Game On (24 page)

“I'm sorry. I didn't understand, but now I do. It's not too late for us. We can still be together. Give me the gun. We'll make up a story about what happened to the men. We'll go away together. Nikki and Cassie mean nothing to me.”

“I'm not that stupid. I don't believe you.”

“You're the one I want.”

“You lie. You lie.” Her words came out as screams.

Nikki stood up.

Lucas's heart was in his throat.

Blood covered her shirt. She must have been shot. Still, she hadn't given up. She'd keep trying to save Cassie, to save their daughter.

Elizabeth turned towards Nikki and aimed the gun.

Lucas charged forward and grabbed. He wrestled it from Elizabeth's grasp.

“FBI,” a voice called from the still-open door.

A moment later, the room filled with FBI agents.

****

Nikki lay on the hospital bed, irritated at the world. She would not stay here this time.

“Is she OK?” Lucas asked.

“She's fine. Her stitches ripped out. She wasn't shot again.”

“I told you so,” Nikki snarked. “Can I get up now? I need to go check on my…my…Cassie.”

The doctor nodded. “You can. I'm done with you.”

“I'll show you the way.” The nurse helped her off the bed. “Your niece is still unconscious, but her doctor said it was from the drugs. They're waiting for them to wear off naturally. Nothing to worry about. Come along. I'll show you where she is.”

“Thanks.”

Lucas grabbed her hand as they walked to another cubicle.

Nikki didn't resist. She was too exhausted, and besides, it felt good that he'd cared enough to not give up. If he hadn't shown up when he did…Nikki shook the negative thoughts away. It was over now. He'd made good on his promise.

Why had she ever thought he wasn't trustworthy?

The nurse took them to ICU. Before she left, she told the nurse in charge who they were. They were asked to sit in the waiting room.

With a gentle voice, Lucas said, “Sit down, Nikki. You look as if you're ready to collapse.”

“I don't just look it. I am ready to collapse.”

He put an arm around her and helped her to a chair. “You've been through a lot. I called Bethany and Ray. They should be here any moment.”

“That's good.” Closing her eyes, she put her head on his shoulder.

“It's all over now.”

“Almost.” She straightened up and stared at him. “Cassie doesn't need to know we are her parents. Ever. It may not have been the right choice back then. But the truth would tear her life apart now.” Would he agree? Or would his ego force him to tell her the truth?

Their gazes met.

“I get it. Don't worry. I will never do anything to hurt her—to hurt her family.”

Nikki smiled as she nodded. “Good. She's been through enough.”

“I promise I'll never say anything to Cassie, ever. You and Mama are right. They are a family and that's the way it will stay. I'll leave it up to you whether you tell Bethany and Ray that I know. But you can assure them I won't ever interfere. But if she needs anything ever, I'll be there to help her.”

“I know you will.” She put a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Lucas. I know how hard it was to make that choice. You're such a good man. The country will be blessed to have you as a senator.”

“I don't know about all that. But I do know that the last thing Cassie needs is another shock. She's been through enough.”

“I'm so sorry. I handled everything all wrong. You must hate me for keeping your daughter from you.”

He didn't respond.

Her heart broke. She looked over at him.

His smile was so sad. “I don't hate you. You did what you had to do. I understand that, but it still hurts. I won't tell you that it doesn't.”

“It gets easier.” Enough of this. Time to change the subject. “Did you find out how the FBI found you?”

“When we both disappeared, they figured one of us had been contacted by the kidnappers. The FBI started tracking both our movements, through our phones and Mama's car's GPS system as well. Obviously, Elizabeth had never called them. I still can't believe she did all this.”

“Love can do strange things to people.”

“She hurt so many people. I had no idea she was capable of such violence.”

“I can't believe I didn't figure it out. It all makes so much sense. She had access to your computers—your phones. It was probably a piece of cake to get remote access to all your gadgets.”

“She probably didn't even call a tech guy.”

“Or if she did, she simply uninstalled the software she was using and then reinstalled it after he checked it out. Lucas, I just…there's no way for you to have known she was behind all this. I hope you won't take the guilt on once again.”

“I won't. But I've got plenty of guilt about what you had to go through alone. It must have been so hard for you.”

“I made my choices. That's nothing to blame yourself for.”

He picked up her hand. “No wonder you freaked out when I walked into your office that day. It's not too late for us, Nikki. We can still—”

“We can't, Lucas. It wouldn't work. We'd always be afraid that Cassie would figure it out. You both have the same beautiful blue eyes. She's a smart girl. We can't take a chance.”

“But—”

“My mind's made up. Cassie is more important than—”

“Nikki. Nikki.” Bethany ran up with Ray following behind her. “Is Cassie…is she OK?”

Nikki rushed over to her sister. “She's fine. They're just waiting for her to wake up from the drugs she was given.”

Bethany hugged her. “Oh, thank God. They'd told us that, but I wasn't sure if they were lying.”

A doctor walked out from the ICU. “Are Cassie's parents here?”

Lucas and Nikki looked at each other. Then both pointed at Bethany and Ray.

“Great. She's awake, and she wants her mom and dad.” He looked at Lucas and her. “Are you family?”

Bethany looped her arm through Nikki's. “This is her aunt. She needs to come in too. She's the one who saved her.”

“Actually, that was Lucas.”

“All of you go, but only for a few minutes. We'll monitor her for the rest of the night, and if all goes well, she can go home tomorrow.”

“I'll be back in a minute,” Nikki told Lucas.

He nodded but said nothing.

The doctor led the three of them to a curtained area.

Cassie looked tired but awake.

Bethany rushed to her. “Oh, my baby. My baby.”

Cassie smiled. “I'm not a baby, Mom.”

“You will always be my baby.”

Nikki walked to the other side of Cassie. She bent over and hugged her. “The doctor said I could only stay for a second. I love you and I'm so glad you're OK.” Nikki walked away.

She couldn't stay one more moment anyway without saying something she would regret. A part of her wanted so much to tell Cassie the truth. Then she could be with Lucas and have her happily ever after. But that wasn't to be. When she got to the waiting room, it was empty.

Lucas was gone.

25

“Now you're the patient of honor.” Nikki tucked the blanket around Cassie. “How are you feeling? Are you warm enough? I can get you another blanket.”

“Mom already has three of them on me, Auntie. I'm roasting.”

Bethany walked in. “I just got off the phone with Sarah Goode. Apparently, Elizabeth confessed to all of it. Even the murder of Victoria. She'd hired those men to kill Victoria. It's all so…horrible…such a waste of lives.”

Cassie wiped at tears. “Why would someone think killing people was a way to get love? None of it makes sense.”

“It's a confusing world we live in.” Bethany hugged Cassie. “All the more reason to keep our eyes focused on God. His truth and His wisdom are the only way.”

“I can't disagree with that. Don't make all the mistakes I've made,” Nikki said.

“You made mistakes, Auntie? That's hard to imagine.”

Nikki laughed. “Yeah, right.”

Nikki didn't ask why Lucas hadn't called her with the information. As he'd said, he was hurt and angry that she'd kept his daughter from him. She couldn't blame him. Some wrong choices could never be rectified. One only learned to live with the consequences.

She didn't understand why God had let her fall in love with Lucas—again. Just so he could leave her—again. But that wasn't exactly true. She'd never stopped loving Lucas.

God wanted her to make peace with her past and to create a new life for herself. A new future. One where she could be happy.

“I can't believe she had his wife killed,” Cassie said. “How awful for him. I never did meet him so I could thank him. For saving us.”

“That's OK. I thanked him enough for both of us.”

“Still, I would have liked to meet the next senator of North Carolina.”

Bethany smiled as Cassie rambled on. When she stopped talking, Bethany said, “Who knows? That still could happen one of these days. Maiden's a small town. What about Kathryn Rites, Nikki? What will happen to her?”

“Charges were dropped. There's nothing illegal about taking a public figure's picture.”

She'd told Stanley the same thing. Had his wife forgiven him? Nikki now understood the power of forgiveness. Understood it was the right thing to do. Of course, just as with her and Lucas, forgiveness didn't mean one could erase the past. People still had to live with their choices. And she was willing to live with hers—for Cassie's sake.

“I would love some ice cream, Mom.”

Bethany put her hands on her hips. “Are you trying to take advantage of me, young lady?”

Cassie laughed. “Of course.”

“Good. You can get away with that for a few more days. And then back to real life.”

“I'll get it. Ice cream coming right up.” Nikki spoke up. “What flavor do you want? If it's not in the house, I can go to the store.”

“Vanilla's fine. It's my favorite.”

“Really.” She looked at Bethany. “Like mother, like daughter. That's your favorite too.”

Their gazes met. Bethany smiled. “Always has been and always will be.”

“I find it a bit boring myself, but to each their own.” Nikki grinned. “That's what I say.”

Bethany and Cassie laughed.

“You don't know what you're missing, Auntie. Vanilla is the best.”

“Whatever,” Nikki said as she walked out of the room.

A few minutes later, she walked back in with three dishes of vanilla. Nikki handed one to Bethany and Cassie and then kept the one with hot-fudge sauce for herself.

Everyone dug in.

“I'm leaving today,” Nikki announced.

“Today?” Bethany looked up. “You don't have to leave so soon.”

“Yeah, I do.”

Between bites, Cassie said, “Can't you stay for a few more days?”

“No, I can't.”

“But you aren't completely recovered.” Bethany looked worried. “Those stitches could come out again.”

“I'm recovered enough. I've got things to do.”

Bethany's eyes widened. “What kind of things? Please tell me you don't have another case already.”

“Nope. You'll both be happy to know there won't be any more cases.”

“Why not?” Cassie scooped another bite of ice cream.

“I'm done with being a private investigator.”

Cassie's spoon stopped midway to her mouth. “Why? I thought you loved it.”

“I did. But not anymore.” She knew in her heart that she wouldn't find the promise of God's peace and joy when she chose to live in a world of too-easy violence. “I'm ready for something new. Not sure what yet, but I know God will open the right doors for me.” She grinned at Cassie.

“Good. Getting shot once is more than enough. I don't think I could handle it again. I think you're right to find a new job. And you can move here to do it.” Bethany met her gaze full on. “I mean it, Nikki. It's time for you to come home.”

Her eyes filled with tears. For years, she'd thought Bethany wanted Nikki to live somewhere else. Away from her—away from Cassie. It was good to know her sister still loved her. “That's sweet, Bethie. And maybe that's what God has in mind, but maybe not. I'll just have to wait and see.”

“When are you leaving?”

“In a little bit. Don't worry. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

Cassie laughed. “That's right. She's had hand-to-hand combat training. She's a tough one.”

Her sister hugged her. “That may be true but it doesn't stop a big sister from worrying. Now I've got to get these dishes out of here. You know how dirty dishes make me nervous.”

After she'd gone, Nikki sat down beside Cassie. “What do you remember about what happened to you?”

“Not a lot.” Cassie picked up Nikki's hand. “They will always be my parents.”

Nikki turned to Cassie—to her daughter. Their eyes met. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

“I wasn't all the way drugged when…she was talking. Pieces fell into place. You will always be my very, very special auntie. You did a very good thing making sure I was in a loving family. And God will honor you for that. As will I.”

“I…I…” No words would come.

Cassie squeezed her hand. “It's OK. I always knew there was something very special about you. About our bond. Now I understand. And now you can be with Lucas—if that's what you want.”

“Lucas and I don't have a future. Not everything can be fixed.”

“I hope it's not because of me.”

“Not at all. Too much time and too much pain.” Nikki smiled through her tears. “When will you tell them?”

“Soon—secrets aren't a good thing in a family.”