Chapter 16
16
Vinnie pulled into the lot at Molly’s apartment complex and found a spot near her building. He turned off his SUV and opened the door.
“You don’t have to walk me up,” she argued.
“It’s that or you come home with me. You can have the couch.”
“You already have a houseguest.”
“Yep, and she’s in my bed. The couch is empty.”
“Ew. I don’t want to hear you two having sex.”
“Then you should let me walk you up.”
Molly rolled her eyes and let Vinnie help her out of the SUV. She was sore, and the doctor said she’d be stiff for a few days, but she was lucky and had no major injuries.
“I hate this,” Molly said.
“Everyone does. Are you sure Hannah’s going to be able to stay with you?”
Molly nodded. “She’s coming by after her date.”
“And you’re going to call me if she can’t?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
Vinnie grinned and opened the door to her building. Molly walked inside slowly. She had bruises on her shins from the airbags, and her shoulders and neck were sore from the impact. She wasn’t cleared to return to work, but the doctor said there was no reason Molly couldn’t go back in a week if she didn’t feel worse. She probably had a concussion, but it was minor and there was nothing the doctor could do for it. He wasn’t worried about major issues. Thankfully.
Molly’s apartment was small like Vinnie’s, but it was more updated. She had an elevator to get them to the fourth floor, and a quiet hallway that she constantly said was the only reason she could sleep during the day when they worked a night shift.
Vinnie wasn’t so lucky, but he wasn’t willing to spend his money on a nicer place. Not when he wasn’t sure he’d be able to afford it forever.
Molly unlocked her door and led the way inside. She dropped her keys into a ceramic bowl on a table next to the door, then trudged to the living room and collapsed onto the couch.
“Do you want something for the pain?” Vinnie asked.
Molly refused any IV pain meds when she was in the hospital. The doctor said she could take over-the-counter meds when she got home. They wouldn’t work as well, but they were better than nothing.
Molly shook her head. “I’m going to suffer through it.”
“Why? Just take something. You’re going to be miserable.”
“I’m going to be miserable no matter what.”
“Yeah, but you’ll be less miserable if you take something.”
Molly’s grumble was enough of an answer for Vinnie to go to her bathroom and dig through her medicine cabinet. He found generic pills and dumped four into his hand. He stopped in the kitchen and filled a glass with water, then brought both to Molly.
She smiled weakly at him and didn’t argue before she swallowed the pills.
“What do you need?”
“Less bruises,” Molly said.
“Funny. What can I actually get you?”
“Nothing. I’m good. You can go home and see your girl.”
“She’s fine. She knows I’m here. She said she hopes you’re okay.”
“I’m good. Now, go.”
“Why are you trying to kick me out?”
“I’m not. I just don’t want you to have to be here all day when you have someone you want to spend time with.”
“And I’m telling you I’m good.”
Molly sighed. “I wouldn’t pass up something to eat.”
Vinnie nodded and went to her kitchen. He wasn’t a gourmet chef, but he could hold his own. He made them lunch while Molly found something to watch.
When Vinnie brought out the chicken and vegetables he stir-fried together, Molly sat up and accepted the bowl.
“How the hell did you do this with the ingredients in my kitchen?”
Vinnie chuckled. “Most of this was in the freezer. I took a chance that you weren’t planning to use it for anything.”
“I didn’t even know it was there. It smells amazing.”
“Eat. Want more water?”
“Yes, please.”
Vinnie sat next to her on the couch and watched a show about people buying a house in Australia. They argued about which house the couple should get, and Molly claimed victory when she guessed the one they were going to buy.
An hour or so later, Molly began to fade. Vinnie cleaned up the kitchen and made sure she had her phone and remote close, so she could reach out if she needed anything.
“Are you sure you’re good?” he asked.
She nodded. She looked a lot better with food and pain meds, but it was going to be a while before she was feeling back to normal. “I’m good. I promise.”
“Okay. Offer stands to come to my place. Just let me know.”
“I’d rather be home alone tonight.”
Vinnie grinned. “Understood, but the doctor said no. We want you back soon.”
“I’ll be back before you,” Molly taunted.
Vinnie chuckled. “Probably. And I’d be thrilled with that.”
“Go back to your girl. Tell her I’m sorry I pulled you away for so long.”
“She’s all good. She was trying to learn more about her cases. Getting frustrated, but she was staying at my place all day.”
“Good. Thanks, Vinnie. I… Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Mol. I hate that you needed me, but I’m glad you called.”
She smiled, wincing when she tried to move.
He helped her up, moving slowly so she didn’t feel the need to hurry. He hugged her, then let himself out of the apartment. She locked the door behind him, and he headed for the elevator.
As soon as he was back in his SUV, he called Hannah.
“What’s up?”
“Just wanted to give you an update on Molly. What time are you getting here?”
“What are you talking about?” Hannah asked.
“Molly’s accident. She said she talked to you about coming over tonight.”
“Molly was in an accident?” Hannah screeched.
“Dammit. She played me.”
“Yeah, she did. Now, start at the beginning and tell me what the fuck is going on.”
Vinnie laid out the day for Hannah, from Molly’s call and the police and paramedic insisting she go to the hospital to dropping her off at home and her saying Hannah would be there after her date.
“For fuck’s sake. Is she okay?” Hannah asked.
“Yeah, I think so. She’s in pain and she will be for a while. I guess I should have known she called me because I’m not going to be at work for a while. I was the sucker who couldn’t tattle on her.”
“She’s shit out of luck now. I’m already on my way.”
“Do you have a date tonight?”
“Yeah, but I can reschedule. Molly’s more important.”
“Are you sure, Hannah?”
“Yeah. I know you have shit going on. How are things with Lorelei?”
“Good.”
“Okay, good. Listen, I’ll be there in five. You don’t have to wait for me. Unless she’s not allowed to be alone?”
“No, she can be for a little while. Not overnight, though. The doctor said it would be better if someone was there tonight, but after that she should be fine. She’s mostly okay. Bruised, not broken.”
“We’ll see after I arrive,” Hannah threatened.
“Go easy on her. She’s injured.”
“And she should have called me.”
“I know, but?—”
“I know, I know. I’ll go easy on her.”
“Thanks, Hannah. I should have called you earlier. I’m sorry I didn’t.”
“Not on you, Vin. Thanks for letting me know what’s going on.”
“Yep. Keep me posted.”
“I will.”
Vinnie hung up and set his phone in the center console. He pulled out of the lot and made his way home, anxious to see how Lorelei did all day without him.
He was getting out of his SUV when another vehicle pulled into the lot. He wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but the large black SUV had tinted windows and was definitely not standard issue.
Vinnie made his way to the door, watching the SUV as it pulled to a stop at the curb. He narrowed his gaze on the vehicle.
The driver waved.
What the hell?
Vinnie stepped away from the building as the backdoor opened. He reached for his gun, just in case, and was shocked when Lorelei slid out of the SUV.
“Lorelei?”
“Hey,” she said.
A man came around the back of the SUV, approaching Vinnie with an outstretched hand. “Austin Ward. That’s my partner, Samuel MacNeil. We work for Rose Protection Agency.”
“And why are you with her? Did something happen? Are you okay?” Vinnie did a quick scan, failing to find any injuries.
“I’m fine. It’s a precaution,” Lorelei said.
“She was followed today. She went to see a woman she rescued from a kidnapper a year ago. He somehow followed her and almost got to both women,” Austin explained.
“Abigail Painter?” Vinnie asked.
Austin nodded.
“You found her? I thought you didn’t know where she was,” Vinnie asked Lorelei.
“I searched her name, and it gave me an address.”
“Why did you go alone?”
Lorelei hung her head. “I was just going to see if I recognized her. I didn’t plan to talk to her. I didn’t know the guy was following me.”
“What if he’d attacked you?”
“She broke his arm. Maybe his knee,” Austin declared, a proud smile on his face.
“You did what?” Vinnie barked.
“It was fine. I’m an FBI Agent. I know how to defend myself,” Lorelei snapped.
Vinnie drew a breath. “You’re right. And I shouldn’t have gotten upset. But you don’t have a weapon. You don’t know what situation you’re walking into. I would have gone with you.”
“I know. I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal.”
Vinnie sighed. “I’m glad you’re safe. Is Abigail okay?”
“She will be. We’re going to relocate her,” Austin said.
“She’s in WITSEC?” Vinnie asked.
Austin nodded. “The guy who kidnapped her was never caught. He’s connected to a few other unsolved cases.”
“Shit,” Vinnie breathed.
“It’ll be okay. But no more exploring,” Austin chastised Lorelei.
Lorelei nodded, moving toward the building without looking back.
“Thanks for bringing her back,” Vinnie said. He shook Austin’s hand, then followed Lorelei to the building.
She didn’t say anything as she moved to the stairs. She struggled to make her way up them, and when she got to his apartment, she finally looked up at him.
“I know I screwed up,” she said quietly.
Vinnie unlocked the apartment and held the door for her to go in. “You didn’t mean to. You had no idea she was in protection.”
Lorelei shook her head. “It’s not only that. Someone was following me, and I had no idea. And I went out alone. I…”
“You what?”
“I think that’s why I was taken. I went to meet someone alone. Adam said two others offered to go with me, but I said it was fine. If I’d let someone else go, I might not have been attacked. I might not have disappeared.”
Vinnie pulled her into his arms. She trembled against him. He wanted to take all her pain and fear away, but he didn’t know how.
She wasn’t wrong. If she hadn’t been alone, it would have been safer. Before and now. But she was strong and capable and could do anything.
The problem was the bad guys didn’t always play by the rules.
Or ever.
“What can I do?” Vinnie asked.
“Just let me beat myself up for a minute. I know I screwed up, and I need to sit with it so I don’t do it again. So I don’t think I’m invincible again.”
“None of us are. That’s why we work with teams.”
Lorelei nodded. “I just need to remember that.”
“You do. And you need to remember you’re not alone. Come on. Show me how you found Abigail Painter. Maybe we can come up with some other names and people who aren’t on the witness protection list.”
Lorelei snorted. “That would be good.”
The boss peered out the window at the shitty apartment complex where Lorelei Sloane disappeared. She sure was lowering her standards for this one.
“She’s almost making this too easy,” the boss whispered.
“What are you going to do to her?” Nina asked.
“For now, nothing. She almost got that woman killed because she’s so damn incapable,” the boss said.
“It looked like she handled herself.”
The boss snorted. “She got lucky. If he wasn’t such a bumbling fool, it would have been a different story. How many people can’t take out a woman on crutches?”
“Did you send him there?” Nina asked.
The boss looked at Nina. Her wide eyes said Nina was shocked the boss could do something like that. Why, that was a mystery.
“Of course I did.”
“Why would you send him there? You don’t know that woman. She has nothing to do with us.”
The boss shook her head, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She pushed it back and focused on Nina. “This is how I build my organization. I’ve lost employees lately.” She shook her head. “Stupid men who can’t follow orders. I need to refill the ranks.”
“With a man who kidnaps and rapes women?”
The boss turned to face Nina. “He’s already trained. I don’t have to do much to get him up to speed. Of course, him being on the FBI radar already could be a problem.”
“Discretion is key.”
“Always. You’re learning.”
Nina smiled under the boss’s praise. One day, she might have the potential for more. She was still too innocent, too na?ve. When she came to the company, to the boss, she was broken and lost. She needed a place where she felt like she was valued and contributing.
The boss gave her all of that and more. She gave Nina a home, a future. Nina was like a sister, someone she was going to take care of forever.
Everyone knew Nina was the most important person to the boss. She was the closest thing to family. Her only family.
Just like the boss was Nina’s family. The only family she was allowed to talk about. The boss made sure of it.
“Hopefully he can evade capture, but if he doesn’t get his head in the game, he’s not going to have an option to continue his employment.”
“But you told him where to find that woman. Why would you tell him if you were going to get angry at him for going after her?”
“If he’d succeeded in capturing her, killing her, he would have had the job without question. But since he failed, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“You’re not going to give him a chance?”
“I gave him a chance. What would you do?” It was a test. To see if Nina was starting to understand how things worked.
Patience and understanding were not the way to run a business. Not at all.
Nina considered the question for a minute, then shook her head.
The boss fought the quirk of her lips. She was proud, but giving Nina too much praise was not good for her. She needed to always be looking for approval.
“Like you said, he didn’t succeed. But also, the FBI is watching him. He’s too much of a risk.”
“I agree. What would you suggest we do?”
“Do?”
The boss quirked an eyebrow. “Yes, do.”
“What do you mean?”
“He knows more than most people who don’t work for us. He had exposure to parts of the business he shouldn’t have.”
“Which means?”
“You tell me. What would you do?”
Nina looked out the window. “He has to go, doesn’t he?”
“Say it, Nina.”
“He has to be killed,” she said, her voice soft and unsure.
“Why?” the boss asked.
Nina looked up at her. Her lower lip wobbled. “Because he can ruin everything.”
The boss nodded. “We can’t risk that, Nina. We can’t risk anyone who can destroy everything we’ve worked so hard for. And he knows too much.”
Nina nodded, but she didn’t look too happy about it.
It didn’t matter. She didn’t make the decisions. No one but the boss decided who lived.
And who died.