Nailed (Marked For Love #1) (19 page)

"Jon Stewart," Dani added, letting me know she'd heard me. "And The National Enquirer. Laugh if you want, but they've broken some big stories in their day."

Eli and I smiled at each other, at her silliness which was much needed at that point, before he went back to work. "I'll email it to a couple of the bigger blogs like HuffPo."

"Sounds good. Between them and
USA Today
,
Anderson Cooper
and maybe MSNBC, too. They have all those investigative reporters. I'm going to need mailers, and stamps," I said to Dani. "And I need to write a letter."

"The post office sells mailers." She gathered her purse and picked up the remains of our breakfast, tossing them in the garbage can except for some egg from my sandwich now clutched in Clyde's paws.

"Let him have it. He deserves it after everything we've put him through in the last couple of days."

After I typed up the letter on Eli's computer, I loaded him, and his egg, in the carrier and locked it, then gathered up the printouts from Eli, including the addresses I needed, and headed downstairs while Dani said her good-byes. "Don't forget the chip!"

***

We stopped at the post office on the way back to Wynn's. It took me ten minutes tops to scribble names and addresses on the envelops and mail them. I did it before I could think about what I was doing, about what I'd done. And forgive the melodrama, before I could think about the consequences of my actions.

"Drive fast," I said once I was back in the car.

"We've been gone way too long. I'm surprised they haven't called."

I glanced in the side view mirror, still not one hundred percent convinced that the guys, or at least John, hadn't followed us. Nothing looked suspicious, but I still felt uneasy. A feeling I'd just have to chalk up to nerves.

"So you're going to give Wynn the chip?" Dani asked as she took the exit for Wynn's house.

"Yeah. He doesn't need to know about the rest."

"Do you have money?" She knew I was planning on running, even if I hadn't said it.

That was not a question I could answer. The less she knew, the better. My attention remained on the passing scenery.

"Where will you go?"  She downshifted and eased to a stop at a red light.

"I don't know." Brazil was out. That was the first place Wynn would look for me—if he looked for me. Or it'd be the first place someone like John would look for me, after they forced the information out of Wynn.

A few minutes later we pulled in Wynn's driveway, ready for showtime.

"We never went to Eli's," I said softly.

"I know, I know. PetSmart, Jack in the Box, and the vet's office, but it might be a tough sell."

"We'll wing it." I climbed out of the car, ready to reach for Clyde when Wynn came darting out the door and down the steps to the car.

"Where the hell have y'all been?" He was inside the car, yanking out Clyde's carrier.

I stuffed down the nerves threatening to strangle me and formed a response. "We ran some errands."

"Yeah," Dani added, "wait till you see the toys we got Clyde."

"You didn't answer your cell phone." John stood on the top of the steps, a scowl on his face.

"I don't have one." I gingerly maneuvered out of Wynn's way, praying he didn't look too closely at me.

"I meant her!" He pointed at Dani.

"I must have shut it off after I called you." She crossed to the back door, swinging the bags from PetSmart as she went.

"Well, what happened?" Wynn asked so softly I almost didn't hear him. So soft in fact, I wondered if he really wanted to hear the answer.

"We got it. A chip in Clyde's neck." Which wasn't a lie. I reminded myself of that as I headed for the door, leaving him to follow with the cat.

He grabbed my arm, spinning me around, his eyes raking over me repeatedly as if he were looking for something. Was my guilt that obvious?

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I shrugged. "I guess. I'm glad this is almost over. What do you want me to say, Wynn?" Once again, I'd be on the run, which would have been the case regardless. Except this time I knew my family was out there somewhere. Not that I had any clue where to find them, but I still had Lisa's friend's phone number and Miami Beach would be my first stop. It was a place to start.

"I don't know. I was just worried about you."

From inside the crate, Clyde started to howl, as if he sensed his imminent freedom and refused to be held a second longer.

"We did it. It's over." I figure I had, at best, forty-eight hours before I had to get lost.

"We need to talk."

"Sure." I gently pulled my arm free of his grip. "Later. We'll talk later."

I turned and headed inside, unwilling to talk to him with John so close by. Afraid that one of them would look at me just a little too closely and know that something was up.

Once Clyde was free, he immediately disappeared, and so did Dani, claiming she had to get books for the new semester before they were all gone. "I'll let you guys deal with the chip from this point."

***

"This is fantastic." John leaned in closer, peering at the chip through the plastic bag. "We've got to call Dad back ASAP."

"Wait!" Wynn reached out, covering the baggie with his hand and cutting off John's view. "Just slow down a minute."

"Slow down? Little brother, there's no waiting about it. You finished the job, now call Dad and tell him it's done." He shook his head, a huge grin on his face. "I didn't think you'd pull this off, Wynn."

"I can't." He pulled the baggie toward him.

I had visions of them fighting over it, the bag tearing and the chip flying off to land in the sink, lost in the drain forever, like something out of a black comedy.

"We don't even know what's on this chip."

"Jesus H. Christ, Wynn, who gives a shit!"

As much as I appreciated Wynn's twinge of conscience, I couldn't have him backing down now. Not when I'd already taken care of the problem. Besides, I had to play the game—to the end. I covered his hand with mine, squeezing his fingers. "Wynn, let them have it."

"They're about to commit fraud. What if someone dies and we knew?"

"The deal was the chip for my freedom. If you don't turn over that chip, I can't be free. If you don't turn over that chip, I’m dead."

"We could work something out."

Wynn might have forgotten John's presence, but I hadn't. "There's nothing to work out."

"Listen to the lady." John stood there, practically smirking.

"That's what you want?" Wynn's Adams apple bobbled up and down a bit.

It wasn't what I wanted, in the worst possible way. I wanted to stay with Wynn, I wanted my sisters back, I didn't want to give up Clyde, but I couldn't have it all. I took a deep breath and said as forcefully as possible, "It's what I want."

"Good." John whipped out his cell phone.

"Not so fast, Tiger." I slapped the counter to get his attention. "I have to leave, remember? That's the deal, and I think I deserve a head start."

"So?"

"So, maybe, since your happy ass can't lie, you should
take
the chip to your dad, while Wynn helps me get lost." And I could have one last night, alone, with him.

"I—"

"What if your dad asks where I went or what happened to me? Or he asks you about my sister? You'll be forced to tell him the truth, and I don't need him, or worse Sunset, sending someone to do clean up duty."

"She's right." Wynn slid the chip across the counter to John. "Take it. And go."

Chapter Thirty

His face burning with anger and frustration, Wynn stood there, mentally willing his brother not to balk at finishing the job for him.

Especially after all the trouble he'd caused.

John looked at him, and then Julie, before nodding and shoving the chip in his pocket. "Fine."

"You might want to be careful with that," Julie said, pointing at his jeans.

"It's been in a cat. How much more damage can I do?"

"I guess, at this point, it doesn't matter." Julie chose that moment to turn three shades of white and sway on her feet.

Wynn caught her just before her knees gave out. "You okay?"

"I forgot to eat," she confessed, pressing the palm of her hand to her forehead, "and now I've got a raging headache."

"I thought ya'll ate while you were out?" John asked.

Wynn was wondering the same thing.

"I didn't finish it. Forgive me if I was feeling a little off my feed. It's been a stressful couple of weeks, Johnnie." The circles were back under her eyes, testifying to how tired, and probably frustrated, she was.

And maybe, just maybe upset over leaving him.

John nodded, his eyes narrowed, and Wynn wondered what was on his mind. Sure the girls had taken their sweet time getting back, and sure Wynn had been worried, but he figured that was her way of saying good-bye to Clyde, and Dani too, for that matter. Julie didn't want to leave any more than he wanted her to.

John, however, didn't look convinced. "Let me grab my stuff, and I'm outta here."

***

"Let's get you in bed and I'll make you some soup."

"I don't need you babying me, Wynn."

"It's my prerogative to baby you, if I want. And for that matter, this may be the last time I ever get to."

She nodded slowly, obviously reluctant to give in even a little. "Okay."

He got her tucked in and had a can of soup warming when John came out with his bags. "I'll call you when I get to Dad's."

"Thanks, and if I don't answer, leave a message." Wynn gave him a pointed look that said, 'don't sweat calling 'cause I probably won't answer'.

True to his word, John was gone by the time Julie's soup was hot.

Wynn set the bowl on a tray with some crackers, hot tea and a bottle of ibuprofen. Julie lay curled up in his bed, facing the far wall and for a minute, he worried she might already be asleep. She turned her head at the sound of the floorboards creaking under his footsteps, giving him a weak smile and sitting up. He set the tray on her lap and went around to stretch out on his side of the bed.

"You look like you just lost your best friend."

She nodded hesitantly, but refused to look at him, choosing to pick up the spoon instead. "You'll keep Clyde, won't you? Or give him to Dani? I think she'd..." Then she started to sniffle, and her eyes turned red, welling with tears. She set the tray on the floor, and curled up with her backside pressed against him. "I don't know if I can do this, Wynn."

"We can figure something out, if you want to stay." He knew she'd say no, and she did. They both knew she had to get lost...just in case. He'd rather have her alive and gone than dead where he could visit her grave every day. "I'll call the airline in the morning and get you a ticket to Brazil, and get you some cash."

"I've got cash."

"I want to make sure you're taken care of, at least for a little while. Now let me do this."

Her nod signaled that was that. He should have been worried at how easily she gave in, but he didn't want to dig too deeply, didn't want her to feel like she had to say things neither of them wanted to say. If he was smart, he'd go away, leave her alone, and let her cry.

"What about dinner?" he asked.

"I'm not very hungry."

"You will be later." He squeezed her side, snuggling closer, needing to remember how she smelled, how she felt, for later. "I'll fix anything you want."

"How about that chicken stuff you made the first night you cooked for me?"

"Anything else? Anything you want to take with you? I can go shopping for you after I go to the bank."

She shook her head, visibly retreating from him. It was probably for the best, for both of them, was his last thought before he dozed off.

He woke up a few hours later and immediately panicked when he realized Julie's side of the bed was empty. The shower wasn't running, and the house was scary quiet. He threw back the sheets, his heart thumping hard in his chest as he slipped and slid down the hall. Clyde, who was sitting on the counter, drinking from his water dish, stared at him, a very catlike what-the-fuck look on his face, before he leapt to the ground and exited the back door.

Julie must have left it open.

Wynn took a couple of deep breaths to settle his heart down and followed. The deck was wet, where she'd apparently rinsed it off, and she'd dragged one of the lounge chairs he kept around for Dani into the yard. The grass was soft under his bare feet as he crossed to where she was all stretched out, apparently sleeping.

"Have a good nap?" Her lips twisted into a gentle smile; her eyes were still closed.

"Yeah. How about you? Get any rest?" He knelt down beside her, relieved to see that she was fine even if she did look like she'd been crying.

"A little."

"I'll get dinner started." He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her temple, and headed for the kitchen.

Clyde had found a dry spot on the deck and was sunning himself, content in a way that Wynn envied as he stepped in the kitchen and took some chicken out of the freezer.

Cooking, especially for Julie, soothed him and he found temporary comfort in dicing and slicing, opening cans and smoothing garlic butter on bread. He even found a bottle of Yellow Tail Chardonnay in the wine rack.

He'd just put it in the refrigerator to chill when Julie came back in. "I'm going to take a shower."

"Want some company?" They had at least thirty minutes until the Tetrazzini was done.

"Sure."

Wynn checked the counters to make sure he'd left nothing out the cat would get into and followed her to his bedroom. "I'm glad John's gone."

"Why do you think I suggested he take the chip to your dad?" She grinned, laughing softly as she peeled her shirt over her head.

He reached out to help her, tossing her shirt aside and pushing her pants off her hips while her fingers worked at his clothes. Then his mouth was on hers; he sucked at her lips, drawing them up and kissing her, enjoying the feel of her soft curves pressed against the length of him.

"You still want that shower?" she asked, her lips pressed against his chest, her breath drifting across his skin.