Neil (The Uncompromising Series Book 2) (32 page)

“Darlin’,” Talon said, short and tense. “What’s wrong with Conner?”

Relieved that it wasn’t Viking or Jason or the Feds, I breathed out. “He doesn’t like car rides.”

“He was fine with me. What’s goin’ on? You okay to drive?”

“I’m fine but I need to hang up and concentrate.” I didn’t know if Viking had put him up to the call but it didn’t matter. I wanted out of this conversation and away from anything that was going to remind me of him.

Talon sighed. “Listen up, no one knows I’m callin’, just you and me. I wanna make sure you’re okay.”

Fresh tears dripped down my face. “Fine,” I managed.

He cursed. “You want me to drive you two home?”

I cried harder. “I’m good.” I didn’t deserve his kindness.

“Damn, girl, you gotta stop with the tears or I’m gonna have Luna track your ass so I can come find you. You know that nosey prick keeps tabs on all of us. He lives for that shit.”

A short laugh escaped and I swiped at my face again. “He kinda does.”

There was dead air for a second then Talon’s voice sobered. “You remember.”

It wasn’t a question but I answered it anyway. “Yeah.”

“When?”

“Just before I left.”

“Somethin’ trigger it?”

I didn’t see any point in not telling him, Talon had been a medic in the Marines. “When I saw Viking holding Conner, it all came back.”

Talon took a deep breath then let it out slow. “Good.
Damn
. But good.”

I remembered what Viking had said. “I’m not crazy.”

“Sweetheart, you’re about the least crazy person I know.”

“Viking said that I could be blocking stuff because—”

“Listen, darlin’. I know all sorts of shit has gone down and everyone deals with life differently. That said, head wounds ain’t no joke. Get yourself checked out when you get home to be sure, but you’re gonna be fine. You’re not crazy. PTSD happens and I’d be surprised if you didn’t have to deal with fallout, but you got me and Luna and Blaze and Layna when they get back from their honeymoon. You’re not alone. You call if you need somethin’, you hear me?”

A margin of relief sank in and I owed him more than I could ever repay. “Thank you. And thank you for taking Conner in.”

“It’s all good. That’s what friends are for, darlin’.”

Uncomfortable, I wanted to end the call. “I need to concentrate on driving now.”

“I hear ya. Take care of your little man. He’ll probably fall asleep though. He was so excited when I told him we were coming to you, he talked at me the whole drive.”

I almost smiled. Conner was definitely a talker. “That’s my son.”

“He sure is, darlin’. Take care.”

“Hey.” I swiped at my face again.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“Nothin’ doin’.” He hung up.

I glanced in the rearview mirror and sure enough, Conner had fallen asleep.

I pulled onto the highway and my cell rang again. When I saw André’s number, I answered. “Hey.”

“Christensen said you were on your way back. How’s Conner?”

My gut twisted hearing Viking’s name. “Asleep.”

“I thought you were going to stay up in Ocala for a few days.”

“With Viking and his wife and kids?” I asked bitterly. “No thanks.”

Dead silence.

“Let me guess. He didn’t tell you either?”

“
Dios mios
.”

“Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction too, but I’m sure that’s not why you called. What do you want?”

He ignored my question. “You okay?”

“Fine. I’ll be back at work on Monday, assuming I still have my spot at the daycare.”

“Take some time off and get your head straight. Tyler’s covering the front anyway.”

“I don’t want time off.” I needed money so I could move to a more secure apartment. “I need to work.” And not think about anything except Conner.

“All right, all right, I get it.” He paused and I knew what was coming. “You met his wife?”

“Yeah, a woman named Jannat who I guess—”

“
Jannat Khanom
?”

Did everyone know this woman? “I don’t know her last name.”

“Black hair, green eyes, early thirties?”

And stunning? “That’s her.”

“And she’s
married
to Christensen? Are you sure?”

“She called him her husband.” That pretty much sealed the deal in my book.

“Jesus.” André exhaled. “I didn’t see that coming.”

Neither did I, but I didn’t say shit. “I gotta go, I’m driving.”

“Hold up,
chica
. I hate to do this now but I got a lead on Tanner.”

I waited for him to elaborate but he didn’t. “And?”

“I can call the Feds, or I can bring him in… or I can ignore it.”

Fuck. “I don’t need any more favors from you. Do what you have to do.”

André sighed. “Come on, Ariel.”

“I didn’t ask you to look for him but you did anyway. You found him, you deal with it.” He was dead to me. “I’m done being used by him.” And Viking.

“That sounds like you remember something.”

Everything was more like it. “All of it.”

“Then you remember why he needs to answer for what he did. Not to mention Christensen will want to see him go down.”

“I don’t give a shit what
Christensen
wants.”

“You need to be safe,
chica
.”

“Viking and all of his money took care of that,” I said bitterly.

André exhaled. “Okay, look, fuck Christensen and his money. He has more than he knows what to do with so forget about him paying Candle off. Because trust me, he may have transferred that cash to Candle’s account but you can bet your ass he’ll get it back one day. That’s how Christensen operates. He’s never gonna lie down and take it and he does nothing halfway. He won’t forget what Candle did and frankly, I’d be scared as shit right now if I was Candle. When Christensen decides to collect, Candle’s never gonna see it coming.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“No. I told you Jason was a walk in the park compared to Christensen.”

“Whatever.” I didn’t want to hear it.

I could practically see André run his hand over his face. “Do you have a preference for the Jason thing or are you leaving it up to me?”

Now that I remembered André, I felt bad for everything I’d put him through. He’d never been anything but kind to me. “Do whatever you think is best,” I said tiredly.

“If I call the Feds, he’ll go to prison.”

“Jason made his own choices.” He already wasn’t a father.

“All right,
chica
, I hear you. I’ll take care of it.”

A wave of nausea hit and for a split second, I panicked. Did I really want to be the reason my son’s father went to jail? “André, wait. What if—”

“Don’t do this to yourself, babe. You know who he is. You didn’t set this in motion. It’s been a long time coming and you need to protect your son. You know I’m right.”

I glanced in the rearview mirror at Conner. “But if we let him go and if the LCs don’t kill him, maybe…?” He could turn around? Do it again? What the hell was I saying?

“He stole from the club he’s prospecting for. He’s safer in jail.”

He was probably right. Shit. “Why do I keep picking the wrong men?”

André snorted. “I’m single by choice,
chica
. Can’t help you there.”

“Can I ask you one last thing?”

“Shoot.”

I swallowed. “What happened in the garage after I blacked out? How did the LCs get us?” I knew what Viking had told me but in the back of my mind, it’d been bugging me since I’d gotten my memory back.

André paused. “I stood down. Candle had you. They got Neil. Tyler was wounded. It was a command decision.”

But he sounded pissed about it. “And?”

“And nothing. I knew Christensen could handle himself and we started tracking you the second they left.”

“You’re not telling me something.”

André sighed. “Christensen left his six wide open.”

“So he made a mistake?”

“He doesn’t make mistakes.”

Just like he’d told me. Viking knew what was happening and he’d purposely let himself get taken. He had a wife and kids. Why the hell would he do that? To save me? Protect me? Only to turn around and fuck me over? “I gotta go. Conner’s waking up,” I lied.

“All right,
chica
. Drive safe. See you Monday.”

“Okay.”

I hung up and my cell buzzed with a text alert. I quickly glanced at it.

NC: I am calling you. Answer. This is not about us.

A second later my phone rang. Wrecked, my pulse racing, I stupidly answered. “What?”

“You spoke with Luna.”

His voice filled my head and sank into my heart and yearning so deep stole my breath. “Is that a question?”

“Tanner should not be allowed to go free.”

“That’s not up to me.” I hated how I was straining to hear any sounds in the background—kids, Jannat—anything.

Pause. “How is Conner?”

It didn’t escape me that he used his real name. “I have to go.” I couldn’t do this. I never should’ve answered. The second I heard his voice, I wasn’t mad at him, I was just heartsick.

“Text me when you get home.”

Crippling jealousy reared up and threatened to choke me as the unwanted thought of him having sex with his wife and holding his own children crushed my heart. “You don’t get to use me anymore.” I hung up and turned my phone off.

Every mile back to Miami, I fought tears and anger. By the time I pulled up to my shit apartment, all I wanted was my memory gone again. Instead, I got to struggle with a suitcase, a cranky toddler and three flights of stairs. Then I pushed my front door open and my eyes landed on the obscenely large television mounted on my wall.

“Damn it.”

“Damn it,” Conner repeated.

“Don’t swear, baby.” I set him down and he ran to his room.

“Truck!”

I dumped the suitcase and looked around. Every item that used to be home to me now looked like desperation. I couldn’t help but compare my shit life to Viking’s, and my used, threadbare couch looked a thousand times worse than before I’d seen his fancy ocean-view condo.

Conner came back in the living room holding up a small truck I recognized. “Truck. Neil?”

I squatted. “Come here, sweet boy.” He settled into my arms and I squeezed him tight. “Neil’s busy working right now.” I hated that I was giving him the same excuse I gave every time he asked about his father. “Let’s have some dinner and watch TV before bed, what do you say?”

Big brown eyes that melted my heart looked up at me with hope. “Cereal?”

I smiled at my son. “You got it.”

I
CALLED THE OWNER OF
the daycare’s cell phone in the morning and said I’d had a family emergency. Luckily, she hadn’t given my spot away. I told her I’d see her Monday then I drove clear across town to take Conner to a park. Checking my rearview mirror every two seconds and looking over my shoulder constantly at the park, I was a mess by the time I pulled into a grocery store two neighborhoods over. Worse, I realized after I’d filled my cart that I was buying all the shit on the stupid list Viking had rattled off in Pietra’s. And when my old Land Cruiser started right up after I loaded the groceries in the back, I almost lost it.

No matter how many times I told myself that Candle wouldn’t come after me or that Jason wouldn’t show up, my pulse refused to calm down. When I unlocked my front door and walked us into the apartment, I let out a breath of relief.

Until I saw it.

Placed directly in the middle of my living room like a beacon of my vulnerability was my suitcase. The faint scent of spice and musk filled my lungs and fury set in as I glanced around, but Viking was long gone. I set Conner down. “Go to your room and play.”

With shaking hands, I yanked my phone out of my purse, turned it on and fired off a text.

Me: YOU BROKE INTO MY APARTMENT. I’m calling the cops RIGHT NOW.

My home phone rang.

Goddamn it
. I picked the phone up then slammed it back down. A second later my cell rang.

I swept my finger across the fancy piece of shit and answered. “
Fuck you
. You do
not
get to break in!”

“Calm down,” Viking’s voice rumbled.

Calm down?
“How dare you,” I practically screeched.

“Ariella,” he warned.

“
No
. Don’t you ever call me that again. Don’t call me, period!”

“I’m coming over.”

“Do it,” I seethed. “See how fast Miami’s PD puts you in cuffs, you fucking stalker.” I hung up and Conner came out of his room clutching his blanket with his face scrunched up like he was about to let loose.

Shit
. I squatted. “Come here, baby boy. It’s okay. Mama’s not mad at you.” I held my arms out. His little body curled into mine and I hugged him tight. “Don’t cry, sweetie, Mama’s done yelling.” His tears gutted me and I realized I wasn’t being any better of a parent to him than Jason had been. “Shh, shh. I promise, it’s okay.”

The knock on the door was so hard, it rattled the old wood in its frame and I jumped about a foot. Scooping Conner up, I put my hand over his ear and yelled, “Go away!”

“It’s Tyler, open up.”

The tightness in my chest didn’t ease. I opened the door but left the chain on. “I’m busy.”