Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1)

by Carmen DeSousa

  She pulled off her shirt, plugging the hole in his side. “Oh, Sam. I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t carry him. She eyed Sergio, then ran into the house, beelining for the phone. She called 911. “Help me! I’m with Sam Belgarde. His house. I don’t know the address. He’s been stabbed!” In a fit of panic, she clicked End and ran to Sam’s desk, to the radio she’d seen. She squeezed the handle, tapped the buttons, but she had no idea how it worked. His truck. The radio was always on in his truck. She charged back downstairs, rummaged through the keys by the door, snatching up several sets.

  Phone in hand in case the radio didn’t work, Nora darted out of the house, clicking the fobs until Sam’s truck chirped. Sergio still hadn’t moved. She slipped in the grass, regained her footing, and raced to the driver’s side. She turned on the truck and fumbled with the radio. She held the hand thing down. “Help! It’s Sam. He’s hurt.” She released the handle. Waited. She clicked the damn thing again. “Please, anyone. Help me! Sam Belgarde has been stabbed.”

  She released the handle and stared up at the roof. “Please, God!”

  The radio clicked. “Where are you?” a man’s voice asked.

  “Sam Belgarde’s house. Please hurry.”

  “Keep the line clear. I’ll take care of everything from here.”

  Nora charged back to Sam. As much as she wanted to move him, to keep him warm, she couldn’t risk blood loss.

  She dropped the phone and kneeled beside him. “Sam! Can you hear me?”

  He opened his eyes and grunted.

  “Don’t move. You’re bleeding. Help is on the way.”

  Sam’s breaths were labored. He licked his lips. “Are … you … okay?”

  “Oh God, Sam. You’re worried about me? I’m fine. Please … just … be okay. Don’t talk. Save your strength.”

  He blinked again. “Where’s … he … where’s Serg …”

  Nora had kept her eyes on him, thinking he might get up, but she’d clearly knocked him out cold. He hadn’t moved. “Hang on, Sam.” She pressed the shirt tighter into the wound. She needed more fabric, but she didn’t want to leave him. She got to her feet and inched her way to Sergio, listening for his breaths.

  Gulping, she held the knife steady. She’d never stabbed anyone. Didn’t know if she was even capable. A couple feet away, she stopped, trying to hear his breaths. Nothing.

  “Oh no.” She squatted near him, watched his chest, looking for the rise and fall. Nothing. “Oh dear God, what did I do?” She crept over, but kept herself on her feet in the event she needed to run. “Sergio?”

  Nothing. His head was bent at an unnatural position and his eyes were glazed over.

  “Oh!” She stumbled backward. “I killed him. Oh, my God! I killed him!”

  “Nora …” Sam groaned.

  Nora whipped her head back and forth, then up as a THWACK, THWACK, THWACK sounded overhead. Wind whipped her hair and she stumbled back to Sam.

  Sam … He was all that mattered. She’d done it to save Sam. If she hadn’t stopped Sergio — God, she hadn’t stopped him. Sam might die because of her.

  “Sam,” she cried. “Please be okay. I’m so sorry.”

  He stared up at her. “I’ll … be fine, Nora.” He lifted his hand, but it dropped.

  Two men ran toward them. “We’ve got ’im, ma’am.”

  Nora fell back and watched as the two lifted Sam onto a stretcher.

  Another two ran to Sergio. They quickly lifted him onto a stretcher.

  Before she could beg to join them, they carried both men to the helicopter, and waved her off. Wind buffeted her as the life-flight lifted.

  Nora stood, watching the helicopter rise. She didn’t even know where they were taking Sam.

  Helpless, she backed to the porch, watching as the rescue copter disappeared.

  “Dear God, please … please let Sam be okay.”

  She closed her eyes. She couldn’t force herself to ask for Sergio to be okay. Would it even matter? She hadn’t checked for a pulse, but … she should have seen his chest move.

  She dropped her head into her hands as her tears fell unchecked. For the first time since she was fourteen, she let herself wail. Not for herself, but for Sam. She owed him her tears. She owed him her life. If he hadn’t found her, Abe would have killed her. No doubt, Sergio had wanted her dead. Why else would he have shown up here … with a knife?

  Time passed as she cried, waiting for any of Sam’s family to show up. It wasn’t until the phone rang beside her that she realized she was freezing to death. Her hands trembled as she hit answer. “Hello!”

  “Nor … a!” Claire’s voice shook.

  “Claire, oh my God. I’m so sorry. Sam —”

  “Are you okay, honey?” the woman cut off her words.

  “Me?” Nora burst into more tears. “I’m … I’m here. They took Sam. He’s hurt.”

  “Sam’s okay, honey. I’m with him. No major organs were punctured. Are you okay?”

  Nora dropped to her knees. How could this wonderful woman be asking about her when her son was in a hospital somewhere? “Oh, God, Claire, I’m fine. Thank you. I’m so sorry …”

  “Everything is going to be all right, honey. Daire’s on his way to pick you up. He’ll bring you to Sam.”

  “Oh! Thank you,” Nora pushed out between fresh tears. Another first. She was no longer crying because she’d lost Sam. She was crying because Sam had found her.

  Epilogue

  ~ Alex ~

  As though he were the one getting married, not his brother Sam, Alex clenched and released his fingers repeatedly.

  The traditional Wagner’s Bridal Chorus started, so he stopped his fidgeting and fixed his gaze on the double doors. Two of the ushers, paramedics his family had been friends with for years, opened the dark walnut doors.

  A hush fell over the small banquet room and everyone stood, anxious to see the bride.

  Nora, escorted by Vince, stepped into the room. She was breathtaking. While Alex knew he’d never get married, he understood what Sam saw in Nora. Not only was she gorgeous, she’d assimilated with the family seamlessly. Alex had never met a woman who’d enjoyed the high-octane lifestyle that he and his brothers lived daily, but Nora not only reveled in their activities, she also challenged them. Over the last six months, she’d taken all the courses required so she could join their rescue team. She accompanied Sam on nearly every rescue now.

  As much as Alex liked having Nora around, he only had one complaint. He wanted her to fight professionally one more time. Just one more match. She’d made enough money on her last fight to pull them out of debt for years, but every time Alex hinted, Sam would shut him down before he even had a chance to finish his request. Apparently, they’d been dealing with the repercussions of her dead agent’s activities. Even sponsors were shying away from Nora until they could get to the bottom of Sergio Reyna’s illegal gambling ventures.

  The music stopped. The guests sat, and the preacher stepped forward. “Who presents this woman to be married to this man?”

  Vince’s face was so red that it now looked like he was the one getting married. He cleared his throat and gestured to Nora’s mother and grandmother, who sat in the first row. “As Nora Molina’s friend and an advocate for her mother and grandmother, I do.”

  Sam accepted Nora’s hand from Vince.

  As the couple said their vows, the maid of honor, Evie, a local firefighter Nora had befriended during her EMT classes, looked on. A fine glaze of water covered her brilliant blue eyes, causing them to sparkle beneath the lights. Sam and Evie had dated off and on a few years back, so Alex had always kept his distance. But now that Sam was getting married, and Nora viewed her as a friend, maybe he could comfort Evie this evening.

  Remembering his wedding gift for his brother, Alex admonished himself, Not tonight. In fact, never again.

  Behind the wedding party, a wall of glass windows lent a spectacular view of Lake Spenard and Lake Hood. More than a hundred seaplanes sat w
aiting to depart. His was one of them. After Sam and Nora left for their honeymoon in Argentina, Alex planned to leave too. When Sam and Nora returned, they’d know what his gift to them was.

  “Alex?” Sam’s whispered word pulled him back to the wedding.

  Sam’s eyes were wide, distressed.

  Did something happen? Nora was still there, as was the preacher. “What?” Alex mouthed.

  “The ring,” Sam whispered. “You have it, right?”

  “Oh!” Alex dug into his pocket. “Of course.” As he handed Sam the ring, he scanned the room. He peered back up at the preacher, Nora and Evie, and then the seated guests. Based on the chuckles and smiles, everyone had heard the prompt for the ring except him.

  His gaze fell on a woman in the back row. When their eyes met, she covered her smile with her hand. He smiled back, then shook his head and shrugged. The auburn-haired beauty returned his shrug and added a tilt of her head. If his experience served him well, her gesture was an invitation.

  Not tonight, he rebuked himself again. He sighed, turning his attention back to the wedding party.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The preacher closed his Bible. “You may kiss the bride.”

  Sam stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Nora. Before he kissed her, he said, “I’ll love you forever, Nora Belgarde.”

  Alex felt a stab to his chest. He would never experience this.

  The kiss lasted a couple seconds, then the newly married couple parted.

  The preacher rested his hands on their shoulders. “Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, it is my pleasure to present the newly united couple, Mr. Samuel Thomas Belgarde and Mrs. Nora Marie Belgarde.”

  Sam and Nora walked toward the improvised aisle. The hotel had lined up foldable chairs embellished with white ribbon. Nora stopped and hugged her mother and grandmother, and then they continued. Each row, she stopped and listened, accepted a sideways hug or a clasped hand. Nora had made more friends in the six months she’d lived in Alaska than Alex had made in his entire life.

  Alex glanced up at Evie’s red eyes, then offered her his arm. He whispered, “Are you crying because Sam’s no longer single?”

  Evie stared up at him, shock clear in her eyes. “Of course not,” she muttered. “I always cry at weddings. Most women do, especially thirty-somethings who wonder if it’ll ever happen to them. Besides, Nora’s one of my best friends now.”

  So much for worrying about comforting Evie this evening. He wasn’t husband material, especially not now. One night of pleasure was all he could offer, and tonight, he couldn’t even offer that. Alex lifted his head and smiled at the gathering of friends and family on the groom’s side since the bride’s side was monopolizing the new couple.

  Evie sniffed. “She’s pretty.”

  “Nora?” Alex offered quietly. “She’s beautiful — and wonderful.” He wanted to tell Evie that she was beautiful and wonderful too. Many times, he’d wanted to ask her out, but as many faults as he had, he drew the line at dishonoring family. And now, even though Sam would probably give him the okay, he couldn’t. With her crying and mentioning about thirty-somethings and weddings, he wouldn’t dare. The last thing he wanted was to lead her on. He had never led women on. His dates knew exactly what he could offer.

  “Not Nora,” Evie whispered. “The woman in the back row. The one who hasn’t taken her eyes off you the entire ceremony.”

  Alex’s gaze moved to the end of the bride’s side. “Do you know her?” He’d never seen the auburn-haired woman before ten minutes ago. She didn’t flash another smile or head tilt. Instead, her eyes shifted to Evie.

  “Never seen her before. But see?” Evie said. “Now she thinks I’m your date. Kiss me and play it up. It’ll drive her mad with jealousy. She’ll try to win you.”

  Alex muffled a laugh. “You’re a nut. I’m not kissing you.” He’d always liked Evie. Not only was she an excellent firefighter, she loved to party. Hell, she could drink him under the table. She also went out of her way to make everyone laugh. He could never love her and leave her. Only strangers. And living in Alaska provided him with plenty of strangers, so he never estranged people he had to work with. Now, it didn’t matter, but he still wouldn’t leave her with that legacy.

  Sam and Nora finally made it to the exit, but Nora stopped to hug the ushers, which left Alex and Evie standing next to the mystery woman.

  Evie pulled to the right, and Alex tugged back. Not to be dissuaded, Evie unhooked her arm from around his and bent to the woman’s ear.

  The woman glanced up, then smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Sam and Nora continued, so Alex grabbed Evie’s arm, pulling her through the exit. “What on earth did you tell her?”

  Evie shrugged then hustled toward Nora. The two women embraced like long lost friends.

  Sam smiled at his wife, then turned and faced the room. “We have to take a few pictures so, everyone, please help yourselves to the hors d’oeuvres set up across the hall, then we’ll meet you in the dining room at five for dinner. Come on, Alex.” Sam wrapped his arm around Nora, and Alex followed suit with Evie. “Vince,” Sam said as he led Nora into the elevator, “would you escort Mom and Nora’s mother and grandmother downstairs for pics. If I don’t get Nora out of here, we’ll never get them taken.”

  “Will do, Sam.” Vince easily made his way through the crowd. People tended to back out of the man’s way.

  Sam pushed the button for the lobby, then turned to his wife. He backed her up against the wall, then finished the kiss they’d started upstairs.

  Evie dropped her head, her tongue hanging out as if she were gagging.

  Alex pulled her to him lowering his head to her ear. “Didn’t you just ask for a kiss?”

  She stared up at him, wide-eyed, as if she thought he might carry through with her kiss request, but then she laughed. “Only to make that woman jealous.”

  The elevator dinged, and Sam and Nora parted. Before Nora could see anyone else she’d befriended, Sam dragged her into the dining room. The two lovebirds giggled and hung on each other as if they were teenagers. Another knock to Alex’s gut. He was happy to see his brother in love, but a part of him couldn’t help but be jealous knowing he’d never know the same happiness.

  Alex turned away from the happy couple and concentrated on the restaurant. Since it was December, the hotel had no qualms about renting it out for the wedding.

  Similar to upstairs, the dining room had a wall of windows that overlooked the lake. While the view was terrific, the hotel wasn’t as nice as Alex had wanted for his brother’s wedding. Once upon a time, they would have been able to afford a grand wedding, not one set up in a moderately priced hotel. They should have had a view of Denali, not seaplanes. And it was his fault. If it hadn’t been for his mistake, his father would have survived the avalanche, and their company probably wouldn’t be going under.

  Alex waited patiently over the next hour as the photographer clicked and clicked, positioning the newly married couple in one stance after another. The frozen lake served as a backdrop as the man snapped every combination of picture with and without the family. Alex’s mother and brothers and Nora’s family had finally left the alcove and made their way to their tables.

  Alex stepped away, but waited for Sam, since he was carrying his brother’s phone and wallet.

  Evie walked over and stood next to him. “They’re so cute together. I’m glad they found each other.”

  Alex smiled at the petite and shapely blonde. Her eyes had dried. For the last hour, she’d just been helping with Nora’s dress and bouquet, repositioning the train and flowers every few minutes. “Yeah, they are.”

  “You okay, Alex?”

  He peered down at her. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me. You look as if you’re far away.”

  He shrugged off her comment. Maybe Evie knew him better than he thought. They’d been friends since grade school, but
nothing more. How had she sensed his mood? He needed to pull himself together. The last thing he wanted was to ruin Sam’s reception. “Hmm … Maybe weddings get to thirty-something men too. I am thirty-three.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, right. I seriously doubt a wedding ceremony would upset you, Alex. You’ve never shown any indication that you want to settle down.”

  Alex nodded. “True.”

  Sam offered him a raised chin. “Alex, help! Call in everyone to eat so we can escape the photographer.”

  Alex accepted his brother’s command and darted toward the door. He needed to get away from Evie’s inquisitive eyes. If he didn’t watch himself, he’d end up allowing her to comfort him.

  He couldn’t do that. Not tonight. And not to Evie.

  After dinner, champagne, toasts, more champagne, dancing, and more champagne, the wedding reception finally started to wind down.

  Alex had scanned the restaurant more than once for the auburn-haired woman. He sighed as he waved goodbye to a group of rescue workers who were making their way to their rooms. Even though no one had to drive home that night, most of the wedding guests had to leave early in the morning.

  A heavy arm wrapped around his shoulder. Alex looked up to see Sam. His brother wasn’t drunk, but he’d had more than he usually downed in one night. “Thank you, Alex.”

  Alex turned to him. “For what?”

  Sam shrugged. “For standing beside me. For staying with the team.”

  “Of course, man. Our business means as much to me as it does to you. It’s Dad’s legacy. I never want to see his dream die. I’d do anything to save it.”

  Sam slumped into a chair, pulling Alex down next to him. “I know. Me too.”

  Alex sighed. “I just don’t understand.”

  Sam stared at him. “Understand what?”

  “Why she can’t … you know … fight. Just one more time.”

  Sam smacked his leg. “She tried, Alex. With all that crap tied up in Sergio’s name, she couldn’t get a fight. And now that she’s finally able … Speaking of legacies, I gotta tell you something …”