“Thanks, Dad, and do your daughters know how lucky they are?”
“Those four are all teenagers; they won’t appreciate me and their mum until they have kids of their own.”
One of the guards pulled up a corner of the tarp and stuck his head under, then, slid a piece of cardboard towards them that had brown rice piled atop it.
Everyone dug in like it was a gourmet feast, because it was the first food they had seen in nearly a day. There were no utensils and so they had to eat with their hands.
Once the food had been devoured, Juan Rio began talking, telling stories about his girls and their mother, and at one point, he had everyone laughing so that the guard outside shouted at them and kicked at the tarp.
Dr. Washburn wasn’t married, but he and his only sister were close, and he knew that she was probably worrying herself sick over what had happened to him.
That caused Jennifer to think of Sara and she told the group that she regretted arguing with her sister the last time they were together.
The Houghs had children, a son each from their first marriages and both of the boys were away at college.
“We don’t have any money, just a mortgage, along with tuition and car payments, but because we’re Americans these devils think we’re rich,” George Hough said.
They all agreed that the ransom amounts were outrageous and except for Jennifer and Melissa, there was no way the other families could raise such funds.
“Someone will rescue us,” Dr. Washburn said, but there seemed to be no conviction behind the words.
A commotion began outside the tarp and George Hough lifted up a corner to peek out and see what was going on.
Dr. Washburn listened intently and as he caught the gist of several conversations between their captors, he smiled.
“One of the men failed to return after going off to have a bowel movement and they found him dead. It seems that someone is stalking them.”
The tarp was ripped away and the group was herded through the heavy rain and into one of the lean-tos, then, guarded over by several men, and although no one spoke of it, they all had hope in their eyes.
CHAPTER 14 - To have and have not
Romeo’s cabin cruiser had two staterooms, both with bathrooms, but Nadya insisted that Sara use the bathroom in the main stateroom, because it had a tub that she could soak in.
When Sara returned to the guest stateroom, she knew from the sounds coming from beyond the bathroom door that Tanner was showering.
When Tanner emerged two minutes later, he was bare-chested and wearing a pair of faded denim shorts that he had borrowed from Romeo.
Sara looked at him and then over at the narrow bed.
“Um, about the sleeping arrangements...”
Tanner laughed.
“Relax, Blake, I’ll be sleeping in the lounge.”
Sara sighed.
“Good.”
Tanner turned to leave, but Sara called to him to relay the news that she was able to confirm their accommodations at the luxury resort in Telunas, but because of the storm, everything would be pushed back a day. The hotel in Telunas was apologetic, but couldn’t give them a room until a day later, because the storm would delay the departure of their current guests
“Do you think that Romeo and Nadya will mind if we stay another day?”
“No, they both seem to like you.”
“They love you and you seem more human around them. Romeo calls you brother, but you’re not related, are you?”
“Not by blood, no, and speaking of blood, it’s a shame that we’re being delayed, I know that you’re worried about your sister and that you want to find her as soon as possible.”
Sara looked shocked by his remarks.
“Thank you, yes, I am angry at the delay, but there’s little I can do about it and I’m surprised that you’re sympathetic enough to know how it would affect me.”
“We scumbags have our moments,” Tanner said, as he referenced the term she recently used to describe him.
Sara was about to respond, but Tanner turned and left the room before she could speak.
***
The following morning dawned cloudy, but free of heavy rain, as the storm moved slowly out of the area.
With their trip to Telunas delayed, Tanner went to work after breakfast and helped Romeo replace the carpet in the lounge and, to his surprise, Sara helped Nadya clean and even polished the boat’s brass railings and fittings.
By working together and skipping lunch, they had finished in time to enjoy an early dinner out, and after returning to the boat, Romeo introduced Sara to a native beverage called arrack, which was Indonesian rum.
“It’s very good,” Sara said, after taking a sip.
“I have a buddy that makes this himself, and don’t be fooled, it’s strong stuff.”
After talking for a while, Romeo and Nadya retired early, as they had volunteered to take Sara and Tanner to the airport in the morning and had to get an early start.
After they left, Sara excused herself and Tanner was alone above decks. He awoke not realizing that he had fallen asleep and noticed two things.
One, it was dark, and two, he was no longer alone.
Sara sat across from him with a nearly empty bottle of arrack and she was smiling at him.
“You were snoring, but just a little.”
“Did you drink that whole bottle, Blake?”
“Um-hmm, I like it a lot.”
Tanner took a good look at her and noticed that her eyes were red, as if she’d been crying. She was still wearing the shorts and sleeveless top that she wore earlier, but was barefoot.
“What’s wrong, did you get news about your sister?”
Sara hugged the bottle.
“I called home and Duke said that Johnny’s funeral is today. It’s probably taking place right now.”
She began to cry again, as she tilted the bottle up and drank the last few sips that remained.
Tanner stood, took the bottle from her and beckoned her to follow him, Sara did so, but when she stumbled and nearly fell, he caught her.
“Everything’s spinning.”
“I know that feeling,” Tanner said.
He led her past the galley and into the guest stateroom, pulled back the covers on the bed and gestured for her to lie atop it.
Sara fell back atop the mattress with her head on the pillow and stared up at him.
“Stay, I don’t want to be alone.”
“How many bottles of that rum did you drink?”
Sara’s face scrunched up in confusion, but then she got it.
“No! I meant stay and talk, not, not here in bed.”
“I know what you meant, Blake.”
“Oh... but will you stay?”
Tanner settled into a chair.
“I’ll stay here until you fall asleep.”
Sara began crying again.
“I loved Johnny, Tanner. I loved him and I killed him. They say when you seek revenge, to dig two graves and I hated you so much that I would have died to see you dead, but I never would have traded Johnny’s life for yours, my hate wasn’t that strong. Jenny was right; I’ve screwed up my whole life by seeking revenge, now I have no career, no hope... and no Johnny.”
A few minutes later, Sara had cried herself to sleep.
Tanner sighed.
“Ain’t love grand?”
CHAPTER 15 - Don Pullo
Robert Vance listened as Michael Krupin spoke to the crew leaders who would head the assault on The Giacconi Family’s enterprises.
They were poised to attack and takeover the Giacconi drug distribution centers and chop shops, and it would all take place simultaneously while most of The Giacconi Family’s key players were at the cemetery mourning their two former Dons.
The Russians were holding the meeting inside a warehouse in Lower Manhattan, not far from the restaurant Krupin owned, and above which, he kept an office.
All across the city, hundreds of Krupin’s men waited t
o receive orders before heading to their targets.
The plan was to assault ten key locations with overwhelming force before moving on to the smaller targets and taking control of those as well.
Vance knew that the Media would be full of headlines and broadcasts screaming about a mob war, but by hitting hard and fast, the war would be over in a day and with the Giacconi leadership all gathered for funeral services, they would be taken wholly unaware.
Michael Krupin finished with his men and then he and Vance climbed back inside his limo.
“Everything’s ready?” Vance asked.
“Yes, but I still have a concern.”
“You’re talking about Tanner, but as I told you, he’s missing in action and from what little I’ve been able to learn, it had something to do with the same incident that killed Rossetti.”
“Fine, and this Joe Pullo, you don’t have any concerns about him?”
Vance laughed.
“Pullo spent most of his life as a button man for old Sam Giacconi, he’s only in charge because he’s next in line, and after the disaster he’ll have today, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of his own people kill him and take over.”
Krupin checked the time on his Rolex.
“In less than an hour, the city will be mine.”
***
The funerals were being held inside a venerable church, which was so crowded that many were forced to stand.
In an alcove, Joe and Sophia were speaking with some of the leaders of the other families, when Sammy Giacconi approached.
Sammy was wearing a suit, but had his long hair tied together and hanging down his back. When he spotted Sophia, he froze in his tracks and stared at her while smiling.
“What are you looking at, kid?” Sophia said, even as her eyes roamed over Sammy in return.
“I’m looking at a dream come true,” Sammy said.
Sophia smiled.
“I see you have your grandfather’s silver tongue, but I’m a little old for you and too much woman.”
“You look just right to me,” Sammy replied and then he walked up to Joe.
Joe had seen Sammy earlier after entering the church, but he hugged the young man again and asked him how he was holding up.
“I’m good, Uncle Joe, but I do have a concern.”
“Speak your mind.”
Sammy gestured out towards the gathered mourners.
“Is this a good idea, I mean to have everyone here like this? What if the Russians attack us today?”
Joe sent Sammy a reassuring smile as he reached over and straightened the young man’s tie.
“It’s alright, Sammy. Things are under control.”
Sammy shrugged.
“Okay, but it makes me nervous.”
***
Sammy’s concerns were proven valid while they were at the cemetery, because as the burial services for Johnny Rossetti and Sam Giacconi came to a close, Pullo looked around and saw that most of his lieutenants were answering their vibrating phones.
Each of the men was in charge of a division of The Giacconi Crime Family and had come to pay their respects to two of its former leaders.
Security was tight and the Press was being kept back, but were still visible beyond the police barricades.
Joe gestured for the other men to follow him as he walked towards a tent he had ordered be erected, so that he could assure some level of privacy away from telephoto lens and the eyes of the authorities.
Sammy came over, but two bodyguards at the tent’s entrance told him to leave. He looked past them and called to Joe.
“Uncle Joe?”
“Let him in, boys.”
Sammy entered the tent and looked around at all the men studying their phones.
“What’s going on?”
“The Russians are attacking,” Joe said.
Sammy’s eyes brightened with alarm.
“What do we do? What about our people? Where are they attacking?”
Joe smiled.
“Calm down, Sammy; I’m not the sharpest knife you’ll ever find, but I did learn a few things from your grandfather and we were ready for this.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means that those locations are empty. Vance, the man behind the Russians, he had knowledge about us from another man named Heinz. If he had moved on us sooner, he could have hurt us badly, but he wanted to be slick and hit us today while we were at the cemetery. It made sense because so many of us are here and would have trouble responding to an attack, but Sam taught me a long time ago to think like my enemy and like you, I saw this coming.”
Joe called over one of the men who was staring alternately at his phone and the second hand on his watch. He was a burly man with gray at his temples.
“Let Sammy take a look, Al.”
Al angled his phone so that Joe and Sammy could see what was playing on it. It was a soundless video feed from what just hours earlier had been a drug distribution warehouse, but was now an empty building.
There were over a dozen men with guns wandering around inside the building and one of them was talking into a phone.
***
Inside his limo, Michael Krupin was speaking to the man on the other end of that phone and learning that they had been outmaneuvered. It was the third such call he had taken in the last thirty seconds.
Krupin looked over at Vance.
“Another location found empty. It looks like Joe Pullo isn’t the simpleton you thought he was.”
Vance cursed wildly in Russian, but stopped in the midst of his rant as a thought came to him.
“Get everybody out of those buildings, do it now!”
***
Back at the cemetery, Sammy listened as Al counted down from ten and noticed that most of the other men were doing the same thing, as they looked at the feeds coming from other locations.
“Three, two, one,” Al said and when Sammy stared down at the phone, he saw a bright flash before the video feed ended.
The other men were all smiles and many laughed, before all of them looked over at Pullo with eyes full of respect.
Sammy let out a little laugh of his own, as he realized what had just happened.
“You blew them up, didn’t you?”
Pullo looked at him with a solemn expression.
“The Russians wanted war, they’ve got one.”
Al put his phone away, dropped to one knee and spoke two words.
“Don Pullo.”
The other men followed suit and as Sammy began to lower himself, Joe took him by the elbow and stopped him.
Joe spoke to his men.
“This was just the first battle, and we’ll not only win this war, but I plan to take back the territory we lost in the last one. The Russians are going to learn that no one fucks with The Giacconi Family.”
The men rose to their feet while cheering as Joe turned and spoke to Sammy.
“Johnny once told me that he thought you were the future of the family, and I think he was right. I want you by my side from now on. What do you think of that?”
Sammy’s grin was as wide as any Joe had ever seen.
“Yes, Don Pullo, and those Russian bastards will wish that they were never born.”
CHAPTER 16 - A familiar face
Tanner and Sara arrived in Telunas and checked in to the hotel as Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Linda Coleman.
Their suite was large, but had only one bed, and Sara stared down at it as they entered the bedroom to unpack their bags.
“I guess it’s my turn to sleep on the sofa,” she said.
“Suit yourself,” Tanner said, “But that is a large bed.”
“You mean share it?”
“I won’t touch your goodies, Blake. I’m not a rapist.”
Sara thought about the sofa she’d seen in the other room and then stared down at the king-size bed.
Although she had been in the area for days, she was still feeling the effects of jet lag and thought that the sofa
wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable as the bed.
“We’ll try it, and I never thought you were a rapist.”
“Just a scumbag, hmm?”
“Yes... but, maybe I was wrong about that.”
Tanner cocked his head.
“What have you done with the real Sara Blake?”
Sara attempted a smile, but it faltered before it could even form.
“I’m not sure who I am anymore. A part of me died with Brian and another part has died with Johnny. My whole life is now about getting my sister back and after that, well, I don’t know.”
“It gets easier,” Tanner said.
“What does?”
“Surviving loss, but the key is to keep moving forward.”
Tanner’s words intrigued Sara and she gazed up into his eyes.
“Who have you lost?”
Tanner broke eye contact and walked over to the phone.
“I’m hungry, what about you?”
Sara accepted the abrupt change of subject and shook her head no.
“I will take coffee though, and maybe a croissant if they have them.”
Tanner called room service and then the two of them unpacked their things in silence.
***
Jennifer’s group had paused in their trek towards the rebel camp as Firman sent his men out to find and kill whoever was stalking them, after more men failed to return from a patrol.
The clouds had dissipated by first light, allowing the blazing sun to return and bake them, and Jennifer was grateful that Firman had moved them near the edge of a stream where they had ready access to water.
There were three guards keeping watch over them, with the young Prendy being one of them, and Jennifer had caught him staring at Melissa several times as if he were imagining her naked.
The boy wanted Melissa, that was obvious and Jennifer worried that he would attempt to take what he wanted, whether such an act was against his religion or not, for in truth, they were all little more than slaves to their captors and certainly at their mercy.
Juan Rio wiped the sweat from his brow.
“It’s hot here, but I could use the rest. I’m not used to walking this much.”
Both of the Houghs nodded in agreement. They were about the same age as Juan and Dr. Washburn, but not as fit, and the rugged daily march towards the rebel camp had been toughest of all on the newlywed middle school teachers.
The TANNER Series - Books 7-9 (Tanner Box Set Book 3) Page 5
