by June Kramin
“Dammit,” Mandy mumbled.
“Sorry, sugar. I’m pulling the plug.”
“It was never yours to pull.”
“It is now. Call me tomorrow, and I’ll give you the name of the airport to get to. Get the hell out of New York tonight.”
“I need to find Sue. I need to know what paperwork she has. Where is she?” There was silence. “James?”
“They lost her. She knew she had a tail. That guy she’s with is one hell of a driver.”
“He said he had law enforcement training.”
“You could say that.”
“You did a background on him?”
“Of course. He’s about the equivalent of one of our Navy Seals. If he’s just her boyfriend…”
“You’ll kiss Hunt’s crazy aunt’s ass.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow morning.” Mandy hit end before he could argue.
Chapter Fifty-Three
“We going to the cabin tonight?” Hunt asked.
“Yes. They lost Sue. I can’t worry about where she is or what she has anymore. We’re getting Angelo out of here.”
“Did I understand from what I heard that we’re moving again?”
“I’m sorry.” She dropped her head low.
Hunt knelt at her side. “I don’t care, babe. We’ll start fresh and go anywhere you want.”
“James wants us to move your parents, too.”
“Then we have to be somewhere warm.”
“Won’t they mind? Shit, Hunt. This is so unfair.”
“It would take Eddie and his whole gang to keep them from following us, babe. You think they’d be away from Hannah? You’re insane.” He kissed her forehead right as Gunner walked back in.
“I knew you two were screwing.”
Hunt straightened up and turned around. “Had to claim her. Seems everyone else wants in her pants. I figured the easiest way to keep them out was to be there myself.”
Mandy stood. “It kind of just happened, Gunner. I’d appreciate a little secrecy until we’re able to share it. There’s enough going on without throwing this into the mix.”
“I don’t really care. Everyone seems to have accepted you in charge. They’re not going to care who you are screwing. Maybe better if Hammer here has the hot seat. Angelo was a stud for what he did, but if you got that reputation, that would make you a slut.”
“Now there’s a fair statement.”
Gunner shrugged. “It’s the truth. So what did your friend James say?”
Mandy had to lie. “He hadn’t heard anything yet.”
“Where is his connection again?”
“Just some new territory I’m looking at expanding into. Don’t worry. It’s not going to step on your toes. I just wanted to see if he heard anything. See if he was willing to be a team player right out of the gate. Word has it that he’s supposed to have someone in at the prison. Paying off a guard or something.”
“For whatever that’s worth.”
“Look, we have to split. Watch yourselves. I have a feeling this is going to come to a head pretty damn fast.”
“I have things here covered. You watch your own back. Holler if you need us.”
“Thanks.”
Once they were in the car, Mandy’s cell phone rang. The name on the caller ID read Asshole. She answered. “What, Eddie?”
“Where are you?”
“None of your damn business.”
“Milo is dead, and your shit is gone. What am I supposed to think?”
“There is no way you think I killed that sweet man! Where were your men, Eddie? Where were they when Milo was killed, not to mention when Sue cleaned out a safe no one knew about?”
“Sue? Lonny’s Sue? What the hell does she have to do with this?”
“Oh, bullshit. You took your men out of there so she had a clear shot at it.”
“Shot at what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The hell you don’t.”
“Amanda, quit your screaming. I had no idea Sue was even alive, let alone that there was a safe. What did she get?”
“I have no clue. Before Milo died he said it was jewelry and paperwork.”
“Paperwork? For what?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m done. You brought me here to get Angelo safe. I did that, and now you want this killing crap solved. I can’t do that when every finger points to you no matter where I go.”
“I paid someone to shoot at myself? You’re making no sense.”
“Twice now a bullet barely missed Hunt and me. I don’t believe you didn’t set that up.”
“Why would I have bought a restaurant for Milo if I was going to kill him?”
“You what?”
“It was his as soon as you were gone. I didn’t kill him, Amanda.”
“Then explain why you pulled the guards away from the house.”
“You weren’t there and I needed some muscle today. I didn’t see the harm.”
“Arranging furniture were you?”
“Funny. You think Earl and I sit around and get manicures all day? You’re not the only one in the hot seat, little girl. You have Darin off playing house with that bimbo, and we’re men short ’cause I gave you everything you wanted on that damn cabin detail. We have work to do the same as you. If I considered for a second the house needed a man, I would have left one. Come on. Meet me. Let’s talk.”
“No. I’m done. I no longer care if you or anyone else gets shot. I’m taking Angelo away from here. If you ever try to find me again, I’ll kill you.” Mandy snapped her phone closed. “Just go to the cabin, Hunt. I’m done. I’m so sorry this has ruined our lives.”
“No, it hasn’t. It’s the next leg of our adventure together.” Again he took her hand and gave it a long kiss. “As dumb as it sounds, we never would have met if it wasn’t for all of this. I don’t regret a second of it.”
“What would I do without you?”
“Have a lot less great sex?”
Mandy laughed. “I want to get home to Hannah. I don’t care where home is anymore.”
“Ditto, babe.”
Mandy called the cabin to let Doc know they were heading up and going to take Angelo. She didn’t care what Darin and Angie were going to do. Let them dig their own grave.
“I’m fine. I need to go for a walk. Can I please have ten minutes alone?” Angelo begged Egan, the one guard he didn’t mind being around. Egan had caught up to him as he walked towards the lake.
“Amanda would have my hide if anything happened to you.”
“What’s going to happen to me here? No one knows where we are, imbecile. Not even you guys.”
“I’m supposed to watch over you.”
“Fine. Do it from up here. I’m going to the lake for a minute. If I’m not back in ten you can carry me back.”
The guard glanced behind him to make sure no one else was watching. “You have ten minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Angelo walked carefully down the stairs to the lake. His ribs still hurt like a sonofabitch. He walked out into the water, grateful for the peace. He was getting sick of listening to the guards playing cards and even more so, the sounds of Angie and Darin having sex. He was long overdue himself and tempted to sneak away to get some action. He doubted this hole-in-the-wall town had prostitutes, but he could pick someone up if he could just get to a bar. Maybe he could bribe Egan tonight.
Angelo was knee-high in the water when he turned at the sound of his name. He smiled at the sight of Sue by the docks. “Sue? Is that really you?” Sore ribs be damned; he ran to her side and gave her a hug. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I had to see you, Angelo.”
“Mandy tell you where to find me?”
“Yes. I hooked up with her in New York. Hunt is a really great guy.”
“Yeah. He’s okay for a cop.”
Sue smiled and placed her hand o
n his cheek. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
“Me—”
Angelo felt something solid hit him on the back of his head. His world became fuzzy as he fell to the sandy ground.
“What do you mean he’s gone?” Mandy screamed. “Why didn’t you call me?” It was one a.m., and she was already tired and cranky. Unlike the last trip, she hadn’t slept at all. Her nerves were too shot.
“Check your phone. We tried.”
Mandy dug it out of her pocket. It was dead. “Dammit!” she screamed, ready to throw it against a wall. Hunt took it from her hand.
“He said he wanted ten minutes alone.”
“And you let him go?”
“He didn’t really give me much of a choice.”
“Really? With three broken ribs, he was that threatening?”
“Don’t give me shit, goddammit! Angelo was dying for some alone time. He probably wandered off to get some pussy. Those two have been banging like jackrabbits constantly, driving everyone mad. I don’t know why they are even here.”
Mandy turned to Darin. “Leave. Take your little girlfriend and go. Tell your father what your plans are. I no longer care about either of you.”
“Well, tough shit,” Darin replied. “I care about Angelo. I’m not leaving until he’s found.”
“I’m not going anywhere without Darin either.” Angie wrapped her arm around Darin’s and stood there, feet firmly planted.
With no phone in hand, Mandy picked up a coffee cup and threw it against the wall. Again her cussing talents caught everyone’s full attention. She turned to the two guards. “You two go start knocking on doors. Ask around and find out if anyone noticed anything. Try not to look like mobsters, for Christ’s sake. The last thing we need are cops coming out looking for suspicious characters. Better yet, ditch the coats and ties. Put on a T-shirt and take a beer.”
“What? Why a beer?”
“Tell them you think your buddy is drunk and wandered off. It’ll be easier to explain that way. Stop at the houses with their lights on for now. I really don’t want to make a scene. My hopes of finding him nearby aren’t very high.” Mandy walked over to Egan and punched him hard in the jaw. “You stupid son of a bitch.”
Mandy was just in the right mood for a fight, but Egan looked at Hunt. She was sure he was thinking twice about hitting her back. He turned and walked away without another word.
Hunt went over to Mandy after the two men walked away. “You didn’t need to do that.”
“No? Wait and see what happens if we find Angelo dead. There will be two funerals that day.”
“Babe…he’s okay. I’m sure he just got cabin fever and took off.”
“He knew we were coming for him. That wouldn’t have happened.”
“What about us?” Darin asked.
“If I can’t get you two to leave then make yourselves useful and keep an eye out. Call us if he comes back. Do me a favor and try to not screw for two hours.”
“Don’t put this shit on me.”
Mandy now squared off with Darin. “I didn’t want you here, remember? You’ve done nothing but get everyone’s hormones out of whack and knock up a girl who could have had a decent shot at life.”
“I didn’t knock her up here.”
Mandy pulled back her fist but stopped herself. “Just keep an eye out and call Hunt’s phone if he shows back up, asshole.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
“Where to?” Hunt asked Mandy when they reached the car.
“There’s another cabin on the next lake.”
“Another one? With the two from last time, this makes four. You’d think Eric would know more about what’s going on around here being a cop and all.”
“No one says he doesn’t, Hunt.”
“No way. Not Eric. Accusing him would be like accusing me, Mandy.”
“I never would have suspected Abbey either.”
“No way. I can’t even wrap my mind around that right now. Whose cabin is this next one?”
“It’s Lonny’s. He was actually into hunting. He and Sue came here to get away from it all. The others were Vince’s. Vince actually entertained some clients at one but kept another private. As far as she knew, Gerard never used Lonny’s. She may think I don’t know about it.”
“Why do you know about it?”
She looked away. “We did use it…once.”
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Never mind that, babe. You still think Sue didn’t know what Lonny really was? After all this you think she has no clue he was with the mob?”
“She had to know to some extent. I think she chose to ignore it.”
“Is this place far?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“I’m still not sure she’s dumb enough to go there.”
“She doesn’t think we’re on to her, Hunt.”
He started the car. “Let’s hope not.”
They arrived at the cabin and drove past two more houses. They parked across the street in a wooded area. Carefully, they made their way to the cabin and around the back. Both of them had their guns drawn. Hunt was ahead and motioned for Mandy to stay down. He took the corner and peeked in the screen porch. His eyes went wide then he returned his attention to Mandy.
She mouthed, “What?”
“I think I’ve just seen more of Sue than you’d care for me to,” he whispered back.
Mandy went around him and peeked in. Sue was naked on top of Sinclair. He was sitting on the couch as she ground herself against him. Mandy couldn’t watch and hastily turned away.
“Doesn’t anyone use a bed anymore?” Mandy whispered.
“It’s really hard to screw against log walls.” Mandy wanted to smack him for his comment, but her hand still hurt from punching Egan. “What do you want to do, babe? Wait for them to finish?”
“I could give a crap if she gets to climax, Hunt. We—” A loud moan from both Sue and Sinclair kept her from finishing her sentence. “Well, there you go.” Mandy kicked in the door with her gun drawn. Sinclair jumped so bad, he knocked Sue to the floor. She screamed and reached for an afghan to cover herself.
“Mandy? What the hell are you doing here?”
“An even better question is what are you doing here?”
“I think that’s obvious,” she said as she motioned up and down her body. “You told me to get out of New York so I did.”
Sinclair tried to stand, but Hunt cocked the hammer back on his gun and aimed it at him. “I don’t think so. Keep your hands at your sides.”
“Can I put my pants on?”
Hunt walked over to the coffee table where they sat. He checked the pockets then tossed them to Sinclair.
“What gives, Mandy?” Sue asked.
“Sit down,” Mandy said as she pointed to a chair.
Sue sat down hard and crossed her arms. “Why are you here? Why are you pointing a gun at me?”
“Because, Sue. I love you, but you’re lying to me.”
“I’m not lying to you!”
“Your little friend here is the French equivalent of a Navy Seal. You know what is going on around here more than you’re sharing. Somehow you convinced Eddie to call off his guards and got Milo killed in the process.”
“What?”
“After you took whatever it is you wanted out of the safe.” Sue’s expression went blank. “Yes, I know about that. They killed him when we got home.”
Sue’s head sank to her chest. She let it hang there for a minute before she stood up and slapped Sinclair. “You went back to the house? You didn’t have to kill him.”
“He was going to talk. I told you he would.”
“Well, he did anyway now, didn’t he? You stupid asshole. He didn’t know enough to say anything.”
“Oh, my God. You do know what’s going on?” Mandy turned to Sinclair. “You killed Milo?” She stepped forward, but Hunt held her arm.
“Not now, babe.” He put the gun to Sinclair’s head. “Where’s Angelo?�
��
Sue piped up. “He’s in the back. He’s probably still out, but he’s fine.”
Mandy ran to the kitchen and opened the pantry. After knocking a few things to the floor, she returned with a container of zip ties and tossed it to Hunt.
“Legit hunting cabin, huh?”
“These things do have other uses. You got this?”
“Yeah. Go to Angelo.”
Mandy found Angelo in the second room she tried. He was tied to a bed and unconscious. She cut him free then sat at his side. Shaking him gently, she called his name. On the third try, his head gently rocked from side to side. He swore then placed his hand to his head. Opening one eye, he looked up at Mandy.
“Hey. We have to stop meeting like this.” He forced a half smile then closed his eye again. “Shit hurts.”
“Lemme look.”
“Don’t make me move. I’ll puke.”
Mandy reached for her phone and swore when it wasn’t there. She ran out and took Hunt’s then called Doc. She rattled off instructions of how to get to the cabin and begged for him to come alone. After she ended the call, she took Angelo’s hand.
“Doc will be here in twenty minutes. I’m going to get you some ice.” He gave a slight nod. “How are your ribs?”
“Okay, I guess.”
She placed her hand on his cheek. “This will be over soon. I have a plane coming for you.”
His eyes opened. “Where am I going?”
“That’ll be up to you.”
“Any chance I’m allowed to recuperate anywhere near you?”
“I don’t know, Angelo. Hunt and I are relocating, too.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. I’m not exactly done here, but we’re officially done.”
He removed her hand from his cheek and held it tight. “I’m sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault.”
“Yes, it is. You only came to look for me.”
“Eddie would have made me come anyway. He had something planned; I never could figure this whole mess out.”
“What did Sue want with me?”
“I’m about to figure it out. You okay?”
“Yeah. I want to lay here for a while.”
