Vortex (SAI Book 1) (30 page)

His hands captured her face, and he held it gently. “Love you, Viv.” And before she could react, his lips crashed against hers in a searing kiss. What a powerful way to claim her. Freely, he admitted his feelings, and then he showed her what he’d meant. There was nothing gentle or well-mannered about the way he desired her. And she couldn’t have been more grateful. It was desperately needed after the way he acted with her during the first year that they had known one another. On some level, he must’ve known that she needed to feel secure before she opened herself up.

Joel McDade was the man who made the world safe for her. He gave her a feeling of security that she wasn’t aware she needed. His physical presence, moral strength, and sharp intellect were the combination that was beginning to unlock her heart.

“Let’s go see how comfortable the new lounge chairs are.” Lifting her up, he strode to the side of the pool and got out. “I hope you chose the sturdy model, because I’m feeling a little out of control.”

“I guess we’ll find out.” Gently, he laid her down on the extra-large round one that she’d chosen. When he stood above her like a lion, she silently congratulated herself on her choice. They had plenty of room for Joel to do what he felt was necessary. “Joel, you look like you’re ready to take a bite out of me.”

Sliding his hands up her legs, he grinned. “I might.” Sliding his hands inside her bikini bottom, he quickly got rid of it. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but you’re becoming more desirable every day. The way your body is blooming with pregnancy is fuc…I mean irresistible.”

Placing her hand against his face, she smiled into his eyes. “That’s so sweet and also a lie. I’m eating everything I see, so all that’s happening now is that there is more of me.” When he dropped his mouth to her breast and took a nipple between his teeth, she arched in pleasure.

“More of you is
more
for me to have. It’s never going to be enough…”

After that words were not exchanged, it was their bodies that communicated. As he slid himself into her body, she realized that nothing else in adult life allowed her to turn herself inside out. This was such a powerful, life-affirming and life enhancing experience. It was the perfect conjunction of love and lust, which for her was pure grace.

Their two bodies melding as one was the finest expression of who they were together.

“Let go, Viv. Show me,” he whispered into her ear. It sent her over and released the last of her reservations. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she held on as she rocketed to the moon. His shout of pleasure as he exploded into her only made the ride that much sweeter.

When her mind started functioning again, she realized that the neighbors would have no confusion about what was happing. It would be surprising if they didn’t get some looks when they went on their evening walks. Running her hand up and down Joel’s slick back, she knew that she really didn’t care. “Thanks, honey. I needed that.”

He lifted his head and gave her a lazy, satisfied smile. “Any day that I can get at you twice before ten in the morning is a good one.”

“Then I guess this is going to be one of those.” He gave her a wet, sloppy kiss, and she laughed. They could use some good days.

***

Vivi held Joel’s hand as they walked up to the building that housed the SAI offices. “How is Ruby working out? Has she got you all reorganized?”

“The woman is a miracle worker. I thought we were in good shape before, but that was just an illusion. Last week, she billed four companies for analysis that we did two months ago. The invoices had never been created. That’s over a million and a half in receivables.”

“I told you she was amazing, and I was right. I hope you give her the praise she deserves.”

Guiding her into the elevator, he punched the number for the floor. “I did better than that. I gave her a bonus. She’s getting one percent of whatever comes in.”

“You’re a smart man, and I’m glad that you’re my baby daddy. My child is going to benefit from your genes.” Kissing his arm, she grinned.

“
Our
child will benefit from both of us.” The elevator doors slid open, and they stepped off. “I’m going to have to keep reminding you until it sticks. This is
our
life,
our
child, and
our
family.”

“I have baby brain, so it’s going to take a lot of reminding.” She started laughing to herself as Joel pressed his palm against the sensor next to the door. The lock clicked, and he pushed the door open. “I’m pretty funny.”

Shaking his head, he gave her a disapproving look. “You might be the only one who believes that.”

Vivi called to Ruby as they walked down the hall. When she popped her head out of her office, Vivi asked, “Am I funny?”

“Mostly to yourself, sweetie. But that doesn’t matter. As long as you laugh, that’s all that counts.”

Joel kissed the side of her head and snorted. “Told you so.”

“Where’s Dane? I should ask him.”

The bell on the front door chimed, and Ruby went to look at her computer to see who it was. “It’s the detective from MPD.”

“You can let him in, and we’ll meet him in the conference room.”

“You got it,” Ruby replied.

Joel opened his office door and tugged Vivi in. “What are you doing?” Vivi asked.

“I want to make sure that you’re ready to hear what he has to say.”

“I am. I’ve resolved myself that there is nothing I can do but trust that you’re going to protect me. If I don’t, then I’ll go crazy with worry. If this isn’t good news, then I can handle it, because I have you.”

Tipping his head against hers, he breathed in deeply. “I will always protect you.”

“I know, Joel.” Lifting her head, she kissed his cheek. “Let’s see what the man has to say.” She took his hand and stepped out of the office. “After this, we’re going to have lunch and a really big dessert.”

They walked into the conference room and greeted Detective Sanchez. The team had been working with him since the initial connection was made. The dead body that had shown up in Vivi’s clinic had been connected with the Latin Kings, and they still didn’t know why. “Thanks, Steve, for coming by,” Joel said.

“No problem. I was ready to get out of the precinct, and I felt it was important to have this meeting off-site.”

Turning to Vivi, he held out his hand, and she laughed. “Steve, you know I’m a hugger, so let’s not pretend.” She gave him a good squeeze and shook her head. “Someday, you’re not going to look horrified when I do that.”

“I’m not
horrified
that a beautiful woman wants to hug me. I’m cautious because the man behind you gives me a death glare every time it happens.”

“You just ignore that growly bear.”

Laughing, he replied, “Said like a woman who’s well loved.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she studied Joel and smirked. “That may very well be true.” She held out her hand and waited for him to take it. “It turns out that a growling bear is just what I’ve been looking for all these years.” Kissing his cheek, she waited for him to settle down. His shoulders relaxed a millimeter, and she took it for what it was. A win. “Now, tell us the latest.”

Everyone took a seat, and Steve pulled out a bunch of folders as well as an iPad. “I have some good news. I think the piece we’ve been looking for has finally shown up.”

“Before, you start…tell me why you wanted to have this meeting off-site?” Joel asked.

Leaning back in the chair, Steve shook his head. “I have reason to believe that we have a leak in our department. The Latin Kings are paying someone off in the MPD, and I don’t want to take a gamble and be wrong. I don’t know who, why, or where. But, I’m not willing to risk it.”

“Shit,” Joel stated flatly.

“Exactly. The fact that we’ve come this far in this case is a miracle. I’m not jeopardizing it by letting information leak.”

“We appreciate that, Steve.” Vivi patted his hand and crossed her legs. “What have you found out?”

“We picked up a kid on a totally unrelated crime, and I was called in to question him. The arresting officer knew the boy was involved with the gang and that I’m the point person on anything that happens in Miami that relates to the crew. It’s a small effort to have the information centralized. Everyone knows a little bit of something, but no one has the whole picture. This was put in place by the chief as a way to try to mitigate the tide of murders.”

“So this kid knew something?” Vivi asked.

“I question everyone who comes in for five or six hours. I ask everything I can. It doesn’t matter if it relates or not. By the third hour, the people are exhausted and their answers are no longer holding up. I ask them about anything that I have on the books about any crime that has been traced back to the crew. For the first three hours, I’m throwing shit at the walls to see if anything sticks. While this is happening, I have a department forensic psychologist studying the tapes to see if they pick up on anything.”

“I can’t believe that more departments are not doing this,” Joel remarked.

“They may be. I have no idea. What happens at hour six is that I walk out of the room and meet with the psychologist and see what they have for me. They give me their notes, and then I go back in and begin questioning again. Sometimes we get lucky.”

“How come they don’t ask for a lawyer?” Vivi asked.

“These are low-level guys that we pick up. They don’t have anyone to call. They are expected to take the rap and keep their mouth shut. The other option is to walk out and be killed by a crew member.”

“So how did you get lucky this time?” Joel questioned.

“We picked up a kid who is the cousin of the man who was sent to kill you.”

Hearing those words made Vivi sit forward and her heart beat against her chest in staccato. “Someone was sent to kill
me
? Not steal the drugs from the clinic?” Joel’s arm went around her shoulder, and she sank into his embrace. “Somehow, I’ve been trying to fool myself that this wasn’t personal. But that is exactly what it is.”

“Let me explain the connection. It may help.”

“Please,” Vivi said.

“Apparently, it happened in Louisiana at a hospital called…Ochsner.”

“I knew it,” Joel remarked.

“A man was brought in with a GSW, and you were the doctor that was assigned when they rolled him in. The man was with Hot Block crew, and this wasn’t his first visit to the ER. When you were working on him, trying to keep him alive, his cousin was waiting outside the room. He heard you make a comment about people not respecting your work. He heard you say something along the lines of…why do you even bother. The man didn’t end up making it, and the cousin felt like you hadn’t tried. You
disrespected
his family, and that needed to be addressed.

“Ends up the cousin was from Florida and part of the Latin Kings. He couldn’t get over losing his cousin, and he blamed you. That’s when he decided that you needed to be taught a lesson.”

“How did he know who I was or about the clinic?”

“When your sister married Chase Bedford, it was big news and the pictures were everywhere. He caught one with you and your family, and that’s how he knew your name.”

Sitting back, Vivi was stunned. It took an extremely specific set of circumstances for the threat against her to happen. It wasn’t random at all. “Wow.”

Joel sat forward and rubbed his head. “Why was this kid so torn up about losing his cousin? They were both involved in gang life, and they couldn’t have had a long life expectancy. Why was this perceived disrespect so serious? If the man came in with a GSW, then the chances were not great.”

“Apparently, the man had grown up with the cousin and considered him a brother. It was some gang code of conduct. Vivi was seen as the person responsible for the man not living. According to the kid we picked up, the man was never stable and probably a sociopath,” Steve responded.

Vivi spoke in a quiet voice, and both men turned and listened. “Everyone thinks that I’m sweet and good. That’s not true. I’m not sweet at all. I’m sure I said those things in the ER. As a doctor, you’re supposed to lock away your heart and see each patient as a puzzle that you’re supposed to solve. No feelings, no opinions, solve the problem, and move on. Just a body and not a person. Keep the body alive, save the life, and that’s it. Especially in trauma medicine and surgery. The more of a machine you are, the better. It turns out that I’m not a machine. I have this beating heart, and I have opinions. Probably more than I should. So I’m fairly confident that what the kid experienced was true. I was disgusted by the endless round of violence and bodies that came through that ER. The only thing missing out of his account was the fact that I always did everything I could to save the lives that were in my hands. Sometimes we can’t save the lives that we’re entrusted with.”

Joel pulled her against this body and replied in a gruff voice, “You’re a good person, and that man was lucky to have you as a doctor. Sometimes when a bullet meets the human body, there is nothing that anyone can do to change the outcome.”

They stared into one another’s eyes, and Vivi knew that he understood her struggle. Because it wasn’t all that different from his own. The fact that he got it and accepted her in her flawed state was all it took. Joel McDade was the love of her life, and he always would be. For a million reasons, but most specifically because he saw her and accepted her just as she was.

“But it doesn’t mean that we don’t try,” Vivi responded.

“Of course,” Joel said. Leaning forward, he kissed her head.

Dragging her eyes away from the man she had fallen in love with, she looked at Steve and shrugged. “So is there still someone after me?”

“The attack on your home in New Orleans was another paid contract. The cousin wanted you dead, and he paid a local group to hit your home. One week after the attack, the man who started all this was shot and killed in a drug sale gone bad. According to the kid, the vendetta died with him. Nobody in the Latin Kings has any interest in you. And the crews in New Orleans were only acting on a paid contract. It’s my hope that it’s done.”