Chapter 10

 

Kiley’s leg bounced as she sat beside the detective’s desk at the police station.

“There’s no need to be nervous,” Detective Baron told her calmly. “Just tell me what you know about these men who attacked you and this ex-boyfriend of yours.”

She nodded but couldn’t bring herself to say anything until Charlie held her hand. He gave her an encouraging smile, and she started from the very beginning. She told the detective everything she could remember about Ned and his drug dealing and who he worked with. She didn’t know a lot of names, but Detective Baron’s pen hardly stopped writing. His face darkened each time she came to a part about Ned hurting her or someone else. She expected him to yell at her for not stopping him, but he never said a word.

“And the men who attacked you in the alley, they said Ned stole from them?”

She nodded and her hand went automatically to her thigh where the word was still visible. “Something like that. They attacked me and I wound up in the hospital. They broke into my hotel room, stole what I had, and then yesterday…yesterday they came after me again.” Her voice broke, but it wasn’t from fear. It was from anger. “They wanted money.”

“And you paid the money?” Detective Baron asked Charlie to clarify. They’d run through what happened briefly when they first arrived and been directed to Baron.

“I couldn’t let them keep her,” he said roughly.

“I don’t blame you. This warehouse, do you remember the address?”

Kiley and Charlie nodded together and she jotted it down for him. “Look, if you’re going to arrest me, can you do it and get it over with?”

“Why would I arrest you?” Detective Baron asked, his brow wrinkling.

“I was involved with Ned,” she pointed out, but he leaned back in his chair with a sympathetic frown wrinkling his brow.

“Ms. Innis, do you know how many women wind up in your situation? More than I can count, and do you know how many manage to escape with their lives?” His eyes narrowed as he said sadly, “Too few too count. From where I sit, you were a victim as much as those people he hurt. I’m not arresting you. With what you’ve given me, we might be able to finally get this bastard.”

“But he has cops on his side,” she whispered. “Street cops. They won’t arrest him.”

“Then it’s a good thing you came to me. I’ve been after Ned for years.”

Kiley relaxed and tears of relief burned her eyes. She wiped at them hastily as Baron handed her a tissue. “Can I go wash up in the ladies’ room? I’m sorry, it’s…it’s been a long few days.”

“Yes, I’m sure it has, but Ms. Innis? You have no idea how many people this will help. Thank you for coming forward. I know it was hard, but we’ll keep you safe. You have nothing to fear from that bastard anymore.”

She wished she could so easily believe him, but when she reached the bathroom and locked herself in a stall, her head spun and she thought she might be sick. If Ned found out, he would find a way to get to her. The cops said they would keep her safe, but could they really? There was always a chance he would come after her—or Charlie. The idea of running looked even more enticing than before. She could go stay with one of her friends for a few months. Find a job and save some cash to move somewhere else.

And you’ll leave Charlie behind? After everything he’s done for you?

Kiley held her head, leaning against the back of the stall. She had no idea what to do, but staying in this city while the cops went after Ned and those thugs was not a smart plan.

***

Charlie sat down beside Detective Baron’s desk, answering a few more questions for the man. When he finished and Kiley hadn’t come back yet, he leaned in closer. “Would it be all right if I took Kiley away from the city?” he asked. “You’ve got our numbers. I think it would do her good to get away for a week.”

Baron tapped his pen on his desk. “Where would you take her?”

“My parents’ place. They have a home in Maine and have begged me to visit all year. I’ll give you the address and their number as well.”

Baron smiled warmly. “Taking her to meet the folks? You two are a mite more serious than I first thought.”

Charlie grinned. “It’s turning out that way.”

“Well, you have my gratitude, for what it’s worth. I’m sure her family feels the same, for keeping her safe.”

“She doesn’t have any family,” he said sadly. “She’s by herself.”

Baron pursed his lips. “They always seem to be like that. Now she has you, though.”

“Yeah, she does, whether she truly believes it or not.”

“She does, I can see it in her eyes and the way she held your hand.”

Charlie smirked. “Are those your detecting skills at work?”

Baron barked a laugh. “Nah, those would be my married for thirty plus years skills. She loves you and I can tell you love that woman right back. Don’t wait too damn long to tell her,” he added with a wink. “Take her out of the city, but we may need her back at short notice.”

“I’ll keep our phones handy.”

“Good. And if she thinks of anything else, tell her to call me and only me,” he said, handing over a card for Charlie to hold onto. “She’s right about Ned having a few dirty cops on his side. We haven’t been able to prove anything yet, but we will.”

Charlie tucked the card in his wallet and stood when Baron nodded towards Kiley returning from the bathroom. She was still pale, but she didn’t seem as shaky. “Good news,” he told her when she reached the desk. “Detective Baron says we can get out of the city for a few days.”

Her eyes lit up instantly. “We can?”

“Yes, so long as we’re able to come back at a moment’s notice.”

“Where are we going?”

“Ever been to Maine?” he asked, offering her his arm to walk her to the door.

“I can’t say that I have, no. What’s in Maine?”

He waited until they were outside to say, “My parents and where I grew up.”

Kiley glanced up at him, and he swore he heard her gulp. “Oh, your parents. That sounds like a great trip. To go and meet your parents. Yes, not stressful in the least.”

He laughed as he walked her back to his bike. “Look, I meant to visit them while I was on vacation and you need to get away from here. It’s quiet where they live, a very small town, and they’ll like you. My mom’s a bit of a talker, though, so she might annoy you for a while, but she means well.”

She fiddled with the helmet strap. “No…I mean yes.”

“No, or yes?”

“I mean yes, I’ll go with you to Maine to meet your parents.” She put the helmet on her head and let out a heavy sigh. “After all, you are my boyfriend, right? And it’s not like I have any family for you to meet.”

“I met your family, remember?” He kissed her before he placed his helmet on. “Don’t worry. It’ll be a good time, promise.”

“Are you sure they’ll like me? I’m not exactly…normal, you know.”

“No, but think of all the great stories we have to tell.”

“Yes, near-death experiences make great first impressions,” she muttered. “I’ll need booze for this trip. Lots and lots of booze.”

“That can be easily arranged. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

She cursed loudly and he grinned, started the bike, and drove them home. Home. He already considered it her home, too. He wanted her to be able to relax for a while, which was why he offered to take her to Maine, but another part of him was curious to see what his parents thought of her and if she would fit into his life as a whole. He wondered if she considered his home hers yet, or if she still felt like a guest on an extended stay.

When they returned to the penthouse, she walked aimlessly around, and he saw the gears turning in her mind. “Kiley? What’s going on?”

She tucked her hair behind her ears as she bounced on the balls of her feet. “Would you mind calling that friend of yours? The…uh, the psychiatrist?”

“Dr. Voras?” he asked, surprised. “Sure. Do you want to talk to her?”

“Yes, you can smile, and yes, today, if she has time.” She sighed, and he stopped trying to hold back his grin. “I think it might be good to get a few things out in the open before I go away with you.”

“Do you want me to invite her over or would you like to call her?”

Kiley held out her hand for his phone, and he brought up Dr. Voras’ number. “Let me know if you need me to take you to her office or she can come here. I swear I won’t eavesdrop.”

“You better not, or I won’t share my recent purchases.”

“Recent purchases? I thought you bought clothes?”

“Oh, I bought so much more than merely clothes,” she purred, running her fingers along his chest.

Charlie started to follow her as she moved down the hall, but the phone was to her ear and she started talking to Dr. Voras. He gave her a lustful look filled with promises for what he would do to her later and let her be. He waited in the kitchen, reading through the paper from that morning and using his laptop to book two flights for tomorrow to Maine.

“She’ll be here in an hour,” Kiley said when she returned, handing him back his phone.

“I’m happy you’re talking to her.”

“Yeah, well, I’d prefer not to have a breakdown in front of your parents or on a plane.”

He turned from his laptop. “Are you on the verge of having a breakdown?”

“No,” she said but didn’t look him in the eye.

“Kiley, we both suck at lying. What’s going on?”

She puffed out her cheeks on a sigh. “Everything’s moving really fast and I like that it’s moving fast, but I’m worried, is all. Can’t I be worried? I feel after the last two weeks in your life, I’m allowed to be worried.”

He chuckled before she stopped talking and pulled her into his arms. “You’re allowed, but don’t let the stress get to you. You’re happy, right?” he asked and held his breath until she nodded. “And I’m happy and you’re getting back on your feet like you wanted. A fresh start.”

“Are you always this annoyingly optimistic?” she teased.

“You should know by now that I am.”

“You know it completely contradicts your other side,” she said, her hand cupping his groin. He rubbed it against her hand and she shivered in his arms. “What time did I say she would be here?”

“Not long enough for everything I want to do to you but long enough.”

Forty-five minutes later, Kiley cursed as she got stuck in her t-shirt and someone knocked on the door. Charlie laughed too hard from the bed to help her, and she chucked a shoe at him when she was finally unstuck. She winked, though, as she left and closed the door on his naked self walking to the bathroom. He stopped at the door to listen, but once he heard Mandie’s voice, he forced himself to keep walking and find a way to distract himself for a while.

After he was dressed, he meandered to the kitchen, but they weren’t there. He frowned until he heard them on the balcony, and he nearly ran out there but reminded himself Kiley was safe. She sat in a chair, talking to Dr. Voras—not sitting on the railing and not looking ready to jump off the ledge. He moved to the kitchen and finished booking the first-class tickets for tomorrow’s flight. Every few minutes, he glanced up and his heart ached at the raw pain on Kiley’s face as tears slipped down her cheeks. He wanted to comfort her, but Dr. Voras was with her. He trusted her to take care of Kiley.

With the trip booked, he texted his mom to let her know he and a friend would be coming to visit tomorrow. He apologized for it being last-minute, but she called him a second later. “Hey, Mom.”

“Charlie! I hoped you would come visit. Who’s this friend you’re bringing?” Barbara, his mom, asked in a rush. “Please tell me it’s a new girlfriend.”

“Yes, yes, it is.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Conor? Your son’s bringing a girl home.”

Charlie rolled his eyes when he heard his dad make some comment in the background.

“What time does your flight arrive? We’ll pick you up.”

“No, the airport is two hours away. We’ll drive,” he argued. “And please try not to ask too many questions in the first hour of meeting Kiley.”

“Kiley, such a pretty name.”

“Yeah, it is,” he agreed quietly. “She’s a good one, Mom.”

“Is she the one?” she asked.

Charlie opened his mouth to reply, but the realization that he wanted her to be the one hit him hard. He rubbed the back of his neck and watched her out on the balcony, how at home she was there. “There’s a chance,” he finally said. “There’s a damn good chance.”

“When did you meet her? You haven’t mentioned her before.”

“Well, that’s the thing. It’s a long story and it’s not exactly a good one.”

“Did you meet her at the hospital?”

“As a matter of fact, I did, and it’s been one hell of a roller coaster ride since. I’ll text you when we arrive tomorrow and a normal dinner is fine. We’re looking for a quiet few days away from the city,” he explained. “I’m not sure how much she’ll want to tell you, so you’ll have to be patient and not dig for answers.”

“If you insist,” she said warily. “No matter, we’ll do our best to make her feel at home.”

“Good, that’s what I was hoping for.” Dr. Voras stood and walked back inside. “Mom, I gotta go. I’ll text you tomorrow. Love you both.” He hung up and squinted at Dr. Voras, trying to read her expression.

“I’m very happy she decided to call me,” she told Charlie.

“How is she?”

“Usually, I would tell you I can’t share our conversation. However, Kiley gave me permission to tell you what we discussed,” she explained. “And she’s doing much better than the first time I spoke with her.”

Charlie rested his hands on the counter. “Good. She asked to talk to you and I thought the worst.”

“No, I think I have to eat my words here. Allowing her to stay with you and your personal relationship have done this woman more good than I thought it would.”

Charlie’s cheeks warmed. “She told you about that, huh?”

Dr. Voras grinned. “Yes, but she’s happy. Genuinely happy.”

“And? I feel a but coming on.”

“No, no buts. I think she was more concerned about somehow ruining what’s happening between you two. Your relationship exploded overnight,” she said. “She was grateful when you suggested leaving the city for a while. If you hadn’t, she feared she would have to leave herself.”

Charlie’s gut twisted. “She was going to leave? Why? And go where?”

“She worried about keeping you safe, especially after talking to the cops.”

“I told her not to worry about me.”

“Well, she will because she’s pretty sure she’s—never mind. I’ll let you figure that part out.”

Charlie’s brow furrowed as he glanced at the balcony to where Kiley sat, a gentle smile on her face as the afternoon wind rustled her hair. “She’s pretty sure she’s what?”

“Nope, that’s between you two. But she’s excited about this trip, really.”

“That’s all you’re going to tell me, isn’t it?”

“You’ll understand soon enough. Have a good trip. She has my number now, so if she needs anything, she can call me.” Dr. Voras patted him on the shoulder on her way out the door. “You did good work, Charlie. You did beyond good.”

Charlie thanked her and she left the penthouse. He stood in the kitchen, content with watching Kiley and picturing her on a different balcony, watching the world go by. She caught him watching and smiled. She did it so often now, he hardly remembered a time when he didn’t see her grinning or laughing. He couldn’t deny it any longer. He loved Kiley. They might have only known each other a few weeks, but she had stolen his heart as he hoped he had hers.

While they were in Maine, he would hopefully find out for certain.