Shadows of Deceit (A Series of Shadows)

by Mell Corcoran

  “Our Dominor only new my name from before I was turned, when Abby was given permission.” Dillon continued to explain. “So everything that has happened has been unbiased, uninfluenced and completely on the level. I was on my own when I hit Los Angeles and aside from making sure I was funneled here so that I would have a chance at the spot, getting the job as your partner was totally you and Vinny’s decision.”

  Lou had been listening to him talk for nearly twenty minutes, weighing everything he said with what she already knew. She remembered Max saying that he was prohibited from any involvement in the candidate process so that rang true with Dillon’s story. She had talked to Abby several times over the past few days but the conversations were quick with no time for chit chat. All in all they had been respectful in how they had handled things, making sure that Dillon earned the spot on his own without any influence. Dillon had done the job well and was a very good detective. Lou had already thought that a Sanguinostri was best suited for her partner position. It would make her life so much easier not having to fudge things, work angles, cover up her real sources. Having a partner that was in on the secret was a definite asset. So why was she feeling so betrayed? Or was betrayal what she was actually feeling? Dillon was looking at her with pleading eyes and she wasn’t sure what the hell she was supposed to say to him or if she wanted to say anything at all. As if by a pure miracle, Doris came jogging up the pathway, huffing and out of breath.

  “They accepted!” She finally got it out after sucking in several gulps of air. “Get out your check book, stud!”

  It took a minute for Dillon to register who the woman was let alone what she was saying “Are you shitting me?”

  “Seriously?” Lou couldn’t believe her ears either.

  “I am serious!” Doris fanned herself with the stack of papers she was holding. “The brother and his wife are moving out of the country and are motivated to get it done immediately!”

  Dillon blinked at her. “They accepted the price we offered? No counter?”

  Doris nodded and sucked in another breath. “Not one penny more. You do have enough money, right?”

  “Of course!” He shouted. Dillon had more than enough money stashed away given he was the sole beneficiary to not only his father’s estate but also his aunt and uncle’s. When his former self passed, Abby had arranged all of his estate to be left to his new incarnation, of which she supplemented generously.

  “Well, break out the checkbook mister!” Lou yelled at him and he immediately took off for his car. As she watched him run, Lou suddenly realized that the universe was telling her something. Even though he had technically been a Sanguinostri for over twenty years, Dillon was still new to being a part of the team, just as she was. In many ways he was even newer since he had no relationship with Max or the rest of the Council, save for Yuri and Connor. She was actually one up on him there. All of his roots were being set within her world and they were a part of each others lives now, no matter what. When considering everything, Lou realized that Dillon had handled things the very best way possible. He could have played the Sanguinostri card from the first moment and been a shoe-in, but he hadn’t. Dillon won them over based on his own abilities and personality. He wasn’t a forced fit, he blended in seamlessly and that was no small task. Lou admitted she had reservations even when she told Vinny to make it official but as she found herself standing there it suddenly dawned on her that all those reservations had revolved around him not being Sanguinostri. Now that she knew who and what he really was, those reservations simply did not exist any longer. When Lou saw him running towards them flapping his check book in the air, she couldn’t help but laugh. Despite the fact that he was built like a defenseman for the Boston Bruins and was indeed rakishly handsome as Caroline had put it, Lou saw an awkward little boy. The military manners made sense now as did the other little quirks and small things Lou had observed. Now in was all in context. Although she wasn’t sure if she should have been angry at Abby for avoiding full disclosure, Lou was oddly comforted by the truth. Dillon would understand everything and have her back in the process. She realized that she was suddenly breathing easier.

  “I can get a cashier’s check for the rest in the morning.” Dillon informed Doris as he scribbled furiously on the small piece of paper that was about to change his future.

  “The rest? As in you’re buying the house outright?” Doris looked a little stunned.

  “Absolutely.” Dillon looked up at her. “I have money from an inheritance so it’s not a problem.”

  “Well that should speed things up considerably!” The woman could barely contain her excitement.

  “So all the furnishings are included?” Lou asked, wanting to make certain.

  “Yes!” Doris was grinning from ear to ear. “It’s move in ready! Everything is new, the mattresses, bedding, all of it is brand new and never been used so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  “That is amazing.” Lou wondered if this was a Sanguinostri set up. It just seemed too good to be true. She would remember to ask Abby when she confronted her about Dillon.

  “This is the absolute best day ever!” Dillon beamed with joy as he handed Doris the check.

  After Doris literally skipped away to handle the finalization of the sale, Lou and Dillon walked through the house one more time. He asked her opinion on changes here and there and it was clear that he really wanted to know what she thought. He wasn’t just jabbering, he valued her opinion. It was definitely a good day for Dillon and Lou was really glad she was able to be a part of it.

  With Daylight Saving Time in full force and effect it was hard for Lou to grasp that it was after 7 p.m. and still light out when they pulled into her driveway. There were three cars parked in front of the house that she didn’t recognize but one she was sure belonged to Max. Lou wondered what could be going on inside and when Dillon offered to escort her in, she accepted without thinking. Already in her subconscious the fact that Dillon was part of both her worlds made him sort of a security blanket. If he was truly going to have her back, best to toss him in at the deep end straight away.

  It was ominously quiet when they first walked into the house but after she closed the door she could hear voices coming from the kitchen. Dillon followed close behind her as they headed towards the conversation. It was a full house and the faces were all intense. Joe, Shevaun, Lou’s uncle Seamus and her aunt Nora were all seated around the kitchen island. Lou’s cousin Liam and Max were leaning up against the counter side by side. Something intense was definitely going on and Lou could only guess what that was.

  “Hello detectives.” Max smiled at Lou then nodded to Dillon.

  “What’s going on?” Lou asked immediately.

  Shevaun approached Lou and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Hello sugar. Hello Dillon.” She smiled politely. “It’s a bit of a family matter.” Shevaun said as she gave her daughter a sideways glance to indicate Dillon shouldn’t be in on it.

  Lou walked over and gave her uncle and aunt hugs hello and examined the expressions on their faces very carefully. “How are you guys?” She asked as she gave her cousin a hug as well.

  “It’s been a long day.” Seamus said with a sideways grin.

  “We are fine Lou.” Nora told her in a reassuring tone. “Everything is going to be fine.”

  “How long have you guys been here?” Lou asked them while looking Max dead in the eye.

  “Seamus came for lunch.” It was her mother who answered.

  “I got here just after lunch.” Max told her then looked directly at Dillon. Apparently Max did not know about Dillon yet which gave Lou an odd sense of satisfaction. Finally, Lou knew something that he didn’t.

  “We have been here for a few hours.” Liam said as he gave her a quiet smile.

  “So this is extended family business?” Lou posed the question to Max specifically and he answered her with a slight nod. This obviously meant to Lou that they were starting the indoctrination process they had di
scussed in the library the other night.

  Lou turned and looked at Dillon and smirked. “Then I think a proper greeting is warranted.” This was going to be a little test to see how in sync she and Dillon really were. “This is my new partner, Dillon Cole.” Lou announced. “It was made official today.”

  Dillon walked directly to Max and greeted him in the proper Sanguinostri fashion, fist over heart salute and a bow of the head. “My Dominor.”

  Lou desperately wished she had the foresight to record the moment with her cell phone camera because the expression on Max’s face was priceless. His eyebrows nearly receded into his hairline and his posture straightened immediately. He looked at Dillon then to Lou, wide eyed.

  “He’s Abby’s.” Was all Lou said.

  “Excuse me?” Max was clearly caught off guard.

  “My Dom, one moment and I’ll explain.” Dillon assured him but he walked around the room and greeted everyone first, offering his hand and making eye contact with each of them singularly as though they were the most important person in the world.

  Lou watched Dillon carefully and it became clear to her that he was the genuine article. Because this was her family and important to her, they were very important to Dillon as well.“We met when you gave your blessing to Abby for my rescue and indoctrination. I was Patrick Byrne then and in a coma.” Dillon explained. “Abby told me to have you question her about all this. I am ill equipped to explain given the circumstances.”

  “Well well. She pulled this off brilliantly.” Max admitted with a smirk. “Who apprenticed you?”

  “Connor and Yuri, my Dom.” Dillon answered.

  “No time with Niko?” Max inquired.

  “No, my Dom.” Dillon had been prepped on how to handle this situation when the time came. “However, Abby did inform me that would be required once you were apprised of things.”

  “So maybe he and I can go through that part together?” Liam interjected making Max smile.

  “Then you have made your decision?” Max asked.

  “I don’t see a down-side to it.” Liam answered as he glanced at his parents. “I mean, of course the final say is my parents but for me, I’m in without hesitation.”

  “You’ve explained everything? I mean everything?” Lou asked Max.

  “Oh yes, ad nauseum.” It was Seamus that answered. “Your mother started over lunch, then Joe just happened to get home early so he joined in.” Seamus got up from the island and was gesturing dramatically with his hands. “Actually, that was a good thing because at least he had the decency to break out the scotch!”

  “Seamus!” Nora scolded him. “You think this was easy for them? For any of us for that matter? You’re not the only one who is having their brains scrambled so stop acting like a drama queen!”

  “Drama queen? You think I’m being a drama queen?” Seamus gawked at his wife. “Everything I thought I knew about the world has been flipped on it’s ear! My own blood has been lying to me! Now, I gotta make a life altering decision to do the same, like now, and I’m the drama queen?”

  “Dad, how do you think Aunt Shevaun has felt having to keep this all from us? Then Lou?” Liam was clearly not happy with his father at the moment.

  Max sidled up to Lou and whispered in her ear. “We went around for about four hours before your mother called Nora and Liam to come up. Seamus has been getting progressively more inebriated ever since.”

  “You think it’s about Vinny?” She whispered.

  Max nodded. “I suspect so. To be honest I think him more than Nora or your cousin.”

  Lou watched as her uncle paced around the kitchen. She understood the crisis of conscience he was having over the need to lie to Vinny. They had been best friends since the Sheriff’s academy, despite Seamus being older by seven years. It was a tough position to be put in but when Lou had considered everything, it was the best thing for Vinny that he be left out of the Sanguinostri loop.

  “Listen to me.” Lou walked up to her uncle and poked him in the belly, making him wince. “Your son is a cop now. Vinny’s kid has yet to be born! He is not retired, you are. His entire family is not a part of this world, yours is.”

  “Dad...” Liam put his hand on his father’s shoulder. “I listened to everything very carefully. I am telling you right now that if there is a way for me to be a better cop and have less of a chance of dying in the process, I am taking it. End of discussion.”

  Nora looked at her son and smiled then looked back to Seamus. “Are you even considering it in those terms?” She asked her husband.

  So there it was. The bottom line. The most important thing to both Seamus and his wife. The safety and security of their son. Seamus looked at his wife for several minutes with an expression that Lou knew all too well. It was the look of both resignation and pride that Seamus and Joe often gave their wives when they knew they were right.

  Seamus turned abruptly and looked at Dillon. “So you are part of all this?”

  “I am, sir.” Dillon nodded. “I was inexplicably lucky to be given this new life.”

  “You like coffee?” Seamus asked him.

  “I do, sir.” Dillon smiled.

  “Since you are outside of the family loop, let’s have some coffee and you give me your take on all this.” Seamus ushered Dillon into the other room.

  Lou could hear Seamus asking Dillon how he came to be Sanguinostri and Lou knew that Dillon would explain everything in great detail just as he had done a little while ago with her. She expected it would be about twenty minutes or so before they were finished so she decided it would be a good time to go through any questions her cousin and aunt had while they waited. Lou hopped up on the counter and let the Q and A begin.

  Max was gentle and patient running through it all for what Lou expected was the tenth time. Lou listened very carefully when he explained to her aunt and cousin what her role as Principate was and how critical it was to him and his council. Lou thought she had the gist of it before but hearing him explain once again in very fundamental points made Lou feel a little more secure than she had been feeling lately. Liam was enthralled by all of it, asking about the different agents, stewards, the various roles they played and then the option of turning versus not was rehashed again for the both of them. Lou knew that it was a huge risk to turn even with the tests they had. She also knew that it was something her mother and Joe were having intense discussions about lately. What Lou didn’t know was that her mother had already submitted her blood for testing and was waiting for the results.

  “When did you do that?” Lou was stunned.

  “Last week.” Shevaun replied rather sheepishly. “I was going to tell you once I had the results back.”

  “Well at least you weren’t going to tell me after you were turned!” Lou scoffed.

  Shevaun frowned at her daughter. “Listen young lady! This is my life and I will decide what to do with it as I see fit. You are a grown up now! Not a child that I need to take care of. I realize this impacts you but it is still my choice and I do not need your permission!”

  Lou was taken aback by her mother’s scolding. “I know it’s your life, I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”

  “You are seriously considering turning?” Nora asked her sister-in-law. “Aren’t you scared?”

  “Now that you know the benefits, aren’t you considering it?” Shevaun asked her point blank. “What about for Liam? Don’t you want him to consider it? Hell, don’t you want him to just do it?”

  As the two women discussed the situation, Lou looked at Max with worry. She knew that a turning needed to be approved unless there was special dispensation. “Can they if they choose?” She whispered to him.

  “Of course.” Max answered quietly as he scooted closer to her. “Your family has my endorsement. I told you that when you were indoctrinated.”

  “Yeah but I thought that meant just us, mom, Joe and me.” Lou had been in denial about a lot of things and didn’t want to ask questions in case she was g
oing to get an answer she wouldn’t like.

  “No.” He placed his hand over hers. “Whatever you need is always yours, you should know that by now. That extends to your entire family, Lou. I know they mean everything to you.”

  Lou turned her hand and laced her fingers with his. This man made her heart swell to an almost painful fullness. Yes, he scared the crap out of her on occasion when she considered his power and position but he was so humble and generous to her and her family that it made her want to weep. The simple fact that the sight of him made her knees weak only exacerbated the issue. In that moment with their fingers entwined, staring into his warm honey eyes, Lou could barely breathe. Neither of them saw Liam approach so when he spoke it gave them both a start and they quickly pulled their hands apart. They hadn’t done anything wrong but they both were acting like guilty teenagers.

  “Uh, sorry to interrupt but I wanted to ask you a few things if I could?” Liam was asking Max so Lou decided it was time to check on her uncle and Dillon.

  When she walked in to the other room she saw Joe, her uncle and Dillon all huddled together in deep discussion. As soon as Seamus saw her come in he waved at her to come and join them.

  “You know what this kid has been through?” Seamus asked her.

  Lou smiled. “I only just found out today..”

  “Really?” Her uncle was surprised.

  “Really.” Lou confirmed. “He wanted to get the job based on his own merits, not because he was Sanguinostri.”

  Seamus looked even more impressed with the man. “Good for you!”

  “I bought a house today too!” Dillon grinned from ear to ear.