good way as he punched it into shape and placed his head on it.
“Can I ask one more favor?”
“Anything.” He turned his head to face me.
“Can you scoot a little closer?”
“Sure.” He moved so his hip was touching my side of my bed.
So close that when I breathed in and out, the lime and salty scent of him was all that I smelled. I closed my eyes, no longer seeing a ring of men looming over me on the back of my lids. I drifted into a deep dreamless slumber.
• • •
King
A light touch awakened me. I tensed involuntarily until I realized it was only Miriam. Lying on her stomach in the bed beside me, her arm dangled off the bed, her fingers wrapped gently around my wrist.
Smiling softly, I closed my eyes and settled back to sleep.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Miriam
My feet pounded hot frustration on the baking pavement. Not only was the sexy Latino messing with my workout mojo by running directly in front of me with no shirt and that tight ass of his just out of reach every single day for an entire week, but he was not letting up about me talking to a counselor.
I had put Bryan off so many times he had given up and returned to Seattle with Sager. Avoiding my mother and sister was as simple as not taking their calls. Not so with Juaquin. He was nearly ever present and maddening in his persistence.
Slap-slap went my irritated soles against the ground. I didn’t need to talk to anyone. Slap-slap they went again. No, I wasn’t in denial. I had been held hostage against my will. I had been beaten and almost raped. Acknowledged. End of story. Slap-slap. Slap-slap. I picked up my pace. Catching him unaware, I shot past him on the hill at a good clip. I needed to move on. I wanted to forget it ever happened. I sure as hell didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Everyone else seemed to understand that.
Why couldn’t he?
Bending over at the waist, sweat dripping into my eyes, I put my hands on my thighs and tried to recapture my breath. Somehow I had managed to beat him back to the house. He had the physique of a fighter, and he used all that muscle to propel his legs into powerful ranging strides. I was so lost in the mental image that I didn’t hear him coming until he was already there.
“Don’t run away from me like that. Not ever again.” He grabbed me in a firm insistent grip, lifting me easily, and pressed me into the side of the house. I flailed and squirmed uselessly in his arms realizing why he had let me beat him back. He had been trying to rein in his temper. I don’t think it would be a stretch to say he hadn’t wrestled it down quite yet. He had caught me instead.
“Don’t tell me what to do. Stop following me everywhere. Like I’m going to be attacked by hitmen on my way to the bathroom or something. Give me some breathing space. Let me get on with my life.”
“You want to get on with your life?” His hot angry bursts of breath bathed my face.
“Yes,” I spat. “I do.”
“Great. Sounds awesome. But first you’re going to see that counselor. Maybe then you can stop having those nightmares every night. Maybe you’ll stop flinching from me when I try to hold you and start looking at me with desire in your eyes again.”
I looked at him plenty with desire, but he refused to see it because of this ridiculous notion that I wasn’t ready. That I needed to address underlying, unresolved issues first.
“I’m sick of Mike feeding you all that phases of recovery bullshit. I’ll get better my own way. I’m making my own damn decisions and not going to a counselor is one of them. Another is getting back to work.”
“You mean stripping?”
“Yeah. I still have my dreams. Dreams don’t pay for themselves, you know. And just because you’re a big rock star doesn’t mean you have the right to pick people up and shove them into walls until they do what you want them to?”
“Reina. Fucking shit. You know it’s not like that.” He dropped his forehead to mine. Twin headlights of alluring gold blazed with concern. “Settle down. I can see the panic in your eyes. You know avoiding the issues isn’t going to make them go away. Stop resisting and get some help.”
But I resisted. Oh how I resisted. If I gave in, if I let some shrink dig around inside my brain they would surely find out how fucked up I really was. And then I would lose him. I had almost lost him, my life, everything. I was hanging on to what I had left. For as long as I could. To the part of him I had now. Even if he was only staying for pity. Even if it was only just a small part of him and so much less than the entirety of him that I truly desired.
• • •
King
“She drives me to the absolute brink of sanity.” I flopped into one of the kitch
en chairs while Miriam took her shower. I was giving her some breathing space, but I kept an ear open and my eye on the control pad of the new alarm system. My stomach grumbled. The eggs and bacon Mike was frying revved up my appetite and threatened my waistline. Running every day with her was not nearly enough exercise to counter the calories of stuff like this each morning and takeout every evening. I needed to get to the gym to burn that off as much as I needed it as an outlet for the stress.
“You have any luck with her yet?” I asked him.
“Hell-to-the-fucking-no.” He made it a joke, but I could tell he was as exasperated with her as I was. We were both worried. She had retreated into herself like he had predicted, but even working together we hadn’t been able to draw her out again.
“You know she just told me she wants to go back to work stripping?”
“Seriously?”
“Oh yeah. Would I joke about something like that?”
“Shit. I can’t see that going well. All those men. She’s not in the right frame of mind. What did you say to her?”
“Nothing. What can I say? She’ll just give me the line about her needing to make her own choices.”
“Hard to argue against that one.”
I nodded.
“So what are you planning to do?” He dropped down into the chair opposite me after sliding four eggs, several strips of bacon and two slices of toast onto my plate equaling what was on his.
“I don’t know.” I raked a hand through my hair. “But we both know she can’t keep going on like this. She jumps at shadows. She cringes when we raise our voices.”
“She almost lost it after we went in to record our statements.”
“Yeah, she did not want to talk in detail about that shit.” Not in front of the transcriptionist. Not even with Jasmine afterward. Rehashing events for the prosecutors had rattled both of them, but the government needed every piece of evidence if they were going to make the trafficking and child pornography charges stick. Hopefully Miriam’s statement would be the last thing they would need from her going forward. Likely much more would be required of her young former charge.
The Complete Tempest World Box Set Page 184