by Harley Stone
THE DEAL WAS off. I heard the words, even understood their meaning, but they didn't make sense. How could the deal be off? Had I done something wrong? Overlooked some important negotiation tactic? Replaying the meeting in my mind, I was certain I'd done everything the old man had told me to do. Still, I'd been sent to purchase the product--product he already had a buyer for--and I'd failed.
"We were able to secure a better offer," the voice on the phone told me.
A better offer? What sort of dumbass would bid against my father?
"You're making a big mistake." I replied.
"We're aware this decision might strain our relationship with your family, but we are first and foremost businessmen. I'm certain your father will understand our position."
They sure as hell didn't know my old man. "If you say so."
"We do look forward to the prospect of dealing with your family on future ventures. Please give my regards to your father."
The call disconnected and I stared at my phone, knowing what my next move should be.
"Another buyer?" Bones asked.
I'd grabbed my robe from the floor of Markie's suite. Sliding my phone into the pocket, I nodded. "That's what he said."
"Who the fuck would be stupid enough to do that?"
"They didn't say."
He frowned. "You gonna call the boss?"
I glanced at the door separating our suite from Markie's knowing I should. "What time did you set up her surprise for?"
"Three p.m."
My phone showed the time as nine fifteen. "Think you can get him to make it earlier?"
Bones pulled his phone out and started scrolling. "For the record, I think you should call the boss now."
"Yeah. I know. But as soon as I do he'll flip out, think the whole world's conspiring against him, and call our asses back to Vegas."
"Which would be the smart thing to do since we don't know what the fuck is going on." He put his phone up to his ear and turned away.
I left him to his conversation and headed back into Markie's bathroom. Eyes closed, head leaned back, she was still relaxing in the tub and I took a moment to enjoy the view. Although I'd fucked lots of women, I'd never spent the night with one before. There was something different about Markie. I actually enjoyed being around her.
And damn, she was gorgeous! Growing up in Vegas, I'd been surrounded by beautiful women my entire life. What nature didn't perfect, doctors could, and the city fed almost as many plastic surgeons as it did casinos. Father had started taking me around town when I was seven. I'd danced with showgirls, flirted with bikini baristas, partied with pole dancers, and even dated strippers. My suits, made of the best Italian silk and tailored to fit me perfectly; my apartment, custom built with every luxury and overlooking the lights of the city; my car, designed to be the ultimate in safety and comfort... it was all shit compared to Markie.
I could stand there and stare at her forever.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her eyes half-lidded.
"I came to ask if you're hungry, but you look so damn fine you distracted me."
She cracked a smile. "Starving."
I closed the distance between us and kissed her forehead. Her hand snaked out and snagged the tie of my robe, tugging it open.
Out of instinct, I jumped back and looked down at my now exposed front.
"I like it better like that," she said with a grin.
Yep, I enjoyed being around her. An answering smile tugged at my lips. "I'm gonna go order room service and shower before I'm tempted to jump in there with you. Otherwise we'll never leave this hotel room."
"I'd be okay with that."
So would I. Which was exactly the reason I needed to get out of there.
***
After we ate breakfast and changed into our swimwear, I drove us to a boat launch not far from the hotel. Bones had been able to move Markie's surprise up sooner, so I was bound and determined to go through with it.
"What are we doing?" Markie asked, staring out at the water.
"It's a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving. You only go about twenty feet down, so you don't need to take any classes first."
Her eyes went round and a big smile spread across her face. "We're going down to look at fish?"
"Only if you want to."
She bounced on her seat as she opened the door. "Yes. Yes! Please. Ohmigod I've always wanted to go deep sea diving."
She leaped out of the Hummer and I was more than happy to watch her excitedly gesture for us to follow. She wore a different bikini than yesterday--this one was camouflage boy shorts and a black top with matching camouflage lace--and it looked fantastic against her suntanned skin.
Two instructors, Tom and John, met us on the dock, waiting in front of their twenty-foot boat. A back compartment secured oxygen tanks and other equipment.
"I'm so excited," Markie said. "Have you ever done this before?"
"Nope."
"Bones?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Nope. Always thought it would be cool though."
"Why aren't you two as stoked as I am? This is amazing!" Then she turned her attention on the two men standing in front of the boat, offering them her hand. "Hello, I'm Markie."
They introduced themselves and handed us wetsuits, which we struggled into before climbing aboard. John pushed off the dock and we drifted for a few seconds before the engine purred to life. Bones and I sat in the center bench seat with Markie between us. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as the engine revved and the boat picked up speed. A smile spread across her face, and her hair whipping back in the wind. She laughed.
"What's so funny?" I yelled over the sound of the motor.
"The salty air. It feels like a million kisses on my face. I love it!"
I couldn't help but smile as I watched her. She squeezed my hand but didn't open her eyes. The boat slowed and came to a stop beside a marker in the water. Tom killed the engine and John stood.
John gave us a quick lesson on the equipment, and then John, Bones, Markie, and I splashed into the water. We followed John down to a world of kelp and coral, surrounded by brightly colored fish, where the rest of the world ceased to exist. Markie's eyes were bright and big in her mask as she reached out to touch a passing fish. Sea lions appeared. One nipped at the tip of Markie's flipper before swimming away. She pointed to it and gave me a dramatic thumbs up.
Even Bones had a good time. Head on a swivel, he seemed determined to see everything. We watched fish and sea lions for a while and even managed to catch sight of a couple stingrays before John motioned for us to head up. By the time I breached the surface, Bones was already climbing back into the boat. The sun was high over the city, its reflection dancing across the waves.
I waited for Markie and John to pop up, but they didn't. Bones had removed his mask and was scanning the water from the boat. Worried something had happened, I dove back down to search for them. Finally, I spotted John holding Markie by the arm as they slowly crept toward the surface. Markie had both hands on her head. My heart lurched in my chest as they drew closer.
As soon as we surfaced I pulled the regulator out of my mouth and asked what happened.
She freed her mouth. "Headache. It's fine. I'm fine."
But she wasn't. I could see it in her eyes. John and I helped her into the back of the boat. Then she leaned over the side and got sick. Multiple times. I didn't know if I should look away and give her privacy or hold her hair. In the end, I patted her back.
When she was done, she apologized and slid down to the seat, hands still on her head. Her face was pale. Eerily pale.
"Nothing to be sorry about. What's going on? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just a migraine. I get them, sometimes. Will you please hand me my purse?" She pointed in the direction of her bag.
I passed it to her and she reached in and pulled out a prescription pill bottle. She popped a pill into her mouth and Tom handed her a bottle of water. Then Bones offered her a mint.
She accepted both before leaning against me and closing her eyes. "It's not a big deal. It'll pass. I just need a minute. The change of pressure must have just been too much."
Bones and John shed their gear and wet suits, while I draped my arm over Markie's shoulders and pulled her closer. Tom started up the boat and took us back to shore. I could tell he was trying to be careful, but every time the boat hit a wave, Markie winced.
Back at the dock, she and I climbed into the backseat of the Hummer while Bones got behind the wheel. We were almost to the hotel when my phone buzzed. Father was calling to find out about the deal.
With Markie leaning against me, and my decision to wait to call him weighing on my mind, I felt like I was navigating through a minefield. I needed to tread carefully. "I was just opening my phone to call you," I told the old man. "Deal's off. They got a better offer."
"A better offer?" Father swore. "Who?"
"He didn't say."
"I trust that you and Bones are on your way home?" Father asked.
"Almost. We're stopping by the hotel to grab our stuff. We'll be on the road in ten, maybe fifteen minutes max."
"I have a bad feeling about this, Angel. You guys be careful and hurry your asses home."
"Yessir."
He disconnected the call.
I pocketed my phone and squeezed Markie a little closer, knowing our precious moments together were slipping away.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Angel
WE MADE IT back to the suite. Markie crashed on the sofa with a pillow over her head while Bones and I packed our things and collected her bag. My phone rang again, this time with an anonymous number. Wondering who it could be, I closed the door to my room before answering so as not to wake up Markie.
"D'Angelo."
That was all he said, and I didn't recognize the voice.
"Yes?" I asked.
"What the fuck is a Mariani doin' in my city?"
Staring at the ceiling, I tried to puzzle out who it could be. There were a few minor crime families in San Diego, but it was mostly run by a couple of powerful gangs. We had an understanding with them all. They stay out of our way, we stay out of theirs.
"Who is this?"
He snickered. "Wouldn't you like to know? Play your cards right, and maybe I'll tell you."
"How'd you get my number?"
"We got a new tech guy. Might even be better than you."
Goosebumps sprang up my back. He knew what I did for the family. Few people did and most were within our ranks. Someone had loose lips.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"You enjoying your little vacay with that pretty little blonde?" he asked. "Did she enjoy my flowers?"
"Stay the fuck away from her," I growled.
"I knocked, but lucky for her, she didn't answer. I left her alive and untouched, D'Angelo. Remember that."
I had no reply, so I glanced at my phone. The built-in tracer was already busy tracking the caller's location, but I needed to keep him talking. Preferably not about Markie.
"You gonna cut the bullshit and tell me what you want?"
He chuckled. "Right down to business. Just like your old man."
Was he trying to tell me he knew my father?
"You should have my location by now," he said. "Don't worry, I left you a present, too. You're welcome."
The call disconnected.
I glanced at my phone as the software I'd customized zeroed in on the exact location the call was made from. I sucked in a breath as the dot materialized.
Right outside the hotel.
My phone dinged with an incoming text.
"Ps. Tell your old man Adamo sends his regards."
Adamo? I only knew of one Adamo, and he was the capo of the Pelino family. Our families had once been allies, but that ended the day he shot and paralyzed Uncle Michael. Dread settled between my shoulders as I forwarded the text to my old man.
Father texted back, "Get the fuck out of there now. And be smart about it."
Markie was passed out on the couch, so I crept into Bones's room and gave him the rundown on the conversation.
"Gift?" Bones asked. "What gift?"
We looked through the peephole and saw nothing waiting for us in the hallway. Bones opened the door and I angled a handheld mirror to check it out. The hallway was clear.
"Has to be on the Hummer," I said.
We left Markie asleep in the suite and carried the luggage to the parking garage. Easing toward the vehicle, I pulled out the device scanner and went to work. The scanner picked up a small, unknown device under the engine.
"Want me to get it?" Bones asked.
As my bodyguard, it was his duty. But we both knew I had a better chance of keeping it from exploding.
"No, man, I got this."
I handed him the scanner, got on my back, and slid under the front of the car. Sure enough, a bomb was attached to the undercarriage. It wasn't even a good bomb. Sensors angled at the driver's and passenger's sides. One good look at the cheap piece of shit, left no doubt I was looking at the work of the wiseguys Bones and I had picked up from the airport. Since I'd seen the specs, I knew how to disarm it. The Pelinos had to know this. Did they think I was stupid? Why the fuck would they warn me?
"Sloppy piece of shit," I muttered, cursing the bomb, its makers, and the whole Pelino family for that matter.
"Can you get it?" Bones asked.
"Yeah. This is... this is bullshit." My tools were in the Hummer. Since I couldn't open any of the doors without exploding the vehicle, I whipped out the pocket knife I kept strapped around my ankle and cut the sensor wire. Then I severed the rest of the connections and pried the piece of shit from my engine. I climbed out from under the Hummer, gently handing the bomb to Bones.
Bones held it as far away from his body as possible. I climbed into the back of the Hummer and he passed it back to me. I disassembled the rest of the bomb and stashed it in my bag while Bones loaded up the luggage.
Bones stayed with the vehicle while I went back for Markie. She was out cold, making me wonder what was in the drugs she'd taken. I carried her back to the Hummer, belted her into the passenger's seat so I could keep an eye on her, and then we got the hell out of there. I don't think I breathed until the lights of San Diego faded from my rearview mirror.
Markie slept and Bones and I sat in silence, both of us keeping watch for a tail. I stole glances at Markie, wondering what to do about her. I tried to imagine her in my apartment, and with my family, but couldn't. The disassembled bomb in the back of the Hummer tugged at my thoughts, reminding me of how selfish I'd been to put her in harm's way to begin with. Scenarios of her opening a car door and triggering an explosion played in my mind. I forced myself to see every one of them, hoping they would change my mind. Hoping they would somehow give me the strength to push her away. Instead, I reached down and laced my fingers in hers. She stirred, but didn't wake.
I could always tell her. I could come clean about my family and let her decide her own future.
But knowledge about my family would only put her in greater danger. I needed to process, weigh my options, and figure out what the hell to do.
Markie woke up right before we reached the Vegas city limits.
"Hey, how you feeling?" I asked. Her skin had returned to its normal sun-tanned hue and her eyes were once again bright and lively.
She stretched. "Much better, thanks. My head still hurts, but it's manageable now."
Her stomach growled.
"Hungry?" I asked.
"Yeah, breakfast..." She rubbed her stomach. "...didn't exactly stay down. I can just whip up something when I get home, though."
I was still holding her hand, and didn't want to let her go. Knowing I'd need to so I could go meet with Father, I asked, "Am I taking you to your sister's?"
"Let me check." She released my hand and pulled her phone out of her purse.
I missed the contact, and immediately regretted askin
g the question.
She sent off a text, and then a few moments later her phone buzzed.
"Ari's working. Any chance you can run me by The Pelican so I can get the key to her apartment?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course," I replied.
"What does she do at The Pelican?" Bones asked, leaning into the conversation.
Markie turned in her seat. "She waits tables at the restaurant just inside the front door. Not exactly what she came to Vegas to do, but it's a job."
"She come to be a showgirl or something?" Bones asked.
"Not exactly. She wants to sing."
"Like everyone else in Vegas," Bones groaned.
"You don't understand, she has a phenomenal voice. And I'm not just saying that because she's my sister. She's really talented, Bones. Matt was supposed to set her up with some auditions, but..."
"But Matt's a chooch."
Markie arched an eyebrow.
"A loser," I clarified. Not quite what it meant, but close enough.
We stopped by The Pelican, Markie got the keys from Ariana, and then we drove to their apartment. I helped Markie with her luggage, while Bones checked out her apartment.
"You guys want something to eat?" she asked, heading for the kitchen. "I'm gonna make myself a grilled cheese."
We declined. I would have loved to hang out and eat sandwiches with Markie, but Father would no doubt have Tech tracking our progress. I didn't want him to see the Hummer parked in front of her building for too long. While she was in the kitchen I scanned the apartment, finding it clean of any unexpected devices. Bones slipped out the door to give us some privacy.
Markie filled the sink with soapy water and started dumping dishes in while her sandwich was grilling.
She spun around and leaned against the counter, looking up at me. "This was the best weekend of my life. Thank you, Angel."
She tugged a rubber band off her wrist and put her hair up into a messy bun. Little wisps escaped the sides and fell back against her cheeks. She blew them out of her face and dumped a few more dishes into the sink.
My conscience kept tugging me toward the door, reminding me the right thing to do was to leave, delete her number, and forget her. Markie was a good girl who didn't need to be wrapped up in my family's mess. We'd danced, we'd kissed, we'd fucked, and now it was time to end the fantasy and get back to reality. A stronger man would have done the right thing, but I wasn't that man. I was weak, and Markie was my strength. I breathed in deeply, and let the tropical scent of her invade my common sense. I couldn't walk away.
