The Fall of the Prodigal (16 page)

“I'm checking on you,” Gina's voice echoed through the car.

Verona smiled at her thoughtfulness. “I'm sorry. I had to bounce before I hit Michael senseless.”

She heard a low chuckle. “Be patient with him. I know from experience Michael doesn't always think things through. Keith axed his idea of going to the hospital. There are no worries there. You be safe. I'll see you Wednesday night. Why don't you come early? We can have dinner together first.”

Verona tapped the wheel as she considered Gina's offer. She knew the dinner invitation was a disguise for something else. She was not sure which conversation: Michael or her past church history.

“Hello? Did we get disconnected?”

Verona rushed to answer. “No, I'm here. I was thinking. I'll see you about five-thirty.”

“Looking forward to it, friend.”

Her dashboard read, call ended, but Verona was caught up on Gina's last word. Friend. Friend. Gina Ward. Michael's ex considered her a friend. If that did not beat all.

 

 

“He's a dead man!” the voice roared.

“No,” Mindy groaned, failing in her attempt to shake her head. It was like moving lead. “No, don't hurt him,” she whispered. Her father was talking to someone. Her throat felt dry and achy from her screams. She forced her eyes open. They closed of their own volition. She must be drugged up.
Ugh!
She needed to move. Her body refused to obey.

“Water,” she croaked, trying to make her eyes stay open. She needed toothpicks because they were refusing to cooperate.

In slow motion, Mindy lifted a hand to her face. “Owww,” she moaned with a stronger voice. She felt bandages on her right cheek and forehead.

“Mindy?” She heard her father's gruff voice and strove to reply. His hand touched her hand. “Don't try to move,” Bill cautioned.

“I'll do whatever I need to do to make sure he pays for this,” another voice belonging to a younger man threatened. Mindy shivered at his menacing tone.

I know that voice!
She fought with her eyes until she won the battle. It took effort but she focused. Slowly her vision, cleared. “F . . .” She stopped. “Water. I need water.”

In an instant, Mindy felt the cool liquid pressed against her lips. She guzzled it down in seconds. Her father pressed the button to raise the bed. Mindy's head throbbed but she did not care. Her eyes remained glued to the man standing in front of her. Her father performed the introductions.

The other man did not let on this was not the first time he had seen her. She would be eternally grateful for that.

Bill's cell phone buzzed and he left the room.

“Finn! How do you know my father? What are you doing here?”

In two steps, Finn was by her side. Gently, he kissed her forehead. “Thank God, you're awake. Mousie, why didn't you tell me who you were? I had no idea you were Bill Laurelton's daughter. I almost choked on my breakfast when I saw your face on TV and heard Bill was your father.”

At the mention of her stage name, Mousie emerged. “Don't touch me,” she snarled with contempt. “You know I hate when you touch me.”

Finn lowered his voice. “Cool down, princess. Now you know I won't hurt you. You must know how I care for you. You have me feeling some kind of way. I can't even explain.”

Bill Laurelton reentered the room. He signaled to Finn. They huddled in the corner of her room. Mindy strained to hear their hushed voices but it was of no use. She did not even know when she closed her eyes. Somewhere in her subconscious she knew Michael Ward would be a dead man by the time she awakened.

Do something!
the voice belonging to Baby screamed. She almost never spoke. Mindy was surprised to hear from her.

Baby, what can I do?
Mindy asked.
You know Daddy's stubborn.

Well, if you ask me, Michael Ward deserves what he gets. He had it coming,
Mousie voiced.
He rejected us.

You've got to help him, Mindy,
Baby pleaded with a cry. Her shoulders shook.
You can't let him die like Carl. You can't.

Quit your wailing, Baby,
Mousie snapped.

I'll help him, Baby,
Mindy decided
.
She hated when Baby cried.
As soon as I get up from my nap. You and me, we'll think of something.

“I need you to take over Michael's case.” Verona took a bite of her market salad with organic chicken from JoJo's enjoying the taste of feta cheese.

“Tell me why,” Nigel said.

“I'm too emotionally invested in this case, or, rather, Michael. I'm in love with him. It makes me irrational and that's dangerous. He needs clearheaded objectivity. Not a simpering fool,” Verona said.

“Simpering fool?”

She rolled her eyes. “Nigel, be serious, will you? I'm here baring my soul to you and that's what you focus on? You know what I mean.”

He snagged a grape tomato from her salad. “Yes, I do. If you need my assistance, I'll do it. I hope you know I don't come cheap.”

“Don't worry, you'll be paid triple whatever you're imagining.”

His eyes rounded like dollar coins. “Triple? I'm in. What do you need?”

Verona wiped her hands on the linen napkin draped across her pants. She retrieved her phone. “I'm expecting to hear from Frank with some information. If you come over later this evening, I'll bring you up to speed.”

Nigel sank his teeth into his JoJo's burger and crunched the onions. “You're forgetting one thing.” He chewed. “Michael hasn't agreed to my representation. Keith may also object.”

“I'll handle them,” she said with confidence. “I'm sure Michael will agree once I explain my position.”

How wrong she was. When Verona met up with Michael at his place later that day, he was not pleased.

“Too bad. He'll be here in an hour, along with Keith,” Verona said. She had arranged the meeting at seven p.m. so Nigel could be debriefed.

Nigel had predicted this would happen, but Verona was not prepared for Michael's vehement reaction.

“You're not quitting on me, and you're not quitting this case!” Michael railed.

“She does make a good point. You need someone who is not so invested in the case,” Keith interrupted.

Nigel had his head buried in the court documents. He did not flinch at Michael's outburst.

“I'm not quitting on you, you imbecile! I'm helping you win the case. Nigel is the man for the job.” Verona didn't miss Nigel's sideways glance at her compliment. She was surely going to catch heat later. But, she only told the truth.

“I can vouch for that as well,” Keith said.

Michael snatched her by the arm and led her into his study. Verona felt charred from the heated darts aimed her way. “Are you finished with your temper tantrum?” she taunted.

He glided right into her space. His powerful arms flanked her sides, effectively holding her prisoner. “I'm fighting for my life and you're making this about you. It's childish and amateurish. I insist you get your act together.”

Who was he calling childish? She would show him childish. Verona stuck her tongue out at him. Before she could return her tongue to its warm cave, Michael held it with two of his fingers.

Michael tugged her tongue to bring her closer to him. He stroked her appendage and she tasted the saltiness of his fingers. Verona squirmed, hating how her heartbeat increased. She jerked her head for Michael to release her.

“My own personal tiger,” he drawled, playing with her loose ringlets. “This hairstyle suits you well.”

So he noticed she had been to the hairdresser to have it cut and layered. “Let me go,” Verona whispered, pushing against steel.

“No.” He lowered his head. “I've discovered the best way to tame you.”

Her mind registered Michael's intentions. She pushed harder against him. “Quit playing games this—”

His mouth crushed hers. Verona heard a moan. Startled, she barely recognized her own voice. Sensations rocked her being. She had forgotten the thrill of being thoroughly kissed by a man who knew what he was doing. Oh, yeah. Michael definitely knew what he was doing.

Who knows how long they were caught up in the love play? Michael ended the kiss. He gloated. “I think we have to answer that.”

“What?” she asked in a daze.

“Keith's been calling our names and knocking on the door. We'd better go see what he wants.”

Heat seared her cheeks. Verona covered her face with her hands. Keith and Nigel had to know what they had been doing in here. How embarrassing! Oh, Lord, Keith was a minister. He was bound to reprove them with a Biblical tongue-lashing.

Michael remained unfazed. He adjusted his clothes and glided through the door with a puffed chest. She, however, needed a moment to gather her wits. Verona rushed to the nearest bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. Examining herself in the mirror, Verona concluded there was no way she'd be able to hide the fact she had been kissed. Her lips sparkled with a rosy hue.

“Come on, Tiger, you can't hide out in here. You're made of tougher stuff than this.” Holding her chin high, Verona ventured out in the living room and stopped short at the woman grasping Michael's shirt.

“What the—”

 

 

“I think we should get married,” Lauren suggested, clinging on to Michael's shirt. Her demeanor bore the remnants of a desperate woman. That was the only explanation Michael could think of for why Lauren would announce that in front of everybody.

Talk about awkward.

“Married?” Verona sputtered.

Michael glanced at Verona. Her face testified of what had been going down in his study. However, he was preoccupied with the woman grabbing on to him. He wiped the sweat beads lining his head. Self-conscious, Michael eyed the occupants in the room praying for a rescue.

He watched Verona edging closer. How was he going to extricate himself from this without bloodshed? Both women were feisty and were likely to think fist first. Keith signaled to Nigel. They left the room. Verona remained rooted. Michael knew better than to ask her for privacy.

“This must be the infamous Lauren,” Verona said.

He stammered, “Lauren, you told me you were dating someone. What's his name again?”

Lauren addressed Verona. “Yes, I'm Lauren, Michael's girlfriend.” Then she looked his way. “I've changed my mind. I want us to be a family.” She twisted her hands.

“Are you offering marriage because you think it'll help Michael's case?” Verona asked.

Michael held up his hand to ward her off. “Let me handle this,” he cautioned before turning back to Lauren.

Lauren's eyes widened. Her gaze swung between the two of them. “Are you and she . . . Are you? I can't even say the words.”

Michael shook his head. “No, you're wrong.”

“No? Tell that to my lips,” Verona yelled.

Lord, if you could intervene right about now, I'd be at your mercy forever.
Michael tried to decipher the expression on Lauren's face. She was . . . disappointed?

Then Lauren squared her shoulders. “Did he tell you he wanted to be with me and our children?”

Verona's eyes bulged. She pierced Michael with a look able to freeze Hades. “Children? You have children?” Verona held her stomach as if she'd been sucker-punched.

Michael had not told anyone about John and Olivia. No one knew about them except for Keith, Gina, and his mother, who was resting in her grave. “Yes, I have twins. John and Olivia.”

“Why am I just hearing this?” Verona hurled.

“Michael does know how to keep a secret. Believe me. I know,” Lauren said with a contemptuous curl of her peach-colored lips.

“Who keeps their own children a secret? What kind of father does that? What kind of man are you, Michael Ward?” Verona asked.

“Verona, calm down and let me explain—”

“Don't tell me to calm down! Answer the question, Michael. Did you know about your children?”

“Yes, I—”

Verona cut him off. “How could you neglect to mention you had two children when you had your tongue stuck down my throat not even five minutes ago?”

“Ah, I—”

“Answer me!” she bellowed. Her eyes flashed red.

Michael scratched his head. “Yes, but let me—”

“I don't want to hear another word from your lying, deceitful mouth.” Verona grabbed her belongings. “I'm out of here. I never want to see your sorry face again!”

“Verona, wait!” Michael rushed after her.

She ignored him and rushed out of the door and possibly out of his life for good.

Michael trudged back to where Lauren stood waiting. She played with her nails with the smuggest expression written on her face
. Lauren is enjoying this.

Lauren eased off the wall and clapped her hands with slow deliberation. “I deserve an Academy Award. Your girlfriend bought that act, hook, line, and sinker.” Lauren pumped her hands in the air.

Was she high? That would explain Lauren's erratic behavior. “Why did you come here?” Michael demanded.
Besides to ruin my relationship with Verona.

She smiled. “The reason no longer exists. I had hopes for us, but I'd be blind not to see how you feel about her. May I use your restroom?”

Michael had whiplash from her conversation switch. Confused, he pointed toward the bathroom. Imagine his gratitude when Keith walked into the room.

“So you and Verona?” he asked.

“Are over,” Michael said. “Lauren made sure of that. I'm not even sure why. She's using the bathroom.”
Wait a minute, where were his children?
Michael asked her as soon as she returned.

“They're safe. Speaking of children, I'm going home to them.” Lauren opened the door.

Keith's cell phone rang. Michael had been about to go after Lauren when he heard, “How is that possible?” Keith raged to the caller. “He's right here. I'll have to ask him.”

Michael dismissed Lauren from his mind. He had too much going on. It would take him the rest of his life to figure out the enigma known as woman.

Seeing the dread on Keith's face, Michael's heart thumped. “Ask me what?” He mentally prepared himself, but Michael wasn't ready for Keith's revelation.

“The semen found in the condom on the scene is yours.”