Page 34 of Vain (Tempest #2)

Chapter Thirty-Three

AIDEN

The last thing I wanted to do was leave her, but I need to make these calls and see if the media have landed yet. I’m relieved to find it quiet outside. The news stations obviously haven’t figured out which hospital she’s at yet, but it’s only a matter of time.

I call Greyson first, knowing he’ll share the news with Marley. I can tell by his sleep-filled voice that I’ve woken him up, but I know he’d have been pissed hearing what happened on the news.

Once I’m done with him, I call Banner back as I spot the coffee shop up ahead. Where Greyson sounded half asleep, Banner sounds like he’s on a cocktail of coffee and Red Bull.

“We saw the news. Not sure if they arrested him or not, but at the moment, he’s just a person of interest, and you know how that goes.”

He sighs. “I know, but even the basic amount of police work will have them putting Daniel’s car at the scene. I’ve found it on multiple traffic cams, including the one when it plows into the side of your truck.”

“You get a clear shot of Daniel?”

“Unfortunately, no. The windows are tinted, so it’s impossible to tell. Pretty sure it’s not legal to have them tinted that dark, but I suppose it might vary from state to state.”

“Alright, well, it’s better than nothing. We have the car, a motive, and a previous history of shitty behavior.”

“I have feelers out. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know. I’ve already dug deep into his business. There have been a couple of minor infractions, but nothing overly concerning. I did find a direct payment source from Matilda’s mother’s account to Daniel’s personal one.”

“I don’t even want to know how you found that out.”

“Good thought, plausible deniability and all that. Listen, I need to tell you something else. And before you lose your shit, orders came from the boss man himself.”

I frown. “Okay, what’s going on?”

He blows out a sharp breath. “You weren’t the only one involved in a shootout.”

“What?”

“Fucking Baylor the sliming motherfucker. He had his goons beat up Blake’s grandmother.”

“Is she okay?”

“She was flirting with the paramedics the last I heard, so yes. However, her getting attacked was a distraction. Long story short, Blake’s pad got set on fire, Baylor killed Callie’s mom, Callie ended up back in the hospital.

She’s fine by the way, pregnant, but fine. Oh, and Marcus got shot in the leg.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to remain calm, but I feel it fraying by the second.

“You’re thinking about punching me, aren’t you?”

“And they say you’re not smart.”

“Hey, fuck you.”

I shake my head, trying to clear the mass of thoughts threatening to make my head explode. “Is Marcus okay?”

“He had to have surgery to remove the bullet, but yeah, he’s good too.”

“You guys need me to come back?”

“No. That’s why Blake didn’t want us to say anything. He knew you’d drop everything and run home, but that would have just provided Baylor with an extra target and would have put Matilda in his orbit. The last thing that woman needs is Christian fucking Baylor causing shit too.”

“But he’s dead now?”

“Yeah, and all the good guys survived. The threat has been neutralized here, so no need to run home just yet. Besides, it sounds like your girl needs you now more than ever.”

“It’s crazy, Banner, but if anything, I’m the one who needs her.”

“Yeah, I get it,” he says gently, and I know he does. Before I can say anything else, he changes the subject. “So did Arlo’s friend make it there?”

“She did.”

“She? Huh, I didn’t see that coming. What’s she like?”

“She’s fine.”

“She’s fine? I’m gonna need more than that.”

“I’m in love with Matilda. I don’t really notice other women anymore.”

He chokes on the other end of the phone, making me hang up. Asshole. He pretends that he’s immune to the opposite sex, but he’s not. He just has his own complicated history to deal with.

The coffee shop is empty, so I walk right up to the counter.

I order coffees and a hot chocolate. There are a couple of subs left, so I have the barista bag those up before paying.

She hands me the bag of food first. I throw a few paper napkins inside, along with some sugar packets and a couple of stirrers, before grabbing the drinks from the counter.

“Here, let me get the door for you,” the woman offers with a tired smile.

“Thanks.” I wait for her to pass me and grab the door before heading back out into the night.

My mind skips over everything Banner told me. I can’t help but feel guilty that I wasn’t there yet again when shit hit the fan. But then I think of everything that went down today. I picture Tilly’s ashen face as I pulled her from the wreckage and know I wouldn’t have left even if I could have.

I’m so lost in thought that I’m surprised I make it back to the hospital in one piece, not paying attention when crossing the road. “Get your shit together man,” I mutter. I walk through the busy waiting room and head up to Tilly’s room.

I tap the door with my foot and wait for Reese to open it, which she does with a scowl. It melts from her face when she sees the coffee. “Oh, thank god. The poison they serve here is not fit for human consumption.”

I hand her the tray of drinks as I close the door behind me. I take in Tilly, who is fast asleep with a slight frown on her face. “Milk and sugar are in the bag.” I lower it to the table.

“How is she?” I ask as Reese doctors her coffee with a shit-ton of sugar.

“She was worried about you and her friends. She drifted off about ten minutes ago, but she’s been pretty restless. She doesn’t think she can trust her instincts now that Daniel’s been taken in for questioning.”

I look at her sharply but she just shrugs.

“She was just venting. You know how it goes. Don’t worry, I put her straight.

I’ve gotta say, though, the police got lucky with this one.

This guy clearly isn’t the sharpest tool in the box if he’s dumb enough to lead such an obvious trail back to himself, which is slightly concerning when he runs a successful company. ”

“I can feel a headache coming on.” I rub my temples before reaching for the bag in Reese’s lap. I grab one of the sandwiches, unwrap it, and take a bite. “There’s plenty in there. Help yourself,” I tell her around a mouthful of food before I sit next to the bed.

“Thanks.” She looks through the bag and pulls out a sub. “Why do you look like you’ve sucked a lemon?”

I sigh, not wanting to go into everything that’s gone down back home. “Long day. And I’ll admit, I’m pissed that I’m not out there kicking the fuck out of that prick.”

“As much as it sucks to hear, your job isn’t to avenge your girl.

It’s to protect her from assholes like Daniel and all the other crazies out there.

Now that he’s on the cop’s radar, you can’t go in with your fists flying like you want to.

Gotta give them a chance to hang themselves before you start poking holes in their investigation.

Cops don’t take kindly to being made to look like idiots.

If they mess it up, you’ll get your turn.

But you gotta have patience. You are no good to Tilly if Daniel is free and you’re the one behind bars. ”

“You know an awful lot about this kind of shit. What is it you do exactly? Because somehow I think it’s far more just a bodyguard. This is not the part where you tell me you are, in fact, a cop, right?”

She laughs around a mouthful of food. “Fuck no. I like to think I’m a good guy, but I’m not sure the police would think the same way.

I work for a company that specializes in bringing down the worst of the worst. The kind that always manages to slip through the cracks thanks to who they know and the size of their bank account. ”

I lean back and nod. I might try to stay on the right side of the tracks for the most part, but I’m aware enough to know that people like Reese are needed to keep the balance in check.

Good guys, cops in particular, have to color inside the lines.

But people like Reese don’t have those same limitations.

“I freak you out yet?”

I shake my head. “I was just thinking. Yeah, I might try to play within the confines of the law, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what you guys do. It’s naive to think that the good guys always prevail.”

“They do if I can help it.” She pulls out a business card. It’s plain white, with The Candy Shop embossed on the back and a cell phone number.

“You give that to your girl when she wakes up and tell her if she ever finds herself in need because the cop’s hands are tied to give me a call.”

“Not me, though? Just my girl?” I tease.

“Something tells me you have all the backup you need.” Her eyes soften as they rest on Tilly.

“Plus, us women need to stick together. Nothing is more empowering than women banding together to save themselves rather than having men rushing in and playing the hero. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m saying it’s not always the right thing. ”

I bite my tongue, but I’m unsure how to respond. I’m not the kind of guy who will ever sit around and watch my woman struggle if I can help, even if I do understand what she’s saying.

As if sensing I’m not quite getting what she’s putting down, she chuckles. “Put it this way, wouldn’t you much rather have Matilda be with you because she chooses you over all others instead of being with you because she feels like she can’t survive without you?”

I think over her words as we sit in silence and eat.

My answer to her question should be yes, but maybe I’m just fucked-up enough to know that Matilda Carson is special.

I’ll take her any which way I can have her.

Of course, I want her to want me, but I want her to need me too.

I like that she seeks me out for protection.

Reese looks at me knowingly and shakes her head with a good-natured grin. “Well, it’s been eventful, but now that you’re back, I think I’m going to head to the airport and catch the next flight out.”

“You sure? You must be exhausted.”

“You know what they say, no rest for the wicked.”

“Amen to that.”

“Say goodbye to Matilda for me, and don’t forget to give her my card.”

I nod as she opens the door. “Hey, Reese?” She turns back to me. “Thanks again.”

“Anytime. And tell Arlo I said hey. Oh, and Aiden? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”