Man Law

by Adrienne Giordano

  “You got my email?”

  He fisted both hands.

  “Which one would that be?”

  “The one of your lovely lady.”

  Yep. No more hoping Sirhan wasn’t behind the video. Okay. Work this problem. Concentrate. He had to control his temper and not let this fucker get to him.

  “Tell me the guy that shot it was one of yours.” He laughed. “I knew I should have thrown that bastard off the roof.”

  Tiny curled his lip and gaped at Vic like he’d lost it.

  “Well,” Sirhan sighed, “it was unfortunate for my friend you arrived when you did. Much can happen to a woman in five minutes. Particularly one with her assets, and he was disappointed not to have sampled.”

  Vic pictured tearing Sirhan’s head off and shoving it up his ass. That was about the only thing keeping him from blowing his oats right on the desk. Did someone just put his stomach through a grinder?

  He didn’t want to be talking to this asshole about Gina, but showing his discomfort? Not an option. “Sirhan, please. That numb-nuts, pain-in-the-ass fuckwad couldn’t get it up enough to sample. Besides, she’d have taken him down long before that. My girl can pack a punch.”

  His girl? What the hell was he saying? If anything he should deny he and Gina were a couple. Realistically, though, Sirhan wouldn’t have believed him. Plus, he didn’t want to underestimate the sheikh’s not so merry men. They had managed to rattle Vic already and that was saying something.

  “It does not matter now,” Sirhan said. “There will be next time. Maybe the little girl. You never know.”

  Tiny, who’d obviously heard enough, vaulted out of his chair and stormed from the office. Vic couldn’t blame him and did a quick ten count to calm his raging blood pressure.

  “What I know,” he said, “is that your amateur bunch of pissants won’t get anywhere near that little girl. You’d better stick with me. I’m a lot more fun.”

  The line went dead.

  The bile swelled in his throat and he tried to swallow it back. Don’t get sick. Don’t let him win. But, Lily. Precious, pretty Lily. Ah, shit. With no time to spare, Vic grabbed his garbage can and heaved until his empty body shuddered from the intensity. The thought of Lily being raped would never leave his mind.

  “Are you all right?” The secretary asked from the doorway. She, along with the rest of the floor, probably heard him coughing up his breakfast.

  “Yeah, but I’ll need a new garbage can. I’ll take care of this one.”

  Tiny came back in. Handed Vic a wet paper towel.

  “Thanks,” he said, leaning his head back and spreading the towel on his face. The cool wetness took the burn from his cheeks, and the throbbing in his head settled to a dull beat.

  “What can I do?” Tiny asked.

  Vic pulled the towel from his face. “Cuz, you’re going to help me find this fucker. I’m done waiting on his ass.”

  Forty minutes later, after a quick meeting with the support people and a shower in the building’s gym—a desperate and futile attempt to wash away the filth Sirhan had dumped on him—Vic tracked Mike down. No way would a terrorist beat him.

  He stepped into Mike’s office. “Hey.”

  Mike did a double take on the dress shirt Vic wore. “Sorry I couldn’t join you before. I had a client here. Nice shirt.”

  “I borrowed a clean one from your stash. Another call from our friend Sirhan.”

  “And you needed a clean shirt?”

  Vic nodded. “Yep.”

  “This guy getting to you?”

  “What’s getting to me,” he said, dropping onto the couch, “is this waiting around with my thumb up my ass. I just met with the team and we’re going to see if we can flush him out.”

  “How?”

  “The old-fashioned way. I told Jimmy, Dutch and Billy to hit the streets, ask questions. Maybe some lowlife somewhere knows something. Janet’s working on where he’s calling from. My guess is he’s around. Maybe not in the city, but close. He’s not dumb enough to call from a traceable line, but you never know.”

  “What’d he say to you?” Mike wanted to know.

  And now Vic needed to decide if he’d tell Mike the truth about the video and the threats Sirhan made. Mikey would go ape-shit and Vic didn’t want him going over the edge before anything really got going. Why let his best friend worry over something that might only be an empty threat? Nope. Better to keep it quiet.

  Besides, Vic had the situation under control. He hoped.

  “You think Roxi will let me tap into Phil?”

  Mike leaned forward, rested his elbows on the desk. “You’re not going to tell me what he said and you want my wife’s help?”

  Vic shrugged. “She is the publisher of the second largest daily newspaper in this city and Phil, as you know, is the best investigative reporter around.”

  “Here’s the deal.” Mike sat back again. “I do not want Roxann involved in this. You call her and ask her about Phil, but you tell her to stay out of it.”

  For the first time all day Vic laughed. “You’re using me for an end run?”

  “You want this, you do it my way. If I tell her to stay out of it, she’ll do it anyway. If you tell her, she’ll listen.”

  Vic stood, shook his head. Marriage. Go figure. “I’ll talk to her.”

  “And get my shirt cleaned before you bring it back.”

  Right. Any more calls from Sirhan and he would be buying two new shirts. One for Mike and one for himself. Not only that, but he had just lied. Technically he’d lied by omission, but it still counted. How the hell could a guy tell his closest friend some scumbag threatened to rape his seven-year-old niece? Mike would eventually find out because, well, he was Mike. Nothing stayed out of his range for long. He would deal with the fallout later. And knowing Mike, it wouldn’t be easy.

  It might even cost him their friendship.

  “Hey, Rox,” Vic said when she came on the line.

  “You read my mind. I was going to call you this afternoon.”

  Roxann calling him. Hmmm.

  “Oh?”

  “Gina and I are going shopping tonight.”

  Gina going shopping? He didn’t know this. Did she think she’d be going alone?

  “Michael is going with us,” Roxann said.

  “Poor schmuck.”

  “That’s what he said. I need to know where you’re taking Gina on this big date Friday night.”

  What was Roxann up to? “Why?”

  She sighed. “Nothing is easy lately.”

  “You brought it up, sister.”

  “For crying out loud, she wants to buy a new dress and asked me to help. I have no idea where you’re taking her. How am I supposed to find something appropriate?”

  Gina wanted to buy a new outfit. To go on a date with him. A sudden warmth worked its way through his system.

  “I’m not telling you where I’m taking her. I want it to be a surprise, and I don’t trust you.”

  “Excuse me?” Roxann shot, ready to do battle.

  “But I’ll tell you it’s nothing too fancy. I’ll be wearing a sport coat. Probably dress pants. Does that help?”

  “So we’re talking casual elegance here?”

  Vic smiled. “Now you’re fishing. That’s all you’re getting. I’m changing the subject back to why I called you.”

  Laughing, Roxi asked, “Okay. What can I do for you?”

  “Can I borrow Phil?”

  “For what?”

  He had her attention. He had never asked for Phil’s help before, and Roxann’s big story radar probably went haywire.

  “Hey now, you can’t get involved. I’ll be deep-sixed by Mike, and I’ve got other problems right now. I don’t need him riding my ass. Promise me you’ll stay out of this. You already know what you need to.”

  “Which isn’t a whole lot since all you and Michael will tell me is some bad guy is mad at you.”

  “And that’s all you need to know. Rox, if I
didn’t think the Banner could get a helluva story out of this, I wouldn’t ask. Can I call Phil?”

  Vic sat back and waited. Typically, she couldn’t resist the pull of a big story.

  She sighed again. “Fine. I’ll tell Phil to expect your call. I’ll clear it with his editor. And won’t that make me popular?”

  “Thanks, Roxi. You’re the best.”

  “Yeah, but you still won’t tell me where you’re taking Gina.”

  “Nope. Gotta fly.”

  He hung up and spun his chair to the window. Things were looking up. If he had anything to do with it, old Sirhan was about to get a butt load of firepower coming his way.

  The hunter about to become the hunted.

  Chapter Ten

  Man Law: Never try to figure out a woman’s logic.

  Vic stepped up to Gina’s back door and got a wolf whistle from Billy, on guard duty for the night.

  “Fuck off,” Vic said.

  He had to admit he looked sharp in his gray slacks and black sport coat. He’d even worn a new white dress shirt.

  “I may bang you myself,” Billy said, risking an ass kicking.

  Vic gave him a good dose of the death glare and knocked on the door. A minute later Gina appeared in front of him and the spit in his mouth dried up.

  “Whoa.” He took in what was possibly the sexiest dress he’d ever seen. He wanted to nibble that bit of bare shoulder. And forget about the newly styled curls. He loved her old hairstyle, but she’d gotten a good two inches hacked off, and her hair now framed her face and accentuated her dark eyes. Wow. Friggin’ stunning.

  Billy, being the nosy bum he was, stepped over, beheld Gina and dropped to his knees. Asshole.

  Gina laughed. “You guys are great for my ego.”

  “Where’s your pride?” Vic asked. “Keep this up and I’ll revoke your man card.”

  He put a hand on Billy’s shoulder, shoved him sideways, and he went over like a dead tree. “Go find your own girl. I got dibs on this one.”

  He stepped into the house and closed the door. “You look amazing. That dress should be on America’s Most Wanted.”

  Gina did a little twirl. “Roxann helped me pick it out. Check out these shoes.”

  They were black with a single strap across the front and five-inch heels. He had no idea how she could walk in them.

  “Don’t they hurt?”

  She laughed. “Of course they hurt. I’m hoping we won’t be doing a lot of standing.”

  Hell, if he had his way, they’d be horizontal already. Something weird happened, because his cheeks got hot. Could he actually be blushing? Wussy boy.

  “Nope. Not a lot of standing happening tonight,” he said.

  He listened for kid noises and asked, “Kids already gone?”

  “Michael and Rox picked them up a while ago. They’re going up to the lake house for the night. Tiny went too.”

  It just got better and better. Kids gone for the whole damn night. He’d gone to heaven. No doubt.

  “You ready to go?”

  “I am. I told Michael I’d call a few times to check on the kids. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Don’t mind at all. Let’s roll. I got a big night planned for you.”

  “I want to talk about something first.”

  Not even out the door yet and it sounded like he was in trouble. Not good.

  “Sure,” he said, not sure at all.

  “I don’t think we should have sex tonight.”

  Okay, then. Not what he expected her to say and, prick that he was, his heart nosedived right to his feet. But he could be an understanding guy, at least try to see what her fucked-up logic might be.

  “You’re disappointed,” Gina said, turning away from him.

  He grabbed her arm. “If I’m being honest—and that’s what you always want—hell yeah, I’m disappointed. Our past history should tell you I pretty much want to have sex with you all the time. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”

  “I think it’s important that we start over,” she said. “Treat this like the first date of two people that don’t know each other. I want us to be sure the chemistry is there without the sex. Does that make sense?”

  Women. They drove him crazy.

  “It doesn’t make sense to me, but I’m useless where women are concerned.”

  “You’re not useless. I don’t know why you think that.”

  He held up both hands. No sense rehashing his baggage. “We’ve been friends a long time. How do we pretend we don’t know each other? I know you’ll eat fish but prefer a good steak. I know you love sunny days and getting a tan even if it’s bad for you. I know you like country music, but you’re too chicken to tell your rock-n-roll friends. Hell, I know what every inch of your body feels like when it’s under mine.” He stopped, thought for a minute. “If you don’t want to have sex, we won’t, but I don’t think we can pretend this is a normal first date.”

  Her eyes narrowed to slits, and she pursed her lips. He’d gotten her thinking.

  “I see what you’re saying, but I think we need to make sure we like each other outside of the bedroom.”

  Was she out of her mind? How could she not know he liked her? If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be trying to thrash her every chance he got. For Christ’s sake, why was this so complicated?

  “Aha!” Vic waved his finger. “There’s where your theory falls apart.”

  “Huh?”

  “We’ve never had sex in a bedroom. We’ve done it on the beach, against the damned washer and we’ve done it in your kitchen, but never in a bedroom. Case closed. Let’s go.”

  Gina laughed and folded her arms. “You don’t expect me to go for that, do you?”

  Striding to the back door, he put his hand on the knob. “I just want to get the hell out of this house and take you on a date. Can we forget about everything for a few hours and have a nice time?”

  He opened the door when she started toward him.

  “Okay, but I’m not having sex with you tonight.”

  “I’m available,” Billy yelled from outside.

  Vic winced. Freaking great. He’d hear about this for the next twenty years. They cruised by Billy and Vic pointed at him. “Don’t forget I own you.”

  Billy stopped laughing. Vic had pages and pages of blackmail material on these guys, and he got extra lucky with Billy, because he had pictures from the night Billy tried to pick up a woman who was a man in drag. Good times, that.

  Vic snorted and opened the car door for Gina. “The house is locked. Call me if anything comes up.”

  Nothing better come up. That was all he had to say. He didn’t want to be disturbed while he had Gina all to himself.

  Gina scanned the marina as Vic opened the car door. Moist lake air surrounded her and in three seconds, her curls would go rampant, but not a problem. The hairstylist assured her the new styling products would keep frizz at bay. The sky held a few fluffy clouds with a backdrop of orange and pink from the setting sun. The usual smattering of airplanes circled, waiting to land at O’Hare.

  All in all, a great night for a sail, but were they really dressed for it? She didn’t think so. Large sailboats and speedboats rocked quietly in their slots. She looked around for Vic’s but didn’t see it. A motor hummed as a cigarette boat made its way out of the marina to open water.

  “Curious?” Vic asked, leading her down the dock.

  “I’m wondering how I’m climbing onto a sailboat in these shoes.”

  “You’re not climbing onto a sailboat. You’re climbing onto that.”

  He pointed to the end of the dock where a luxury yacht sat, its motor idling. A gangplank rested against the dock, and Gina glimpsed a uniformed man at the deck’s rail.

  “I don’t understand. I thought we were going to dinner.”

  “We are. On that.” He pointed to the yacht again.

  Warmth filled her. The yacht had to be a hundred and fifty feet long, gleaming white with three decks
and, with the dusk sky behind it, could have been something out of a travel book.

  “I don’t understand,” she said again, feeling like an idiot. “Are you teasing me? I’ll have to hurt you if you’re teasing me.”

  Vic smiled. Not the player smile, though. The real one that came out when he seemed truly entertained. A slightly crooked incisor peeked out and she couldn’t help grinning.

  “I’m not teasing you,” he said. “Let’s go. They’re waiting for us.”

  With his hand resting on her back, he guided her to the gangplank. She stepped up to it and stopped. This was for her. Truly? “Who owns this boat?”

  She couldn’t help it. She had to know.

  “A client who owes me a favor. A big one. I’ve been saving it for something good.”

  “And dinner with me qualifies?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She glanced at the yacht, then back to him. Her body ached. It had to be coming apart. There was no other explanation for the implosion inside her. He’d done this for her. He’d taken the time to make it happen. He could have made a dinner reservation somewhere and she’d have been satisfied. Her eyes began to pulse and she slapped her hands over them to hide the tears. Typically, she cried at the end of a date, not the beginning.

  Without saying anything he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. He knew her well enough to know she’d be embarrassed. He waited and, after a minute, she pulled her hands away, wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s not over yet. You might hate me by the time we dock again.” He glanced around. “I’d really like to get you inside until we get on the lake.”

  Gina started up the gangplank. “Is someone watching us?”

  “I don’t want to risk it. Just so you know, a couple of the guys are going to be tagging along in another boat. I don’t think anyone will bother us, but it’s a big lake with lots of access points. It’s a precaution.”

  The captain waited at the rail and introduced himself. They had a crew of eight on hand to serve their needs. Eight people. For the two of them. It should have been funny, but somehow, in the midst of all this luxury, it fit.