Lullabies & Dead Bodies, page 29
“What did Pete say?” she asked, still holding herself tight.
“Tom Billings is being booked on a laundry list of charges including eight counts of kidnapping, two counts of felonious assault, criminal trespass and a weapons charge. He’s looking at serious time. I doubt Diane Billings is going to have to worry about him for a good long while.”
Sidney nodded and looked down at the floor. That was good. Maybe Diane could take a page out of Sidney’s book and use that time to get away from her abuser for good.
Was it her or was the floor beginning to spin? She closed her eyes in an effort to make it stop.
“How are you, darlin’?” Isaac placed his hands on her shoulders, unwittingly steadying her. “You look a little shaky.”
“No, I’m okay,” she insisted. “I’m just worried. Rattled.”
“You’re shaking, baby. Come here.”
He folded her into his arms and held her tight, fortifying her, and Sidney breathed in deep the scent of leather, sage, citrus, and sexy man. The scent of Isaac. The scent of home.
He was her home. Her strength and her safety. He was her everything.
“You handled yourself real well back there,” Isaac said softly. “I was proud of you for standing up to that dirtbag.”
“I didn’t stand up to him,” Sidney mumbled.
She’d been replaying it over and over, and kicking herself for all the things she’d done wrong. All this time she’d been envisioning herself getting stronger. Becoming brave. Learning how to defend herself. But she hadn’t been able to stop any of what happened today. She’d barely been able to keep herself together.
“Yes, you did.” Isaac loosened his embrace and looked down at her. “I heard you call him an asshole when I had him on the phone. And I watched you channel your anger when dealing with him. You did great, baby.”
“I did?”
“Yes, you did!”
He kissed her forehead just as the doctor finally exited Bree’s room.
“Come on,” he said, taking her hand and leading her across the hall. He knocked on the open door. “Hey there.”
Before he could get another word out, Adam rushed forward and engulfed Isaac in a huge bear hug. Isaac froze, eyes wide with surprise and annoyance, and Sidney smiled in spite of herself.
“Get off me you big gorilla!”
“Thank you, Ike!” Adam exclaimed, still torturing him. “Thank you. Thank you so much!”
“Quit touching me!”
Adam let him go with a big hearty laugh.
“Seriously, bro. Thank you! The doctor said Bree and Isla are both in perfect condition. She won’t even have to spend any time in an incubator. You did everything right, little brother. And I am so damn happy you were there!”
He grasped Ike’s shoulder, simply unable to keep from expressing his joy with physical touch. Ike, of course, flinched and gritted his teeth, and Sidney giggled at their exchange. But something Adam said caught her attention.
“Wait a minute. Isla?” She shot Bree a questioning glance. “That’s pretty!”
“Yes,” Bree spoke up, looking a lot more happy and relaxed than she had an hour ago. “The name wasn’t even on our list of girl names, but after the way Isaac swooped in and delivered her and saved the day, I couldn’t think of a better name than something that pays tribute to her favorite uncle. Her name is Isla Hope.”
Sidney placed a hand on her own chest and glanced over at Isaac. The soft blush that stole over his handsome face tugged at her heart. How freaking adorable was her guy? His bright grey eyes sparkled with wonder and uncertainty, and he quietly cleared his throat.
“Well, I don’t know about favorite, but I… I’m honored. I mean, I…”
His voice trailed off, and Sidney ran her hand over his back. She didn’t possess any of his over-developed empathy skills, but she didn’t need them to know how truly touched he was at their gesture. They’d rendered him speechless.
“You want to hold her, Uncle Ike?” Adam asked, his own eyes growing glassy.
Isaac grinned, but Sidney could see the reluctance written all over him.
“I’ve already held her. I held her first, remember?”
Adam and Bree laughed.
“Well, I haven’t held her yet,” Sidney stepped closer to the bed.
Bree happily handed over the baby, saying, “Now, Isla, this is your future favorite auntie. Her name is Sidney.”
“Oh, she’s so beautiful,” Sidney whispered, staring down at the tiny baby in her arms.
“Future aunt?”
Adam’s gaze bounced around at the three of them.
“Do you know something that I don’t, babe?”
Bree gave Sidney an ‘oops’ look, and Sidney giggled.
“Well, I guess I do,” Bree said, looking proud of herself.
Sidney and Isaac exchanged a smile, then he turned to his brother.
“I asked Sidney to marry me last night. And for some strange reason that I still can’t fathom, she actually said yes.”
Adam let out a loud ‘whoop,’ which startled baby Isla. Sidney soothed the baby while they all laughed at her father.
“Congratulations, man!”
“Thank you.”
She watched them with nothing but love in her heart. And she didn’t know if it was the sweet baby girl in her arms or the pride on Ike’s face, but she suddenly burst into tears. Not the pretty kind that trickle down your cheeks in silence. No, these were the ugly tears, complete with deep sobs that wracked your body, and unfortunate faces you never want the man you love to see.
But see he did, and she could tell he was instantly horrified.
“Whoa! Darlin’, what’s the matter?” Ike whispered, caressing her face, and wiping her tears away with his thumbs. “You change your mind already?”
Sidney laughed through her tears, although she suspected his question was half serious.
“No. Never. I’ll never change my mind about marrying you.”
“Then why are you crying, Sidney?”
She stared down at the sleeping baby in her arms and ran a single finger over a chubby pink cheek, tears still falling.
Her heart fluttered, like it couldn’t get enough air.
“I don’t know. I think I’m just feeling really overwhelmed all of a sudden.” She looked up into Isaac’s eyes. “It’s been a crazy few hours.”
“Yeah, it has. And through it all, you have been a warrior.”
He studied her eyes, and Sidney felt ridiculous. Why couldn’t she make the tears stop?
“Hey, you might have a mild case of shock, Sidney,” Adam said, his voice in full-on doctor mode. “Did you get checked out when we got here?”
Sidney nodded.
“Yeah, I made her,” Ike answered for her.
“I’m fine. I’m just mentally exhausted,” she insisted.
“Ike, why don’t you get her home, bro,” Adam stated. “Make her relax. Run her a hot bath.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Isaac agreed.
They were talking about her as though she were a child, and Sidney knew she should speak up about that. But suddenly she just didn’t have the energy to put up a fight. Isaac gently took her face in both his hands and stared into her eyes. She saw so much concern and love on his face, and she hated making him worry.
His gaze drifted down to the baby and he placed a hand on the top of her blond peach fuzz. A small intake of breath told her that he’d just seen something with his superpowers, but she didn’t even have the mental capacity to question him about it at the moment.
He removed his hand and quickly composed himself.
“I don’t think Bree’s going to allow us to take little Isla with us, Sid. I think you gotta hand her over.”
Bree laughed and reached out. “Not on your life. Gimme!”
Sidney placed the baby back in her mother’s arms.
“I’m so sorry. She’s beautiful, Bree.”
“You get some rest, okay? Isla and I are going to need you.”
She smiled at her friend, and accepted a kiss on the cheek from Adam. Then she allowed Isaac to lead her out of the room just as Bree’s parents showed up.
Out in the corridor, they spotted Gavin Hayes speaking with a uniformed officer.
“Hey, Lieu,” Ike said when Gavin nodded to them. “I’m going to take Sid home and get her settled.”
“Okay. How’s your sister-in-law?” Gavin asked.
“Mother and baby are doing great.”
“That’s good to hear.” Gavin nodded.
Sidney leaned into Isaac’s side and his arm tightened around her.
“I’ll be in to handle my end of the paperwork in a bit,” Ike said, glancing down at her.
“It’ll keep until morning. Go take care of your girlfriend.”
“Fiancée.” Sidney smiled, looking up at Isaac.
Gavin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Is that right?”
He gave Isaac a how-the-hell-did-you-manage-to-pull-that-off look, and Sidney loved the look of pride on Ike’s face.
“Yes, sir, it is,” Isaac confirmed.
"Well, congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you.
They answered in unison, and Ike patted her hip.
“Well, I should get her home.”
“Of course. I’ll have Vega call you if anything pops on the lullaby case.”
“You sure, sir? I can come in and finish my shift.”
“Go. Before I change my mind.” Then he looked at Sidney. “I’m glad you’re all right, Ms. Fairchild.”
“Sidney, please.”
He nodded at her, and they started down the hallway.
“And Ike?”
They paused and looked back at Gavin.
“Good work out there today.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Pete slid into the driver’s seat of his car and let out a long tired exhale. What a day. And it wasn’t even over yet.
In the few months that he’d been a detective, he’d seen his partner do some pretty unbelievable things, but he’d never seen anything as badass as what Ike had done today. Walking into a hostage situation completely unarmed, delivering a baby, and taking down the gunman? He seemed so meek with his awkwardness and his don’t-touch-me issues. But the guy was truly something else. The real deal. Pete couldn’t figure him out.
He was still thinking about it when his cellphone rang. He pulled it out and grinned at the caller ID.
“Hey, Jada.”
“Pete! Is everything okay?”
She sounded genuinely worried, and something about that gave Pete hope. She was into him and he knew it.
“I heard about the hostage stand-off at that women’s shelter.”
“Yeah. It’s all over now. Everyone came out all right. Well, mostly.”
“Sidney?”
“No, Sid’s fine. She and Ike delivered Bree and Adam’s baby girl, and Ike subdued the gunman. There were two injuries, but nothing fatal. I’m leaving the hospital now to go back to work.”
He could hear the relief seep from her with just the sound of her sigh.
“Oh, my God. I was so worried! And I could see you on the news coverage, standing near the SWAT van. It was all so scary. I’m so glad it’s over and that you’re all okay.”
Pete grinned. “You were worried about me, huh?”
“Well, don’t let it go to your head. I was also worried about Sidney and Ike.”
“Yeah, you were worried about me.”
“Whatever.”
He chuckled.
“Look, I’ve still got a few hours of work left, but what would you say to dinner tonight? Just you and me.”
“Pete. I thought we were doing the friends thing for a while.”
“Friends can’t have dinner together?” he countered. “Public place. Lots of people. No chance for me to seduce you.”
She made a raspberry sound. “As if you could.”
“Oh, I could, and I have.”
“Only because I let you.”
“Yeah, right. You’re powerless against my manly charms, and you know it. That’s why you’re afraid to have dinner with me tonight.”
He was baiting her. And he smiled when she took it, hook, line, and sinker.
“I am not afraid to have dinner with you. I just don’t want to.”
She tried to sound disinterested, but he knew better.
“Okay. Whatever you need to tell yourself.” He smiled, loving their banter.
Jada let out a heavy sigh and he knew he had her.
“Fine. Dinner tonight. I get off work at 5:30. You can pick me up at 7:00.”
Her tone was sharp and sassy, and he could hear the amusement hidden there.
“Fine. Wear something sexy.”
“Don’t tell me how to dress. I’ll come wearing a burlap sack, and you’ll tell me how damn good I look in it.”
“Probably because you will.”
His easy capitulation brought her up short. He’d surprised her.
“Damn right,” she said, recovering quickly. “Don’t be late.”
The line went dead, and he chuckled again.
“Oh, I am so going to marry that woman,” he said to himself as he started up his car and headed back to the station.
Isaac unlocked the front door and ushered Sidney inside, and the growing kitten trotted over to greet them. He smiled as she bent over to pick him up and snuggled him close.
“Meow.”
“See there? Even Mr. Hitchcock is concerned about you.”
“Well, I wish you all would stop fussing over me,” she said as they walked back to the bedroom. “I’m fine. The doctor who checked me out even said so.”
Isaac grinned at her, but he couldn’t deny he was worried. He’d never seen her just burst into tears like that before. And for seemingly no reason. He knew she had to be a mess inside for that to happen, and he couldn’t imagine how she must be feeling. He’d bet the other ladies from Hope House were in about the same shape. After what they’d all been through with their abusers, then to go through something like they did today? It was no wonder Sid was a mess.
“Well, Doctor Adam ordered me to get you to relax, so I’m just following orders. I’m gonna run you a nice hot bath too.”
Sidney took a seat on the side of their bed, still loving on the kitten, and Isaac went into the master bathroom. He started the water and took the time to pour in some of the lavender and rose scented bubble bath that he knew she loved.
When he stepped back into the bedroom, Sidney was cuddling the Ragdoll kitten and looking every bit like a lost little girl.
“Isaac?”
“Yes, baby?”
“I really love you.”
He took a seat beside her and wrapped his arm around her.
“You have no idea how much I love you, Sidney.”
“I was so scared.”
“I know you were. I could feel it from all of you. Everyone in that house was terrified. Even Tom Billings.”
It was part of his psychic package. The heightened sense of empathy. Sometimes, when other people’s emotions were running high enough, they could almost overwhelm him if he wasn’t careful.
Sidney looked up into his eyes.
“I’m so thankful for you. Not just for being there today, but for everything. Everything you are. For being the kind of man who’ll run me a bath instead of running a fist into my face.”
“Sidney.”
“For being the kind of man who’ll drop everything to check on me when I don’t answer after sending you a cryptic text. For being the kind of man I don’t need to run from.”
“Darlin’,” he whispered, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. Then he lightly kissed her lips.
“I will always drop everything for you; do you hear me? I will always come to your rescue.”
He kissed her again.
“I don’t want you to have to. I want to be able to rescue myself.”
Her eyes seemed to search his, and Isaac could suddenly feel her sorrow.
“You will get there, Sidney. Baby, you are getting stronger and more brave everyday. I meant it when I called you a warrior, because that’s what you are. Just look at everything you’ve survived in your life. But even when you’ve become a master warrior and can kick my ass… I’m still always going to come to your rescue. Okay?”
Still tearful, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Come on. Let’s get you in the tub.”
She set the kitten on the bed and allowed him to lift her blouse over her head. Then he stood her up and reached for the clasp of her slacks.
“Will you get in with me?”
Her eyes seemed to be begging, and Isaac grinned.
“You want me to take a bath with you?”
She nodded and reached for his shirt buttons. There was no way he was passing up that invitation. He unclipped his holster and set the gun on the bedside table, then they continued to undress. Once they were naked, he led her into the bathroom, and they stepped into the deliciously hot water.
She sat between his legs and leaned back against his chest, playing with the bubbles. Isaac wrapped his arms around her, letting his hands slide over her wet skin. He loved the feel of her in his arms, her skin against his. He could drown in the sensations she set off in his body. It was sensory overload of the very best kind.
“It happened again.”
Her voice snagged his attention from the nirvana and brought him back to the present. He didn’t readily respond, although he knew immediately what she meant.
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He was supposed to be comforting her. Not the other way around.
“I don’t know what to say, darlin’.”
“Well, what were you thinking in that moment?”
She sounded like Geneviève. No doubt because she’d heard the psychic ask him that question many times.
“Nothing. At that point I just really wanted to ram his head into the wall to get him to shut up and stop waving that gun at everybody.”
“And that’s exactly what happened,” Sidney stared at the bubbles in her hand. “He spun around like a top and rammed his head into the doorway. It was like something was controlling him.”
