Authors: Casey Clipper
"Nothing," Derrick answered.
Carl shook his head.
"What the fuck, Derrick?" Darren demanded. "How could the man disappear then appear out of nowhere? We know people everywhere. Are they keeping him hidden?"
"No," Jack said. "I found out he was fired after Courtney's arrest incident. The case they had potentially made against you was ruined by his unauthorized decision to confront her. They decided to stop the investigation at this time. Essentially they have nothing. Their work was destroyed by Mr. Marshall’s need to try and get to Courtney."
"Who did you find this out from?" Derrick asked intrigued.
"Judge Waters. Had drinks with him last night," Jack answered nonchalantly.
"Ah." Derrick understood. Judge Waters was a known drunk. Alcohol in his system routinely loosened his tight lips.
"If it's the last thing I do I will find that motherfucker," Darren growled.
"Darren," Derrick warned.
"Don't, Derrick. If she was your wife you would hunt him down and do far worse than I want to do. I just want to kill him, you...you'll keep him for weeks to torture the hell out of him," he snapped. He slammed down his coffee cup and stalked out of the kitchen to find his wife.
***
Courtney
Standing in the nursery, Courtney looked over the items she had from the first pregnancy. She wanted to start over. New pregnancy, new nursery. A
s she pondered how to bring the topic up to Darren, she heard the front door open and his strong voice echoed up the stairs, along with a couple of his men. It would only be a manner of minutes before he found her.
Thirty seconds later. "Hey, baby, what are you doing?"
Without turning to face him, she "I want a new nursery."
She felt hi
s presence step up behind her, his body heat surrounded and embraced her. His strong arms wrapped around her swollen belly and he leaned his chin on the top of her head. "I think we can do that."
"We can donate these to a women's shelter." She waved to the expensive furnishings.
"I think that would be perfect. I'll have the guys take the items tomorrow. You decide on a shelter, call and see about arrangements."
"Okay." She turned in his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him firmly. "I love you, Darren. You make me happy."
"I love you too, baby. You have no idea what you've brought into my life. I feel whole because of you. I thank God everyday for bringing you to me," he said.
Tears filled her eyes. "That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."
"It's true," he said. He ran a gentle hand over her pregnant belly. "With this baby, you've given me my own family. I couldn't ask for anything more."
Darren
Escorting Courtney from the swank baby furniture store in the city, Darren found himself amused over her excitement. His wife was unable to contain herself while they shopped for the nursery. Their baby would be surrounded by the finest furnishings available.
They headed towards their SUV when Courtney became distracted by a diamond necklace in the jewelry store window next to the baby shop. She drooled over the fine piece of craftsmanship. Darren chuckled and made a mental note for Christmas. While his wife panted over the necklace, Darren placed the bags of baby items into the backseat. He watched his wife unknowingly run a gentle hand over her six-month pregnant belly. Lost in her own thoughts.
"Come, honey. You can drool over it online," Darren called out to her.
She chuckled, turned towards him, and gave him a heartbreakingly wide smile. She shrugged. "Can't help it."
He laughed, shaking his head. "I love you."
"I love you." She beamed.
He opened the driver's side door, slid in the seat, and hit the unlock button to open Court's door. He stuck the keys into the ignition while he watched her pass in front of the car parked in front of theirs. He turned the key to start the engine but it hitched.
Odd.
He turned the key again...
*******
Courtney
How did she end up on the ground?
Lying there, fire crackled around her. Broken glass and debris was scattered around her. She became aware of muffled screams. She felt something wet running down her forehead. Confused, she reached down and grabbed her stomach, taking stock in herself.
What the...
She looked up. Horror raced through her veins. Their SUV burned, engulfed in flames, charred, with every window blow out. Heat radiated off the inferno. The light silver color of the vehicle now blackened.
"DARREN!" she screamed. She scrambled unsteadily to her feet and tried to rush towards the car.
"DARREN!" she screamed and cried.
Oh, god. No! This couldn't be happening!
"DARREN!" she cried again, trying to fight off the heat of the flames. She had to get to Darren.
She was snagged from behind.
"You can't," a man yelled at her.
Courtney tried to fight them, screaming incoherently, "My husband!"
She was dragged away from the car kicking and screaming her husband's name, "DARREN!"
Tears poured from her eyes. Her husband was in that car.
Please, please, please let him have gotten out
.
"Did he get out?" Courtney yelled.
One of three men whipped off his white tee shirt and held it to her forehead. "You're bleeding."
She pushed his hand away. "My husband."
"The firemen and ambulance are on the way," another man said.
"Darren!" Courtney screamed again, but with less umph behind it. Deep down she knew. Her husband remained in their SUV. If he wasn't, he would be by her side taking care of her, consoling her and making sure she was all right. That their baby was all right. Her chest clenched and tightened. Her body spasmed and her stomach cramped in response.
Darren
.
Oh, God. He was murdered.
Her husband had just been taken from her. The love of her life. Her everything. She was a fir
st hand witness to his demise. She was alone. He left her alone. A promise he had vowed never to break.
Courtney’s world went black.
Courtney
Faint beeps of monitors filled the silence. Apparently her heart rate and baby were just fine. Courtney laid on the hospital bed, staring at nothing in particular. The gash on her forehead had been stitched up. Her hearing already started to return, allowing her to take in the whispers of hospital staff. Strategically placed guards secured her room.
Numb.
Complete numbness.
She needed Darren. Now.
Part of her prayed it had been a terrible mistake and he would rush into the room and assure her everything was all right.
Instead, bursting into her room, Sean and Ryan visibly breathed a sigh of relief. They rushed to either side of her bed.
"Courtney," Ryan said.
Tears pooled in her eyes. "He's dead, isn't he?" she whispered.
They spared each other a quick glance.
"Yes, honey. He didn't make it," he said delicately.
"They took him from me."
Sean
Sean propped himself on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his arms. He allowed her to lose herself into his chest. Which she did. Hard. She lost control and allowed the pain, suffering, and emotions to take over. For a half an hour she cried until exhaustion set it and she fell asleep safely in his arms. He laid her down and brushed the tangled hair off her pasty face.
"Sean," Ryan said. "She'll become a target." His innocent cousin had no idea the danger her life was in.
"I know," Sean answered, understanding his brother's grave concern. If they had to they would hide her themselves to keep her and her baby alive. They had their own connections.
Derrick
Seated behind his office desk, Derrick was shocked when Carl burst through the door. His secretary yelled behind him.
"Darren's dead," Carl threw out there without any preamble.
Derrick blinked. "What?"
"They got Darren."
Derrick's heart clenched.
No. Not Darren. That couldn't be true.
"How?" he whispered.
"Car bomb in the city."
"Car bomb?" Darren repeated unbelievably. Then sudden fear raced through him. "What about Courtney?"
"We don't know where she is," Carl said, stepping into the office. "We're checking the hospitals."
"Was she in the car?" he demanded. He jumped from his chair and grabbed his suit jacket.
"No, they didn't find her body," Carl said.
He winced.
"Find her," he barked. Derrick followed behind Carl and snapped at his secretary as he ran past her. "Hold my calls, Bridget. I'm gone for the day."
Sean
Sean and Ryan both insisted Courtney be given a mild sedative, afraid for the baby. She’d managed to get through her pregnancy with no troubles, but it was too much to ask of her to handle the tragedy. For two hours, she slipped in and out of consciousness.
Sean held a firm grip of her hand while she was out cold. Ryan left to get them coffee. Sean’s ears perked up when a flurry of activity came from the proximity of the ER. He went into guard mode. He released his hold on his cousin then hid himself in the shadowy corner. Waiting.
Derrick
When Derrick appeared in the hospital room doorway, he stood stock still at the sight of Courtney lying fragile in the oversized bed. A stifled choke bubbled from his throat.
"Courtney." He rushed to her side and grabbed her hand into his, kissing the back of it. She felt so cold. "Thank, God."
"Who the fuck are you?" A deep voice demanded from behind him.
Reaching for his Glock inside his jacket, Derrick wheeled around.
"Don't even think about it. You'll be dead before you finish pulling it out," a clearly enraged, overloaded man spat at him. He took three long strides towards Derrick, eating up the distance between them.
"I'm Derrick, Darren's brother," he reminded Sean, finally recognizing the man. They'd briefly met only once.
Visibly, Courtney’s cousin toned down that inner beast. Derrick watched him inhale heavily. "Sean."
Derrick nodded and turned back to Courtney. "How is she?"
"Devastated."
Derrick sat on the edge of the bed, reached up and stroked her soft cheek.
"I can't believe this," he whispered, dismayed.
"I'm concerned about her being here. The hospital has too many people coming in and out. It's too easy to get to her. She needs someplace safe," Sean said. He approached the opposite side of the bed, worry evident across his features.