Vortex (SAI Book 1) (21 page)

“A vortex? That doesn’t sound like anything that I want to be involved with.”

“It’s already happening. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.” He saw her shaking her head as he turned onto the highway. “Just think, we could land in an amazing place together.”

“You make it sound like the
Wizard of Oz
.”

“Nothing wrong with landing a green land, far, far away.” Patting her leg, he grinned. “It’s going to be fun.”

“I think we might define fun differently. You probably think jumping out of a plane at night and landing in enemy territory is a good way to spend your evening. I, on the other hand, enjoy a glass of wine and quilting.”

“I didn’t know you liked to quilt. That’s a surprise.”

“When I was young, I enjoyed sitting under the table at Aunt Lolly’s house in the summer when she and her friends got together to work on a quilt. Eventually, they would forget about me, and that’s when the conversations got interesting. I loved hearing their stories, or the gossip they would trade with one another. It was like being let into the secret and exciting world of adults. When I got old enough, I was invited to join them. I felt lucky when I was included in the group. It was a rite of passage that I remember to this day. Later on, I discovered that all the detailed needlework I did helped my surgical skills. To this day, I can make a stich appear almost invisible.”

“So do you still quilt?”

“Absolutely. You might not have noticed, but I have a room set up for quilting. I have a group of girls that I get together with once or twice a month. We eat, drink, gossip, and quilt. Since I’m no longer performing surgery every day, it helps me keep my hands in shape. It’s not something that I want to lose.”

“So you really are a proper Southern woman after all.”

“I guess.”

Taking her hand, he held it on his lap. “I think…” His phone buzzed, and he checked the display. It was Kyle from the office. “I better answer this. He could have some intel for us.”

“Go ahead. I want this to be solved so I can get on with my life.”

***

“Kyle, what do you have for me?” Listening intently, he realized this could be the clue they needed to end the threat against Vivi. “Thanks, man. I’ll check in with you in about two hours. Send me everything you have, and I’ll review it when we arrive home. Great work.”

Sliding his phone off, he let out a breath of relief. “We have a lead about the man who was shot and left for dead in your clinic.”

“The guy from Florida?” Vivi asked.

“Yes. Kyle and Lance have been working on this since Friday, and they finally came up with what they were looking for. They took the image from the security footage at the campus and ran it through our facial recognition software. Initially, they came up with nothing because the photo was too pixilated. Lance knew someone who could clean up the image. Once they had it back, they ran it again and got a hit. The man in the car is part of the notorious gang, the Latin Kings. This is serious.”

“Why would some gang member be interested in me? I’ve hardly spent any time there. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Which is why you’re going under lock and key until we unravel this. It turns out that the threats against the clinic were the least of our worries. This gang is the largest in the state and is part of the national organization with thirty-five thousand members.”

“I thought being abroad was dangerous, but it seems that being home is where the real danger is.”

“Somehow, some way, you came into contact with someone from the Latin Kings, and whatever happened has put you on their list.”

“I don’t even know how that’s possible. I’ve been in the state of Florida maybe a half a dozen times over the last year. All I do is visit with my sister. I think I would remember if I happened to piss off someone.”

“When we get home, we’re going to through every visit you’ve had and figure out where the connection is.”

“I can’t remember every visit in detail.”

“I know, but we’ll have Dane come over and help us out.”

“How is Dane going to help me remember?”

“Dane was one of the most effective interrogators on the Teams. He was able to acquire information that people were not even aware they had.”

“You’re going to make me go through an interrogation with a Navy SEAL? You have lost your ever-lovin’ mind if you think that I’ll cooperate.”

Taking her hand, he placed it gently on his lap. “Do you think that I would ask you to do that?”

“Well…no. Not exactly.”

“Dane adores you, and he would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s going to be a conversation, and at the end of the
conversation
, he will have a ton of information.” Lifting her hand to his mouth, he kissed it gently. “You’re going to have to learn to trust me, woman. I’ll always protect you. No matter what.”

“I’ll cooperate. It’s not like I have a choice about it.” Sliding her hand out of his, she lifted her hair and twisted it. “I’ll make supper, and he can come over tonight.”

“We’re going to solve this, and then when we do, you can come home and stay with me.”

“I think I’ve heard you suggest that one or a hundred times over the last couple of days.”

“Once I get an idea into my head, it stays. So get ready to hear it a couple more hundred times.” Sliding a glance her way, he noticed her twisting the end of her hair in a circle. She only did that when she was nervous or uncomfortable. “I have a ton of experience, Vivi, and I’m going to use every ounce of it to make sure that you’re safe.”

“I trust you, Joel. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not scared out of my mind.”

“Thank you, honey. The fact that you trust me means a great deal.”

“I trust you with my safety, but I don’t trust that Boy Scout smile you’re giving me right now. You have a plan in that head of yours, and I want to know what it is.”

“I plan on keeping you safe and nothing more.” Tapping his hand against the steering wheel, he whistled. As he stared down the long strip of highway, he thought of his other plan. It involved him and Vivi being together for an exceptionally long time. There was no way that she would be interested in that one, so he kept it to himself. One step at a time. “Should we stop for lunch on the way home?”

“Sure. I’m going to need a big muffuletta sandwich to face the impending interrogation.”

“A conversation, not an interrogation.”

“Sure.” Staring out the window, she sighed. “We can go to Parran’s in Metairie or Central Grocery in town. Both are good.”

“You choose,” Joel replied.

“Let’s go to Central Grocery. We can’t go wrong, and I can pick up something for dinner while we’re there.”

“I know this doesn’t seem like good news, Viv. But it is. The more information we have, the faster we can solve it.” When she didn’t respond, he glanced over and saw her playing with the ends of her hair. The only thing he could do was prove to her that she would be safe. Because right now, all the words in the world were not going to convince her of that.

***

Joel sat next to Vivi on the couch in the family room and watched her answer Dane’s questions as best she could. Dane was keeping it as conversational as possible, while still trolling for as much information as he could. Nothing about Vivi’s activities would have put her anywhere near a member of the Latin Kings. They had been going at it for two hours, and he could tell that she was almost done. “Let’s take a break,” Joel said firmly.

Dane glanced up, and gave Joel an imperceptible nod. “Good idea, man.” Standing, Dane stretched and grinned at the two of them. “I’m going to give Trinity a call and see when she wants to go to dinner.”

Joel watched his friend stroll out to the patio and flop down on one of the chairs. It was the most relaxed that he’d ever seen him, and he knew it was because of the company he was keeping.

“I could have kept going, Joel. I’m not some hothouse flower that you have to take care of.” She sank back into the cushions of the sofa and stared down at her feet. “I’ll have you know that I am a tough cookie.”

Laughing, he kissed her cheek. “I think you’re tough on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. The perfect combination.” She leaned her head against his chest, and it rested on the spot that was made specifically for her. “And…I like taking care of you.”

“If you keep saying things like that, then I’m going to end up liking you a lot more than I originally planned. I’m not sure that is such a good idea.”

“Oh, it’s a great idea.” Kissing her head, he watched Dane and wondered if he had enough time to smooch her. “As soon as we get rid of Dane, I’m going to take you upstairs and give you a bunch of reasons why you should like me.”

“Oh, I like you naked, make no mistake about that. But I don’t know if we’d make a good match.”

“We match, all right. Your parts and my parts fit perfectly. And if you like what happens between us when we’re naked, then I suppose that’s how we’ll have to spend most of our time together.”

“Naked and sex seem to be your answer for a lot of things.”

“You started it.” He lifted his shoulders and grinned. “You said you liked me naked, and I have to play to my strengths.”

Hearing her laughter fill up the room lightened his mood considerably. They were dealing with some hard and heavy facts, and if he could help her laugh through this, then he was going to. “I think we’re almost done. Do you want to swim before dinner?”

“Sure. I’ll start dinner before we go in.”

“I’ll cook tonight.” Her head lifted abruptly, and her mouth hung open. “You’re going to catch a fly if you don’t close your mouth. It’s not that shocking.”

“It’s a little
shocking
. I know that you’re capable of a lot, I just never thought you cooked. It’s a lovely surprise.”

Who knows, maybe you’ll want to add this to your list of things you like about me.” The door glided open and in walked Dane. “We’re ready when you are.”

Joel’s phone buzzed, and he saw it was Kyle from the office. “I’m going to take this.” Standing, he then moved into the dining room.

“So what are you and Trinity doing tonight?” Vivi asked.

“Trinity is making dinner, and then we’re watching a movie. She’s been on the computer all day, researching hospitals.” Clasping his hands in front of him, he decided to ask Vivi the question that had been circling in his brain. “Why won’t Trinity talk about her deceased husband?”

Putting his hands up, he tried to explain himself. “I know I shouldn’t be asking you, but I’ve tried with her, and she always changes the subject.”

“Are you asking out of curiosity or because you want to see if something can happen between the two of you?”

“I want to know what makes her tick. I can’t figure her out.” Shoving his hand through his hair, he let out a frustrated sigh. “You and Ruby talk about it. Why won’t she?”

“The death of Trinity’s husband devastated her. Ruby married her high school sweetheart. They had been together since they were sixteen, and they had almost fifteen years together. I married my husband after knowing him for four months. He was killed one month after we were married. We were still strangers to one another in many ways. But Trinity only had two years with her husband. He was in the army and flew Blackhawks as part of the aviation regiment. She was twenty-two when they were married and had her whole life in front of her. He was part of Operation Red Wing, and his chopper was hit.” Rubbing her hands together, she shook her head. “She didn’t have enough time with him, and he was her soul mate. I don’t know if she’s ever going to want a relationship again.”

“Joel and I were on a platoon that was part of the recovery operation. Holy shit.”

“Exactly.”

“I understand now,” Dane replied.

“The fact that she has made it this far is a miracle. I think you’re the perfect medicine for her.”

Joel strode back into the room and noticed how serious the mood had gotten since he left. “What the hell is going on?”

Holding her hand out, she waited for Joel to take it. “We were just chatting, and I was filling Dane in on Trinity’s husband.”

Dane stared up at him. “We were on the rescue op.”

“I know, man. When Vivi told me the story, I almost lost it. That was by far the most difficult one we were ever on.”

“Does Trinity know?” Dane inquired.

“We haven’t said anything to her.” Vivi squeezed Joel’s hand. “I don’t think she needs to know that right now. The fact that she’s spending time with you and enjoying herself is the best thing in the world. If we tell her you two were part of the Team that went in to recover people, then it will bring everything back up.”

“All right. But eventually…when the time is right, I’m going to tell her,” Dane stated flatly. “I don’t want to lie by omission.”

“Agreed,” Vivi replied. “Are we done for the day?”

Dane stood and grabbed his phone. “Yeah, let’s pick this up tomorrow. I’m going to go over my notes, and then I’ll have a better idea of what else I want to ask you.”

Vivi stood and opened her arms for Dane. “Let me give you a hug. You have helped one of my most important people come back to life.”

Dane embraced her and gave her a good squeeze. “I think we’re doing that for one another.” He released her and then walked toward the front door. “Call you guys in the morning.”

“I’ll make us a drink, and then we can make dinner.” Vivi tugged Joel’s hand and led him over to the kitchen. “I hope I did the right thing by telling him.”

“I think you did. A man operates better when he has the facts.”

“What kind of facts did you just get from Kyle?”

“Let’s have that drink first, and then we can talk about it.”

“Great…” Vivi grumbled.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The morning light brightened the room, and Joel forced himself to crack an eye open and see what time it was. Before he lifted his hand off the warm woman sleeping on him, he grinned to himself. They had gotten a little wild last night, and he never would’ve guessed that under Vivi’s sweet exterior lay a woman with a naughty streak. She had so many fascinating layers that he knew she would keep him interested for…ever. It was like finding a buried treasure…Vivi was a good girl with a sinful side. What was funny was that she seemed as surprised as he was by how she responded to him. Sweet, smart, and funny, Vivi liked all his graphic talk and followed his lead without question, which surprised the shit out of him. Everything about her personality suggested that she was large and in charge and didn’t like to give up control. Well, there was a place where she did, and it was with him in bed.