by Sam Cheever
The older woman laughed and dipped the tray away as Gordon’s hand reached for it again. She waddled over to Hank and offered it to him. “There’s a tiramisu with your name on it, child. Mind you grab it up afore others at this table get hold of it.”
General objection burst over the table, all delivered in deep, unhappy male tones.
Franco was pleased to see Nici following the fun with sparkling eyes and a smile she probably didn’t even realize she wore. His nerves settled a bit, realizing she might be finally seeing what he’d seen in the infamous family six years earlier, when he’d left an up and coming position with the IMPD to take a job working security for Gordon DeVitis.
It had been a professional risk, engendering a lot of hard feelings from his peers on the force. But Franco hadn’t regretted it for a moment. He’d looked past the dark tales of violence and grift to the love and devotion which bound the family together and kept them strong.
They had a “them against the world” mentality that made them seem cold and unwelcoming to others. But Franco recognized the real feeling behind the subterfuge. Fear of what they might lose if they didn’t hold each other tight.
“Franco!”
His head jerked around at the insistent sound of Gordon’s voice. “What are you daydreaming about, son?”
Franco frowned. “You caught me, sir. I was wondering how brown hair dye made a woman smarter.”
The men at the table laughed softly, clearly unsure his teasing would be met with the appropriate response. Franco wasn’t worried. He noted the way Nici’s lips twitched as he fixed her with a questioning gaze.
“Actually,” she said, “it didn’t need to make me any smarter. It was meant to make the men around me smarter. It was them who didn’t understand my worth when I looked like every man’s dream.”
Appreciative guffaws filled the room, led by the indomitable Ciara, who patted Nici on the shoulder and placed a thick slice of chocolate cream pie in front of her. “Men are also stupid about a shapely woman, child. But I’m sure you can rise above their stupidity. Eat the pie, darlin’. I made it just for you.”
When Nici lifted a startled gaze to the housekeeper, clearly wondering how she’d known it was her favorite, Ciara just winked. “Don’t think I can’t see inside your soul, pretty girl. I been doin’ it for forty years and more with this ragtag bunch. Since King Gordon over there was just a wee lad wearin’ short pants.”
###
As pleasurable as dinner had been...and it had been delightful, despite all her misgivings...Nici knew the hardest part of the day would come afterward. She’d corralled Gordon before they sat down to eat and told him she wanted to speak to him, alone, after dinner.
To her surprise he’d agreed without comment. And sitting down across from him in that moment, her belly overfull with the most delicious chocolate pie she’d ever tasted, Nici wondered if she had what it took to steer the conversation the way she wanted it to go.
Gordon didn’t speak for a long moment. He leaned forward and grabbed a fireplace poker, nudging the flaming logs into a formation that made the fire flare even brighter. The room was pleasantly cozy, despite the fact that beyond the walls spring was finally nudging winter to the background and a fire seemed unnecessary.
He looked up as he resettled the poker in its stand and seemed to read her thoughts. “I know it’s not really fire weather. But I find them restful. And I think better in front of one. You’re not too warm are you?”
She shook her head. “I’ve always loved a fire.”
He nodded. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”
She twined her fingers together and he smiled. Nici forced herself to stop, placing her hands on the arms of the upholstered chair instead. “I wanted to ask you about the DeVitis treasure. I always thought it was an urban legend.”
His expression showed quick surprise before it smoothed back to neutral. “It is...” He fixed her with a studied look. “And it isn’t.”
She didn’t respond, her silence demanding that he clarify.
“The legend of gold and jewels is a myth. I only wish it were as simple as that. I could deal with people who wanted to steal such unimportant things.” He stared hard at the fire.
Nici waited several moments before nudging him. “But?”
He jolted slightly, as if he’d forgotten she was there. “The treasure we hold is much more important than gold. It’s knowledge, a promise for the welfare of the people in the world.” He leaned forward, placing his forearms on his knees. “We hold the key to changing illness and death for billions of people, Nicola. And there are many who would seek out this knowledge for their own gain. Some, in fact, who would walk on the corpses of others to achieve it.”
She frowned, realizing that a pharma company which had developed a promising drug of that magnitude would suffer no end of problems from it. “How does that affect me? And Elena?”
He shook his head. “I can’t tell you that right now, Nicola. I wish I could. Suffice it to say that you are as much a weakness for this family as a strength.”
She chose not to be hurt by his words, striving instead to understand their meaning. “They’d use us against you, trying to get you to give up your secrets?”
“Yes. That is a distinct possibility.”
“Franco mentioned something called The Foundation...”
Gordon lifted a hand. “Just one of many enemies. As long as you are with us you’re safe. You needn’t worry.”
She fought to keep disappointment off her face. Instinctively, Nici knew a plea for her own independence wouldn’t hold much sway with him. So she used her only other weapon, and felt dirty for using her sister’s safety to gain her own. “But Elena isn’t safe anymore, is she? She’s not here and you can’t find her.”
A shadow darkened his expression. “I’m worried about her.”
His statement was so simple, so sincere, that Nici’s shame deepened for using it against him. “I’m worried too. I want to help you find her.”
He stood up, shaking his head. “It isn’t safe.”
“But I...”
Gordon lifted a hand, cutting her off. “I’m not a stupid man, Nicola. I know you’re looking for a way to leave.” He shook his head, frowning. “It goes against everything I’ve ever done to keep you girls safe...” He sighed, glancing toward the door as if he’d rather be out there than in the room with her.
Nici felt his resistance like a slap across the face. “I’m not ungrateful...”
“Yes...” He gave her an angry grin. “You are. But in your defense, you don’t know any better yet. That’s why I’ve decided, against my better judgment, to follow my lovely wife’s advice.”
Nici blinked, her pulse pounding as she realized what he was telling her. “You’ll let me leave?”
“You are not a prisoner here, child. I only want to keep you safe.”
She nodded, unable to look him in the eye. She felt guilty that she still didn’t believe him.
“The danger is real, Nicola. I know you still have your doubts. But my lab tested the syringe Franco brought back from that horrible place downtown...”
“Vixens,” she said, her fingers finding each other again as nerves crept in.
“Yes. As he suspected it had traces of a date rape drug in it. A particularly potent one. I’m not surprised it made you sick. It’s a wonder it didn’t keep you down longer.” He fixed her with a speculative look and then turned away to poke the fire again. “I’m hoping you’ll agree to permit Franco to remain your bodyguard. He is singularly qualified to guide and protect you. With him reporting back to us occasionally we’ll know you’re safe.”
“Of course.” She stood, eager to go before he changed his mind.
“You can leave in the morning. I need Franco here tonight and you need to be rested. Things must be prepared for your journey.”
“Journey?”
A knock sounded on the door. Gordon grabbed her hands and squeezed them
. “Take care, Nicola. It would break my heart if I lost you now that I’ve finally gotten to meet you.” He tugged a lock of her mahogany colored hair, grinning as if recalling the conversation about blonde women from dinner. “You remind me so much of your mother. It’s meant a lot to Shelle to meet you. I hope you’ll do her the kindness of letting her see you once in a while?”
The door opened and Doug DeVitis came inside, his gaze sliding to Nici and turning speculative. “I’m sorry to interrupt but we’ve had word on Elena.”
Gordon dropped an arm around Nici’s shoulders, walking her to the door. “Be safe, child.”
She wanted to argue. He’d given her back her freedom but she discovered that all she cared about was making sure Elena was safe. “You’ll let us know when you find her? I’d really like to meet her someday...soon.”
Gordon nodded. “You have my word.”
Doug offered her his hand. “I’m glad we finally met, Nicola. I hope you’ll be part of the family now. This house needs more feminine influences in it. There’s entirely too much testosterone for one place.”
She took his hand, found it warm and strong, and also found herself nodding. “I’d like that.”
His smile was genuine. “Good. Safe travels.”
She let herself be ushered out, wondering how everyone but her had seemed to know she was leaving in the morning. But then happy shrieking ensued and she quickly forgot about her conversation with Gordon as Bridget barreled out of the dining room, Hank hot on her trail. “Save me, Nici! Help!” Hank growled loudly and darted for the little girl, laughing as she dived away from his grip and ran toward Nici.
It felt so right to join in the fun. With a laugh, Nici grabbed the little girl’s hand and ran with her through the house, looking for a place to stave off the Hank monster.
As they dodged and hid and ran for cover, Nici’s heart filled with the promise of her new family and she couldn’t believe how much her life had changed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nici...he really needed to get used to calling her that...had been silent for most of the time they’d been on the road. She stared out the window, a slight frown on her face. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was unhappy to be leaving the DeVitis behind.
“Gordon spoke to your parents.”
She glanced his way, the worry lines disappearing from between her eyes. “Are they okay?”
“They’re fine. You were right. They were worried. But Gordon explained to them that he was protecting you.”
The frown settled back in. “I don’t know why you won’t give me my phone back.”
“Your phone was left on the street the night I...”
“Abducted me?”
His hackles rose but then he saw the smile on her face. “You’re never going to forgive me for that, are you?”
“Not a chance. That was my favorite purse and gun.”
His eyebrows rose. “Gun? You were packing? Naughty girl. Vixen’s doesn’t allow firepower.”
She shrugged, not at all chastised. “With terrorists and dirt bags shooting up clubs and malls every day I don’t go anywhere without my gun.” She looked down at her hands, seeming to realize she was currently going everywhere without it.
“You still have a gun, Nic. I’m just wearing it instead of you.”
She shook her head. “Are you wearing my purse too?”
He barked out a laugh. “I don’t think it would go with my outfit.”
Tilting her head, she pretended to assess his clothes. “I’m thinking a smallish, black leather backpack.”
“Would there be space for my gun?”
“There would have to be. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
They shared a smile and Franco felt that warm coiling deep in his belly that he’d been trying to ignore since he’d...okay he’d abducted...the woman sitting next to him from the nightclub. He knew what the feeling was. He was a man who’d had his share of women. But it wasn’t a feeling he could do anything about. Nicola was a job. She could never be anything more. Not unless he wanted to lose his job and maybe a lot more.
“I’m starving,” she said, thankfully oblivious to his thoughts.
He was starving too. But food wasn’t going to fill his empty space. “I’ve been smelling something heavenly since you got into the car.”
She lifted a brow and he laughed. “From the bag behind my seat.”
She nodded. “Ciara insisted on packing food for us.”
“That sounds like her. You want to eat on the move or stop somewhere?”
“Let’s find a park or something. I’d like to get out and stretch a bit.”
“You got it.”
Twenty minutes later he pulled the Jeep into a small park just off the highway. The picnic tables in the center of the small green space were strategically placed to overlook the lush, rolling hills of south-central Indiana.
He drove through the entire park before easing to a stop near one of the tables. The area was empty except for them. He pulled the car up next to the table anyway, in case they needed to make a quick getaway. He didn’t really expect any problems, but he’d always made it a habit to prepare for trouble just in case.
Nic pulled the bag out of the car and settled it on the table. He scanned the area one last time before letting himself relax. Then he opened the back of the car and pulled two icy bottles of water out of a small cooler.
Franco settled the bottles onto the table and helped her spread the bounty. His mouth watered as they laid out a fat, juicy roast chicken, homemade potato salad, cold baked beans, and an assortment of fruits and cheeses for dessert.
“This looks amazing,” he told her, realizing he was hungry too. “I’m glad we stopped so we could really enjoy it.”
“Me too.” Nic handed him a plate and some plastic utensils. “Ciara thought of everything.”
“She always does. Especially when it’s about food. Food is her god. She worships at the altar of a full stomach and thinks there’s nothing in the world that can’t be solved through eating and drinking.”
Nic stuck a moist bit of chicken in her mouth and closed her eyes. “Mmm, so good. I’m almost glad I didn’t grow up around her. I’d weigh a thousand pounds.”
Shaking his head, Franco scooped up a large helping of potato salad. “I doubt it. Elena’s too skinny if anything.” He immediately felt guilty as the words emerged. They felt too much like a betrayal. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk about her to you.”
She wiped her fingers on a napkin. “No, you absolutely should. I want to know everything there is to know about her. I can’t believe I have a sister.”
Her eyes lit up at the prospect of hearing about Elena and Franco couldn’t resist indulging her. “You have two sisters. Don’t forget little Bridget.”
Nic laughed. “How could I forget her? She’s adorable. She’s just like I was at her age. A total tomboy.”
He feigned surprise. “You? I don’t believe it.”
She popped a green grape between her lips, nodding. “I swear. I hated that Erik was older and could do more stuff so I competed with him endlessly.” She laughed. “I know it must have driven him crazy to have his little sister always hanging around, cramping his style. But he was good about it. Mom made him put up with me.” A look of profound sadness transformed her face but she shook it off quickly enough. “He’s working security right now but he wants to be a cop.”
Franco nodded, his mouth full of salad. Once he’d swallowed, he wiped his mouth and said, “Did he go to college?”
She nodded. “He went to IU in Bloomington while I was there. Finished in three years.”
Franco didn’t miss the pride in her voice. “I’m surprised he stayed so close to home. Usually twenty-some year old men can’t wait to escape their families.”
“I know. Erik’s different. He’s only a couple of years older than I am and we’re really close. He seems to think watching out for me is his job in life.” She shrugged, her gaz
e dark with emotion.
“If you’d like, I can put in a good word for him at IMPD. I used to work there.”
“You were a cop?”
“I was.” He pulled a fat leg off the chicken and took a bite. A tasty mix of herbs and lemon burst over his tongue and made him moan with pleasure.
“That would be great. If you wouldn’t mind.” Her expression turned sad again when she thought about her brother.
Franco gave in to the urge to reassure her. He wrapped his hand around hers on the table, unprepared for the jolt of awareness engendered by the simple touch. Judging by the way her gaze widened, Franco thought she’d felt it too. He gave her hand a quick squeeze and released it. “They’re still your family, you know. Nothing’s really changed, except you found more people who want you in their lives.” He stuck a piece of cheese in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.
“Anshelle’s nice.”
He took a swig of his water, his gaze drawn to a black car moving along a side street. “She’s the best. And Gordon has rough edges but he’s a good man too. You could do much worse if you’re looking for allies.”
She nodded. “We’ll see.”
The big SUV slowed at the light and his internal warning system gave a little blip. He picked up his plate and dumped it into a trash can near the table. Nic finished her chicken and reached for her water.
The SUV turned down the street feeding the park and moved on past, not slowing or turning in. Franco filled his lungs for the first time in a long moment, chastising himself for being incapable of relaxing. It was a problem he’d had since he’d become a cop and discovered how many dirt bags there were in the world.
“Franco?”
When he turned to her, Nic offered him a large chocolate chip cookie. A dark ribbon of hair danced across her cheek and into her eyes as a warm breeze wafted across the area where they stood. His fingers twitched with the need to smooth the silky strand away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Before he knew what he was doing, he’d done just that. Her hand with the cookie wavered between them, her hazel gaze going soft as he stepped close. Her gaze fell to his mouth, lingered there, and Franco’s thumb caressed the sexy angles of her high cheekbones. Her skin was like velvet, smooth and unblemished, and he suddenly wondered if her lips were as soft as they looked.
