Page 30
Dominic’s heart stopped when he saw Rena stab Presley. They crumpled to the floor in a heap, with Rena sobbing and Presley in shock. Presley grasped the handle of the knife. Dom slid like a runner stealing second base beside her and clutched her wrist.
“I know it hurts, honey, but don’t pull it out. You need to leave it there.” It was plugging the wound. If she removed it, she might bleed out.
Her frantic eyes locked with his, her breathing labored. A lung had definitely been punctured. He prayed the blade had missed her heart. He ripped off the Kevlar vest and removed his shirt, wrapping it around the knife to keep pressure on the injury.
Kayne dropped beside them. “Hey, Presley. I removed the stents from Jessie and Tamera. Ambulances are on the way. Dominic and I are going to move you, okay?”
She nodded and tried to help. “No, let us do the work,” Dominic ordered.
“Help me, Captain! I’ve been shot.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rena clutching her bleeding leg, but he didn’t spare her a glance. She was a cold-blooded murderer and had injured Presley. Frankly, he was proud of himself for not going over there and stomping on her face.
“Ow, what are you doing? I’ve been shot.”
He looked up to see Kayne jerk her arms behind her back and slap on flex cuffs.
“Please, hot guy, help me. I’m in pain.”
Dom smiled when Kayne accidentally on purpose jarred her injured leg and she wailed, much like the emergency vehicles in the distance.
Damn it, he’d told them not to use sirens.
Kayne read his mind. “I called and made sure they sent at least two ambulances. I told them it was okay to come in hot.”
“Presley gets the first one.” He wasn’t budging on that. Jessie and Tamera needed help, but she was his priority.
“Agreed. I’m going to guide them here.” Kayne darted out the door.
“Isn’t anyone listening to me?” Rena sobbed. “Captain, I need you to help me so I can return to your crew.”
Rage, red-hot and dangerous, bubbled up inside him. The only other time he’d felt this way was when he’d learned what Lainey had been doing to Gia.
“You will never be a firefighter again. You will be lucky to ever see the light of day. If I didn’t have to apply pressure on Presley, I would kill you with my bare hands and enjoy every minute of it.”
He’d stunned Rena speechless. Her sobs stopped cold. Frankly, he’d shocked himself with the vehemence of his words. He wasn’t sorry—he meant every word.
Where the hell was the ambulance? He crooned words to Presley, not even sure what he was saying. He teetered on the verge of panic when she turned blue. “I love you, Presley. This isn’t how I wanted to tell you, but I do.”
Her eyes locked with his. With her labored breathing, she couldn’t speak. Her lids fluttered just as Kayne returned with a dozen emergency personnel. He was glad to see the entire B Shift crew, including Asher and Dana, two of his paramedics. He waved them over. Dana did a double-take.
“Rena?”
“Leave her for last,” Dominic ordered.
“She’s one of us,” Asher argued.
“She’s a murderer.”
That surprised them both, and they went to work on Presley. Dominic gave Asher and Dana the rundown and helped lift Presley onto a gurney, holding on to the knife so it didn’t dislodge. They strapped in her arms and added an oxygen mask.
“Captain, we only have two buses available. We’ll have to double up.”
Two more medics arrived. He instructed them to work on Jessie and Tamera and to take the saline bags since they didn’t know what was inside.
Dom called Officer Janus Brim over. “We’re short on ambulances. You’ll have to drive Rena Robbins to the hospital and arrest her for murder and attempted murder. I’ll fill you in on the details later.”
“Yes, sir, Captain Bianchi.”
“I’ll handle things here and meet you at the hospital,” Kayne told him.
Dom dug Kayne’s keys from his pocket and tossed them to him so he’d have a ride. Then he instructed two of his firefighters to help carry Presley. They couldn’t go as fast as he wanted since he had to ensure the knife didn’t move. When they arrived at the ambulance, he climbed in as the stretcher slid inside. Dana scrambled after him, and Asher rushed them to the hospital.
Presley couldn’t keep her eyes open. Her skin was tinted bluer than before. The oxygen should help, but Dom prayed the entire way to the hospital.
When they arrived, the doors were whipped open. Several emergency personnel stood ready to remove the gurney.
“I’ll take over,” one of the medics said, nudging his hand away to grasp the knife.
He watched as they disappeared through double-doors, feeling lost and scared. Presley had to be okay. He didn’t want to contemplate a life without her.
Dom glanced at his fingers to see them coated in blood that had seeped from her wound. He found a bathroom, washed up, and then called Charlie Gardner, one of his lieutenants, who was at the gala with his wife. He asked Charlie to drive Gia to him at the emergency room when they left.
“Are you okay?”
“I am. Others aren’t.”
“I was looking for an excuse to leave,” Charlie said. “Thank you. We’ll be there soon.”
Dominic walked to the waiting room and headed to the nurse’s station. “Hey, Erin.”
“Captain Bianchi. Is everything okay?”
“No, I’m waiting on news for Presley Parrish. She was just brought in. I’ll need to speak with her doctor as soon as possible.”
She typed into her computer. “I’ve got you on record.”
“Thanks.”
Dom walked over to a couch and collapsed. He felt exhausted. Stressed. Worried sick. How could Rena Robbins be one of the killers? A thought crossed his mind, and he stiffened. He’d had to replace two firefighters who had died in an automobile accident. Rena was one of the hires. Had it been a setup? Had Jamie Wilcox and Ned Ibarra been part of Rena and Val’s nefarious plans?
It hurt him deeply to know she was guilty of such vile, evil machinations. How many people had lost their lives? What was Val Anders’s motivation for killing the Cheerios? Since she was dead, they might never know.
Blood stained the white T-shirt Dom had worn under his tux shirt, but he didn’t care. He would toss the entire suit when he got home.
The doors to the waiting room slicked open. He glanced over to see Sam King rush inside and head directly to the nurse’s station. Sam still wore his tux and a frantic expression. He didn’t glance Dom’s way, and he had no energy to flag him down.
After he spoke with Erin, Sam raked a hand through his hair and turned. Dom lifted a hand, and Sam hurried over to him.
“What the hell happened?”
“I don’t have the details, but I believe Jessie was poisoned.”
“No way! By whom?”
“Dr. Val Anders.”
“The medical examiner?”
Dom nodded.
Sam dropped beside Dom. “I couldn’t find Jessie to start the gala, and I assumed she was off doing the bank president or something. Geez, I think I made snide remarks about her. I don’t remember. Then the police called.”
“What did they tell you?”
“That she was being brought to the emergency room unconscious, possibly overdosed. Damn it, Dominic, tell me everything.”
He did, starting with realizing Presley was missing and how Kayne deduced it was the medical examiner. “Val Anders is Jerrod Moran’s older sister.”
Sam slammed against the back of the couch. “The hell you say!”
Dom shrugged.
Sam dropped his head into his hands. “Something happened the night Gwen and Jerrod died, Dominic. Jessie would never talk to me about it. I tried to pry it out of her, even when she was wasted, but she was a vault. Has Anders talked?”
“She’s dead.” Dom had been around many deaths and had seen some gruesome things. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to get the image of Val’s head exploding out of his mind. “I don’t know the details, but Rena Robbins was involved.”
“No kidding? Damn it, I slept with her.”
Dominic should’ve been surprised, but he wasn’t. “She stabbed Presley.”
“What? Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Dominic, what’s going on? Why are Margy, Nancy, and Charmaine dead? Why is Jessie hospitalized?”
“Tamera too.”
“My God.”
“And to answer your question, I don’t know.”
The doors slid open again. Dom glanced over to see Charlie and Gia. He jumped to his feet.
“Daddy! Are you okay? Why are you bleeding?”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. It’s not my blood.” He held his arms open, and she jumped into them. He hugged his daughter and inhaled her familiar scent.
She glanced around. “Where’s Presley?”
“She’s seeing the doctor.”
“Is she okay?”
“She will be.” God, he hoped it was true.
He held out a hand to Charlie. “Thank you for bringing her here. I owe you.”
“Nah. It’s what friends do.”
He placed Gia on the ground. “Have a seat, honey. I need to talk to Charlie for a minute.”
Sam patted the cushion beside him. “Come sit by me, Gia.”
Dom wasn’t sure he wanted his daughter near Sam. Guilt instantly engulfed him. Despite his horn dog ways, he trusted Sam. He was a good guy sometimes.
Once Gia was settled, he turned to Charlie. “The news is going to break soon. Rena Robbins is involved in the string of fires that killed several people.”
Charlie staggered back a step. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
Charlie had been in on the hiring process with Dominic. “I wish I was. She attempted murder tonight. She was shot, but not fatally, and will be arrested. We need to get ahead of it before the press descends, and they will.”
Charlie nodded. “Okay. Do we know why she did it?”
“She was romantically involved with Dr. Val Anders.”
“The medical examiner?”
“One and the same. She’s now deceased.”
“I thought Rena was straight.”
“Apparently she’s fluid in her sexuality.”
Charlie rubbed a hand across his forehead. “This is a lot of information coming at me in a short amount of time. It’s almost too much to comprehend.”
“Tell me about it. There’s more. I don’t have confirmation, and this is just between you and me right now, but there’s a possibility the crash that killed Jamie Wilcox and Ned Ibarra wasn’t an accident.”
Charlie dropped to a seat. “This is unreal.”
“Charlie, I’m going to need you to take charge and be the point man. I can’t leave here.”
“Dom, what is it? What’s going on?”
“The woman I love was Rena’s victim tonight.”
“Oh no, Presley? Is she going to be okay?”
Helplessness engulfed him. “I honestly don’t know.”
Charlie stood and clutched his shoulder reassuringly. “You can count on me. I’ll head to the station now to prepare a statement.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you.”
Once he left, Dom returned to Gia. She crawled into his lap, and he clenched her tightly. An hour went by. Two. Gia napped against him. Sam also nodded off. There was no way he could sleep until he knew Presley would be okay.
Kayne arrived looking haggard. He collapsed into the seat next to the couch. “Any word?”
“Not yet.”
Kayne wiped his hand down his face. “It’s my fault.”
“How do you figure?”
“I should’ve taken Rena out before she could stab her.”
“Kayne, I know you’re sporting a healthy ego, but there is no way you could’ve or should’ve attempted that shot.”
“Still doesn’t ease the guilt.”
“Don’t do that. I have enough of my own.”
Kayne raised a brow and repeated Dom’s earlier question. “How do you figure?”
“I hired the woman who stabbed her. Didn’t detect her psychosis.”
Kayne rolled his eyes. “Give me a break. You did that before Presley returned home.”
“Then we’re both being unrealistic.”
“I guess we are.”
Gia woke and sat up. “Kayne!”
“Hey, ma belle .”
Gia buried her face against Dominic and chortled.
Erin came over, and Dominic stiffened.
“Sam, the doctor will see you now.”
Sam glanced at Dominic. “Do you want to come with me? I don’t think I can do this alone.”
Dom turned to Kayne. “Can you watch Gia?”
“Of course.”
“Gia, I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.”
He placed her down and followed Sam and Erin. She led them to a room with three chairs and closed them in. They each sat and waited.
“I don’t love her anymore,” Sam admitted. “I haven’t for a long time. But I don’t want her to die.”
“Why don’t you divorce her?”
“Because it’s easy.”
“Don’t you think you deserve happiness?”
Sam sighed. “My parents stayed together for appearances. There was never any love between them that I knew of. They were rarely in the same room. I never saw an ounce of affection from either one. No kisses, hugs, anything. I guess I thought that was what marriage was supposed to be.”
Before Dom could respond, the door opened. A man with dark skin and eyes entered, wearing a white lab coat with a stethoscope draped around his neck.
“I’m Dr. Guzman. Which of you is the husband?”
Sam raised his hand.
“We were able to pinpoint the poison Mrs. King ingested and treat it effectively. She is still unconscious, but her vital signs are strengthening. She should make a full recovery with no ill effects.
Sam huffed out an exhale. “Thank goodness.”
“She’ll be moved to a room soon. You can visit her then.”
Sam stood and shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you.”
They followed the doctor out of the room.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Sam admitted. “Maybe it would be best to end it now.”
Dom didn’t answer. It was their private business.
Sam shook his hand. “Thanks for going in there with me.”
“No thanks necessary.”
Sam slapped him on the back, and they returned to the waiting room. Gia was chatting away with Kayne.
Kayne looked up when he approached. “Hey, Gia. I need to talk to your dad for a second.”
“Okay.”
Kayne urged Dominic away so Gia couldn’t overhear. “How is Jessie?”
“She’s going to make a full recovery.”
“Tamera Watts isn’t.”
“Oh, damn, she died?”
“Yes.”
Dominic felt drained. Another senseless death.
“Dominic?”
He turned at Erin’s voice, his heart pounding.
“The doctor will talk to you now.”
He wasn’t sure he could make his feet move. If something happened to Presley, he would lose it.
“I’ll watch Gia,” Sam offered.
“Thank you.” It would help to have Kayne with him.
He and Kayne followed Erin to the same room he’d left a few minutes ago. Dom concentrated on breathing to lower his skyrocketing pulse.
“She’s going to be okay,” Kayne said.
“How can you be sure?”
Kayne shrugged. “The power of positive thought.”
The door opened, and a woman with gray hair and wire-rimmed glasses entered. She consulted her clipboard. “Mr. Bianchi?”
“Yes.”
“And you are?”
“Kayne Serruto. I’m a coworker and friend.”
The woman nodded. “I’m Dr. Burton. I treated Ms. Presley Parrish for a stab wound. She has a pneumothorax or collapsed lung. We operated to repair the tear. She didn’t require a chest tube.”
That was good, right?
“Yes.”
He didn’t realize he’d spoken out loud.
“The blade missed her heart by millimeters. The correct protocol was followed by keeping the knife in the wound and applying pressure. She is still under sedation from the surgery.”
“She’s going to recover?”
“Yes.”
Dominic exhaled the breath he’d been holding. Kayne did too.
“You’ll be able to visit her soon.”
They both thanked her and then bro-hugged with backslaps. When they returned to the waiting room, Gia had fallen asleep on the couch. Sam looked up.
“How is she?”
“Going to be okay.”
“Thank God.”
Soon, Erin came for Sam and led him to Jessie. Ten minutes later, she stood in front of Dom. “Follow me.”
Dominic scooped Gia into his arms. She mumbled but snuggled against his shoulder. Kayne brought up the rear as they entered Presley’s room. The space was dim, with only a small fluorescent light above the bed providing illumination. An oxygen mask still covered her face, but he was happy to note that the blue tint was gone.
In a panicked voice, Gia asked, “Daddy, is Presley okay?”
Dom ran a hand down her hair. “She will be, honey.”
A nurse adjusted her blankets. “She’ll be out for a while if you want to get some rest.”
Dominic wasn’t about to leave her. “Is it okay if we stay?”
“Sure. I’ll bring a cot for her.”
“Thanks.”
With a nod, she left.
“I can stay if you need to take her home,” Kayne offered.
“I’m not leaving. Same offer, though, if you need to rest.”
“Same answer,” Kayne repeated.
The nurse returned with a rollaway bed. She set it up with a blanket and pillow. Dom placed Gia on it, and she instantly fell asleep.
It was late, but he texted Amber to see if she could pick Gia up in the morning and take her to their house. Amber texted back and said she could pick her up now and spend the night. He thanked her and arranged to meet her outside the lobby.
He hated leaving Presley’s side for a minute, but he had to ensure Gia was cared for. She mumbled when he picked her up and came awake when he carried her outside.
“I want to stay with you and Presley,” she whined. “Please, Daddy?”
“I’m sorry, honey. I need you to take care of Major. Amber is staying with you tonight. Okay?”
“Okay.”
He kissed her head. She was such a sweet girl despite what her mother had put her through.
Amber pulled up to a stop. Dominic opened the back door and settled Gia in the booster seat Amber kept in her car.
“Thanks for doing this.”
“Not a problem at all.”
Dom closed the door and waved when Amber drove away.
Kayne had nodded off but came instantly awake when he returned to Presley’s room. It reminded Dominic of Presley. She slept lightly too . . . unless he wore her out. That thought caused his groin to tighten.
“Why don’t you sleep on the cot,” Dominic offered. “It’s here. No sense in letting it go to waste.”
“You don’t want to use it?”
“I won’t be able to sleep.” Until Presley woke up, he didn’t plan on closing his eyes.
“Maybe for a little while,” Kayne said, plopping down and instantly falling asleep.
Dominic held Presley’s hand and willed her to wake up.
#
Presley realized she was conscious when an ache in her chest throbbed. It was dulled, likely by medication, but it was there, nonetheless. Breathing deeply was painful, so she concentrated on the air pumping into her lungs from a face mask.
She knew she was in a hospital from the ambient sounds around her. Her brain was fuzzy, but images punched through. For a moment, she thought she’d suffered through a nightmare where Jessie and the other Cheerios had been responsible for Gwen’s death. Then she realized it was real. Everything she’d believed for the last eighteen years was a lie.
“Hey, babe, you’re awake . . . why are you crying?”
Dominic wiped a thumb beneath her eyes to catch tears she didn’t realize she’d shed. Seeing his handsome face made all the pain go away.
“You’re going to be fine. You have a punctured lung but no other damage.”
She recalled Rena Robbins’s feral scream after she had shot her in the knee, as well as the excruciating pain of a knife slicing into her chest. That paled compared to the terror she’d seen in Dominic’s eyes as he held her and murmured comforting words. She’d wanted to tell him she would be okay, but talking had been impossible. Then he’d told her he loved her. Oh, how she’d wanted to say the words back. She moved the face mask to do that now.
“Hey, Elvis, how are you feeling?”
Foiled by Kayne. She nodded.
“You scared us.”
She’d scared herself. Not being able to breathe was a fear like no other.
She had no concept of time. It could’ve happened hours ago or minutes. She moved the mask to speak despite Dominic’s protest. “Gia?”
“She’s safe at home with Amber.” He tried to settle it back in place, but she shook her head.
“Jessie, the other women, they killed Gwen.”
Dominic reared back. “What?”
Tears filled her eyes again. “Keeping the secret tore them apart.”
Dominic ran a hand through his hair. “That means they essentially killed Jerrod Moran too.”
She nodded. “It was Dr. Anders’s motivation. Jerrod was her younger brother. How are Jessie and Tamera?”
“Jessie will recover. Tamera didn’t make it.”
Presley should feel bad about that. She didn’t. “Rena?”
“I haven’t checked on her,” Dominic admitted.
“She’s under arrest,” Kayne supplied.
A nurse came in and shooed Dominic and Kayne away so she could check Presley’s vitals.
“I don’t need the oxygen,” she told the nurse.
“You sure?”
Presley nodded.
“Okay.”
She removed the strap around Presley’s head and set the mask aside. Presley wanted to stay awake, but whatever Val had injected her with was still in her system, and she fell asleep.