by Terra Kelly
“I’m going,” Letizia said. “My family died for that money.”
Ricky put his hands up in surrender. “Oh, I didn’t mean you can’t go. I only meant, it may look less suspicious with just four friends taking a trip.”
“Agreed.” Finley rubbed her back. “You’re going no matter what.”
Ricky knew the plan was tricky, and they all thought about the consequences. The boat ride over to the island would take most of the day. So far they had not experienced any bad weather, so he had his fingers crossed it would be a good trip over to the small island.
“Do we know who the captain is of the boat taking us to Isla San Juanito?” Ricky said, moving the ice around in his glass.
“Well, so far, everything we found shows he has no ties to the mob in any way,” Miles said. “We may be far enough away.”
“Hopefully”–Vikki sighed–“Johnny knew what he was doing when he picked the island.”
“Here are the coordinates.” Miles handed them an envelope and compass. “You won’t have cell phone service, but Cooper made sure you had a satellite phone.”
Ricky grabbed the items. “We set sail at dawn.” He stood up. “I need some rest.”
“Rest.” Miles laughed. “Is that your secret code word for sex?”
“Maybe.” Ricky bent and picked up Vikki in his arms. “I’ll never tell.”
“You sure we’re safe taking the boat ride tomorrow?” Vikki said, pulling the covers up around them.
“We’ve been monitoring the chatter from the station in Toronto. Cooper has heard nothing.” Ricky pulled her closer. “I really do think we are far enough away from it all.”
“Unless someone followed us.”
“We’ll be okay.” He kissed her forehead.
“Promise?”
“I want to see how this wedding turns out. I have to promise.”
“Or we could just get married here.”
“In Puerto Vallarta?”
“Why not? I bet we could find a justice of the peace here somewhere.”
Ricky didn’t know what to say. He really didn’t care where he got married. All he wanted was the redhead who made his body feel amazing every day to be his wife. The word wife rolled around in his mind.
“Okay.”
“Okay, let’s get married here in Mexico?”
He sat up and pulled her onto his lap. “Okay, let’s get married here.”
“Really?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved her body back and forth. “I fucking can’t wait to be your wife. We may need to change your first name, though.”
“My first name? Why are we changing it?”
“Ricky and Vikki is so cute. We’re not cute. Maybe you could be Richard.”
“Fuck that. I refuse to have people call me Dick.”
“Well it is nice.” She wiggled her behind.
“It’s nice, the name not so much.” He smacked her ass. “And why do I have to change my name? What about you? Ever try Victoria?”
“Do I look like I’m from the eighteenth century?”
He pushed her back on the bed. “You would hate the dresses from that era.”
“I hate dressing.”
“That’s true.” He nipped at her nipple. “And you see no complaints from me.”
Vikki lifted her chest up and moaned. “I guess we stick with cute, Vikki and Ricky.”
He made a trail of hot kisses up her collarbone and on her neck all the way behind her ear. “We are pretty cute.”
“In bed.” She giggled and wrapped her legs around his body. “I can’t wait to call you my handsome husband.”
Thirty-Nine
“Are we ready for this?” Ricky said, stepping carefully onto the boat.
“I think so.” Finley handed him a duffel bag. “Is Miles sure he wants to stay back?”
“Yeah, Preslie was praying to the porcelain gods again this morning.” Vikki grabbed Ricky’s hand so he could help her onto the deck.
“So, this pregnancy is a surprise, right?” Letizia said, stepping up beside Vikki.
“Well, to all of us. I’m not sure about them two.” Vikki shrugged her shoulders.
“But she tells you everything.”
“Apparently there are some things she has been holding back.”
“I think she waited to say anything until after the case wrapped up,” Ricky, said walking over to the captain.
Vikki took her top off. She had on a bikini top that left nothing to the imagination. “That’s probably true. Either way, they will have a houseful soon.” She shivered at the thought.
“Kids not your thing?” Ricky pinched her behind.
“Not that many. I have my limits.”
“So, if I really want six kids, the marriage is off?”
“Oh yeah, I might as well get off this boat now,” Vikki teased and pretended to walk over to the dock area.
“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t get away from me that easily.” He picked her up and spun her around.
They were sitting at the front of the boat, going over all the notes from Johnny. Ricky had a marker and was placing circles on a map where each coordinate was and tapped in the center of the circles. “From what Johnny shared, finding the money may be tricky after twenty-plus years.” He pointed to the area where it should be located. “I’m guessing with the tide and corrosion, it will be around here somewhere.”
“You have two shovels in that bag, right?” Finley asked.
“Two shovels, lights, and so much more.”
Vikki leaned forward. “How are we supposed to hide the money from the captain and his crew?”
“It’s apparently hidden in a suitcase. I have an extra bag we can load up.”
“They will figure out something is off,” Vikki said, sounding concerned.
“Well, I kinda told the captain a little fib.” Finley cleared his throat. “I let him know my girlfriend’s family lived here for about a year.”
“What?” Letizia laughed. “Did he buy it?”
“Yeah, apparently it’s the thing to do. The islands are closed-off from everything. People make them their perfect getaway or use it for retreats.”
Ricky turned his head to the side. “So, what you’re saying is, if we carry a suitcase onboard it wouldn’t look fishy?”
“Well, we have a story to expand on, so that helps.”
Ricky slapped his back. “Fucking brilliant.” He leaned back on the bench. “We need to be quick. I don’t want to be stuck on the island all night.”
“Did Johnny say there was some wild animal on the island or something?” Vikki asked.
“No, nothing like that. I want to get back to land and find a way to hide all this money.”
“We’re opening a bank account, I thought?” Finley said.
“Think it’s safe enough to do that?”
“We don’t have another option. There is no way we can carry that amount of cash on an airplane.”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “Let’s find it first and then figure out the rest.
“That’s the palm tree he described,” Vikki said, pointing at a marking. “The heart Johnny carved.”
“This is it,” Ricky said, unzipping the duffel bag. “Here.” He threw a shovel toward Finley. “When he first buried it over twenty years ago, it was at the base of the tree.”
“Let’s try here then.” Finley pushed his shovel down about a foot away from the trunk of the tree.
Ricky decided to follow suit and help him. “I wonder how many holes we will be digging up today.”
“Hopefully only one.”
“We won’t be that lucky.”
They spent about an hour digging four separate holes and coming up empty-handed. They moved over to the right of the trunk and about six feet from the original spot. “I’m starting to doubt there was ever money.” Ricky teased.
Right as the words left his lips, Finley dug his shovel down and hit something. “What was that you were saying?”
>
“Seriously?” Ricky bent down and started to move sand back with his hands. “There’s something blue down there.”
Finley squatted down beside him and helped move the sand quicker. “That’s definitely a suitcase.”
“Did you find it?” Vikki ran up beside them.
“I think so.” Ricky tried to get his fingers around the edges. “Here.” He handed the shovel to Vikki. “Help me get this side lose while they work on the other side.”
The suitcase was buried about two feet deep and had serious water damage. “I bet everything has disintegrated by now,” Letizia said, pulling up one side.
“I thought Johnny said he had everything vacuum sealed,” Vikki said.
“Let’s hope.”
Finally the suitcase came free from the burial site, and the latches on the case sprang open. They all four had to grab each corner to prevent it from falling open and spilling the contents.
Ricky stepped into the hole and grabbed the suitcase from the bottom. “Here,” he said pushing it out and next to Letizia. “You do the honors. It’s yours after all.”
She sat there for a moment. “This is why my family was killed. It feels weird to be here and know my Dad buried this with Johnny so many years ago.”
“We can leave it?” Finley placed his hand on her thigh.
“No, Dad would want me to have it finally.” She sniffed and wiped a tear away. “Maybe I can open another bakery with it.”
“Oh please, will you?” Vikki shrugged her shoulders. “I want those cupcakes. Dammit, they’re amazing.”
Finley pulled her close to his side. “Hey, I just want you to be happy.”
“I’m getting there.” Zia rested her hands on the top of the suitcase. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Ricky noticed her eyes go wide. “Um…”
Finley looked around. “Where’s all the money?”
At the bottom of the suitcase was a small bag with a note inside that read, I.O.U. and had several numbers scribbled at the bottom. Letizia reached into the bag to find a key.
“It’s…holy shit.” Letizia handed the key to Finley. “I don’t understand.”
Ricky leaned over to look at the key with Finley. He noticed on the note several zeros. “Fuck. What is going on?”
“What am I missing?” Vikki asked.
“Someone took the cash and obviously left an I.O.U. note. Then at some point came back but with double what they owed.” Ricky flipped the key back and forth. “Did Johnny do this?”
“Why didn’t he say anything?” Finley sounded confused.
Letizia leaned back. “It was Johnny and Ali.”
“What makes you say that?” Finley asked.
“Remember when we discussed her taking a secret work trip? Basically, when Cristiano was conceived.”
“Yeah, you think they came here?”
“Maybe. I just don’t know why he said two million the other day. Why not be honest?”
“Maybe he thought it was two million?”
“Something feels fishy.” Vikki admitted.
“Or, maybe Dad lied because he wanted to protect Johnny,” Letizia said.
“And he had more all along.” Finley nodded.
“Exactly.”
Ricky grabbed the suitcase and tried to find any hidden compartments. There was nothing. It was just a normal piece of luggage that held a key to a safety deposit box with four million dollars for over twenty years. It was the best suitcase he had ever seen. He raised his hand. “So let me recap here so I understand correctly. Johnny and Lando bury two million. Lando must have come back at some point and took the money. Then before he died, he managed to put a key to a safety deposit box that holds four million dollars?”
Letizia laughed. “This all sounds like a fictional story or crazy action movie.”
“Like the perfect spy mob movie with the perfect hero.” Vikki stood up and reached for Letizia’s hand. “Your daddy made sure you were cared for, which means you must get that bakery open…and soon. Can I make a request?”
Letizia twirled in place. “Anything.”
“Put the bakery near my house.” Vikki burst out laughing. “Can you imagine? I would be easy to roll anywhere if you were near my place because I would eat way too many cupcakes.” Ricky put the suitcase back in the hole. “What are you doing, music man?”
“This suitcase did its job for twenty plus years. We need to give it the proper retirement.” He grabbed the shovel and started to throw sand over the faded blue case.
Letizia touched her hand on the surface. “I agree. Let it stay right where it belongs.”
Finley stood and grabbed Letizia’s hand. “We better get out of here.”
“Yeah, the captain is going to wonder where we went.” Ricky stood up. “Come on, kitten.”
“Is it finally time to get married?”
“And this wedding’s on me,” Letizia said, wrapping her arm around Finley’s waist. “You all put your life on the line for Cris and me.”
“First, we need to get the money,” Finley said, pulling Zia closer.
“Actually we need to find the safety deposit box location.” Ricky held up the key. “I don’t see any kind of inscription anywhere.”
“What about the note?” Vikki tapped on the bag in Zia’s hand. “Is there a secret inscription there maybe? Just like in all those movies where people go on a treasure hunt.”
“Shit, that’s true,” Finley said. “Remember the black light we needed for the ledger Letizia found.”
“Looks like we have our work cut out for us.” Ricky grabbed the duffel bag and threw it over his shoulder. “Let’s get back and find a black light in town.”
“Do you think Puerto Vallarta really has a store with a black light?” Vikki teased.
“No, which means we may need to resort to plan B.” Ricky started walking in the direction of the boat. “Come on, we need to get back and tell Miles.”
Forty
“Wait, did you just say four million?” Miles said, standing up.
“Yup, four and six lovely zeros.” Ricky nodded and pointed to the note. “It looks like Lando and Johnny both made sure Letizia and Cris were safe.”
“Don’t forget about Alessandra,” Letizia said, sitting down next to Preslie. “I think she is the final piece to this puzzle.”
“Hey.” Vikki held her hand up. “We can make a black light with our smart phone.”
“Well of course we can.” Ricky rolled his eyes. “The only thing my phone doesn’t do is wipe my ass.”
“And thank goodness for that.” Vikki walked over and set her tablet down on the little table. “Look, we need blue and purple permanent markers and some scotch tape.”
“That may be difficult to find here.” Letizia bent to read the article on the screen.
“I’m going to run down to the front desk and check with them,” Vikki said, putting her flip flops on and grabbing her purse. “Want to get out of the room, Preslie?”
“Yeah, I need something other than these four walls for a bit.”
Ricky reached for Vikki’s arm. “Hey, be careful.”
“Haven’t I been doing that already?” She kissed his nose and patted his chest. “We won’t be long.” Vikki looped her arm into Preslie’s. “Come on, momma.” They touched their heads together and gave a quick squeeze. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. “I can’t believe you’re pregnant.”
“I wanted another baby just not right now.”
“Well, it all happens for a reason. It’ll be amazing.” She hit the down button by the elevator door. “We may need to run to a little store. If that’s the case, let’s grab Ricky or Miles. They need to go out later anyway.” Vikki looked around to see who was waiting for the elevator. There was a guy standing off to the side, staring at them both. She was about to say something about finding the bank the key belongs to but stopped herself. The bell dinged, and the door slid open. As they entered, the man stepped in too
. She pulled Preslie closer to her side and whispered in her ear. “We’re being watched.” She knew Preslie was smart enough to not look in the direction where the man was standing.
Preslie wrapped her arm tighter around Vikki’s waist. “Think the boys would like a few snacks from the convenience store?”
“Do bears shit in the woods?”
They both burst out laughing. The man was staring at the door of the elevator but had his hands in his pockets. Vikki knew he could be easily holding a gun. She squeezed Preslie’s hand and waited for the door to open. When it reached ground level, she expected the guy to grab them. Instead, as the door opened, he exited first.
“I’m not sure what to think about that guy,” Vikki whispered.
“Every guy with a stoic face will seem like someone from the mob.”
“Yeah, true. I have a funny feeling we will never be safe.”
“Unless the guys find a way to take the whole mob ring down.”
“Like that will ever happen.” Vikki rolled her eyes. “They take them down and a new one will emerge.”
“We should find a way to live closer to each other.”
“Then you have to move,” Vikki said, nudging Preslie’s side. “I love my house too much.”
“There was a house on the corner for sale. Did you see it?”
“No, when we get back, let’s go look at it.”
They both were holding onto each other and didn’t notice the guy from the elevator approach. Vikki stopped by the hotel gift shop. “Let’s see if there are permanent markers in here.”
Before they opened the door, the mystery guy stepped forward. “You need to leave soon.”
“Excuse me?” Vikki stepped back.
“You heard me.” The guy said. “You’re not safe here.”
“I’m not sure what you mean. How do you know if we’re safe or not?”
He stepped up into her personal space. “Giano may be dead but the new boss knows everything you all did.”
“So, who is this new boss?” Vikki was stepping over the line. She needed to keep her mouth shut, and she knew it.
“She has no plans to surface, but I know you are all in danger.”
