by Baker, S. L.
“The little cottage on the right is where Nicole and I both live,” I said, pointing as we drove by.
“Little, that’s bigger than my house.”
I chuckled. “Compared to the main house, it’s small.”
“Is that where Curran and I are staying?”
I looked at Victor for clarification.
“Yes, if that’s okay with you. I think you both will be very comfortable and most important, you will be safe.”
Nicole looked like she just sucked a sour ball. Now we had house guests. That would make her wild sex nights with Hawke awkward. Her eyes shot daggers in my direction. Scar gave me a look like I had lost my mind if I though Nicole would go for that. The cottage has three bedrooms and I spent all my time with Victor, so Ella could have the guest suite and Curran my room.
I leaned over and whispered in Nicole ear. “Don’t worry it will work out.”
She didn’t reply just shot me a look that could have knocked me out cold.
Cooper pulled into the driveway of the cottage and we gave Ella the tour.
“So you’re welcome to either the guest suite or my room, both have their own bath.”
“But where will you sleep if I take your room?”
“I stay with Victor most of the time.”
“I see. I assume in separate bedrooms since you’re not married?”
Scar smirked, she couldn’t wait to hear how I was going answer this question. Victor disappeared into the kitchen pretending to look for something in the cupboards. ‘Coward,’ Scarlett whispered. I was on my own with this one.
“Yes, ma’am,” I lied, but it was the easiest answer with less drama.
Ella chose the guest suite and excused herself to go get settled and freshen up. Victor was sitting at the breakfast bar smiling when I came around the corner.
“Thanks for the help,” I teased.
He put his hands up in front of his face. “She likes me, so let’s keep it that way.”
“Okay so no pre-marital sex while she’s here then, Mr. Salvatore?”
“I never said that, Miss Ellington, in fact I will see that gorgeous face of yours after dinner. I have some work to do and you need to calm Nicole down.”
“About that. I have to tell them something. I can’t just leave them wondering. What do I say?”
“Be selective, Nicole will require a more in depth answer, so tell her who my father is and that I’m not part of the family at all and you stumbled on something of importance to the Mob and they want it back. With Ella, just tell her you found something in Sid shed that could be the reason he was murdered and those people are looking for what you found. Don’t tell either of them about the book. The less they know, the safer they are.”
“Ok,” I said. Scarlett popped the cork on a bottle of wine and poured to glasses of wine one for me and one Nicole as peace offering I hoped.
Victor kissed me. “See you in a bit, baby girl,” he said and vanished out the door.
I grabbed the two glasses of wine and knocked on Nicole’s door.
“What,” she snapped.
“Can we talk?”
“Yeah.”
I opened the door and she was sitting on the couch texting Hawke. I handed her the wine. Scarlett folded her bitchy pants and put them in her closet for the next time.
“What the hell is going on?” Her eyes were on fire.
“I’m sorry I haven’t told you. I needed to keep you safe.”
“From what? The boggy man?” she snapped.
“Worse. The Mob.”
She drooped her wine. “What!”
I took a deep breathe. “Victor’s father is the head of the East Coast Mob.”
“I thought I recognized that last name, I just couldn’t place it. Holy shit, were living in a mobster’s house and you’re screwing the kingpin’s son. WTF?”
“No. Victor has severed all ties to his family. He has very little contact with his father.”
“And you believe him?” she scoffed. “How do you think he made his fortune? Selling cannoli’s on street corner?” Scarlett perked up when she heard cannoli’s and made a mad dash for the kitchen.
“He made his fortune on his own. He hates the mob, his mother was killed in a hit aimed at his father and she was collateral damage. His money is from his grandparents. His father has no influence in any of his businesses.”
She looked me and didn’t say a word.
“So why is the Mob after Aunt Ella?”
“There not, they want me.”
“What! Why?”
“Do you remember when I left and went to Aunt Ella’s for a few days?”
“Yeah.”
“While I was there I went to the old shed out back and found the reason why Uncle Sid was murdered and that’s what they want.”
“What did you find?”
“I’m not going to tell you. It’s for your own safety. Please don’t give me shit about this. I’m serious, the less you know the better.”
“Is Luke mixed up in this somehow?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he’s working for the Mob.”
“Holy fuck,” she said.
“This is all I can tell you at this point. This is going to be hard enough telling Ella. You know more than I’m telling her, so please don’t talk to her or Curran about any of this.”
“Fine,” she said. “I need to know. Is Hawke a mobster?”
Scarlett was nodding her head, oh hell yeah.
“No, he’s special ops, As far as I know none of the goons have ties to the mob.”
“Okay. I believe you, because I want to. I’m in deep, I think he’s the one.”
“Really?” I said leaning over to kiss her cheek. “So we’re good?”
“Yes.”
“You do know that Hawke has a house on the far end of the property. I can ask Victor if you can stay with Hawke until it’s safe for Ella and Curran to go home.”
Her eyes got wide and for a brief second I thought she was drooling.
“Hell yeah.”
“Let me see what I can do,” I said.
We were interrupted by a faint knock on the door. “Sweetheart?”
“Be right there, Aunt Ella,” I said.
“Remember. Don’t tell anyone. Got it?”
“Yes.”
I darted out to the living room, Ella was sitting on the couch. Worry and fear were etched on her face. I sat down next to her.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, sweetheart, I’m fine.”
“All settled in?”
“Yes. Thank you,” she said wringing he hands. “Please, Angelina, tell me what is going on.”
I took a deep breath. Scarlett rubbed my shoulders to loosen me up. This would be the most difficult conversation, I’d ever had.
“When I came to visit you, I went out to Uncle Sid’s shed. While I was in there, I found something.”
“What?”
“The reason why he was murdered. The police never told us who did it, but they suspected it was the mob, right?”
“Yes,” she whispered looking down at the floor.
“What I found was why he was murdered. He was trying to do something good.”
“Tell me what you found.” Her tone was frantic.
“I can’t. I need to keep you safe. The shed was torched by the Mob. They want what I have.”
“For the love of God, then just give it to them!”
“I wish it was that easy, but it’s not.”
“Luke, does the Mob have him?”
“I don’t know” I said my fingers crossed behind my back. “But we will find him,” I said, grabbing her hand.
Tears streamed down her face. “Are you sure?”
“I promise. He will be fine.”
“I hope so,” she said patting my hand.
I forced a smile, trying to keep it together. I felt like I got sucker punched and couldn’t catch my breath. My heart was breaking in two knowin
g I was causing my family so much trauma.
Chapter 18
Simple errands, like going to the bank, became perilous, every time I left the safety of Salvatore Disney Land. I was followed by the goon squad, by the Feds, and by Joe Salvatore’s hit men. Who were just waiting for the right time to drive me to some remote place and put a bullet in my head. The trip to get the money for Aunt Ella had as much planning as a tactical military mission. Joe Salvatore knew the book was still at large and so did everyone listed in it. Victor didn’t want to take the chance that his father’s goons would storm the bank launching a gun fight. In the end, I just transferred the money to Aunt Ella. As for the SUV, Victor wired the funds directly to the dealership from his account. He’d shot down my idea of taking out a loan. Charles agreed to even deliver my car to Salvatore Disney Land by noon.
Ella and Nicole were both excited that Curran and Hawke were arriving today. I knew he’d demand an explanation of what was happening, I had to keep him safe, so I would just give him enough pacify him. He would understand, the Mob was part of all three of our lives growing up and it had impacted all of us.
It was noon on the dot when my shiny new car arrived. Scarlett squealed in delight as she bolted in front of both Victor and I to greet Charles.
“Good afternoon, Miss Ellington, here it is all ready to go. This is all your paperwork and my card if you have any questions,” he said handing me a thick envelope.
“Thank you so much,” I said, flashing a big smile.
“You’re welcome, Miss Ellington, and thank you, Victor. As always my pleasure,” he said shaking Victor’s hand.
Scarlett blew Charles kisses and Cooper headed down the driveway with Charles riding shot gun.
“Let’s go for a ride,” I said. “We have time before Hawke and Curran arrive.”
“Sure. Let me grab something in the house and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Ok.”
I slid into the cool leather seats and studied all the buttons on the dash. Scar was more than happy to give me a crash course in what each one did. Victor open the passenger door and slid in. I got a glimpse of a gun tucked in his belt and swallowed hard. I’d tried so hard to put the gangster side of Victor out of my mind. Mob blood coursed through his veins though, and always would. Scarlett was pushing Victor’s coat aside, trying to pull the gun out when I shot her the evil eye. My thoughts wandered to how many people he had murdered with that gun, but I buried that deep. I didn’t ever want to know the answer to that.
I pulled through the gate and headed along the same stretch of road that my Honda died. Victor’s eyes were fixated in the side mirror making sure we were not followed. I took a corner faster than Victor liked and he clutched the ‘oh shit’ handle. I giggled remembering the first time I learned to drive. Luke was the unfortunate winner of that task. He was reckless and terrifying when he drove, so when he taught me, he was just the opposite and was the worst back seat driver ever. It was a miracle I got my license. Especially being taught that stop signs were optional if it’s on a remote back road.
Victor was tense and pre-occupied.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
His gazed fixated on the side mirror. Victor turned and looked out the back window.
“Victor, what’s going on?” I asked again, not hiding the concern in my voice and glancing in the rear view mirror. I saw what looked like the same SUV that ran me off the road before. Scarlett was loading her shot gun and I heard her cock it as I slammed down on the accelerator. The SUV increased its speed as well, but maintained its distance.
“Turn right.”
I obeyed. The SUV turned right.
“Fuck,” Victor said placing his hand on the gun.
“What?” I said. Darting my eyes from the road to the SUV behind us.
“Left. Sharp right,” Victor ordered.
We were on a dirt path barely big enough for my small SUV, but hidden from the main road. Victor yanked out his gun and Scarlett was on the roof in her sniper position. I held my breath as the SUV slowed, but kept going.
“Who the Hell was that?” I snapped.
“I don’t know.”
I took a mental roll call. The Mob, Vivian, The Feds, A new threat that just joined the party? Scarlett starting jotting them all down, it was getting hard to keep it all straight.
“Let me drive back.” Victor tone was tense.
“Wait, what if they come back? I can’t shoot a gun, and you can’t drive and shoot at the same time.”
“Not a problem,” he snapped as he got out and walked around to the driver’s side.
I silently walked over and slid into the passenger seat. Scarlett’s back was to us as she was scanning the road behind us in case our stalkers returned. She double checked her duffle bag on the floor to make sure she had her grenades.
I tried to make small talk. “I really love this car. Thank you.”
“Whoever that was, they now know what you drive, so until this blows over, Hawke or Cooper will be with you anytime you leave the property.”
“You just spent over twenty grand for a car I can no longer drive? That’s crazy. That SUV could have been some innocent coincidence and because were on high alert we over reacted.”
“Doubt it.”
“Seriously, Victor, it is probably nothing.”
“I’m not taking that chance.”
Then I got a text:
Like the new car. We need to meet. You have a new target.
Parker
When? I texted back.
9 a.m. tomorrow usual place.
O.k.
“Who is that?” Victor asked.
“Work.”
I deleted all of Agent Parker’s messages in case Victor ever saw them.
“Any ETA from Hawke and Curran?”
“Yes they will be at the house in thirty minutes.”
“Great. Ella needs to see her son, but at some point she is going to have to go back home. She told me yesterday that her supervisor told her that her vacation is almost depleted and if she isn’t back by next week, she’d be terminated. She stills has a small mortgage on that house and Curran’s college tuition, the money I gave her isn’t going to cover it all.”
“I know. I took care of it.”
“Of what?”
“I paid off her mortgage and the rest of Curran’s tuition this year and set up an account for the next three. She doesn’t have to worry.”
I was speechless.
“I mean…that is so incredibly generous of you…” I was choking back tears. “This is so life changing for Ella. She should have retired five years ago, but she wanted to make sure all her kids went to college. I can’t thank you enough, Victor.” I unbuckled my seat belt and leaned over to kiss him.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“My pleasure.”
I sat lost in my thoughts. I was so excited to tell Ella, but I knew she’d think it was too much. She was proud. When Sid was murdered she raised us and worked two jobs. She was strong and didn’t want anyone to feel pity for her. She did what she had to. I had to summon my inner sales skills to sell her on this. She’d insist on paying Victor back.
***
Victor pulled into the driveway of the cottage and cut the engine. I leaned over to kiss him again.
“I can’t wait to tell Ella.”
Victor smiled. “I’ll see you in a bit at the house. I want to make some calls.” The tension was back in his eyes.
“I thought you’d want to be there when I tell her the amazing gift you gave her.”
He forced a smile. “You got this. Text me and I will come get you.” He leaned over and kissed me. I knew Victor was elsewhere he was determined to figure out who it was that was following us.
My heart lurched as I controlled the urge to blurt out it was the Feds. I wasn’t ready to spill my secret about the deal I had struck with FBI. I was holding everything together by a thin thread and any second it could snap. Scarlett an
d I both knew this. She put her finger up to her lips, giving me the shush me- don’t tell him. Not yet.
Ella was sitting on the sofa sewing a quilt.
“That is beautiful,” I said picking up the edge.
“It for the daughter of a woman at work. She’s getting married in two months.”
“She’ll love it.”
“Angelina, speaking of work. How much longer will we be here? I love seeing you and Nicole, honey, that’s been wonderful, but I have bills to pay and can’t lose this job. Curran is thriving in school and I don’t want to saddle him with school loans if I don’t have too.”
“I understand, but until all of this settles down, this is the safest place for you and Curran. Also it will be easier for Victor to help find Luke.”
“Any word?” she said fighting off tears.
“Not yet,” I replied, grabbing her trembling hand. “I do have something to tell you.” Tears filled her eyes. “It’s good news. In fact it will take away so much of your worry. Victor paid Curran’ tuition for the rest of this year and set up an account for the remaining three years of college and he paid off your house.”
Ella’s mouth fell open and she started stammering. “But, why would he… and how did he…”she stuttered in shock. “I can’t allow him to do this...it’s too much.”
“I understand. Victor is very generous and can be very assertive. Trust me, I know first-hand,” I said. Scarlett nodded her head in agreement. “This was important to him. It means a lot, Ella, to us both.”
She started sobbing. I hugged her. “I just can’t believe he would do this for me, for us.”
“So you’re officially retired!” I said. “Let’s celebrate.” Scarlett had already popped the cork off the champagne and was pouring herself a glass. I filled two glasses with champagne and went back to Ella who was blowing her nose and dabbing her eyes with a tissue. I handed her a glass.
“I can’t, it’s only 2:30 in the afternoon.”
“It’s five someplace and besides, who cares? You’re retired,” I said clinking my glasses against hers.
‘Somebody’s watching me’ filled the room as my phone went off. Ella raised an eyebrow.
