Deadly Escape_A Shelby Nichols Adventure

by Colleen Helme

  “Good idea. I’ll work out the details with Ramos. If there’s anything you need to know, he’ll call you. This is going to work, Shelby. I promise. We’ll catch him and put an end to this.”

  “When are you coming home?”

  “Tonight.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” We said our goodbyes and disconnected.

  As I pulled out of the parking lot to head home, a dark cloud of foreboding followed me. I did not want to go to that dinner. But, no matter how strongly I felt, I couldn’t let Uncle Joey down. He was right. My ability might mean the difference between life and death. Because of that, I didn’t have a choice.

  Chapter 10

  By the time I arrived home, I had a nasty headache. The stress was taking a toll. How did I get into these life and death things? Why did everything always have to happen at once? I took some pills and checked my fridge for a diet soda. After moving things around, I found an empty box and could have cried.

  I jumped back into my car for a quick run to the grocery store and picked up everything we’d need for a few days, along with an ample supply of soda. Being there reminded me of the day I got shot in the head and my life changed. Now look at me. A year later, and my life barely resembled the one I’d had before I could read minds.

  Last week, I wouldn’t have given my ability up for anything, but now that didn’t seem so true. The trauma of nearly getting blown up was messing with my mind. I felt a little off-balance and jittery. Did that mean I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

  I got home and looked it up on the Internet. The definition made a lot of sense and helped calm my fears, mostly because I knew there was help available if I needed it. I also knew that changing my attitude to looking at the positive instead of the negative would help too.

  I had to remember that going to dinner at the restaurant might be scary but, because of my mind-reading skills, it would all work out. Plus, Deputy Gerard and his men, along with Ramos and his men, would all be there. That meant there was no way anyone, including me, would get hurt.

  After drinking down a diet soda, my heart raced to remember that it was my turn to pick the kids up from school. I arrived just in time, and I heard some thoughts from Savannah’s friends that I was so cool. It puzzled me for a minute, but then I picked up that she’d told them I’d gone to DC to help the CIA with a case. That made me the coolest mom on the planet, and it brought a smile to my lips.

  We got home, and I proposed that we make a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Savannah heartily agreed, telling me all about her day, and my worries didn’t seem so big. I began making one of my favorite dinners, and Chris walked in, happy to see me, and even more happy to see me fixing dinner.

  While I sprinkled fresh parmesan cheese over the pasta primavera, his arms snaked around my waist, and he kissed that ticklish spot under my ear, making me squirm. “That smells amazing,” he said. “Did I tell you how glad I am that you’re home…and making dinner?”

  I tried to wiggle out of his arms, but he wouldn’t budge. “Sorry, babe, but I’m not leaving your side, at least not until after you feed me.”

  “Watch it, or you won’t get any.”

  He smirked, then noticed the freshly-made cookies on the counter.

  “Or the cookies either.”

  Just to tease me, he pinned me to the counter so I couldn’t stop him and snatched a cookie. I tried to grab it from him, but he held me away and popped several bites into his mouth. “Mmm…these are good.”

  While I huffed out a breath, he let go of me and finished his cookie in peace. “So how did it go today?” he asked. “Any crazy people try to kill you?”

  “Nope. I did spend some time at the police station though. Erika Reva came in, and I sat in on her interrogation.” I told him what I’d picked up, including Deputy Gerard’s backup plan that involved using Uncle Joey as bait.

  “You’ve got to be kidding?” he said. “And Manetto agreed?”

  “Of course he did. He likes to live on the wild side.”

  “I guess he wants us to be there.”

  “Um…actually he just wants me to come.”

  Chris narrowed his eyes. “Just you? Why?”

  “Let’s just say that, with a chance something could go wrong, he doesn’t want our kids to be orphans.”

  Chris didn’t buy it. “That doesn’t sound like Manetto, but it does sound like something you’d say. Honey, if you’re going, I’m going.”

  “But…”

  “No,” he said sharply. “I can’t watch you leave one more time without me. I’m coming and that’s final.”

  I let out a breath, knowing I couldn’t say anything that would change his mind right now. But there was still time before the dinner, and I wasn’t giving up yet. “Okay, but if anything happens to both of us, it’s on you.”

  His brows drew together. That was hardly fair, but my threat wasn’t going to work on him. “Fine. I accept the challenge. But just remember that there’s a better-than-average chance that Leo won’t even show up. It would be a dumb move on his part, and I don’t think he’s that stupid.”

  “Maybe, but I’d still feel better if you stayed home.”

  He growled under his breath and shook his head, thinking that I might as well let it go because he wasn’t going to change his mind.

  Since I didn’t want to spend our evening together in an argument, I let out a sigh and stepped close, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him against me.

  His arms tightened around me, and I lifted my face toward his. That was all the invitation he needed to bring his lips down on mine in a searing kiss. After several moments of the best kissing ever, he pulled back, leaving me breathless. “When’s dinner?”

  “Huh? You’re thinking about food?”

  He grinned and shook his head. “For a mind-reader, you totally missed that one.”

  “Oh, you’re thinking about that. Uh…no, we don’t have time, besides, the kids…”

  He swooped down for another kiss, with the promise of more to come, and then let me go. “I’ll set the table.”

  Catching my breath, I nodded and hurried back to my cooking, grateful I’d turned the heat down on the burner or it would have been a disaster. At least he had taken my mind off my worries, so that was good. Plus, on the bright side, I had something to look forward to that didn’t scare me. Oh baby, oh baby.

  The next morning, I got the kids off to school and took my time lounging around reading the paper. It wasn’t until after I’d showered and gotten ready for the day that my stomach began to twist with nerves. To help settle my unease, I gave Ramos a call to find out if anything had changed.

  “Babe,” he answered. “What’s up?”

  “I was just calling about the dinner tonight. Is it still on?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh…okay.” I let out a sigh. “Did Uncle Joey and Jackie get back?”

  “Yes.”

  “But Jackie’s not coming, right?”

  “Uh…it looks like she’s coming after all.”

  “What? Uncle Joey told me he wasn’t going to let her come.”

  Ramos snorted. “Well, he was wrong. As we were going over all of our preparations for the security detail, Jackie joined us and firmly told him she was coming. I think the argument she used was that it would look suspicious if she wasn’t there. I guess she had a point, since it’s an engagement party, and she and Manetto are throwing it for the happy couple.”

  “So he gave in?”

  “Yup.”

  “Damn. Okay then. Do you need me to do anything?”

  “Nope. Just show up and bring your A-game.”

  My stomach twisted, and I found it hard to swallow.

  “Shelby? Are you all right? Hey…you don’t need to worry. This will be easy. I’ve got it covered. In fact, I’m not even sure he’ll show up. Just come and enjoy the dinner. You’ll be fine. I promise.”

  How could he promise something like that? I sighed, know
ing he was just trying to help me feel better. “Okay, but I’m going to see if I can make Chris stay home. Just in case. You know?”

  “Uh…sure. Why not? You can tell him that I’ll be there to watch over you, so you’ll be safe.”

  “Hmm…as much as I’m grateful for that, I’m not sure telling that to my husband would go so well, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah…probably not. See you later.”

  We disconnected, and I decided I might as well do some cleaning and laundry to take my mind off the coming evening. That worked for a while until Dimples called, and I realized I’d never called him back to tell him about the plan.

  “Uh…hi,” I said. “Sorry I forgot to call you.”

  “Well, I guess I deserved that. I felt bad after you left, and I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life. I’m just worried about you, that’s all. So what’s going on? From what I can tell, Gerard is focusing his resources on a restaurant. What’s that about?”

  I explained the plan to use Uncle Joey’s dinner party with him as bait, and added that I’d be there as an extra precaution. “I know it’s not ideal but, as much as I don’t want to go, I think I need to be there. If Leo comes, I’ll know, and I can do something about it.”

  Dimples exhaled before speaking. “Okay. I was worried it was something like that. Just…be careful. And…if you need me for any reason, don’t hesitate to ask, all right?”

  “Thanks. I’ll be fine, but thanks.”

  We said our goodbyes and disconnected. It was nice that Dimples cared about me but, on another level, I hated disappointing him. This whole predicament of choosing sides was starting to get to me, and I knew, at some point, that I’d just have to come out and tell him I wasn’t going to stop working for Uncle Joey. And if he couldn’t deal with that, then I’d just have to stop helping him.

  I didn’t like that either, but I didn’t know what else to do.

  Chris got home early and noticed that I had the table set for three people. “Is that for the kids? Who’s eating with them?”

  “Uh…Chris…are you sure you want to come?”

  His brows drew together, and hurt filled his eyes. “Shelby. We went over this. I’m coming with you tonight.”

  “I guess I’m just worried.”

  “Is Jackie going to be there?” He thought that, if Manetto didn’t want her there, I might have a point.

  Damn! Why did he have to ask me that? I let out a sigh and nodded. “Yes, but Uncle Joey didn’t want her there, and he’s not happy about it. Chris…you know this could be dangerous.”

  “Or it could be nothing. You don’t know what this guy’s thinking. He could be after Manetto, but maybe he’s given up on that and taken his money and left for South America or something. Besides, someone needs to be there to watch after you.”

  He was thinking that Ramos would be protecting Uncle Joey, so he needed to protect me. I wasn’t about to tell him he was wrong, but what was it with men and protecting me? Why couldn’t they believe I could protect myself? I could read minds. That gave me a huge advantage.

  “I don’t like it,” I said. “I wish you’d stay here…just in case.”

  He pulled me into his arms. “Sorry, but I’m sticking with you, and nothing you can say will change my mind.”

  With his jaw set, and his eyes narrowed with grim determination, I knew he wouldn’t back down. “All right. Then we’d better get ready, because we need to be there in forty-five minutes.”

  “I’ll go jump in the shower.”

  I found Josh and Savannah watching a show downstairs, and told them they could have leftovers since we were going out to dinner.

  “Okay,” Josh said. “Can Chloe come over?”

  I glanced at Savannah. She was thinking that, if Chloe was here, it might get uncomfortable, since she’d caught them making out on the couch the last time she’d come.

  What? They were making out? Holy hell! Josh was only fifteen. Ugh! With my heart racing, I glanced between them. There was no way I could leave Josh home alone with Chloe, so that meant Savannah had to stay home. But kissing in front of her? My mind flooded with thoughts about sex and if we’d thoroughly explained how to make babies to Josh.

  “Uh…let me think about it.”

  Josh wondered what my problem was, but he just shrugged and kept watching the show. Savannah glanced at me, wondering why I looked so upset. Usually I didn’t mind having Chloe over. She’d only caught them kissing that one time, so maybe it wouldn’t be too bad.

  “I’m going to finish getting ready.”

  I staggered up the stairs, grateful I could explain what I’d just heard to Chris. Maybe after he found out about the kissing part, he’d stay home after all. I found him standing in front of the closet, trying to figure out what to wear.

  “How dressy is this thing anyway?” he asked. “Can I wear my jeans?”

  “Uh…yeah…”

  He glanced at me, and his brows drew together. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Josh and Chloe. He asked if she could come over tonight and Savannah was thinking how she caught them making out. Did you know?”

  Chris chuckled. “No…but…” He shrugged. “It makes sense. They’re teenagers, and they like each other.”

  “Maybe you should stay home, so you can keep an eye on him.”

  “No way.”

  “But aren’t you worried about them?”

  “No. I’m not.” He placed his hands on both my shoulders and caught my gaze. “I’ve had some great conversations with Josh about sex. He’ll be fine. He’s not ready for that, and I’m sure Chloe’s not either. We can talk to him some more if you’d like, but not tonight.”

  I let out my breath. “Okay. I’ll try not to worry.”

  “Good. How does this look?”

  Chris wore a navy, button-up shirt with his jeans and a casual blazer. I had to admit, he looked pretty great. “You look perfect.”

  “Thanks.” He smiled and slipped on his shoes.

  I decided to wear a sleeveless, aqua blue dress that matched my eyes. It hugged my body in all the right places, and the light-weight material reminded me of hot summer nights at the beach. I had a white sweater that I could take to ward off the chill and, along with my tan sandals, I looked great. I finished up my makeup and hair, then applied lipstick, and I was ready to go.

  For safe measure, I slipped my fully charged stun-gun flashlight into my purse, along with my pepper-spray. Chris watched me with raised brows, and then wondered if he should get his gun out of the safe and bring it in his jacket pocket.

  “Really?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “I’ll bet everyone else will have one.”

  “Maybe. But you don’t have a concealed carry permit, do you?”

  “I haven’t gotten around to that, but now I’m going to put it on my list of things to do next week.”

  I let out a breath. “Okay, but you should leave the gun here. Deputy Gerard and all his people will be watching, along with all of Uncle Joey’s security, and the police. That’s a lot of guns. In fact, now that I think about it, having all those guns in one place almost scares me more than whatever Leo has planned…if he’s going to show up. And that’s a big if.”

  “You’re right. He’d have to be crazy to crash this party,” Chris agreed, glad I’d finally come around to his way of thinking. “I guess I’ll leave my gun here.”

  I smiled, managing to keep from rolling my eyes, and sprayed on my favorite perfume. Downstairs, we said our goodbyes to the kids, telling them it was okay if Chloe came over, and we’d be back around nine. Josh had already texted Chloe, but she couldn’t come until later, so he planned to play video games until then.

  “Come and eat,” I said. “Dinner’s hot and in the microwave.”

  They came into the kitchen, and I gave each of them a kiss and a hug and told them never to forget how much I loved them, just in case it was that las
t thing I ever said to them. Before it got too weird, Chris pulled me out the door, and we got into the car.

  We arrived at the restaurant about ten minutes early. The parking lot was full, and we ended up parking on the street. As we walked to the restaurant, I glanced around the buildings and parking lot; trying to spot Ramos’s security detail, or Gerard’s men, but nothing looked out of place.

  Inside, it surprised me that the restaurant was open for business. I’d hoped we’d be the only ones there, mostly because it would make my job easier. Now I had to filter out the thoughts of everyone in the room. My stress levels reached a new high, and I could feel the beginnings of a headache before I’d even gotten started.

  The restaurant was decorated in sand tones with stucco on the walls and a Mediterranean twist. This was my first time there, and I hadn’t realized it was an Italian restaurant. Belonging to the Falzone family, I should have figured that out. At least I loved Italian, so that was good.

  We told the hostess we were there for the party, and she led us to the back of the building in a more private area. A half-wall separated us from the rest of the diners, leaving us with a view of the entire area. A couple of stairs through an arched walkway took us into the room, with another arched walkway on the other side.

  Several people were already seated at the long table in the open room, including Uncle Joey and Jackie. Uncle Joey took one look at me and pulled me into a big hug. He was thinking that I’d almost died, and he couldn’t stand the thought of losing me.

  The intensity of his feelings brought tears to my eyes, but I sniffed them back and pulled away with a smile. “It’s good to see you, too.”

  Jackie gave me a hug. “Joe told me what happened. I’m so glad you’re all right.”

  “Thanks Jackie.”

  She let out a breath. “I’m glad you’re here. This whole thing makes me a little nervous, but you’ll let us know if something’s wrong. Just keep my Joe safe.”

  “Of course,” I said, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.