Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) (33 page)

The first time he's ever heard her raise her voice. He can’t
help but smile it’s aimed at Evan, even though he knows he deserves it more.
“It’s okay, sweetness. You don’t have to defend me.”

“What he said isn’t true. I don’t think that.”

Both her hands squeeze his arm, her intensity weakening his
resolve to stay away from her. He has to get himself together before he hurts
her any more than he already has. “Don’t apologize for him. We’ll follow you
back to your house. When everything quiets down, we’ll talk some more. Okay?” He
steps back and turns to Evan, thinking of only her soft smile and nodding head
to keep from beating the smirk off his face. “If you let anything happen to
her, I’ll fucking kill you myself.”

Her smile fades, and she shivers before wrapping her arms around
herself. He forces himself to walk to the limo, to leave her with that bastard.
For the last time.

“Come on, Shae. We’re going home.”

“No. I can’t do this. You’re suffocating me. I’m sorry, but I’ve
made up my mind. I don’t want to marry you.”

“You’re just letting Nick upset you. Let’s go home. You’ll calm
down, and everything will be okay.”

Nick stops at the argument behind him.
Fuck this.
She needs him.

“It’s too late for us. I can’t be with you.”

“Get in the car.”

“No, Evan, let go. You’re hurting me.”

Fuck no.
Now he has to die. Nick races back toward him.

Shae’s hands fly to her face as she screams. “Max! Stop him!
He’ll kill him!”

“Never fucking touch her!” Evan stiffens and curls his fingers
into fists, ready to fight. But, this motherfucker better know it’s going to be
all one-sided. His punch pounds Evan’s face with a resounding crack of bone
before Max pulls him off. “You never fucking touch her!”

Evan lies motionless on the ground, his jaw swelling to an
unrecognizable shape. Nick jerks away from Max and the other guys holding him
back, his eyes trained on Shae. She stumbles back to the car and drops into the
seat, never taking her eyes off her chirping phone.

Chapter Seventeen

The chaos outside
the car fades into the background as Dr. Patterson’s number pops up on her
phone. Evan’s injuries, Nick’s rage, her guilt, all displaced by the burning
hope for the unexpected gift she didn't even know she wanted, yet can’t bear to
lose. Her heart races as she taps the screen. “Hello?”

“Shae? This is Dr. Patterson. I have your
results. Your levels are strong—a good sign for us at this point.”

Her worries float away with the tears
streaming down her cheeks. It’s going to be okay. Their baby is going to be
okay. “Thank you! Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome. I knew you were anxious,
so when I went over to the lab I sweet-talked the tech into running the test
while I waited. I’m a mom too, and I know how difficult it is to wait for
results.”

“I was so scared I couldn’t think of
anything else. I appreciate you getting them for me so quickly.”

“Now, remember, we still need to do the
second test on Monday to make sure they are increasing the way they should be.
Why don’t you come to my office around noon? We’re closed for lunch and only my
staff will be here, to ensure your privacy.”

This visit will be the way it should have
been all along. Nick by her side experiencing his first of many dad moments.
She’ll spend the rest of her pregnancy making up to him what he missed out on
because of her misguided desire to protect him. “Okay. I’ll be there. Thank
you.”

A flash reflects off the window, bringing
her back to the turmoil surrounding them. Among the growing crowd of people
congregating around their little drama, a teenage guy in a blue baseball cap
snaps photos of her with his phone while a young, red-haired girl next to him
hops up and down, shrieking and pointing at her. Max and Nick huddle in deep
conversation. Evan lies sprawled on his back, his bent leg jiggling up and
down, as three members of Nick’s security team lean over him, trying to rouse
him.

One of the men fishes the car keys out of
Evan’s pocket and tosses them to Max. He nods at Nick, and they sprint to where
she sits. Max hops in the driver’s side while Nick squats down next to her.
“You’ve got to get out of here. The police are on their way, and people are
taking pictures. I don’t want you in the middle of this. Max is going to take
you back to your house.”

She can’t let him push her away,
extinguishing their rekindled connection. Not after the good news she just
received. “Wait! What about you?”

Max starts the car and shoves the gear
shift in reverse. “Come on, guys. We’ve got to go.”

“I don’t want to leave you, but I’ve been
drinking and can’t drive. It has to be Max.”

“Why have you been—
”

He yanks her seatbelt and straps it over
her. “There’s no time. We’ll talk in a little bit.” He starts to push the door
shut, but pulls it back a few inches and locks eyes with her. “Stay with Max.”

His fierce protectiveness continues to be
a constant reminder of his love. He has to know she feels the same way. “I
promise. I love you, Nick.”

He reaches in and caresses her cheek, the
tension softening in his face. “God, sweetness, I love you too.”

As soon as the door shuts, Max pounds the
accelerator and they fly backward before the car jerks forward from him shifting
into drive. The squeal of their tires echoes across the concrete walls as they
race around the corner, passing two police cars with their sirens blaring.

Once they exit the parking garage, he
gives her a quick glance before returning his focus to the road. “Are you
okay?”

She loosens her grip on the seat and lets
out a deep breath. “Yes, a little overwhelmed, but okay.”

“Good. Then I can tell you how pissed I
am about the stunt you pulled this morning. Nick went ballistic, and I was
right there with him.”

Heat burns her cheeks at his reprimand.
Always the good girl, she never stayed out late or snuck around. Her deceit
disappoints herself as much as him. “I’m sorry. Evan talked me into it, but it
won’t happen again. I’m not going to let him control me anymore.”

“Yeah, that guy’s a dick. I would have
stopped you from marrying him myself.”

“I know you would have. You always save
us from the trouble we get ourselves into. I’m not sure how you have a life of
your own when you’re always babysitting us.”

“I don’t need a life.” He winks at her
before breaking into a smile, relieving her guilt with his forgiveness. “I’ve
got you guys.”

“I’m glad we’ve got you too. You’re like
the big brother every girl wants.”

He shrugs. “I’ve been called worse.”

She smiles at the thought of them telling
Max their good news. He’s as much of an uncle as Carrie is an aunt. And Marta
like a grandmother. A baby strengthens the bond of any family, even one as
unusual as theirs.

His fingers relax around the steering
wheel as they get closer to her house, and he nods toward her. “I knew you guys
would get back together.”

Max continues to be the wisest among all
of them. Unencumbered by their emotional turmoil, he could see what they were
blind to. “We still have a lot to figure out.”

“Nah, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter.
It’s a done deal.”

When they pull into her driveway, Carrie
runs outside and wraps her arms around Shae as soon as she steps out of the
car. “Are you okay? Nathan was called to meet Evan at the hospital. He said
Nick broke his jaw.”

“I told Evan it was over.” Shae squeezes
her friend back, welcoming the familiar comfort she provides. “He tried to
shove me into the car, and Nick got upset.”

“Forget upset. He fucking knocked him
out!”

She steels herself for a lecture from Carrie.
The man who broke her heart injured the hero Carrie believes Evan to be.
Another reason for her to root for Evan and against Nick. “I know, but it’s my
fault not Nick’s. I should never have let Evan think we had any chance of
getting back together. He’s not the man I thought he was.”

“Me neither. I realized it this morning
with him pressuring you and making you sneak around.”

The clenched muscles in her shoulders
release. Carrie sees it too. Now, she can be free of Evan and focus on the man
she really needs in her life.

“Hi, Max.” Carrie winks at him before
turning back to her. “How did the other stuff go?”

“Good.” A smile crosses her face as her
friend engulfs her in another embrace, sharing in her happiness.

“Here we go.” Max rolls his neck before answering
his buzzing phone. “Yeah?”

His brow furrows while he taps the case
with two fingers. “Where’s Nick? Okay. I’ll be there in ten.”

He shoves his cell into his pocket and
pulls out Evan’s car keys. “I’ve got to go. There’s a warrant out for my arrest.
Evan’s pressing assault charges against Nick and theft for me stealing his
car.”

An ache burns in her chest. Evan seeks
revenge against them because of her. They aren’t the ones who deserve to be
punished. “I’ll come with you.”

Max shakes his head and puts his hand up.
“Fuck no! Nick’s head would really explode if you came to the police station.
He’s already there, and I’ll turn myself in with his attorney, Luther.”

“I’m sorry you got pulled into this.”

“Don’t be. Evan got what he deserved.” He
points to Carrie then to her. “No more sneaking around. Stay here until you
hear from one of us.”

Carrie wraps her arm around Shae’s
shoulder and smiles. “Okay, I’ll make sure she’s as well-behaved as I am.”

Max rolls his eyes. “Why does that not
make me feel better?”

As soon as the car is out of the
driveway, Shae grabs her phone from her bag. She never expected to have to call
him for any reason, but now she has no choice. “Hi, it’s Shae. I need your
help.”

* * * *

She steps onto the porch as soon as the
unfamiliar vehicle pulls up in front of her house. No reaction from the three
suited men milling around, except for informal head bobs toward the white SUV,
confirms Carter sits behind the wheel. She doesn’t give him or one of the men
jogging toward her the chance to open the door. She slides in and fastens her
seat belt. “Are you ready?”

“I guess so since you haven’t really
given me any other choice.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just anxious to get this
over with.”

“Me too.” He looks over at her as he
pulls onto the street. “Nick’s not going to be happy you left again.”

“I know, but if I can pull this off,
it’ll be worth it.” She gives him a small smile, knowing he risks Nick’s wrath
in helping her. “Thank you for coming with me. I thought you might be at the
police station already.”

“I was on my way there, but your call
intrigued me. Luther can handle it for now. I can’t wait to see how you’re
going to fix this.”

They drive in silence as Shae responds to
texts from Gail, furious from the photos already posted online. The ones of her
sitting in the car are tame, but her stomach aches at Evan lying on the ground.
Even in her frustration with him, pangs of guilt at his pitiful state stab her
chest.

After they park, Carter escorts her
inside the building but she shakes her head as he tries to follow her into the
room. She has to do this herself.

The darkness contrasts sharply with the
harsh lighting from the hallway. He lies motionless, his eyes closed. His lips
are pursed together, an unnatural stiffness across the bottom half of his face.
She takes a deep breath before stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
After laying her sunglasses and hat on the side chair, she lightly touches his
hand.

“Evan?”

He blinks a few times before opening his
eyes completely, but doesn’t turn his head. “What are you doing here?”

The throbbing in her chest grows stronger
at his muffled voice, speaking through clenched teeth with his jaw wired shut.

“I wanted to check on you. How are you
feeling?”

“Wonderful. Now get out.”

Not before she completes her mission to
free Nick and Max. She forces herself to keep going, to convince him to listen
to her. “Please, Evan. Give me just a few minutes. I want you to know how sorry
I am.”

“You should be.”

“Not just for what Nick did, but for me
too. I was wrong to consider your proposal. I should have told you right away.
It was unfair for me to act like I might marry you, when deep down I knew I
would never be able to go through with it.”

“Because you love him.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t love me.”

Although she doesn’t any longer, she
refuses to be cruel. Not after he risked a broken heart to help her. “I care
about what happens to you. You deserve to have someone who loves you as much as
you love them. Don’t settle for a one-sided relationship.”

“If your mom…” He struggles under the
awkwardness of his restrained mouth. “We’d still be together.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You wanted a
stay-at-home wife and mother while I was still launching my career. We might
have drifted apart because we both wanted different things.” The truth she
never realized is so apparent now. She nods her head, confirming to both of
them what she knows. “As much as it hurts to admit it, we weren’t meant for
each other.”

“Yes, we are.”

They’re quiet for a few moments, the
chirping of her phone breaking the silence. His eyes close again, yet his
restlessness conveys his agitation.

“Dr. Patterson called. My test results
are good.”

“Real nice, Shae.” His eyes fly open, and
he tilts his head toward her before flinching. “What kind of role model are you
now? You’re throwing away any chance you have of a normal life for a thug who
doesn’t even want you.”

Three insults all at one time. The danger
of him knowing her so well he understands exactly how to inflict the most pain.
Failing to sway him with reason, she takes a deep breath and thrusts herself
into the fire with a different approach. “Will you please drop the charges
against Nick and Max? They don’t deserve to be punished for what I’ve done to
you.”

“My jaw says otherwise. Nick needs to pay
for what he did.”

“What about what you did to me?”

His eyes widen, and he gingerly grasps
his cheek before turning his head. “What are you talking about?”

She lifts up her sleeve with a shaky
hand. “You bruised me when you grabbed my arm.” Hopeful the crux of her threat
will be his breaking point, she issues her ultimatum. “If you don’t drop the
charges, I’ll have you arrested for assault.”

“You wouldn’t do that.”

“I don’t want to, but if I have to, I
will.”

“Go ahead. I don’t care.”

“I think the parents of your patients
will care. What kind of pediatrician assaults a pregnant woman?”