Vortex (SAI Book 1) (17 page)

Ben and Dane ambled up, and they all shook hands. “I was explaining to Viv that we always gather as much intel as we can before we deploy.” Glancing down, he noticed her shaking her head.

“It’s true, Vivi,” Dane said. “We always have a strategy, whether it seems like it or not.”

“Is that why the three of you went out the other day and faced two gangs? That was especially dangerous and not worth the risk.”

“That wasn’t risky,” Ben said.” He crossed his arms and smirked. “That was child’s play.”

Before Vivi could respond, a group of men entered the building. Joel recognized several faces from the meeting the other day. Wyatt was part of the group, and Joel wrapped his arm around Vivi and smiled in the man’s direction. It was probably best to let him know that he and Vivi were together and that she was his. Wyatt tipped his head in acknowledgment, and Joel felt a river of satisfaction run down his spine. He had staked his claim and felt damn good about it.

Gideon came out of the back and held the door open. “The conference room is ready. You all can come on back.”

The Feds were the first to move down the hall, and Joel and his group followed. When Gideon’s and Joel’s gazes met, he was surprised to see a look of approval on the man’s face as they passed. It seemed that Gideon was being honest the other day when he said that he wanted Vivi to be happy. Glancing down, Joel noticed how relaxed and calm she was, despite what they were about to face. Silently, he congratulated himself, because he was the man who had made her feel that way. Holding her against his side, he leaned down and kissed her head. “You need anything, Viv?”

“For none of this to be happening. But I guess that’s not possible. So it’s probably time to figure out what my next move will be.” Sighing, she leaned against him as they entered the room.

Wyatt stepped up to them and waited. Joel tightened his grip and waited to see what Vivi was going to do. “Hello, Wyatt.”

Vivi stepped away from Joel and hugged Wyatt. “Nice to see you. Hope your trip was informative.” When Wyatt kept his hand on Vivi’s arm, Joel almost pulled her away. But she saved them all by stepping away and standing next to Joel.

Wyatt studied them and then answered, “I believe it was. I think we uncovered some information that will prove to be useful.”

“I look forward to hearing the updates. It’s gotten a little crazy around here, so we’re looking forward to finding a solution.” Grabbing Joel’s hand, she smiled and then tugged Joel behind her toward two seats near the front. “Now that the pissing contest is finished, let’s listen to the latest information.”

Joel pulled out a chair and waited until she was seated and then settled himself next to her. “Nicely done, Dr. DuMond.”

Smiling graciously, she took his hand and squeezed. “Thank you, Mr. McDade.”

Dane sat on the other side of him and leaned over. “Love looks good on you, man. Don’t screw it up.”

“I’m going to do my best not to.” Before he could say more, the meeting started. It was time to focus and come up with a plan so that he and Vivi could get back to what was important.

The lead FBI agent, Terrance Johnson, stood and addressed the room. “It seems that Dr. DuMond’s clinic has become the focal point of a turf war over in Algiers. This isn’t something that we normally become involved with, but the fact that the neighborhood groups have each made alliances with crews outside of the state makes it our business. We are investigating the drug thefts and felonies associated with those thefts as a way of understanding the larger problem. The last thing any of us needs is stronger neighborhood gangs. Up until now we haven’t seen much of it outside the states that border Mexico, or in Florida, where the state is used as a gateway for trafficking to South America. Why Louisiana is getting involved is the question we’re going to answer.”

Vivi sat forward and cleared her throat. “Is there any way for my clinic to continue to operate in the neighborhood safely?”

Agent Johnson tapped his pen on the table and replied, “The fact that you canceled the drug shipment the other day is going to give you a little reprieve. But our intelligence is suggesting that they’re going to continue to surveil the clinic and confirm that you haven’t changed your mind. When I say they, I mean both the local neighborhood gangs as well as the crews from outside the state. It seems that the group from North Dakota has set up a string of businesses and clinics that they target to acquire the supply they need. You are now part of that, and once you’re on the list, you don’t seem to get off. The agent that traveled there discovered that the crew continues to break in sporadically to see if anything has changed.”

Gideon stood and addressed the group. “As everyone here knows, the NOPD is critically understaffed. So our ability to respond to calls is fairly abysmal unless there is a homicide happening. It is my opinion that you would need to have twenty-four-hour security for the clinic if you want to continue to operate. And I’m not talking about rent-a-cops. I cannot see another way for it to work for you and the girls.”

Vivi’s shoulders slumped, and Joel wrapped his arm around her. The prospects didn’t look good for keeping the place going. “Has anyone uncovered any more information about why Vivi’s picture and personal information were found on the phones of the GSW victims?”

Gideon shook his head. “The most that we’ve come up with is that they wanted to ensure her silence. But we’re not completely confident that we have the whole picture or even the correct one.”

Agent Johnson glanced at his notes. “When our agents questioned the local members the other day, they didn’t come up with any additional information.” Studying Vivi, he waited. “Dr. DuMond, have you been able to remember anything that you think might be of help?”

“I have not. My interaction with the community has been positive. I have not had any knife or GSW victims show up at the door, other than the two men that you know about.”

“What about when you were at Ochsner Hospital?” Joel asked.

“What do you mean? I only worked the ER for about six months.”

“You told me that you worked on a lot of people who were involved with the gangs. Maybe you saw something when a body was rolled out of a car at the emergency doors,” Joel responded.

“Or someone blames you for a guy not surviving,” Ben added. “They’ve connected you to something, and it doesn’t have to be true for them to believe it.”

“That could be what we’re looking for,” Gideon replied.

“Why don’t we let my team in Florida take a look at the security tapes from the hospital? We can run some programs and see if we can come up with something. My priority is keeping Vivi safe, as well as Trinity and Ruby. The clinic is a target and it’s not going to be solved. But the threat against Vivi will be,” Joel stated.

A few more people presented information, but nothing came to light that would help Joel and the team solve the question most important to them.

As they walked back to the car, Joel formulated a plan and hoped like hell that Vivi would agree. “Do you want to grab some lunch before we go back to the house?”

“Sure. I need to go to the market after we’re done. I’m going to have the girls over and discuss what we want to do with the clinic. We all have a lot of hard work invested in it, and we should come up with the solution together.”

Vivi’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it out and answered it. “Hi, Mama. Yes, I know. Are you sure? Okay. We’ll come by tomorrow. Love you too.”

Vivi slid the phone back in her purse and groaned. “Mama wants to throw me a birthday party out at the farm this weekend. She wants us to go up tomorrow and take a couple of days off. She thinks it’s time for me to get out of town and out of danger.”

“When is your birthday, honey?”

“February fourteenth, Valentine’s Day.”

“I think a trip out of town would be perfect.” Joel kissed her head and wondered what he should get her for a present. “It will give us the opportunity to relax and come up with a plan that everyone is happy with.”

“I don’t know how that will be possible. I want to keep the clinic open, and I don’t know how.”

He grabbed her hand and studied her. If there was a way to make it happen, then he was going to figure how. “Let’s wait and see.” He might be putting off the inevitable, but if it gave her time to adjust to the idea, then it was worth it. Anything to make sure that she was as happy as she could be.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Vivi drove down the highway toward the horse farm with two of her best friends. Joel was behind them with Ben and Dane in the truck. How the girls had managed this small reprieve was still a mystery to Vivi. They hadn’t been able to talk much over the last few days, so this was her solution for some alone time with the girls.

After they finished belting out “Believe” along with Cher, they took a break. “Every time I hear that song, it reminds of the prom senior year,” Trinity said. “I was in love with Bob Cutler and wondered if it was time to go to third base with him.” The screams that accompanied her confession could probably be heard by Joel and the guys. “Whaaat? Bob was the cutest boy in our class, and I was head over heels.”

Ruby drained her can of Diet Coke and let out a loud burp. “If I remember correctly, the two of you were caught with your hands in inappropriate places by your mama. Not only did you consider it…you did it.”

“Ruby, you were not even a virgin when we graduated high school, so I’m not sure where you have room to be discussing where my hands might or might not have been after the prom.”

Waving her hand around, Ruby laughed. “I lost my virginity and my heart to Kellan that night, and I don’t regret a minute of it. I look back and thank God for his convincing ways. We didn’t end up having much time together, so I’m grateful that we didn’t waste what we had.”

“And now Ben,” Vivi said quietly.

Glancing over, Ruby grinned. “And now Ben. I never thought someone would come along who would help me move on. But Ben seems to be doing just that. That big bear of a man is the sweetest, kindest, sexiest man, and I don’t want to give him up. We all know that life is short and I don’t feel like wasting what I have by not spending as much time as I can with him. He wants me to move to Florida.”

“Are you thinking about it?” Trinity asked.

“It depends on what we’re doing up here with the clinic. I’m committed to staying if we think we can keep it open without getting shot.”

“I guess that’s what we have to figure out,” Vivi replied. “I don’t want to hold on to this dream and have us in danger. I had my fill of it when I was abroad. To be honest with you both, I’m a little tired and wrung out.” Moving her hair off her face, she tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. “Seeing the men leave the clinic in full tactical gear the other day was more than I bargained for. I know that it was like a picnic to them, but it made me feel sick to my stomach.”

“Dane loved it,” Trinity said. “Those SEALs are a breed apart. They spent years achieving impossible tasks in highly challenging environments. They live for the opportunity to use their skills and experience. Did you see how happy and carefree they were when they walked out?” Shaking her head, she laughed. “That should tell us something about the type of men we’re dealing with.”

Looking into the rearview mirror, Vivi met Trinity’s gaze. “It’s about heart and a person’s willingness to put the needs of others before your own.”

“We all sleep under the blanket of freedom that people in the military have provided for us,” Trinity said.

“Are we going to talk about it?” Ruby asked.

“No,” Trinity replied flatly.

“Did you tell Dane?” Vivi asked.

“No. We’re just having a good time. I have no desire, for it to last.”

“Because he’s retired military or for another reason?” Ruby turned in her seat and studied Trinity closely.

“Because I don’t want more than what we have right now. This is all I can handle.”

“As long as you’re happy and getting what you want,” Vivi replied.

Staring out the window, Trinity shrugged. “I’m as happy as I can be.”

“So what should we do with the rest of our lives?” Vivi asked

“I don’t know about the rest of our lives, but I think we should shut down the clinic,” Ruby replied. “I know that I should probably be braver than I am, but I’m not. What if Joel and the guys never came and we were on our own the day the gangs decided to show up? They can’t stay forever, and we can’t afford the type of security that would ensure our safety.”

“I guess we can’t do much good if we’re dead,” Vivi said.

“Yeah,” Trinity said from the back. “The three of us know that better than most.”

***

Ben stared out the window of the truck, and Joel elbowed him. “You two can be separated for a couple of hours. It won’t kill you.”

“Do you think they’re talking about us?”

Dane laughed. “Look at their heads moving around and their hands waving. They are singing and laughing. The three of us are the last thing they’re talking about.”

“I think they’re discussing what to do with the clinic. At least I hope that’s what they’re talking about,” Joel said, as he flipped down the visor against the afternoon sun.

“I think if they close the clinic, then Ruby will come down to Florida and stay with me. At least that’s what I’m hoping she’ll do,” Ben said.

“You’ve known her one week, and you’ve discussed living together,” Dane choked in reply.

“Yeah. I knew she was the one for me after two days. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman, and I see no need to wait.” Tapping his hand against the door, he glanced over his shoulder at Dane. “I’m hoping I can talk her into getting married by the end of the summer. Then we can start on a family.”

“Just like that?” Joel asked

“Yeah. I want kids, and so does she. We need to get started on it right away if we want to have a couple of them. We’re both thirty-five, and we don’t really have any time to waste.”

“It’s a good thing you came on this trip. Just imagine if you missed out on meeting Ruby. Who knows where your life would’ve ended up?” Dane commented.