Lost in the Wind Page 12

  Not every officer had believed her about the assault, questioning what she’d done to provoke Jim’s attack. She’d been sixteen and ill—she’d not done a damned thing to provoke the man.

  But her father had done one good thing for her back then—he’d turned over security footage of their house. Of the party. Of a drunken Jim making his way in the office where it had happened. Teenage Nikkie Jean had walked into the room perfectly fine five minutes later, alone—but had to be wheeled out on a stretcher ninety minutes later.

  Thirty minutes. That’s how long it had taken to change her life completely. But she’d not had real help for almost an hour after. Because her mother and the housekeeper had been arguing. The housekeeper had called the ambulance fifteen minutes after finding her. It had taken another forty-five minutes for them to wheel her out of her home.

  This guy looked rough and terrifying. It was hard for her not to want to shrink away as memories came pouring back in.

  “Has anyone had any problems with you in the past month?” the detective asked.

  “No. But two months ago I had someone call me. Threatening phone calls. For a few days. But that stopped.”

  “Nik? What happened?” Fin asked, climbing on the bed near her feet. She wrapped her hand around Nikkie Jean’s. “Who was it?”

  “Dr. Henedy and Cage lost a patient. Ten years old. I had already spoken with DCS about the foster father. He was angry and started harassing me. Mel had Jarrod Foster—he’s a detective—speak with him, and he stopped bothering me. I haven’t had any problems since. But…I think he did slash my tires that night. I had two flat tires. I’m surprised I made it to Value as bad as they were.” She gave the date. It was a date she would never forget.

  That was the night she’d made the baby with Caine.

  “We’ll need his name,” Detective Acardi said.

  “I’ll have to get the name from the records. I can’t remember right now.” She’d had so many other things on her mind since then.

  “I’ll do that,” Fin said.

  “What about the guy stalking you?” Nikkie Jean asked quietly. Someone had been leaving love letters on Fin’s car for over a month now. “Could it have been him?”

  “We haven’t ruled anyone out,” the detective said. “I’m being thorough. What about any recent breakups, love interests?”

  “I doubt anyone I’ve been involved with would do this. And since the last relationship I had was in Pennsylvania and over four years ago and he’s married now, that’s highly unlikely.” Present nonrelationship didn’t count.

  Caine wouldn’t have run her down. And besides, he was distinctive. The driver of the truck was a lot smaller than Caine Alvaro.

  Fin would have recognized Caine—and thought he was Rafe.

  “We’ll be following up on these leads. If you think of anything, let me know. In the meantime…” He proceeded to give her and Fin the standard do-and-don’t spiel of protecting oneself from stalkers. The same speech Nikkie Jean had given at W4HAV a dozen times now.

  While stalking was illegal, there wasn’t a whole lot of recourse available yet.

  After the detective and Vincent left, Fin stayed for a while. It hadn’t taken Nikkie Jean long to figure out that her friends had come up with a schedule. Fin and Jillian and Lacy and Cherise had all basically ensured that no matter what, someone—a woman—was in her room with her the entire time.

  The love and belonging she finally felt had her ready to weep. It was nice to finally have a place to belong.

  32

  DR. HENEDY WAS AT the intake desk when Caine finally made it out of the board meeting. He was the only one around, other than the charge nurse who was busy at the desk. Caine bit back the urge to snarl.

  Wallace Henedy was one of the worst surgeons in the department, but he’d never done anything that required discipline. His name topped Caine’s list for the Laughlins. There was just something oily about the older man. “Wallace, still here?”

  Henedy smiled. “I just stopped by to grab a few files. I’m still officially on vacation. I hit FCGH first.”

  Caine tried to keep his expression cool. The board meeting had included mention of the same medical group that was considering buying FCGH purchasing Barratt County. It had not been a pleasant meeting. Consolidating hospitals could mean eliminating positions. By up to ten percent. It was not a move he was ready to make just to increase profits.

  Not yet. His staff was depending on him. Caine didn’t take that lightly.

  “Oh?”

  “Just to check in, catch up on local gossip. You hear about our drama while I was gone this week? With the assistant COM and our little pediatric surgical resident? Almost lost them both, from the way I heard. Shame, too, what happened.”

  Caine glanced at the man. Henedy wasn’t focused on him, but the files in his hand. “Are you referring to Dr. Netorre?”

  “Yes, that’s the one. Little Nikkie Jean. Sweet kid.”

  “No. I haven’t heard. She’s actually a neighbor of mine. What happened?” Ice coated the back of his neck.

  “Someone almost hit them in the parking garage a few days ago. I swear that structure is cursed, as much trouble as they’ve had there in the last few months. Still, girls got lucky. Dr. Netorre took the worst hit. They’re discharging her today, I believe. Other girl walked away with bruises. Shame. Those girls, neither one of them is bigger than a minute. They could have been seriously injured.”

  “How badly was Nikkie Jean hurt?” Every instinct he had was telling him to grab his keys and just go. Find the answer to that question for himself. See her, touch her. Make certain she was ok.

  The last sight he had of April flashed into his mind.

  Bruised, bloody. He’d known from the moment he’d been called to the ER and realized it was her under all that blood that she was never going home to the children again.

  And she’d been thirty-three weeks pregnant.

  Dalton had had a slight concussion before he’d even been born. His toddler still had the scar from where he’d almost been crushed along with his mother.

  No matter what acrimony had been happening between him and April at the time, he never would have wished her suffering on anyone.

  He’d held her hand as she’d died. She’d opened her eyes and told him she had loved him at first. And that she did love their children. And always would.

  And she’d told him the baby was his and begged him to love the baby like he did the twins.

  April had known she was dying, too.

  She and her lover had been crossing a busy intersection in Austin and a teenager high on something had run the light, striking the man April had been with first, killing him instantly.

  April had lingered for twelve and a half hours.

  Dalton had been born two minutes after April had coded for the final time.

  Caine forced air into his lungs. It wasn’t like that.

  Henedy had said she was being discharged.

  “Mild concussion. Bumps and bruises, I believe. I’m not entirely certain why they kept her. I peeked in and said hello to her; she seemed alert enough. They’ve kept everything hush-hush, for some reason. Heard it was mostly a treat-and-street. But since it happened on hospital grounds, maybe that’s why. Holden-Deane signed off on it, and they’re giving her the VIP treatment from what I saw. Of course, the girl’s pretty well liked over there. Heard Allen Jacobson has been keeping a close eye on her. Guess the wind’s blowing that way now.”

  “I see.”

  “Yes, Jacobson’s got quite the reputation as a player over there. Of course, there’s also talk he was involved in all that drama that happened when Holden-Deane and his sister were almost killed in that fire. Jacobson was there, of course. Carried Ariella—that’s Holden-Deane’s younger sister, the one marrying the governor—right out of the burning building. Pretty girl, that one, too.”

  Henedy kept rambling. As if he hadn’t put it together that any sister of Rafael Holden
-Deane was Caine’s sister, as well. None of that mattered to Caine.

  All he could see in his head was Nikkie Jean.

  Hurting. Covered in blood; just like April had been.

  Once again, he’d heard too late to do a damned thing about it.

  “Dr. Alvaro? Can you step in here, please?” Bryan Mostain asked, motioning to the entrance to the largest conference room. “We have some new information to discuss.”

  No, he damned well didn’t want to.

  But Caine didn’t do what he wanted. He didn’t have the right to worry about her any longer.

  33

  NIKKIE JEAN WAS READY to get out of there. The door to room 403 came open after a sharp knock. Finally. It was time to get a move on—she had an alternate future to plan.

  One that included a Mini-Alvaro of her very own. She refused to consider the possibility that something could go wrong. She just wouldn’t.

  She’d need to get a general contractor out to the house to make repairs and to paint, she’d need to buy a crib and basinet—did people still use basinets?—and she’d just have to get ready.

  And figure out what she was going to tell Caine. That was a big one there.

  “You with us, Nik?”

  Nikkie Jean turned.

  Her baby’s aunt stood there. “Ready to go? I get to give you the discharge speech.”

  “What’s the speech for unplanned but very welcomed pregnancies?” She looked at Jillian and almost spilled everything. Almost.

  She needed to talk to Caine first. She was about to whammy him right upside the head. After she figured out what to say first.

  She’d had thirty-six hours to process—she wasn’t counting when her head had been hurting too badly to think.

  Tomorrow would be soon enough to face the tiger dragon that was Caine Alvaro.

  He was going to be furious. She had no doubt about that. And he was going to be a big problem.

  He was also going to be a good father. She couldn’t forget that.

  If he even wanted anything to do with this baby.

  He already had three children, as he’d pointed out that night. There was nothing that said he would want another one. Men did that all the time.

  She was the little secret he no doubt didn’t want to share.

  Even if he didn’t want the baby—she did. Nothing was ever going to hurt her baby. She wanted the baby. She would take care of the baby. What kind of a relationship he wanted with the baby was entirely up to him. She would never stand between them, but he would have to make some hard choices over the next eight months.

  She was potentially about to change his life forever.

  “Take your vitamins, get good prenatal care, and know that you are not doing this alone.”

  Nikkie Jean impulsively hugged her. She’d tell Jillian and Rafe about the baby—right after she told Caine. Even if Caine wanted nothing to do with this baby, Rafe probably would. He was a wonderful uncle already. She didn’t see him and Jillian ostracizing her because of Caine. The exact opposite. Jillian would be her baby’s aunt. Rafe, the uncle. That was the next best thing, right?

  She’d just build the family she wanted for her baby the best she could.

  Her baby would have a family. Some of that family like Rafe and no doubt Ariella would be biological. Others would be from friends who loved the baby, like Annie and Izzie and Lacy. Love. That was what mattered. “Thanks, Jillian.”

  “Anytime. We pregnant women need to stick together. And no more jalapenos. I’m…speaking from personal experience.”

  Izzie and Annie came in. Izzie had a stuffed bear in her arms. “We have your things. This came from the PICU nurses. They send healing thoughts and Herbert the Bear.”

  “Ah, I’ll tell them thanks when I’m back on the clock.” Right now she just wanted to go. Before she cried. The bear was a soft yellow and perfect for cuddling. The baby would love Herbert.

  “Then your taxi is waiting.” Annie grabbed Nikkie Jean’s bag off the foot of the hospital bed. Annie was quietly good at just getting things done. “Izzie’s car is outside, all ready for you.”

  “I parked in the loading zone and our favorite COM didn’t even say a thing. Today is a day of miracles.” Izzie shot Jillian a grin. “What did you do to him?”

  “We practiced making the next kid before we came in today. It always makes him extremely good-natured—for him.”

  “Too much information. Way too much information,” Nikkie Jean said as everyone laughed. “Ok, I’m ready. But did I ever mention how much I really hate using crutches?”

  “Don’t worry. Lacy has a chair waiting for you,” Annie said. “We’re serious about giving you that ride.”

  She refused the chair. “Honestly, I think I need to practice with these things for a few minutes on flat land. The last thing I need is a fall.”

  “Good point,” Jillian said. “Do you need me to show you how to use them? I got really good when Rafe and I were dating—if you could call what happened between us dating.”

  “No kidding.” She pulled in a deep breath. They’d provided kid-sized crutches for her. “I think I can do this. I fell before, during gymnastics practice. I’m sure it’s like riding a bike.”

  She got the hang of it going up and down the hallway. “I’m ready. Let’s go before Rafe has Izzie’s car towed.”

  “He wouldn’t do that,” Jillian said. “He knows I’d punish him. He’s terrified of me.”

  “Smart men are always terrified of even smarter women,” Izzie said. “Still, Nik, are you ready?”

  “I think so.”

  “Then away we go.”

  Nikkie Jean had just rounded a corner when she came face-to-face with the Caine clone. He had a group of men with him—and Fin—that were no doubt the latest potential buyers Fin had mentioned right before everything had went upside down for them. Nikkie Jean rarely paid attention to those kinds of discussions. There were always potential buyers in the wings.

  Rarely did they take the bait. Who wanted to buy hospitals that constantly hemorrhaged money? Only crazy people with too much time and too much money on their hands.

  Nikkie Jean barely gave them a glance—she wasn’t quite as confident on the crutches as she’d let on.

  “Nikkie Jean, I’m glad to see you’re being released today,” Rafe said. His eyes were filled with his concern as he paused and looked at her. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like someone almost made a pancake out of me, but at least my brain is back where it belongs. I got a little cloudy headed there. Thanks for the rescue, by the way. Much appreciated.” She’d been fighting panic until he’d shown up. He was a good captain. She’d probably never lead a true mutiny against him.

  His very presence had made her feel safe. She hadn’t forgotten that. He was probably one of the few men she could say that about.

  His. Allen’s. Possibly Virat’s. And Rafe’s brother’s.

  She had felt safe with Caine, anyway. Mostly.

  “Anytime.”

  One of the men near Rafe stepped around him sharply. He stepped right into Nikkie Jean’s path.

  Nikkie Jean fought the instinctive urge to back away from the tall man with sandy-brown hair now laced with liberal amounts of gray.

  Nikkie Jean looked into eyes the exact same shade and shape as her own. “Why aren’t you in Pennsylvania?”

  Where she’d left him. This was another one of her bad dreams.

  Not today. Not today, of all days. Not when she was ready to put the past behind her and focus on her new future.

  Rafe shot her a surprised look. “Dr. Carrington is considering buying the hospital.”

  “Dannica…” Her father breathed the syllables and stepped forward. “Is it really you?”

  Nikkie Jean immediately stepped back, wobbling so much that Lacy put her back on her feet. “Don’t call me that. That’s not my name any longer. It hasn’t been for a really long time.”

  “Nik?” Annie said, quietly. H
er hand came to rest on Nikkie Jean’s shoulder. Izzie shifted closer, too, the stuffed yellow bear in her arms.

  “Dr. Netorre is one of our pediatric surgical residents,” Rafe said, obviously trying to defuse the tension. “I take it you two are acquainted.”

  Nikkie Jean barely heard the words as memories of her childhood slammed into her. All the times he’d practically denied her in front of his colleagues. Or looked ashamed to have to claim her. Her mother had pointed them out to her each and every time.

  She hadn’t forgotten those moments at all.

  Not today. Just…not today.

  “She was injured in an accident a few days ago,” Rafe said. He tried to motion Jordan aside. But Jordan wasn’t budging.

  He was just staring. Rudely.

  Jordan Carrington had never been that rude in her entire childhood that she could remember.

  “I…” Her father started to say something.

  “I need to go. Now.” Nikkie Jean just couldn’t handle this. Not right now. She wanted to run. Run as fast and as far as she possibly could. Which wouldn’t be far enough, damn the crutches. “I can’t handle this today. Not today.”

  That was all she had to say to have her valiant protectors springing into action.

  Jillian stepped between them, physically blocking Nikkie Jean from seeing her father. “Dr. Carrington, why don’t we head up to Rafe’s office? I’ll send someone for coffee. There’s this little shop near the gift shop. They do lattes that are wonderful.” She shot a questioning look at Nikkie Jean.

  Her father was still staring. At Nikkie Jean. “I looked for you for thirteen years. I am so glad to see you’re safe.”

  “Jordan…I’m not going to talk to you now. I just can’t do it. Please respect that.”

  Her words broke. Her gaze shifted to the man next to her father. “Rafe, please…just…I can’t. Not right now.”

  Rafe immediately took over. He motioned to Izzie to get the wheelchair parked nearby. “Take her home. She needs rest more than anything now. Dr. Carrington, now is not the right time for reunions.”