Loving Leo (The Romanovsky Brothers Book 3)

by Burns, Trevion

  Gary ran his hands through his hair, breathing erratically. “There must be some other way, Val.”

  “There isn’t.”

  “Something else we can do.”

  “If there were something else to be done, don’t you think I would have done it?” Val’s voice began to shake for the first time. “I’m the reason this has gotten so out of control. This is my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Tears hit Gary’s eyes. “Stop saying that.”

  “Everything was fine before I…” He faltered. “My weakness is the reason we’re in this mess. If I hadn’t given in to her, this would all still be under wraps. Novsky would be untouchable, and so would our family. Now Reggie is threatening to destroy her. To destroy all of us. He has the leverage to do it. The only way to stop it from happening is to sign the papers and go. Zo’s already left me.” The tears tumbled from Val’s eyes as he took in Gary’s stunned face. “She took off the ring, and she left me, because she can’t stand the way this is destroying me. She can’t stand the secrets. I can’t stand them either, so it’s… better. It’s better that we don’t get married. It’s better that she stays away from me. She’s safer that way.”

  Gary was overcome. “Let’s just tell her.”

  Roman’s head fell again.

  Gary’s breathing picked up. “Let’s just tell Zoey everything.”

  Val cringed, and didn’t even dignify that with a response.

  “She knows how much we love her. That we would die for her. If we just told her everything, she would understand.”

  “She wouldn’t.”

  “Val, I know her better than you,” Gary said. “You’ve only really known her for a little while, but I’ve been the one closest to her for ten years. I know her heart, and she would forgive us.”

  Val’s eyes caught fire. “She wouldn’t.”

  Gary turned away.

  “She would be destroyed.” Val spoke to Gary’s back, watching his hair move with the night breeze. “She hasn’t given birth, yet. The stress could make her miscarry, and that would be just another thing we’d have to carry on our shoulders for the rest of our lives. I can’t shoulder another pound, Gar.”

  Gary turned back to him, tears in his eyes. “Neither can I.”

  “Roman can’t sleep because he’s worried sick about Angie. Her life is on the line, too. We’re all maxed out. Completely. How would telling Zoey help matters at all? It would make everything ten times worse. I should have protected her, but instead I gave into my emotions, my weakness, my dick.” He frowned again. “It’s enough, Gar. It’s just enough.”

  “It is enough.”

  Val licked his lips and looked away.

  “I can’t take it anymore, Val.” Gary’s voice shook.

  “She can’t ever know. That is the only thing that will keep her protected.”

  “Not if the truth comes out completely. For everyone.”

  Val looked to Gary. “No.”

  Gary threw an arm out, his face changing. “Stop speaking to me like that. Stop saying the word no to me with no regard for what I think, how I feel, what I want. Stop dismissing me, Val. What I have to say matters too, sometimes. If you really loved Zoey—”

  “If I really loved Zoey?” Val screamed, unable to hear another word. “If I really loved Zoey?”

  Gary jolted and reared back. He and his brother had been through several knock down, drag-out fights, but he’d never heard Val scream quite so loudly. Had never felt the anger rolling off him and straight into his psyche quite so succinctly.

  Val’s entire body rolled, jolted, as if it were taking everything he had not to lunge. “If I really loved Zoey I would tell her that the family she’s always dreamed of being a part of is the reason her parents are gone? If I really loved Zoey I would tell her that she was a fool for loving me because I’ve been lying to her for ten years? If I really loved Zoey I would put her life, and the life of our child, at risk because I was too fucking selfish to face up to problems I’ve created for myself? If I really loved Zoey?” Picking up a glass candle holder, Val threw it with all his might. It shattered against the balcony edge, right along with his heart, making music as the shards fell to the ground. “Fuck you!”

  Roman straightened, watching Val with wounded eyes, keeping his distance, but ready to intervene if needed.

  Gary backed up. Val moved with him. Every step Gary took back, Val took two forward, until they were almost nose to nose.

  Teeth bared, Val pressed his pointer and middle finger into his temple, cocking his trembling thumb. “I’d watch a bullet shatter my skull before I’d ever see her know the truth, and I would die at her feet before I’d ever love anything more. I love her more than the air in my lungs, the heart pushing blood through my veins. I love her more than I want to live. Don’t tell me what I feel for Zoey, Gar, when it’s the only thing I feel at all.”

  Gary pressed back against the railing, searching Val’s eyes, unable to look at Roman even as he saw him approaching Val from behind. He licked his lips. “I know you love her, Val. I love her, too. I love her so much. She’s my best… my best…” Gary couldn’t finish. “Are you really ready to lose everything?”

  The corners of Val’s mouth curled down as he fought for control. “I already have.”

  “Ten years.” Gary’s mouth turned too. “For ten years, Val, it’s just been building up. If you leave…” Gary’s face collapsed. “I’m dead,” he cried. “I’m as good as dead.”

  Val didn’t let a second go by before he wrapped Gary in his arms, cradling his head into his shoulder as his brother gave into the emotion.

  “Just because you can’t see me, doesn’t mean I’m not here,” Val said.

  Gary’s cries intensified.

  “Take care of Zo,” Val said, his own voice beginning to betray his emotion. “Take care of my baby, and you’ll always have a piece of me.”

  Gary gripped the back of Val’s shirt, jamming his eyes shut when he was no longer able to speak.

  They pulled away when the door to the balcony opened, making the heat from inside spill out into the cool night air.

  Val and Gary’s mouths dropped when they turned and came face to face with Leo. He had tears in his own eyes.

  They’d never seen Leo cry.

  From the doorway, Leo breathed heavily. He ignored the phone that was ringing in his pocket.

  “Ashley Williams,” he said, eyes tinged red. “Is a fed.”

  This time, it was Roman’s mouth that dropped.

  “Now will someone please explain to me—” Leo’s voice broke. “What the fuck is going on?”

  29

  “Thank God!” Jessica pulled the phone, which was still ringing, away from her ear when the doctor swept into the room ten minutes later.

  He went to Zoey while watching Jessica. “Are you the family?”

  “No, I’m Jessica Borgia. I’m her brother’s…” Jessica trailed off, not knowing how to answer. “I’m a federal age—”

  “She’s my sister,” Zoey said, gripping Jessica’s hand and meeting her eyes. “My sister… in law.”

  Jessica saw the fear in Zoey’s eyes. She didn’t want her to go.

  Jessica nodded, looking at the doctor. “I’m her sister-in-law.”

  He nodded. “Well, I’m Dr. Walsh. The nurse’s pelvic exam came back all clear. Zoey’s not dilated, so that’s a great sign.”

  Jessica and Zoey both sighed, squeezing each other’s hands.

  “However,” Dr. Walsh said, reclaiming the air from their lungs. “I’d like to do an ultrasound and run a few blood tests too rule out induction completely, just to be safe. Fairly standard, albeit time consuming. I’ll have to send you to the waiting room, Jessica.”

  “Why more tests?” Jessica’s eyes widened. “Is the baby okay?”

  The doctor squinted. “Let’s go ahead and run the tests. One step at a time.”

  “Oh my God.” Zoey squeezed Jessica harder.

&nbs
p; “Doctor, is there no possible way for me to go with her?” Jessica begged. “I can’t get ahold of the rest of the family and she’s scared to death.”

  Two nurses moved into the room as Dr. Walsh explained the procedure he was going to carry out, and why Jessica couldn’t come. The nurses unlocked Zoey’s gurney and pulled it toward the door.

  Jessica went with them, staying at Zoey’s side.

  “Please keep calling until they pick up,” Zoey begged. “I don’t know why they’re not picking up.”

  “I will.” Jessica held on to her hand as the bed was wheeled around the corner and down the bustling hospital halls. “Everything’s going to be okay, Zoey.” Jessica had said that sentence no less than a million times, but not once had she actually believed it. She held Zoey’s hand until she couldn’t any longer, and the nurses shooed her away at the end of the hall, pointing to the doors that led to the waiting room.

  Jessica went to the doors just as her cell phone finally rang. She snatched it up. “Angie! Thank God! Why the hell haven’t you been answering your phone? I need you to get down to the hospital right now.”

  “I’m in Hoboken, at your apartment,” Angie said.

  Jessica gasped. “What?” Her scream stole the attention of every member of hospital personnel in her vicinity. Some even stopped in their tracks to watch her, and Jessica moved into a corner. “Angie, you are not safe.”

  “I want you to call the police detail you say are protecting me and tell them to keep a close eye on the front door of your building, making note of who comes in after me. Whoever wants to see me dead is surely following me, right? Maybe if your detail sees who comes in after me, we can find out who’s working for King, and find some way to stop him.”

  “Using yourself as bait is a terrible idea, Angie. King has a lot of people on his side, including the guys we think are good. You cannot trust your police detail. You cannot trust anyone. I want you to get back to Roman, where you are safe.”

  “I’m going to lose him. We’ve lied to each other for too long. Our trust is obliterated. It’s only a matter of time before the resentment sets in and he leaves me for good.” Angie said, in a robotic tone of voice. “Maybe if I’m the one who puts an end to all of this, he’ll be able to forgive me, and I won’t lose him.”

  “You’re about to lose your life.”

  “I’d rather be dead than without him.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!”

  “Spare key hidden on top of the doorsill?” Angie asked.

  Jessica pressed her eyes shut when she heard the door of her apartment creaking open through the phone.

  “I thought a fed would be a little more creative.” Angie laughed.

  “Angie… you… are not… safe.” Jessica shoved her hand into her hair. “I need you to get out of there, find your police detail—two white men parked in a black Ford—and have them drive you up to me at Presbyterian in Westchester.”

  “You want me to approach my police detail? The same men you just said I shouldn’t trust?”

  “You’ve already put yourself in the line of fire, and Zoey might be miscarrying, so we’re going to have to take our chances. I’m here with her, and I need you to find your detail and get down here. They’re going to pretend they don’t know who you are at first, just tell them what I told you, okay?”

  When a clattering noise hit her ears, Jessica pulled the phone from her ear and cocked her lip at it. She came back, hollered Angie’s name, and her heart skipped when she was met with nothing but silence. She pulled the phone away again, sure the call had been disconnected, and almost went to her knees when she saw the call was still active, timer ticking away. Jessica slammed the phone back to her ear and screamed Angie’s name.

  Silence. The timer continued to tick as the horrible truth washed over her.

  Angie had dropped the phone, and the silence told Jessica she wouldn’t be picking it back up.

  Still, she screamed her name, hoping in the back of her mind that the phone had dropped into some corner Angie couldn’t reach, and that she would be back on the line any second.

  “Angie Colt!” When Jessica was met with that continued, gloomy silence, she hung up with a scoff and redialed Angie’s number. This time, it went straight to voicemail.

  Jessica’s blood ran cold.

  When her phone buzzed to life a second later, she nearly screamed.

  But it wasn’t Angie.

  The call was blocked.

  Jessica pressed the phone to her ear, feeling like she was on the verge of passing out.

  “Borgia,” she barked.

  A long pause.

  “Angie? Is that you?” she begged.

  Another pause, and then, a deep voice rang through, making Jessica jolt.

  “Don’t go to your apartment tonight.”

  Jessica’s heart shot up to her throat. Even as she straightened, standing taller, a flood of fear shot down, hitting every bone in her body as it moved. “Who is this?”

  “Don’t go to your apartment.”

  Just like it had the first time, the warning curled through her, so succinct she could almost feel it releasing her skin from her bones. Whatever man was on the other end of the line had a hoarse voice, speaking words that were broken by random, uneven spouts of deep breaths and emotion.

  “Who the fuck is this?” Jessica demanded.

  That question went unanswered. A whispered, “Carbon monoxide,” wafted through the phone before a beep indicated the call had been disconnected, and she stared at the phone in shock.

  Then, just like that, she thought of Angie.

  She didn’t know if that bizarre phone call was legit, nor the warning that had been given during it. All she knew was that, right at that moment, Angie was in the very apartment Jessica had been warned to stay out of.

  Her eyes went down the hall where Zoey had been wheeled away before she jetted out of the doors to the waiting room and ran.

  She ran as fast as her legs would allow.

  ***

  Reggie put the phone back on the receiver, covering his mouth with his hand the moment it was down.

  It had taken nearly half an hour for him to find a pay phone on that quiet New York block. For a while, during his search, he’d wondered if the city even had them anymore. Thankfully it did, even though they were few and far between. Six phone calls later, and a few inventive stories relayed to an operator at FBI headquarters, and he’d been forwarded to Special Agent Jessica Borgia’s cell phone.

  He stared at the pay phone after he hung up, took a deep breath, and waited to feel guilty, to feel traitorous, to feel pain. He waited for the regret that had to come the moment one turned his back on his own flesh and blood. His own father.

  It never came.

  Not any of it.

  Victor King had stopped being his father the first time he’d knocked Reggie unconscious. Victor King had stopped being his father when Reggie was three years old.

  ***

  Even as the elevator in her apartment building opened on her floor, Jessica was running.

  From the hospital to her apartment, she felt like her legs had been held down by lead. It was like some terrible nightmare where, no matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn’t get her legs to move fast enough.

  The moment the space between the elevator doors was big enough to fit through, she squeezed out, grabbing her gun from the back of her jeans as she broke into a run.

  She felt like she was moving in slow motion, black hair floating behind her, gun flying in and out of her line of vision as her arms pumped in a attempt to move her faster, but she still felt like she had lead in her shoes, even as she blasted into the front door of her apartment, horror filling her eyes.

  As her gaze searched the space, her foyer, the kitchen, the living room, everything looked like it was in order.

  But if Jessica knew anything, she knew that most things were never as they seemed. She heard that deep voice from the bizarre phone call,
and the warning that had prickled her skin.

  Carbon monoxide.

  Then she heard it.

  The rhythmic click that filled the air.

  Click, click, click.

  The clicks were coming from her kitchen. Her gas range was on. As the clicks filtered through her mind, Jessica’s eyes flew to the fire alarm on the wall, a fire alarm that also doubled as a carbon monoxide detector, and found it unhinged, hanging by several colorful wires. The battery cover hung open as well, and every battery had been removed.

  Stunned, Jessica yanked her t-shirt up around her nose and mouth. Racing across the room to her kitchen, she flicked the clicking stove off. Silence filled the air just as her eyes went to the wall on the opposite side of her kitchen.

  A pair of tattered Vans peeked around the corner.

  Jessica’s blood ran cold.

  The gun fell from her hand.

  She heard it hit her wood floor as she soared across the room and fell to her knees, sliding as she reached one hand toward Angie’s body, the other holding her shirt taut to her nose and mouth.

  Her knees knocked against Angie’s legs, bringing Jessica skidding to a stop as she clutched both her legs in one hand, pulling her body forward.

  She was horror stricken at the sight of Angie’s lifeless body, her purple lips, and the tightly closed eyes that were barely visible from behind the frames of her shattered glasses.

  For a moment, Jessica was frozen.

  She’d caused this. It hit her hard, and nearly paralyzed her.

  She’d caused this.

  “FBI!”

  Jessica knew the sound of those three letters being screamed at the top of someone’s lungs better than she knew her own name, but the sound of them being directed at her was… somewhat different.

  Her watery eyes flew over her shoulder, and she caught sight of Rodney and his partner, the two officers assigned to watch Angie, at the door with guns drawn.

  “Shit,” Rodney said, his eyes falling to Angie.

  “Carbon monoxide,” Jessica croaked through her shirt, clutching Angie’s sneaker in her other hand.