“Wow, I am so sorry, Dawn. How did she find out?” Eve didn’t think Dawn would have confided in her mom without discussing it with her first.
Dawn hated lying, but now that she knew the bad guys were listening, she went with her gut as she had done when she met the mobsters the first time. “Tom saw me with him weeks ago, and I guess he told her about us. She’s been dropping hints about him for some time that she doesn’t like it, and eventually blew up and ordered me not to see him anymore.”
Eve sat back, finding this hard to believe. “Mom blew up?” She shook her head while Dawn’s eyes looked down in shame. Even when her mom had been angry with her over her decisions, she’d never ordered her not to do something. Maybe her mother knew something about Jack that Dawn didn’t know. Eve was at a loss. She didn’t know what to say. “What are you going to do?”
“I love him, Eve. I hope you’ll support me.” Dawn watched her eyes and knew that her sister was struggling with what she had just been told.
Eve chose her words carefully. She loved Dawn dearly but would need to talk to her mom to find out where her mind was. “Of course, I’ll support you. You’ll always have that, Dawnie. But did Mom say why? Maybe she has . . .” when a tear rolled down her sister’s cheek, she didn’t have the heart to finish her sentence, saying that maybe her mom knew something.
Dawn shook her head. “I am just so torn up. I am tired of being treated like the baby of the family!” She deliberately raised her voice, then threw the napkin she had been clenching in her lap onto the table. “I’m just so tired of being told what to do. As if I can’t make my own decisions!”
“Oh, Dawn, I’m so sorry.” Eve reached for her sister’s hand to try to calm her down. She could tell how this was upsetting her. Frankly, she’d never seen Dawn this upset with their mother before.
“Can we just change the subject?” Dawn blurted. “Let’s talk about anything else right now.”
“Of course, sweetie, of course.” She handed her sister a tissue and sipped her tea, contemplating what Dawn had just told her. This was strange. All so strange, but the first thing she was going to do when Dawn went back to work was find her mother to discuss what was going on with her little sister. This outburst had been so out of character.
When Eve saw her sister had calmed down, she asked about work and listened as Dawn talked. But the rest of their lunch was quite honestly the weirdest thirty minutes of her life. Dawn wasn’t saying much, and that was just not like her baby sister. And when she talked about the house she and Lucas had purchased and their plans for the renovations of the old Victorian, Dawn seemed distracted. “I’m hoping you’ll be able to come with me next weekend when I talk to the designer.”
“Huh? Um . . . oh, yeah, sure. I guess I could do that.”
Her sister was usually so excited to jump in and help with these kinds of projects. Eve knew that Dawn was really hurt by her mother’s rejection of Jack. Frankly, it scared Eve. Her mom just would not order her away from anyone. Something must be seriously wrong. Merely two weeks ago, Dawn had seemed so happy about her new romance as they chatted about it over the holidays. So much had changed in such a short time. “Well, I hope you can make it,” she said, glancing at her phone. “I know you need to head back to your office, and I have an afternoon appointment,” she lied, knowing that she was on her way to track down her mother. “I will let you go.” She dropped some bills on the table to cover their meal and a tip for the waitress.
Dawn got up as well and accepted the hug Eve gave her. “Okay, see you soon. Text me when and where for the interior designer, and I’ll let you know,” she added as an afterthought. She knew the luncheon could have gone better, but with the agents chirping in her ear it had been hard to focus. She was just grateful her sister hadn’t made a big deal about their mother’s phony rejection. Even if she went to question her mom about it now, the Santorini member following her wouldn’t get into her mother’s offices upstairs, and Tawny would be sure to update her unsuspecting sister on what was really going on.
“I will. Love you, sis,” Eve said warmly as she kissed her on the cheek and backed away.
“You did great, Dawn,” came the disembodied voice of one of the agents. “The Santorini man scurried off two minutes ago, probably to call his boss. Get back upstairs, and we will call our bosses to report in. We will keep you posted. And we have eyes on Eve, so don’t worry about her.”
“Clear,” Dawn stated as her sister turned back toward her with a look of confusion on her face.
“What was that?” Eve asked, looking perplexed at her. Shit, she had overheard Dawn use the code word.
“I’ll be there, for the designer. I’ll clear my schedule.” She began to gather her things, avoiding her sister’s eyes for a bit so that she just seemed distracted. When she looked up, her sister’s smile brightened.
“Okay, great. Wonderful.” Eve gave her sister another kiss, and Dawn reached around to hug her. The force of it took her by surprise.
“I love you, Eve.”
“I love you, too, Dawn.”
Grabbing her things from the table, Dawn scurried away without another word. She didn’t dare turn around, either. She didn’t have any idea if she was being watched or not, but she did know that her sister must be watching; and if she looked back she would have seen the strangest look on her sister’s face. She just prayed someone would explain all this to Eve soon. She hated lying to her, but it had to be done.
Chapter 16
‡
Heading back to her suite at the close of day, Dawn was drained emotionally. She had played over in her mind what she had done a thousand times. She just hoped her sister did not get upset. She knew her sister, Eve, had been confused. It had been a risk to say the things she did, but she just wanted this over with. Over so she could begin a real life with Jack. She thanked her lucky stars Eve had not questioned her more. Something inside her twin must have told her not to verbalize her thoughts and questions, and for that Dawn was thankful.
The afternoon passed quickly, and the agents watching her had updated her on the hour. Jack was safe, and no contact had been made with him by the Santorini family. Eve had gone straight to see her mother, and now she was completely informed. She had hoped that would happen. The agents had reported her conversation with Eve to Jack’s boss, Neal, and so far, they hadn’t heard back from him. She hoped Jack had news to share when he got to her suite later.
She took a quick shower and donned a comfortable oversized t-shirt and sweats and curled up on her sofa with the latest Dee Stewart book to try and distract herself. She hoped the twists and turns of the romantic suspense would keep her mind occupied, but she wasn’t having any luck. She put the book away to read another time and flicked on the TV. She was relieved when Jack knocked on the door an hour later.
“Hey, sweets, you sure do look comfy, but I am afraid you are going to have to change.” Jack smiled at her perplexed expression as she shut the door behind him.
“Why? Any news?”
He nodded as he took off his tie. “Yes, from Neal. He wants us to make an appearance tonight. Are you up for it?”
“If it will help this investigation end sooner, then yes.”
“Let me hop in the shower and change. I will tell you all about it in just a bit.”
“Should we call up for something to eat before we go out?” she asked, wanting something to do while she waited for Jack to get out of the shower.
“Nope, we will eat out,” he called over his shoulder after already removing his shirt and walking into the bathroom clad only in his pants.
“How dressed up?” she asked, opening her closet to see what she could find.
“Knock ‘em dead sexy is my favorite,” he teased from inside the bathroom. She heard the water running a moment later.
Dawn perused the contents of her closet. She had several dresses that would work and decided on a shimmery emerald green dress that conservatively fell to just above the kn
ee. The form fitting top portion would hug her chest and torso and show off her assets. Cutouts on the back would leave most of her bronze skin showing. It would do.
She took the dress out of her closet and hung it up on a hook she had on the wall, and then went to her bureau to select her undergarments for the evening and some jewelry to accent her choice. There she chose a gold and emerald bracelet, but not the matching earrings. She would keep the diamond and gold studs she had been given by Jack.
“Nice choice. I love green. My favorite color,” Jack commented as he came out of the bathroom wrapped only in a towel. Droplets of water still clung to his chest and back. He was an amazing specimen to look at.
“Mine, too.” She smiled, liking that they were beginning to share the little things, but still on edge by what she didn’t know. “So, what’s going on?”
“Neal filled me in on your luncheon with your sister and was pleased by it. Though, I wasn’t. No one thought to inform me about the stunt you pulled.”
“I’m sorry,” she apologized sincerely.
“It’s fine. It worked out, but now Neal liked the idea so much, he wants to stage another family run in. I hope you like acting. After the higher ups were informed of what occurred, the analysts felt it best that we be seen in the evenings together as much as possible. They also think it’s a good idea if we are seen outside of the Mystic to play on the fact that you are becoming estranged from your family. So, we are headed to Foxwoods tonight for dinner, gambling, and maybe a show or dancing. Depends on how secure the club is, but show is easier to monitor for our agents.”
“Okay.” She bit her bottom lip. She hadn’t meant to say what she had to Eve, well, not intentionally. But knowing she was being watched by the bad guys just made her want to get it over with.
“Don’t be nervous, baby. I’ll be with you. You’ve done great so far.” He unzipped the garment bag that held one of the suits just returned from the dry cleaners.
This definitely wasn’t her thing, but she had managed to pull off lying to the mob not once, but twice. Surely, she could get through an evening possibly under their scrutiny. “I won’t. So, is there anything we need to do while we are out?” she asked, hoping they had some instructions to follow from Jack’s bosses.
“Actually, yes. Neal liked what you did today so much that they asked us to talk about our plans for the money you are going to embezzle from the casino. I’ll have an ear piece in: and if they get eyes on us, they will alert us and then we can talk about that.”
She could do that. Having Jack with her would make her a lot less nervous than she had been when she had done it on her own. They both began to dress for their evening out. Just as Dawn was applying the last of her makeup there was a soft tap on the door. Jack hadn’t put his earpiece in, but surely the agents next door would have alerted him if someone dangerous were approaching. He touched a finger to his lips and signaled for Dawn to step back, while he approached the door cautiously. Looking through the peephole, he saw it was Tawny, Dawn’s mother, and the Chief of Police of the local reservation. He opened the door and admitted them.
“Mom?” Dawn asked with concern. “Is there something the matter?”
“Can we talk?” she asked, glancing at the door between her daughter’s suite and the one next door.
“Sure, they are listening, though.” He grabbed his ear piece and slipped it in. He had taken it out for his shower. He tapped it and confirmed, “Yes, they are listening.”
“That’s okay,” Chief Daniels stated. “Tell Dawn what you came up with. We want this on the up and up.”
“What’s the matter, Mom? What did you come up with?”
“This afternoon Neal called me to give me an update on the situation with the Santorinis. I really don’t like the idea of your being bait in the casino, but I realize it is necessary. Then Eve came to see me after your luncheon; and although angry that she has been kept in the dark, she understood why you said what you did to her. I explained you probably were being watched and this was part of the cover. She was relieved because she knows how much you care for Jack, and that I do not despise him.”
Dawn was happy to hear her mom had told Eve the truth. But it still did not explain why her mother was here. “I’m so glad you explained everything. I hated lying to her.”
“She understands now. But, I have to admit that I am a wreck, thinking you and your sister were so close to these criminals this afternoon. I simply can’t sit idly by and watch as you are used as bait time and again. Jack, this is my daughter; and though I know you believe you can protect her, I just can’t let this go on. I called Neal and told him this needs to be finished soon. My children are too important to me.”
“I understand, Ms. Sassacus, and again I…” Tawny cut him off.
“Please, no need to apologize. It was unavoidable. I know. But these men need a reason to act soon, and I want this over with. I spoke to my friend, Chief Daniels, and we are giving them a push tonight.”
“What do you mean?” Jack asked just as Agent Cooper asked the same question in his ear.
“Special Agent Schusterman told me that you were going to Foxwoods tonight to be seen by the Santorinis. Well, it just so happens that we have reservations there at the Evergreen for dinner. My idea is to run into my wayward daughter and make a scene. A Jack-has-to-go type of thing. Make the Santorinis believe that I am cutting you out of the Mystic if you don’t end it soon.”
“That’s brilliant!” Jack exclaimed. Neal had mentioned he thought something like that might help. Dawn had as well. This would encourage the family to act fast if they wanted their big cash payday through Dawn. Through his earpiece Cooper alerted him that Agent Johnson was calling this in to Neal.
“Do you think this will work?” Dawn asked. “I hate getting you involved, Mom.”
“Sweetie. If you are involved. I’m involved.” Her children were her life.
Jack’s phone rang and he answered it. From the conversation they could hear, his boss gave the approval for the change to the evening’s activity. “Yes, sir. Timing is everything. Understood.” He hung up the phone.
“He is okay with the plan?” Chief Daniels asked.
“Yes, but he wants Ms. Sassacus to wear Dawn’s ear piece. He said if we are going to do this, he wants to be sure we are being watched when it happens.”
Dawn picked up the little earbud she had removed when she returned to her room a few hours ago. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was seven-thirty. Tawny took it and put the small device that fit perfectly into her ear. “How does it work?” Dawn saw her eyes roll up, and then she said, “Oh.”
“Yes, just please don’t do that thing with your eyes each time Agent Cooper or another agent speaks to you. It is equipped with a microphone as well so they can hear you also. Guys,” Jack stated for the agents listening in, “please practice with her so she gets used to it while Chief Daniels drives her over to Foxwoods.”
“So, what will happen?” Tawny asked.
“Just follow their directions. We will have dinner at the Evergreen, gamble in the high stakes poker room afterwards, and then maybe have a drink. When one of our guys sees a Santorini family member nearby, fingers crossed, you do your thing. Come and give Dawn her ultimatum. Kick me out of her suite, or she is out of the family. Give her forty-eight hours. That will force their hand.”
“What about the game tomorrow night?” Dawn asked.
“Even if we get them with just the embezzlement it will be enough with what we already have on the illegal gambling and prostitution to put Frank and Anthony away for a very long time. These aren’t young men, so even twenty years is a lifetime sentence for them. That, and with whatever we can get some of the youngers guys to roll on, we should be golden.”
Chief Daniels nodded and put his arm around Dawn. “It’ll be okay. I will be there protecting your mother. You have this man by your side. I hear he was a Navy SEAL, so I know you are in safe hands.”
“I know Mom
is safe with you, too, Uncle Bobby.” She hugged Chief Daniels in return. Though not technically her uncle, the family affectionately called him that.
The four looked each other over before Jack spoke again. “Okay, we will give you a twenty-minute head start and then see you over there.”
Tawny hugged her daughter while Jack shook the Chief’s hand. Then she hugged Jack while Dawn fought back the tears that would ruin her freshly applied makeup. “Keep our Dawn safe, son.”
“I will, Ms. Sassacus,” Jack promised. “I will keep her safe.”
“Please, Tawny, or perhaps Mom someday.”
Jack nodded, resisting the urge to crush the woman in a bear hug. She was stunning, and Jack knew his Dawn, er, their Dawn, looked so much like her beautiful mother. He’d be proud to call her Mom. He hadn’t had one in a long time.
Chapter 17
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By the time they were seated in the Evergreen it was eight thirty. As Jack pulled out a chair for Dawn and she sat, he could see Tawny seated across the expansive room of the fine dining establishment in Tower Two of the newly redesigned casino. They were distant enough that they would not notice one another immediately.
In his ear piece, Agent Cooper let him know the location was secure and no Santorini family members had been spotted yet. Neal had sent in four extra agents to scour the place looking for signs of anyone they were aware of who worked for the Santorinis.
Jack ordered wine from the sommelier, and when their waiter arrived, Jack ordered the Evergreen’s famous prime rib, while Dawn chose the black and blue salad. The waiter recommended some a la carte sides and rushed off to put in their order while they enjoyed the bottle of a Château Margaux that sold for five hundred dollars a bottle.
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