Seven Days Ch. 09

"Everything is going to change for us. Or at least that's what people say," Victoria said.

"I'm ready for it," Nic said, praying that he really was and that the dark cloud he was feeling would go away for good.

**************

Victoria stared at the computer screen. She knew that Nic and Marianna might be against it, but she really did want to take some online classes...and who knows, maybe go back to work. And it wasn't that she didn't appreciate a break from her ten straight years of working, but it still felt awkward to not have to report somewhere at a certain time. She knew taking care of a family could be a full-time job in itself, but it never hurt anyone to still take a few business classes.

Besides, a small part of her did miss putting in an honest days work. She was sure she was crazy, because many of the women she knew would probably think her life was a dream. And it was...she had to admit. Nic was all that she could have imagined and more as a husband. He still carried the same edge as a business man that frightened and turned her on, but he also was more loving and caring than ever. And he smiled. Not the huge cheesy grins, but he did manage genuine smiles for her every morning and every night. Yes, she did have a wonderful life. But she was confident that her husband would be understanding and would accept any decision she made regarding furthering her education.

Victoria turned off the computer and walked into the kitchen to wash off some dishes she had purchased the day before, when out of the corner of her eye she saw something and screamed. She quickly covered her mouth and ducked down behind the counter. Then she heard a small tap, and she looked over the counter top to find Detective Marsh staring at her, tapping his keys on the sliding glass doors leading out to their patio.

Victoria immediately righted herself and walked over to the door. She slid it open only enough to speak to him.

"Detective Marsh, what are you doing in my back yard?"

"Oh, is this the back yard...I had no idea," he said in his smug voice. "Nic home?"

"No."

"I'll wait for him."

"Well, have fun out there," Victoria said, closing the door, right as Marsh stuck his hand through and pushed it back open.

"I'll wait inside, if you don't mind," he said, pushing his body through the door. Marsh looked around and then pulled a piece of paper out of his back pocket. "Do you know what this is?" he said, waving it in Victoria's face.

"No."

"It's a search warrant for this house."

Victoria didn't know what to do. There was nothing that she knew of that Nic shouldn't have in their house. She decided to call Nic to warn him about Marsh.

She turned to leave the kitchen when she heard Marsh speak.

"I wouldn't go warning him if I were you...your phones are tapped and that wouldn't look good for you."

Was he bluffing? Victoria turned back around. "I was going to the bathroom, if you don't mind. And why are our phones tapped."

"Sure you were," Marsh stated flatly. "And that's classified."

Victoria placed her hands on her hips. "But maybe I should call him. Because if you're going to search our house, he needs to be here," Victoria said.

"Nah, I'm not going to check your house. Nic's too smart to keep anything here, am I right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't. Like you don't know that Nic had ties to a criminal underground. Or that he sold weapons illegally, along with other unauthorized technology. And that he killed people."

"That's not stuff that my husband would have been involved in," Victoria said. She really didn't know what else to say, but she knew Marsh was smart. He was probably keeping a mental record of everything she said to use against her.

Marsh continued to stare at her. His eyes raked over her body again in that dirty, lustful gaze that she hated. Like he was imagining what she looked like underneath her clothes. Luckily she had on more than a robe like the last time she was with him, but just barely. She had opted for a pair of shorts and a tank top due to the heat and cleaning their massive house.

"Every time I see you, you seem to do better and better. One moment you're working at Calamity's Bar and Grill, the next he has you staying at some swanky hotel, and now you're here in this large house with a pool and everything. You must be doing something right," he said, grinning at her.

Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. She couldn't stand this cocky asshole! She knew what he was insinuating and she refused to bite.

Instead, she walked over the sink and started loading their dishwasher with the new dishes. She heard Marsh move around the counter and stand closer to her. Victoria just decided the best thing to do would be to ignore him until Nic came home, which would hopefully be soon.

Victoria saw him shuffle through the baby magazines that she had left on the counter. Fuck.

"So...he finally put a bun in the oven. How far along are you?"

"None of your business," Victoria replied, not bothering to look at him.

"You know," he started, standing awfully close to her, "Nic and I aren't so different. I mean, granted I'm an upstanding, law-abiding citizen, and he's a criminal who sold illegal material to the scum of the earth...but I like to think we have similar taste, you know?"

Victoria decided to just ignore him. She rinsed out more dishes then loaded them into the dishwasher.

"Who knows, maybe you and I would have gotten together under different circumstances."

Victoria rolled her eyes, but tensed when she felt him lean closer to her.

"I mean, who knows, it could have been my kid you're carrying," Marsh whispered as he twirled one of her curls through his finger.

Victoria quickly swung around to glare at him, slinging soapy water from a cup that splattered onto his dress shirt.

"Shit!" he said, as he scooted backwards and wiped the water from his clothing.

"You make one more comment to me like that, and so help me I'll tell my husband and he will kick your pathetic ass!" Victoria warned, pointing her finger at him.

Marsh chuckled as he grabbed a paper towel and blotted at the water stain seeping into his shirt and tie. "That wasn't very nice, Victoria."

"Fuck you."

***************

Nic was pulling into their neighborhood, when he noticed a rental car parked awkwardly on their street. He had been involved in his old lifestyle too long to look at things like that as coincidence. He pulled up beside the car, and noticed it was empty. He got out and peeked inside. He saw a blue file sitting on the seat and at the bottom of the file written in ink was Nicolas Andretti IV.

Goddamn that asshole. What the fuck did Marsh want?!

Nic got back into his car and pulled into his driveway. He got out and entered the house, trying to calm his temper. He walked into the kitchen to find Marsh staring at Victoria. When Marsh finally noticed him, he took a noticeable step back from Victoria.

"Nic!" Victoria yelled, as she ran over to hug him. He returned her hug tightly while keeping his eyes on Marsh. After a few seconds of a stare down, Nic looked at his wife and kissed her. "Hey, baby."

He then turned to Marsh. "What the fuck do you want?"

"That's no way to greet an old friend," Marsh smiled back.

"Since you're not a friend of mine, get the fuck out of my house. You have no jurisdiction here," Nic said, holding onto Victoria.

Victoria was confused. She looked back and forth between Nic and Marsh. "But he said he had a search warrant," Victoria stated.

"He lied," Nic stated cooly, never removing his eyes from Marsh. "Now get the fuck off my property before I forget you're a cop."

Marsh stared at Nic, but decided not to call his bluff. He didn't want to push his luck since technically he was there on his forced vacation.

He walked towards the door, but turned to look at Nic. "You may think just because they have some snot nosed kid from the FBI on your case, who doesn't know his asshole from a hole in the wall, that I've given up. I haven't...and I won't."

As soon as Marsh's foot crossed the threshold, Nic slammed the door.