Amanda's Return

by June Kramin

  “You do this mobster ‘bug out’ thing pretty good. You sure you’ve never been on the take?” Eddie asked.

  Hunt closed the gap between them. “If anything happens to my wife, know that I will kill you.”

  Eddie didn’t react, he just re-lit his cigar.

  His two men loaded Ray’s body in the car while Mandy did what she could to clean up the floor. She was never so grateful that she insisted on ceramic tile. She was filled with a strange sense of how cold she could be. He hadn’t bled much. At a time like this, all she could feel was happy that she wasn’t going to have to re-grout. What a bitch.

  Once that was done, she joined Hunt upstairs. He was packing for Hannah. “I’ll finish. You go pack yourself.”

  “I think I’m done. Give it a once over. It’s not like they can’t come grab anything when they need it.”

  “I’m sure you did fine.” Mandy walked closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Are you sure you want to come?”

  “You’re shitting me, right? You think I’m going to sit back while you take off at gun point to rescue Angelo? You’re more insane than I thought, woman.”

  “I can handle this, Hunt.”

  “And I can’t?”

  “No. And before you get pissed off, it’s not what you think.”

  “What is it, then?”

  “If we walk in somewhere and I get slapped, what would you do?”

  “Easy. Kill the guy.”

  “See. That’s what I can’t have. You have to let me deal with things in my own way, and you have to sit back and let me do it.”

  “You mean to tell me if someone slapped you in front of Gerard, he’d stand there and watch?”

  “No. They would have been killed. But no one would do that in front of him. What Angelo and I did was a different story.”

  “I can’t imagine he’d watch it happen either.”

  “It’s more to make a point, Hunt. Whatever role they are going to have you playing here, I need to know you are going to let me do what I need to do and not get in the way.”

  “Why do you assume I’ll be in the way?”

  “Because I don’t want you there in the first place. It’s bad enough having Angelo held somewhere. I don’t want anyone getting the upper hand and having you, too. Don’t you get that? It almost killed me last time I thought you were dead, Hunt.”

  He pulled her head to his chest. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I have my big bad mobster wife to protect me, remember?”

  “This isn’t a game.”

  “I know.” He leaned back and took her hand. “Let’s go pack. Don’t forget the evening gown and stilettos. When this is over, we have a date in the big city.”

  They drove until one a.m. without much conversation. There was no point trying to find out what Willy’s man wanted with her. If they knew, she wouldn’t get an answer. When the exit for rest stops and hotels came into view, Mandy told them she was tired and refused to be driven another mile without sleep. Vern, the man with the now-sore kneecap, pulled over at the first hotel they saw. It was a small no-name place with a single row of rooms. Hunt arranged for three rooms; two were adjoining.

  When they reached their rooms, Eddie said to Hunt, “I’ll be in here with Amanda. You bunk with Verne.”

  “The hell we are,” Mandy said as she swiped a key from his hand. “We’re already going with you. We’re not going to make a run for it, asshole. Besides,” she said as she reached for Hunt’s hand, “I’m ovulating. Get your goons to get rid of Ray. I’m not driving through another state with that body in the car.” They walked in the room with their luggage and closed the door without any more fuss from anyone.

  Mandy was naked as soon as the door closed and had her hands at Hunt’s belt. She had it whipped off before he grasped her by the wrists.

  “Are you serious?”

  “What? I’m sure I’m ovulating, Hunt. I don’t want to miss the chance.”

  “We have Handgun Harry next door, and you want to have sex?”

  “I’m not letting them be the cause of me wasting a month. Since when don’t you want sex?”

  “Since about a few hours ago when there was a rope on my throat and a gun at my head, and you killed a man. Jesus, Amanda. Are you so hell bent on getting pregnant you’re not thinking straight or what? These guys mean business.”

  “So do I!” she shouted as she unbuttoned his pants. Hunt held them closed and sat down.

  “Well, I’m sorry if I’m not aroused by the scent of gun powder and killing a man like you are.”

  “I’m going to pretend to ignore that. Get off of your ass and have sex with me, dammit.”

  Hunt sighed. “I’m tired.”

  “I don’t care. The drive was long, and I’m tired, too, but we’re having sex.”

  “Not the drive, babe. This.” He motioned between them. “I want to have sex because we can’t keep our hands off each other, not because you’re trying to get pregnant. You’re making it a chore, and I don’t like it.”

  “You sure as hell seem to like it to me.” Angrily, she unzipped her suitcase. She pulled out a bikini.

  “The pool is closed.”

  “I don’t care. They can throw me out if they want.”

  Hunt stood and walked over to her as she rushed through getting changed. “Don’t leave pissed. You have to cut me a little slack here, babe. Hearing the stories is one thing. Sitting in the middle of it is another. I can’t take the ‘get me pregnant’ shit on top of it.”

  She turned away and walked out without responding. The pool gate was locked, but it didn’t take much effort to climb over. Everything was dark, but she could see Eddie sitting in a lounge chair smoking a cigar. “Trouble in paradise?”

  She only said, “Fuck you,” before diving in the pool. She swam a few laps without looking back. When she finally looked up, Eddie was gone and Hunt was standing by the stairs with a towel.

  “I don’t want out. I’m getting in the Jacuzzi.”

  He walked over and turned on the jets as she got out of the pool and climbed in.

  “I’m sure the manager isn’t going to do rounds and check on things by the looks of this place. Other than us, it looks pretty empty.” He slid in next to her, but she still wasn’t speaking to him. He pulled her onto his lap. “You know I love this suit.”

  “So it’s the body in it that you don’t want anymore, then?”

  “Dammit, Mandy. Knock it off. You know what I’m asking. Do you see me pulling a pout fest saying you’re not interested in me? That all you want is sex and my best swimmers?”

  She rested her head on his neck. “I’m sorry. You know that’s not all I want.”

  “Then let’s stop with the drill sergeant stuff. Stop with the temperature taking. Let’s get back to normal and have sex for love’s sake, babe. You know I love you, need you, want you every minute of the day and would take you any chance I can. Can’t that be enough? We have a great family. I want more but not at the price of losing you in the process. I want you to be happy where we are.”

  “I am happy.”

  “So start acting like it.” She reached down and placed her hand at his crotch. He laughed. “That’s not what I meant.” Lifting her head up, she passionately kissed him. “This isn’t fair, babe. Now I want you so bad I can’t stand it.”

  “Your point?”

  “Look where we are?”

  “We’re alone and it’s dark.”

  “Yeah, well, we should also make the most of this, and I don’t think heat is the best thing for my boys to do their job.”

  “I don’t care on either account,” Mandy said as she worked his swim trunks down and slid on top of him.

  Eddie watched from the window of his room. He ground out his cigar then dropped onto his bed. “Look out New York. She’s back.”

  Chapter Seven

  The group was up and gone early the following day. Eddie pulled the car to a stop at an airport in Atlanta.

 
; “I thought we were driving to New York?” Mandy asked.

  “We’re flying,” Eddie said.

  “So why didn’t we just use Miami’s airport?” Hunt asked.

  “I don’t like it. Georgia is the next hub.”

  “I’m not even gonna ask,” Hunt said as they walked to the gate.

  “You’re smarter than you look.” Eddie started to light up a cigar but stopped and put it away. “I miss the old days of smoking on planes.”

  No one spoke during the flight. There wasn’t anything to say that would remotely resemble normal conversation, and there were too many people on the plane to discuss their situation. The last thing they needed was to attract attention. Mandy rested her head on Hunt’s chest for the short, uneventful flight. A limo was waiting for them when they landed.

  “I forgot what a life of luxury you guys lead,” Hunt said as he climbed in.

  Mandy leaned towards Hunt when they were settled. “Stop being so smug, Hunt. Nothing is stopping one of them from plugging you for being an ass.”

  “I was merely stating an observation.”

  “Well, stop it.”

  He immediately began pushing buttons, messing with the window and stereo controls. Mandy scooted away from him. When a button lit up the bar, he slid over and helped himself.

  To Amanda’s surprise, the limo pulled up at Lonny’s house almost an hour later. “We’re staying here?”

  “You want a crap-ass hotel? The house has been vacant since the shootout. It was technically Vince’s. We use it here and there when we need a safe house. You’ll be fine.”

  Mandy walked through the door and stood at the entry. The memories were too fresh for her. Sue’s daughter, Darci, standing on the couch, excited to greet her. The window shattering and Darci’s little body falling over, shot. She turned to the side and envisioned Lonny dropping from his wounds seconds after her. Mandy turned to Hunt, and he wrapped his arms around her.

  “Do we have to stay here?” he asked Eddie.

  Eddie walked past them. “She’ll get over it.”

  “Look, asshole—”

  Eddie pulled out his gun and pointed it at Hunt. “I’ve taken all the shit from you two that I’m going to.” He pulled on Mandy’s arms, separating her from Hunt. “Take the master bedroom and go get settled. Call for whatever you want for dinner. There is cash under the phone.” He pointed to a phone on a small stand with a drawer. “Tomorrow morning we go visit some old friends, Amanda.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without my husband.”

  “Take his sorry ass with you. I don’t want to sit here and look at him. Just keep the sex noise down, doll. You’re going to drive Jeremy crazy. He never could stand listening to you and Gerard goin’ at it.”

  Gun or not, Mandy punched his chin hard. He snapped back and aimed it at Hunt again. “Touch me again, and your kid will grow up without a father.”

  Mandy hurried over and stood in front of the gun. “Take it out on me, Eddie. Not Hunt.”

  “You, I need. Him, I don’t. I’ll do what it takes to keep your ass in line.”

  “Then you leave him alone.”

  He waved the gun upstairs. “Get out of my face. I don’t want to hear a peep till I call you down in the morning.”

  Mandy took Hunt’s hand and led him up the stairs. As soon as they walked in Lonny and Sue’s old bedroom, Mandy opened up the large window.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We’re splitting.”

  “We’re what?”

  “I’m not staying here, Hunt.”

  “Don’t you think there is a better way to go about it? I mean, if you’re upset because of Darci—”

  “That’s not it. I’m not waiting around here until morning.”

  She put one leg out the window, and he grasped her arm, stopping her. “I really don’t think this is a good idea.”

  “I know you don’t. If I had a pair of cuffs, I’d cuff you to the bed to keep you safe.”

  “Keep me safe? Oh, no, you don’t. You are not doing any disappearing acts on me. I’m with you, like it or not.”

  “Not, and I know. Come on,” she said as she tugged at his sleeve. “Jackasses will be too busy farting around with Lonny’s stuff to notice us leaving.”

  Mandy and Hunt made it down the trellis and across the yard. They walked around the outer hedge to the end of the driveway where they climbed into one of the cars. Mandy reached under and was about to hotwire it when keys rattled by her head.

  “Nice try, Freddie Fingers, but I think these will work better. They were in the center console.”

  She ripped them from his hands and took off. After a few blocks of watching their backs, she was certain they had made a clean get-away.

  “You want to tell me why we just did that?”

  “I don’t trust Eddie, Hunt.”

  “There’s a big surprise.”

  “I don’t think that he’d bring me all the way here to save Angelo. I wouldn’t put it past him to let Angelo be killed.”

  “Would that put him in charge?”

  “With Vince gone…I’d have to say yes. Angelo is all that’s left in the way of family. Eddie would be next up if he wanted to take it. I’m sure of that.”

  “If your plan was to escape, why did you let us come this far?”

  “Because I’m going after Angelo.”

  “You’re what?”

  “I have a good idea where he is. I’m going to get him.”

  “Not like these guys are on my Christmas list or anything, but don’t you think we would have been better off taking them with us?”

  “He’ll have one or two people on him, tops. If he’s where I think, it’ll be an easy in, easy out.”

  “It’s never as easy as that.”

  “Just trust me, okay?”

  “The last time I trusted you I was shot. Twice.”

  “You wanted to come along.”

  Hunt was quiet for a minute. “I don’t like this.”

  “I understand that. Do you think I’d do something and risk Hannah being left without a mother?”

  “I think you’re on an adrenaline high, and you’re not thinking straight. What are we supposed to do for weapons?”

  Mandy pulled over at a park and popped the trunk. When Hunt joined her, she picked up the carpet used to hide the spare tire. There was no tire, but there were enough firearms to start a small war.

  “Oh,” was Hunt’s only response.

  The drive took almost an hour. The traffic was as lovely as Mandy remembered it. Always a detour or two for road construction. Always someone wanting to wash her windshield for a buck. She finally pulled up to the warehouse.

  “Lovely establishment,” Hunt said.

  “It’s gotten worse since I’ve been gone.”

  “You’re sure he’s here?”

  “Not positive, but I have a nagging suspicion. We dealt with the Cornellas a lot here.”

  “You have a plan, or are you going to just shoot your way in?”

  “The second one.” Hunt raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t be much shooting to do. My guess is Kermit and Axle are in the back, drunk as usual.”

  “Kermit and Axle? Are we attacking Sesame Street?”

  “I’m pretty sure the puppets are smarter, but there is a hand up their asses, too.”

  Hunt looked around at the warehouse again. “They actually live here?”

  “It doesn’t look like this on the inside, Hunt. They actually have quite the setup. Besides, the deals were conducted in the main warehouse area; the back is a five-star crib.”

  “Crib? I love it when you talk ghetto, babe.”

  “Stuff it, Blaine.”

  “Blair.”

  Mandy chuckled. “We were so super-secret there. No wonder they found us.”

  He shrugged. “Could have gone with Lane.”

  She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss before getting out. “I would have changed my name to Lois, and you’d be my
Superman.”

  “Nice try.”

  “Come on, lover. Showtime.”

  Chapter Eight

  Mandy walked by the front door of the warehouse, fighting to show no fear. Trying to get her mindset back into this life was a tough stretch after a few years of playing stay-at-home mom. She wasn’t afraid for herself so much as she was distracted with Hunt there. Letting her mind wander to Hannah wouldn’t do her any favors either.

  The scents were the same. Sweat, gunpowder, money. Remembering the horrible things she witnessed and did here helped keep her focused. Get in. Get Angelo. Get out.

  They walked down the alley to the apartment door and gave it a hearty knock. Hunt stood close to her side.

  A boy in his twenties opened the door. When his eyes fell on Mandy, his eyebrows arched and his jaw dropped.

  “What the hell are you doing here, bitch? Thought you was in jail.”

  “I was; now I’m out.”

  “Who’s this jerk-off?”

  “Hammer. I don’t think you want to mess with him in his mood.”

  “I thought Hammer was black.”

  Mandy took a step closer. “You want to tell him he’s supposed to be black?”

  “Get out of my face. What do you want?”

  “You have something of mine, and I want it back.”

  “I ain’t got nothin’ of yours. Scram.”

  He tried closing the door, but Hunt put his foot forward, blocking it.

  “You want to move your foot, butt munch?”

  Mandy grasped him by the throat and took him a few steps back before Hunt could do anything she’d regret. Another boy stood up and pulled a gun from a shoulder holster.

  “What in the hell are you doing back here? I thought we’d seen the last of you.”

  “Likewise I assure you,” Mandy said. She let go of the kid she was holding and gave him a not-so-gentle shove back. “How’s it hanging, Axle?”

  “Just peachy, Mandy. What brings you here?”

  “You know why I’m here.”

  “We ain’t got him.”

  She pulled a handgun out of her waistband and shot the kid that had answered the door in the arm. She had chosen a small caliber gun and was careful to only nick him. By the way he screamed, you would have thought she’d shot him in the balls. Aiming the gun back at Axle, she said, “Bullshit.” Hunt took a few steps towards the kid that was now lying on the ground. “Lock him in there,” she said as she motioned towards a small closet. Hunt did as he was asked and returned to her side.