Falling Fast
Page 21

“Watch it, Colton,” Nick warns, and my eyes swing around to meet his.
“You dragging an innocent woman though this bullshit is fucking bullshit,” I repeat, looking him in the eye. “She could have died. Her grandmother could have fucking died.”
“When do I need to take the test?” Gia asks, coming to stand in front of me, pressing her back to my front and forcing me to take a step away from Nick.
“Tomorrow.” Nick pulls his eyes from me to look at her.
“I work tomorrow, but I get off at five. Will that work for you?”
His face softens. “I’ll make it work,” he tells her, and I see her head bob up and down once.
“What’s this all about?” Turning, I see Ned heading our way looking pissed off. “Did I just hear Colton say you’re investigating Gia?” he asks, getting close, and Chad presses his lips together while Nick shakes his head.
“Ned, this doesn’t concern you,” Nick tells him.
“I beg to differ, since Gia is family to me and Nina,” he retorts, and Gia stills once more and I know it’s for a completely different reason. “She had nothing to do with that fire, so I suggest you go about figuring out who did.”
“We don’t believe she had anything to do with the fire, but we have to be sure,” Chad says, and Ned’s eyes turn to him.
“So you do think she had something to do with it,” he mutters. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be asking her to take a test to prove she’s innocent. Way I see it, you’re wasting taxpayers’ dollars on this nonsense. I think the people of this county would find that information useful when election time rolls around in a few months.”
“Ned, it’s okay. I’ll take the test. It’s not a big deal,” Gia says, and Ned shakes his head, looking down at her.
“It’s not okay, darlin’. They shouldn’t even be asking you to take a test to prove you are just what you say you are, innocent of any wrongdoing.”
“We gotta do our jobs, Ned,” Nick sighs.
“Yeah, and that job does not include dragging a woman in to take a test when she has been here, working herself to the bone to take care of a woman who doesn’t even remember who she is. Doing that shit while smiling like it’s a gift, just to spend time with that woman, and almost dying because of it. That shit is not okay. Go back, start over, and then come up with another suspect,” he rumbles, and I fight back a smile when both Chad and Nick glower at him.
“Miss Caro, I’ll see you at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow. Just come into the station and ask for me,” Nick instructs, and Ned huffs as a growl vibrates my chest and he continues. “Until the test is taken, this home will be considered an active crime scene and no one will be allowed in.” He heads for the front door with the roll of “Crime Scene” tape and slaps it on the door before walking across the lawn to his car without another word.
“I’m sorry, Miss Caro,” Chad mutters, and he does look sorry, but fuck that; this is still bullshit. “We’ll speak on Wednesday.”
“Sure,” Gia agrees quietly, watching him head for his truck.
“I cannot believe this,” Ned gripes, watching both vehicles pull away.
“It will be okay,” Gia says softly, looking up at him. “Thank you for stepping in and defending me.”
“Anytime, darlin’.” He rubs her shoulder. “Call Nina and set up a day to come over for dinner. She misses you.”
“I’ll do that,” she promises, giving him a soft smile before turning to look at me.
“I’m going to go see Grandma. Don’t bother your dad or Tide with boarding the house up.”
“Are you good to drive?” I ask, studying her, ignoring her comment. She seems okay, but I’m sure what just happened fucked with her.
“I’m good,” she says, giving me a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you when you get home,” I reply, seeing something flash in her eyes on the word home before she pulls her eyes from mine and turns to head for her Jeep.
“Boy, what the hell are you waiting for?” Ned asks after Gia backs out of the driveway.
I turn to look at him. “Pardon?”
“I’m asking what the hell are you waiting for? Why the hell have you not made a move on our girl?” he barks.
I like that he called Gia “our girl,” and I like it more, because she needs good people in her corner looking out for her, and as far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier.
“She has a lot going on right now. I’m trying to give her time to deal with all of that before adding something else to the mix of shit for her to deal with.”
“You better get on that, son. Her grandmother is not doing well, and the way Nina and I see it, she won’t be on this earth much longer. When that happens, Gia’s gonna be out of here… unless she has a reason to stick around.” Fuck, he’s right. “I see you know I’m right.” He claps me on my shoulder. “Don’t wait too long.”
Watching him walk away after that final blow, I shake my head then pull out my cell phone, call my dad, and ask him to bring down some tarps and wood from his place not giving a fuck if it is a crime scene. Then I tell him everything that went down, not surprised when he’s just as pissed as me. When I get off the phone with him, I call Tide to let him know we’re going to need his help, and before I even get off the phone with him, he’s on his way.
~**~
Stretched out on the couch, I lift my head when I hear Gia’s Jeep pull up and watch her walk into the house a minute later, with Loki right behind her.
“Hey,” she says softly when her eyes come to me on the couch.
“How was your visit with your grandma?”
“All right.” She takes off her boots and coat then comes to sit down on the couch at my feet.
“Just all right? What happened?”
“Nothing happened.” She shrugs. “She didn’t talk, didn’t even acknowledge I was there. She’s slipping away, and I feel helpless against it. I don’t know what to do anymore,” she murmurs, and I sit up, which puts me closer to her.
Taking hold of her chin, I wait until I have her eyes to speak. “You being there with her, even if she doesn’t acknowledge you, is important. She might not understand it, but she can still feel that love and understand in some way that you are looking out for her,” I tell her, and her chin wobbles. “Don’t give up on her, baby.”
Her eyes close. “The hospice nurse was there when I got there, and she told me that, as hard as it would be, I need to prepare for her to go.”
“She’s right. I know that’s not easy to think about, but you need to think about it. Especially if she’s slipping way. But that doesn’t mean you pull back. It just means you get your heart ready to let her go when that time comes.”
“I know,” she agrees, pulling her eyes from mine and looking at the TV.
“Did you eat?” I ask, letting her chin go, and she shakes her head.
“No, I’m not hungry.”
“Gia, you need to eat,” I growl in frustration, and she looks at me once more.
“I will eat. I’m just not hungry right now.”
“We’re going out. Put your boots back on.” I stand, but she doesn’t move to get up. She just stares at me with wide eyes. “Come on.” I take both her hands and pull her up off the couch.
“Colton, I’m really not hungry.” She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her.
“Too bad, you’re going to eat.” I drag her to the door, where I hand over her coat and boots. Putting on my shoes, I listen to her complain under her breath about how annoying I am, as she puts them on. “Let’s go.” I hold the door to the garage open for her once she’s ready, and she stomps past me, then continues to stomp over to the passenger side door of my Suburban. Once we’re both in, I hit the garage door opener on the visor, turn on the engine, and back out.
“Can I ask you where it is we are going?” she snaps, and I don’t smile like I want to.