Strictly Business (23 page)

“Wade, Marie!” Nina yelled
when Marie reach for the gun that had slid to a stop at her feet.

With uncanny speed Wade had Marie in an arm lock that pinned her
squirming body to the wall. He ignored her pleas and accusing curses as he bound her wrists and ankles with the duct tape he retrieved from the floor. He perfunctorily slapped a few inches of tape across her angry mouth as she started to swear spitefully at Nina.

“Are you ok?”
he asked Nina as he bent behind her and freed her wrists, tenderly rubbing his thumbs against the raw bruising that had already formed there. He didn’t recognize the tremor in his voice.

He
faced her and cradled her head in his palms, his chest heaving. His eyes hastily scanned her face, taking in her swollen jaw, split lip, and welted cheeks. His throat pushed past an emotional lump when she shot him a weak smile. In a rush of relief and emotion, he brought her against his chest.

“I—I’m ok, really…”
she assured, easing back to assess him.

Nina couldn’t check her tears when she saw the concern and
pain simmering in Wade’s gaze. His expressive blue eyes were covered with a suspicious watery film as he chased his hands over her body, checking for further injury.

She
laid a palm against his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. She couldn’t believe the magnitude of emotion she felt for him. Her heart felt like it was about to burst from its fullness. She’d been afraid she’d never see him again, never get to tell him how she felt about him.

“I love you.”

Wade squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head into her palm. He placed a gentle kiss there then embraced her. He was on the brink of dissolving emotionally. He couldn’t stand seeing her like this. Anger was a raging beast inside of him. He wanted to pummel that man over and over again, but he had to control himself. He had to be strong for her. They were not out of danger, and he wouldn’t feel secure until they were out of the hospital. He needed to get Nina to safety, to investigate her injuries and ascertain that she was alright mentally and physically.

“We have to get out of here
,” he informed, helping her to her feet. “Are you able to walk?”

She
nodded, but stopped Wade with the touch of her hand. “I—I was wrong. It wasn’t Dr. Reynolds who was printing the films.” Nina swallowed, choking on her words. “It was Dr. Tanno.”

“I know.”

She stared up at him, shock and confusion marking her face. “
How?
”

“Ben. He’s conscious. That’s what he
was trying to tell me the night of our date. He found out about Dr. Tanno, found out that you were a target. Dr. Tanno was afraid you’d link him to the film. Not even Dr. Barton knew who was printing them. The films were the only thing linking him to the scam.”

She
nodded thoughtfully. She had to stop after a few tentative steps. After Dr. Tanno had left the room, her body had endured a few more punishing blows. Now the contents of her stomach threatened to spill. She breathed deeply and sought support from Wade’s strong arm. She shook her head when he attempted to lift her.

“No…I’m ok. Just needed a minute
,” she informed after the wave of nausea passed. Staring into his loving eyes, and feeling his nearness, gave her the strength to continue. “What happens now? We can’t let him get away with this! He’s in the ER,” she said when they were in the hallway headed towards an exit sign.

“By now the ER is swarming with police. The authorities know everything
. There’s enough evidence to put Dr. Tanno and his cronies away for a very long time. Dr. Barton was picked up by the authorities today. I think that’s what forced Dr. Tanno’s hand. But, it’s over.”

“Thank God…
” Nina frowned thoughtfully. “I wonder how Dr. Tanno knew about
us—”

A menacing chuckle from close by cut off her words and
both she and Wade swiveled to see Dr. Tanno standing behind them. His legs were planted to brace his body and his chest heaved heavily as though he’d just run a marathon. His eyes were wild and unfocused, darting quickly between Nina and Wade. She now noticed that the gun that had previously been hidden under his lab coat was pointed directly at her.

“Every since I came upon the two of you rut
ting like dogs in an exam room one night,” Dr. Tanno sneered in explanation, apparently overhearing her recent musing. At the look of shock on her face he added, “Yes my prim, ethical protégée. That’s when I realized you were working with him, helping this scum with his case!”

“It’s over Dr.
Tanno,” Wade issued levelly, easing cautiously in front of Nina. “Put the gun down.”

Dr.
Tanno’s eyes narrowed malevolently, it was clear his earlier calm had vanished. Beads of sweat sprouted on his upper lip, and his jaw ticked erratically. “
Shut up!
She’s my ticket out of here.”

Wade raised both palms
flat in front of him, taking a measured step towards Dr. Tanno. The man had obviously just fled from the ER which was no doubt besieged by cops. He had to get the doctor’s focus off Nina and trained on himself. Wade could tell by the tremor in his hand and the feral gleam of his eyes that his composure was precarious.

“It’s over,”
Wade repeated evenly. “Put the gun down.”

Wade had managed to inch closer to Dr.
Tanno. He took a steadying breath. If he could just distract the other man, he’d be able to reach out and grab the arm holding the gun and neutralize him, or at least buy enough time for Nina to escape to safety.

“
Do as he says, Doctor!”
The door to the hall burst open and Detective Sullivan, weapon drawn, barked the order.

Dr.
Tanno swung around in panic, his gun aimed at the detective’s heart. Wade lunged and grabbed hold of his gun arm, but not before the weapon discharged, sending the bullet askew. Nina screamed as Detective Sullivan went down, a crimson stain already blooming on his right shoulder. She instinctively wanted to rush to him, but her eyes were glued horrifically on Wade and Dr. Tanno as they struggled for the gun.

Her heart banged against her ribs with fear. Wade was obviously stronger than the other man and would have easily
subdued him had it not been for his steely grip on the weapon. She gasped when Wade wrestled Dr. Tanno against a wall, their forms one writhing mass. The doctor’s body was pinned, but the gun disappeared between their torsos. Her head seemed to explode with the sound of the firing of the chamber. Everything then seemed to move in slow motion as both bodies stilled.

“Wade!” Nina’s
loud scream rend the air, and she sobbed into her palm, rushing towards them.

Dr.
Tanno’s body swayed and dropped lifelessly to the floor with a sickening thud just as Wade turned and caught her in his arms. His fingers combed through her tangled hair and he planted urgent kisses on her face, reassuring her he was unhurt. Detective Sullivan’s painful grunt got their attention, and they rushed over to him. Despite the blood oozing from his shoulder, Wade knew he would be ok when the detective shot him a cocky grin.

“You saved my life.” Detective Sullivan wheezed
. Given his proximity to Dr. Tanno, the bullet would have surely breached his bullet proof vest. “Not bad for a bottom feeding two-bit lawyer.”

Wade sighed
and returned his grin. “You’re welcome, you surly, egocentric, donut-eating pig.”

Wade watched as Detective Sullivan smiled broadly and braced his head against the wall, acting as though
the insulting words were music to his ears. He warned, “Be careful or we might become friends.”

“Wouldn’t that be a shame
,” Wade retorted dryly, watching as Nina worked on staunching the flow of blood from the detective’s shoulder.

Soon pounding footsteps heralded the arrival of the captain and the rest of his team. Wade directed several of them to the porter’s closet. He was glad when medical personnel arrived and took over Detective Sullivan’s care. In the melee, Nina searched him out with her eyes, and, as always, her potent gaze melted his heart. After a word with the captain, he was more than happy to take her away from the ensuing chaos of the hospital.

CHAPTER   TWELVE

Nina’s left hand shot up, “
Whoa...that’s so not happening!
” she stated adamantly as Sally approached her with the blindfold. It was bad enough that she’d allowed her friend to drag her to this unknown location, sneak her in through a back door like a criminal, and strip her down to her silk slip.

“You don’t want to upset Beth, now do you?” Sally questioned ominously, displaying her usual melodrama.

Nina’s eyes searched the large mirror that stood before her and not seeing Sally’s co-conspirator, swiveled to peer around the large dressing room. Wade sat comfortably in a large wing chair in the corner of the room. One leg was casually hooked on the other as he observed them, a smile tilting his lips. She shot him a pleading look, and he answered with an unsympathetic shrug. The feigned innocence on his face would have been comical if she hadn’t been so worried.

“You don’t want to upset Beth, now do you?”
he echoed, causing Nina to grab a pillow and briskly toss it at him. He adeptly plucked the projectile from the air and shot her a dazzling smile, his blue eyes running over her body and instantly warming her.

She
stuck her tongue out at him in surly petulance and watched his sexy eyes darken with promise.

“Can you two
googly-eye when I’m not around, please!” Sally requested with a huff and resumed her approach.

“Just tell me what’s going on
,” Nina pleaded with her, again halting her with an upturned hand.

“Please put that hand down
, girlfriend. You’re blinding me with that rock!
Jeeze!
”  Again the drama. Sally stared pointedly at the large diamond solitaire twinkling brilliantly on Nina’s finger.

Nina sighed
. Rolling her eyes, she lowered her left hand in surrender. She still couldn’t get used to the idea of being engaged. The last few weeks had been filled with many highs and lows. The hospital administrators had been furious that she hadn’t come to them and revealed what she knew about the altered MRIs. They’d summarily discharged her pending a full investigation. She’d been devastated. The backlash of the scandal had grown to epic proportions, with almost every news channel condemning the hospital for its ignorance.

Then she’d
been overjoyed when her position was abruptly reinstated. She realized why when the media started reporting that she’d been appointed by the hospital board to work covertly alongside Wade in exposing the doctors committing malpractice. The hospital was able to deflect some of the scandal and appeared to have been handling the situation from the very beginning.

Nina stayed out of the politics, she was just happy to be practicing medicine again. Her promotion had been delayed given all the turmoil at the hospital. The new board was to meet in a couple of months
, and given her hero status that this new spin created she was sure she’d get the promotion.

Wade’s proposal of marriage had been another shock. He’d made love to her so gently and thoroughly one night that she’d wanted to weep, and in the morning over breakfast in bed
he proposed, and she had indeed wept. In a rush of bubbling emotion she’d accepted, tears staining her cheeks as she’d listened to him promise to love her forever.

“Is that too tight?” Sally asked, interrupting her reverie.

Nina shook her head, exasperated by the continued secrecy. If Beth had a hand in this she knew she was in trouble. She’d have to rely on her friend and fiancé to curtail her mother’s flighty antics. She frowned behind her blindfold when she heard Sally whisper to Wade to leave and change.

Her string of inquires were ignored.
Instead, Sally issued directions, turning her, zipping her, and fitting her into some sort of billowy outfit. Nina cringed as she imagined stepping into a giant yellow feathered bird costume. Sally laughed blithely when Nina expressed her concerns. Suddenly the fluttering hands stopped, and all Nina could hear was more muted rustling of clothes. She presumed Sally was getting changed also. Well, perhaps she wouldn’t be the only bird-brain present.
What the devil were they up to?

Before she knew what was happening she was led blindly from the room.
Her ears strained intently to catch the snatches of hushed conversations around her. The longer she played along, the more her nerves shriveled and dissolved with restless anxiety. She was about to turn and bolt when soft lips brushed reassuringly across her forehead. She breathed in Wade’s familiar woodsy scent, and her rattled senses instantly calmed. The surreptitious whispers crescendo to an eerie silence, and suddenly bright flashes of light assaulted her eyes as the blindfold was drawn away.

“
Happy Birthday!”

Tears pricked Nina’s eyes
as she looked around. The room was decorated like a giant medieval ballroom, and she felt like she was transported back in time. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, hulking wrought iron votives stood like sentries around the room, and flowers in full bloom sprouted all about her. Knights and ladies beamed with cheery birthday wishes. She gazed down at her resplendent silver gown and smiled, still dazed. She was dressed as Cinderella.

“Happy Birthday
, princess.” Wade brushed a kiss across her cheek, and she looked up to gape approvingly at his costume. He was dressed as Prince Charming, dashing in a royal blue military styled jacket with large gold buttons and gold and black epaulets. His muscular legs were clad in snug white breeches topped with high dark boots. A gold sash and sword at his waist accented his appeal.

Sally, who was dressed adorably as Snow White, winked and grinned widely, twirling to display the flare of her gown.

“No yellow bird costume?” Nina quipped.

“Maybe next year. But don’t thank us too soon.”

Worried, Nina quirked an eyebrow at Wade.

“Remember how much I love you
,” he added quickly.

Bemused, Nina’s looked from one to the other for clarification.

“Happy Birthday, dear! How’s my princess?”
She heard her mother’s shrill voice before the crowd parted, ejecting Beth and launching her towards her daughter. Nina blinked, then blinked again when the image before her didn’t disappear. She prayed silently for Sally to slap the blindfold back on, but it was too late as her mom and dad, dressed colorfully as Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse, embraced her exuberantly.

“You look ravishing
, my dear! A true princess!”

“Just lovely.”
Her father beamed.

Nina was still struggling to digest the scene in front of her. “Thanks
, Mom...” she mumbled.

Beth petted her hair lovingly. “She always wanted a princess party!”
she crooned to Wade. Facing Nina she said, “Remember dear, when you begged and begged me for one?”

Nina cleared her throat
. “Ah…Mom...I was seven years old.”

“Well you finally get your dream.”

Nina’s eyes absorbed the two chatty mice, the large round ears, painted black noses, whiskers, and garish rouge. She briefly wondered where they’d acquired the matching red polka dot attire. She was still very baffled. “Ah...Mom. Mickey and Minnie?”

Beth stopped talking and regarded her as though she was daft. “Mickey. Minnie. Princesses. It’s all Disney.”

Nina nodded slowly. She took a closer inspection of the room and noticed some of her mother’s bridge buddies and their husbands. Donald Duck and Goofy waved merrily in her direction. Tinkerbell and Pinnochio appeared to be fighting over the last hors d’oeuvre on a passing tray, and Peter Pan was practicing a flying leap off a table. A green wicked witch had just wrestled a full bottle of champagne from the waiter and was guzzling it greedily. Beth followed her gaze and sighed heavily, exasperation weighing her voice.

“That’s Olga
,” she informed. “She’s become such a lush. Remember what happened the last time she got drunk, Robert?”

Her dad
looked horrified at the memory; he visibly shuddered. “We’d better intervene. I’ll round up the seven dwarfs.”

Nina spun around to a chagrinned Sally and Wade as Mickey and Minnie rushed off. Astonished disbelief left her mind in muddled confusion. She didn’t know where to start.

Sally was the first to step forward, seizing the opportunity to flee. “Olga’s husband is one of my dwarfs,” she said in way of explanation. “I better keep an eye on them. They’re a little out of control. See!” As if she’d conjured him, one of her dwarfs scurried by, dressed in nothing but a cloth diaper with two giant pins. “Dopey!” Sally yelled as she ran after her charge.

Nina buried her face in her palms and groaned loudly. “There’re six more of them?”

“I think this is where Prince Charming rides away with Cinderella.” Wade whispered against her ear as he enveloped her in his strong arms.

“Please...” She looked beseeching into his eyes, about to crumble from mortification. Seeing the banked laughter in his blue eyes
, she couldn’t resist its infectiousness and started to slowly share the humor of another absurd birthday party orchestrated by her eccentric parents.

Instead of whisking her away to their apartment as Nina had hoped, Wade instead stole her back into the empty adjacent dressing room.

“Beth will kill me if I take you away from your party. However I see nothing wrong with a small diversion.” Wade flashed a dizzying smile and turned to lock the door. He walked over to the wing chair and pulled Nina onto his lap. “After all, as Beth’s future son-in-law I need to stay in her good graces.”

“You’re just worried she’ll start planning
your
birthday parties.”

A dimple flashed in his cheek as he grimaced. “There is that.”

“Besides, what about
my
good graces?” Nina pouted, snaking her arms around his shoulders.

“I’ll have to think of some way of ingratiating myself to you, princess
,” he murmured against the supple skin of her neck. His lips were already plotting a course across her bare shoulder, causing chills to whisper on her skin.

He
pulled up the voluminous fabric of her gown and positioned her so she straddled his hips with her thighs. She sighed and snuggled intimately against him, enjoying the heat of his big body.

She moaned and threw her head back as he drew the neckline of her gown down, baring a breast and bathing her sensitive nipple with his tongue. She circled her hips against him.

“Is that your sword prince?”

He
raised his head and grinned at her, his blue eyes heated with lust. “Not the one you’re thinking of.” He captured her lips in a deep drugging kiss, his tongue stealing into her mouth for a thorough plundering. His fingers reached under her gown to cup her buttocks and grind her against the hard ridge of his erection.

Her
fingers combed through his thick dark hair and roamed his broad shoulders as her senses exploded.

“Definitely earning my good graces
,” she intoned breathily as he reached for the hooks at the back of her dress.

A loud crash from somewhere outside halted his warm fingers against her skin
. Instantaneously their heads shot up, and they sat unmoving, unblinking, hoping the outside world would simply disappear. But a distant shout, followed by a loud banging on the door, had her scooting off Wade’s lap with disappointment and alarm. She started towards the door just as he circled her wrist and drew her back against his hard chest.

“I’m sorry…” She sighed, apologetic.

His thumb caressed her cheek, and he ducked down to deliver a deep searing kiss. His tongue traced the seam of her lips and he smiled lovingly.

“Don’t be. We have a lifetime
, my princess.”