He shook his head. “Not that bullshit. Why didn’t you tell me about the officer-involved shooting in Chicago? You should’ve known the cops would dig that up, especially after another shooting involving you.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “How did you hear about it?”
I’d purposely not watched the news. I’d been confined to the hospital for three days, and no reporters had come by or called to request an interview. Abbie was part of their world, and a significant incident had happened in her home. It was only a matter of time before the media came snooping, but nothing so far.
However, she didn’t appear concerned when she came to visit. We didn’t even talk about it. Someone had put the brakes on what happened that night, but who?
Zane plopped in a chair. “Stop sweating. We were briefed on it and Bennett squashed it. The details of that night will not be released to the media. What I want to know is why you didn’t tell me.”
“Not exactly coffee conversation, Zane,” I said.
“I get it. But you were cleared of any wrongdoing. You didn’t pull the trigger.”
I nodded. “I pulled the trigger this time. The only difference is I don’t know that asshole’s race. Has he even shown up at a hospital? I know I got him.”
“Leo has canvassed every hospital in the area, and no admittances were made on that night. Maybe he crawled home and died.”
I knew Zane meant it as a joke, but it wasn’t funny. I might have taken a life to save mine, it didn’t make me feel any better or make it right.
I paced the floor, as far as I could pace with an IV line still in my arm. “Look, I know we come from different backgrounds. Mine didn’t consist of gangs or mob ties.”
“What’s your point?” Zane asked.
“I’m not judging you. I’m saying you’re here to get away from your past in Idaho. I fucking ran from my past for another reason. I was sworn to serve and protect, Zane. I did that! Because my partner was a total dickhead, people grouped me with him.”
“And you should not have to keep defending yourself to people. Hold your damn head up high and fuck those that don’t like it.”
“I did, and they came after my family,” I said.
“Dude! They are surviving in Chicago. But you aren’t surviving anywhere. How far do you think you can run?”
“Rub it in harder, Zane.”
“Look, no amount of protesting will change how narrow-minded people feel, but people do forget shit eventually. That kid dying was awful, but you didn’t do it. You are the only person hanging the noose around your neck. Open your fucking eyes and see the big picture.”
I inhaled a deep breath. “You’re wrong, Zane. That kid’s family was hurting, and they deserved to blame someone. They aren’t the ones blaming me.”
“So there you go—no one else matters.”
“Yeah, they do. I had complained to brass about my partner’s behavior, and they turned the other cheek. He was retiring, essentially ending the problem. What they didn’t factor in was the other asshole cops on the force. They had no idea how to handle the racist motherfuckers they’d hired to protect the very people they hated.”
Zane sat stoic, unsure of how to react to my outburst. I didn’t know how to respond to it. I had buried it so deep that when it bubbled to the surface, there was no stopping it from erupting.
Finally, he spoke, tapping his fingertips together. “Have you talked to a professional? I’m not joking, Beck.”
I had, and those sessions had prompted me to make changes in my life. “Yup. It helped, but I kept shit held in.”
“Maybe it would help if you talked to a shrink about this incident. The man intended to kill you and Abbie. That makes the situations different.”
“I know, and I’m not compartmentalizing the two. Besides, I don’t know if that asshole is dead or regrouping. My main concern is protecting Abbie. I have to keep her safe.”
“She means a lot to you; don’t lie.”
Abbie Parker did mean a lot to me. She was the only bright spot in my otherwise fucked-up life. If anything happened to her, I would die or kill the person that hurt her.
“I’m going to take your silence as a yes,” Zane said. “My advice is to tell her everything if you haven’t already. Then forgive yourself, Beck. What happened was out of your control, and one man can’t save a fucked-up world.”
“I wouldn’t even try, Zane. Before I say anything to Abbie, I need to do more soul searching.”
“About what?”
“I’ve never dated outside my race. Hell, I had a type that I wouldn’t step away from until I met Abbie.”
Zane waved me off. “That’s just being a man. We get a certain type in our heads and convince ourselves those women are the only ones. Then a woman—and I’m going to say it—a black woman comes from nowhere and smacks the living daylights out of us and those stereotypes we’d come to believe.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that what happened to you and the bartender?”
He smiled. “She’s fucking gorgeous, but I know I can’t have her.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“She’s moving to South Carolina to take care of her ailing grandmother. I’ve done a long-distance relationship before; they don’t work.”
He was right about that. “I agree with you. My ex-girlfriend didn’t have the class to tell me in person she’d dumped me and was marrying another man. I had to find out on social media.”
“Do you care about that now?”
“Surprisingly, no. I don’t think of Joanie anymore. Abbie consumes all my thoughts and dreams.”
“That’s awesome, man. You need to tell her that and get the ball rolling.”
I did need to tell her. Hell, I wanted to take her home for the party and to meet my family. I wondered if she would go. Fuck it! I was asking her, and soon.
The nurse entered the room. She’d taken care of me since I’d been here and reminded me of my mother.
“Mr. Pavlov, you’re being freed today,” she said. She fumbled with the bag of fluid, shutting off the flow through my veins. ““I’ll unhook you and help you put on your shirt if you want. The sling will be a nuisance.”
“I think I can manage,” I said as I watched her withdraw the IV catheter from my arm. A small amount of blood dripped from the site, and she wiped it away with a cotton ball before slapping a bandage over it.
It felt good to have that irritating shit gone. Now to get out of the damn hospital and to Abbie. We needed to talk.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Abbie
Me: I’ll meet you at the nail salon in an hour. I’m almost dressed.
Stella: Okay, our appointment isn’t until ten. I got coffee.
Me: Great. Have to skip the shopping, have something else to do today.
Stella: Sounds like you’re dumping me for a man.
Me: Maybe.
Stella: You are so wrong, but I get it if it’s Beck. TTYL.
After putting the phone on the table, I went to the closet to find something to wear. It would be warm today, plus I wanted to look nice for Beck. Once he got home, I would stay with him, and I planned to nurse him back to health.
As for my condo, that was still up in the air. Too much had happened, and the nightmares would never end if I stayed there.
I took a pink summer dress from the hanger and laid it on the bed. Then voices from the hall caught my attention.
I cracked the door open. My father and Trina were standing by their bedroom. I had a clear view of both of them. And Trina did not look happy. I should’ve closed the door to give them privacy, but I was nosey.
“How long will she stay with us this time?” The bite in Trina’s voice was unmistakable—it dripped with pure venom.
“As long as she wants, Trina. There is plenty of room for her. Plus, I can keep an eye on her until Beck recovers.”
“She can afford to stay at a hotel or with that man, since they seem to be attache
d to the hip these days.” She scoffed out a laugh. “You’re paying for her to have a lover; how pathetic.”
“People have been telling me the same about you, dear.”
“I want her gone, Jonathan.”
He narrowed his eyes. “She’s my daughter!”
Trina poked her finger to his chest. “I’m your wife.”
My father moved dangerously close to Trina. I feared he might hit her. “You listen to me: Abbie will stay here as long as she wants. If you don’t like it, you know where the door is.”
I watched as my father stormed off, and a smile curled my lips. Finally, he saw what we all knew—Trina was nothing but a selfish bitch.
I had found respect for my father. He had taken great care of Beck. When I called him after the shooting, he didn’t hesitate to treat him, and at no charge. Our relationship was moving to the father/daughter stage I’d always wanted.
With my mother in New York, having my father in my life made a difference. We could have a decent conversation and not cut each other’s throats.
After I finished dressing, I went downstairs and outside. My father had left for the hospital already, and Trina was nowhere around. I unlocked my car, slid inside, and started it up.
Trina appeared at my window, scaring the shit out of me. I rolled down the window. “What do you want?” I asked. I didn’t sugarcoat my voice for her.
“What you’re doing won’t work, Abbie.”
I rolled my eyes. “What would that be?”
“The fucking wedge you’re trying to put between my husband and me, in hopes of ending my marriage. You have the upper hand for now. But don’t count me out. Your days are numbered, so watch your back.”
I swung the car door open, knocking Trina to the ground. I stepped out and loomed over her. “Please do come after me. I’ve been waiting a long time to beat your ass.”
The gardener came from around the house and saw Trina on the ground. He ran over to her. “Mrs. Parker, are you okay?” he asked as he helped her to her feet.
Snatching her arm away from his grasp, Trina directed her narrowed gazed at me. “I’m fine. Get back to work,” she ordered him.”
Juan adjusted the baseball cap on his head and glanced at me. I shrugged and got back in my car. I started to laugh. It felt damn good to knock Trina on her ass.
*****
As my feet soaked in warm water and my freshly painted nails dried, I talked about my morning with Stella. She got a kick out of my story about Trina falling on her ass, but was worried at the same time.
“Abbie, maybe you should mention that to your dad.”
“What for? She’ll tell him a different version of the story and mess will start over nothing. Dad is aware I can’t stand his wife.”
“She made a threat. Take a look at what’s going on in your life, girl. The attempted break-ins at your dad’s house twice. You’re a reporter, and your nose should sense there is a connection somewhere.”
I shook my head. “My nose is trained to find a story. Only I don’t want to find one involving me. Trina is a dog with no teeth—her bite is as harmless as her threats. As for the other stuff, that is just a coincidence.”
“That may be, and I’m only a meteorologist, but I’ve been around enough reporters to know something is going on. Anyhow, what’s up with you and that cutie Beck? Do you two have a hot date today?”
“You could say that,” I said. I couldn’t get the grin off my face.
Stella was my best friend, and I could tell her anything and everything going on in my life. But if I told her the truth about Beck being my bodyguard, she would want more information. Information I didn’t have. The stuff happening in my life was weird and made no sense to me. Who would want to hurt me?
Although we were seated next to each other in the nearly empty salon, Stella leaned into me so the technician doing her pedicure could not hear.
“Spill the beans, girl. He was all over you at the party. Lisa was ready to go up in flames, she was so mad he’d rebuffed her.”
“Tough shit for her. I can’t stand her.”
“Me either. I heard Lisa is digging to get to the bottom of your story. She’s trying to find out what happened at your place and why Channel 7 is refusing to report it.”
The blood in my veins felt like fire. The anger was beyond explaining. “She gets on my nerves.”
Stella nodded. “After we were told there was a gag order on what happened at your place, and there were no details to follow, she decided to go a different route.”
“She won’t find anything. I’ll tell you what really happened, but you can’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”
After telling Stella the entire story, including revealing Beck’s true identity, she stayed silent for several minutes.
“Wow, a bodyguard? Shit, what do I have to do to get a man like him to follow me around? And how will Lisa not dig that up? She has friends everywhere, Abbie.”
“Beck is confident nothing will be found. He said GDB has a way of hiding stuff they don’t want to be found. I didn’t ask how. But maybe I should investigate the security company my father is spending a lot of money on.”
“Really, girl. So this started with your father believing someone was after him, and now it may be someone after you?”
I nodded. “What I don’t understand is why. I haven’t hurt anyone.”
“People are crazy, Abbie. It could be a person obsessed with you.”
“I think that crossed Beck’s mind also. I want it over with already.”
“Then let’s do a story on it, Abbie. You are a celebrity in this town—people would help track down this idiot.”
I shook my head. “I’d rather not have to answer any questions until the person is found. From the amount of blood left, he was wounded.”
Stella’s brow shot up. “The guy wasn’t found? Should you be out alone?”
“Dad will have a hissy fit I left the house alone, but I couldn’t stay in that house with Trina. Besides, we’re in a public place. He won’t try anything.”
“Are you freaking kidding? An audience will heighten him. We need to get you out of here.”
I giggled. “Are you afraid to be with me?”
She laughed. “Two black women with similar body types. There is a strong chance his ass might get confused.”
As Stella and I finished up and prepared to leave, a tall white man wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt, tattoos covering his upper arm, entered the salon. I didn’t recognize him immediately, and my shoulders stiffened. Stella stood stiff too.
He walked over to me and said, “Hello, Ms. Parker, I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Zane and work at GDB also. Beck—”
My shoulders relaxed. “Is Beck okay?”
“He’s fine and waiting for us to arrive. I was instructed by him to stick to your side if you had errands to run.”
“Dang, girl, he got you hooked like that?” Stella said. “The bodyguard sending you a bodyguard… Obviously there is more going on that I’m in the dark about.”
I frowned. “Shut up, Stella. Oh, by the way, this is Zane, if you didn’t hear him.”
They exchanged handshakes. “Nice to meet you, Zane,” Stella said in her flirtatious manner.
Zane took a quick assessment of Stella and said, “Same here.”
Okay, that exchange was odd, but whatever. The man had one expression—a growl. “Well, I’m done here. I was going to Beck’s apartment after this. Do you want to follow me?” I asked Zane.
“I took an Uber. I’ll drive your car,” he said. “Stella, call someone to get your car. If you don’t have anyone to retrieve it, I’ll take care of it.”
Stella’s eyes widened. “What? Thanks, but no—you two run along. Besides, I’m going shopping.”
Zane shook his head. “I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible. If there’s a chance Ms. Parker was followed, then her safety has been compromised.”
“What does that have to
do with me? I was already here.”
“It has a lot to do with you. For one, you could be used as a bargaining chip, or something worse could happen to you,” Zane said.
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to scare me? It won’t work. Now move out of my way.”
“Stella, keep your voice down,” I said. Customers in the salon were gawking. I understood why she was upset, but did I need the police to be called for creating a public disturbance? No.
Stella turned her anger on me. “Abbie, I don’t want to be a part of this little secret life you got going on. I don’t know anything and plan to keep it that way. So order Mr. Beefcake to let me go, or I’ll move him myself.”
Mr. Beefcake?
Darn it! I forgot Stella could be a handful. She grew up on the lower east side of Cleveland in not-so-great conditions. However, she had book smarts and used her knowledge to work her way through college, receiving high honors along the way. Stella had worked her ass off to get to where she was today.
Unlike me, who would use words to fake my way out of a tough situation, Stella would kick off her Prada sandals and lay down fists. Not that she would be able to move a stone wall like Zane, but that wouldn’t stop her from trying.
“Please, Stella,” I begged. “If you do this one favor for me, I’ll make it up to you somehow. I really don’t want to cause a scene in this place.”
The intense look on her face said everything she was thinking. “If I didn’t believe you were in danger, I would put up a fight with that guy. However, I want you safe. You’re my sister, and I love you.”
I held back the grin aching to spread across my face. I rarely won an argument with Stella, so this was huge. “You’ll go along for now?”
She slowly nodded. “For now. However, I refuse to keep company with that brute while you and the bodyguard go off and play. Find a way to get me out of this, Abbie.”
I wrung my hands together. “I will, Stella. I promise.”
That was easier said than done. Beck better have a solution to this, or my ass would be toast.
The three of us exited the nail salon. Two beautiful, well-known black women flanked by a not-so-friendly white man. Yup, that shouldn’t draw any attention—none at all.
Beck Page 18