Chapter 24
Bess
These past few days have been absolute magic.
That is, if I tune out the circumstances that got us here.
We’ve explored the woods all along the creek hiking.
I caught my very first brook trout under Hugo’s tutelage, which we cleaned and grilled for dinner.
I’ve been able to fine tune some recipes I’d been working on, the results closely scrutinized by Hugo and Phil.
We walked with Ragnar up to the Colter place and introduced him to Brant and Phil’s growing farm menagerie.
We’ve played card games, watched a few movies, built a bonfire under the stars, and talked, a lot.
We covered a lot of ground, most of it related to what I kept to myself for far too long.
Cancer, growing up with an overprotective mother who didn’t want me to make the mistakes she had, having a brother affiliated with organized crime, and yes, we also talked about the rape.
It turned out to be a tougher subject for Hugo than it was for me but, of course, I’ve had years to process what happened, yet it’s still fresh for him.
But it was good, cleansing in a way, and it feels good to have someone I’ve shared every dark corner with, who has stuck by my side.
Hugo opened up as well, and managed to shock me when he shared about struggles in his marriage I hadn’t been aware of. Turns out things weren’t always as perfect as they looked from the outside.
Of course, the other thing we did plenty of was have sex.
Copious amounts of sex. I’m pretty sure I’ve had more orgasms in the past couple of days than I’d accumulated over the rest of my life.
What can I say? Not only is Hugo exceptionally talented and nicely equipped, but he’s also the man I love.
What’s more, he loves me, and I’ve never in my life felt as free and unburdened to enjoy the attention focused on me.
Being the center of attention under any other circumstances would make me cringe, but not with Hugo.
He loves me.
I almost hit the floor, along with my carrot cake, when he made that declaration. I was not expecting that.
I’d hoped one day he might, but not this quickly. It’s amazing to me that not that long ago, I was resigned to loving this man from afar for the rest of my life.
Now look at us, snuggled up in bed in a state of postcoital bliss, watching the sun rise outside the window.
“What do you want to do today?” Hugo asks, his breath brushing my forehead.
“I’m not sure. I think there may be enough eggs left for me to make a quiche today.”
He squeezes me in his arms. “You know you don’t always have to be responsible for all our food, right? Your skills may be way superior to mine, but I’ve been known to throw together a decent meal from time to time,” he points out.
I turn in his arms and rest my chin on his chest so I can look at him. “I’m aware, but food is my love language. Always has been. And there’s nothing better than feeding people I love.”
That earns me another squeeze and a smile I feel down to my toes.
“I just wish Carson was here, so I could feed him too.”
I’ve been thinking about Hugo’s son a lot, feeling guilty for keeping his father from him. I even tried to suggest Hugo should go home to be with his son, but that idea was abruptly dismissed.
“As much as I love you wanting to feed my son, I’m sure he’s not starving,” he suggests. “Besides, he seems to be having a good time at Cody’s, so I’m not so worried about him.”
I grumble a little, putting my cheek back down to his chest.
“Still…as much as I enjoy being here with you, how long can we keep this up? You should be working—Savvy’s carrying too much on her shoulders already—and I need to get back to running my business, I’ve been generating zero income since the fire.”
“Tiring of me already?” he teases.
I pull on a couple of stray chest hairs in retaliation.
“Don’t mock me; it’s a valid question.”
“Yes, it is,” he concedes. “But as we heard yesterday, the FBI tracked down and captured the two gang members they believe tried to break into my house, and are actively questioning those suspects in hopes they’ll give up the individual who put out the order.
Also, Mancuso seems to be making some headway with your brother. Things are progressing, albeit slowly.”
I press a kiss to his chest before disentangling myself and swinging my legs out of bed.
“I hope so, because pretty soon I’ll be out of funds to pay my staff, and without Lola and Emmet, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get Strange Brew back up and running.”
Hugo rolls on his side and props himself up on his elbow.
“All the credit to Lola and Emmet for the way they’ve stepped up but, Twinkie, you’re the heart and soul of Strange Brew. It is now, and will be long after Lola and Emmet have moved on.”
Then he suddenly surges up and jumps out of bed as well, scooping me up in his arms.
“Now, can I interest you in a shower?”
It’s already almost noon by the time I turn off the blow-dryer, shake out my hair, and allow myself one last glimpse in the mirror before leaving the bathroom.
I hardly recognize myself, this glowing, confident woman staring back at me.
I may be imagining things, but even my hair seems to have a deeper shine to it.
For no reason other than my own satisfaction, I dress with a little more attention than I have in the past few days.
My newest pair of barrel jeans I’ve had to wash three times already to get the smell of smoke out, a clean white T-shirt, and the intricately crocheted sweater vest Dana bought me for my thirty-ninth birthday, but haven’t had a chance to wear yet.
Feeling good about myself, I walk down the hallway separating the main bedroom suite from the kitchen and living room, when I hear the sound of voices on the other side of the wall. I’m pretty sure one of them belongs to Savvy.
“How did you know where to find us?” I’m already asking as I freeze right inside the kitchen when I see not only Savvy, but the FBI agent standing by the island.
Hugo immediately comes for me and slips an arm around my shoulders.
Savvy shrugs at my question. “I knew you guys wouldn’t go far, so when my dad canceled standing dinner plans with some cockamamie excuse, and Phil avoided my phone calls altogether, the wheels started turning.”
Of course they did, it wouldn’t be Savvy if she wasn’t driven to get to the bottom of every mystery. I guess that’s why my friend is the sheriff of Edwards County.
“Okay, fair enough, but what are you doing here?” I indicate the space around me. “And with a guest,” I add, before turning to SAC Mancuso. “No offense.”
He shrugs easily. “None taken.”
“Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?” I push on.
“Exactly what I was hoping they could fucking explain,” Hugo grumbles, shooting stern glances at Savvy and the agent.
“Your brother is ready to make a deal,” Mancuso responds, taking the lead.
“He is? What does that mean? What kind of deal?”
I’m surprised he’s even considering talking.
“It means he’s willing to share any and all information related to Shane Lee and the Lotus Squad, details that should help us take down the organization piece by piece, in return for protection under the WITSEC program.”
“Great,” Hugo reacts. “But that doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“Because he demands to talk to Bess first.”
Hugo
“It’s dangerous.”
She smiles at me and puts a calming hand on my chest.
We’re in the bedroom, where she dragged me after I went off on Mancuso for even entertaining that idea.
“So is trying to hide when it’s just a matter of time before Shane Lee finds us as well. This is not a tenable situation for the long term. This is an opportunity for me to take an active role instead of passively waiting for others to fix my problems. It’s a chance to take back some control.”
I hear her.
Fuck, I even agree with what she’s saying, but that doesn’t mean I have to like having her out in the open again, vulnerable to threats.
Shane fucking Lee is still out there and hasn’t been accounted for, neither have God knows how many members in the Lotus Squad ranks.
The danger is no less than it was before Ken Choi decided to finally do the right thing, and I really resent the fact he’s determined to put his sister in that vulnerable position once again.
“I want a chance to talk to him,’ Bess pleads. “Listen, this will likely be the last opportunity I have. You heard Mancuso, he’ll be in protective custody until he disappears into the witness protection program. I’ll never see him or talk to him again. He’s my blood. My only blood.”
I can’t stand to see the tears glistening in her eyes, even as she fights hard to hold them off. Dropping my forehead to hers, I blow out a breath, releasing some of the tension in my body.
“You’re right,” I give in. “But we’re not running out there without a solid security plan in place for you. I don’t care if we have to hire added security to do it, but I’m not willing to take any chances. You’ll have to give me that.”
The grateful smile she beams up at me means a lot. But even more so do the words that follow.
“Then make your arrangements for my safety. I trust you implicitly.”
I sweep her up, branding myself on her in a fiery kiss. Then I grab her hand and lead the way back to the kitchen, where Savvy and Mancuso are patiently waiting.
Then I lay out my own demands.
“Ready?”
I glance over at Bess, who is almost unrecognizable wearing the slouchy beanie with unfamiliar blond waves draped over her shoulders, as well as a pair of bold-framed sunglasses hiding her expressive eyes.
Bess already had the glasses, but the wig and beanie are courtesy of Phil, who apparently kept some accessories from her previous life as a rock star.
As for myself, I’ve tucked my flannel shirt in the waistband of my jeans, and am wearing Brant Colter’s beloved Stetson. He entrusts me with both the hat and his old Ford Bronco.
While Bess and I hiked along the creek up to the Colter place, Savvy and Mancuso stayed at the house to throw off anyone who may have followed them. Half an hour later, they returned to town to make sure security measures are in place at the hospital where Ken is still under guard.
Savvy had called ahead to let Brant and Phil know we were on our way.
Initially, her father wanted to drive the Bronco with Bess and me hiding in the back seat, but Savvy nixed that, explaining for Bess and I to walk into the hospital unchecked, our best chance to do so would be in some kind of disguise, looking like we belonged.
Given that we’ll be driving the Bronco, it made sense to look like Brant and Phil. Not that we’d pass close scrutiny, but hopefully just enough for people to skim over us and not look too closely.
“Ready,” she confirms, sounding confident.
But when I grab her hand to give it a little squeeze, I find it clammy.
“It’ll be okay,” I try to assure her as I pull the vehicle out of Brant’s garage.
She flashes a smile.
“I know. It’s not that. I’m just worried about what to say to Ken. It’ll be the last thing he hears from my mouth, and I want it to mean something.”
My opinion—as strongly as I feel it—has no place here, so I keep my thoughts to myself. As far as I’m concerned, Ken Choi does not deserve any consideration. The guy is once again putting his sister in the crosshairs. But he’s not the only family I have.
No sooner do I turn onto the main drag into town, when a green pickup turns out of a driveway on the other side of the road.
I watch in my rearview mirror as it tags on behind me.
I can only make out a driver, a guy wearing a ball cap and a pair of reflective shades that make it hard to distinguish any features.
That didn’t take fucking long.
Letting go of Bess’s hand, I reach for the gun I have tucked under my thigh. Steering one-handed, I keep the weapon I have in my other hand on my lap.
“What’s happening?” Bess wants to know.
“Just being cautious, that’s all.”
Still, she jumps at the sound of my phone ringing from the cup holder where I tossed it.
“Could you get that for me?” I ask her. I don’t have any hands to spare. “Put it on speaker.”
“Relax,” Roy Battaglia’s voice comes through. I can hear he’s smiling. “You’re looking a little tense behind the wheel.”
I narrow my eyes on the driver of the truck in my rearview mirror and watch as he slowly raises his hand and wiggles his fingers.
“You son of a bitch. You could’ve given me a heads-up,” I grumble.
Roy laughs. “I did, but apparently you don’t check your messages.
If you had, you’d also know one of my guys in a silver RAV will tag up at the base of Elm Street and follow you the rest of the way to the hospital.
I’m going to stay a couple of vehicles behind once he tags in.
The point is, you can relax, we’ve got your back. ”
The line goes dead and Bess breathes out a sigh of relief.
Good, I don’t want her to worry.
But there’s no way I’m letting go of my gun.