by J. A. Coffey
"Um, sure." He glanced at the back door of her parents' house.
She bit back a giggle and to lighten the mood, she said, "I love the Soprano's." If nothing else, this conversation was quickly bringing them back together like friends as they'd been once before. She had trusted him once, she should be able to again. After all, she adored everything she knew about the man.
His laugh filled the night air. "You get your information from a television show?" Before she could reply, his phone rang for a third time. "Oh, damn. Maybe I should take care of this, so the caller will leave us alone. Stay here. I want to hear what else you have to say."
"Okay." She sighed as he climbed out of the hot tub. She loved the way his shoulders met with his lean back and masculine firmness of his waist. The small group of women she spent time with went weak-kneed at the sight of muscular men and wouldn't look twice at Mik. Gabrielle, on the other hand, liked the way that Mik kept himself toned without going overboard with muscles. Mikolas Russo possessed the perfect physique.
He stopped halfway to the pool house and turned to face her. "Please wait for me to deal with this caller. There's something I'd like to tell you, too." Then he disappeared around the corner.
With rapid beats, her heart threatened to explode in her chest. She needed to tell him. Tonight. As soon as he finished with the phone call she would join him in the pool house before she lost her nerve. She climbed out of the hot tub and hugged her arms across her chest to fight off the chill from the night air as she went over to the partially opened door.
"I don't want to do the job, but I know I was paid a deposit already... fine... It'll be done soon." His angry voice floated out to her, causing her to take a step back out of view.
Standing close to the building provided a shield from the breeze, and better yet, an opportunity to listen to him. She wanted to believe the goosebumps over her bare skin had been caused by the chill in the air, but she couldn't deny the fact that his phone call involved business and probably with her father. Could Mik be the one her father is trying to reveal? She shook her head in disbelief and hugged her body tighter.
"The job will get done. But I can't talk about this right now. Let me call you back when I get home." Mikolas paused. "Tomorrow? Yeah. Fine. I'll bring proof of the completion of the job."
Bile rose in her throat as she fought the urge to stomp into the room and snatch the phone away from him. He had to be the one out to kill her father. But Mikolas? She couldn't let herself believe he would harm anyone. No way. Her assumption had to be wrong, but no matter what, she had to make sure she covered all of her bases.
If her father suspected Mikolas as being the trigger man, Mik would be dead before blinking an eye. Choosing between her father's life and Mik's was impossible. Anxiety squeezed its way into her lungs, forcing her to take deep breaths.
Water running in the pool house bathroom replaced the sound of his voice. Mikolas must've ended his call without saying goodbye and used the restroom before returning to her in the hot tub. She went to the deck before he found her listening at the door.
"Gabi?" Mik asked behind her.
"Hey," she said as if seeing him for the first time that evening. She'd completely lost her nerve. "Can I have a rain check?"
"Sure," he said, following her to where her stuff waited.
After wrapping herself in a towel, she grabbed her bag and rushed inside her parents' house.
The dishwasher hummed as Gabrielle hurried through. The kitchen had already been cleaned spotless by her mother after tonight's dinner. Hearty drunk laughter floated down the hall from the study.
Gabrielle rounded the corner to the formal living room and stopped mid-step. "Oh," Gabrielle said in a slightly raised voice. Her mother sat in one of the antique chairs even though the living room usually served for viewing purposes. Since returning to Vegas, Gabrielle had only seen the maid in that particular room to clean and nobody else until now.
"Are you okay, honey?" her mother asked, her voice crisp even though she'd had more than one glass of wine at dinner and a fresh glass cradled between her fingertips. Even though her mother, Maura, looked as if she didn't have a care in the world, her hair still held up in a French twist while her black dress fell somewhere between a cocktail dress and an evening gown. If Gabrielle hadn't known her mother always dressed this way for Friday night dinners, she would've expected her parents to be going out on an expensive date.
"You just startled me is all." Gabrielle started across the plush, cream-colored carpet for the stairs. "Going into the hot tub tonight wasn't my best idea. Now I'm freezing."
Mom's thin lips parted as she shifted her gaze to the floor in front of her. "Why don't you relax for a bit? It's plenty warm in here."
Gabrielle glanced at the stairs before looking back nervously at her mother. Why was Mom acting this way? "I'm going to change my clothes and head home. I've had a really long day. My assistant manager called out sick this morning, doubling my work load."
"Have one glass of wine with me." Mom gestured toward the end table next to the overstuffed settee, drawing attention to the bottle of opened wine and extra glass. Mom had been waiting for her.
She didn't want to drink, but this change in her mother forced her to take several steps forward. "What's wrong?" Gabrielle asked.
The sound of the men moving around in the back part of the house drew Mom's gaze to the hall entryway for a moment before she switched back to Gabrielle. "We need to chat." Mom moved from her place in the chair to the settee. Patting the seat next to her, she said, "Sit."
Shaking her head, Gabrielle said, "I'm still damp from the hot tub." She eyed Mom, who never allowed anyone near the furniture unless fully dressed in clean clothes.
"Honey, this can't wait and the couch'll dry."
Following her mom's orders, she sat down on the settee with her mom's boney knees peeking out from under her skirt, resting against Gabrielle's.
"Okay, tell me what's wrong?" she asked as Mom took another sip of wine.
If Mom claimed everything to be fine, Gabrielle might just scream. First she'd overheard the conversation between Dad and Leon. Now her mother's strange behavior? Yes, they had mother and daughter days at the spa or impromptu vacations on occasion, but by now, her mom would be getting ready for bed while leaving the guys to their private affaires, not sitting here, drinking, and fussing over her adult daughter.
Mom took another sip, checked the doorway again, and set her glass on the table. "Remember when that man came into your room in the middle of the night?"
"How could I ever forget?" Fear ripped through her gut as the memory flashed through her mind. The stickiness of the humid summer night. The unfamiliar sweet breath against her cheek. The bang of her bedroom door hitting the wall. The gunshots... she shuddered.
Mom reached out for her hand, providing her a small sense of comfort. "I'm not supposed to be telling you this, but I believe something bad is going to happen again."
So Mom knew! "Like what?" She tried forcing the man's face from her mind and focus on the matter at hand. This might be the opportunity to get more information about her father's Family.
"I can't really give many details, but I don't want you in danger a second time," said Mom, crashing any shred of hope Gabrielle had. "You need to leave Las Vegas."
"But I don't want-"
"Gabi, listen to me, please." Mom took a small envelope out of the bodice of her dress and slid it onto Gabrielle's lap. "Here are the directions to your father's cabin. You'll also find the code to his safe on the other side of the sheet of paper. Go there, spend the night if you want, and take enough money to live off of."
"What?" Gabrielle yanked her hand out of her mother's grasp. "You sound like you want me to leave Vegas for good when I just returned home a year ago."
Tears welled in Mom's light blue eyes. "I'd rather have you leave and know you're safe than worry about you every minute of the day. You lucked out that night when the man came into yo
ur room. Being an easy target means you might not luck out next time. This goodbye won't last forever."
This was her mom's attempt to save her life. Something big, bigger than she could imagine, was about to go down if Mom decided to betray her father's confidence. Gabrielle would follow her mother's instructions for now but not just to stay safe. Getting answers about her family remained near the top of her list.
"When did Dad buy a cabin?"
Mom sighed and took a moment to sip her drink. "When you were gone. You must keep the location a secret. Actually, burn the paper before you leave the cabin."
"What about you? Isn't your safety at risk if mine is?"
Her blonde head slowly nodded. "I'm leaving, too. Dad has instructed me to go on a vacation with the girls." Mom's girls were fifty-year-old women who behaved like they were still fifteen, something Mother didn't do around Dad.
"If you're leaving then I will too, but Dad won't want me to know about the cabin."
"Tell him you're going on a short trip with your friends. You can only stay there one night to rest up because I'll tell him the truth once I think you're far enough away from the property." Mom drew Gabrielle into a hug.
When the sound of men made its way to the living room, Gabrielle pulled from her mother's embrace. Saddened to be sent away for the second time, she stood.
"I have some things to take care of tonight, but I promise to be gone tomorrow. You'll know I left Vegas when I call Dad." Her nerves were stretched so tight, she needed to get out of her parents' house before she snapped and ruined everything.
"Go on home now."
Gabrielle stared at the envelope in her hands for a moment. Could she really do this? Her mother expected her to leave Vegas alone, but she wouldn't be. When the men's voices grew closer, she fled up the stairs while clutching the large towel tightly around her.
Before turning back to the stairwell, Gabrielle glanced over at the beautiful woman who had given birth to her. Obviously Mom knew about Dad's organization, but how much? Questions played on the tip of Gabrielle's tongue. She wanted to ask what her mother thought about her father leading a life of crime, how long had he been in it, and if her mother had ever been allowed to participate. Gabrielle doubted the last question and couldn't picture the mild-tempered blonde doing anything illegal, but then again, a few months ago she wouldn't have believed any of them doing this, either. Not wanting to ruin her chance at going to Dad's cabin, she refrained from pumping her mom for information.
*****
The next day Mikolas Russo slipped the loaded Glock into the waistband of his Dockers before running his hand through his hair. A quick glance at his silver Burberry watch told him the time had come. Time for another hit. Time to expand his bank account. Time to add fuel to his nightmares.
It was early spring in Las Vegas and even so, Mother Nature hadn't decided if the weather would turn warm or pretend to be winter for a while longer. Curly Joe Regusa, the mark, occupied his time by lounging next to the pool with his harem of women. This job should be an easy one. Mikolas was a skilled marksman paid to knock off anyone in his way. He hated murdering people in general, but killing women wasn't his style and avoided the slaying of females at all costs.
His hands trembled against the leather steering wheel cover as he drove the black SUV down the street. This is the last hit, he reminded himself. All of the arraignments were made to leave Las Vegas with or without Gabrielle. He'd fulfill this hit before collecting the rest of the payoff for the job and then pop in to ask Gabi if she'd leave with him. The stuff he intended on taking waited in suitcases inside his front door. A meeting with Enrico had also been scheduled for later in the afternoon. Talking to Gabi first gave Mikolas some direction in which to take the conversation with Enrico. Either way, Mikolas would be leaving the Mafia lifestyle, something he couldn't wait to do.
Just one more hit and he'd be done killing people forever. Maybe he'd be able to walk on the right side of the law for once.
The phone rang on the console between the SUV's leather seats. An unfamiliar number popped up on the caller ID. He debated answering as he approached his destination. Another ring of his phone hit a nerve. He needed to be calm while he did a hit or he'd screw up, giving the detectives a trail to Mikolas' door. He snagged the phone and pushed talk.
"This is Mikolas."
"Hi, Mik. It's Gabrielle." The sound of her voice almost made him drop his phone. Guilt curled in the pit of his stomach. He shouldn't be talking to her right now. Having her on the phone while he had a loaded gun on him ready to shoot someone didn't seem right.
"Gabi, I'd love to talk to you, but I'm working and have to go. Can I call you back when I'm finished?"
"Sorry to bother you. It's just that we didn't get to finish our conversation last night." Her voice sounded sweeter over the phone than it did in person. "And I'd like you to come over."
He almost dropped the phone a second time. Go over to Gabrielle's house? His plan kept getting brighter with possibilities. "Sure. When would be good for you?"
"As soon as," she paused as if thinking of a good time to suggest, "You're done with work today."
This was working out way better than he'd ever hoped. "I can be there in an hour."
He didn't need to write down her address as she rattled it off because he knew exactly where she lived even though he'd never stepped foot inside her house. A smile played on his lips for only a second before he forced his attention to return to the gun in the waistband of his pants.
Mikolas turned into the parking lot of the Ladies Eve Casino. The vehicle would fit in perfectly among the others in the valet parking lot even without the authorization ticket in the window. He picked one of the spots the farthest away from the mainstream area to make it appear as though he had booked a room in the hotel. The narrow parking space sat conveniently located next to the back entrance to the casino's pool used by hotel guests.
If he hurried with this hit, he'd make it back to the house to clean up before heading to see Gabrielle. Even though he'd been forbidden to ever enter into any sort of relationship with her, his heart rebelled, and he longed to pull her in a tight embrace to smell the flowery scent of her long, black hair. Maybe he'd be able to give in to his desires today after he confessed how much he loved her.
Focus, he ordered himself. Don't screw this last hit up. He sucked in his breath and slowly let it out before taking a look around to make sure nobody had noticed him then climbed out of the SUV.
The palm trees swayed in the breeze as he followed the sound of splashing water and the heavy stench of chlorine. Mikolas rounded the corner and scanned the pool. Despite the chilly bite in the air, a crowd of people splashed around in the water while others sun bathed on lounge chairs. Porn star look-alikes in small bikinis served drinks to the happy vacationers, but none of this mattered to Mikolas.
His gaze landed on the only occupied cabana. The semi-sheer curtains hiding his mark behind prying eyes, would come in handy soon. Curly sprawled spread-eagle on the chaise lounge wearing electric blue swim trunks with red flower prints splattered across the fabric. The big designer sunglasses, bright-colored alcoholic beverage with an umbrella sticking out the top screamed tourist, but Mikolas knew better. The two women, who appeared to be twins wearing matching orange bikinis, fanned the man whose belly hung over his swim-trunks like an overripe watermelon.
Mikolas had to admit, the women were all right with their voluptuous curves, but what on earth did they see in Curly? They had to be in it for his dough because the thirty-something year old wasn't anywhere near attractive. One of the women slid her hand over the few strands of hair Curly had left. Mikolas let his repulsion of the man build, knowing that the angrier he became, and the more personal he made this job, the easier it would be to pull the trigger.
He had the perfect shot as he made his way closer. The Glock pressed against his bare skin as if issuing an order to do it now. But if Mikolas were to wipe out Curly with a bullet to the s
kull from his current location, he knew the women would scream, make a big scene, and the place would hum with police in a matter of minutes. Doing a stint behind bars wasn't on Mikolas' agenda.
Somehow he'd have to get the women out of the cabana before he took his shot. Mikolas frowned as water splashed on his leather shoes and up the legs of his pants. He glanced down at the pool where a kid wore a shit-eating grin before splashing him a second time. Mikolas scowled at the kid but kept walking.
Only a few feet away. He slid his hand over the butt of his gun again and felt the rush of familiar discomfort arrive in his stomach. The knot became a companion whenever he did a hit and lasted for at least a day afterward.
Two feet away from the cabana and a third girl joined the party.
The blonde appeared to be in her late teens, younger than the rest of the women. She handed Curly a fresh drink, and planted a kiss on his bald-head, making Mikolas want to gag. If Gabrielle ever made her way into her family's dynasty, would she end up like one of those cheap women? Hell, he hoped not. Gabrielle held so much more class.
No thinking of Gabi during a hit. Get the job done and then get out of here.
"Excuse me," Mikolas said in a fake Arabian accent as he pushed the sheer drapes to the side, happy to be breaking up Curly's disgusting party. He moved his black Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses up the bridge of his nose to block any view of his eyes. "I need to talk to Mr. Regusa."
The young blonde looked up at him with doe-like, deep brown eyes. "Should I grab you a drink?"
Mikolas shook his head.
Curly gazed curiously at Mikolas but didn't look the least bit scared. After a second or two, he raised an arm to shoo the women from his side, making Mikolas' job a hell of a lot easier. With them gone, Curly asked, "Who'er you?"
Mikolas picked up a towel from the small table in the corner. "I have a message for your dad." Curly's father was the Don of a rival Family and the owner of the Lady Eve Casino.
"Give it to him yourself." Curly leaned back against the lounge chair and let his eyes drift shut as if he didn't have a care in the world. Did the arrogant man have any sense at all? Mikolas figured the mark felt safe on his dad's property and the reason why Mikolas had been sent here to let it be known that the Medini Family can get anyone anywhere and were watching the Regusa Family.
