Chapter 71
71
Irritation filled Faith as the phone went dead.
She paced up and down the kitchen. Bernard was making them both a cup of tea to soothe them. But tea wasn’t going to cut it.
Her heart was racing, and she felt so jumpy.
All she could remember was the cops demanding entrance. Bernard had tried to call Alejandro, but they’d been insistent, and he’d had no choice but to let them in. Several of Alejandro’s men had appeared with them, protecting her and Cat. But when they’d gotten rough with Rafael, Cat had snapped.
Fudge knuckles.
“I can help,” she muttered.
“You need to sit, Miss Faith,” Bernard told her soothingly. “Reuben will come for you as soon as he can.”
“No. No! I need to go to the police station, Bernard. And you’re going to take me.”
Reuben was standing in the police station when he heard his name being called. But he tried to ignore it as he tried to keep a fuming Alejandro from losing his cool.
Apparently, there was a witness who had seen someone matching Rafael’s description, throwing a body into the Hudson River.
Ridiculous. And as soon as they sorted Rafael’s alibi, he’d be free. The only problem was his alibi was Cat, who’d just lost all credibility.
And Bernard who the cops were meant to be contacting, but they were taking their own sweet time.
The real issue was Cat. She’d been arrested for assaulting a police officer. And that wasn’t going away anytime soon since there were cops as witnesses.
“Reuben!”
He glanced over, recognizing her voice. Then he saw her walking toward him with Bernard in front of her and the Scot behind them, looking grim. Alejandro had sent the Scot back to stay with Faith.
“What the fuck?” he snapped. “Bernard, you weren’t supposed to bring her with you.”
She flung herself at Reuben and he caught her easily. “Careful, baby. You’ll hurt yourself. I know you’re scared, but I need you to be safe.” The police station didn’t feel safe. Although it should be. Surely, even Darcy Rivers wouldn’t attack her here.
Except, a man capable of killing his own sister wasn’t really in his right mind.
So, Reuben drew her close and kept her against his side.
“I’ll tell someone you’re here, Bernard,” he said.
“No, wait. You need to tell them I’m here,” Faith said.
“What do you mean?”
“I need to get a message to Smith Childs,” she said.
“The police chief?” Alejandro asked, watching her closely.
“Yes.”
“Why would you want the police chief to know you’re here?” Reuben asked.
“He’s my cousin.”
Faith knew she was in trouble as soon as the words came out of her mouth. Both Reuben and Alejandro gaped at her.
“Your cousin?” Alejandro asked in a voice she’d never heard from him. Deadly. Dark.
“Alejandro,” Reuben warned.
Fudge. She was messing this all up.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Reuben asked. He was still holding her, but she could feel how tense he’d grown.
“In the beginning, I didn’t think it mattered. I don’t know him that well. My mom wanted me to contact him when I came here, but he’s a lot older than me. And I’ve been staying away from my family. Then I didn’t really think about it. It’s not like I think about him a lot.” She stared from one man to the other. “It’s not what you think. I’m not a spy or anything! I’d never do anything to harm you, Alejandro. Definitely not Cat. I’m really sorry.”
Reuben leaned into her. “We will definitely be talking about this later. But, come on. We may need your help.”
Reuben walked her over to a bored looking constable who gave her a skeptical look when she explained who she was, but as soon as he called through to someone, he sat up straighter.
About ten minutes later, Smith appeared. He was a big man. Wide in the shoulders. Taller than Reuben.
Intimidating.
He was scowling at them all. Then he turned to her, and his face lightened. “Faith, your mom has been worried sick about you. She’s been in contact with me several times about you.”
“Really? I’m sorry I haven’t visited you.” She stepped forward. “Can we talk?”
He eyed Alejandro with disgust, but he nodded. “Come with me. Just you.”
“She’s not going anywhere without me,” Reuben said, putting his arm around her.
Smith opened his mouth.
“Faith is in danger,” Reuben said. “She can’t be left alone.”
“Danger?” Smith asked in a low voice. Faith gave Reuben a surprised look. Lou had been found dead. How was she still in danger?
“I’ll explain it in private.”
Smith led them into an interview room. He gestured at the chairs across the table, but they all chose to stand.
This wasn’t filling her with warmth. Couldn’t he have taken them to his office?
“Can’t have you in my office,” Smith said. “Not a good look.”
Um. Okay.
“Faith, are you with him under duress?” Smith asked. “Say the word and I’ll take care of everything.”
Reuben stiffened, but to her surprise, he didn’t say anything.
“That was not what I was expecting you to say,” she said. “No, I love Reuben. He’s my everything.”
Smith looked horrified as she took Reuben’s hand.
“Faith, do you know who he is?” Smith asked.
“A good man who protects me and who helps people who can’t afford it.”
“He works for Alejandro De Leon.”
“Cat is a good friend of mine, Smith,” Faith told him. “And she doesn’t deserve to be here.”
Smith tapped his fingers on the desk. “She attacked a police officer.”
“Is he badly injured?” Reuben asked.
Smith shot him a look. She took that as no.
“Cat is . . . spirited,” she said. “You arrested her friend.”
“On trumped-up charges,” Reuben added.
“There’s a witness,” Smith stated.
“And right now, that witness’s credibility is being shot to threads by Rafael’s alibi,” Reuben shot back.
Bernard had been taken to be interviewed before Smith came out.
“You’re creating a war with the wrong people, Childs,” Reuben said.
“Is that a threat?” her cousin snarled.
“Of course not,” she said, stepping forward.
Smith ran his cold gaze over her. “What happened to your arm? Why are you moving stiffly? Did he hurt you?” He stepped around the desk as though he was going to move between her and Reuben.
But Reuben would never stand for that. He drew her in against him, angling himself so he was protecting her.
Smith gave him a warning look. “Give my cousin to me.”
“No.”
Smith ground his teeth together. “Give her to me, walk away from her now, and I stop looking into Alejandro. And his wife goes free.”
Faith sucked in a breath. That was a crazy offer. She knew Reuben wouldn’t take it, of course. But Smith clearly thought he would.
“Oh, you’ve read this situation wrong,” Reuben told him. “I would do anything for Faith. She. Is. Mine. Cat is going to walk free anyway because your whole case is ridiculous. If you think I won’t sue you and your department, you are very mistaken. I will make your life hell. I will make it look like you set up a witness to frame Rafael and then you attacked an innocent woman. A woman who survived a cult, no less. Cat has some friends in high places, did you know that?”
Smith just glared at Reuben.
“I didn’t hurt Faith,” Reuben stated. “I would never hurt Faith. She was injured because Abel Venturo basically put a price on her head.”
“What?” Faith said.
“The crime boss that died in prison a while back?” Smith asked, looking confused.
“Yeah. Venturo wanted to ruin my life by taking away someone I love. He was using his cousin’s kids to make sure that happened. He promised them that whoever ruined my life got his money.”
“So, they’re after Faith?” Smith asked.
“One of them pushed her into oncoming traffic,” Reuben said.
“What the fuck?” Smith roared. “Your mother didn’t tell me that.”
“I, um, haven’t told my family,” she said.
“Faith, they love you,” Smith told her. “They’re worried about you.”
Uh-huh.
She nodded. “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell them or come to visit you. I’ve been . . . ashamed. But Reuben has been helping me grow my self-confidence. To not take everything on as my fault. He’s a good man and I love him.”
Smith swallowed heavily, pacing back and forth. “Do you know who these people are who are after Faith?”
“A brother and sister. The sister is the one who washed up on the banks of the Hudson. Not from anything we did. We think her brother killed her to make sure she couldn’t collect the money after she attempted to kill Faith.”
Smith stopped and stared. “I can’t stop coming after De Leon.”
“I understand.” Reuben nodded.
“But I will let his wife go. I’m already under pressure. The commissioner received a call from some FBI agent.”
“Right,” Reuben replied. “You also realize that this witness could have misdirected you on purpose.”
“I am aware of that. I want this guy who is after Faith. What is his name?”
“Darcy Rivers. Was that the name of the witness?” he asked
Smith didn’t reply.
“Apparently, he’s tall and thin with a tiger tattoo on his neck,” Reuben said.
She still couldn’t tell what Smith was thinking. But he nodded once.
“Your hands are tied,” Reuben added. “You can go after him for a false report. Using a false identity. But you will need proof to arrest him for the murder of his sister.”
“Then I will get that proof. I want five minutes with Faith. Alone.”
“No.” Reuben drew her closer to him.
“Reuben,” she said quietly. “Please.”
“Your people will be free by the time I bring her out,” Smith promised.
Reuben stared down at her. “Five minutes. You yell out if you need me, I’ll be right outside.” Then he kissed her and strode out of the room.
Smith waited until he was gone to gesture to her. “Come here, Faith.”
She walked into his arms. She might not have seen him in years, but she remembered him coming to family functions when she was a kid. Faith had always thought he was so cool. Her big cousin.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine, I promise. I love Reuben and he loves me.”
“Do you know what he’s into, Faith?”
She leaned back to smile up at Smith. “I know the man he is. That’s what matters.”
Smith sighed and frowned. “I can’t go easy on De Leon because you’re friends with his wife.”
“Do what you have to. I get it.” She patted his chest. “But just know that they’re good people who care about me. And I won’t be used against them.”
Smith gave her a wry grin. “Got it. Just as long as you promise to come to me if you ever want to leave him. If you ever feel unsafe. You come straight to me.”
“I will.” She turned toward the door.
“And Faith?”
She spun back.
“Talk to your parents. They love and miss you. I’ve tried several times to convince them to come out here to see you, but they don’t think you’d want that.”
Not sure how she felt about that, she walked out of the room to where Reuben was waiting for her. He watched her for a few seconds before opening his arms. She moved into his embrace immediately. A tight knot unraveled in her stomach.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should have told you. But I didn’t know it was a big deal in the beginning. And then everything else kind of happened. I would have . . . I was going to tell you. And I would never have told him a thing.”
“Hey, baby. It’s all right. Take a breath for me.” He drew her back, so he could place his hand on her chest. “Breathe in and out. And listen to me. I never thought for a second that you were spying on us. All right?”
“That’s good,” Smith said from behind her in a low voice. “Or I’d have had to kick your ass for believing something like that about my sweet baby cousin.”
She turned to gape at Smith. She hadn’t heard him leave the room behind her.
But Reuben turned her back to face him. “Everything is all right, okay?”
She sagged against him, and he held her tight. “I need to take her home. She needs rest.”
“Look after her,” Smith told him. “Or you’ll answer to me.”
Reuben held her tight against him and she only turned back once to smile at Smith.
“Where’s Cat? Alejandro? Rafael?” she asked.
“They’ve gone home. I didn’t want them lingering around the police station. It might give the cops ideas and Cat needed to go home.”
Faith nodded. “Was all that true in there? Lou and her . . . her brother want to harm me to hurt you?”
“Yes,” he said grimly.
“That’s so hard to get my head around.”
“All because Abel Venturo’s son was a child abuser.” He explained everything as they headed out of the police station. It blew her mind. He didn’t tell her how he knew all of this, and she didn’t ask.
“How are we getting home?” she asked.
“Steven is stuck in traffic, but he’s not far away. And the Scot is coming home with us.”
The Scot seemed to appear out of nowhere. Had he been following them? He gave her a wink and she smiled back at him. She’d been worried that they might all think she’d kept her relationship to Smith a secret on purpose. Or, worse yet, that they thought she was some sort of spy.
Not that Reuben ever told her anything about Alejandro’s businesses. But still . . . it was good to see that the Scot didn’t think that.
They waited outside for a few minutes, then Steven pulled up about fifty feet away from the front of the police station.
The Scot moved in front of them to open the back door. She slid in. The partition was up between the front and back. Reuben sat next to her. As soon as the Scot shut the door, the car sped off.
“What the fuck!” Reuben slammed his arm over her to stop her from flying forward. She turned back to find the Scot standing there, his phone in his hand, looking horrified.
Fudge!
What the hell was going on?
“What is this? What’s happening?” she asked as the car sped up. “What is Steven doing?”
“I don’t think it’s Steven, baby.” He buckled her in. “Be ready to undo it when I say so. Fuck!” The car swung between traffic.
“Are the doors locked?” she asked.
Reuben tested them. “Yes.” He hit the unlock button, but it didn’t work. “He’s done something to them. We can’t jump, anyway. He’s going too fast, and we could be hit.” He drew his phone out. “Alejandro? Yes. Nighthawk is tracking us? Yep. Yes. Good.”
He ended the call. “Alejandro is on his way with men. Nighthawk is tracking us. This guy has fucked up. He hasn’t thought this through.”
“Steven? Where is Steven?” she asked.
“Alejandro is going to send someone looking for him.” He fired off another message. “Fuck. Do you have Childs’ number?”
“Yes. Why?”
“He won’t be expecting us to call the cops. But he’s just kidnapped the police chief’s cousin.”
Her breathing grew fast. She drew out her phone as the car swerved between more traffic. She quickly called Smith, putting it on speaker.
“Faith?”
“We’ve been kidnapped,” Reuben replied. “My driver has been replaced by someone that I assume is Darcy Rivers. We’re trapped in the back of the car, and he is driving erratically.”
“Give me your location and the car license plate.”
Reuben gave the details.
“I’m sending people now.”
She sucked in a breath as Reuben ended the call. “Was that a good idea? Won’t Alejandro be upset?”
Reuben shook his head. “Alejandro has too many eyes on him at the moment. He can’t afford to get so visibly involved. And your cousin wants a win, so we give him Rivers. Win-win.”
There were sirens approaching and turning, she saw police cars coming up behind them.
“Baby, you need to do exactly what I say when I say it,” he said firmly. “Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
The partition between the front and back lowered slightly.
“What the fuck did you do?” the man in the front seat snarled.
“You’re an idiot, Rivers,” Reuben told him. “The cops are going to have you surrounded soon.”
“You called the fucking cops?”
He sounded so offended. What an idiot.
“Rivers, you need to give yourself up,” Reuben commanded. “You’re done for.”
“Oh yeah? And what if I just take the two of you with me in a blaze of glory?”
Faith swallowed heavily. What would happen if he did that? Fear threatened to engulf her. But then the guy screamed in anger and the car started to slow.
“They fucked up the tires. Fuck!”
“You could run, you know,” Reuben suggested.
“Or I could fucking kill you both!”
Reuben reached over and undid her belt, hitting the button to lower the screen fully as he dove over between them to grab Darcy Rivers.
“Down, baby!” he yelled.
She slid down immediately, hiding in the footwell as the car spun. A shot was fired and there was the sound of smashed glass.
Faith screamed, certain that Reuben was going to get hurt. She didn’t care about herself. She just wanted him to be all right!
But then the car came to a halt. She was breathing heavily, unsure of what was going on.
All she could hear were the sirens around them. Lights flashed in her eyes.
Please let Reuben be all right.
Please, God.
Please.
Doors opened. There were people yelling as she sat there, terrified and afraid. When the door closest to her opened, she screamed.
Firm hands grabbed hold of her and she cried out as someone pulled her onto their lap. She opened her eyes, staring up at Reuben through blurry eyes.
“Everything is all right, baby,” he soothed. “You’re safe. I’m safe. From now on, everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
She threw herself against him, ignoring the way her body ached and hugged him tight.
“What happened?” she cried.
“He’s still alive. He tried to shoot me, but the shot went wild. I managed to get in a couple of hits and then the car slowed enough for the cops to approach and take over. It’s all over. You’re safe.”
Thank God.
“I don’t want to go through anything like this again.” She clung to him. It was too much.
“You won’t, baby. I’ll make sure of that. From now on . . . it’s just happy times.”