CHAPTER SEVEN
Piper’s heart sank. Had Rock been telling the truth about having captured Gavin? If so, how would she find him? Rock and his buddy were dead. She shuddered to think what would happen if Gavin was bound in a place only the two dead kidnappers knew. “Did you talk to the resort owner?”
Nick sat in the chair at the side of her hospital bed. “He said Gavin paid in cash for two days. Doesn’t matter to him if Gavin left early or not, as long as he left the key card in the room. I checked the resort records for his vehicle registration. Do you know what Gavin drives?”
“Last time I saw him, Gavin drove a fully-loaded Escalade. His father is generous with money, though. I don’t know what he drives now.”
“He still drives an Escalade and his vehicle isn’t in the parking lot. Do you know where he might be?”
She shook her head. “I don’t have my phone. If he called to set a meeting in a different place, I wouldn’t know. Delilah is bringing my phone to the hospital along with clothes for me.”
“When you have the phone, check for a message from Gavin. I need to know if he contacted you. I’m not sure what’s going on, but his life might depend on me locating Gavin and bringing him in.”
Worry formed a knot in her stomach. “I’ll let you know if I hear from him.”
Nick turned to Liam. “I talked to Piper about last night’s events. It’s your turn.”
Piper hated for Liam to endure another police interrogation. Although he hadn’t said, she suspected the Cherry Hill detectives grilled Liam over the highway incident. Otherwise, he would have been at the hospital sooner.
This time he wasn’t alone. She captured his hand and tugged him down beside her again. Although he looked surprised at her silent demand, he didn’t protest as he settled against her side.
Nick’s eyes glinted with amusement as he retrieved his notebook and pen. “Start at the beginning.”
Liam summarized what happened, his words terse and unemotional.
The almost robotic recitation made Piper’s heart hurt. He buried emotional baggage in order to do his job with logic instead of emotion.
“What do the detectives think?”
A snort. “That I set up Piper’s kidnapping to play hero.”
“Are you surprised?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time law enforcement accused an operative of grand standing.”
“He didn’t do it,” Piper insisted. “Don’t waste your time going down that rabbit hole, Nick.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” No hesitation or doubt.
“Anything else either of you want to tell me?”
Liam cupped Piper’s chin and turned her face toward his. “Tell him about Gino and his buddy.”
Her cheeks burned. “Is it necessary?” Admitting how gullible she’d been about her uncle was embarrassing.
“If Gavin isn’t guilty, then his father might be. For his own safety, we can’t allow Nick to walk into this blind.”
Liam was right. Nick needed to be prepared for the dangerous players he might face. “All right.”
When Liam released her, Piper told Nick what she’d told Liam. The longer she talked, the grimmer the detective’s expression grew.
Nick dragged a hand down his face. “I’m familiar with Matteo Barone’s work. I didn’t know you were connected to him and his minions.”
“I’m not.” Her hand fisted on the blanket. “That’s why I left Alabama. I didn’t want anything to do with my uncle’s association with Matteo. I thought Matteo made his money with his casino. I didn’t know about the rest of his money-making schemes or that Gavin was Matteo’s son because I made it a point never to be around him. I freely admit to being the most gullible woman on the planet.”
Liam pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “You look for the best in people. That’s your nature, Sunshine. When you discovered Gavin’s deceit and his connection to Matteo, you did the only thing you could. You walked away.”
“Leaving took courage.” Nick slid the notebook and pen into his pocket. “Call me if you hear from Gavin. If he’s on the run from Matteo, law enforcement may be his only hope to survive. Matteo’s people don’t mess around. If they believe he’s a weak link, Gavin won’t survive on his own.”
Ice water poured through Piper’s veins. Gavin wanting to get back together was a better alternative than him running from his crime-boss father. “I promise to keep you updated.”
He rose. “Call if you need me. Watch your back, Liam. Barone’s crew is ruthless. They don’t quit until they achieve their objective and their talent roster is several layers deep. Might be wise to bring Fortress into the loop. They aren’t restricted by the same rules I have to follow.”
Wordless communication passed between the two men before Liam said, “I’ll talk to Zane and Brent Maddox.”
“If I were in you, I’d be ready to leave town at a moment’s notice with a series of prepared safe houses.”
Piper shuddered. “Nick, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m trying to keep you both alive,” he countered. “Liam will put himself in front of any bullet headed your direction. Keep that in mind when you consider your options. His life is at stake, too. Stop by the station when you’re released. Stella will have your statements.” With those words, he left.
“You have to stay away from me, Liam.” Just saying the words pierced her heart with pain. Separating from him was the last thing she wanted, but Piper feared for his safety. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Not happening, Piper. I’ll take care of myself and you.” He cupped her cheek, a fierce light in his eyes. “I won’t leave you to deal with this mess alone. I’m in this with you and that’s where I plan to stay.”
“Why put yourself at risk?”
“You matter to me.”
Another knock sounded on the door. Trent peered inside the room. “Dr. Anderson is here. So are Matt and Delilah.”
Thank God. Maybe she would be out of here soon. “Send Dr. Anderson in.”
A moment later, Otter Creek’s favorite doctor walked in. He smiled at Liam. “Glad you’re back, Liam.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Have you been keeping an eye on my patient?”
Liam chuckled. “I have.”
“What’s your opinion on how she’s doing?”
“I think she’s perfect.”
Piper stared, surprised. Liam’s gaze met hers and he winked.
“Let me examine her and see if my assessment matches yours. Wait in the hall and I’ll let you know when I’m finished.”
Liam leaned down and brushed a feather-light kiss over Piper’s lips. “I’ll be outside the door if you need me.” He left.
Piper touched her lips. To this point, Liam had been careful to buss her cheek, the corner of her mouth, or her forehead after their dates. His platonic kisses coupled with the proprietary touches frustrated her enough that she had planned to initiate a real kiss herself. When she finally worked up the courage to act, Liam had been deployed with his teammates for almost a month.
Her shock at Liam’s kiss must have been apparent because the doctor’s blue eyes twinkled at her. “Well, that’s news for the town gossip mill.”
“If you spread the word, I might have to drop hints all over Otter Creek that the town’s favorite single doctor is looking for companionship.”
Anderson chuckled. “Not that, please. I have no interest in delivering extra casseroles to the women’s shelter. My freezer is still filled to the brim with more food than I can eat if I want to stay a healthy weight. I give the shelter two or three casseroles a week. The single women in Otter Creek don’t need more incentive to cook and bake for me.”
“If you’re interested in one of the ladies, ask her out. It would stop the others from bombarding you with food bribes.”
His smile grew wistful. “I loved and lost the woman of my dreams. I’m not interested in anyone else.” He squared his shoulders. “Now, enough about me. Let’s have a look at you.” Ten minutes later, Anderson declared her fit to leave. “The bruising should fade soon. Wouldn’t hurt to apply ice packs every few hours.”
She grinned. “You’re back at the top of my list of favorite doctors. Thank you.”
He patted her hand. “Glad you weren’t hurt worse. You’re very lucky Liam was home to come to your aid. I’ll send the nurse in with your discharge papers and you’ll be free to go home.”
Home sounded great. Would Liam think her home was safe now?
As soon as the doctor left, Delilah tapped on the door and walked inside the room with a bag in her hand. She hugged Piper. “You look good considering what you went through last night.”
“Thanks for bringing a change of clothes.”
“No problem. Do you want to shower before you go home or after?”
“Now. I still feel Rock’s hands on me.”
“Rock?”
“The kidnapper who grabbed me and threw me in the van.” She scowled. “He was the creep who hit me.”
Delilah gave her a sympathetic look. “I understand. I’ll wait here in case you need anything. I put your favorite toiletries in the bag along with the clothes.”
“You’re an angel.”
Her boss laughed. “I keep telling Matt that. He doesn’t believe me. Get moving, Piper. A certain operative’s pacing the hallway like a caged tiger, anxious to be at your side again.”
Holy cow. Liam was more invested in their relationship than he’d let on. Piper hurried into the bathroom and started the shower. While the water heated, she pawed through the bag’s contents, thrilled with the supplies Delilah included. Shampoo, conditioner, brush, shower gel and body lotion in her favorite orange blossom and vanilla scent, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant plus a change of clothes.
Her fingers brushed against her purse, nestled at the bottom of the bag. The urge to check her cell phone rode her. After the shower. If she checked before she showered, and Gavin had left a fear-laced message, Piper would want to meet him immediately. She longed to wash the feel of Rock off her skin.
Piper raced through her shower and the rest of her after-bath routine, then dragged on clothes in under ten minutes. She sighed, grateful to be wearing something besides a drafty blue and white hospital gown. She finished tying her tennis shoes before checking her cell phone.
Piper scanned six messages from Gavin, each one more frantic. Anxiety increasing by the second, she listened to two messages on her voice mail, both from Gavin.
A brisk knock on the bathroom door. “Piper, the nurse is here with your discharge papers.”
Piper swept toiletries and the clothes she wore yesterday into the bag, grabbed her purse, and opened the door.
Delilah frowned. “You look pale. Are you okay?”
“Not really.” As Delilah left the room, Piper listened in silence to the nurse’s spiel, her mind half on the signs for potential problems and half on the danger her former boyfriend could be facing.
“Come back to the emergency room if you have any of the symptoms I mentioned,” the nurse instructed.
She forced a smile to her lips. “Got it. Thanks.”
After the nurse left, Liam returned, concern in his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Piper and held her close. “Delilah said you’re upset. What’s wrong?”
“Gavin’s on the run. He says he has information to prove Matteo’s dirty.”