Meant To Be (20 page)

His hand stilled as that slap in the restaurant suddenly made sense. Garrett's face burned with shame. How could he have made such an insensitive comment?
No wonder she never told you about her son, you idiot.

He worked the small package out with great care, but it was impossible to tell what it was since someone had wrapped it in duct tape. Garrett stuck the tip of the knife in and slit it open, careful not to slice too deep. Beneath the duct tape was a layer of plastic wrap, and when he finally peeled it all away, a tiny black felt bag sat on the table. He loosened the drawstring and shook the contents out onto the table.

Garrett let out a slow whistle. Three diamond rings twinkled up at him, and although he was no expert, he knew they had to be worth a fortune.
Jesus
, he thought as he picked one up and examined it more closely,
you could buy a yacht with the money one of these suckers would bring in.
Each ring had a huge center diamond surrounded by a dozen or more smaller stones. And they must be real diamonds. Why else would they have been so carefully hidden?

He realized something else was stuck in the bag and was less surprised to pull out a very small square of folded up cash which had been taped. He carefully peeled the tape away and unfolded the one-inch bundle to discover six one-hundred dollar bills.

Setting the money down next to the rings, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Garrett knew Jessica couldn't have known what was inside the bear or she wouldn't have given it away in the first place. And earlier, the way her ex had hovered behind her, he'd been purposely intimidating her. But how? What could he possibly be holding over her head to make her lie for him? Because she
had
been lying. Lyle had attacked Muriel, not Jack. And the sonofabitch was going to pay. Garrett would see to it.

But first he needed to get Jessica out of that house safe and sound.

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"It's not my fault that idiot brother of yours got caught,” Jessica said as she slipped into her soft-soled work shoes. “I have bills to pay, and if I call in sick, Mr. Turner will fire me without a second thought. I'm already on his bad side."

"I don't give a damn, Jessie. I don't trust you, and I don't trust that overgrown, corn-fed guard dog of yours. He knows damn well Lyle attacked your neighbor, but he ain't got a stitch of proof. And I can't afford to have him ‘lick’ some sense into you."

She shot Wade a glare over her shoulder. “You're a disgusting pig."

"And you're a slut. Believe me, I want out of this hellhole as badly as you want me gone. But I ain't leaving till I have that bear."

Jessica snatched her purse off the counter and swept past him. Lyle had set out on foot for McDonald's—thank God he couldn't drive a stick shift—and Wade would have to tackle her to stop her from leaving. Since she didn't see that happening, she felt confident in her escape. She needed out of this loony bin her home had become. If Lyle made one more sexually lurid gesture, she swore she'd start screaming and never stop.

She knew as each day passed, temptation grew, and the chance of Lyle assaulting her became closer to a reality. And Lord knew Wade would be of no use to her. Even if a kernel of decency remained in him, he was in no condition to take on anyone.

"Well, thanks to Lyle, your chances of getting it back today are slim to none. You'll have to wait until Muriel returns it to Sara, and Sara returns it to me.
If
they haven't already figured out that's what Lyle was after.” She fished her keys out of her purse. “I'll be back after my shift ... unfortunately.” Wade didn't utter a word as she strode out the front door.

For the first time since the slapping incident, Jessica was looking forward to heading in to work. Her shift was the busiest of the day, which would keep her mind occupied and unable to dwell on whatever chaos might be going on in her house.

"Hi, Uncle Garrett!"

Garrett glanced up from his coffee and smiled. “Hey, sport, you're out and about early."

Ethan pulled the screen door open, skipped to the table, and plopped onto his favorite chair. “Yeah. Well, Mom's puking so Dad said I could come down here for breakfast.” He leaned across the table and helped himself to a chocolate glazed donut. “Oh, and Dad said he'll call you as soon as Mom quits puking.” Ethan grinned, and Garrett shook his head.

"How about a glass of milk to go with ‘breakfast'?” Garrett got up to pour it without waiting for a response. He set the glass on the table just as Ethan leaned forward to snatch Jessica's bear off the Lazy Susan. “Muriel's awesome, it looks brand new!” he said, flipping it around to examine it from every angle.

"That she did. Listen, sport, I need to jump in the shower. Why don't you run downstairs and get in some practice with Combat Commando. Won't take me no more than ten minutes. And if your dad calls, just ask him to come down when your mom is feeling better."

Ethan nodded, his mouth full of donut. Garrett gave him a pat on the back and headed for the bathroom.

Wade stuffed the last of his Egg McMuffin in his mouth and tossed the wrapper in the bag. “Ain't no way around it. If we send Jessica over for the bear, they'll put two and two together."

Lyle sipped his coffee, his expression mutinous. “I swear to God, before we blow this burg, I'm breaking that Jack dude's neck."

"Hey, you got no one to blame but yourself. Always thinking with your dick. If you'd just waited until the bitch was gone, we'd have the bear and be on our way home."

"Christ, you gonna harp on that shit all night?"

Wade glared at his brother and shook his head in disgust. “Dumb as a box of rocks."

"Me? I ain't the one who went to prison for killing my own kid."

"You know goddamn well it was an accident,” Wade said, wishing he had the use of all four limbs so he could kick Lyle's worthless ass.

Lyle leaned back and kicked his feet up onto the coffee table. “Yeah, I forgot. You were banging the next-door neighbor, and he fell off the counter. Great dad you turned out to be."

"You heartless—"

There was a knock at the back door. Lyle pulled his feet off the table and slowly sat up. “Who the hell could that be?"

"Only one way to find out,” Wade said. “Don't worry, they can't arrest you without any proof, and you said she never saw you.” He grabbed his crutch and climbed to his feet, coming up behind Lyle just as he opened the door.

They both stared down in stunned silence at the little boy who wore much the same expression they no doubt wore—and the kid had Marky's bear clutched in his fist. Since he knew God wasn't likely to grant him any favors, Wade figured this had to be some sort of trap. But would they really use the kid like that? Highly doubtful. The boy must have run over on his own to return the bear.

"Hey, little man, whatcha got there?” Wade asked as Lyle stepped aside.

"Jessica's bear. Uncle Garrett had it on his table. He was prob'ly gonna give it back, but since I'm the one who dropped it in the mud, I figgered I should say sorry."

"That's awfully grown up of you. I bet your Uncle Garrett's real proud.” Wade motioned for Lyle to let the kid in. “Jessica just ran to the store for cookies and ice cream. I bet she'll be real happy to see you when she gets back. What's your favorite kind of cookie?"

The kid stepped into the kitchen, peered curiously up at Lyle, then skipped over and took a seat at the kitchen table. “Chocolate chip. Uncle Garrett's, too. I bet Jessica's buying chocolate chip cookies."

With a jerk of his head, Wade gestured for Lyle to shut and lock the door. “Bet you're right. Jessica's nice like that. Right, Lyle?"

"Yep. Real nice.” Lyle pulled back the ugly sunflower-patterned curtain and took a quick glance outside before heading into the living room.

Wade lowered himself onto the chair across from the kid, but never took his eyes off Lyle. He watched with mixed emotions as his brother withdrew a handgun from his duffle bag and stuck in the waistband of his jeans. He stood up, made sure his shirt covered the gun, and strode back into the kitchen.

Wade heaved an inner sigh. The last thing he wanted was for the kid to get hurt, so without further ado ... “Hey, mind if I check out that bear?"

Ethan leaned forward and tossed the bear across the table. Wade scooped it up and gave it a squeeze. His smile faded.
That sonofabitch
. Lyle caught his eye, his gaze questioning. Wade shook his head. Lyle punched the air and signaled for Wade to join him as he stalked into the living room.

"Hey, buddy, I have to run to the little boys’ room. Why don't you help yourself to some milk. That way you'll be ready for dunking as soon as Jessica gets back. Clean glasses are in the dish drainer."

"Okay."

Wade grabbed his crutch and climbed to his feet. He nearly tripped when Jessica's big ugly cat ran into the kitchen and jumped onto the table.

"Mr. Louie!” The kid slid off his chair and hugged the mangy thing. Even more strange, the cat let him.
Well, at least it's good for something
, Wade thought as he hobbled into the living room.

"Call that bitch right now,” Lyle said in a furious whisper. “We need to get those rings back before Paul Bunyan hands ‘em over to the cops."

Wade leaned his head back and checked on the kid. Good, he was still preoccupied with the cat. “Hand me the phone."

"W-What did you say?” Jessica stood behind the cashier's station, the phone glued to her ear, her heart in her throat. Dear God, she couldn't have heard him right.

"I said get your ass home now or the kid watching TV with Lyle isn't gonna make it home for supper tonight,” Wade repeated, sounding unnaturally nervous.

Jessica swallowed hard and wiped her clammy palm on her uniform. “Wade, he's an innocent kid. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I want my goddamn rings back. And they're not in the bear, which means your cop boyfriend has them. Get home, Jessie.
Now
."

"What rings?” Jessica heard a click, then a dial tone buzzed in her ear. She tried to hang up the phone, but her hand shook so badly it took her three tries before it hooked onto the cradle. She raced to the back room and threw open the office door.

"Mr. Turner, I am truly sorry about this, but I have an emergency at home and I need to leave right away. My neighbor just called. A pipe burst and my basement is flooding.”
Please have a heart and let me go.

Mr. Turner squinted his displeasure and leaned back in the chair, fingers steepled atop his rounded belly. “Ms. McGovern, you know I can't let you leave when there's no one here to cover for you. If you leave, don't bother coming back."

Without hesitation, she unpinned her name tag and slapped it on his desk.

Jessica raced from the restaurant and blew four stop signs on the way home. The thought of what that disgusting pervert could do to Ethan sent an ice-cold chill up her spine.
Calm down.
They wouldn't dare harm a hair on his head. Not if they wanted the rings back Wade had mentioned. And not unless they had a death wish, because Garrett would kill both of them with his bare hands if any harm came to his beloved nephew.

Garrett.
If he could look her in the eye without wanting to vomit after this was over, it'd be a miracle. She deserved his contempt. Thanks to her, his entire world had been screwed with, and now his nephew was in danger. And it was doubtful he was even aware of the latter or that call would've been from the morgue asking her to come identify Wade and Lyle's bodies.

All looked peaceful and calm as she turned onto her street. She parked in front of the house, managing to do so without squealing the tires in her haste. She cast an assessing glance next door as she hurried up her driveway, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she could end this without a single act of violence.

Wade stood with the back door open, an impatient scowl twisting his handsome features. “About goddamn time,” he muttered, grasping her arm to hurry her inside.

"I lost my job, thanks to you,” she said as she tossed her purse on the counter. “Where's Ethan?” Wade gestured toward the living room. She took a deep breath and plastered a reassuring smile on her face before heading in.

Ethan and Lyle sat on the couch, with Mr. Louie's fat frame sprawled out between them.
Good kitty
, she thought, knowing exactly what that wonderful feline was doing—protecting Ethan. If Lyle so much as touched the boy, he'd have twenty-two pounds of hissing, scratching fur ball to contend with. The thought gave her only a moment's relief since she knew it wouldn't take long for Lyle to get the better of Mr. Louie.

She cleared her throat. “Why, hello, Ethan. What brings you by?"

He looked up and smiled, the most genuine smile he'd ever directed her way, which only made her feel ten times worse. “I brung over your bear. I'm sorry I dropped it in the mud, but look.” He plucked it off the end table beside him and proudly held it up. “Good as new. Muriel's the best, huh?"

"That she is,” Jessica agreed. “And thank you for bringing it by. But I think I'd better get you home. Do your parents know where you are?"

"They think I'm at Uncle Garrett's, but when he took a shower, I figgered I'd come bring you the bear. It was sitting on the kitchen table, so I bet he was gonna bring it to you."

"I bet you're right.”
And to tell me to stay the hell out of his life.

"The kid stays here,” Lyle said, uncrossing his arms and draping one over the back of the couch above Ethan's head as if in silent warning. “I'd advise you go ‘thank’ Uncle Garrett, and thank him long and hard if that's what it takes, you got me?"

Ethan gave her a curious look, and she countered with a reassuring smile. He scratched Mr. Louie behind the ears, his expression thoughtful. “Can I have some cookies? Did you buy chocolate chip?"

Jessica looked back at Wade who deadpanned, “Ethan showed up right after you left for the store to buy cookies and ice cream. You must have left the bag in the car."