Finn leaned over. “Do I have to separate you two?”
Patrick chuckled, Glenna just leaned over and smiled at him.
At the pick-up curb, bags in tow they found Tyler waiting for them. He grabbed Glenna swung her around as if he hadn’t seen her for years instead of weeks.
Patrick waited until he sat her down, then he stepped in and gave his friend a one armed man hug with a thump on the back.
“Tyler meet my son, Finn.” Finn shook Tyler’s proffered hand.
“Now that we have all your stuff crammed in the back, let’s get this show on the road. The Elders have a spread ready.”
“It’s six in the morning.” Glenna raised a brow in Patrick’s direction. “I can’t believe… never mind, I can. It’s exactly what Ma would do. Anyone else joining us?”
“Everyone was invited, but when I left the house only Keira, Lucy and I had arrived.”
“Lucy?” Finn questioned from the back seat.
“Our daughter she’s three going on twenty.”
“At least she no longer bites ankles.” Glenna chuckled.
Patrick sat back and let the chatter filter around him. He hadn’t known he’d been waiting for Glenna his entire life. As soon as they took care of the threat against her, he could make her his and they’d be a real family.
Glenna’s childhood home was deep in a residential area of Brooklyn, Patrick hadn’t known existed. It was one of the larger homes on the block, and it looked well-kept and lived in. He was looking forward to meeting her family, and hearing all the stories. At Quantico, Tyler had been full of them about his childhood. He wanted to hear all about the young cheerleader, Glenna.
They were led into the kitchen the moment they arrived. According to Glenna, this was the hive of the house. Finn looked a little overwhelmed, seemed like the family had arrived.
“Glenna.” A woman that could only be her mother enfolded her in a bear hug. Keeping one arm around her daughter she turned. “And you two must be Patrick and Finn.”
He held out his hand, but she ignored it and left Glenna and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “Welcome.”
Then to Finn’s surprise gave him a bear hug also. “Aren’t you the handsome fellow? Gabby, Sophie come meet Finn.”
Two giggling teens rushed in from the other room and slid to a stop and cranked their heads back to look up to Finn. He had to be at least a foot taller than both.
“Wow, you’re huge.”
A tall man stepped forward and placed a hand on the young girl’s shoulder. “Sophie, that was rude.”
Patrick figured this was David Solomon, Glenna’s sister Christine’s husband, the man wasn’t a small man himself. And the woman standing next to him holding a chubby little tawny head guy must be Christine.
“Facts are facts, my son’s from Scottish and Irish stock, he’s either going to take after a highlander or a rugby player, both are huge.” Patrick held his hand out to the man.
Patrick felt as overwhelmed by all the introductions as Finn looked. It was going to take a few days to place the right names with the right faces. Martha, Glenna’s ma as she called her, rushed everyone to seats so her breakfast wouldn’t cool off too much. The meal was all chatter and chaos and he could see that his son was enjoying himself. The boy was so used to solitary meals with his dad, this must be a novelty.
It was a colorful bouquet of chaos.
Chapter Twenty-One
It wasn’t long before Glenna and her sisters were helping their mother clean up, the men left to talk in the living room. Glenna glanced over her shoulder as they left. At the same moment Patrick paused and half turned to regard her. She grinned to reassure him. Her family could be overwhelming, but he’d be fine.
“I like Patrick.” Jessica rinsed a dish then placed it in the washer. “Finn is a nice boy.”
Christine had been busy clearing the rest of the table, and brought an armload to the sink. Once they were all on the counter she pulled Glenna into a hug.
“I’m so glad to see you happy after that bun boy turned out to be such a…” She stepped away leaving her hands on Glenna’s shoulders. “I can’t think of a word to call him.”
“Gay.” Keira piped up leaning a hip on the edge of the table. “He had no intention of marrying her.
“No, he was after my…” Glenna wiggled her brows. “Etchings.”
It was so good to be home with her family. They healed her almost as much as Patrick had.
“It’s good to see you so happy, I was worried.” Jessica looked around the room. “Reagan hasn’t changed. If there’s dishes to do, she disappears.”
Glenna chuckled, that was an understatement. “She’s probably in talking strategy with the guys.”
Jessica tilted her head in confusion. Glenna hadn’t realized that Tyler and Reagan hadn’t filled the family in.
Keira shrugged. “We thought it was your place to explain.”
By the time Glenna finished filling her mother and sisters, not to mention the little generals who were trying keep the toddlers in check, what was going on in her adventurous life, the kitchen sparkled.
It was time to gather with the male and Reagan portion of the family. And she was ready for the big announcement. She knew she’d pull off the engagement, because to her it had become real when Finn had announced to his grandparents, Glenna was going to be his mom.
“It’s about time you guys finished in the kitchen. What did you do, remodel?” Reagan wanted to know.
It was interesting to see how her sisters and sister-in-law bee-lined to their spouses. Glenna settled on Patrick’s knee as there wasn’t a spare chair in the room.
Lucy played with Frozen figurines, chattering, oblivious to those around her. Ben was trying to help his cousin, Freddie, stand using the ottoman for the younger toddler to hold on to, which looked a little awkward as Ben was barely standing himself. Gabby and Sophie were in deep conversation with Finn.
Her family was growing. She hoped to have a little one to play with the cousins before they all grew up.
Where the hell had that thought come from? She’d never even thought about children before. Until Patrick and Finn had barreled into her life.
“Out with it sis.” Tyler leaned against the piano. Keira snuggled to his side. “You’re regarding everyone as if you have some type of dire announcement to make.”
She placed an arm around Patrick’s shoulder.
As if feeling Glenna’s attention Finn stood, came to stand on the other side of his dad. She glanced around the group. “I was trying to decide if I should share our news or wait for a time when Matt and Bryn are here.”
“They’re so busy right now. The organizations they work for are going through a large overall. Making sure the security is beefed up and all that. I doubt they’re going to have time,” Reagan said.
“They send their love, though,” Martha added. “Why don’t we get them on Skype? Gabby can you grab the laptop from my office?”
“Sure Nana.” And the girl was off and returned in only moments.
Love so overwhelming punched Glenna in the stomach. This was what family was.
Matt appeared on the laptop screen, with Bryn slightly behind him. She must be leaning down so their faces were cheek to cheek.
“Hey, what’s up?” Glenna’s brother’s voice filtered over the room.
“Your sister has something to tell us.” Her father announced.
No reason to wait, so with no preamble, “Patrick and I are engaged or well we will be after all of this is over.”
Squeals from Gabby and Sophie almost deafened the group. Finn squeezed where his hand rested on his dad’s shoulder.
Silence. Not what she had expected. She’d thought everyone would be happy. But stunned was the word. Though she couldn’t blame them. After all, it wasn’t that long ago they’d all been gathered for her wedding to another man.
“You mean, for this case you’re working on?” Her dad asked.
“Glenna’s going to be my mom.” As Finn put his other hand on her shoulder. “I can’t wait, it’s going to be awesome.”
Again, silence. For two minutes and then the little generals looked at each other. Seemed to take Finn’s measure, Gabby nodded. She stepped up to him and cranked her head back to look up at him.
“Welcome to the family.” Then she lowered her gaze to Glenna. “You are going to have your wedding here?”
Bemused Glenna tilted her head at Patrick in question.
“We can have a small party in California after, but Mum and Da would love to visit here for the wedding.”
“And Aunt Margaret Kathleen and her family,” Finn added.
She returned her attention to Gabby and Sophie who’d joined her cousin. “I guess that will be a yes.”
Again the squeal had the adults cringing, and the toddlers giggling. Gabby reached for Finn’s hand, Sophie for the other one.
“Come on, we have plans to make.”
As the led the boy out of the room, Patrick said to no one in particular. “Should I be scared?”
Jessica laughed. “No, they’re our resident party planners. They’re already planning what courses to take when they go to college. Business and marketing. I have a feeling they’ll take Manhattan by storm when they’re older.”
Right before Finn rounded the corner out of the room they heard him comment. “There has to be bagpipes and Dad has to wear our family tartan.”
Glenna smiled. Her heart was bursting with happiness. She just wished there wasn’t The Black Cats to deal with. Such a harmless name for dangerous spoiled rich playboys.
Tyler had already noticed a van lurking, must be their surveillance vehicle of choice.
The rest of the afternoon was jam packed with planning what they needed to do before the big event on Sunday. The next day she’d have a girl’s shopping day with her sister’s, except Reagan who’d be with the guys at the range preparing for battle. Though Glenna couldn’t think how that would be needed at a five star hotel function with a bunch of rich art patrons. But what did she know? Friday would be a tourist day, she would be showing Patrick and Finn around her old haunts and all the must sees of Manhattan. Including John Jay College of Criminal justice.
Saturday, the weekend festivities would begin with a brunch at the Tavern on the Green in Central Park with local artist’s work displayed for sale, which would kick off a swirl of artsy activities going late into the evening with the yearly gala wrapping things up on Sunday late afternoon.
Patrick and Glenna would be staying at the hotel where the event would be held Saturday night, they wanted to be as visible as possible, letting everyone know about the stolen Bellini art. Or to be more precise, let as many people overhear them debating the merits of whether to let it go to the highest bidder, or return it for the reward.
There was always the slim chance The Black Cats were not the culprits.
It had been a long night and morning. About lunch time, Glenna wanted nothing more than a nap. And as usual, her mother sensed exactly what she needed and drew a halt to the gathering with orders to let the travelers rest.
Patrick returned after going in search of Finn. “He’s deep in conversation about our wedding. I hope you didn’t have any ideas, because I don’t think we get any say in the event.”
Glenna giggled and threw a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I don’t think I’ve giggled since high school, and that was a giggle and not a chuckle. I must be more tired than I thought. Come on, I’m going to lay down and rest. And before you say you don’t need to, remember even though you look better, you’re still recovering.”
“Actually, I was going to ask if I could join you.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Come on.”
She led him to Tyler’s old room, she was next door in her old room she’d shared with Reagan. Finn was in the basement in Matt’s old room. She opened the door for Patrick and gave him a gentle shove, keeping a hand on the knob intending to shut the door, but he had other ideas.
He grasped her shoulders and pulled her up against his chest, with his hand he reached over her shoulder and closed the door with a small snap.
“Now I have you to myself, finally.”
His head lowered, his lips gently rubbed over her lips lasting only seconds before deepening into a tangle of tongues. Moments before, she’d been so tired she’d hardly been able to walk to the rooms. Now all she wanted to do was get her hands under his shirt and feel his strong back under her fingers. She followed thought with action.
His muscles tensed at the first contact of skin on skin. His shirt slid up his back along with her hands and it seemed easy enough to continue and take it over his head and off. Her hands and his head caught in a tangle of fabric.
After a moment of struggle Patrick was free and the erotic moment dissolved into a fit of chuckles. His hands went to her shoulders and he leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“Glenna, girl. I believe we’re too tired to follow through with our intentions.”
“I have a feeling when I realized I was in Tyler’s old room, in my parents’ home doing the nasty, it would have been a cold water bucket of wake up call. And besides it’s just creepy to even think about, now I’m not in your arms and I can think.”
Patrick grinned. “You’re right, but just wait.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“You’ll find out when this is all over.” He waved his hand toward the door. “Now go take your nap.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The last few days had been a whirl of laughter and family. With the ever present hint of danger following. Literally. Everywhere they went they got used to having the van in view. Blatant intrusion into their lives, with the tinted windows the occupants couldn’t be seen to confirm their identities.
It was all about letting Glenna and Patrick know they couldn’t do anything without them knowing. If they got on the subway, the vehicle was waiting at the exit. Creepy how they knew where they were going.
Glenna wondered if they thought she’d brought the Madonna and Child with her. They must have figured out as she had done, it was small enough to fit into her laptop bag.
A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. It opened before she could answer. Her mother slipped in.
“Glenna, that black van is out front again. They’re going to know you’re going to that fancy brunch.”
“Ma that is the reason we’re here. I’m sure they’ll be following us around all day as they have been.”
“Well I don’t like it. It’s bad enough I have to worry about Tyler, Keira, Dav… Well you know what I mean. I never thought I’d have to worry about you. I thought I finally had a child who had picked a safe profession, and now look.”
Glenna caught her mother in a hug and kissed her on the cheek.
“Ma, I’m pretty sure I’ll be back to my safe and boring career soon. It was just a matter of luck or bad luck that I ended up with that picture. I don’t think the people who owned it even realized it was an original Bellini or it wouldn’t have been in that ‘grab box’ as it was listed. Besides, have you seen my bodyguard? Patrick? We’ll be fine.”
Her mom brushed a stray tear away from her cheek. “I better let you get ready, Patrick is already in the kitchen having a cup with Fred.”
Glenna smiled. Her family had welcomed Finn and Patrick. She wanted to get this all behind her so she could start her new life. Being with her law enforcement part of the family the last few days, and seeing how well Patrick blended right in, had gone a long way to erase her fears.
Glenna put on the borrowed slim black dress Jessica saved for just these occasions. Classic and she could dress it up or down. As it was brunch in the park she decided to keep it not too dressy, but elegant enough to shout class. She pulled on her strappy sandals, decided to go with silver bangle bracelets, looped earrings and a simple chain with a small emerald in a silver shamrock.
She grabbed her purse a
nd went in search of her date.
For late fall, the weather was perfect for a walk in the park. They’d opted to take a Lyft instead of the subway in their finery. They entered the side gate to Tavern on the Green, the spread of food was impressive as always, as were the art displays scattered around the outdoor patio.
Glenna let herself slip into her art persona. She was in her element, and recognized several people from other events. She hadn’t been to the annual weekend event for a few years, but the same people attended. She steered Patrick toward a couple of older women whom she knew to be the gossips of the art community.
They were conveniently browsing the tray of pastries. Glenna angled her body to give her attention to Patrick, but close enough the ladies could hear.
“Really? It’s a Bellini, we should put it out on the Dark web. My sister has contacts, can you…”
“Shush, let’s discuss this later. Now’s not the place.” He glanced around as if to see if someone was listening, took her arm and led her to a private area. Bent his head close. “Keep talking, we’ve got their attention, they’re trying to be sneaky but they’re moving this way.”
Glenna could almost feel the women approaching, but when the person came into view, it was one of their suspects. If they were correct it was Raymond the one Reagan thought was the leader. A shimmer of unease ran through her, though she’d seen the man at these events before. Breathe Glenna.
She nudged Patrick. He was good he didn’t even blink. The man didn’t actually approach them, just stood by the table as if trying to decide what appetizer was the tastiest.
Another ripple of uneasiness raced over her, and suddenly she had the feeling Raymond and his cats saw through their ruse. So what? The important part of the day was to set the trap. With that in mind, she tugged Patrick’s arm until he leaned so she could whisper in his ear.
Soft, as if not wanting to be heard, but loud enough their companion could hear, she said. “I believe that is a Bellini over there. It has the same style as…” she let her eyes widen. She took a moment to glance in Raymond’s direction. “Let’s go see.”
Abandoned (The Beckett Series Book 6) Page 23
