Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) (37 page)

* * * *

Nick stares at the scratched wooden table under his
tapping fingers. Unable to talk to Shae since the police separated them at the
abandoned airstrip, he thinks only about her to keep from going ballistic at
these idiots questioning him. She needs him with her, not in a jail cell. Or,
probably closer to the real truth, he needs her.

“You’ve had quite an eventful day, Mr. DeMarco. An
assault charge filed and rescinded after an incident earlier this morning.” The
detective closes the file he’s been reviewing and tosses it on the table before
smirking at Nick. “Now, you’re in here tonight with an attempt on your life,
three men dead, including your own cousin, and your car and plane destroyed.
How would you like to explain all that?”

He omits Nick’s only genuine concern. Wrapped in a
blanket, her hand shaking as she held the water bottle given to her by the EMT,
Shae never looked more distraught than when she was put in the back of a squad
car. If not restrained by handcuffs, he would have killed to talk to her before
she was driven away.

The man in front of him lowers his voice, like they’re
conspirators to the same plot. “Come on, Nick. You’re not fooling anyone. We
know someone shot you. You can press charges. Make him pay for what he’s done.”

Carter doled out his own justice against himself. After
what he did to Shae, he probably knew a bullet to the head was the most humane
punishment he would receive.

Good cop fades away, and bad cop makes his clichéd
appearance. “We know who you are. We’ve been tracking you for a long time.” He
pauses and leans down close to Nick’s face, his mint clicking against his teeth
as he talks. “I know you’re not stupid enough to think you can keep getting
away with it. We’re going to catch up with you. You’re going to get caught.”

Questions he may never receive answers to circle in his
mind. The betrayal so unexpected, it still doesn’t seem real. Carter,
inexplicable in his motives yet precise in his actions, exploited Nick’s
weakness to inflict the most damage.

The detective shrugs before spreading his hands out in
front of him. “Might as well make it easy on yourself. Work with us here, and
we’ll cut you a deal.”

Yet, in the end, he saved Shae’s life and Nick’s sanity
by ensuring the car was empty when the hit took place. What made him change his
mind?

“A pop star, huh? Beautiful, rich, famous…she told
Detective Stone she’s your fiancée. You’re a very lucky man. Although, it seems
like she puts up with a lot, being with you.” The man taps the manila folder
lying on the table, smirking as he leans forward, his hands flat on the wooden
surface. “Maybe she has some information she wants to share about your business
ventures. You know how much women like to talk.”

“Detective Whalen, is it?” Nick meets the officer’s eyes,
widening with eagerness, thinking he’s outsmarted him. As if he’d tell this fucker
anything. Or let him use his only weakness to break him. “She knows I’m a
fucking bastard and loves me anyway. Can you say the same thing about your
wife?”

The officer's face burns bright red, and he jerks up,
tipping his chair behind him. “You son of a bitch—”

A quick knock sounds outside before the door opens.
Luther walks in with the chief of police, a loyal member of Nick’s payroll.
“Move out, guys. The interview’s over.”

Nick’s fingers curl around the table edge as he forces
himself to remain seated. His attorney better have a god damn good reason for
leaving Shae alone.

“What the fuck, Chief?”

“The pilots and Miss Armstrong’s stories confirm it was
self-defense. We have no cause to hold him any longer.”

The men look at each other. Detective Whalen shakes his
head and pushes past Luther to leave the room, while the other officer picks up
the overturned chair before walking out.

Luther nods to the chief. “Thank you for your assistance.
Mr. DeMarco will make himself available as necessary for any other questions
you may have regarding tonight’s events. However, now I’d like to speak to my
client alone.”

The man starts to say something, but closes his mouth
before turning and walking out of the room.

As soon as the door closes, Nick jumps to his feet. “Why
the fuck aren’t you with Shae?”

Luther puts his hand up. “When they were interrogating
her, things got a little heated. I had to jump in at every question to protect
her. They were really pressuring her about you, and I guess it got to be too
much. She collapsed.”

“Fucking shit!” She said she was fine, that she didn’t
need to go to the hospital. He’s such a stupid idiot for believing her. After
all he’s put her through, he can’t expect her to be okay. “I’ve got to see her.
Where is she?”

“She’s already on her way in an ambulance.”

“By herself?” His head pounds at the thought of her
scared and deserted, except for strangers. She always takes care of him, and
now when she needs comfort, he’s nowhere around. “Fuck! Let’s go.”

* * * *

Nick races down the hallway. Hospital guards, as well as
his own security team, pack the waiting area outside her room. Sitting on the
gray and white sofa, Carrie massages her forehead as Nathan quietly talks to
her. She looks up at Nick and frowns. “Hey.”

“How is she?”

“Asleep.”

Nathan’s expression hardens into a scowl. “I’ll tell you
how she is. Because of you, she’s physically and mentally exhausted. She’s
dehydrated and undernourished. She hasn’t eaten anything since this morning
with everything that’s been going on. Her blood pressure is low, and of course,
she’s worried about the baby.”

Carrie shakes her head and grasps Nathan’s arm. “Shit,
Nathan! He didn’t know.”

His chest constricts as all the air leaves his lungs.
Shae’s pregnant. With his baby. Their baby. Again and again, she gives him
everything he didn’t even know he wanted, but will kill to keep.

Carrie gives him a small smile. “She wanted to tell you
herself, but I guess now you know. Congratulations.”

He can’t help but return the sentiment. Yesterday, he
struggled to survive the loss of the woman he loves. Now, he has her back with
a child on the way and maybe a daughter to add to their family. A bastard like
him doesn’t deserve the blessings he receives. “Is the baby okay?”

Nathan sighs before nodding. “From what we can tell so
far, yes. She’s not very far along, only about six weeks. We’ll have to do the
tests Dr. Patterson ordered for tomorrow. Right now, all we can do is wait and
see.”

Six weeks. His soaring heart plummets. Ever since she
snuck out of the house without security, he knew she was hiding something. He’s
put her through hell, and all this time she’s been too scared to tell him.

Bile burns his throat as the realization of the timing
becomes apparent. He put his hands on her when she’s pregnant, bruised her
while she carries his child. God, he’s a fucking monster. No wonder she fears
him, and yet somehow, still loves him. “I need to see her.”

Nathan folds his arms across his chest and shakes his
head. “You really are crazy if you think I’m going to agree to that. I don’t
know what the hell happened at her house, but from the damage, it’s obviously
not good.” He nods to Nick’s bloody shirt. “Then, you get her involved in some
kind of shootout at a desolate landing strip. She doesn’t need anything except
for you to leave her alone.”

He accepts the fury Nathan unleashes on him, yet right
now he doesn’t have the patience to argue. His only goal is seeing Shae and
making up for everything he’s done to her. “Damn it, Nathan, if it was Carrie,
you’d want to see her.”

“If it was Carrie, I wouldn’t put her in danger in the
first place.” His voice tight with frustration, Nathan jabs his finger in the
air. “I told you—”

“No, Nathan.” Carrie grasps his hand and holds it next to
her thigh. “Don’t do this now. Shae doesn’t need an argument between you two.”

“Fine.” He shakes his head and puts up his other hand.
“With Shae’s status as a public figure, access to her room is severely
restricted. Carrie’s listed as her next of kin. She decides who can see Shae
until she can make those decisions for herself.”

Carrie used to be his only supporter. Now with everything
that’s happened, her backing may be gone too. “Please, Carrie. I have to get to
her.”

She bites her lip, looking between Nathan and him,
hesitation filling her eyes. With Shae’s fragile state, forcing his way into
her room will only scare her and jeopardize her health, as well as the baby’s.
Shae would hate her friend being caught in the middle, but he has to do
whatever it takes to get Carrie’s approval. “I swear to God I won’t do anything
to hurt her. I just need to see her.”

She runs her hands through her long hair before placing
them on her head. “I’m fucking pissed at you for what you’ve done to her.” Her
eyes lock with his, burning with doubt. “I’m only doing this because I know
it’s what she wants, and I don’t want to upset her more. Don’t fuck this up. If
you do, I won’t ever help you again.”

“I promise I won’t. Thank you, Carrie.”

He takes a deep breath before opening the door to Shae’s
room. She lies curled on her side, the usual pink glow missing from her creamy
white skin. An IV bag hangs from a silver metal hook with its tube coiling down
to the needle in the back of her hand, tucked halfway under the covers. A
bottle of water and untouched tray of food sit on the side table.

He drops into the chair beside the bed and studies her,
unable to fathom how she can actually love him. She forgives him when he
doesn’t deserve it, protects him when he should be punished, believes he’s a
good man when he’s really a horrible bastard. Just like Evan said—a thug not
worthy of a beautiful angel like her.

After a few minutes, her eyes flutter open. She meets his
gaze and a slow smile lights up her face. “Hi.”

The turmoil around them falls away at her happiness to
see him. He leans forward and kisses her temple. A light red scratch runs from
her eye to under her hair. Fury surges in him at the thought of Carter’s gun to
her head. “How’re you feeling?”

“Okay. I know it’s terrible to be in the hospital when
you’re not really sick. But I’m so tired, it feels good to lie down.”

She can have anything she wants, and she’s grateful to
rest. God, he fucked her up even more than he realized. “It’s been a long day,
hasn’t it?”

“Yeah.” She tries to stifle a yawn but can’t hold it
back.

He strokes across her cheek and down her hair. “You need
to get your rest. Go back to sleep.”

“Will you stay with me for a little bit?”

Only death would make him leave her again. “You can’t get
rid of me that easy. I’m not going anywhere.” He eases off his bloody shirt,
flinching at the pain of pulling against the bandages Max hastily applied,
before lifting the covers and sliding in behind her.

Her soft laugh releases a bit of the tension straining
his body. “What are you doing?”

“Coming back to where I should have been all along.” He
wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her against his chest, nuzzling her
neck.

She closes her eyes, but the smile doesn’t leave her
face. “Good. I’ve missed you.”

“Me too, sweetness.”

“I’m sorry I—”

Not as sorry as he is. For everything he’s done to make
her think, for even a second, she isn’t his whole world. “
Shhhh
.
You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“But, I’ve—”

“Whatever it is, I don’t give a damn. As long as we’re
together, that’s all I care about.”

“Okay.” She snuggles against him and sighs. “I love you,
Nick.”

For the first time in three weeks, he enjoys the peace
only she can give him. He’ll deal with Carter, Juan, and Jessica tomorrow.
Tonight, all of him belongs to Shae. “I love you too.”

*The End*

About the Author

Nikki writes contemporary romantic thrillers and admits to a
weakness for alpha males and bad boys, especially ones who can’t live without
the strong women they love. She spends more time in her characters’ lives than
her own. But when she’s in the real world, her passions include reading, wine
appreciating, running, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

www.nikkibelaire.com

@
NikkiBelaire

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Secret Cravings Publishing

www.secretcravingspublishing.com