Baltimore, Maryland,
Monday 13 June, 10.45 P.M.
‘This is a nightmare,’ Thorne murmured.
JD gave a grunt of assent as he exited off the parkway and slowed to stop at the light at the end of the ramp. ‘Right now? Yeah, I’d concur with that assessment.’
Going to Sheidalin had been a huge mistake. The cops had not only shut down the club, the media had been there to cover it. Now Thorne, Lucy and Gwyn were the focus of headlines and soundbites. Especially Thorne.
The cops hadn’t let him anywhere close to the club. Someone had applied liberal amounts of crime scene tape to the doors, which made the reporters very happy because the bright yellow ‘popped’ against the club’s dark exterior.
Thorne’s arrival had caused quite a stir, with the vipers descending upon him with microphones and vicious accusations they didn’t even bother to veil. He’d managed to hold his temper, but barely. Eventually JD got them out of there, taking them to the police station, but Thorne hadn’t gone inside because Jamie had warned him against it.
There was no warrant out for Thorne’s arrest, but showing up at the police station might push them to that extreme. Plus, Jamie and Frederick had everything under control. They’d gotten Ming, Mowry and Laura out on bond and were disgruntled to have to owe that favor to Lieutenant Hyatt, who’d greased the skids to make it happen faster.
Thorne and JD had transported Ming and Mowry back to their respective homes while Jamie and Frederick waited for Laura to be released.
And now Thorne and JD were on their way to Ramirez’s house.
Thorne sighed. ‘What are we going to do, JD?’
‘You’re going to keep doing what you’re doing,’ JD said resolutely. ‘You’re going to prove who’s behind all this shit and then you and Gwyn and Lucy will give an exclusive to whichever reporter has the biggest audience.’
The reporters had been there front and center, looking oh-so-disappointed to have to report that the owners of Sheidalin were ‘allegedly’ involved in a territorial drug war. Allegedly, my ass, Thorne thought bitterly.
‘Once they say we’re guilty out loud, no amount of “allegedly” or after-the-fact retractions will change public opinion.’ He opened his phone, scrolling through the coverage. ‘They could at least get my ethnicity right, for sweet fuck’s sake. One reporter says I’m Samoan, so at least he got the right hemisphere. The rest of them have me as everything from Hispanic to Arab, and guilty of dealing everything from drugs to weapons out of Sheidalin since we opened our doors seven years ago.’
JD raised his brows. ‘Those are trash sites. Nobody believes that shit.’
‘You’d be surprised,’ Thorne answered glumly, wanting to tell JD that he didn’t understand. Thorne had heard the slurs for years, some behind his back, others to his face. And people did believe ‘that shit’, or it wouldn’t continue to be written.
‘Then talk to them. Give them what they want. Give them an interview and set the record straight.’
Thorne shook his head. ‘It could backfire. You know how they say that journalists should tell the story without becoming part of the story? I’ll talk to the press on behalf of a client, but I don’t want to be the client.’
‘You are the client, Thorne,’ JD said gently.
Thorne blew out a breath. ‘I know. And if it comes to it, I will talk to them, but the very thought makes me want to throw up.’ He rubbed his temples. ‘I’m more concerned about the impact this is going to have on the club. If Sheidalin goes belly-up, thirty people will be out of work and on the street. I have savings, but not enough to pay their salaries for all that long.’
JD shot him a surprised glance. ‘You’re not really thinking of doing that, are you? Paying them out of your own pocket?’
‘Of course I am. Most of our employees live paycheck to paycheck. They can’t afford not to get paid.’
JD just blinked at him. ‘You have that much money?’
Thorne shrugged uneasily. ‘Jamie and Phil gave me some cash when I graduated from college. Told me to go backpacking in Europe. I invested it instead. I’m comfortable.’
‘Wow. Well, I doubt Lucy and Gwyn are going to allow you to use your own money.’
‘Then our employees will quit, because they’ll have no other choice. And when we finally do start up again, we’ll be doing so with a green crew.’
‘I think you can worry about that later,’ JD said quietly. ‘But for the record, it’s really decent that you’d be willing.’
Thorne’s chuckle was one hundred percent mirthless. ‘You don’t have to sound so surprised.’
‘Shut up, Thorne,’ JD replied, but the words held no real heat. ‘You assume everyone’s thinking the worst of you.’
‘Because they usually are.’
‘Well, that might be true,’ JD allowed. The light changed and he turned left. ‘Where do I go from here?’
‘I’ll direct you. Is it too much to ask that you stay in the car and let me talk to Ramirez alone?’
‘Yes. Mostly because I need to be able to alibi you.’
‘Hope they’ll still believe you,’ Thorne muttered.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Just that hanging with me could be hazardous to your reputation. I’m now a “suspected drug dealer”. Oh, and murderer. Let’s not forget that.’
‘Joseph doesn’t believe it. Neither does Hyatt.’
Thorne found the energy to roll his eyes. ‘It won’t matter soon. I’ll be tried and convicted in the court of opinion. And I’ll be damned if I drag you all down with me.’
‘Jesus, Thorne, you’re making me depressed. Stop it. We’re going to figure this out. You forget Lucy is an equal owner in your little den of iniquity. If you think I’m letting her go down on a sinking ship, you’re insane. I’ll patch the fucking ship myself if I have to. I’ll toss you one of those circle things.’
‘You mean a life preserver? Turn right at the next light.’
JD made the turn. ‘Try not to have all three of you doing hard time on a chain gang just yet, okay?’
‘I’ll try.’
He said no more, giving terse directions until JD had pulled up in front of Ramirez’s place. It was a nice house on about five acres of land, so the nearest home was around the bend. The house was dark, but the lawn appeared to have been freshly mowed. Thorne started to get out of the car, but JD stopped him, handing him a pair of latex gloves.
‘I don’t have a good feeling about this,’ he said quietly.
‘Me either.’ They’d chosen to arrive at quarter till eleven, so that if Ramirez really was going to meet Thorne, he wouldn’t be home right now. But the house didn’t just seem empty. It had a still, abandoned feel to it that was foreboding.
The two of them went up the front walk, JD looking around with a fierce intensity. ‘No cameras,’ he said, then unsnapped his holster and drew his weapon, holding it along his thigh, keeping it pointed at the ground.
The gun Thorne carried was heavy in his pocket holster. He followed JD’s lead and drew it. It was Clay’s, but Thorne owned a similar model. He didn’t like guns, but was practical enough to have become proficient with their operation.
JD opened the mailbox and pulled out several fliers. ‘Announcement for a party at the rec center,’ he murmured. ‘From a week ago.’
They approached the front door and JD sighed. ‘Fuck.’
‘What?’
JD looked at him. ‘You can’t smell that?’
Thorne drew a breath and grimaced. ‘Yeah. Now I can.’
It was the odor of decomposing flesh. Somebody in that house was dead.
‘I gotta call this in,’ JD told him.
‘I know. At least we didn’t go in. I have that much of an alibi.’
JD gave him a distracted nod. ‘Put your gun and the holster in my trunk. I don’t want anyone seeing you with it. It’ll make things harder for you in the long run.’
Thorne did as he was told, then sat in the passenger seat while JD called for backup.
Annapolis, Maryland,
Monday 13 June, 11.15 P.M.
He’d been awake, waiting for Kathryn to get home, so he answered on the first ring. ‘Hello?’
‘Thorne’s not here,’ Patton said grimly. ‘But about a dozen cops are.’
He was not surprised. He’d figured Thorne would put him at the top of his suspect list, but he’d hoped to keep him guessing for a little longer.
He was surprised to hear the cops were there. Their cooperation with Thorne was something he hadn’t anticipated, but he should have. That they hadn’t arrested him right away was a major disappointment.
‘Are you visible?’
‘No. And I’ve altered my face, which was a good idea because the cops have cameras rolling. They’re looking for whoever might have met Thorne tonight.’
‘I’d have done the same,’ he murmured. ‘But things should start to change for Mr Thorne after tonight. The police will be less willing to cooperate with him’ – or protect him for that matter – ‘now that they know he’s been dealing from his nightclub.’
‘Maybe,’ Patton said. ‘Maybe not.’
He frowned. ‘And that is supposed to mean exactly what?’
‘You’ve got a police radio, sir. Turn it on.’
He disconnected the call without another word and flipped on the scanner. And frowned. Then cursed.
Units had been dispatched to Ramirez’s house.
Thorne. But how had he known where Ramirez lived? Surely the man hadn’t been foolish enough to share his address. He’d found no record of it in his files, at least. Maybe Ramirez hadn’t known that Thorne knew. The fool.
Thorne had suspected him before. Now he knew for sure.
Nothing had really changed, of course. He’d laid out the plan with care and would see it through. But he’d have to rattle Thorne a little more. Put more pressure on his inner circle, rendering them afraid to stand too close to him. Or at a minimum, render them useless by forcing them into hiding.
He picked up the phone and redialed Patton. ‘I think you might be right. The discovery of Ramirez changes things.’
‘I made it look like a robbery, just like you said, but they won’t buy it now.’
‘You’re probably right about that too. I have one more assignment for you tonight.’
Dead silence. ‘I dropped those two at the warehouse, just as you asked.’
‘I know you did.’ He wondered if Patton had managed to keep his supper down as he’d done so. ‘This can be accomplished more conventionally. I’ll send you an address. There may be an officer guarding outside. You may dispatch the officer as you see fit. Any occupants of the house itself can be hurt, but not killed.’
‘Got it.’
‘I’ll be waiting to hear your summary, Mr Patton.’
‘Of course. Later. Sir.’
He ended the call and slid his phone into the pocket of his dressing gown. Unsettled, and annoyed to be, he headed downstairs to make a pot of coffee. In his younger days, he’d been able to stay up all night with no issues, but he was beginning to feel his age.
Plus, he’d had an active day. Carving up those Circus Freaks boys had been labor-intensive. Satisfying, though.
He paused outside the nursery, listening, opening the door when he heard Benny’s fractious wail. The boy stood in his crib, tears streaking his beautiful face. Not hesitating for a second, he picked the child up and cuddled him close, settling into the rocking chair.
He’d convinced Margo to stay with him in case Benny needed care during the night. His physician was on call should the child’s fever worsen. He knew she’d complied primarily to assuage his fears, rather than because she was actually worried about Benny. She was convinced it was only teething and he was sure she was right, because his personal physician had confirmed it.
Margo had not been happy when she’d called earlier in the evening, after the physician had examined Benny and left. She’d accused him of thinking she was not a good mother, which couldn’t have been farther from the truth. He’d begged her indulgence and with a sigh she’d agreed.
However he’d achieved it, he was happy the boy was here. He felt a little closer to Colin every time he held Benny in his arms. The child had already quieted, a combination of the rocking chair and the finger he’d offered for Benny to gnaw.
A rustle of silk had him looking toward the door. Margo stood in the doorway, her face in shadow. ‘Papa,’ she whispered.
‘He’s fine,’ he murmured, continuing to rock. ‘Just fussy.’
She crossed the room and knelt beside the chair, touching her son’s forehead. ‘His fever has broken,’ she said gratefully. She stroked Benny’s cheek. ‘Does that taste good, little man?’ She glanced up, met his eyes. ‘You’re going to spoil him.’
‘That’s what grandfathers are supposed to do,’ he said with a smile for the child in his arms. ‘You should sleep. I have to stay awake for a while anyway.’
‘Why?’ she asked. ‘Is Kathryn okay?’
‘She’s fine.’ He sighed. ‘But Thorne found Ramirez.’
Margo frowned. ‘How?’
‘He must have followed him.’
‘That makes sense.’ She frowned. ‘What are you doing now?’
‘Nothing you have to worry about.’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘Papa?’
‘Fine. I’m hitting him a little closer to home. His papas,’ he said mockingly, because he did not believe such things were natural or proper.
‘Will you finally give a kill order?’
She hadn’t agreed with his decision to have Patton intentionally miss Gwyn and Stevie earlier today.
‘Not yet,’ he said soothingly, unwilling to disturb Benny, who’d started to fall asleep. ‘Patience.’
Even in the semi-darkness, he could see her rolling her eyes. ‘Yes, Papa.’
Her sarcasm made his chest tighten, because in that moment she sounded very much like his Madeline. How he missed her. He pressed a kiss to Benny’s forehead. ‘You are very sweet,’ he whispered. ‘Your grandmother would have loved you so very much.’
Margo’s smirk drooped. ‘I’m sorry. I know you miss her.’
‘We were married for nearly thirty years. Every day that I wake without her seems like a thousand years. Which is why I have not given a kill order. I want to draw this out. I want him to feel pain.’
‘Striking his papas is a good first start. He loves them.’
‘I know. I only wish I could be there to see his torment.’
Baltimore, Maryland,
Tuesday 14 June, 12.55 A.M.
Thorne said nothing as JD got back in the car and started the engine, sending the A/C blasting. JD had been inside the Ramirez house for an hour with Hyatt and Joseph Carter. During that time, one of Hyatt’s detectives – not Brickman, thankfully – watched Thorne like a fucking hawk, daring him to move a muscle.
Thorne hadn’t had the energy to even flip the asshole off. Not that he could really blame the guy anyway. This is starting to look bad even to me, and I know I’m innocent.
He’d texted Gwyn a few times, cursory one-word answers to her questions.
Are you okay? she’d asked.
No.
Is your contact alive?
No.
Are you still with JD?
Yes. That hadn’t been exactly true, but it met the spirit of her question.
Come back to me soon.
Yes. He’d swallowed hard as he’d typed the three letters, then added, Sorry.
For what? And don’t be an idiot.
He’d almost smiled at that. Thank you.
You’re welcome.
He rested his head against the window, patiently waiting for JD to speak.
‘They’ve been dead for at least a week,’ JD said finally.
‘They?’
‘Ramirez and his wife.’
‘Fuck,’ Thorne breathed.
‘Indeed. At least the A/C was on. It was pretty miserable in there.’
Thorne absorbed the words. At least a week. ‘I hadn’t heard from him in about a week. Not until I texted him Sunday after I woke up. The phone he used was a burner that he kept secret from Tavilla. Someone’s either gotten his phone or knows his number to spoof it on his replies to me.’ He blinked hard and forced himself to focus. Why? What had happened a week ago? Nothing that he could think of. ‘So even if I’d given Joseph and Hyatt his name during the meeting this afternoon, it wouldn’t have made a difference.’
‘No.’ JD sighed. ‘I’m not telling you any of this, by the way.’
‘Any of what?’ Thorne asked.
JD’s mouth quirked dryly. ‘Yeah.’ He blew out a breath. ‘He was shot in the gut. It wouldn’t have been a slow death. She was shot in the head.’ He rubbed his temples. ‘But she’d been tortured first. Lots of little punctures in her torso and groin. Not by a knife. Maybe a screwdriver.’
‘Fuck.’ Thorne swore again.
‘They suffered. Both of them.’
Thorne scrubbed his face with his palms. ‘Am I a suspect?’
‘No. But they will ask you why Ramirez agreed to sell you secrets. He was one of Tavilla’s top men.’
‘I know. I was surprised too. He wouldn’t tell me, but I figured it out. His nephew was gunned down by one of Tavilla’s thugs in a drive-by shooting. He wasn’t a target, but Tavilla’s boys sprayed the house with bullets and the nephew got caught in the crossfire. Died.’
‘Did Ramirez ever confirm that?’
‘Yes, once I presented my theory. He hated Tavilla, but he was not “in a position” to take him out. Which meant he feared retaliation on his family. He has children. Given that his wife is dead too, we should check on them.’
‘We found their addresses on some mail on the hall table. We’ll contact them, don’t worry.’
Because if JD and the cops had seen the addresses, the killers had too. ‘Were Ramirez and his wife eviscerated?’
‘No. That seems to have been reserved for Patricia and the two Circus Freaks guys. So far,’ JD added grimly. Thorne knew the cop was thinking about Lucy, Gwyn and Stevie.
‘Were they killed here?’
‘It doesn’t appear so,’ JD said. ‘Why?’
‘Just thinking about what Frederick told us. About there being seagulls in the background on the call from the fake detective to Sally Brewster.’
‘Right. Bernice Brown’s friend. Did Frederick check on Mrs Brown, by the way?’
‘Yes. She and her cousin have relocated. She didn’t tell him where. She said she’d be in touch.’
‘We’re going to need to talk to her at some point.’
‘I know, but she’s pretty spooked. I don’t think she’ll be coming out of hiding any time soon.’
They were quiet for a while, when both their phones started ringing at the same time.
‘Shit,’ JD barked.
‘Fuck,’ Thorne said at the same time, because this could not be good. ‘Mine’s from Jamie.’
‘Mine’s from Lucy,’ JD said.
They answered the phones simultaneously. ‘What’s happened?’ Thorne demanded.
‘Thomas.’ Jamie sounded terrified, and Thorne had to fight back nausea.
‘I’m here. Tell me what’s happened.’
‘It’s Phil. They got him.’ Jamie’s voice rose, hysteria breaking through. ‘They got him, Thomas.’
No. No, no, no. He found himself chanting the words in his mind for the second time that night, and fought for calm. ‘Where are you?’
‘On my way to the hospital. Frederick’s driving me.’
‘Which hospital?’ Thorne asked.
‘County.’ It was JD who replied, having obviously heard it from Lucy. He put on his emergency flashers. ‘I’ll get Thorne over there,’ he snapped into his phone. ‘You and Gwyn stay the fuck put.’ He hung up and pulled away from the curb, radioing Hyatt. ‘Something’s happened to Phil Woods. I’m taking Thorne to the hospital. Will keep you informed.’
Thorne returned his attention to Jamie. ‘We’re on our way. Tell me what happened. Where is Sam? And Agent Ingram.’
‘Sam’s unconscious,’ Jamie said hoarsely. ‘He was hit in the head. Ruby’s on her way to the hospital. Ingram . . . God, Thorne. He might not make it.’
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Thorne drew a breath and let it out. ‘One at a time. What happened to Phil?’
‘He had a heart attack. He lost consciousness for a while, but came out of it long enough to call 911. Ingram also called before he passed out.’ Jamie’s voice broke. ‘Blood loss.’
‘Who found them?’
‘I did. Frederick and I got there about a minute ahead of the first responders. Frederick took care of Ingram and I rushed into the house. Sam was on the floor near the front door. And Phil . . .’ He choked on a sob. ‘Phil was lying on the floor in the kitchen. I checked his pulse. It was really irregular. Ingram managed to call 911 for an ambulance. I called for two more, for Phil and Sam.’
‘All right,’ Thorne murmured, more for his own benefit. ‘Is Phil conscious now?’
‘I don’t know. I couldn’t ride with him in the ambulance. My chair . . .’
His chair wouldn’t fit in the back of the ambulance. God. Poor Jamie. ‘Phil will understand when he wakes up,’ Thorne said, amazed to be maintaining his calm.
‘I know. Frederick wouldn’t let me drive.’
‘Good. Frederick’s got a head on his shoulders. Let him take care of things at the moment. How did they get in the house?’
‘I don’t know. It’s not like Phil not to set the alarm.’
‘I know. We’ll figure that out. For now, know that he will be okay.’
‘What if he’s not?’
‘He will be,’ Thorne said forcefully. ‘I’ll be there in . . .’ He looked to JD.
‘Fifteen minutes,’ JD said.
‘I heard,’ Jamie said, his voice breaking again. ‘Hurry, Thorne. Please.’
‘I am.’ He swallowed hard. ‘Phil loves you. He will fight for you.’
‘But he was so tired. What if he’s too tired?’
Jamie sounded like a frightened child and it was breaking Thorne’s heart. ‘I’m on my way,’ was all he could think to say. ‘I love you.’
Jamie sobbed once. ‘Me too. We just got here. Frederick is stopping at the ER door. Hurry.’ And he hung up.
Thorne pressed his fist to his mouth. ‘Gwyn’s okay?’
‘Yes. Clay and Stevie are sticking close. Ford and Taylor are backing them up. Paige is taking Ruby to the hospital. She’s apparently a mess. Ruby, not Paige.’
God. Ruby and Sam were so damn happy. And they would continue to be, he told himself sternly. Sam was a tough bastard. But Ruby . . . ‘This can’t be good for Ruby or the baby.’
‘Let’s not borrow trouble,’ JD said sternly. ‘We have enough of our own already.’ He turned on his siren and punched the accelerator. ‘Hold on.’
Hunt Valley, Maryland,
Tuesday 14 June, 4.30 A.M.
‘Good Lord, Gwyn.’ Lucy tiptoed into Clay’s kitchen, Wynnie in her arms. ‘You scared me. I didn’t expect anyone to be in here.’
Gwyn looked up from the article she’d been reading on her laptop. ‘I was banished.’
Lucy chuckled. ‘Why?’
‘I was pacing and everyone was trying to sleep, but there’s no way I can. Not with Thorne so wound up over Phil. And Sam. And Agent Ingram.’ His texts over the last few hours had all been the same. Still waiting. No news. ‘I kept asking if anyone else had news, but I was doing it kind of often.’ She was actually annoying herself with her anxiety, so she didn’t blame the group for becoming impatient.
Yawning, Lucy settled herself in one of the chairs and cradled her baby to her breast. ‘I know there hasn’t been any news, because JD just called me.’
‘Then why did he call you?’
‘He says it’s because he found a big bag of your dog’s food in the back of Jamie’s minivan and figured you’d be needing it. I think he really just wants to see me and the kids. He does that sometimes when the stress starts to build, but don’t tell him I said so. He thinks he’s being all stealthy about it. Anyway, he wanted to be sure someone was awake to take the dog food, because he can’t stay long.’
‘Thank you. Thank him, I mean. I was going to have to go out and get some.’
‘Like anyone’s going to let you do that.’ Lucy rolled her eyes. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Well, I went through the club’s books, making sure that there wasn’t any trail that would lead from Mowry to the Circus Freaks, because the cops will subpoena our files. It’s just a matter of time. I mean, I could see the pattern now that I know it’s there, but I don’t think even a seasoned forensic accountant will find any irregularities. But my audit didn’t take as long as I thought it would, so I started looking into the Lindens, specifically Patricia. She gets mentioned a lot in the society pages, but I went back to the articles around the time of Richard’s murder.’
‘Anything interesting?’ Lucy crooned, not wanting to disturb Wynnie, who was suckling with concentrated determination.
‘Linden Senior and Mrs Linden had both been married before. Richard and Patricia weren’t blood relatives. But they took very pretty family portraits. I found an archive in the Lindens’ company website with the Christmas portraits they took every year. Patricia was devastated by Richard’s murder and apparently the media attention was pushing her toward a breakdown. Her parents sent her away to relatives in Europe, where she finished high school. Everybody paid a price for Richard’s death. Thorne and Sherri most of all. I found a photo of the two of them together in one of the articles covering her death. Sherri was very pretty. You could tell she was a dynamo, just from her picture and what her friends said about her when she died.’
‘Looks like Thorne has a soft spot for tiny dynamos,’ Lucy said fondly. She cocked her head. ‘That was the front door. JD’s here.’
‘I’ll tell him you’re back here,’ Gwyn said, shutting down her laptop and hurrying to the front door where JD was setting the bag of dog food against the foyer wall.
‘Thank you,’ Gwyn said, and he smiled down at her wearily.
‘You’re welcome. Where’s Lucy?’
‘She’s in the kitchen with Wynnie. How . . . how long are you gonna be here?’
He gave her a knowing look. ‘Not long. I’m going back to the hospital.’
‘Take me with you?’ Gwyn begged. ‘Please? Thorne keeps texting and I know he’s losing his mind. I just want to be there with him.’
‘Security is good there,’ JD said after considering it. ‘Give me a few minutes with Lucy and I’ll be back out.’
She threw her arms around his neck. ‘Thank you.’ He patted her back, but his face looked stunned when she stepped back. ‘What?’
‘That’s the first hug you’ve given me. Like that, I mean.’
Because she’d met JD right when everything with Evan hit the fan. But now I’m back. I’m really back. ‘It won’t be the last.’
Baltimore, Maryland,
Tuesday 14 June, 5.40 A.M.
Hospitals were noisy places, even at night. Gwyn remembered that from the two days she’d spent in the hospital after Evan. But she mostly remembered the relief at being able to leave. The arm Thorne had placed around her as he’d helped her into his car. The gentleness with which he’d laid her in his bed and kissed her on the forehead and told her that everything would be all right.
It’s always been him, she thought, slowing her step as she and JD approached Phil’s room in the cardiac ICU. His room was easy to spot – it was the only one with an armed police officer standing guard outside.
There had been a lot of armed officers elsewhere in and around the hospital. They stood outside the rooms belonging to Sam and Agent Ingram, and by the doors to the waiting rooms where their families and friends had gathered.
The waiting room was where she and JD had gone first. Joseph was there, sitting with Mrs Ingram, who’d been weeping. That did not bode well. They found that Sam had been moved to a regular room and Ruby was with him. She’d had a sonogram, at Sam’s insistence. Word was that the baby was okay, so the news wasn’t all bad.
Gwyn got to meet Sally Brewster, the pediatric nurse, who’d come to sit with Frederick during her break. Frederick looked worn and so damn tired. But clean, because JD had driven him home for a shower and a change of clothes.
JD had been simply amazing, which really came as no surprise. She’d observed him being amazing to Lucy for the last four and a half years.
Now he was being amazing to Gwyn herself, walking her to Phil’s room, where Thorne and Jamie kept vigil. Because now that she was here, she was a little apprehensive. Thorne had told her explicitly to stay at Clay’s. She was nervous about what he’d say when he saw her.
Then she raised her chin. This relationship didn’t have a chance of success if Thorne thought he could command her. She’d nip that in the bud right away.
Still, she was glad JD was with her.
‘You sure you want to do this?’ he whispered.
‘If this were Lucy’s dad, would you?’
‘If this were Lucy’s dad, I’d have set off firecrackers to send him over the heart attack edge,’ JD said dryly. Because Lucy’s dad had been an abusive bastard. ‘But I get your point. I’d want Lucy with me if I were in Thorne’s position.’
‘Thank you.’
She approached the room on tiptoes. As she peeked around the doorway, her knees went weak. Phil’s eyes were open and he was looking up at Jamie, who held his hand. Thorne stood off to the side, tears on his face. But she could see that they were good tears.
Thorne inhaled then, and his shoulders stiffened as his body turned toward the door. His dark brows furrowed, his jaw going tight. ‘What. The. Fuck?’ he whispered loudly.
‘Shh,’ Jamie scolded, then followed his line of sight. ‘Come in, Gwyn.’
Gwyn obeyed, her feet carrying her to the bed, her eyes not looking at Thorne. She leaned in and stroked Phil’s pale cheek with one finger. ‘Hey there.’
‘Hey, Amber Kelly,’ Phil whispered, one corner of his mouth hooking up. ‘Thorne is not pleased with you.’
‘I know,’ she whispered back. ‘But I think he’s going to have to get used to that.’
Phil’s eyes were tired, but they managed a small sparkle. ‘I knew you had it in you.’
Jamie’s chuckle was watery. ‘Mount St Thorne is about to explode. Take him home. Or somewhere.’
She kissed Phil’s cheek, then went around the bed to kiss Jamie’s. ‘Taking him home now. I’ll make sure he sleeps.’ She reached for Thorne’s hand. ‘Come on.’
He let her take his hand, but he didn’t say a word. Not until they were outside in JD’s SUV. Then he let it roar.
‘What the actual fuck?’ he shouted, so loudly that her ears rang. ‘JD, what were you thinking?’
‘That we had excellent security at the hospital and that she was likely to be duct-taped to a chair by everyone at Clay’s who was trying to sleep but couldn’t because she kept pacing and asking everyone if they had news.’ JD sighed. ‘And that you might need her.’
Thorne huffed out a breath. ‘It was stupid.’
No, it wasn’t stupid. And Gwyn was aware that he hadn’t denied needing her. So she’d see where this went. An angry Thorne could be interesting.
Which was interesting in and of itself. Because there wasn’t one bone in that man’s body that frightened her, even when he was about to explode with what he considered to be justified rage. He’d never hurt her.
‘Can we go to my place, JD? Or even a hotel? Clay’s house is completely full and I think Thorne’s going to need to yell at me a little.’
‘A lot,’ Thorne muttered.
‘You’re still under surveillance, Thorne. Joseph has someone waiting outside Gwyn’s place already. That’s where we figured you’d go.’
And for that, Gwyn gave JD another big hug when he walked them up to her condo and made sure they were locked safely inside for the night. Then she turned to Thorne, who was staring out the window, his expression thunderous and brooding.
‘Go ahead,’ she said. ‘Let me have it.’