Victoria (7 page)

"You look stunning, Victoria, absolutely stunning.” Bret kissed her hand then continued to hold it as they walked down Main Street in Boulder Point.

"Thank you, and thank you for dinner as well. It was fantastic,” Victoria told him as they walked closely together, enjoying the warm evening air.

"I was hoping that you would like the place."

"I loved it and everything was perfect, despite how crowded the dining area was."

"That's why I'm a silent partner. I wouldn't know what to do if I actually had to run the restaurant,” Bret confided.

"That place is yours? I had no idea."

"That's how I like it."

"And that's why they call it silent partner.” Her curiosity had the best of her.

"If you don't mind my asking, Bret, what other kinds of businesses do you own?"

"Let's just say I own a variety of businesses. I'd hate to bore you with all my stresses in life."

"You seem to handle them very well. As a matter of fact, you don't seem stressed at all."

Bret stopped next to a bench on the side street, pulling Victoria against him.

"That's because I'm with you.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her.

Victoria unconsciously pulled away from Bret. She liked it, but it didn't feel right, and she damned Steven for the umpteenth time.

"I'm sorry, Bret, I ... It's been a while.” She looked away from him, and focused down the empty sidewalk.

He gently turned her face up toward him.

"It must have been pretty bad."

She nodded.

"He was a fool, I'm sure of it.” He gently kissed her forehead. He paused a moment, looking into her eyes, then kissed her left cheek, her right cheek, and her lips again. This time, she didn't pull away.

"Hey, Malley, I heard Kafrey was looking for you."

"That's Sergeant Malley, Captain Louis,” Patrick told the captain who was an old friend of his. The captain laughed as Patrick shook his hand in greeting.

"I saw your nephew, Alex, this morning. He got a good ‘collar,’ a DWI at the end of a night shift. He was pissed."

Patrick laughed. “What about Connor, have you seen him around?"

"Yeah, I saw him about fifteen minutes ago. He was working on the robbery case from two days ago. It looks like they have someone in custody that fits the description. He wasn't too happy, either."

"Why was that?” Patrick was a little concerned.

Then Captain Louis leaned in closer to Patrick. “The word is that your niece Victoria is dating Bret Collins."

"What! Where the hell did he get that information from?” Patrick was pissed. Collins had to be maybe fifteen years older than his niece was, and he was an asshole. What the hell could she be thinking?

"They were spotted in Boulder Point last night. That fancy, expensive Italian place. What's the name?"

"Luigi's off of Main, down by the water?"

"Yeah, that's the place. I hear you can drop a couple of bills like that.” Captain Louis clicked his thumb and forefinger together.

"Holy shit, I had no idea.” Patrick felt the pain in the pit of his stomach. This information was sure to make his ulcer act up.

The captain put his arm around his friend's shoulder and whispered, “I'm sorry to have upset you. I figured if anyone knew that it would be you. You've basically taken over Danny's role, along with your sons."

"Ah, don't worry about it. I just hope it's not serious.” Patrick then excused himself. He immediately headed to his office, offering noncommittal greetings to his friends and colleagues along the way.

He closed his office door, tossing his normal routine of grabbing a cup of coffee first out of the way, and picked up the telephone.

He was annoyed when he got Victoria's answering machine and even more pissed when her cell phone went right to voice mail. Damn it, he wasn't stupid. She was avoiding her family on purpose, which made the pain in his stomach even worse as he slammed the phone down.

Rubbing his eyes with his fingertips, he sensed the tingling sensation and was sure it would turn into a pounding headache.

What could Victoria be thinking? Why now? Why Bret Collins of all people? Could it be serious?

He asked himself a handful of questions then prayed his niece was safe.

He didn't trust Bret Collins as a politician or as a man. His reputation and track record of approvals and denials on the town board was enough to make anyone question the man's integrity.

Sighing, he tried to focus on his paperwork then dropped the manila folder on his desk to pick up his cell phone.

Quickly, he dialed her number again.

Victoria had trouble sleeping last night as horrible images ruled her dreams. She moved slowly this morning and in need of a strong cup of coffee. She was surprised when she heard the knock at the front door.

"Tod, what are you doing here so early? Is everything all right?” She was instantly concerned. Too many family members had dangerous jobs, and pictures of each of them flashed in her mind.

"I'm sorry I came over so early. Everything is fine, everyone is fine."

She motioned for him to come in and sit, then went to make him a cup of coffee. She knew exactly the way he liked it—black, extra sugar.

Glancing over her shoulder at Tod before picking up the mugs off the counter, she practically felt him glaring at her. The thought hit her instantly and she had a feeling she knew the purpose of the early morning visit.

"Go ahead, Tod, get it off your chest."

"I don't know where to begin."

"Sure you do. You want to know about my date with Bret,” she told him straight out, the way she had practiced it all last night. She felt bad, but Bret just kind of happened out of nowhere.

"It's none of my business, Victoria. You're a big girl. You've made your bed, and you've got to sleep in it."

He took a sip of the Kona coffee.

"This is really good.” He stared at Victoria over the rim of the cobalt blue mug.

"My friend Kuan sent it to me from Hawaii. It's delicious, isn't it?” she asked, but Tod just continued to stare at her. His gaze traveled over her body, then toward her bedroom, as if Bret would be there. Then his facial expression changed.

What did he think? That I would invite him into my home, serve him coffee while another man lay in my bed?
Shock and annoyance filled her.

"I haven't slept with him, Tod."

"I didn't say you did. Listen, I didn't come here to fight with you. Just be careful.” He was annoyed at her for getting involved with Bret, she could tell.

"Listen, Tory, some evidence has come to my attention—"

"In my dad's case?"

"Yeah, hun, and I..."

"What is it? Just tell me, please?” She sat down on the couch, taking his hand to pull him down with her.

Tod placed the mug of coffee on the long, narrow wooden table that sat between the red floral sofa and the entertainment center.

"I have to ask you something, and I need you to be sure before you answer. If there's any reason that you believe what I'm about to ask you is true, I need you to tell me."

Victoria nodded.

"Do you have any reason to believe that your father was involved with another woman?"

Victoria's mouth dropped, and instantly, she jumped up from the sofa.

"No way! Absolutely not, Tod. No freaking way. Never! I don't know who told you that."

"Tory, calm down, all right? I need to ask these questions. You know this."

"I'm sure you heard about the body of a young woman being found on Memorial Day? Well, during our investigation of her home, we came across a picture of her and your father."

"So, what? Instantly, he's having an affair. This is bullshit, Tod. You knew my dad. You know my mom too. They're ... they were inseparable. The two most in love people you'd ever see. There is absolutely no way,” she insisted, but Tod continued to give her the information he had. As angry as she was, Victoria knew he was just doing his job, but the pain in her stomach now turned to nausea.

"There are witnesses, Tory, connections between your father and this woman that support this theory."

Victoria shook her head as the tears welled up in her eyes. She abruptly crossed her arms against her chest and turned away from Tod.

It can't be true. It just can't be true.

She felt Tod move closer, then instantly, he turned her around by her shoulders.

She wondered if he read the pain in her eyes, the pain he caused her by the information he gave her. Their gazes locked before he slowly embraced her.

She allowed the emotions to get the best of her although she had to admit that she felt the comfort in Tod's arms. Feeling his muscular physique beneath his dress shirt caused her pulse to increase. Slowly, she pulled away, but Tod didn't release her. His hands lay entwined behind her back.

Instinctively, she held his forearms.

"I haven't told the rest of your family yet. I'll talk to your uncle Patrick first, only because I'll see him back at the station. Detective Phelps and I are going to try to keep this information quiet, especially with the memorial ceremony only days away."

Victoria jerked her head up to look at Tod, who was a good six inches taller.

"Oh God, Tod. My mother. What am I going to tell my mother? This will kill her."

Victoria cringed and his hug tightened.

"Your mom is very strong, Tory. If it's not true..."

She tried to push back from Tod and distance herself from his embrace.

"What do you mean if it's not true? Of course, it's not true, damn it. It can't be!” She pulled away from him, but Tod held her hands.

"I'm here for you, Tory. You know that I am, right?"

He stepped closer to her, placed his hand under her chin, and gently rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb before their gazes locked again.

Instantly feeling the tightness in her chest, recognizing the look of passion in Tod's eyes, she felt the conflict within. An attractive man, the second in two days, and she found herself desiring his touch. What had come over her?

His head moved forward as his tone decreased in volume.

"I'm here."

Before he could move close enough to steal a kiss, she stepped back; although, she admitted she was more then curious to taste his kiss.

"Yes. I'm sorry, Tod. Please tell me everything.” She took his coffee cup and brought it to the kitchen to make him a new cup. Then she poured one for herself.

Thinking about what almost occurred between her and Tod in the living room, she decided to sit as far from him as possible.
In twenty-four hours, did I turn into some kind of hussy?
The thought both scared her and excited her. Could she finally put her past behind her and move on? Should she listen to her best friend Celina and just sleep with Tod?

The thought of falling into such a comforting, masculine embrace brought on a slight feeling of heat between her thighs. Over a year without a man and she was ready to fling her body at two different men at once? Surely, the stress appeared to be strangling her better judgment.

Thoughts of Steven flashed in her mind. Her first lover, her only lover, how could there ever be another.

"Victoria, sit down, you don't look so good. Information like this is not easy, and I'm sorry for blurting it out."

"I'm okay, Tod, please explain everything to me and tell me what happens next?"

"Hey, Dad, what's going on?” Connor asked Patrick as he entered the office, closing the door behind him.

"Have you heard from Victoria?” Patrick sat at his desk fiddling with some paperwork.

"No, why do you ask?” Connor hoped his father hadn't heard about Victoria and Bret Collins. The shit would truly hit the fan. Connor knew Bret and Uncle Danny were kind of enemies. Apparently, Victoria had no idea.

"I know you already know what's going on, son, so take that blank look off your face. What the hell is she thinking?"

"She doesn't know that Uncle Danny and Collins hated one another. How could she know their past when she's not on the job and is, what, twelve years younger than him? I don't know what she's thinking."

"This is bad. He's no good for her and.... “Patrick didn't finish his sentence.

"What? What are you not telling me?"

"Detective Phelps called me first thing this morning. Apparently, they found a connection between the Delaney woman and Danny. They think they were having an affair."

"What? No way, not Uncle Danny. This can't be true."

"I hear you, son, but Phelps and Kafrey are working the case and this is their latest lead. Kafrey hasn't stopped in to see me yet, but I'm sure he will before the end of the day."

"Oh shit, the memorial service is only three days away. What is Aunt Sherry going to do? How about the rest of the family, never mind if this information leaks to the public? They'll rip Uncle Danny apart."

"I know, Connor. That's exactly what I'm worried about. There's something else, too."

"What is it, Dad?"

"I know who the secret new weapon is that's coming to improve the SWAT team task force. I actually spoke to him myself."

Connor sat forward in his seat. He knew how secretive the department had been about this, and by his father's facial expression, the name was surely going to shock him.

"Steven Soranno."

"What? He's alive? Does Victoria know?” Connor asked.

"Slow down, son, I've known about this for a while. Steven called me a couple of months ago. He asked me not to tell Victoria that he was alive and coming home yet. He was working on getting the position at the department and wanted everything to be perfect. He had no idea about Danny."

"Well, where the hell has he been for over a year? Why didn't he contact Tory? Does he know the hell he put her through? Holy shit, this is crazy.” Connor stood up with his hands on his hips as he thought about his precious cousin, Victoria. What would she do when she saw Steven? How involved was she with Collins and what about the new information on the case? This was going to be hell for her.

"I know, son. I had a million questions of my own. What we need to do is find Victoria before noontime tomorrow.