Songbird (A Sinclair Story #1) (19 page)

Nathan
nodded. “Yep, I was thinking that. I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.”

He
strode over to the double doors and banged on them twice. A woman came running,
slamming them open.

“Is
everything alright?” Her dark brown eyes lit up with concern as she scanned the
room first, before running her eyes up and down Nathan.

“My
girlfriend, Melodee Lee, is in surgery right now,” Nathan explained in hurried
bursts, “but I have to go get our daughter. Can you get Chris, the young
doctor, to text me updates.”

He
handed her his business card with his cell number. She looked down at it.

“No
problem, Nathan. Great game last week.” She winked and slid back in behind the
doors.

Nathan
shook his head. He’d mentioned his girlfriend and daughter and still she
thought he was flirting with her. Sometimes he hated the reputation that came
with sports. Everyone thought he was shallow and a cheater, when there was
nothing further from the truth.

He caught a taxi to the
school, having forgotten that his car was part of a police investigation right
now. He tipped the driver and jumped out, dashing across the grounds until he
reached the basketball courts. Most people would walk straight in the front
door, but he knew a back entrance, and that’s the one he’d use to take her by
surprise. He sprinted around the back, and behind hedges he parted a branch to
find the door. Three shadows emerged around him, and he just about dropped
Charles before he realized it was his brothers.

No
one spoke, they just stayed at Nathan’s back and followed him as he crept along
the long hallway that led past the locker room and out onto the court. The
tension between the brothers had them practically vibrating, their muscles
bunched and expressions grim. Nathan paused just before the lit up area, and
with one deep breath he dived around the corner. His heart sank, dismay and
disappointment raging through him. There was no one here but the freshman
training. To be certain, they checked all of the rooms in the hall and lockers,
but there was definitely no one hiding out in the stadium.

“Where
else?” Matthew was always the practical one. “Where else will your name be
immortalized forever?”

“The
chick sounded fully insane,” Nathan said, “so it’s probably nothing we expect.”

“What
about the cemetery?” Charles said. “If she’s that messed up, she probably loves
hanging with the dead.”

The
four brothers looked at each other for a moment. And together they sprinted for
the doors.

They
took one car, and Matthew had his foot to the floor the entire time, ignoring
all road rules. It was dark now, and Nathan was just praying they got to Jewel
in time. The car slowed on the edge of Syracuse’s main cemetery. Matthew pulled
in behind some trees and killed the engine.

“I’ll
head straight at her,” Nathan said as they climbed out. “You fan out to the
sides.”

“I
have no doubts that this creepy bitch would be in a cemetery,” Luke said. “Oh
well, we might find a nice grave to put her in once Nate’s finished with her.”

Nathan
didn’t hesitate, he marched straight into the center of the graves, weaving
around plots and headstones
J
. He
had a brief thought for Doug, but there was no time right now for mourning. As
he passed through the older section of the graves, he was starting to wonder if
they had the wrong place again, and then a baby’s scream ripped through the
silence. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jack – the detective would
bring the police – and then he ran. He ran to save his baby girl, and his
Melodee, because he knew she would not want to live if they lost Jewel.

The
screams led the way, and as he got closer he could hear Leanna talking.

“Shut
up, kid, your daddy will be here soon and he doesn’t want to hear you
bellowing.”

Nathan
burst into the small alcove where Leanna, the woman who’d gone from nuisance to
attempted murderer, was crouched in front of the baby seat. Jewel looked
unharmed, but she was red-faced and miserable.

“Leanna.”
Nathan drew her attention to him, and as she straightened he noticed the gun in
her hand.

That
was the fucking weapon that had shot Melodee. This woman might have taken away
the person he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with. His temper
was flaming by the time she strolled up to him, rolling her hips like she was
sexy. He wanted to laugh in her face. She was the ugliest bitch he had ever
seen, and the moment she came closer he was going to break his rule about
hitting females. Leanna was a special case.

“I
knew you couldn’t stay away for too long.” She grinned, the gun hanging at her
side. “Especially when I had our little girl here. She misses her daddy.”

Nathan
didn’t say anything, he let her continue closer, all the while waiting for the
perfect moment. A shadow rose up over Jewel and the little girl lowered her
shrieks to mild sobs when she noticed her uncle Charles’ face. He picked up the
seat and disappeared into the shadows. Nathan breathed a relieved sigh; at
least Jewel was safe. Now just to decide whether to stall psycho until the
police arrived, or beat the shit out of her and pretend she tripped and fell.
The choice was taken f
rom
him though when Matthew charged out of a bush to her
right and tackled her to the ground. He straddled her, and using his bulk
pinned her arms and legs down.

“If
you make a move bitch, I’ll kill you,” Matthew snarled at her. “It would be so
easy and no one would find your body.”

She
shrieked, twisting from side to side.

“Nathan
save me, please, baby,” she sobbed.

“It’s
in your best interest to never speak directly to me again,” he said, the low
timbre of his voice echoing around the eerie graveyard. “You need help, Leanna,
and I’m going to do my best to make sure you’re locked away forever.” He leaned
his face really close to her. “And you better start praying Melodee doesn’t
die, because if she does you won’t make it to jail. There’s not a place on
Earth you can hide from me.”

Voices
surrounded them as men burst into view from all directions. The police had
arrived. While they were taking statements and reading Leanna her rights before
cuffing her, Nathan’s phone beeped. He pulled it free to read the text.

Melodee’s still in surgery, so far she’s staying
strong. Will be at least another few hours. Chris.

Charles
emerged in the clearing again, Jewel cuddled in his arms happily drinking a
bottle. Nathan had a moment to wonder where it came from, maybe one of his
brothers had grabbed Jewel’s baby bag.

“Here’s
your girl,” he said, handing her over to Nathan.

Despite
the cold fear for Melodee in his gut, he knew true joy at seeing Jewel safe.
Her beautiful blue eyes lit up as she stared up at him and started to gurgle
around her bottle.

“I
love you, little Jewel,” Nathan whispered close to her cheek, before kissing
her gently. “Now let’s go make sure your momma lives, because we both need
her.”

Back at the hospital, all
four Sinclairs – Nathan holding Jewel – marched through the emergency doors.
Women everywhere stopped for an extended glance. The men were impressive by
themselves, but all together they were almost too much. Tall, well-built and
handsome wasn’t their only draw, it was the magnetism that each Sinclair
innately possessed. When they reached the waiting room, Nathan stopped at the
sight of his father stretched out in one of the uncomfortable, hard-backed
chairs. Candice was next to him, her face drawn, and it looked as if she’d been
crying. Standing, she took two steps and threw her arms around Nathan and
Jewel.

“I’m
so sorry, Nate, I came as soon as I heard.”

“Dad,”
he asked over her shoulder. “Any news?” Candice had him panicking that
something bad had happened since Chris’s text.

Lincoln
shook his head. “Nothing yet, but they said the surgery has only just started.”
He patted the seat next to him. “Nothing we can do but sit and let me meet my
granddaughter.”

Nathan
detached the crying woman, handing her off to Matthew. Lincoln held his hands
out for Jewel. The little girl regarded him for a few moments before deciding
he was okay and reaching for him.

“Keep
in mind, she’s not ours yet,” Nathan warned as he handed her across. “I haven’t
heard from Denise.”

His
father smiled. “I spoke with her, she’s doing okay and has been discharged from
hospital. She said that the sister lead was a dead end and they’re going to be
declaring Jewel an orphan very soon. I’ve already started the process for you.”
He tickled Jewel. “I still think it’s a big responsibility, especially just
starting out your career, but if this is what you want…”

Nathan
didn’t even hesitate. “I would sooner give up my life than Jewel or Melodee.”

The next eight hours were
the longest of Nathan’s life. The doctors came with updates, but she was still
in surgery. The time had been pushed out due to a few unexpected bleeds.
Finally Dr. Olmstead walked through the double doors.

“Old
friend.” He greeted Lincoln with a hug. He looked tired behind his wire-rim
glasses. His short brown hair was starting to thin, although he seemed fit and
healthy for a man in his fifties.

“How
is Melodee?” Nathan interrupted. He attempted to keep his voice low, Jewel was
asleep in a borrowed crib.

The
doctor faced Nathan. “Her injuries were quite severe, but she made it through
in splendid fashion. She’s in recovery now, you can visit her if you’d like.”

Nathan
nodded. He looked back at his brothers. “We’ll watch Jewel for you,” Matthew
assured him. Candice was asleep next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.
“She won’t leave our sight.”

“Thank
you,” Nathan said, before following the doctor through the doors.

Chapter 14

The doctors had explained
that Melodee was in an induced coma for the first twelve hours, to help her
injuries heal. But for three days Nathan sat at her bedside and she did not
open her eyes.

“It
could take a while, Nate,” Dr. Olmstead said during his last check of her. “She
sustained a lot of injuries.”

Nathan
could see that, there was barely a part of her that wasn’t covered in bandages
and tubes, except for her beautiful face. With just the slightest graze on her
temple, it was untouched. And, if Nathan hadn’t already had it memorized, he
certainly did now. His phone beeped and he pulled it from his pocket. It was a
text from Charles, he was on his way in with Jewel.

Nathan
reached forward, and as he had done a hundred times he grasped Melodee’s
uninjured hand. He kissed it gently, before his voice rasped out at her.

“Don’t
die, Melodee Lee, please don’t leave me. I love you, I want to marry you. I
bought a fucking ring and it wasn’t even the largest stone I could find,
because I know you
’d
hate a giant rock like that.” He grasped her hand
tighter. “It’s diamond and sapphire, to match your stunning eyes.” He choked on
his tears, laying his head down next to her. “I need you to live, baby, because
if you don’t I’m a dead man. I’ll still be walking and talking but everything
else about me will be gone. We need to be here for Jewel. Don’t leave her
alone. Don’t leave us alone. You make our home, you make our family,” he
sighed. “Just open those eyes.”

“Seriously…”

His
head shot up at the barely audible, croaked words.

“That’s
your idea of a marriage proposal?”

Melodee
was blinking at him, disorientated in the harsh hospital lights. His hand shot
out and hit the button for the doctors and nurses to come running.

“Thank
you, thank you, thank you,” he was whispering, as they stared at each other.

He
could see she was trying to moisten her mouth.

“Jewel?”
she croaked again.

“She’s
fine, Dee, we found her the night you were attacked. It’s been almost four
days.” He answered the unspoken question in her eyes. “I paid for a proper
burial for her mother, she’s been laid to rest. Jewel has no other family, so
she’s ours. My father’s been pushing through the paperwork, so if you’re
willing to take this journey with me, we’ll have our baby girl.”

Tears
filled Melodee’s eyes, overflowing down her cheeks. Nathan reached out and
brushed them away, his own eyes getting a little damp again.

“I
love you too,” she whispered, words that had never crossed her lips. But she
had no doubts. She’d been half in love with Nathan from the first moment he’d
burst through the snow. And almost dying would bring clarity to even the most
stubborn of humans.

He
pressed his lips against hers gently, afraid of hurting her. “And you will
marry me.”

Before
she could reply, two nurses and Chris the doctor burst into the room. Seeing
Melodee awake, smiles crossed their faces.

“Welcome
back, Miss Lee,” the older nurse said, bustling around and checking her drips
and machines. The younger one grabbed a cup and straw to let her have a small
sip.

Nathan
stood and Melodee’s eyes locked on him. “I’m just going to get our daughter,”
he said. “Don’t you move an inch until I get back.”

She
rolled her eyes at his bossy command. He blew her a kiss as he turned and
walked out.
 

Melodee let herself relax
against the crunchy material of the hospital pillows. She felt uneasy without
Nathan.

“Are
you in any pain?” a man in green scrubs asked.

Melodee
shook her head. She could barely feel her body right now, but the uncomfortable
numbness told her it had been bad. The doctor continued to harp on about pain
management as he listed her numerous injuries. Melodee winced. Damn, she’d been
hurt before, but this was the worst. Two bullet wounds,
crack
ed ribs, both new and old, a collapsed lung, fractured
wrist, concussion, and the list went on and on.

“So,
in conclusion,” Nathan said from the doorway, “you’re lucky to be alive and
will be taking it easy for a while.”

The
sight of Nathan and Jewel in the doorway just about took her breath away. They
were so beautiful. She raised her free, unbroken arm. She needed a baby cuddle.
Nathan gently laid Jewel onto Melodee’s side. She curled her arm around her
daughter and hugged her close. Jewel smiled her big gummy smile and placed a
hand on either side of Melodee’s face. She lowered her face and gave a few
sloppy kisses. She must have done something right in her life to receive the
gifts of Nathan and Jewel. Finally she’d found her home.

Melodee
laughed and cried. “Did you hear I’m going to be your mommy?” she whispered in
Jewel’s ear. The little girl pressed her face closer; she loved to hear
Melodee’s voice. “I hope that’s okay with you. I apologize already for my
stuff-ups, but no one will ever love you as much as me.”

“And
me,” Nathan added.

Melodee
kissed Jewel one last time and then, exhausted, she had to lie back again.

“That
might be enough excitement for one day,” the older nurse said. “The best thing
for your recovery is rest.”

Nathan
stood, gathering Jewel in his arms. “I’ll just drop this little cutie off to
Charlie and I’ll be right back.”

He
was out the door before she could respond.

“He
hasn’t left your side, you know,” the green-scrubs-doctor said. “I never
thought I’d see the day Nathan Sinclair was in love, but even a blind man could
see he’s gone.”

Melodee
realized that Nathan had looked tired, handsome as always, but exhaustion had
overshadowed his features. A few more tears escaped at the thought of him not
leaving her side, and he’d bought her a ring. She was going to be married –
that was beyond her wildest dreams. But she was done running, she’d fight the
devil himself to keep Nathan now.

He
was back within minutes.

“I
can’t believe you’re here,” Nathan said, his aqua eyes locked on her. “I
thought I lost you.”

“I’ll
never intentionally leave you, Nate.” She rested her hand against his cheek.
“I’m in this for the long haul, no more running.”

He
grinned. “And you need to plan a wedding.”

Melodee
raised her eyebrows. “I don’t remember being proposed to. I certainly don’t see
a ring on this finger.”

“Oh,
I’ll be putting a ring on your finger, Melodee Lee, and then you really will
belong to me.”

Reaching
up she kissed him on the lips. “You’re a god damned caveman, Nathan. And I love
it.”

Settling herself back into a more
comfortable position, Melodee twisted the crunchy sheet between her fingers.

“
So w
hat happened to Leanna?” Melodee knew she was missing
bits and pieces of the events at the warehouse area, but she remembered most of
it.

Nathan
let out a deep breath, his nostrils flaring as his eyes narrowed. “She’s in
lockup right now, undergoing psych evaluations. Jack assures me she should go
away for a long time, but I don’t have much faith in the legal system. We’ll
have to see what happens.”

“If
she comes near Jewel again, I will kill her.” Melodee gritted her teeth at the
mere thought.

“And
I’ll help you hide the body,” Nathan said, his features serious but his eyes
bright.

Melodee
didn’t want to laugh, it was too painful, but the chuckles escaped anyway.
Nathan was definitely the man for her.

The three weeks stuck in
hospital were the longest of Melodee’s life, but between all of the Sinclairs –
which surprisingly included Lincoln – and Candice, she hadn’t been alone.
Nathan had tried to explain his father’s change of heart when it came to Jewel
and Melodee. It seemed to be that the Sinclair parents lived very separate
lives. While his mother was off in Europe on some plastic surgery caper, his
father had decided that it was time to relax on the political campaign and be a
family man. Nathan seemed grateful for his help, but Melodee got the feeling it
was too little, too late.

She
bounced on the side of the bed, ignoring the jabbing pains from her body. It
was finally the day of her release and she couldn’t wait to get out. Charles
was picking her up because Nathan was out of town for basketball. He wasn’t
going to go, but he’d missed so many games that Melodee had to lay down a few
threats to get him to leave. He hadn’t been happy about it. She was still sore,
but thankfully didn’t require any regular drugs. Her left wrist was in a light
cast, but it hardly affected her movements.

Charles
appeared in her hospital doorway. Jewel was in his arms. “Ready to go?”

Melodee
gingerly got to her feet, before holding out her arms. Charles hovered close by
as Melodee absorbed the slight weight of her baby, before raining kisses over Jewel’s
face. She was so glad she would not have to spend any more time away from her
baby.

“I
was ready three weeks ago.”

“Well,
stop getting hurt and you won’t ever have to come back,” Charles said as he
took Jewel from her and picked up her hospital bag. “Hey, aren’t you supposed
to be in a wheelchair or some shit?”

Melodee
laughed. “The doctors know if any of them tried to wheel me out of this room
there’d be hell to pay. I’m alive and I’m walking my ass out of this hospital.”

The moment Melodee stepped
into the apartment she was engulfed in a hug.

Rose
pulled back, but lifted both hands to rest on either side of Melodee’s face.
“Nathan wants me to come and help you. Good to see you healthy. You hold my
boy’s heart, you must look after yourself.”

Melodee
smiled. For once this type of behavior didn’t make her feel smothered, it made
her feel loved.

“I’m
just so happy to be home,” she said, feeling as if she could run screaming in
joy around the living room. Of course that was until the dull pain in her ribs
reminded her that she was still injured.

“So
Nathan’s game tonight is a big one?” she asked Charles. Rose helped her settle
onto the couch. Jewel was on the floor and already crawling her way across to
her shelf of toys.

“Yeah,
they have a real shot at making the playoffs.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“I’ve gotta run, Dee, my next class starts in twenty.”

“Thanks
for picking me up.”

Charles
was right in the middle of his finals and had been studying his ass off.
Melodee had asked Nathan why he was never in class or did any schoolwork, and
he said he already had so many advanced credits he was basically done, just
waiting on the end of the basketball season. Her cell phone started to ring.
She knew who it was before she even had to glance at the screen. Mostly because
he’d already phoned her ten times today.

“You’re
getting a bit obsessive, don’t you think?” she laughed into the phone.

“I’m
obsessive and possessive, get used to it,” he shot back. “Because you’re stuck
with me forever.”

“I
like the sound of that.” Melodee couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off her face.

“Are
you home? Is everything okay? Rose is there to help with Jewel, so make sure
you rest.”

“Yes
sir,” Melodee said, mentally saluting him.

“I
should be there.” His sigh was audible. “Not a hundred miles away.”

“Nate,
you’ve barely left my side since the accident.”

“Yes,
because the last time I left you alone you almost died,” he growled.

“Touché.
Okay, how about if I promise to stay on this couch until you get home,” she
teased. “All safe and sound and unbroken.”

“I
accept this promise. I’ll see you tomorrow, baby. We have a date.”

“Wait
... What?” Melodee didn’t remember any plans.

“I’ll
pick you up at seven.”

“Candy, where are you? I
have no idea what I’m doing and Nathan will be here in an hour.” Melodee held
the cell to her ear with her broken hand; the other was feeding Jewel.

“I’m
on my way, I have everything. And you’re already gorgeous, I’ll need like ten
minutes, tops.”

Melodee
heard the engine on Candice’s car rev as she hung up the phone. She couldn’t
believe how nervous she was right now. She’d never been on a date before, and
not only that, but she was going to see Nathan soon. Forty-eight hours was way
too long to be apart.

“Nathan
will not care what you wear,” Rose said from where she was stirring something
over the stove. The woman never stopped cooking, cleaning or moving around the
house. Melodee never thought of herself as lazy, but Rose made her feel like a
sloth. “I always worry about Nathan. He was too handsome and talented, more so
than the others.” Rose focused on Melodee. “He could have been petty and mean
like his mother, but he has strength of character. You the same. Wills of steel
forged through life of survival.”