Sara studied Sophia over the rim of her glass and asked a question.
“How long did you and Johnny date?”
“A little over two years,”
“Really? It sounds like you were serious.”
“We were, and even talked about getting married, but we were just kids then too.”
“And you and Tanner, is it serious?”
Sophia narrowed her eyes.
“Why all the questions?”
“I’m curious. Why would you be with Tanner when you know what he is?”
“Yes, I know what he is, but you’re confusing that with what he does. My father was Jackie Verona and he killed dozens of men, same as Tanner, and let me tell you something, my father was a good man and a great dad.”
Sara smiled.
“Ah, I see, you have daddy issues. That’s why you’re with Tanner; he reminds you of your father.”
“You bitch! Who the hell are you to psychoanalyze me? Keep talking shit and I’ll—”
Tanner appeared and took Sophia’s hand.
“Say goodbye to your new friend, we’re leaving.”
“Friend my ass, I see why you wanted to kill her.”
“C’mon, I’ll take you to dinner, goodbye, Blake.”
“Goodbye, Tanner, and don’t for a second think that you’re fooling me. Johnny may trust you, but I never will.”
“Right, just keep your word and we won’t have a problem,” Tanner said, and then he and Sophia headed for the door.
As they passed him, a man seated at the main stage stood and followed after them, but before he did so, he sent Sara a nod. The man was Duke.
Sara intended to keep her word, but was not going to be unprepared when Tanner broke his, and he would break it, of that she was certain, and Duke would insure that she wasn’t caught unawares.
Sara ordered another drink. When it came, she said a silent toast to Brian Ames, her dead and still mourned lover.
***
At that moment, in Brooklyn, Bruno Heinz was meeting with Robert Vance.
They were inside Heinz’s limo, which was parked near the famous Brooklyn Heights Promenade, but neither man was interested in taking in the spectacular view of Manhattan.
Vance was in his early-thirties, blond, tall, and had light-blue eyes. He was Russian by birth and upbringing, but like Tanner, he spoke many languages, such as English, which he spoke without a trace of an accent.
He was a trained assassin and a former member of Russia’s Federal Security Service, an organization once known as the KGB.
“Tanner killed Richards and ruined the man’s plans, and I hope you understand, Heinz, Richards’ plan to kill you and the others was his idea, not mine. I simply carried out his orders.”
A small smile formed on Heinz’s lips.
“I understand, as a young man, I too took orders, some of which I didn’t like, but that is the past, and if you’re willing, I would like your help.”
“You’re planning to step into Richards’ shoes?”
“A crude saying, but yes, in essence, that is what I am doing, and I can use a man with your skills.”
“You want me to kill Tanner?”
Heinz looked startled by the question.
“Do you think that you could?”
“Absolutely, I’m every bit as good as Tanner and I would love the chance to prove that I’m better.”
“You may be up to the task, but I have a team of men coming here to solve that problem.”
“What men, Mercs?”
“Yes, but not just any mercenaries. These men work for a man named Magyar, a Hungarian who lives in Brussels.”
“Boldizsár Magyar? I know him well, I was once a member of an earlier team of his, as was Lars Gruber, and yes, his men will not be ordinary mercenaries.”
“No, they will not be and they will kill this man Tanner. Once they do, that is when I will need you, as I take over and control this city.”
“Once Rossetti is dead, the rest of the families will fall easily, but Rossetti is protected by a man named Pullo, and Pullo is loyal to Rossetti. I suggest you remove him as well.”
Heinz smiled.
“Good advice, and I assume we have a deal?”
“Yes, I’ll join you, and if Magyar’s men don’t kill Tanner, he’s mine, agreed?”
Heinz laughed.
“Agreed, but really, what are the odds of Tanner defeating such men?”
Vance frowned.
“Not good, knowing Magyar, each man on that team will be exceptional, still, if Tanner survives, I want my shot at him.”
“It’s a deal. Now, let’s discuss your compensation.”
***
Tanner took Sophia to dinner, where they talked over the day’s events.
“You know that Heinz will be sending more men after you, don’t you?”
“Of course, it was why I asked you to pack a bag. I have to work tonight and I didn’t want to leave you alone at your house.”
Sophia pouted.
“I thought we were staying at a hotel for a night of romance, now you tell me that I’ll be there all by myself.”
“It can’t be helped, as you said, Heinz will be sending more men after me, and he’ll likely be importing.”
“So?”
“I want to welcome them to the city, my way.”
Sophia grinned.
“Oh God, I can only imagine what that means, but please, baby, be careful.”
“I’ll do my best,” Tanner said.
Sophia looked around the restaurant and spotted a friend she knew who was an actress on Broadway. The woman had been on her way out the door with a large group of people, but when she spotted Sophia, she smiled wide, put her hand to her ear and made the gesture that said, “Call me.”
“Your friend looked familiar,” Tanner said.
“She should, that’s Amber Rose, she won a Tony last year, but you probably remember her from those insurance commercials she used to do. We grew up on the same block and she used to date my brother.”
“About your brother,”
“Yeah?”
“I was surprised by what you said about snitches when you were talking to Blake, given that Lars Gruber killed him for talking to the Feds.”
Sophia gave a little shrug.
“Tony turned snitch to help save our father and knew he’d pay for it. What Blake doesn’t get, is that you didn’t kill that Brian Ames for the hell of it; you did it because you were hired to do a job. Ames killed himself when he talked and so did my brother, the difference is, Tony did it to save our father, who knows why Ames did it.”
Dessert came and Sophia downed a piece of chocolate cake while sighing in pleasure, when she was finished eating, she moaned.
“When you return to the hotel tomorrow, look for me in the fitness center. It’ll take me hours to burn off that cake, but oh, was it worth it.”
“I don’t have to leave right away and I have a little fun planned, something I could use your help with.”
Sophia smiled.
“What sort of fun?”
Tanner smiled back at her.
“I need to send someone a message.”
***
Sara and Johnny also went out to dinner, while Joe stayed late at the club.
Afterwards, they went to a bar in Midtown that featured live jazz. Sara was happy. It felt good to be out on the town, after being fearful of leaving her apartment for so long, but eventually she and Johnny returned there.
Johnny began kissing Sara as she opened her apartment door, and just seconds after closing it behind them, they were on her sofa locked in a passionate embrace.
When things escalated to the point that Sara’s dress laid on the floor and Johnny was shirtless, Sara stopped him from removing his pants and whispered in his ear.
“Take me to the bedroom.”
Johnny swooped Sara up in his arms like a bride and carried her down the hallway, and as they walked along, he used h
is teeth to slide one of her bra straps down along her arm, causing her to giggle.
However, the giggle died in her throat when they heard the moan come from beyond the open bedroom door.
Johnny stopped suddenly, lowered Sara’s bare feet to the carpet, and reached down to free the gun from his ankle holster.
“Who’s in there?” Johnny demanded, but was answered by another low moan.
After gesturing for Sara to stay back, he got down low and peeked around the doorframe.
“What the hell...?”
Duke lay atop the bed, wrapped in duct tape from head-to-toe, with only his nose and eyes uncovered.
Johnny entered the bedroom with Sara following behind and plucked off the note that was taped to the headboard.
DON’T PRESS ME, BLAKE. LET IT GO! - TANNER
Sara looked up at Johnny with a guilty gaze.
“I don’t trust Tanner, and Duke was just following him.”
Johnny paced for a moment, opened his mouth, but said nothing, and then stormed from the room, with anger radiating off of him like steam from a pipe.
Sara sighed as she watched him leave, and then she bent over the bed and tore the tape away that was covering Duke’s mouth.
“Did you plant the device before Tanner caught you?”
Duke didn’t answer; he was busy staring at Sara’s breasts, which were practically spilling out of a red lace bra just inches from his face.
She made an exasperated sound, straightened up, and tapped him on the cheek.
“Duke?”
“Sorry honey, but I am a man you know, and yes, I planted the tracker. Now you’ll know where Tanner is at every moment.”
Sara grinned.
“And knowing where he is, I can kill him.”
CHAPTER 19 - Words fail him
On East 38th Street, Tanner rang the doorbell that belonged to Laurel Ivy.
The lights were on in the townhouse, and he assumed that she was staying up late to greet Pullo when he returned from the club.
Sophia was tucked away safely in a 5-star hotel, but after visiting Laurel, Tanner would be visiting another hotel, The Hotel Rutherford, where Bruno Heinz was headquartered.
Laurel opened the door after checking through the peephole and her large blue eyes were full of questions.
“Why are you here, Tanner?”
“May I come in?”
Laurel hesitated for only a second and then bid Tanner to enter.
His pulse was elevated once more at the sight of her and he inwardly cursed whatever caused the reaction. However, every time he saw her, it was like seeing the sun for the first time.
“The men who hurt Rossetti the other day, they worked for a man named Heinz, and it’s possible that the Giacconi Family will be going to war with him.”
“That’s disturbing, but why are you telling me that?”
Tanner handed her a strip of paper.
“You can reach me at that number. If anything happens, if you even think you’re in danger, call me.”
Laurel looked down at the paper, and as she did so, Tanner studied her. She wore no makeup, was dressed in a pink robe with matching slippers, and her jewelry had been removed in preparation for going to bed.
Tanner had seen Laurel only briefly since the days when they were lovers, but he thought that she was more beautiful than ever. He actually had to stop himself from reaching out to caress her blond curls.
Laurel looked up at him.
“Why would you give me this? I know you don’t care about me. You made that clear years ago when you left me.”
“You were married.”
Laurel moved closer and Tanner inhaled the scent of her, an aroma like roses that was likely just her shampoo or soap, nevertheless, he found it intoxicating.
“I know I was married, and yes, I cheated on my husband with you, but it was because I loved you the moment I saw you. Was I a complete fool? Were you just using me for sex and a good time? If that’s the truth, I can hear it. I’d rather live with the truth than mourn for a lie.”
Tanner blinked rapidly.
“It’s not true. I never used you; it’s just that... you wanted too much. You wanted something that I couldn’t give.”
Laurel touched him on the cheek.
“I just wanted to hear you say you loved me, and you did love me, didn’t you? I was so certain back then, I could see it in your eyes, feel it in your touch, and you laughed back then, we laughed every time we were together, we were so happy, Tanner, so goddamn good together... and then you just walked away.”
Tanner looked down at the floor.
“I can’t give you what I don’t have, and I walked away so that I wouldn’t hurt you anymore than I already had.”
Laurel lifted his chin with a gentle hand and stared into his eyes.
“You weren’t afraid of hurting me. You were afraid of being hurt by me. Love scares you to death, doesn’t it?”
Tanner backed away and let her hand fall.
“None of that matters anymore. What happened between us was years ago and you’re with Joe now.”
Tanner headed for the door and Laurel called to him, when he turned to look back at her, he saw that she was wiping away tears.
“Just tell me one thing, please?”
“What?”
“You did love me, didn’t you? You couldn’t say it then, but please say it now, I so need to hear it.”
Tanner swallowed the lump that was suddenly in his throat and pointed at the slip of paper he’d given Laurel.
“Don’t lose that, and I’ll be there if you need me.”
Tanner opened the door and stepped out into the night, to rush away from a woman that loved him and towards men who wanted him dead.
Their hate was far easier to deal with than her love.
CHAPTER 20 - Fool me once...
After putting on a robe, Sara returned to the bed and started tearing at the tape covering Duke.
“How did Tanner wrap you up so much by himself?”
“He wasn’t alone; he was with that redhead, Sophia. She was actually the one who hit me with a stun gun as I was getting in my van.”
“That bitch, but tell me, you saw them together, do you think he cares for her?”
“Yes, but I don’t think he loves her, and if you think threatening her would make him give up, you’d be wrong.”
“I agree, but damn it, the man must have a weakness.”
“And if you find it, what then?”
Sara stopped tearing at the tape and straightened up.
“I won’t go back on my word, I never have, but I have to be prepared when Tanner goes back on his. I know the man, he’s as devious as they come and if I have any hope of surviving him I’ll need leverage, but tell me, how did you plant the tracking unit?”
“Tanner did it himself, that’s how they’re designed. I broke into his car and placed it on the brake pedal. The second he stepped on it, it became embedded in the bottom of his boot.”
“Won’t it just fall off?”
“No, he would have to cut it out. This is real hi-tech spy stuff, ha, and wait until you see the bill for the tiny little bugger.”
“Where’s the tracker?”
“There’s no device, just a satellite link. I sent you the code by email. You can even install it on your phone as an App.”
Duke’s hands were free and he tore away the last of the tape.
“God that hurts and I won’t have any arm hair for a while.”
Sara patted him on the shoulder.
“This was risky, but you did it and I’ll show my appreciation with a bonus.”
“Thanks, but you better go talk to that boyfriend of yours. He looked really pissed.”
“He’ll calm down, and once I prove to him that Tanner can’t be trusted, he’ll thank me.”
***
Sara found Johnny putting on his suit jacket as he prepared to leave the apartment.
“Where are you going?
I thought you were staying?”
“And I thought you could be trusted.”
“What’s that mean? I said that I wouldn’t try to kill Tanner, I never said that I wouldn’t have him followed.”
Duke came out of the bedroom, looking disheveled and a bit sheepish.
“I still can’t believe Tanner spotted me following him. I must be getting old.”
Johnny shook his head in disgust.
“You’re lucky he didn’t kill you, and if he had, I wouldn’t blame him. Tanner is not a man you want to play games with.”
Duke opened the door.
“I’ll leave you two alone. I have to go home and soak this glue off my skin, goodnight.”
Duke left and Johnny placed his hand on the door to leave as well, but stopped when Sara hugged him.
“Don’t go. I know you don’t agree with what I did, but I don’t trust Tanner and I’m surprised that you do.”
Johnny took his hand off the door, went over to it, and sat on the sofa. When Sara sat beside him, he spoke to her.
“Tanner killed my Uncle Al, you know that of course, you were there, but did you also know that when Richards cancelled the hit, he told Tanner that he could keep the fee?”
“I was aware of all that, but so what? You think that Tanner ignored Richards and killed your uncle out of a sense of honor, out of a need to keep his word? Because, if that’s what you think, you’re wrong, Tanner has no honor, just a need to kill, and a desire to outsmart everyone, and by pretending to want to make peace with me, he’s outsmarted you.”
“How do you figure that? If he wanted us dead, he could have murdered Duke and then killed us as we walked in the door.”
“He won’t be that obvious. He wants me dead, but he doesn’t want you or Pullo coming after him, and so my guess is that he’s planning on making my death look like he had nothing to do with it, either that, or he’ll remove you from the equation first, and in a manner that won’t make Pullo suspicious.”
“That sounds too sneaky for Tanner. He’s clever, yeah, but he’s not a weasel. Joe trusts him and I trust Joe’s opinion.”
Sara smirked.
“Joe might be too trusting where Tanner is concerned. When we were at the clinic, Tanner and that doctor had a bit of a scene, there’s history there. She told me that she was dating Joe, but she seemed very interested in Tanner.”
The TANNER Series - Books 4-6 (Tanner Box Set Book 2) Page 32
