His Wicked Pleasure (11 page)

~*~*~*~

As Paul and Declan spoke, Lorie dialed her uncle to find out where Kristie had been taken. Giving the directions to Paul as they climbed into the truck, they rode in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they headed for the hospital.

“That’s it,” said Lorie looking out the window of Paul’s truck as the massive and cold looking building came into view. Feeling a sudden chill run down her spine, Lorie felt every nerve in her body come to life as terror filled her. What would she find when they got to Kristie’s room?

The moment the car stopped, Paul jumped out and helped Lorie. He gave her a worried glance before he squeezed her tightly and said, “I’ll be by your side. It’s okay. I got you.”

Declan walked towards the entrance of the gloomy hospital and sighed. The thought of Kristie lying in a hospital bed, with all sorts of devices plugged into her, had his blood boiling. He wanted to hit something...actually, he wanted to hit the person who had done it.

“Come on,” said Lorie as he hesitated upon entering the hospital. The moment the three of them stepped off the elevator Lorie spotted her uncle. Feeling her entire body begin to shake after absorbing the state he was in, she walked over to him and hugged him.

“Lorie,” said her uncle in a groggy voice. “Have you called your brothers and Daniella yet?”

“I did,” said Lorie pulling Declan and Paul forward. “I’d like you to meet two of my friends.”

Paul looked at Lorie with a raised eyebrow and turned his attention to her uncle. “I’m Officer Paul Fisher and this is Lieutenant Declan Kavanagh.”

“Frank Rossi,” he replied as he shook each of their hands. His handshake was firm but the man looked worn out and like he was ready to collapse on his feet.

“Mr. Rossi,” said Declan.

“Frank. Please call me Frank. My dad was Mr. Rossi.”

“Uncle Frank,” Lorie interrupted. “Can I see my sister?”

Frank nodded, “You can in a little bit. She’s not in her room right now since they took her for additional tests.”

“Tests?” Lorie gasped as fresh tears brimmed her eyes, “What’s going on? Will she make it?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Frank sighed and rubbed his face as if to wipe away unshed tears. His voice was strained as he continued, “No one has said a word to me and I’m about to lose my mind.”

“Let’s go sit down,” said Lorie fighting back her tears.

“Sir,” said Declan. He ran his hand through his hair and looked around to see if anyone was listening. The hallway was clear except for them and the occasional nurse running by. “Can you tell us what happened?”

Frank shook his head and his eyes were haunted. “Everything happened so fast,” said Frank as he sat down. He leaned forward and folded his hands together. “Kristie was addressing the press and, the next thing I know, a loud bang sounded and my niece was on the ground passed out.”

“Did you see the direction of where the bullet came from?” asked Declan trying to ascertain as much information as possible.

“Son. Are you a cop?” asked Frank. He glanced at Lorie curiously.

Declan sat back and replied, “I’m a Navy SEAL and also happen to be Kristie’s boyfriend. Paul is also a Navy SEAL.”

“Oh. I see,” said Frank suddenly perking up a bit.

“Your niece happens to mean a lot to me,” said Declan in an even voice. “I plan on doing everything in my power to make sure the person or persons that did this are caught.”

“That makes me feel a little better,” said Frank. He took a deep breath and let it out but there was still sadness in his eyes. “Why anyone would harm Kristie just boggles my mind. She’s so kind and everyone adores her.”

“I know,” said Declan clenching his fist.

“Mr. Rossi,” a nurse interrupted them and the group looked up at her with trepidation...fearing the worst. “Your niece is asking for you.”

“Can my family come with me?” Frank asked as he stood up.

“She’s awake but still a little groggy. The doctor requested that you go in one at a time,” said the nurse, her voice filled with sympathy.

“Thank you,” said Lorie excited to hear that her sister was awake.

~*~*~*~

Kristie sat in her room trying to put everything together in her mind but, damn, her head was pounding and her leg seemed to be throbbing.

“Knock, knock,” said her uncle before he walked in and closed the door quietly. “How’s my little niece doing?”

Kristie frowned as tears started to roll down her face. “What happened Uncle Frank? I don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand either,” said her uncle as he took her hand in his. “Are you in a lot of pain?”

Kristie smiled at her uncle and assessed her injuries. She was in pain but she wanted to keep his worries at bay. “I’m handling it.”

“What has the doctors said? Did the bullet hit you?” he asked, swallowing a huge lump in his throat.

Kristie felt the tears running down her cheeks. She didn’t want to cry but her whole body shook when she thought of what happened. “It grazed my arm...barely even a scratch there but when I saw the blood, I went into shock. It was the fall that did all the damage. They said I have a concussion and I injured my leg. It might be a sprain or it might be broken. The doctor hasn’t confirmed that yet.”

“Well,” said her uncle smiling. “It isn’t perfect news but it is better than what it could have been.”

“Yes. I could be dead,” said Kristie. Her voice cracked as she said it and her uncle’s eyes filled with his own tears. They stared at each other for the longest time—silently assuring the other that everything was going to be okay.

“Lorie’s here and wants to see you,” her uncle finally said before he placed a kiss on her forehead. “Is there anything I can get you? Tea perhaps?”

“I’d love some tea. Thank you,” said Kristie. She was so excited to see her sister...she needed her family around her.

****

Lorie looked at Declan standing there with a huge flower arrangement, a bunch of balloons, a huge stuffed puppy, and a bunch of other gifts. With a smile on her face, she said, “Go... but don’t forget there’s other people waiting to see her.”

“Thank you,” said Declan. He gave her a small smile before he struggled to carry everything. Walking into Kristie’s small hospital room, the first thing he noticed was that the room was private. The second thing he noticed was that Kristie wasn’t in her bed. Feeling his heart beat right out of his chest, he put everything down and called out for her.

“Barbie Doll?”

“In here,” she said in a pained voice. “I don’t think I can make it back; it hurts too much.”

“Don’t move baby,” said Declan opening the door to her bathroom. His heart broke the moment he saw her. Kristie’s hair was matted, her legs were bruised and her eyes were tear stained. Walking over to her in two strides, he lifted her up with ease and carried her back to the bed but not before he kissed her. “I was a wreck Barbie Doll. The thought of losing you isn’t something I ever wish to face.”

Kristie hugged Declan tight. “I’m sorry you worried about me. As you can see I’m fine.”

“You’re hurt,” he said while placing the sterile white sheet over her.

“I am,” she whispered but it was more than being hurt...her nerves still hummed and she felt like danger was going to pop out at any second. She jumped when the door to her private room opened.

“I have tea for Kristie and a cup of coffee for you,” said her uncle. His eyes were heavy and it was clear that he was feeling the effects of the day.

“Thank you,” said Declan seeing how tired the older gentleman was. “I won’t be long. I can see you’re tired.”

“I’m going to send Lorie and Paul in because visiting hours are just about over,” said her uncle as he walked towards the door.

“Uncle Frank,” called Kristie with watery eyes. “I love you and am so sorry you’re stuck worrying about all of us.”

Declan watched, as the older man turned, face them and said, “Never stuck Kristie You kids have only brought me joy.”

“I have a few things for you,” said Declan standing up and moving the table closer to her. “You can look through them when we all leave.

“Ah. Thank you,” said Kristie managing a smile.

“Kristie,” cried Lorie as she walked through the door. She ran to the bed and hugged her sister tightly. “I was so worried.”

Chapter Ten

The following morning, Declan and Paul woke up extra early and headed straight to scene of the crime. Looking around, Declan followed the tattered police line and then focused on the patch of blood that was on the ground where Kristie had fallen. His stomach flipped over as he tried to focus his anger on figuring out the scene.

He scanned the buildings surrounding the square and noticed only one possible place the shooter could have been—an invisible hand punched him in the gut and made him feel sick.

“The shooter came from the top of Rossi Co.,” said Declan pointing to the top of the building.

“Which can only mean one thing,” said Paul rubbing the back of his neck.

“An employee,” Declan glared at the building and the people inside. Despite the crime, it looked like everyone was working as per usual. One of those people in the building could be the shooter. He took out his phone and placed a call to his teammate Matt to let him know what was going on. Once that was done, he told him and the team to get every image from all the cameras in the area and do background write-ups on everyone but the Rossi family.

“Now what?” asked Paul with concern as he stood there watching Declan taking pictures of everything in the surrounding area.

“Kristie isn’t going anywhere without protection. Someone went to great lengths to scare her...maybe even try to kill her,” Declan ground his teeth as he thought of life without little Barbie Doll—he hated it.

“Good luck with that one,” Paul glanced around and looked for anything they might have missed. “Kristie is a little spitfire.”

“That she is,” said Declan with a huge smile. “I think that’s what makes me want her even more.”

“What? The fact that she fights the whole ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ thing?” joked Paul.

“Yes. I turn into a Neanderthal when it comes to her.” He grinned, “I just want to toss her over my shoulder and carry her away forever.”

“If only,” Paul said wistfully as he stared off into the distance.

“We have all that we need from here. The rest we’ll have to work on once we return to base,” said Declan as he made his way to the truck.

~*~*~*~

‘Hey Daniella,’
breathed Kristie into the phone.

‘I miss you,’
Daniella replied in a sad voice.

‘I miss you too. Why haven’t I seen you?’

Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Daniella sighed,
‘I’ve been spending time with Sean but things are still so damned complicated. Ugh. He’s so damned frustrating.’

‘Really? Complicated? Oh girl, just cut the nonsense all ready. You and Sean are made for each other. Anyone can see that.’