Rising (14 page)

We take assaults of any nature seriously and our office is deeply concerned regarding the way in which Mr. Bishop was found, as well as the allegations displayed on his body. He is giving his full cooperation to detectives in locating the assailants.

Our news station has just learned this is the second attack on Mr. Bishop. Early this week he was found beaten and unconscious near the courthouse.

They panned back into news room and focused on the anchors sitting at the desks. “We will be following this story closely. In other news…”

Savannah turned in her seat. “You don’t think this will come back to bite—”

Whit shook her head and glanced at the closed door.

“Poor DA guy. Sounds like he gone and got hisself in a heap of trouble. It ain’t nothing new.” Bobby Jack’s tone carried through the small area.

She nodded in understanding. Her thoughts were not a conversation they could safely have in public. She picked up her cup of lukewarm coffee and grimaced. “I’m going to get another cup, do you want anything?”

They shook their head in unison. Savannah rose and pulled the door open, slipping through the gap before letting it close behind her. The automatic door swung open and a small group of hospital staff wearing scrubs exited through them, passing her. She peered into the open space. The hall was empty.

Savannah peered at the retreating backs of the doctors and nurses. If she stepped through the door, she could always claim she was lost if she was caught in the restricted area. She eased between the doors as they shut.

Savannah quickly checked the rooms as she passed them. It was possible Riley was still in surgery. A few men walked across the threshold of a room she approached. They turned in the opposite direction as she peeked around the doorway. Beeps and dings filled the space as monitors registered vital signs. She softly approached the bed, not wanting to disturb the patient.

As she padded closer to the bed, she realized it was Riley. Tubes emerged from his mouth and nose. One eye was swollen shut and a blackish bruise outlined in purple covered his jaw.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she reached for his hand intertwining their fingers. “You idiot, what the hell were you thinking? Look at you.” She leaned over the railing and combed her fingers through his soft locks.

His lid fluttered open and the corners of his mouth moved around the tube, giving him a garish smile. “Savi,” he whispered before his eyes closed again.

Epilogue

“Damn, you look like death warmed over.” Setter crossed the room and sat heavily in a chair.

“For once, that dirty ol’ bastard ain’t lying.” Bubba ambled in and stood at the foot of the bed and peered down at Riley.

Riley depressed the up button that would move his bed into the sitting position. “What the hell y’all doing here? I don’t want ya getting caught up in my bullshit.”

“I’m visiting a sick aunt.” Setter wiped a hand across his scalp.

“I wish a motherfucker would try to tell me who I can and can’t associate with,” Bubba mumbled.

“Learn from my mistakes.” Riley shook his head.

“Been friends too long.” Bubba crossed his arms. “You no longer have anything to do with NWW business. Plus, who is left to give us shit? I heard Andy took Jessi and got the hell out of Mobile after that first fight you had in the park. Word on Clay is that he is trying to claim Isaac’s meth business, but we’ll see how long that lasts since he lacks the common sense to make it happen.” He shrugged.

“There now, so if I want to occasionally want to have a beer with my bleeding heart, liberal, colored-loving friend, then I can.” Setter nodded

“I had a smartass answer I’m going to keep to myself,” Riley muttered as he grinned.

His friends hadn’t abandoned him. He was prepared to handle whatever—hell, he didn’t know but things were looking up. He and Bobby Jack had a long talk about their mother, Lizzie, and came to terms with a lot of shit that happened in their lives. Savannah came every day after work and, truth be told, that was the highlight of his evening.

“Hey, lover boy, where is your—umm, girlfriend?” The bed dipped as she sat down on the edge.

“Why?” Riley leaned back and watched his friend squirm.

“Just wondering, gotta respect a woman who will
fight me
to get to you
.” Bubba shrugged.

“You ain’t nothing, but an old redneck softy,” Setter said, as he burst out laughing.

“Go to hell, Setter.” Bubba dropped his head and turned to gaze at Riley. “What the police going to do about you killing Isaac?”

“Don’t know yet. I’m getting out of the hospital tomorrow and start back on the rig next week. Bobby Jack is already there. Last time the detective came by with questions, he said he was turning everything over to the District Attorney’s office. I did what needed to be done. It’s out of my hands.” Riley held the gaze of both men.

“Understood.” Bubba stood. “You need us, you know where to find us.”

“Only in an emergency, though.” Setter coughed the words out. “I can’t be seen with you too much, with my reputation and all.”

Savannah sauntered into the room. “Guess what I got you, baby?” Her tone was a seductive purr. She stopped at the entrance, her arms full of bags. She gazed at the men staring at her, as a red hue crawled up her neck to color her cheeks.

“On that note, it’s time to go. Setter?” Bubba squeezed around Savannah. “Ma’am.”

“Right behind you.” Setter nodded at Savannah as he left.

“What you got, Sweetness?” Riley patted the spot on the mattress next to him. Watching her move toward him, the way her hips swayed sent the blood straight to his cock.

She set the bags on the floor. “Dinner. I thought you would like some Chinese today and I went by the house and picked up some clothes for you when you get released tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” He skimmed his fingers along her arm. “How was your day?”

Her grin disappeared. She leaned forward, picking up containers out of the brown paper bag and setting them on his cart. He wrapped his palm around her wrist. “Savannah?”

“Police came by my office about Trenton today.” She angled her body to face Riley. “Seems they found some kind of kit in his car with rope, zip ties, and plastic sheeting. They wanted to know what our relationship was. Apparently he has stopped cooperating with police and retained a lawyer.”

“Killing him would have been easier,” Riley groused. One more regret in his life. “I knew something was off with that boy. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” The corner of her mouth lifted. “I don’t want you to get caught up in something that’s my fault.”

“Stop worrying. That nigg—ah, man—got bigger problems than me, I bet.” For her sake, he was truly trying to curb his language, but old habits were hard to break.

He blew out a breath and reached for her, pulling her against him and ignoring the little ache the motion created. “Sweetness, I already told you, I consider you kin. Mine. I don’t care if you were having a meeting with Christ and all his saints. If they gave you trouble or made you cry, I would handle it.” He winked. “Given that’s it’s God, I would gladly take the beating I’m sure I would receive…for you.” His smile faltered. “I will beat the shit out of anyone else.”

“Stop.” She grabbed a container off the cart and picked up some chopsticks. “Let’s eat.”

He stared at her profile. “Take my words for what they are, Savannah. A promise. I was thinking, before I go back to work, I want to take a road trip
and
before we do that, I want you to move in with me.”

Sitting in the sterile hospital room, all he had time to do was think and watch TV. Savannah dominated his thoughts and all he wanted was to keep her close, protect her. That was when it dawned on him and he hadn’t even realized it happened. He loved her.

“The road trip sounds fun. Living together, let me think about that.” She held up some noodles between the two thin sticks. “Open wide.”

****

Savannah closed her eyes and took a breath. She could do this.

When Riley mentioned a road trip, she’d been excited until he told her they were driving to Atlanta. She gazed up at the house she’d grown up in and swallowed. It didn’t look the same. Weeds clogged the once-pristine flower beds and the once-glaringly white paint now had a dull finish.

After hanging up on her mother in the emergency room, she avoided their calls for weeks and now here she was, standing on their doorstep. There was no way this visit would end well. She shook off the melancholy riding her, and marched up to the door to ring the bell.

Riley squeezed her shoulder. “Be right back.” He trotted to the truck and pulled a red container from the truck bed.

She watched him, puzzled, as she waited for someone to answer the door. Courtesy dictated that she should call before showing up, so they knew she was coming. She glanced at her watch as she pondered how long they would make her stand there. Riley joined her at the door with a huge grin on his face.

“It won’t be that bad. I only want to talk to them.” He clutched her hand and lifted it to his lips.

“You and I have two different ideas about chatting.” She dipped her head and kissed his knuckles.

“Trust me, Sweetness.” He waggled his brows.

Charlotte opened the door and stood in the doorway with her mouth agape.

“Are we allowed in, or would you rather visit on the porch?” Savannah snapped. Her sister was looking at her man like he was catnip and Charlotte was the kitty.

“Is there a problem, baby? Who’s at the door?” Della’s voice drifted from the back of the house.

Charlotte opened the door wider to allow them inside. “Please come in.” She kept her gaze on Riley.

Savannah tightened her hold on his hand and he gave her a gentle squeeze.

“Savannah brought a guest, mama.” Charlotte walked ahead of them.

“She said she would. Lord knows with her what kind of person he is,” her mother responded callously.

Her heart beat harder in her chest. When she left Atlanta, she swore she wasn’t coming back. Following her sister through her childhood home didn’t give her the warm and fuzzies, it made her chest hurt.

“I think you might be surprised, Mommy,” Charlotte called out.

“This is a bad idea,” Savannah whispered.

Riley chuckled, and Charlotte glanced back and winked.

Savannah hung back. “Seriously, I might lose it.” She clutched his arm.

“Go ahead, baby. I’m right here.” He tugged her forward.

The hallway opened up into the solarium. Dwayne sat opposite Ronald, playing chess and joking. Della was reading a magazine.

“So the prodigal daughter returns. I don’t know why you were worried. I told you she would come crawling back.” Ronald peered up over his glasses. His mouth shut with an audible snap.

“Actually, I had to beg Sweetness here to visit her kin.” Riley’s Southern drawl was slow and methodic.

“Sweetness?” Della tilted her head.

“My nickname for Savannah. This girl here’s got pure cane sugar flowing through her veins.” He licked his lips. “She can give a man a hell of a toothache.”

“Riley.” She tugged at his hand.

He set the container down. “Pleasure meeting y’all.”

“Excuse our manners. I’m Savannah’s mother.” Della pointed to Ronald. “Ronald is her father. You’ve met her sister, and over there is Charlottes fiancé, Dwayne.”

“Hey Savannah,” Dwayne uttered quietly before twisting to face the chessboard.

“So exactly what kind of backwater hick are you? I can assure you we have nothing to offer you and Savannah, so if you’re here looking for money you can leave,” Ronald spoke loudly before turning his attention to the game.

“I’m the kind of redneck you don’t want to meet on a dark road in the middle of the night.” Riley covered up the veiled threat with a wide smile.

Quiet quickly filled the space. Della stood up to get their attention. She offered a short wave before moving in their direction, offering them a seat. “Please sit down.”

Savannah watched Ronald’s face as she moved past him, noting his scowl. No doubt he didn’t like Riley’s response. Peering at her parents’ pinched faces, she had an inkling their visit wasn’t just going to be bad; it was going to suck hairy balls.

Savannah smiled at the reference. She was spending a little too much time with Riley Joe.

“Why are you here?” Ronald twisted to face them. “Unless of course you’re here to repay the numerous loans we have made out to you.”

What the hell?
“Loans? I don’t owe you a damn thing.” The words slipped out before Savannah could call them back.

“We can talk about that when it’s just family around.” Della darted her gaze toward Riley. “Savannah, have you lost weight?” Her mother looked her up and down.

Her stepfather snorted. “Her stop eating? Now that would take an act of God,” he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear.

“Riley is practically family. Let’s talk about it now. What exactly do you think I owe you?” She ignored his statement and focused on her mother.

“Well, your wedding cost us quite a bit, and we lost all the deposits. Helping you move…” Her mom smiled brightly, exposing all her teeth.

“You can pay us in full, or we can negotiate monthly payments.” Ronald gazed at her with an unblinking stare and exhaled.

“Savannah ain’t giving you a damn dime.” Riley shook his head. “We are here because she needed answers and I promised her we would get them.”

“Perhaps you should stay out of the Westmore’s business. Their discussion has nothing to do with you.” Dwayne stood.

“Ol’ son, as much as I would enjoy kicking your ass for the hell of it, this isn’t about me. I can make an exception for later.” Riley leaned back in his seat. “See, I’m the kind of man that don’t mind burning bitches in their beds while they sleep. So I can always come back and take care of things.”

“Get your man in check, Savannah.” Charlotte crossed the room to stand by Dwayne.

“Ask your questions, Sweetness. Sitting here with your kin is making me a little sick.” Riley pressed his lips together in a firm line.

He was angry; she could tell the way he held his body like a coiled snake, ready to strike.

“I was just wondering why you hate me.” She swallowed as tension tightened the muscles along her shoulders and made her stomach roil.

“We don’t—well, honey—it’s not…” her mother began.

“Call a spade a spade. I can’t stand your fat ass. You’re the reason Della and I couldn’t be together. Travis was my best friend.” Ronald grew louder. The veins in his neck protruded through his skin, and spit followed the words leaving his mouth.

“One fucking night,—I can’t even bring myself to call her your mother—Della made a mistake and slept with Travis. You were conceived, and knowing how I felt about Della, he lorded his money over her to keep her by his side. I danced the day he died. But she wouldn’t give you up to that old bitch Travis’s mother and we came up with a plan. She was in control of your inheritance. We only had to maintain the basics; it’s not like you needed anything else. Even then, your nose was always buried in a book.” Ronald shook his head. “I hated waking up every morning ’cause that meant I had to look at your face and your resemblance to your father is a reminder of everything he did to keep me and Della apart. You owe us for that. I hope that bastard is burning in hell.”

Riley gazed at her. “Do you want to know anything else?”

“No.” The pure venom directed at her made her skin crawl. They had felt this way for years, and yet they wouldn’t give her to her grandmother, the one woman who probably loved her. She glanced at her mom’s face. Della wouldn’t raise her head to look at her.