Don't Mess With Texas (26 page)

“Give him whatever he needs,” Dallas said. “I don’t care how small the operation. We hit enough of his small deals, it’ll add up.”

“Yeah, I told him we’d have the money by tomorrow,” Tyler said.

“Fine. Oh, Austin, remember the time I came over to your place and helped you snake out your toilet and you said you owed me?”

“Why am I not liking how this is sounding?” Austin asked.

“You don’t mind getting your hands a little bloody, do you?” Dallas asked.

“Who do you want me to beat up? Because if it’s one of DeLuna’s gang, I’m not promising I can stop at just a little bloody.”

Austin’s voice had taken on a darker edge. Dallas felt his gut harden with his own old anger and need for revenge.

“Not DeLuna’s man… Remember Roxie?”

“Oh, hell no!” Austin said.

N
IKKI SAT IN
the ICU waiting room for five minutes before discovering that Ellen had been moved to the surgical floor. Tapping on Ellen’s door a few minutes later, Nikki heard a soft, “Come in,” and she moved inside.

Her gaze shot first to Ellen, asleep. She looked pale and small. Not anything like Ellen, who always wore a big smile and exuded a big personality. The vision of all the blood back at the gallery filed Nikki’s head.

How could someone have done this?

And why?

Mrs. Wise, standing beside the hospital bed, quietly rushed over to join Nikki. “She’s much better.”

While locked in Mrs. Wise’s embrace, Nikki spotted the nurse at the foot of the bed. It was LeAnn, Dallas’s sister-in-law. Nikki nodded to her in greeting.

LeAnn’s startled gaze shot to the door as if she was afraid someone, an unwelcome someone at that, might be following Nikki in. Recalling how LeAnn had run when her estranged husband, Detective O’Connor, had come into the emergency room, Nikki suspected the unwanted
person was him. Nikki couldn’t blame her; the man gave Nikki the same reaction.

“She’s sleeping now,” Mrs. Wise said. “But she was awake a few minutes ago.”

“She needs rest.” LeAnn marked something on the chart she held. “We’ve got a morphine pump hooked up. She might be groggy. If she wakes up in pain, remind her she has the pump and can push it for medication. And if you need anything, hit the nurse’s button. I’m right outside.”

LeAnn looked at Nikki. “Are you feeling better?”

Nikki nodded and looked at Mrs. Wise. “I met LeAnn while in the ER.” Nikki wasn’t sure if she should say anything about LeAnn being Detective O’Connor’s wife, so she didn’t.

Another tap came at the door. “Come in,” Mrs. Wise said in a low voice.

LeAnn’s gaze shot to the door again.

Dallas walked in. “Hello.”

LeAnn relaxed. Mrs. Wise turned to greet Dallas. But Dallas barely gave the women a glance. He visually greeted LeAnn, then his gaze locked on Nikki as if he worried she might have fallen apart again. Embarrassment bounced like ping-pong balls through her chest. He probably had her down as a surefire basket case.

And why not? She’d done nothing but fall apart and wallow around in that basket since she’d met him. Well, when she wasn’t upchucking on him, threatening to upchuck on him, or making out with him on his bedroom floor. Oh God, she really needed to pull herself together.

She made up her mind. She was calling Nana back and asking to borrow her car. Dallas O’Connor shouldn’t be carting her around town. She’d hired him—well sort
of hired him—to be her PI, not chauffeur or breakdown buddy. Nope, her breakdown buddy was asleep in the hospital bed. And until Ellen was back, Nikki was going to have to pull up her big girl panties.

Mrs. Wise moved closer to Dallas. “You were there last night with Nikki, weren’t you? I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself.”

“That’s understandable.” Dallas offered the woman his hand. “My name’s Dallas O’Connor and I’m a private investigator looking into things. I’m happy your daughter is better.”

“Aren’t we all?” Mrs. Wise studied Dallas. “Are you related to the detective working the case?”

“Yes. He’s my brother.” Dallas’s gaze flickered to LeAnn.

“No offense,” Mrs. Wise said, “but I think I like you better. My husband said the detective came here this morning and was… gruff with his questioning.”

“That’s his job,” Dallas and LeAnn blurted out at the same time. Their eyes met briefly. While Nikki was in agreement with Mrs. Wise, she saw a loyalty to the detective from both LeAnn and Dallas that was admirable. She wondered if Detective O’Connor deserved their faith.

Mrs. Wise looked embarrassed. “I didn’t mean…”

“Don’t worry,” Dallas said. “To be honest, I’m definitely the better looking of the brothers.”

Nikki saw LeAnn roll her eyes as if she didn’t agree with Dallas’s statement.

“Personally, I’d say it’s about a tie.” The weak voice came from the hospital bed.

Everyone’s gazes moved to Ellen. “You’re awake.” Mrs. Wise hurried to Ellen’s side.

“How’s your pain level?” LeAnn asked.

“Is hurting like hell a level?” Ellen’s gaze shifted to Nikki.

Guilt spread in Nikki’s chest and tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” Ellen licked her lips. “Is it true? Jack’s…”

“Yeah.” Nikki moved closer and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I have no idea what’s going on.”

“You okay?” Ellen asked. “They really don’t think you killed him, do they?”

Nikki’s chest swelled with emotion. Ellen had almost died and she was worried about her. “It’s you we need to think about right now.”

Dallas stepped beside Nikki. “Ellen, are you up to telling me what happened?”

“I wish I could.” Ellen looked at the water jug on her bedside table. LeAnn reached for the big cup and held it to Ellen’s lips.

She drank then continued. “As I told your good-looking brother, I… don’t remember much.” Ellen flinched as if she had a pain. “I was in the office, and heard…”

“Remember what I told you,” LeAnn said. “If you’re hurting, press your pain button.” She handed the pump to Ellen.

Ellen nodded, gave the button a push then refocused on Dallas. “When I went out front, I didn’t see anyone. Then I heard something behind me. There was someone wearing a ski mask. I vaguely recall seeing the knife and feeling pain, but I must have passed out.”

“The person wearing the mask… can you give me a description? Height, build, race? Was it a male?”

Ellen closed her eyes. “Bigger than me. Not too bulky, but I assumed it was a man. That’s all I… know.”

“Did he wear gloves?”

Ellen nodded, but didn’t open her eyes.

LeAnn looked at Dallas. “Let her rest. Talking can wear her out.”

Dallas glanced at Mrs. Wise, who was hovering over her daughter the same way Nana had hovered over Nikki last night. “Has Ellen told you anything else?”

“This is the most she’s talked since I’ve been here. She asked about her daughter and Nikki.” Mrs. Wise looked at Nikki. “She was worried about you.”

“She nearly dies and she’s worried about me.” Nikki fought the sting of tears. Dallas squeezed her shoulder. Aware of how easily he touched her these last few hours—a brush across her face, a hand to her back—Nikki stepped away. She saw him glance at her, as if noticing her withdrawal.

LeAnn started to leave when another tap came at the door. She backed up and looked at Dallas with questions in her eyes. Nikki wondered what had happened between LeAnn and her husband that would allow her to defend the man so quickly, but to dread being near him.

The door nudged open and standing there was a tall man, early thirties, light blond hair. Nikki considered that it might be Ellen’s ex.

“Can I help you?” Mrs. Wise asked, telling Nikki it wasn’t the ex.

The man glanced over at Dallas. “I’m sorry, but I need to snag Dallas a second.”

In a low voice, Dallas started introductions, “This is Austin Brook, one of my partners. Austin, this is Nikki Hunt.”

Austin met her gaze and nodded, but Nikki got the
distinct feeling he was checking her out. Not necessarily in a sexual way, but on another level.

“Good to meet you, Nikki,” Austin said.

“Same here,” she said.

“This is Mrs. Wise and her daughter, Ellen.” Dallas motioned to the patient who was awake again.

Ellen stared at Austin then looked at LeAnn. “Does morphine make all the guys look hot? Because since I got this thing, every guy I’ve seen has been a total hunk.” She looked back at Austin. “You wanna marry me? I’m really good in bed.”

“Oh, my!” Mrs. Wise blushed. “Please forgive her. That’s the morphine talking.”

Dallas and Austin chuckled. Nikki grinned at her friend’s bold statement.

Dallas, a smile still in his eyes, looked at LeAnn. “And this is…”

“The nurse,” LeAnn finished. “The nurse who’s insisting we let my patient rest.”

Austin stepped back and gazed at Nikki. “Nice to meet everyone.” His focus shifted to Mrs. Wise and then Ellen, who blew him a kiss. He grinned and started out of the room.

“Excuse me a second.” Dallas followed his partner out the door, but they hadn’t gotten all the way out when another man walked in.

Seeing this new visitor—a tall, brown-haired man, early thirties—Nikki thought he was another cop. Didn’t she remember him from the grocery store parking lot? He spoke to Dallas in a low voice. Whatever the newcomer said, Dallas frowned. He looked over his shoulder at her, and then he walked out of the room.

The cop stepped inside. For a second, Nikki worried
he’d come to arrest her. She relaxed when he didn’t start reading her her Miranda rights.

“My name is Detective Clark, I’m working with Detective O’Connor.” He glanced at the hospital bed. “Ellen Wise, I assume?” When Ellen nodded, he continued. “I’d like to go over your statement—”

“See what I mean?” Ellen tried to sit up a bit. “I’d do him, too. I’d have sex with him in a New York minute.”

The detective’s eyes widened. Nikki bit her tongue to keep from snorting out laughter.

“She doesn’t mean that,” Mrs. Wise informed the detective. “She’s a good Jewish girl.”

“Yes, I do.” Ellen dropped back on the bed. “Do you know how long it’s been since I got lucky?”

LeAnn chuckled and spoke to Mrs. Wise. “Maybe we should see about changing her medicine.” LeAnn looked up at the officer. “Hello, Rick.”

The detective nodded. “How are you, LeAnn?”

“Fine. But my patient is not up for an interview now.”

“It would only take—”

“I said no.” LeAnn’s tone became firm. The detective frowned, but bowed out of the room without a fight.

When the door swished shut, LeAnn looked back to Mrs. Wise. “For sure, keep her away from that one. He’s bad news.”

“He didn’t look like bad news.” Ellen closed her eyes.

“My goodness, I am glad her daddy’s not here,” Mrs. Wise said. “Because I don’t think any of those men would even know what a bat mitzvah was.”

N
IKKI WASN’T LOOKING
forward to facing Detective O’Connor again. When Dallas pulled into the police station parking lot, he glanced at her. “Just be forthcoming. Don’t let him rile you. He’s going to push, hoping you’ll give him something.”

“So riling people is part of his job, like being rude, huh?” she asked.

“Yes, it is.” While Dallas had sympathy in his eyes, he didn’t attempt to soften his tone. “It’s not going to be easy. I know you don’t like it. I don’t like it, either, but Tony’s doing what every cop does. Just be honest.”

“I haven’t lied,” she said.

“I know. I believe you. You do know that, right?”

She nodded. “Should I be… thinking about getting a lawyer?” Lord only knew how she would pay one, but…

Dallas leaned back and studied her. “If you brought a lawyer into this right now, it would make the cops that much more likely to arrest you. But don’t worry, I know a couple of really good lawyers and if we need one I can call.”

Her chest grew heavier at the realization of how easy it was to depend on him. Not wanting to fall apart again, she got out of his car. When he came around to walk her inside, his shoulder came close to hers. The closeness, her eagerness to lean even closer to him, were just more reminders that she needed some distance from Dallas O’Connor. Physically and emotionally.

When they got inside, they were asked to wait because Detective O’Connor had someone in his office. “I… need to run to the restroom,” she told Dallas.

When Nikki walked back into the waiting room, Dallas was talking to the cop, Detective Clark, the one Ellen had wanted to have sex with. Nikki hung back, not wanting to intrude on their conversation. She obviously didn’t hang back far enough.

Detective Clark’s voice carried. “Come on, pay up. You put twenty bucks on her being guilty. I made it clear, if we were still looking for leads in twenty-four hours, then we would declare it a nonguilty bet.”