The bodyguard startled slightly at his name. His head dipped in a sharp nod, his eyes going to his boss, obviously at a loss to know how to react to my remembering him.
Russo didn’t immediately bring up the reason for his visit, and I wasn’t about to do his work for him. Sitting down caused another dizzy spell, and I gripped the edges of my seat until the faces around me stopped moving.
“Are you all right, Miss Rain?” Russo asked.
I nodded. “Just a bit of a headache.” That much was true. Seated next to me, Jake slipped me a packet of herbs, which I knew was an herbal headache remedy he must have taken from his store while I was in the bathroom. Smiling my thanks, I opened the package and dumped it into the glass of water already on the table in front of me. Not sure how much good it would do when most herbal remedies were steeped in hot water to extract their healing properties.
“They have a surprisingly good pot pie here,” Russo went on, picking up his fork. “I hope you ordered one.”
“I did.”
In fact, Kristy was coming over with it now. “Had a few in the oven in preparation for the lunch crowd,” she said. “I’ll bring your sandwich in a bit. I had them put extra strawberries in your smoothie.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded, and with a nervous look at Russo added, “Is everything all right, sir? Can I get you anything else?”
“No. This will suffice.”
She dipped her head and skittered away.
I concentrated on my food for a few minutes, stopping only to respond politely to comments Russo made about the restaurant, the city, and the weather. I even remembered to ask about his ten-month-old son, who had finally started crawling. Since Destiny had mastered that months ago, I couldn’t help feeling proud of her.
“His three sisters dote on him,” Russo said, with a note of disapproval. “He only needs to open his mouth and they all come running.”
I hoped his wife was all right. During our last encounter, I’d learned his wedding ring contained an imprint of him hitting a woman, but he was married for a second time, and I didn’t know if the imprint was of the woman he was married to now.
“They all live with you?” I ventured. “Your daughters?”
He tilted his head back, regarding me with one arched brow. “Yes. My first wife is gone. We had two daughters together. The other daughter and my son are from my second marriage.”
Gone? I wondered if she’d met an untimely accident. Maybe I didn’t want to know.
“Looks like the second time was the charm,” I said. “I mean, you got your son.” I’d finished my pot pie, my smoothie, and half the club already. If Russo was surprised at the amount of food I ingested, he didn’t mention it. Only an occasional smile at the edges of Jake’s mouth showed that he’d noticed, but he was well-accustomed to my eating habits.
My headache was feeling slightly better, and I wanted to see if I could read an imprint, but my stomach clenched at the idea. I told myself that was because of what I might accidentally find, not because I might have lost my gift forever.
“So,” Russo said, when I paused between club halves. “I bet you’re wondering why I’m here.”
“You want me to read an imprint.” I was pleased to find my words sounded remarkably calm, given that I’d been dreading this day for the past ten months. Now my dread had multiplied because seeing Russo again made me sure he’d never believe me if I told him the truth about losing my ability. If I didn’t stall or figure out some other way to resolve his request, whatever it turned out to be, he’d make me pay.
Russo pushed his plate forward and tented his hands on the table. “I hope you’ll be able to help me. It shouldn’t take long.”
“You remember the stipulation?”
“Yes.” His mouth pursed momentarily. “I can assure you no one will be harmed from the knowledge you give me. I am doing business with some longtime acquaintances, and I want to be sure they don’t plan to double-cross me. I also want to know if they have secret intentions that will affect my company negatively. If I find that to be the case, I will simply refuse to do business with them.”
Relief washed over me, and Russo didn’t miss the change in my expression. He laughed, “Really, Miss Rain, I’m not in the habit of knocking people off—if I can help it.”
It was the “if I can help it” part that bothered me. I had to tread very carefully here, because all too easily I could be the one knocked off. Or I could find myself in a lush prison, faking imprint-reading for the rest of my short life. Worse, one of my friends or Tawnia might play a part in his revenge.
Chapter 4
I glanced at Peirce, who was eyeing the two men at the counter, and then shifted my gaze to Jake, whose face showed no expression. Only in the clenching of his jaw could I see that he was worried about what would happen when I told Russo I couldn’t help him.
I had no intention of doing that. In fact, as I ate, an idea formed in my head. If I could learn enough about the object Russo wanted read and exactly what he expected to be on it, I might be able to give him what he wanted to know without actually reading an imprint. I was sure Shannon and Paige would help me track down the particulars. Even if it turned out that I was wrong, Russo couldn’t hold me accountable for an imprint that was, after all, a momentary impression of a single person’s experience, filtered only through their eyes. They may or may not know the entire truth, but a slight portion. I wasn’t sure how I could make Russo understand that, though, without reading a few of his own objects, and I couldn’t do that if my talent didn’t reassert itself. The only object I remembered reading of his from our last encounter was his wedding ring.
“Well?” Russo said.
By the sudden pressure of Jake’s hand on my knee under the table, I assumed Russo had repeated himself.
“What is it exactly that you want me to read?” I asked.
“A document. A rather lengthy one, and the pens they were written with.” He smiled. “My future business partners may think I’m a little eccentric, but I insisted we handwrite a portion of the contract we intend to sign, more particularly what each person expects to obtain from the arrangement.”
I had to admit, obtaining a relevant imprint that way was a lot more likely to work than sneaking into their offices and stealing a few personal objects. The contract had to be important, and by writing out certain details, the authors would have considered their words carefully. Unless they completely controlled their feelings and thoughts, which they had no reason to do, their anxiety and intentions should be clearly imprinted on the documents and the pens they’d used.
“When were these made?”
Russo smiled. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me?”
I gave an impatient shrug. “Was it last year? Five months ago? You said they were longtime acquaintances. I’m trying to get an idea of how long this has all been in the works. If it’s been too long, whatever I discover may be outdated. And our agreement was only one reading.” I smiled, though my eyes challenged his. “I wouldn’t want you to waste it.”
A spark of anger in his eyes warned me that I was treading dangerous waters. He’d told me once that if it hadn’t been for my apparent involvement with a police detective, he would simply force me to work for him. That was even before Shannon and I were an “us,” so I had to give Russo some credit for being observant.
“The agreement was begun last week,” Russo said finally. “That’s when we signed the initial intent, and also when I let them know about the handwritten part. We finished the actual signing a few days ago. Before this, any involvement between me and this company occurred only when it was absolutely necessary. Frankly, I don’t trust them, and I know they don’t trust me.”
“If they aren’t on the level, you intend to make them pay?” I was pushing, but I had to be sure.
“Yes. However, it will simply be with breaking off the contract. There are several clauses that give me a way out depending on what you find. They hav
e a lot to lose if I pull out. If it makes a difference, I believe your involvement will save lives on both sides.”
Was he sincere? I didn’t know, but I’d have to find out before I told him anything. I couldn’t have a blood bath on my conscience. I already had enough baggage with all the negative memories I’d read over the past months. I tried to relegate them to a deep corner of my mind, but they would always be a part of me, and I had to live with that.
“Do you have the contract here?” I asked.
“It’s secured at my hotel. I hope you will go with me to a conference room I have arranged there.” Russo hesitated before adding, “Your friends may accompany you.”
I wasn’t surprised he didn’t have the document on him, and I certainly hadn’t expected that he’d allow me to take it home and study the pages. I guessed a blindfold was somewhere in his plans, thus the reason for the private conference room.
I swallowed, my throat feeling abruptly dry. “Okay, I’ll help you.”
At my side, Jake stiffened.
“First,” I continued without looking at Jake, “there’s another small matter I will need resolved to my satisfaction.” I picked up my water glass and drained the last of the ice that had melted since I’d finished the rest of the liquid. I didn’t blame Kristy for not refilling it; every time she came over, Russo ignored her and Charlie glared.
As I set down my glass, Russo looked at Charlie, who jumped to his feet and called out in the now-crowded restaurant. “Waitress! We need water here.”
Okay, I guess I’d get more water.
Kristy hurried over and refilled everything in sight. Jake and Peirce reached for their water at the same moment I did. I let my hand slip down the cool glass instead of lifting it.
“What is this other matter?” Russo asked.
“Does anyone know you planned to come see me?”
His brow furrowed. “Just a few people in my organization.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, of course. Why?” He sounded offended.
I tried not to clench my hands, now folded on my lap. “Because a few hours ago, someone tried to abduct me, and when that failed, they tried to kill me by blowing up the van I was in.”
Next to me, there was a swift intake of breath. Jake’s. I spared a glance to see that his eyes had widened and his anger was closer to the surface. I hoped he wouldn’t share these details with Tawnia.
I refocused on Russo, who stared at me as if I’d begun speaking a language he didn’t understand. I continued, “If doing this job for you entails that sort of danger, I don’t want any part of it. Either you have a leak, or someone in your organization doesn’t want me near your contract. Before I risk giving you what you need, I have to be assured of my safety.”
I’d meant this only as a stalling tactic, but Peirce was nodding as if it made sense. That got me thinking maybe I hadn’t been targeted for stumbling on the rug and its evidence. Maybe the case of the geriatric murders and the attempted kidnapping weren’t connected.
Except by me.
I gripped the edge of the table. Dread crawled across my shoulders and down my spine, and another bout of dizziness followed on its heels. Jake touched my elbow, and I appreciated his effort, but what I really wanted was Shannon. I felt safe with him, and I guess when it came right down to it, a girl wanted to feel safe with the man she loved. She wanted to know he had her back. Jake would do anything for me—I knew that—but in the middle of a firefight with organized crime, he didn’t have what it takes.
At one time that hadn’t make a difference, but with my talent ruling my life, I found danger more often than I cared to admit. Or it found me.
Maybe that would change again if my talent didn’t return. I couldn’t help but wonder if losing the ability would affect how Shannon felt about me. I’d become the person I was now in large part because of the experiences my ability had thrown my way. Would I become yet another person without it?
“How fortunate you didn’t come to harm,” Russo said, arching a thick, dark brow. “What did these people look like?”
“I can’t identify them, but there were two men. Could be anyone.” Even yours, was my implication.
Russo frowned and exchanged a glance with Charlie, who waited expectantly. That Russo didn’t immediately proclaim that his organization was in no way responsible in this morning’s events worried me. It might mean he was having problems, or suspected someone, and I could think of nothing less safe than getting in the way of a power struggle between two organized crime factions. At last, Russo gave a slight nod, and Charlie rose and headed for the door. The two men at the counter stared after him but didn’t follow.
“I will get back to you about this,” Russo said, relaxing in his chair. “It will be resolved to your satisfaction, and then you will help.”
It wasn’t a question, but I treated it as such. “Sure.” I decided to take a drink of water after all. Two gulps went down easily, but I nearly choked on the third when Russo pulled out his phone.
“What number can I reach you at?”
I froze, not exactly sure I wanted a crime boss to have my cell phone number.
“Why do you need that?” Jake growled beside me. Next to him, Peirce’s eyes grew wide.
Russo gave a shake of his head. “How else am I supposed to contact her? I almost missed her today, and I doubt you want me hanging out in your herb shop waiting. Even if I had the time to spare.” Waste, he meant.
If Russo wanted my phone number, I had no doubt he could find other means to obtain it. So to Jake’s obvious disapproval, I rattled off my number. Then Russo gave me his.
“This is my direct line,” he said. “Please contact me if you discover any more about these people.”
Yeah, right, I thought with a mental roll of my eyes. You’ll be the first one I call. Not with every bit of his charisma working overtime. What was next? Would he want to become Facebook friends? Not that I was ever on the computer long enough to check out the page Tawnia had put up for me.
Russo signaled for his check, and I felt a stab of satisfaction that he was paying instead of me. But we weren’t finished yet.
I scooted to the edge of my seat. “Before I go, I’d like to know exactly who I’m dealing with—besides you, of course. Who is the other party to this contract?”
Russo’s blue eyes narrowed. “Why is that necessary? I would prefer if you didn’t come into the reading with preconceived notions.”
“Whatever I learn isn’t going to change an imprint. And if your business partners have a connection with this morning’s incident, the more I know, the better I can defend myself.”
He met my stare, the muscles along his jaw tightening across his broad face. I lifted my chin slightly to remind him I wasn’t one of his lackeys to be cowed into obedience.
“Okay,” he said finally. “I’ll give you a name. In fact, I can even show you a picture.” Pulling out his phone again, he swiped at the screen.
I felt an urge to take it from him and skim through his pictures. Did he have one of his baby son? His daughters? A part of me also wanted to see if my talent had returned, but it was probably better not to experiment reading imprints around him. Who knew what dark secrets his phone might hold?
He extended the phone to me, but kept it far enough away that I couldn’t easily touch it. Smart man. I rested my hands in my lap and focused on the woman in the picture.
No, it can’t be. Surely my eyes were playing tricks. I blinked to clear my vision.
“Name’s JoAnna Hamilton,” Russo said. “She’s the head of Innovation Software.”
My mouth felt dry again. It looked like a surveillance photo, and the subject didn’t appear to be aware she was being watched. Her gray-flecked hair was pulled up in an elegant twist. She wore tasteful jewelry, tall high heels, and an expensive suit.
Not only did I recognize the woman, but I’d talked with her. She’d been in the attic with me at the estate sale, the one who’d
purchased the rocker.
She was also in Tawnia’s drawing.
Any remaining thought that my abduction hadn’t been planned vanished. Exactly like my ability to read imprints.
Chapter 5
I should have known the old woman didn’t belong at that estate sale. Who rummaged through other people’s stuff dressed in a tailored suit that likely had a brand name I couldn’t even afford to say? She had seemed at home, and that confidence should have alerted me to something wrong even more than the suit. Normal old ladies were retired by her age, and they didn’t act like they owned everything and everyone around them. They didn’t speak with such authority that strangers followed their mere suggestion.
What was she doing at that sale?
Probably following me after learning about Russo’s intentions regarding their contract. But Shannon usually noticed those kinds of things, and he hadn’t mentioned anyone following us. Then again, in the past he’d tried to protect me by not mentioning that we were being followed, and if they were professionals, even he might not have noticed. We weren’t expecting a case with mob connections.
“I take it you know JoAnna?” Russo’s voice shook me from my thoughts.
“I met her this morning at an estate sale—just before I was abducted.” No use trying to hide it since my face would have already verified his assumption.
Russo’s face darkened. “I see.”
“I’ll be in touch.” I stood abruptly.
He arose also, inclining his head as though giving permission. This time he didn’t offer his hand, and I was glad.
I left the restaurant flanked by Jake and Peirce, feeling Russo’s eyes and those of his goons following me. We waited for a break in traffic and crossed the street, where Officer Delaney joined us.
“You gave him your phone number?” Jake said as we entered my shop. “Did you really have to do that?”
I was surprised he’d waited so long to bring up the subject. “What else could I have done? Besides, maybe I’ll need a favor from him someday.”
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