Running Target

by Kari Lemor

  That impish mouth taunted him now. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Maybe I’ll have to do something to sweeten it up.”

  He lowered his head waiting for her to push him away or slug him, yet she didn’t. Her eyes closed and her lips parted, almost asking for his kiss. How could he say no?

  When he pressed his lips to hers she circled her arms around his neck. Her mouth didn’t need any sweetening though, it already tasted like honey. Addictive and leaving him wanting more. He took more.

  Who knew this tough-as-nails rich chick would kiss like sin and make him want to give her everything? The little sighing noise coming from her throat caused ripples through him. Pushing her back on the couch, he slid his hands over her luscious body. The purring got louder.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this, Scott.” Her hands communicated a different message.

  “Probably not.” He trailed his tongue down her neck.

  “It would make things totally awkward when we have to be there for Callie and Jonathan.”

  “Awkward.”

  Her legs lifted around his hips and his arousal pushed against her. Damn, he needed to stop, but he also needed this woman.

  “Not that it hasn’t been awkward the last few years pretending to be lovers.”

  “Pretending.” He ran his hand down the front of her shirt. “I don’t think this is pretending. God, you drive me insane.”

  “You didn’t have far to go.”

  Chuckling, he kissed her swollen lips again. “Then you might as well take me the rest of the way. We can deal with awkward later.”

  * * * *

  Small clouds drifted through the blue sky, blocking the sun every now and then. Jack stared out the window of the large chalet wishing it would snow. Not simply a few flakes but a full-blown blizzard. Then Callie and Jonathan would be stuck here. With him.

  “Daddy.” Jonathan lifted his hands, his signal he wanted to be picked up. Jack happily obliged regardless of the twinge from the pain still present in his ribs. Holding his son would never get old. The boy snuggled onto his shoulder and popped his thumb in his mouth. It was nap time.

  Callie had timed their departure so their son would fall asleep on the way home. It was a long drive back to Connecticut with a cranky two-year-old. He’d take cranky though, if it meant he had more time with him. Who knew how long it would be before he saw him again. Computer time didn’t count.

  “Everything’s in the car,” Scott said, coming up the stairs with Heather and Callie behind him.

  Jack’s eyes devoured Callie. Comfortable jeans and a big sweater didn’t hide the gorgeous body he’d spent most of last night exploring. Would he be able to again?

  “Daddy,” Jonathan whispered sleepily from his shoulder.

  “Right here, pal.”

  Daddy. He’d never get enough of hearing that word. But the word would cause some problems. Jonathan’s speech was improving daily and there was no way Victor would mistake that word for anything else soon. He knew what he had to do, but the thought stabbed at his heart. Let them go. Not only in proximity but he’d need to cut off all communications as well. If Jonathan told Victor he’d been hanging out with his dad during vacation, Callie would be in danger. Unfortunately two-year-olds didn’t understand discretion.

  “We should get going,” Heather said, though her eyes held regret.

  “Thanks for letting me come here to recover. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem. Stay here as long as you want. My folks never use this place anymore and it’s far too rustic for my sister, Charlotte. There’s no one nearby. You’d be safe here.”

  Could he do that? Stay here indefinitely? Would Callie and Jonathan come visit him every so often? Would it be enough for them? It wouldn’t solve the immediate problem of Jonathan talking about his father. Plus, there weren’t a whole lot of jobs in this remote location and he sure as hell wouldn’t allow his cousin to send him money to live on.

  “I might stay a few more days but not too long. I have to get back to work.”

  Heather nodded and grabbed her last bag then walked down the stairs. Scott followed. Jack stepped toward Callie whose eyes filled with tears.

  “We’ll talk to you soon, right?”

  He took a deep breath and let it out slow. “That might not be a good idea anymore, Calico. This little guy is talking more and more lately. I’d never forgive myself if Cabrini did something to hurt you or our son.”

  Tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. He wiped one away then leaned in for a kiss. Jonathan twisted in his arms.

  “So, what was that last night and all week?” Her voice trembled with hurt. “Was it good-bye or simply convenient sex?”

  Damn. He shouldn’t have come here. Touched her. It had complicated matters more.

  “Never.” Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he said, “It was me letting you know how I felt. Wanting something decent in my life for even a short time. Maybe we shouldn’t have but I don’t regret it. I hope you don’t either.”

  Closing her eyes, she leaned into his hand. “I hate this, Jack. I want it to be over. I want to stop being afraid all the time.”

  “Me too. I promise you, Calico, I’ll never stop trying. Even if it kills me, I’ll find a way to get you out of Victor’s reach.”

  The fear in Callie’s eyes shook him to his soul. He kissed her one more time them led her down the stairs and outside. Shuffling Jonathan in his arms, he kissed his son’s cheek.

  “I love you, pal. Don’t ever forget it, please.”

  The child snapped into awareness and his eyes grew wary.

  “You tum a us, daddy.” It wasn’t a question. It was a demand.

  “I can’t. I need to stay here and you need to go with Mommy.”

  Jonathan wrapped his arms tighter around Jack’s neck. “No, you tum home.”

  “I wish I could, pal. But you have to go with your mom and I can’t.”

  The arms clenched even more as the boy dug his face into Jack’s neck. Sobs floated out. His stomach flipped and tightened at the sound. Screw Cabrini and go with them. But that wasn’t a viable option.

  “I’ll put you in your car seat and you can play with the new truck I got you.”

  The distraction didn’t work and Jonathan’s arms strangled him as he walked toward the vehicle, rubbing the boy’s back. He wasn’t sure who he was trying to soothe. His child or himself. Scott opened the door but Jonathan’s wails rose in volume.

  “No, daddy, pease. You tum home.”

  “Jonathan,” Callie scolded though her voice held her pain. “It’s time to go home. Please sit in your seat so we can leave.”

  He wanted to promise the child he’d see him soon. But he’d never give a promise he couldn’t keep. Hugging the boy close, he kissed his tear-stained cheeks.

  Jonathan struggled in his arms and his injuries reminded him he hadn’t fully healed yet. Glancing at Scott, he tilted his head.

  As Scott lifted Jonathan from his arms, the child let out a high-pitched screech. Jack took a few steps back, the agony of his son’s cries piercing through him. Shit, this wasn’t right. How could he have spent the week here, leading Jonathan to think he’d be around always?

  “I love you, pal. Don’t ever forget that, please. I love you.” He touched his son’s head as Scott pulled him away. Callie stepped back allowing Scott to put Jonathan in his car seat. It wasn’t easy with the boy twisting around and yelling. She looked back at Jack then ran to him for one last kiss. He didn’t want to let her go either. Jonathan’s screams broke them apart.

  “Daddy! Pease, you tum home. Pease.” The child’s sobs ate away at his resolve but he held himself still. No way he’d put the people he loved in any more danger. He was enough of a man to do that.

  Scott finally got the last strap fastened and Jack called out, “I love you, Jonathan
.”

  “Luh you, daddy. Tum home, pease!”

  The door closed and Scott backed away as Callie slid into the passenger seat. Jonathan’s hand pressed to the window and his voice reached above the sound of the motor.

  “Pease, daddy!”

  Heather put the car in gear and backed out of the driveway. Callie’s tears tore though him and he stumbled into the side of the chalet. The sound of Jonathan’s cries echoed in his mind then slowly subsided as they drove away.

  He clutched his chest, the pain excruciating. Looking down, he expected to see a hole where his heart had been ripped out. There wasn’t even any blood. How could something this agonizing not have any visual symptoms?

  Scott clamped his hand on Jack’s shoulder not saying a word. The support was nice but it wouldn’t help ease the pain he was in at the moment.

  He straightened and walked into the house. There was a six-pack in the refrigerator and he didn’t plan to share it.

  * * * *

  “Callina, you look lovely this evening,” Victor greeted her as she entered the massive drawing room of his New Jersey mansion. “I’m so happy you decided to come tonight. Who’s watching my grandson while you’re here?”

  “Thank you, Victor,” Callie responded, kissing the air near his cheek. “Heather has him. She’s staying overnight in case I get back too late.”

  “I do hope you’ll stay until the stroke of midnight to usher in the New Year. My chauffeur can bring you home anytime. Even tomorrow. You know I have plenty of room here for you. Please don’t feel you need to rush.”

  Victor took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to her. Sipping a tiny amount, she smiled. She had no plans to drink at all tonight but Victor would expect her to. “I appreciate that, but Jonathan will be upset if I’m not there when he wakes up. I’ll stay as late as I can.”

  He swung his arm out to indicate the throngs of people already imbibing and socializing in the large house. “Please enjoy yourself, my dear. As host, I need to make sure everyone is taken care of.”

  “Of course, Victor, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  Smiling, he walked away so she pretended to take another sip then scanned the room. A few faces looked familiar though she didn’t actually know any of the guests present. People Victor did business with? How many of them were in his pocket, doing favors for him for a price? Or maybe they owed him because he’d done something for them. Something illegal.

  Moving through the room, her midnight blue gown swirled around her legs. The top had thin straps and a moderate neckline but the back plunged dangerously low. It hadn’t been her first choice but she’d gone shopping with Heather and her sister, Charlotte, and they’d both insisted once they saw her in it. She tugged on the straps, not wanting to show too much. Not for this crowd anyway. If Jack had been here, she wouldn’t have minded.

  Jack. It had been a week since they’d left him, forlorn and miserable. She’d texted as soon as she got back to Connecticut to let him know Jonathan was all right and they’d made it back safely. Their son had fallen asleep shortly after they’d gotten on the road. He’d been subdued once they’d gotten home but she’d been able to keep him busy putting all his Christmas presents away and playing with a few. Several times a day he still asked for his daddy but it wasn’t anywhere near the breakdown he’d had when they left.

  She’d tried to ascertain how Jack was feeling. His typical response of, “I’m fine,” was hollow and his texts were short and to the point, like old times. The thought of going back to the way it had been before this vacation made her crazy. It was one of the reasons she was here tonight. Cutting Jack out of their lives wasn’t an option anymore. They both needed him far too much.

  Strolling through the room, she rubbed elbows with the rich and wealthy who consorted with Victor. How many of them were crooks and murderers? She shivered thinking some of these people walked far on the wrong side of the law.

  “Lovely, as usual, Ms. Lansing,” a voice came from behind her. She knew who it was before she turned.

  Pasting on a fake smile, the one she’d be using for most of the night, she returned the greeting. “Mr. Pascucci. You’re looking dapper yourself.”

  The man smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Where’s the young heir tonight? Grandpa didn’t want to show him off in front of the guests?”

  Why this man had such a dislike of Jonathan, she didn’t know. Oh, he hid it well but a mother could always tell. As far as she knew, her son had never done anything to him. “This isn’t the place for a two-year-old. He’s home with a friend.”

  “Excellent. Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. Let me know if you need anything. I’d be more than happy to get it for you.”

  “Thank you.” She watched him leave and mingle with other guests. Shivering again, she wished he didn’t always leave her with a feeling of revulsion. He was Victor’s right-hand man and maybe the fact he probably did most of Victor’s dirty work simply creeped her out.

  Making the rounds throughout the night, she listened in on people’s conversations when she could get away with it, joining in when she couldn’t. Nothing blatant had come up but some of the overheard conversations were more than a little interesting.

  Many of the people were big businessmen and their wives but she met a fair number of lawyers and bankers. She tried to remember everyone’s names but at one point knew she wouldn’t be able to. Heading to the ladies’ room, she pulled out her phone and entered the names into her memo folder.

  Checking her hair, she fixed some of the ringlets that had escaped from the updo Heather had done for her, then left. As she walked past Victor’s office, she paused, an idea in her head. Could she sneak in and look around? No one was in the hall right now and it was still an hour until midnight. The champagne continued to flow freely and most people were happy to imbibe. Who would be looking for her? Victor was busy with his associates and everyone else had more important people to talk to. She was merely the mother of Victor’s heir. If only they knew.

  One last look around and she twisted the handle. Unlocked. There was a small lamp on by the desk so she moved closer. Victor’s computer sat right there taunting her. Could she risk turning it on and digging into his files? Maybe not tonight or maybe she could. Everyone else was busy.

  She made sure the door was closed tightly behind her then slipped quietly across the room. Three steps in, she sensed a presence behind her. Before she could turn, someone grabbed her from behind and slapped a hand across her mouth.

  Chapter 20

  Fear crept inside every pore as hot breath assaulted her cheek. But the breath was minty fresh and familiar. As was the scent of sawdust and musk. Jack? What was he doing here?

  Relaxing her shoulders, she leaned back. The arm around her tightened as he pressed a kiss to her neck. “Shhh,” hissed in her ear and he loosened his hand on her mouth.

  Turning, she stared into the gray eyes of the man she couldn’t live without. But had for too long.

  “Jack. What are you doing here?” Could he hear the desperation and longing in her tone?

  “Had to hold you again, Calico,” he whispered, kissing her once more. Giving in to his lips, she shivered as his hand caressed the bare skin of her back.

  “Great dress. Victor buy this for you? Is he arranging a nice marriage of convenience for you with one of his cronies?”

  “Are you jealous?” He sounded it. Like he’d been of all the time she’d spent with Angelo even though he knew the truth about the man.

  “Maybe I am. I know I don’t have any right to be but…I still hate the thought of any other man appreciating how you look in this dress.”

  She frowned. “Most of the guys out there are old enough to be my father or have wives practically attached to their hips.” Her lips twitched as she glanced away. “Although there was that one body
guard who seemed quite interested.”

  Jack kissed her hard, a punishment? Not from her point of view. When he skimmed his hands over her back, she moved closer, wanting to feel his hard chest against her. Running her fingers through his hair she pushed aside a stray lock from his forehead.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked again. “Pretty sure you didn’t get an invitation.”

  “No, it must have gotten lost in the mail. Thought I’d simply crash the party. It looked deadly dull in the other room so I decided to check out this one. See what interesting tidbits I could find. Hopefully on that computer.”

  She glanced at the desk. He couldn’t have gotten far as the machine wasn’t turned on. “Do you know how to hack a computer?”

  “Not really, but I can navigate through one well enough. I’m hoping Victor, not growing up in the computer age, might not have as many safeguards on there. He’s arrogant enough to think no one could get inside this fortress so he wouldn’t need much protection on it. And I don’t think he trusts too many people to have access to his computer.”

  Hmm, was he right? Victor wasn’t a computer genius though he did know how to use one. “How did you get in by the way? Victor’s got some serious security going on around here.”

  He pointed to the wall behind the desk. Part of the paneling looked like it had come undone. “That’s a secret entrance to Victor’s wine cellar. It exits out past the western gate. Victor had it built so he could escape if any of his mob friends decided to rub him out.”

  “How did you know about it? I can’t imagine Victor told you.”

  “Angelo mentioned it once when he was stinkin’ drunk. He’d had a little threesome with two pro football players in the back of the limo. He was supposed to be here doing some work for his father so he had me sneak him in that way. Showed me the codes and everything. I’m sure he had no recollection of telling me the next day.”

  “But you’ve never used it before.”

  Sighing, he said, “I’ve either been miles away or haven’t had any opportunity. Usually the whole grounds are secured, even right near the entrance. But tonight they’re focusing on the house and immediate grounds. It was perfect.”