Blood Relatives

By Sherry Derr-Wille

When Lissa learns of her father’s heart attack, she leaves her children with the neighbors and hurries to Chicago to be at his side. A military wife, she understands that with her husband deployed, she must handle the situation alone.

Paul, a Chicago detective, is set to testify in a drug trial and has gone to Wisconsin for his safety. Learning of his Uncle’s heart attack, he takes the risk of returning to Chicago to be by his mother’s side. Upon his arrival, he is reunited with his cousin Lissa. As close as brother and sister, he is anxious to see her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press
• Release date: Jun 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781624207235

Book preview

Blood Relatives

Sherry Derr-Wille

Published by Rogue Phoenix Press, LLP for Smashwords

Copyright © 2023

ISBN: 978-1-62420-723-5

Electronic rights reserved by Rogue Phoenix Press, LLP. The reproduction or other use of any part of this publication without the prior written consent of the rights holder is an infringement of the copyright law. This is a work of fiction. People and locations, even those with real names, have been fictionalized for the purposes of this story.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my goddaughter, Melisa, and her husband, Cal, for their help filling in the information about the military.

Prologue

Paul Bastion read and reread all the information for the upcoming trial for the drug lord, Antonio Vargas. Although the original arrest had been over six months earlier, the case was now coming before a judge. Since Paul and his partner, Sean O’Connor, were the lead detectives on the case they were both going to be the key witnesses.

I suggest the two of you make yourselves scarce for the next few days, Captain suggested. We’ve been getting some threats against the two of you if you testify at the Vargas trial next week.

It works well for me, Sean said. Spring break just started. That said, we won’t have to take the kids out of school. We can head…

Don’t tell me where you’re planning to go. Don’t even let Paul know of your plans. If we have no idea where you are, we can’t tell anyone where to find you. It’s better that way. Why don’t you take off now and get out of here? I’m sure your wife will appreciate getting away from the city for a few days.

Guess you’re right, Cap. You guys have a good Easter. I’ll see you next week.

Paul watched as his partner stuffed papers into an envelope so he could study the information while he was out of contact. He figured he knew where Sean was headed but wouldn’t say anything to anyone in the department or anywhere else for that matter.

For him the decision was an easy one. He had friends who owned a cottage up on Lake Lorraine in Wisconsin. They’d insisted on giving him a key so he could use it whenever he wanted. From October to May it sat empty since his friends spent their winters in Arizona. Even his mother and his Uncle Al didn’t know about this place. Sometimes it was best to have somewhere he could go without everyone and their brother knowing where to find him. He was accessible by cell phone, but that was all.

Following Sean’s lead, he also packed the papers he needed to study and left the office. His vintage car was waiting for him in the underground garage.

After a stop at his apartment for the necessities he’d need for the weekend, he headed north. Rather than taking the Interstate, he opted for the backroads that would take him to the sanctuary of the cottage.

Chapter One

Lissa Adams enjoyed watching her children scramble across the lawn looking for the Easter Eggs she’d spent the early hours of the morning hiding.

She enjoyed the mild weather of her North Carolina home. Back in Illinois, her dad assured her the snow was still inches deep and more was expected today. With Easter coming in March this year, she knew the snow was something her family and friends up north had to contend with.

Of all the places Lissa and Jackson lived over the years she loved North Carolina the most. She’d made many friends among the other army wives and felt comfortable when Jackson was deployed as he had been for the past three months. It helped that they owned a home on a quiet cul-de-sac where other members of the military also owned homes. They were good friends. Their husbands were all members of the special forces and often deployed together.

The kids are certainly having a great time, Jen Wallis said after taking a long drink of the iced tea she’d brought over.

Lissa and Jen had been friends for the last two years and, along with Millie Trent, spent most holidays together while their husbands were deployed.

I know several of them are teenagers, but they still enjoy a good Easter Egg hunt, Jen observed.

Did you hear from your family today? Millie inquired.

Jackson and I video chatted last night before the kids went to bed and my dad called me yesterday afternoon. As for Jackson’s folks, I heard from them the first of the week, since they’re on a cruise for the next week. How about you?

My brother called me this morning before church, Millie commented. I’m sure, by now, he’s had at least three or four beers and is grousing about how long it’s taking for my sister-in-law to put dinner on the table.

How can he be drunk this early in the day? Jen questioned.

You don’t know him. He’s an alcoholic and is rarely sober.

I’m glad I don’t have to deal with family. Both of my parents were killed in a car accident when I was twelve and my only sister and I don’t speak. To be truthful, I don’t even know where to look for her.

Lissa felt sorry for her friend. Being an only child, she’d often wished for a sibling, but since her mother died shortly after Lissa turned five, that was out of the question. However, her mother’s sister, Aunt Nancy, was widowed shortly before Lissa lost her mother and her parents generously allowed her and Lissa’s cousin, Paul, to move in. They’d grown up not as cousins but more like brother and sister.

For a moment her thoughts turned to Paul. He was the perpetual bachelor and a member of the Chicago PD. He contended being a police detective and a married man didn’t mix well. It was a shame too, because he would have made a great husband and father. In his last email, he mentioned the case he was working on. After a major drug bust, he was preparing to testify at the trial of a major drug lord.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone. A glance at the caller ID told her Paul was the caller.

What’s up, Cuz? she greeted him. You never call so this much be important.

It is, Lissa. Are you alone?

No, Jen and Millie are here along with all the kids doing an Easter Egg hunt, she replied hesitantly. There was something about the tone of his voice that bothered her.

Can you get a flight to Chicago this afternoon?

Why? What’s wrong?

Mom just called me, and your dad suffered a heart attack this morning while they were at church. She thinks you should come home right away. I know it’s short notice, but Mom thinks it’s imperative for you to get here as soon as possible. If you need help with the ticket, I can prepay it on this end, and we can make arrangements for you to pay me back.

Lissa thought about her financial status. Thank goodness they had an emergency fund she could tap into. No, I can pay for the ticket. I’ll send you a text when I have the flight information.

Are you alright? Jen asked as soon as Lissa ended the call.

Yes, no, I don’t know. That was my cousin, Paul. My dad had a heart attack this morning. I have to fly to Chicago this afternoon. There’s so much to do, I don’t know where to start.

I’m so sorry. Millie and I can help you out. You go in and pack and see what you can get for a flight. I’ll take you to the airport and Millie can watch the kids. The girls can bunk in with my girls and you know Millie’s son Carter and Jack Jr. are always spending the night together. For now, you need to be in Chicago, so scoot and get packed.

Lissa thanked God for her good friends. After a call to the airline, she secured a seat on a non-stop leaving at five fifteen and arriving at O’Hare at six thirty-five. She was thankful the flight was open, and she was able to get a last-minute deal.

Telling the kids about their grandfather was much harder than she’d anticipated. Even though they rarely saw either set of grandparents, they did keep in touch through letters, email, and Facetime.

~ * ~

Paul Bastion paced the baggage claim area of O’Hare. Ever since receiving the phone call from his mother this morning, he’d been concerned. He didn’t remember his father. He’d been killed in an industrial accident before Paul was even a year old. Uncle Alan was the perfect father. He and Aunt Barbara were newly married when Paul’s father was killed. His mother had been worried as well as relieved when they opened their home to her and Paul.

Lissa was three years younger than him and the little sister he knew he would never have had otherwise. He’d hated making the call to tell her about Uncle Al’s heart attack but with his mother at Al’s bedside, he was the logical choice to inform her of what happened.

His mental ramblings were cut short with the announcement of the arrival of Lissa’s flight. He made his way to the carrousel where her luggage would be coming in, just in time to beat the influx of passengers hurrying to pick up their checked luggage.

Paul.

He turned at the sound of Lissa’s voice. He could tell she’d been crying, but even wearing just blue jeans and a sweater she looked like a fashion model.

He opened his arms and engulfed her in a brotherly embrace.

What do you hear from the hospital?

He’s stable and resting comfortably. After all the tests were done, they decided he needs surgery. They’re planning to do a quadruple bypass tomorrow morning. They wanted to do it today, but he wanted you here.

Oh Paul, I’m so frightened. What if something happens to Daddy? With the exception of you and Aunt Nancy, I’m all alone in this. Jackson is deployed somewhere in Afghanistan. Since he’s with special forces he can’t tell me where he is at any given time and the kids are too young to burden them with something like this.

Have you talked to Jackson?

Not since this morning. I’ll have to see how things are. If necessary, I’ll contact the Red Cross and have him brought home. I don’t want to do that, though. You know me, I’m relatively self-sufficient. When he’s deployed, I never know what his schedule will be. We can go several days, even weeks, without getting to talk with each other.

Self-sufficient or not, this is one time when you need him with you. If not here, then with the kids.

The kids are in good hands with my neighbors. I’m not worried about them. What about you? Are you going to be able to get time off to be with your mom?

A little, but not much. Like I told you, I’m prepping for the trial of one of the drug bosses in the city next week. It’s pretty high profile, so I’m laying low. I’m not even staying at my apartment. My partner is somewhere up in Wisconsin. Up until today I was at my getaway in Wisconsin as well. Of course, now, I’ll be staying with Mom in my old room. No one, other than Mom and you knows where I’m at. I’m even keeping my car in the garage.

Paul grabbed her luggage and together they made their way out to the parking garage. As soon as she saw the car she started to laugh. Don’t tell me you’re still driving your old ‘63 Chevy.

Okay, I won’t, but there she is in all her glory. I can’t see trading her in for something else. She runs like a top and unlike these new cars, I can do all the repairs on her myself.

He watched as Lissa slid onto the passenger side of the bench seat. He was glad he’d had the shoulder and lap belts installed, even though they decreased the value of his vehicle.

On the drive to the hospital, they took the time to get caught up on each other’s lives. He could tell Lissa missed Jackson when he was deployed, but that was only natural. She’d uprooted their family several times since they were married to follow her man. After their last stay in Germany, she’d returned to the house they owned in North