The Rainmaker: Jake: A Von Larsen Crime Family Novel

by Piper Page

  Seriously, do you still think they’re guilty of something? Aly, you have nothing. They are clean.

  I stood on the curb dressed in a green cocktail dress, heels, and my purse. A Pashmina scarf wrapped over and around my shoulders kept the early autumn coolness off my skin. When the classic black Mustang pulled up, I took a step back, thinking it was a snobby rich pervert wanting to make lewd comments to me, like I was a two bit street corner hustler. I had a retort at the ready on the tip of my tongue. When the window eased down, my words were lost and replaced by a beaming smile. It was Jake.

  “Where is Angelo?”

  He leaned over and popped the door open for me. “Taking the night off. Get in.”

  I sat in the front passenger seat and strapped on my seat belt as Jake peeled out onto the highway. “So Angelo doesn’t do everything for you, who knew?” I teased.

  Jake scowled, but then quickly replaced the frown with a playful smile. “Union says I gotta give him time off for good behavior.”

  I liked this side of Jake, funny, competent, self sufficient. It was a new level of attraction. He handled the vehicle like he drove every day. I was thoroughly impressed by the time we pulled into the driveway and he shifted the car into first gear and wrenched the parking brake up. “You ready for this?”

  I suddenly felt nervous. Was there something more than dinner happening here? I threaded my arm through the crook of his elbow and we walked together to the front door. Sunny answered it with a flourish. An apron was swathed about her middle, and a dish towel was in her hand. The sight was odd yet comforting to me. This Sunny was far different from the girl gyrating out on the Vegas club dance floor, drunk on gifted champagne.

  “Come in, come in. Dinner is just about ready. The boys are in the dining room.” Sunny wrapped me in her arms. “So good to see you again, Alyson. What a whirlwind of a weekend, hmm?”

  She really likes me.

  Cole and William were both seated at the table, drinking wine and beer, when we entered the dining room. Sunny had an elaborate table setting, but it conveyed hominess and unity. I wondered if they shared these moments often, being a true family. The longing I felt inside me tugged at my heartstrings. Even when I was in a home with what might be considered family, this scene never took place.

  But other scenes did.

  I pushed the scowl from my face and moved to the chair Jake had pulled out for me. Both William and Cole stood up while Jake seated me. It was so polite and old fashioned I felt a catch in my breath.

  “Are you okay?” Jake whispered in my ear.

  I nodded, unable to speak. Jake moved in to shake Cole’s hand and hug William before he sat down next to me. Sunny brought out a large bowl of salad, and all the boys stood up once more as she set it down on the table in front of Cole and then sat herself to the left of him. I felt like I had entered some made-for-television, feel good movie, and I loved it.

  For the next thirty minutes, we enjoyed a home-cooked Italian meal of garlic bread, pasta with tomato and basil sauce, and tender, neatly wrapped braciole. The foursome joked and teased one another as you would imagine any young siblings would, the two oldest ganging up on the youngest, and Sunny rushing to his rescue, playing the motherly referee. I forgot that I was not a part of it, that I was a not so innocent bystander who’d worked her way by falsehoods into this gathering. I suddenly felt the need to excuse myself, afraid my emotions would be evident on my facial features.

  “Pardon me, please.”

  The boys stood up.

  I leaned over to Jake. ‘Where is the restroom?”

  “Here, I’ll show you, Alyson,” offered Sunny. “You can help me bring out dessert.”

  I followed her through the kitchen, pleasantly surprised that there were no “staff” in there whipping up dishes for her to cart out under the false pretense that she actually cooked. There were no take out containers or instant box mixes. Again, I was impressed and overwhelmed.

  “It’s right over there.” She pointed.

  “Thank you.” I leaned against the closed door and twisted the lock, taking a deep breath.

  Relax.

  Why was this upsetting me?

  You know why.

  I splashed cold water on my face and smoothed some flyaway pieces of hair into place.

  Get what you can use and enjoy the rest. That’s all you have to do.

  Sunny and I brought out thick, decadently dark slices of chocolate cake and placed them in front of each brother before sitting down ourselves.

  “Mmm, Mom’s double chocolate layer cake.” William took a huge bite, closed his eyes, and let the flavor take him back to some memory in the back of his mind I was not privy to.

  Cole lifted his fork out in front of him before he took the first bite. “To Mom.”

  “Mom,” joined in Jake, and I watched as he relished in the rich dessert. If this kept up, I was going to be a blubbering mess.

  “So tell me about yourself, Alyson,” suggested Cole, taking me by surprise. The whole dinner had circulated around the brothers and their trip. I was a quiet observer. I wasn’t prepared for this.

  Jake piped in. “Aly is a grad student here at the university. She works for a computer company part time.”

  Cole wiped his mouth and sat back, looking directly at me. “Computers, huh? That’s interesting. Ever look up Jake on those computers?”

  I took a bite of cake and chewed slowly, suddenly very much on my guard. I nodded before I answered. “Actually yes, I did once, to see him fight. He was,” I corrected myself, “is a very talented and skilled man.”

  Cole looked to William, who was about to burst out laughing, but shut it down when he saw Cole’s glare. Apparently, playtime between them was over. “Is that how you met him, at a fight?”

  Jake answered for me again.

  They don’t know Jake uses escort services.

  “Alyson and I actually met at an art gallery.”

  “Since when do you like art, Jake?” questioned William.

  Jake eased himself back in his chair, preparing to give a longer explanation. I leaned in, eager to learn the story myself. “I don’t. It was all a total coincidence, but seemingly a plan of fate. I was going for coffee. Angelo suggested a new place on South Street. I thought I had the right place; you see, it’s one of those older buildings with one entry door and then divided up inside. The coffee shop is actually on the second floor, which is odd for a coffee shop. Instead of going up the stairs, I naturally opened the first door and walked into the art gallery. Aly was the only thing that caught my eye in the whole damn place.”

  “So you like art?” Cole asked me.

  I took a sip of coffee. “Mmm, yeah, love it.”

  “Who is your favorite?”

  I choked on the hot drink. “Umm, excuse me.” I wiped my mouth with my napkin. “I uh, I like Picasso.”

  Cole snickered sarcastically.

  I set my cup down and stared at him. “Does Picasso amuse you, or is it me?”

  “No, not at all. I just see your answer as convenient. I mean, if I asked a hundred people on the street who their favorite artist was, the majority of them would say Picasso because they have no real answer.”

  I could feel my defenses rushing up, blazing. “So if a person truly admires the work of Picasso, because he is so well known, he has become obsolete, a stereotype for art enthusiasts in your opinion? What you’re saying is he isn’t entitled or worthy of admiration anymore, just old hat. I’ll be certain to inform my art history and 2D design professors that you have determined that fact and they should reflect on all they know and teach, and while we’re at it, let’s go ahead and reconsider the works of Monet and van Gogh. Maybe you think Dali and Pollock are simply paint by number worthy as well.” I felt Jake’s hand on my knee, squeezing the tender flesh beneath my skirt. I stopped my rant, realizing I’d gone too far, but when I looked at Cole, his face held a bemused look. William and Sunny were silently stunned.

  �
�Forgive me, Alyson. I assumed and I shouldn’t have. Who is your favorite modern day artist?”

  Jake stood up, bumping the table. Sunny reached to steady her glass, saving it from spilling over onto the table cloth. “Cole, enough,” he growled through clenched teeth.

  “Whoa, whoa, relax, brother. I’m just making conversation. Alyson intrigues me. The first girl you’ve ever brought to our table, and I want to get to know this woman that has obviously cast a spell on you.”

  Jake growled again, “I said enough.”

  He suspects something.

  I twined my fingers into Jake’s hand and pulled downward to get his attention. “It’s okay, Jake.” I smiled up at him, imploring him with my eyes to relax.

  “Sunny, thank you for a very nice meal. I think Aly and I are going to make our way out. It’s been a long weekend.” Jake helped me up from my chair. William and Cole both stood up too.

  “Aww, come on now, Jake, don’t be like that,” Cole pleaded.

  “No Cole, three days with you is enough for now. We are leaving.”

  Sunny walked with us to the front door. “Jake, please don’t be upset. You know how Cole can be.” She hugged Jake around the neck, lifting her body up by standing on her tip toes. Jake returned the affection and then she turned to me. “Thank you for coming, Alyson.” She hugged me as well, and Jake and I left her standing, looking at us from the doorway.

  14

  Jake

  “Cole’s an asshole. I’m sorry, Aly.” My eyes were on the road as I drove at a high speed down the highway. I was trying to dissipate my frustration and anger with my brother and his rude behavior, but at the same time, I could see I was making Aly extremely nervous as the speedometer hit ninety.

  “Better watch out for cops,” she said softly, even though her hands were white knuckling the door handle.

  “What?”

  “Cops, they’re all over this road at night. You’re speeding, Jake. Could we slow down to at least seventy five?”

  I looked at my dash and the needle on the instrument panel eased back. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to having anyone else in the car with me when I drive. Cole had no right to treat you like that.”

  Her hand reached across the seat and rubbed my upper thigh. “He was only being a protective older brother.”

  Who wanted to make sure you aren’t after me for our money.

  I gave a heavy sigh. “I’m not a teenager anymore. He owes you an apology.”

  Aly shook her head. “No, Jake. I don’t want to be the cause of a rift. It’s okay. I’m a big girl and I’ve dealt with worse than Cole.”

  I could feel the heat in my face. My foot pressed down on the gas again. “Where’s your place?”

  “My place?” She sounded surprised.

  “Yeah, I don’t want to talk to anyone else right now. I don’t wanna fucking deal with it. Can we just go back to your apartment?”

  “Well, it’s actually a house.” She paused for a long moment, contemplating if she should let me see where she lived. “Yeah, we can go there. Take a right at the light and head to the Heights.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “I would have never guessed.”

  She shrugged and did not offer any explanation.

  Ten minutes later, I was rolling into the driveway of a quaint, yet well-maintained 1920’s bungalow. I sat there and stared out the windshield.

  “Well, this is it.” She opened her own door and headed toward the wraparound porch. “Are you coming, or did you change your mind?”

  I got out and locked the car, making my way to the steps, admiring the stone work around the foundation and the long windows that reached from the base of the porch to the top of its roof. “You own this? I thought you said you were a grad student. How old are you again?”

  She smiled and unlocked the door. “I do, I am, and I’m still twenty-seven. It helps when you have a father that operates out of guilt. I guess when you miss your daughter’s birth, you cheat on her mother, and remarry three times, before destroying her life forever, you find other ways to say you’re sorry for being an asshole father.” I watched as she covered her mouth with her hand and her bright eyes went wide.

  Why do I have this all-consuming desire to wipe away all that pain for her?

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to unload all that on you.” She opened the door as she apologized, obviously mortified, and stood aside. “Do you still want to come in, or do you want to run away screaming now? I wouldn’t blame you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” My arms encircled her waist and I allowed myself to give in to the need to taste her mouth.

  That’s better.

  When our lips parted, she stood there leaning against the door, breathless. Her fingertips brushed over the pink skin of her lips. “Come in.”

  I followed her into a small but comfortable living room. It was neat and clean, not overly furnished, but stylish just the same. She had painted it a warm taupe and accented it with sage and charcoal accessories. I looked back out onto the porch through the windows and noticed a porch swing that I had missed on the way in. Alyson was making a home here that every little girl dreamed of, from the glossy hardwoods with area carpeting to the whimsical sheers and tie backs on the windows.

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Yeah, that would be nice.” I followed her into the kitchen, wanting to see more. I felt like I was seeing another glimpse of the real Alyson Gallagher. The kitchen was shockingly modern, with stainless steel appliances, and instead of the stereotypical family table, she had gone with a matching stainless steel high top counter and a row of high back barstools that divided the kitchen right down the middle. The whole design gave the impression that it was meant for modern day cooking and entertainment and not the kitchen of old, where grandmas would can and make preserves. I wondered if Aly cooked at all.

  “Here you are.” She handed me a frosted mug of beer, a second in her other hand for herself. “We can watch a movie, or sit and talk. Whatever you want to do.”

  “What do you want, Aly?” I pulled out a chair and sat at the counter.

  She leaned on her elbows and gave me a heartwarming smile over the rim of her mug. “Tell me something about you.”

  “Like what?”

  “What were you like as a kid?”

  I rolled my eyes to the ceiling and scratched my chin. “Too far back to remember.”

  She swatted playfully at my arm and giggled.

  “No seriously, you know that one kid on the street that delivers your newspaper, helps you with the groceries, escorts little old ladies across the street, and has a lemonade stand and a lawnmower business?”

  “Awww.” She got all puppy dog eyed. “Was that you?”

  “No, I was the one that beat the hell out of that kid.”

  Her face dropped, and then I laughed, and she realized I was joking and laughed with me. Her laughter melted me and made me feel like I could open up to her. “In all honesty, I was your normal everyday kid. My father was a lawyer. He worked his ass off to make sure we boys had the best he could afford. Grew up in River Oaks. My mom was wonder woman incarnate.”

  “Where are they now? Still in River Oaks?”

  My heart skipped a beat. Did I want to dive into this right now?

  Tell her. It’s okay to talk about it now.

  I finished my beer and looked at her. “Both my parents are deceased. My father died in a drunk driving accident when I was seventeen. Little Willie was only fourteen.”

  “Oh Jake. I am so sorry.” Her hand went over mine and she held it tight. How could she be so wonderful? She told me about her asshole father and stepbrothers and what did I do? I didn’t apologize or comfort her. I raged and vowed to kill them, and here she was treating me with sincerity for the loss of a man that caused his own death.

  “What about your mom?”

  I sighed. Talking about my mother was more difficult.

  “You and your brothers seem like you were a
ll close to her.”

  “We were. After my father passed, she worked hard to pay the debts none of us knew he had incurred, but then she was diagnosed with cancer. Cole and I did what we could to help pay bills and for her treatments. Willie tried his best as well. His head isn’t as good as Cole’s for business, but he always did his part.” I was staring down at my warped reflection in the gloss of the stainless steel. I didn’t realize Alyson had moved until I felt her arms go around my shoulders, and she was holding me with her chin resting on my shoulder.

  “Jake, thank you for sharing that with me. I know it wasn’t easy.” Her lips brushed against my cheek.

  I turned in her arms and caught her mouth as she pulled away. My hand went behind her neck, tangling in the lengths of her hair as I drew her lips closer and kissed her with passion and need.

  “Don’t go home,” she whispered.

  I wasn’t planning to.

  The smell of something delicious woke me up. Aly’s bed was empty. I must have been exhausted. I never even felt her get up. Did she sleep with me all night?

  Yes, remember, she was in your arms.

  I had taken her to bed, made love to her, and then held her in my arms until she was asleep. Only then did I allow myself to close my eyes and sleep. I had wanted to make sure she was safe and content, and the only way I was able to do that was to be with her as much as possible, but where was she now?

  I slipped out from beneath the sheets and made my way to the kitchen, following the wonderful smell of food cooking. Aly was busy at the stove. A spatula in one hand, an oven mitt on the other, and her body clad only in a tee shirt. “What’s cooking, good looking?”

  Aly yelped and held the oven mitted hand over her heart. “Oh my God, you scared the heck out of me. There’s juice and coffee on the counter.” She waved her spatula in that general direction and returned to the task at hand.