15
“I feel like somebody beat me with a baseball bat while I was sleeping. When I can get up without screaming, I’m going to find the person who did it and shoot their ass.”
Rachel turned towards the laughter in the room.
“Do you wake up this cheerful every morning?”
“You stayed here all night?” she asked the smiling Wade.
“My word is my bond. I told the detective I would watch over you and I plan to do just that.”
“I do have parents, you know,” Rachel replied as she sat up.
“Yes, I’m aware,” Wade said as he stood to stretch. “I met your father last night.”
Rachel frowned as she looked around. “You did? Where?”
“He stopped by my room with Chief Williams from the Richmond Police Department.”
Rachel nodded as she continued to look around. “Yeah, I know the Chief. Where is my tablet?”
“Your tablet?”
“Yes, I had it in the car.”
“It’s probably still in there. Why?”
“All of my notes from the case are on there. Is my phone still in the car too?”
“Possibly,” Wade replied. “Do you need those things? I can have someone check the car.”
“Yes, please do that. I feel disconnected.” She pushed the sheets away then stood. It took her a moment to assess all the sore spots on her body.
“Where are you going?” Wade asked, rushing to her side.
Rachel raised an eyebrow with a bewildered look. “To the bathroom to wash my face, brush my teeth and pee. The latter being the most urgent.” she said walking gingerly away. “And don’t be trying to peek at my behind.”
“It’s a little hard to miss it,” Wade huffed.
“Oh, we have jokes this morning,” Rachel said just as her sister Riley entered the room.
“Good morning.” She glanced at Rachel then Wade. “Entertaining so early?” she teased, placing an overnight bag on the chair. “You were never one to waste time when it comes to men, Rachel. It’s good to see the accident hasn’t slowed your roll any.”
“Ha ha.” Rachel turned to Wade. “My sister Riley, the politician.” She looked at Riley. “My boss, Wade Tyson. Did you bring me a toothbrush?”
“I did, along with a change of clothes, comb and brush. Your hair looks a mess. Mr. Tyson.” Riley extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I understand you took over Cahill. I look forward to your contribution to my campaign for the Richmond School Board seat in November.”
“I see the resemblance,” Wade said as he shook her hand. “Neither of you mince words.”
“All of the Fontaine women are straight to the point,” Rachel said as she reached for the bag.
“What are you doing? Should you even be up?” Riley asked as she turned over the bag.
“I’m going to wash my face, brush my teeth and pee. The latter being the more urgent.”
“Shouldn’t a nurse be here to help you?”
“Probably,” Rachel replied as she slowly made her way to the door. “Do you see one around?”
“You push the button for help, Rachel,” Riley said as the bathroom door closed. “She’s strong willed,” she then said to Wade.
Wade nodded. “Yes, I can tell.”
“You were in the accident with Rachel. How are you?”
“Sore, but it seems she took the brunt of the impact. Thank you for asking.”
“How is she doing? It’s hard to tell with her.”
Wade chuckled, “You think?”
“Rachel has been that way ever since she was a little girl.” Riley smiled. “It’s usually when she comes out with her funniest lines. I keep telling her she should be on a comedy stage somewhere.”
“It seems she uses comedy to cover up insecurities about you and your sister.”
“Excuse you.”
Wade missed when the woman’s head snapped around at his comment. Never having dealt with sisters, he did not recognize the warning in the woman’s glare. “A sister with a judgeship in her future and another who is running for political office is a lot to live up to.”
“Rachel is not insecure. And the nerve of you to insinuate that my sister and I are in some way responsible for Rachel’s state of mind is a bit presumptuous on your part, don’t you think?”
“What did you say that you had no business saying?” Dane asked from the doorway.
“Who the hell are you?” Riley snapped.
“His brother.” Dane pointed at Wade. “He has a tendency to be a bit insensitive. Whatever he said, will you find it in your heart to forgive him?”
Wade raised an eyebrow at his brother. The one who didn’t ask forgiveness from anyone for anything he says or does. “Riley Fontaine, my brother Dane Tyson. And for the record I do not need forgiveness for stating an observation.”
Dane walked over to Riley and extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You’re his brother?” Riley questioned as she shook his hand.
“Yes, there’s five of us. Each has flaws, some more than others,” he said as he glared at Wade.
“Adopted?”
“Yes. We are an actual example of a blended family,” Monty said as he walked in followed by Ross and Drake. “Montrell Tyson” He extended his hand. “My friends call me Monty. These are my other brothers, Ross and Drake.”
“What are you guys doing here?” Wade asked as Riley shook everyone’s hand.
“Came to break you out, big brother,” Drake joked. “We didn’t know you could have conjugal visits in the hospital.”
“Hold up.” Riley walked over to where Drake had sat on Rachel’s bed. “That’s my baby sister you are referring to. Get your ass off her bed and watch what is coming out of your mouth.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Drake jumped up.
“Do I look like a damn ma’am to you?”
“No, but you sound like one.” Drake walked back towards the door to stand behind Monty.
The door to the bathroom opened. “What in the hell is going on out here?” Rachel stopped in her tracks, then scanned the room. “Damn, it’s raining men. Riley, I’ll take him and him, but I don’t do white boys.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” Ross said from his position leaning near the door.
“Look, both of them got back,” Drake commented, “but that one,” he nodded towards Riley “got a mean mouth. She might hurt me.”
“Hey, that’s my sister you’re talking about. I’ll have you know that mouth has handled more men than the sum of all of you.”
The men glared at Riley, as she turned, frowning at her sister. “Thank you, Rachel.”
“Oh don’t look at me like that, you know what I mean. I’m trying to defend you from…..from……who in the hell are all of you?”
“Rachel, my brothers. The owners of Tyson Communications,” Wade interjected. “Everyone, this is Rachel Fontaine. One of the researchers for Tyson Broadcasting.” He walked over to the bag Riley brought in to pull out a robe as he talked. “Why don’t we all calm down,” he said while putting the robe around Rachel.
“The balance in this room seems to be off. I see five men and two women.” Regan Fontaine walked into the room to stand next to her sisters. “Now, that’s better. I’ll take him” -she pointed to Monty “and him.” She pointed to Dane, then looked at Rachel. “Which two are you taking? You know Riley can’t handle but one.” She turned back to the men and smiled.
“It’s a damn shame.” Ross’s smooth quiet voice sounded for the first time in the room. “For all of that beauty to be in one family.”
“Yes, they hit the good genes pool for sure.” Dane nodded in agreement.
“This gathering seems to be getting off on the wrong foot,” Monty stated. “Ladies, forgive us. We simply came to pick up Wade to take him home. I think it may be a good idea if we do that. Wade,” he said.
“I’m not leaving Rachel.”
The brothers all glared at him. The sisters turned to glare at Rachel.
“Hey, he’s my boss. I can’t force him to leave.”
“Are you in some kind of danger?” Regan placed her purse on the bed as she turned to Rachel.
“Oh God, not the big sister monster.” Rachel glared at Wade. “You did this. Can you all just get out of my room?”
“Is there something about this situation we don’t know?” Monty asked.
Ross closed the door as suddenly all the men seemed to be focused and on alert.
Wade looked around the room at the eyes on him. His four brothers and Rachel’s two sisters all looked as if they were ready for battle. “Here is what we know,” he began. “A Detective Reigns came by last night to tell us the informant Rachel was supposed to meet with before being arrested was killed last night. It is not clear if it was connected to the story she is working on or not.”
“Detective Nate Reigns?” Regan asked.
“Yes,” Wade replied.
“He’s good, thorough. What was his take?”
“He believes there is a possibility that her story and his case are connected. He is running down some things now. However.” He hesitated. “He does not think it’s a good idea for her to be alone.”
“Not an issue,” Regan stated with an agreeing nod from Riley. “We can take Rachel to our cabin. No one will find her there.”
“I can take some time off to stay with her,” Riley added.
“So will I. Nobody is going to touch our sister without getting their ass shot.”
The men all looked at Regan.
“You’re up for a judgeship or something?” Wade asked as he shook his head. “You can’t go around shooting people. She is my employee, my responsibility.”
“Correction,” Monty spoke. “She is our employee. Either way the little lady is right. No one is going to harm you.” he said to Rachel.
“Oh, I know this,” Rachel stated. “As soon as all of you are out of my room, I’m getting dressed so that I” -she emphasized the word- “can finish tracking my story. So if you all do not mind…GET OUT!”
“We do mind,” Wade said as he walked over to the side of the room with his brothers. “We’ll turn our backs as you get dressed. We have to discuss our protection strategy.”
“I want you all out!” Rachel exclaimed, but found they were not listening. Their backs were to her and her sisters and the Tyson men were in their own discussion.
“I don’t think they are listening.” Regan smiled.
“Look, let’s get you dressed and out of here.” Riley pulled out the clothes she brought in the overnight bag. “We can decide what direction to go then.”
Regan pulled the drape around the bed to give Rachel a little more privacy. She then walked over to the men.
Wade looked up.
“FYI. I know Reigns, he is not a conspiracy theorist. If he has detected a connection with Rachel’s story and his case, it’s valid. So what are you going to do to ensure my sister’s safety?” She glared at Wade.
“We’re going to have two men, two cars on her at all times. Dane and Ross are going to take the first shift, Monty and Drake the second. I’m going to cover her at the studio.”
“I’ll shift my case load around for the next week. Between Riley and me, we’ll cover her at home. In the meantime, I’ll check in with Reigns and Burnett.”
“Alex Burnett?” Monty asked.
“Yes,” Regan replied. “If Reigns is involved in this you better believe Burnett will know something.”
“Change of plans. Since it seems you both know Burnett, why don’t you two pay him a visit,” Wade stated to Monty and Regan. “Ross, you know my plans for redesigning the network. You handle the station. Drake and Dane, that puts you on security for Rachel and me.”
“You?” Monty questioned.
“Yes, I’m going to work on the story with Rachel.”
“I suggest you make Riley the point person,” Regan offered. “Everyone check in with her on a regular. She will make certain everyone knows what’s happening with each team.”
They all nodded in agreement. When they turned, Rachel and Riley were standing right behind them.
“Are you all finished planning my life?”
“Yes,” Regan stated without hesitation. “And you are going to adhere to everything we agreed to or the box in my closet will be opened. Do I make myself clear?”
Wade watched the expression on Rachel’s face. She was not happy, but she wasn’t going to argue with her sister.
“Fine.” Rachel rushed by them all. “Can we just get the hell out of here? And we are stopping by the car to get my tablet and phone.”
As everyone filed out of the room, Wade stopped Regan. “What’s in the box?”
“Nothing.” Regan shrugged. “She thinks I have pictures of her smoking weed in my parents’ house with some high school friends.” She waved her hand in the air. “I lost those pictures years ago, but she doesn’t need to know that.”
Wade laughed as he watched the Fontaine women walk down the corridor.