by Stormy Glenn
That would be a first.
Sal chuckled because he no doubt knew it too. “Not this time, caro.”
My eyes rounded until they hurt. “Wow.”
“There’s Marcus and Gino.”
I smiled when I glanced down the hallway to see Marcus and Gino walking toward us with Clarke. And they still had the lunch trays.
Score!
Gino was looking a little frazzled, though. His face was paler than usual and his shirt was wrinkled. He’d have a fit if he knew. Gino hated not looking his best.
“What happened to you guys?”
Marcus glared at me. “Some guy bumped into us as we were getting out of the elevator. He knocked the sandwich trays out of Gino’s hand. I started to help Gino pick them up when I realized you hadn’t stopped. By the time I called out for you, Sal was telling you to run. I shoved Gino back into the elevator and waited for the gunfire to stop.”
Oops.
“Sorry,” I whispered as my face flushed with embarrassment. I was pretty sure I was going to hear about that at some point.
“Come on, Lany,” Sal said as he looped an arm around my shoulders. “We can eat in one of the conference rooms while I explain to you what happened.”
I was so down with that. Knowing I didn’t create this mess was kind of the highlight of my day. Well, except for having lunch with Sal. That always topped my list.
“Are you sure I didn’t do this?”
I had to check ‘cause, hey, it was me.
“I’m sure, caro.” Sal gave me a little squeeze. “This wasn’t your mess this time. It’s mine.”
Chapter Seven
Salvador
I kept Lany close to my side as we ate our lunch. Even if this mess hadn’t been his fault, seeing a gun pointed at my husband was a sight that always made me sick to my stomach. Strangely enough, I had grown used to it.
And how fucked up was that?
“So, tell me what’s going on,” Lany said.
“You remember that case I was supposed to be testifying on, right?”
Lany nodded.
“When Clarke and I got to the DA’s office, I mentioned the body cams we’re required to wear. He, apparently, didn’t know about them. Needless to say, he kind of freaked when I told him it showed the entire mission.”
“Right, you told me all of this.”
“Well, we had to go see the judge because there are things on that tape that are top secret. The district attorney is required to turn over all evidence, not just the edited versions that the jury would see.”
“So, did you meet with the judge?”
“We did, and he agreed with me after he witnessed the full length of the unedited recordings.”
“That’s good, right?” Lany asked.
“It is, caro, but it created its own problems.”
“How so?”
“While court was in session and the judge was making his ruling on the recordings, the defendant flipped out. He jumped over a table and tackled the bailiff to the floor, taking his gun.”
“Did you shoot him?”
I smiled, not because I had shot someone, but because Lany knew me well. I wouldn’t let some lunatic with a gun take over a courtroom. “I did, but I only wounded him. That’s kind of where the real fun began.”
Lany’s jaw dropped. “The real fun?”
“The defendant started screaming that he’d turn state’s evidence if we got him medical attention and then put him into protective custody.”
Lany’s eyebrows shot up. “State’s evidence?”
I nodded, waiting.
“On who?”
“Seems Jose Juarez was a low-level drug dealer. He more than likely never even would have come on our radar if he hadn’t taken his wife and kid hostage. First rule of drug dealing, don’t use your own product. Bad for business.”
“I still don’t understand why this guy would flip,” Gino said. “So what if the tapes couldn’t be used. I would think that would help him.”
“An edited version of the tapes was turned over to the defense attorney. That’s what the judge was ruling on. There were things on those tapes that was eyes only for my team. They had to be edited out before the tapes were given to the defense.”
“Okay, and?” Gino made a rolling motion with his hand. “What’s the catch?”
“The defendant hadn’t realized the entire incident at his house had been recorded. When he found out that those tapes—even the edited versions—were being turned over to the DA and his defense attorney, he flipped, because it clearly showed a bunch of his illegal activity.”
“Wasn’t that stuff discovered at the scene?”
I nodded, barely suppressing my smile. “Yeah, but that’s the best part. He really thinks he’s some sort of high-level kingpin. The drugs that were found in his house could barely be considered illegal. But once he started spouting off everything, we knew we had a chance to sink some bigger fish.”
“Wait. Let me see if I get this right.” Lany started to smile, eyes dancing with amusement. “If this guy had kept his mouth shut—”
“He would have done some time for the hostage situation, and that was it. There wasn’t even enough drugs in his house to charge him with selling illegal drugs.”
“So, instead, he’s in protective custody so he can testify against some other guys?”
“Much bigger fish, caro. Like huge.”
“Not—”
“No, no.” I quickly shook my head to reassure Lany. “This has nothing to do with Carlos or Vinnie. This is a new faction in town, one we’ve been aware of, but haven’t been able to get a bead on.”
“Until now.”
“Exactly.”
“Then what was all that out in the hallway?”
“After the shooting, I was viewing security feed of the courtroom with Clarke when we realized that there was another guy in the room with a gun, someone who seemed mighty interested in the outcome of the trial. In all the chaos, he slipped out. We were doing a floor to floor search for him when you arrived.”
“Then why didn’t you send me home?”
I wish.
“All of the exits were barred right after you arrived, even the parking garage entrance. No one in, no one out until we located this guy.”
Lany’s eyebrows peaked. “The guy in the hallway, the one that tried to kidnap me, that was him?”
I nodded.
“He knew my name, Sal.”
I frowned as a cold ball of ice formed in my gut.
“He called me Lancaster Delvecchio. How did he know my name?”
“I don’t know, Lany, but I’ll find out.”
Damn it to hell.
“I’ll call Mom and ask her to keep the girls a little longer.”
There was so much dejection in Lany’s voice that I couldn’t stand it. I lifted him out of his chair and placed him in my lap. I tucked his head against my throat, a place I knew he found comfort in.
“We’ll get through this, caro. I promise. The girls will be home before you know it.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe you, Sal. I just don’t understand why this keeps happening to us. Why can’t people just leave us alone?”
“I don’t know, Lany. I just don’t know.”
“You’d better call my father and tell him we need more security, especially the girls.”
I nodded my agreement. “I will.”
I had a few phone calls to make. Lany’s father was only the first. When Lany went to get up, I looped an arm around him and pulled him back against. I wasn’t ready for him to go anywhere just yet. Once again, I had the image of someone pointing a gun at Lany etched in my head.
“Lancaster, it’s Sal. We need to talk.”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, hoping to make my headache go away or at least lessen it. The more I learned about this case, the less I liked it. What had started out as a simple domestic disturbance call now had a taskforce involving local law enforcem
ent, the DEA, and the FBI.
It would have been a logistical nightmare if Jerry hadn’t put me in charge, allowing me to choose the people I worked with. My SWAT team was already assembled, and I was expecting Supervisory Special Agent Miles Burke to arrive as soon as he could get away from his undercover assignment.
I was starting to think that I could only trust a select few people. Strangely enough, one of those men was alleged mobster, Vinnie Castellano. I never dreamed I’d think that in my life. But Vinnie had proven himself. Even now, he worked at separating himself from the mobster life he had lived for so long. It wasn’t something that could happen overnight.
I glanced up when Clarke walked into the room. I was not thrilled to see the grimace on his face. “Tell me.”
“Roberto Brazos died on the operating table.”
Fuck!
I inhaled a deep breath as I started automatically reshuffling what we knew and what we needed to know. “Okay, was Lyn able to run down all of his known associates?”
“He’s still working on it. The information seems to have been buried pretty deep.”
“A guy like that had to have done time somewhere. Start there.”
“You honestly think Lyn hasn’t already tried that angle?”
No, I didn’t, but it had to be said.
“He said he’d have a full report when we meet up in the morning.”
I lifted one brow as I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly two o’clock in the morning. “Lyn is still working?”
“You know Lyn. This shit storm involves his cohort in evil. He’ll work until his fingers fall off.”
I chuckled because I knew it was true. Lyn, Eddie, and Lany were as thick as thieves. I had once called them three of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I was still pretty sure I was right. The trouble those three could get into with a simple trip to the market stunned most everyone. Not me. Sadly, I had grown used to their antics.
What did that say about me?
“Tell Lyn to go home and rest. I’m going to need him fresh in the morning.”
Clarke grunted. “Permission to carry him out of here if he resists.”
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I shook my head. “Permission granted.”
One of these days the tension between those two men was going to snap. It was up for debate as to who would come out on top, but my money was on Lyn. He might be small and nerdy, but there was a thread of steel in him Clarke had yet to discover.
I stood up and reached across the table to gather up the files I had been working on. I shoved them all in my go bag. I lopped the strap over my shoulder and then walked over to the small couch that had been moved into the conference room.
I squatted down in front of the man curled up on the couch, reaching out to smooth the hair back from his angelic face. “Lany, love, it’s time to go home.”
I smiled when he just snuggled down deeper into the blanket covering him. I didn’t have the heart to wake him so I slid my hands under Lany and picked him up, blankets and all. Something warmed deep inside of me when Lany turned toward me and sighed, as if right where he wanted to be.
Carrying Lany was easy. I had done it a hundred times, and would probably do it a hundred more. It was opening the door that I seemed to have issue with. My hands were full and I wasn’t about to put Lany down.
I lifted him up as high as I could in my arms and then reached out and turned the doorknob. Luckily, the door opened right up. I could only hope the rest of them were that easy. I wanted Lany to sleep as long as he could.
I carried Lany out of the conference room and down the long corridor that had seen so much activity earlier in the day. It was amazing how much a few hours could change things. They had even cleaned up the blood off the polished floor.
“Goodnight, Lt. Delvecchio,” the night guard said as I stepped onto the elevator. He was leaning back against the security counter, talking on his cell phone.
“Night,” I called out in a low tone so I wouldn’t wake up the man sleeping in my arms. I was pretty sure I could get Lany loaded up in my SUV and back to the penthouse without waking him.
It wasn’t until we reached the parking garage and I glanced around for my car that my brain engaged and I realized that I had driven to the courthouse with Clarke and Lany had caught a ride here with Marcus. I had sent both men away.
I wanted to laugh because the situation was just so ridiculous.
I didn’t because I had to do the one thing I was trying to prevent. “Lany, caro, you have to wake up. Lany?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s time to wake up, Lany.” We needed to call a cab, which meant I needed to use my phone, which was currently in my pocket. “Open your eyes.”
It took a minute before Lany’s eyelids fluttered open and beautiful amber-green eyes stared up at me. “Hello, caro.”
Lany smiled up at me. “Hi.”
“I wish I didn’t have to wake you, but we need to call a cab. We both came with other people and they are all gone.”
Lany lifted his head and looked around. “Are we in the parking garage?”
I chuckled because I still thought the situation ridiculous. “Yes, we are.”
He looked at me. “And you didn’t bring your car?”
“Rode here with Clarke.
“Well, damn.” Lany blinked rapidly for a moment, making me wonder if he was fully awake. “I rode here with Marcus. Where is he?”
“You were with me so I sent him and Gino home after you fell asleep.”
“Oh.” Lany tucked his lips in and I knew the man was trying not to laugh. “So, a cab then?”
I did laugh. “A cab, caro.”
While I held Lany, he dug out his cell phone and called for a cab. When he was done, I carefully set him on his feet, pulling the blanket up around his shoulders. “We should probably head out front.”
“Oh no.” Lany quickly shook his head. “The dispatcher said he’d have the cab pick us up here so we could stay out of the rain.”
I had thought that the gates for entering the parking garage were locked after hours.
Guess I was wrong.
There wasn’t really any place to sit down so I leaned back against one of the cement pillars between parking spots and pulled Lany into my arms. Holding him at the end of the day made life worth living. I could stand there and do it all day long.
“We should take the girls to the zoo this weekend.”
“It’s too cold for the zoo, caro.”
“Okay, the park then.”
“Too cold for the park, too.” It was basically too cold to be outside right now, especially for infants.
“Well, we need to take them somewhere. They’re getting cabin fever.”
I seriously doubt our one-year-old little girls were getting cabin fever. More like my twenty-nine-year-old cutie was getting cabin fever.
And I had a solution to that.
“How about we let your mother keep the girls another night, and you and I go out on the town? Just the two of us?”
Lany tilted his head and glanced up at me. “Really?”
I smiled as I stroked a finger down Lany’s silky soft cheek. “Really.”
“It’s been a while since just the two of us went out.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I guess sometimes the job gets overwhelming and I forget that if the two of us don’t work, the rest of it doesn’t work.”
I needed to do a little more appreciating of the man in my life.
“We work fine,” Lany said as he leaned into my hand. “We always have. We always will.”
“I know.” A lump formed in my throat. I slid my hand to the back of Lany’s nape and pulled his head down until I could rest my chin on him. “But you need to always know that you are the most important person in my world. Sometimes that needs to be more than a simple kiss and hug and a ‘honey, how are you.’”
I knew I was still dealing with Lany’s memory loss. I imagine it
would stay with me for quite some time. It was something I never wanted to go through again. There was no way to describe the anguish I had felt when Lany looked at me with vacant eyes.
It had been devastating.
“I’m not worried, Sal.” Lany pressed a kiss to the skin above the edge of my collar. “You show me and the girls every day that you love us.” Lany had a smile on his lips when he tilted his head back. “But it’s always nice to hear every once in a while.”
I grinned before pressing a kiss to Lany’s lips. “How about when we get home, I show you?”
Lany shuddered, a deep groan coming from his slim frame. “I would so love that.”
I would too; every stolen moment was treasured.
I grinned as ideas on how to torture Lany began to fill my head, each one more devious than the last. We had quite the collection of sex toys at home and it had been a while since I had tied Lany up and had my way with him.
Maybe it was time.
“What?” Lany asked.
I smiled brightly. “Nothing, dear.”
“No, tell me.”
I chuckled.
It was evil.
“Sal.”
“Oh hey, look, the cab is here.” I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I turned Lany toward the cab pulling up. It wasn’t often I could get one over on Lany. I wanted to enjoy it while I could.
“Sal, I want to know what—”
I glanced down at Lany when his voice trailed off. He had gone pale as a sheet. “Lany?” When he didn’t answer, I glanced up, looking in the same direction Lany was staring.
Fuck!
The cab was here, but it wasn’t empty.
I shoved Lany toward the elevators and pulled out my gun. “Run, Lany.”
I couldn’t believe I had shouted that at him twice in the same day.
One of the three armed men climbing out of the cab got off a shot before I could. The bullet hit the cement wall right above my head. It probably would have hit me if I hadn’t ducked out of the way.
I cast one last look in Lany’s direction to make sure he had done as I said and was running. He was ducking between cars as he raced toward the elevators, which luckily weren’t that far away. I turned my attention to the men firing at me. I aimed my gun and started returning fire, hoping I could take out every one of these fuckers before they got me.
