The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (36 page)

Ronnie was in
a room. A police man stood outside. She had been told by a nurse they would be keeping her overnight, and was relieved. She had to see Nikko, tell him she loved him before she was carted off to jail. She saw Gio pass by her room. He was talking to a man in a black suit. The detective maybe. She watched the door, hoping he would turn and she could catch his eye, maybe get some news about Nikko. It had been hours since he’d been wheeled into surgery.

Then she saw Blaze appear, and then both men tore out of her line of vision. Fear penetrated her soul. She got up quickly, and the IV the nurse fastened to her hand tore at her. “Fuck,” she winced at the pain, and stopped a moment to regain her composure. She turned her legs to the other side of the bed grabbing the IV pole as she stood more carefully this time.

“Not so fast, Miss Sears. Get right back into bed,” a voice bellowed from the door way. She turned to see the man who had been talking to Gio earlier.

“I have to see Nikko. And who are you?” she asked, refusing to sit at his command.

“I’m Detective Alexander. I have a few questions for you. So, let me repeat myself which is something I don’t like to do. Sit,” he commanded.

She didn’t move. She glared at him eyes narrowing. “I’ll sit,” she said, “And I’ll answer your questions, if you’ll answer mine first.” She needed to find out why the brothers had taken off like that. She needed some news about Nikko.

The detective glared at this little blonde hellion. Nikko sure had his hands full with this one, and he wasn’t just talking about the chicks breasts. Shit, and those were a handful. “What’s your question, Miss Sears?” he asked crossing his hands over his chest blocking her view of the hallway. It didn’t mean he would answer it, but he was curious.

“Where did Gio and Blaze go? They rushed away so quickly. Is Nikko okay?” she spit out in a rush.

“That’s two questions,” he looked at her with a wry, amused expression.

“So what!” she stomped. “Just tell me, where did they go and is Nikko okay?” She began to round the bed determined to find out for herself if this detective was going to be a dickhead. She’d get past him somehow even though his massive frame blocked the exit.

He wasn’t going to budge and she obviously couldn’t move him. Could she? She glanced at his feet in police issue shoes. She wished she wasn’t barefoot, and had her hiking boots on. She’d get him out of her way in a hurry. He noticed the direction of her eyes, and knew what she was thinking. Oh yes, Nikko would have fun with this one. “Okay little lady, back in bed and no funny business. Your boyfriend was out of surgery an hour ago, just woke up, and is headed to recovery. He’ll be in a room down the hall in about an hour. Now, get into bed.” He began to move toward her forcing her to back up or be pushed.

The tension she had been feeling for the last three hours began to slip away. He was in recovery. He was going to be in a room down the hall. Her heart began to beat.

Her shoulders slumped in relief, and she turned and headed back to her bed, being extra careful to hold her hospital gown shut. She didn’t want this beast of a man getting his thrills by feasting his eyes on her backside.

The cop had to chuckle at her feeble attempts to maneuver the bulky awkward IV pole while clutching her gown closed. “I’ll turn around.”

“Good!” she barked.

“Just for a second though,” he laughed. “So make it quick.”

Frigging idiot ass cop, Ronnie grumbled to herself. But she moved quickly and got into bed, pulling the covers over her legs discreetly as he turned back around.

“Okay Miss Sears,” he approached the bed and pulled out a little black notepad from his inside breast pocket. “Now, it’s my turn for some questions.”

“Shoot,” she said, looking away from the beast of a man. He looked like he lifted trucks instead of weights. Why in the hell did men think women found juice heads attractive? The man was built like a Mac truck.

He snickered at her attempts to avoid his gaze.

“I usually like suspects and witnesses to look at me when I’m questioning them. It kind of helps me to determine if they are being honest with me,” he added patiently.

“For crying out loud,” she turned her head. “Just ask your dumb questions.” The sooner she got this out of the way, the sooner she could see Nikko. She crossed her arms. Cooperate, she reminded herself. She was still in some serious trouble, but her worries over Nikko made her push everything else to the way side. The sooner she cooperated, the sooner the bear would get the hell out of there. Then, she wouldn’t have to see him until he picked her up tomorrow to cart her to jail.

“So, first question. Gary Campbell admitted putting the drugs in your equipment in Tampa?” he asked.

“Yes! We have it on tape.” He just nodded and took his time writing it down in his little notebook. He even licked the tip of his pencil. She rolled her eyes. Obviously this guy was going to torture her with his methodical interrogation.

“Okay. Thank you.” He turned and began to exit the room.

“Wait?” she called after him totally confused. Was this a joke?

“What?” he turned, hand on the door.

“That’s it?” she asked eyes widening in surprise.

“Yep, we got the tape, and it is being sent to analysis now in Bangor, and we’ve recorded Gary’s voice. I’ve got statements from both Gio, and Blaze. I’ve got to talk to Andreas, and Nikko. If the tapes are good. We will know in a couple of hours, then it’s a wrap.”

“What do you mean it’s a wrap?”

“We’ve been on to this Gary fellow for a while now. Suspected him in this Tampa thing, but wanted to keep it under wraps until we could bring down the bigger fish. You really didn’t need to come down here. We have been keeping an eye on him and the Brimeyer Gang who he works for. You would have been cleared anyhow. The tape makes it nice and tidy with Gary though, so thanks for that.”

“The Brimeyers?” she asked in confusion.

“Yes, the Brimeyers,” he told her as she laid there mute with shock. “There a local drug scum outfit. We were just a few weeks away from busting them, but with Gary in custody, we might be making a little
dealio
with the little rich kid, and get them sooner rather than later. Give him fifteen instead of twenty for turning them in. They were Gary’s main supplier, and they have been dealing locally for nearly a decade. They have been working with Gary to extend their reach into Bangor, and they have been using him to bring more product into the state.” He shrugged like this was not news to her.

Gary had been up to a whole hell of a lot more than she thought. She was flabbergasted. But cutting Gary a deal was out of the question. “You’re going to cut Gary a deal!” she scoffed, appalled at the thought of him getting off lightly.

“I think you’ll be fine with the Marinos for fifteen years, Miss Sears. Plus, I don’t think prison is too kind to pretty boy rich kids. We’ll be on him when he gets out.” Detective Alexander stood there for a moment waiting to see if this little package had any other questions. It seemed she was still too stunned to speak. He had things to do. “Have a good day,” he said and gave her a mock salute as he exited.

Holy hell, she thought. “Wait?” she yelled again.

“What is it now, Miss Sears?” he asked with an exaggerated sigh popping his head in the door again. It was his turn to roll his eyes at her.

“I’m not going to jail tomorrow?” she asked, a warm feeling beginning to course through her.

He shook his head and smiled again. “Maine cops aren’t idiots. We have been investigating this drug ring for quite some time. We have been watching this group in the hopes of also getting their suppliers. We know you’re squeaky clean. Florida will get all our reports.” He nodded again, and this time she let him go.

She was free. Free to be with Nikko. That is if he still wanted her. Her mind ran rampant with doubts. Would he? Want her? Would his brother’s accept her? After all they’d been through, they might . . . her fears were back. They’d said she was family, but that was before she’d nearly gotten their brother killed. Hell, she’d be reluctant to have her new baby sister, or brother involved with someone who’d put their life in danger, and she or he hadn’t even been born yet. What the hell was she going to do? What the hell could she say?

There was nothing to do, but wait and see. And it seemed like hours before anyone came to her room even though it wasn’t. She was watching the clock. The next person to open her door though made her smile genuinely for the first time in a long time.

“Gramps,” she burst out.

He rushed to the bed, her grandmother at his heels. “Nana,” she added when she saw her grandmother was there too.

“We came as soon as we saw it on the news,” her grandmother choked through her tears.

Although he wanted nothing more than to crush his little granddaughter to his chest, Roland stepped back to let his wife in first. It was the right thing to do after all.

As soon as his wife moved to go to the other side of the bed, he was there holding her close. His little sidekick. “Glad you’re safe chipmunk,” he whispered in her ear. “We love you.”

“Love you too Gramps, Nana.” The tears were coursing down her face. It felt so good to have someone there who loved her.

“I could have killed that old man,” her grandma said, indicating her husband, “when I found out he helped you. Don’t you ever do something so stupid again!” she admonished, shaking an old finger, gnarled from years of baking, sewing, and gardening, at her granddaughter and husband of nearly fifty years.

Ronnie nodded. Her nana was known for her lectures. What could she do? She took it, noticing her grandpa winking at her over her nana’s shoulder.

Ronnie was so relieved to have them there, but yet her thoughts kept straying back to Nikko and the Marinos. She quickly filled them in on her talk with Detective Alexander, and both her grandparents were thrilled to hear the news that her name had been cleared. Her grandmother fanned herself when she talked about the Brimeyers, scared for her granddaughter who had gotten so close to a real live drug ring. Ronnie wanted to be honest with them and tell them everything herself as it would be all over the news anyhow. It would be better coming from her. But, she knew what her grandmother must be thinking as she saw a myriad of emotions cross her face. She had been in far more danger than even she thought.

The nurse interrupted them deep in conversation when she came in with a tray for dinner. And even at the smell of the hospital food, her stomach betrayed her.

“Eat something, bebe,” her grandfather encouraged pushing the hospital food tray towards her, revealing a slice of turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy. And though it was hospital food, Ronnie wasn’t about to turn it away.

“I’m calling your mother. She’ll be so relieved,” Bertie announced, pulling her cell phone out of her oversized purse. “What with the new baby and all,” she grinned from ear to ear, “this will make her day.”

“You told her,” Ronnie laughed, taking her first bite of cold, dry turkey, dipping it into the potatoes to make it more palatable. This meal reminded her so much of another meal, very similar, but in a different location when she’d thought her life was over. Now, it seemed it was just beginning, but she needed to talk to Nikko first to know for sure. She needed to see him.

“Of course,” her grandfather laughed at her accusatory comment. “She needed some good news to get me off the hook for helping you,” he winked.

“I love you Gramps,” she reached for his gnarled hand and squeezed it as her grandmother chattered away in the corner.

After her nana filled her mother in, she passed the phone to Ronnie who had eaten nearly everything by then.

“Hi Mom,” she answered perkily.

“Oh you . . .” her mom let out a shaky breath of relief through the receiver.

They talked for a few minutes, and Jay popped on to tell her he was happy, too, that things seemed to be working out all right for everyone. They’d even had a call from Tampa saying the charges should be dropped as soon as they got word from Detective Alexander. He’d contacted the prosecution and called Lou personally, not twenty minutes ago, to say Ronnie turned herself in, so the bounty was secure. That bit of news flabbergasted Ronnie. Why would Detective Alexander say she had done that? She expressed those thoughts to her mom.

Her mom laughed and then awkwardly admitted, “Oh, well, I actually know him. He dated Ana.”

“Oh my God! Small f . . .” she caught herself before she cursed in front of her grandparents. “. . . world.”

“Yes, it is. It didn’t last, but they had some fun, let’s say.” After a few more minutes of chatting with her mom, her mother finally broke off. “Okay, baby. I’m going to let you get some rest. I’m glad your grandparents are there with you. Grandma said they will stay in a hotel tonight and you can go home with them. Is that okay?” her mom asked.

“Um,” her mind flew back to Nikko. “I guess. But Nikko. I need to talk to him. I’d like to stay here locally for a while at least while he recovers,” she looked at her grandparents her eyes pleading for them to understand. Her grandmother scowled. Her grandfather winked.

“Okay, well don’t upset Grams. You know how she gets. Break it to her easily. Maybe ask them to stay in the hotel with you until Nikko gets out?” she whispered softly.

“Good idea,” she breathed. “Love you Mom,” she said before hanging up.

“Love you too, sweet heart. Call me every day and keep me posted.”

“I will.” And with that they both hung up.

*     *     *