Patriaka lay on his uncomfortable cot, staring at the ceiling. He had just received a phone call from Rudolf. Reading between the lines, so to speak, Rudolf had told him that Donovan had not cooperated during the first interrogation. Still, Rudolf was confident the next session would be too difficult for the agent to withhold any information from him.
With a heavy sigh, Patriaka rolled onto his side. He felt the slightest twinge of pity for Frank Donovan. Rudolf loved his work; Patriaka had a strong sense that the skeletal man actually got off on it. It was a sickening thought, but Rudolf was the best. Whatever Donovan knew, Patriaka would soon possess through whatever means Rudolf felt necessary.
He closed his eyes and a sardonic smile crept onto his lips. Soon he would have Sonny Walker. If Patriaka had to spend the remainder of his life behind bars, Sonny Walker would spend the rest of eternity smoldering in hell.
***
After meeting with the detectives handling the homicide case, a few clues came to light. Frank's cell phone was found on the floorboard of Nick's Jaguar, his gun was found a few feet from the vehicle, and the two dead men were linked with a crime syndicate. Alex and Cody returned to the hospital with a strong belief that the person lying in that bed was, indeed, Frank Donovan.
They entered the hospital room fully prepared to break the good news to Shay and the bad news to Michelle. When they walked inside, they found Shay in Frank's arms, the two of them indulging in a deep, torrid kiss. "Guess she knows," Cody quipped. He and Alex smiled at each other. All was right in their world. Now to find out how all this had happened and how Frank had wound up mistaken for his cousin.
Shay broke the kiss reluctantly and turned toward Cody and Alex. "Frank has his memory back. Well, most of it, anyway," she informed them thankfully.
"And here we were, on our way back to give you the news," Alex said, laughing. "Nice to see you again, Boss. By the way, we owe you an ass kicking."
"Too late. Shay forgave me already," he answered smugly.
"Shay!"
"Sorry, Alex. He caught me while my emotions were in a turmoil," Shay admitted, smiling.
"Right. Like Frank has to do much to work his magic on you," Alex joked and plopped down into the nearby chair.
Shay shrugged. "Well, he was rather pitiful...and I'd forgive him anything right now. I'm just so glad to have him back." She placed a tender hand to Frank's cheek and gazed intently into his eyes. "I do hope you know, if you ever pull another stunt like this...I'll personally see to that ass kicking."
"Somehow, I believe you," he answered. A crooked smile played on his lips before he turned serious. "If I ever remember why I did it, I'll try to explain it to you." He was more than a bit unnerved. He still had a huge chunk of memory missing and he did not like that feeling one bit."Does Michelle know?" Alex asked concernedly.
"Yes. She was here when Frank awoke. Actually, she knew before he that...she knew before anyone did." Shay turned slightly on the bed and smiled softly at Frank when he began massaging her lower back tenderly. "But the bigger picture is...where is Nick?"
"That's a good question," Michelle stated as she entered the room. Everyone looked in her direction. She knew she must look a fright. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. She was trying to be strong in front of the others, but when she was alone with her thoughts, reality crashed in. She could not handle the thought of losing Nick. He was missing, without a trace or sign as to what happened to him, and her imagination ran through the worst of scenarios.
Cody moved forward and placed his laptop on the bed table and turned it to face Frank. "Recognize these men?" On the screen were photos of the two men found at the scene of Frank's car accident.
Frank nodded. "The men who came after me. Who are they?"
"Believe it or not," Alex said, leaning up against the windowsill, "they have ties to none other than Aristos Patriaka."
Donovan lifted a brow. Patriaka. "Jesus. So...Nick's missing...men were sent after me...they could have just shot me, but instead, ran me off the road..."
"That pretty much sums it up," Cody agreed. "Patriaka."
"Wanted you alive," Alex inserted. "So...his people have Nick. What do they want?"
"Not ransom," Shay answered. "They think they have Frank. The head of the group who protected..."
"Sonny. He wants Sonny," Frank stated, matter-of-factly.
"Well, whoever this Sonny is...give him over to save Nick," Michelle demanded.
"It's not that simple," Frank answered sympathetically. "Not that simple at all."
Shay sighed and nodded. She squeezed his hand softly in support. Everyone in the room, with the exception of Michelle, knew what he was thinking. If Patriaka's people wanted Sonny, they would assume Frank (Nick) would have the information as to his new identity and whereabouts. They would get that information by any means.
"Why isn't it that simple?" Michelle asked, attempting to understand the situation.
"First, I don't know Sonny's new identity or location," Frank answered.
"Second?"
Frank clung to Shay's hand. Michelle would not like this answer. "Nick may already be dead."
Matt chose that moment to enter the room and Michelle buried her face into his chest when he embraced her in a supportive hug. "I won't accept that," she murmured resentfully.
"I didn't say we were accepting it, Michelle. But you must realize the people we're dealing with," Frank insisted patiently. "Patriaka was the head of the largest syndicate in the United States...possibly the world. Trust me when I say they will use any means necessary to obtain the information they think he has."
She nodded and pulled away from Matt. Feeling sorry for herself would not change a thing. "What can you do?" she asked, turning to face Frank.
"Get the hell out of this bed, for starters." He searched the room, looking for his clothing. He was more than ready to leave the hospital, no matter what anyone else thought. "Anyone think to bring me some clothes?"
Everyone in the room looked at each other and then shook their heads no.
Michelle sighed softly and headed for the door. "Well, the clothes you had couldn't be saved, but Nick has clothes in his hospital locker and you're the same size, more or less. I'll get them."
"Where do you think you're going to go?" Alex asked, giving Frank a 'you've got to be kidding' look.
Frank groaned irritably. "I'm not an invalid and I'm no longer hooked up to anything," he informed them, holding up his arms to indicate all the tubes and leads had been removed. "My head's fine, my memory is back and my ribs are healing. There's no reason for me to stay in this hospital bed,' he insisted forcefully.
"Don't overdo it, Frank," Shay whispered.
"This coming from a woman who once checked herself out of the hospital after a serious car wreck? This head wound is a love tap compared to what you suffered." **
"So, are you trying to convince us, or yourself?" Cody joked.
Frank lifted his brow in irritation. "I'm fine," he growled.
"Not arguin' that point, Big Guy," Shay replied; winked and patted his knee. "You just lean on Cody if you get tired."
"Hey!" Both Cody and Frank protested in unison.
"Just kidding. You can lean on your strong and capable wife, who caves to your every want and need," Shay wisecracked.
"Yeah, right. That'll be the day," he replied.
Michelle returned with Nick's clothing. "These should fit."
Frank took the bundle from her. He held the button down shirt at arms length. "Purple?" he asked incredulously. Purple was not really Frank's color. "Alright... enough with the staring. Out, so I can dress," Frank ordered. "You stay, Blondie."
Shay cringed. "Ugh...you know I hate when people call me 'Blondie'."
"Hmmm...really? Must have slipped my mind," he commented offhandedly after she closed the door.
"Frank Donovan..." She snatched the shirt from his hand and tossed it over a chair. "That was just pitiful."
Helping him to a sitting position, she checked the bundle of clothes. "Hmm...hope these jeans don't chafe. No undies."
Frank chuckled when she grinned and wiggled her brow. "Ah well...such is my luck.
"Maybe you really should stay in bed. On a good day, you don't smart off this much. They did check for brain damage, didn't they?" She winked and helped him into the jeans.
"Funny," he responded, rolling his eyes at her in exasperation. Just as quickly, his slight annoyance turned into an intense feeling of love and need. "The weirdest thing, Ash....while I was without my memory, the thing that struck me most was my desire for you. Not just physical need, but to protect and comfort you. It was..."
"Uncanny," she said, finishing his thought. She helped him stand, supporting him fully when he wobbled a bit, pulled the jeans up over his hips, and then helped him into the shirt. She kissed his lips softly as she worked on the buttons. "I know, darling. Somehow, subconsciously...I knew it was you here with me all along. The conscious part that believed you were Nick was very confused."
"I'll bet," he said, wrapping his arms around her.
"Hey, kinda hard to tuck in this shirt while you have me trapped in your arms."
"You belong in my arms," he replied softly before letting her go.
"Nowhere else I'd rather be, either," she acknowledged and tucked his shirt inside the jeans. After buttoning them, she pulled the zipper up slowly, careful not to pinch him. "Sit," she ordered and helped him down to the bed to help him into his socks and shoes. "Okay. Baby's all dressed."
"Give me a break," he groaned.
"You're getting one. If I were in my right mind, you wouldn't be moving from that bed."
He released an aggravated sigh. He knew she understood that he felt responsible for Nick's situation. He also knew he had no control over the fact that it happened. Knowing the situation was not of his doing did not make the guilt easier to handle. "I'm bullheaded. We both are. But Nick is the priority now. Not me."
"Understood, Agent Donovan," she replied softly and helped him stand. He leaned on her a bit while they headed toward the door. "And we'll do what we can."
He stopped when they reached the door. "One more thing before we join the others."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Shay hugged him softly. "Anytime, Tiger. Anytime."
"I want to go with you," Michelle insisted as she approached the Donovans when they exited the hospital room.
Frank shook his head. "No, Michelle. There's no telling the danger we'll be facing. Nick would never forgive me if I put you in danger as well."
Michelle frowned. As well? Did he believe this was his fault? She had no idea what was behind this whole situation, but if he blamed himself for the fact that he and Nick were identical, he might as well blame himself for the weather each day that he rose. "Whatever happens, Frank...please don't blame yourself."
He responded with a slight nod. Shay felt his grip on her waist tighten. No matter what Michelle or anyone might say to Frank, he would hold himself responsible.
"My fault or not, you are not coming with us." When he saw the tears forming in Michelle's violet eyes, he felt like a heel. "We'll keep you posted, I promise. When we find him, you'll be the first to know."
Michelle nodded her acceptance. "I guess I'll have to settle for that, thank you." She stood back and watched as the small group filed out of the hospital.
"What the hell?" Matt questioned. "He checked himself out?"
"Not exactly," Michelle answered, heading toward the elevator. She suddenly felt the need to go home. Nick's presence permeated every inch of space in their home and she needed to feel him, even in that small way.
--
** Read Quito's Gamble
***
To be continued...