Chapter Eight

Reyes' Mama had often said he didn't have the good sense God gave a goose. Granted that usually followed him doing something spectacularly stupid, or dangerous, but Reyes thought she might have been onto something as he pulled into the hospital. His Mama had always been a smart woman. Reyes thought it was probably too bad she hadn't raised a smart son, as he parked and got out of the SUV.

His Mama had also said to mind his own business, but he figured he got a pass on this one. Nikko was his business by extension. He figured even his Mama would understand that logic, and give him a pass for meddling. Not to mention if they didn't get Nikko out the guest room, it was going to put a serious crimp in Reyes' plans. Reyes knew Natasha wasn't going to let him leave until she was sure he was OK, and given it was Nikko, OK was a really questionable threshold some days. He pretty much knew he was going to be spending his one-year anniversary with Natasha and Nikko, and he had visions of spending his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with both of them too.

Kate gave him a leery smile when she met him in the cafeteria. Dr. Kate Fontaine head of emergency medicine. Kate was a pretty woman in girl next door kind of way. There was a real wholesomeness to her with her long brown hair, green eyes, and freckles across her nose. She had legs for miles, that could definitely make a guy think some less than wholesome thoughts, but mostly she just made you think of BBQ and apple pie. Reyes had no doubt that when she put on make-up and something other than baggy scrubs, she was breathtaking.

She also happened to be in love with the prince of darkness, something Reyes never really got, but it wasn't any of his business. For better or worse, she was in love with Nikko and Nikko was definitely in love with her. On the surface they were truly polar opposites, but they had a very real connection. Reyes had seen it the times they were all together. Not that they had spent that much time together in the last year.

Reyes kind of figured Kate didn't really understand Nikko and Natasha. He doubted Nikko had ever told her the history, so Kate was always a little uncomfortable around Natasha. Reyes could understand that. The two of them were like Yin and Yang, fitting together seamlessly and complimenting the other. Reyes had to admit sometimes it could be intimidating. Probably if he didn't know the history, he would be uncomfortable too. Even so, he sometimes felt like an outsider. It was like Nikko and Natasha spoke their own secret language sometimes. The way Reyes looked at it, if Nikko wanted to be with Kate, he was going to need to let her in. She needed to know the history.

Reyes could tell Kate wasn't really sure how to greet him. If she should shake his hand or what. Reyes wasn't really sure what the ex-girlfriend greeting protocol was either, so he pulled her in for a hug. She relaxed into him for a moment, before they broke apart.

"How are you?" Kate asked him. Giving him a once over. Reyes figured she thought he probably needed medical advice or something. Reyes had been a little vague on the phone.

"I'm good. I was hoping you had a minute to talk."

"Sure, but can we grab some coffee? It's already been a long shift." Kate gave Reyes a tired smile.

Reyes nodded and they got a couple of cups of coffee, that looked a lot more like black tar than coffee and vaguely smelled like swamp water in Reyes' opinion. He thought it was entirely possible the doc might me hazing him, so he figured he would see if she drank hers first.

"What's up?" She asked and took a big swig of her coffee. Reyes watched. She didn't grimace or spit it back in the cup or anything. He was kind of impressed.

"It's Nikko." Reyes started.

Kate held up her hand. "Save your breath. Nikko pushed me away. This was his choice."

"I know darlin', but the problem is you left."

Kate was looking at Reyes like she might need to put him on an involuntary 72-hour psychiatric hold.

"Nikko's like a green broke horse. This is all new to him, so he's going to test the boundaries. If you don't learn to trust each other then you both are just going to keep hurting each other. He pushed you away to see if you would actually leave. He didn't want you to leave, he wanted you to stay. He needed you to stay.

Look. I know this all sounds crazy, but Nikko didn't exactly have it easy growing up. It was probably way worse than you could even imagine. Nikko did what everyone does. He did what he needed to survive. Some of those things, he's not real proud of. He thinks it makes him unlovable. He thinks you deserve better than him. He pushed you away to see if you would go, because he doesn't believe you would stay if you knew the truth."

Reyes shrugged and took a drink of that vile coffee. He really wished he hadn't. Kate was looking right at him, so he couldn't actually spit it back in the cup. His eyes watered a little as he forced himself to swallow. Kate must have a cast iron stomach and zero ability to taste if she could drink that stuff. If that coffee didn't faze her, living with Nikko should be a breeze.

Kate's eyes filled with tears as she thought about what Reyes had said. "Oh gawd, and at the first sign of trouble I just left. Why didn't he just tell me?"

Reyes gave her the look.

"OK, never mind stupid question" she said. "Can I ask you something?"

Reyes nodded, even though that particular phrase usually meant it wasn't likely to be something he wanted to answer.

"What's the deal with Nikko and Natasha?"

Reyes just held up his hands. "Oh no, that's not my story to tell. You need to talk to Nikko or Natasha or both of them. I'm sure Tasha would talk to you. She just wants Nikko to be happy, and right now he's in a bad way. You want me to call her?"

Kate shook her head. "No, I'll reach out. I imagine they don't actually know you're here." Kate gave him a knowing smile.

Reyes shrugged. "Well, I might have forgot to mention I was coming to see you."

"Does it ever bother you? How close they are?"

Reyes thought about it for a minute. "Sometimes, I guess. But I understand where they are coming from. Steph saved my life once. She put herself through absolute hell to do it too. When someone does that for you, you're just kind of bonded. You would walk through hell if they asked you, because they would do the same for you. Take that times about a factor of ten, and you might get close to Nikko and Natasha. Trust me, I think you'll understand a lot more when you know the story."

Reyes reached for his coffee, but thought better of it and put it back down. "That stuff is disgusting."

Kate looked at her cup, like she'd forgotten it was there and laughed. "It is, but you get use to it."

Reyes wasn't really buying that, but he kept that to himself. "Call Tasha or better yet call Nikko."

Reyes got up and kissed her on her head. "I've got to go, but if you want to talk, call me. We can be each other's Nikko Natasha support group."

"Thank you, I will." Kate watched Reyes go, enjoying the view. That boy had definitely gotten the looks and the brains. Nikko, on the other hand, had definitely gotten the looks, the bad boy sex appeal, and her heart. Kate sighed. Reyes was right. For all her degrees and experience, she had totally missed the mark with Nikko. She'd been too focused on her own anger. She'd missed Nikko's insecurity and vulnerability, mainly because she had been insecure herself and maybe a little jealous. But then who wouldn't be just a little jealous of Natasha.

Kate texted Natasha, and was surprised when she responded almost immediately.

When Reyes got out to the SUV, he saw Natasha lounging up against it. He gave her a grin.

"I didn't know you were coming here." Natasha gave him a look that said he'd been caught.

"I didn't know you were coming her either." Reyes tossed back. Giving her a look that said he didn't much mind being caught.

Natasha pushed herself off the SUV and glided to him. She reached up and pulled him down giving him a kiss that seared through him with enough heat to make him a little puddle in the parking lot. Damn if that woman couldn't kiss.

"I love you pretty boy. You're a good man." Natasha smiled up at him. "I'm guessing you are the reason Kate just texted me asking to talk."

Reyes shrugged. "Maybe. I think you and Nikko need to come clean with her. She can't be in a relationship with him and not know the truth. Besides, the sooner Nikko patches things up with Kate, the sooner I get you all to myself. And, darlin' I definitely want you all to myself."

Reyes pulled her up against him and gave her another kiss. "All to myself and naked." He growled in her ear.

Natasha laughed and headed in to see Kate. "Let me see what I can do about that."

Stephanie was in her office wading through a mound of paperwork when Manny popped his head in. He looked nervous, but then that seemed to be a bit of a perpetual state with him.

"Um, there is a guy downstairs. He has a package for you, but he says he has to give it to you personally." Manny shuffled a little bit from foot-to-foot.

"OK." Stephanie gave Manny a smile and pulled-up the security feeds outside of RangeMan. Stephanie was reckless sometimes, but she tried really hard not to be stupid. The feed showed one of Viktor's bodyguards. He was looking right at the camera with a cocky grin holding a box. Stephanie doubted it was a bomb, but she figured it could be a rattlesnake.

Stephanie took a deep breath and went downstairs. She was kind of glad Ranger was out with a corporate security client this morning. She wasn't sure she wanted to explain why Viktor Petrov was dropping off gifts at RangeMan.

Ranger wasn't super happy about the Petrov situation, but to his credit he was being supportive. That seemed like a pretty big step. Actually, more than that. He wanted to help. It felt like they were coming full circle. Ranger had mentored her as a bounty hunter, helped her with difficult captures. Then they had created completely separate businesses and largely stayed out of each other's way after the Vega deal. Ranger had always been proud of her, but he'd kept hands-off. It was like he knew it was something she needed to do on her own. Something she needed to prove to herself. She'd needed to be in control.

Now they were teaming up again, and she liked it. The big difference, this time she was taking the lead. This time they were equal partners. Sometimes she'd missed working with Ranger. She wondered if maybe this would be the thing that bridged the last little gap between them. Of course, right now, she just hoped she didn't get them both killed or maimed. She'd always trusted her instincts, but with Viktor that was a pretty big gamble.

The guard gave her an assessing look when she came outside. She'd seen him at the restaurant with Viktor. He'd been at the table, so he was clearly part of Viktor's inner circle. His long hair gleamed in the morning sun. She figured he must use a good conditioner for it to look so nice. She kind of wanted to ask, but she figured that might not be the best idea. She didn't really know, but mobsters might be a little touchy about hair care.

Michail held out the box to her. Stephanie just looked at him. He rolled his eyes and gave her a look that said he really didn't have all day. "Should I open?"

Stephanie nodded. That was probably the best idea. She watched him open the lid to the box. No bomb went off, no white powder, and no rattlesnake.

He handed her the box. Nestled inside she found the gun, knife, and pendant Viktor had taken off of her at the restaurant. There was also an intricately carved pearl handled gun, that was small enough to fit in her concealed carry thigh holster. She thought it might be vintage. A note rested on top.

She was beginning to recognize Viktor's loopy scrawl. "A beautiful gun for a beautiful lady. Please accept my apologies for last night. Now, when you shoot me, you can do it in style." It was signed V.

Stephanie wasn't sure what to make of the gift or the apology. She looked up to see the guard studying her. Was she supposed to say thank you?

"Viktor said you should wear something casual." The guard gave her a nod, got in the car and drove off. Stephanie watched him go.

OK, that was just all kinds of weird. She still wasn't sure if she was even going to dinner with Viktor. Stephanie blew the hair out of her face. Yeah, who was she kidding, of course she was.

She wondered what made Viktor so sure she was going to try and shoot him. A little skitter of unease washed through her. Maybe it was just mobster humor, and nothing more. If she was honest, it was the apology that surprised her more than anything. Either she'd been right about Viktor or he was lulling her into a false sense of security.

Stephanie headed back into the building. She had meetings with both Finley and Nikko this morning. Maybe they could shed some light on things.

Finley took out the contacts and blinked a few times. She hated wearing them. They could be irritating, but they were necessary. Her green eyes were a very distinctive feature. Finley showered, and dried her long red hair.

Finley changed out of the ridiculously expensive and fabulous clothes Viktor had given her. She'd pulled on a pair of well-worn jeans, a white t-shirt, and a pair of black biker boots. She grabbed a black hoodie on the way out the door. Sadly, she figured she was far more suited to these clothes than Viktor's finery.

Finley looked out the peephole and then cautiously opened the door and looked up and down the hall. It was empty. She yanked the stubborn door closed and headed to the window at the end of the hall prying it up, with a shrill shriek. She climbed down the fire escape, dropping into the alley that smelled like day old garbage. She took a minute. Nothing stirred. No one seemed to notice, so she made her way down the alley to the street. She took precautions as she went, looping the same block and watching for anything suspicious. Thinking about the last twenty-four hours.

Let's see, she'd made-out with that Nikko guy in the alley, which she totally regretted. Ok, so maybe she didn't entirely regret it. He had been totally hot, and very gifted with his hands, but still it was stupid and reckless. She had been working, and she should have kept her focus. At least he'd had enough sense for both of them, and it hadn't gone any further than it had. Not that it much mattered. She was never going to see him again, and she was definitely never calling him. She'd just chalk that one up to bad judgement and a really good orgasm and leave it at that.

Then, as if her behavior in the alley wasn't stupid enough, she'd basically humped Declan in the middle of a drive-by shooting. Finley groaned so loud, people on the street gave her the side-eye and moved away like she was deranged. Gawd, how embarrassing was that. The good news, she probably didn't have to see Declan again either, and he'd had no idea who she was. That one she'd chalk up to adrenaline coupled with her silly teenage crush. Declan was probably married by now, maybe even had a couple of kids. Besides he was way too old for her anyway. She was twenty-three, and Declan was what thirty-seven, maybe thirty-eight now.

It had only ever been one of those fantasies from afar anyway. She would watch his every move at gatherings of the clan. He was always so graceful and confident. Everything she hadn't been. She figured last night was like meeting your favorite idol in real life. You put it in your diary and moved on. It wasn't like they ever turned out to actually be prince charming.

But the real pièce de resistance of the last twenty-four hours, that had been this morning, when she'd been all hot and bothered over Satan's little helper with the good teeth. She'd almost kissed him, and then she'd been stupid enough to agree to have dinner with him. Seriously what was she thinking?

There really wasn't any excuse for that. Maybe it was the drugs, or maybe she was just a sick puppy with a death wish. Either way, that had been a ridiculous mistake. Although admittedly, it might be a way into Viktor's inner circle. She'd just have to figure out how to keep her panties on and her tongue in her own mouth. If she could do that, she might be able to work it to her advantage.

Finley hadn't seen this much action in the last five years. Somehow in the space of less than twenty-four hours, she'd basically been hot for three men. She'd been all over the map. Every single one of them, completely unsuitable and off limits. Finley didn't do relationships, but she also didn't do this. Whatever this was.

She'd just started to relax as she rounded the corner to the K Street block, when she sucked in a startled breath and ducked into a doorway.

Michail was waiting outside the RangeMan building, holding a box. She knew it was ridiculous but she saw him scan down the street searching, almost like he'd sensed her presence.

Finley quickly tucked her red hair into her hoodie. It wasn't like Michail would be looking for a red-haired green-eyed woman, but her hair was memorable. The last thing she wanted to do was draw any attention.

She watched as Stephanie came out and Michail opened the box for her. The whole exchange took less than five minutes, and Michail drove off. Still Finley was uneasy, so she ducked into the deli and waited.

Sure enough, Michail cruised past two more times like he was looking for something or someone. She was beginning to think he might be psychic or something. It definitely freaked her out a little. That and the way he'd honed right into the fact she had been watching and timing the guards this morning. Not to mention, why was he at RangeMan giving Stephanie a box? Viktor clearly knew who Stephanie was or something else was going on. If Viktor had made Stephanie, what were the odds that he had made her?

Finley waited another fifteen minutes before making her way to the RangeMan building.

Nikko pulled into the underground RangeMan garage and parked. He looked over at the elevators like they were the gates to hell. But really who was he kidding they didn't just look like the gates to hell, they were the gates to hell.

He'd been summoned by Stephanie. No doubt he was going to hear all about the fact he was an asshole. Something he had repeatedly told her he didn't dispute, but somehow, she always thought wasn't really true, and every time she was surprised when it turned out it was

He wasn't really sure if this was over the Ranger thing, or over the Kate thing. Knowing his luck, it was both. The dry toast did a little flip in his stomach. He guessed he had finally reached that age where he should trade the blow in for some Pepto. Or maybe it had been the vodka. Yeah, it probably was the vodka. He'd never really been a big vodka fan. As his pulse drummed behind his eyes, he remembered why.

Nikko punched the elevator button and got on when the doors opened. He punched his floor and waited, as the elevator doors crawled to a close and it started to ascend.

Nikko almost groaned out loud when the elevator stopped in the lobby. Announcing its arrival with a ding so loud it sounded like a gong in his head. Apparently, the universe had a sense of humor and had decided to torture him with a slow elevator, whose ding felt like a blow to the skull. The way this day was going, he'd be stopping on every floor. Nikko gritted his teeth. Mainly out of irritation.

When the elevator doors opened, a young woman was standing there. Piercing green eyes, pale skin, wild flowing red hair. She was stunning. And weirdly familiar. The scent of strawberries drifted his way. She stood there staring at him frozen with her lips slightly parted. Neither of them made a move. Nikko watched her until the elevator doors closed and it started climbing again.

What had just happened? Sometimes Nikko had that affect on people. They crossed the street when they saw him or took the next elevator, but this felt different. She felt familiar.

A beat went by. Nikko dropped his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh, fuck me." Nikko said to the empty elevator. Seriously, and here he had thought his day couldn't be much worse. He'd been wrong. So wrong. You would think by now he would have learned not to tempt fate. But apparently, he was a slow learner.

That absolutely stunning creature, was the woman from the alley. So beautiful, and so young. In the daylight without all that make-up, it was clear she was very young. Nikko made a strangled sound that came out as a pitiful moan. Please he thought, just let her be eighteen.

She was in the RangeMan lobby. Unless she was a delivery person, which was highly doubtful since she didn't have a package with her, she worked for Stephanie. When he thought about it, that made perfect sense. Stephanie wouldn't have gone to Viktor's restaurant without back-up and a plan. Had he not been so distracted, or really let's just call it what it was high, he surely would have figured that out. The good news, if she worked for Stephanie, she had to be at least eighteen. Right?

This was manageable Nikko thought. He might have to add it to the list of things Stephanie was going to kick the crap out of him for, but it was survivable. Probably. Then his phone chirped. It was Declan. Please Nikko thought, someone just shoot me.

The elevator stopped on three. The ding of the bell reverberated through his head like a gong. Nikko could swear he could feel it in his teeth. The doors popped open. Ranger was standing there.

Things might be looking up Nikko thought, Ranger would probably shoot him if that look on his face was any indication. Ranger stepped on the elevator.

"You look like shit." Ranger said to Nikko.

"Well, that's good, because I feel like shit too." Nikko didn't just mean physically. He felt like shit for putting Ranger and Declan in danger last night.

"Good." Nikko kind of thought Ranger had said that with a little too much glee.

"Look about last night." Nikko started.

Ranger just held up his hand to stop him. "I know. Just don't do it again."

Nikko nodded. A beat went by. "Declan texted. He wants to meet."

"Have him come here if you want. By the way, why are you here?" Ranger asked.

"Stephanie asked to meet me."

Ranger gave Nikko a look that said, you poor bastard, and then dropped the next little bomb.

"Viktor knows who Steph is. He confronted her last night at the restaurant. You need to be careful that he doesn't think you and Declan are setting him up. I'm sure he figured out who I was too."

"Shit. No wonder Declan wants to meet." And just like that, Nikko's day got worse. Nikko texted Declan.

"What happened to your face? Was Stephanie that mad about you being at the meeting last night?" Nikko sounded genuinely concerned. Ranger wasn't sure if that was for him or because Nikko was meeting with Steph and it might be an indication of her mood.

"No, this was all Nat. She wasn't happy that I brought Declan to her house." Nikko at least had the good graces to grimace.

"What's the deal between those two anyway?" Ranger asked.

Nikko shrugged. "Everything, nothing. I don't really know. I think they just met at the wrong time maybe. But those two are combustible." The last part was said more to himself than to Ranger.

Ranger was surprised by the worry and concern in Nikko's voice. Nikko was not a guy that was prone to worry about things. Nikko planned for things and Nikko dealt with things. Nikko never worried. Ranger realized there was a whole lot more that he didn't know about Nat than he did.

The elevators popped open and Stephanie was standing there, waiting for Nikko.

"You look like shit Nikko."

Nikko could see Ranger looking at the floor, trying not to laugh.

The marching band in Nikko's head ratcheted up to about a ten, which was probably a blessing. That way he couldn't hear his own thoughts. Nikko sighed and pasted what he hoped looked more like a smile than a grimace on his face.