Sweet Vengeance

by Cindy Stark

  He took her hand from his cheek and shook it. "Suck it up, Allie. I can't have you falling apart until after you get me bandaged up."

  He was right. "Okay," she answered with a shaky breath. She needed to "man up" and finish the job. She followed him back into the bedroom, and with unsteady fingers, she stuffed in the wetted pad, put more dry pads on top of it, and wrapped the whole thing in gauze. It didn't look as neat as Jase's, but it was clean and sterile.

  She grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. Jase gathered up the supplies, wrapping the clean items in the towel and taking the used bandages gently in his other hand.

  Allie put a hand on his chest to keep him from leaving the room. "Jase, I can't stand the thought of someone else shooting at you."

  His dark eyes widened with interest. "I'm not thrilled with the idea, either."

  "Then stop. Walk away...and live. Nobody says you have to live this kind of a life." It was the same thing she'd told Joey.

  Jase took a step back. "It's what I do, Allie. I don't expect you or anyone else to understand." He turned and dropped the used bandages in a wastebasket near the bed. "I made my choices a long time ago."

  "But you can make different choices if you want."

  A dangerous look crossed his face. "I don't want to. I have my reasons."

  The sound of footsteps in the hall made them both jump. Jase slipped a gun out of the back of his jeans and swiveled toward the door faster than she could blink.

  Allie swallowed her scream.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "Jesus, Max. Do you have a death wish?" Jase lowered his gun with a disgusted sigh. He cast a quick glance at Allie, and she tried to hide the tremble that shuddered through her body.

  "Maybe, I do." Max leaned against the doorway in a careless stance, surveying the bedroom and its occupants. He took a bite out of a red apple, eyeing Allie with a none-too-friendly look. He studied her with his icy blue eyes as though he was looking for the one thing that would take her down.

  Allie buried her fear. She'd learned situations could become more dangerous if the aggressor sensed vulnerability. If Max thought he'd have a fight on his hands, maybe he'd back off. She straightened her spine as well as her resolve and took a step toward Jase. She hadn't asked to be put in this situation and didn't deserve Max's hostile treatment. Most of all, she wasn't about to let Max know he scared the shit out of her.

  Allie was pretty certain Max had snagged the apple from the load of groceries Jase had brought. It was obvious Max felt completely at home in Jase's place—safe house—wherever they were. And although he seemed to follow Jase's command, he wasn't intimidated by his boss. After all, it had only been an hour since Jase had kicked him out of the house.

  Max continued to stare at her. "Sorry to disturb your touching scene."

  "Ever heard of knocking?" Jase replied.

  "I've never had to knock before." Max shifted his cool gaze to Jase.

  "Now, you do." Jase placed himself between Max and her, blocking Max's probing gaze.

  "Your enemies aren't going to bother knocking."

  "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

  The tension between the two men was tangible, and Allie wished she could see Jase's face. There was obviously more communication going on than just the words being spoken. If she could read their body language or facial expressions, she might be able to pick up more information. She remained still and silent, her gaze wandering the length of Jase from his spiky dark hair, down his rigid muscular back. She hated causing problems between him and his men, but had no idea how to prevent it.

  "There's rumors," Max said. "Stuff the guys are repeating. Stuff from the streets." Silence followed Max's statement, and Allie could picture them fighting a silent battle, Jase with his dark, powerful looks and Max with his glacial expressions.

  Finally, Jase broke the silence. He looked over his shoulder to her. "Max and I have some things to discuss. We'll take it downstairs." He gestured toward the bed. "Why don't you rest for a while? It'll help with the healing. I'll come get you when dinner's ready."

  What could she say? Allie knew when she wasn't wanted.

  She sat on the bed with a frustrated huff. She hated being shut out, but being away from Max's visual daggers was a relief. She fell back onto the pillows.

  She closed her eyes, enjoying the softness of the bed. She had to admit, it beat her earlier idea of creeping through the rough streets, trying to find her way home safely.

  * * *

  Jase made it to the kitchen before he turned on his friend. "What is wrong with you, man? You're intimidating the hell out of Allie. Not to mention, the information you're giving me is completely screwed." He exploded with frustration. "Last night, you failed to give me vital info on Joey Pagano, and now you're talking in code."

  Max remained calm as he walked to the fridge and removed a bottle of Bud. "I was about to ask you the same thing." He set his apple down on the counter and twisted off the beer cap. It hissed in answer.

  "I should kick your ass right now." Jase grabbed the bottle from him before Max could take a sip. "There's nothing wrong with me. I'm not the one who barged in and scared the shit out of our guest." He took a large swallow of beer. God, he'd needed that.

  Max took another bottle out of the fridge and opened it. "Your guest, not mine. And I didn't scare the shit out of her. I scared the shit out of you because you were too caught up in the sweet little thing you had standing next you." He pulled out a bar stool and sat at the counter. "You didn't hear me coming, and you're pissed because you've realized you're not invincible."

  "What the hell are you talking about?"

  "She makes you careless, and you know it."

  Was this really his best friend talking smack to him across the counter? "Are you jealous of Allie being here? What? You want her for yourself?"

  Max shrugged. "I'm just calling it like I see it." He nodded and smirked. "In one night, that little girl has grabbed you by the balls and brought you to your knees."

  "What the hell are you talking about?" Jase sent him a disgusted look. "Where do you come up with this shit?"

  "Then answer this. Do you like her?" Max raised his brows in a challenge. "Do you?"

  "No." The word jumped out of his mouth. Then he paused. Was he really putting their operation at risk? The one thing he'd worked so hard for? Maybe. But he sure as hell wasn't going to admit it to Max.

  "Do you want to fuck her?"

  "That's enough," Jase yelled as he slammed his fist down on the counter, sending white hot pain up his arm. He dropped his head to his chest, covered his wound and waited for the pain to subside. Several moments passed before he felt like he could breathe again. He lifted his gaze, wishing he could throw a punch at his so-called friend.

  Max took another swig of beer before he spoke again. "That's exactly what I mean. When was the last time you were so messed up over a girl that you were careless and lost control?"

  "I didn't lose control. I just couldn't reach your face." He tipped back his own bottle, letting the cold contents cool his temper. He set the Bud back on the counter and pushed it away. He couldn't afford to drink any more tonight. Not while he was trying to heal.

  "Admit it, Jase. There's something about her that's stealing your attention."

  "Fine." Jase eyed him, still wanting to punch him. "There's something about her."

  "And that's dangerous to men like us." Max adjusted his baseball cap.

  It was dangerous to men like them. And the people around them. "I'm well aware of that fact." He pulled a pan out from under the cupboard and set it on the stove. "But you need to give me some credit and realize I'm not going to do anything to mess up our plans." Though he'd constantly thought about taking her to bed since he'd laid eyes on her. And shit, Max had been able to sneak in the house and up the stairs without him knowing. That couldn't continue. Actions like that couldn't continue. That could find him and half his organization dead.

  He mentally
cursed as he turned on the oven. If nothing else, Allie deserved better than to get messed up with someone like him. He eyed Max, pissed that he was right. "Fine. I'll take care of it."

  "Good. I'm glad you can still see reason. You need to send her on her way and soon. If you keep her around, she's going to mess up everything. The guys want to serve her up, and you can't focus. The sooner she's gone, the sooner we can bring down Trasatti."

  If Jase didn't know better, he'd have thought Max was jealous. But Max was dead-on with his analysis. "Give me a day, and she'll be gone."

  Max nodded in agreement, his shoulders relaxing. "Fair enough." He swallowed more beer. "I'm sorry I had to act like an asshole to make you see reason."

  "I'm sorry you did, too." Jase slanted a glance at the man who'd protected his back for several years. "You staying for dinner?"

  * * *

  Jase knocked on the bedroom door. When there was no answer, he cracked it open. Allie lay on the bed in the semi-darkened room, the last vestiges of sunlight creeping down the wall behind her head. He leaned against the doorjamb and swore softly. What the hell had he been thinking, bringing her here?

  Okay, maybe he'd had no other choice last night. She'd needed medical attention, and this was the closest place they had to Doc Green's. But he should have shipped her off today. Max was right. Having Allie around was dangerous in more ways than one. Jase easily could have sent her to Jenna's, out in the quieter suburbs of Chicago. Allie would be safer. She would also have been out of his sight and easier to put out of his mind.

  He crept to the bed, trying not to make any noise. She slept a peaceful sleep, her dark hair fanning out on the pillow next to her. Her chest rose and fell softly with each breath. And she still had on that damned white T-shirt that showcased every perfect curve. Hell.

  Even with her out of the picture, getting her out of his head wasn't going to be easy. How had she managed to have such an effect on him? Had he spoken the truth when he'd said there was something about her that reminded him of his sister? Maybe her vulnerability? Then again, the thoughts he'd been having about Allie were anything but brotherly.

  Max had seen it clearly, though. Thank God for Max. Jase's life was too dangerous for Allie, and, unfortunately, she sure as hell threatened the success of his future plans.

  "Allie?" he whispered as he sat next to her on the bed. He picked up a strand of her silky hair and twirled it around his finger. She remained in a deep sleep, the hand of her injured arm across her stomach, the other thrown above her head. He listened to her breaths, memorizing each angle of her face. This would be the last night they'd be together. At dinner, he had to convince her she needed to move to Jenna's and stay there. If Allie ran, she'd be dead.

  He leaned over her, inhaling the scent of her shampoo, brushing his lips softly over her hair. She was beautiful. And it was up to him to keep her safe. He wanted to give her a future, even if it wouldn't be a future with him.

  "Wake up, Allie." He leaned in so his mouth was next to her ear and allowed himself a moment to bask in her sweetness. "Allie?"

  She moved, bumping against him. He pulled away, pretending he'd needed to be close in order to wake her without startling her. "Are you awake?"

  "Mm-hmm." She rolled toward him, dropping her arm across his lap, her hand far too close to his danger zone. He picked it up and moved it a few inches away.

  "Dinner's done, sleepyhead." He put a hand on her forehead, pushing back her bangs. "You need to wake up so you can eat."

  She groaned and opened her eyes. "What time is it?"

  "It's just past 6:00."

  "Okay," she mumbled. "I'm up. Just give me a couple of minutes, and I'll come down."

  He left her sitting on the edge of the bed as he went to put the finishing touches on dinner. It was a good thing Max had decided not to stay. There was no doubt he would have given Jase a rash of shit over the nice meal he'd prepared for Allie.

  * * *

  Max Calder leaned back in the office chair and put his boots up on the desk. Genuine alligator. He admired his newest pair. Not bad for a hick from Alabama. He tilted his hat forward, folding his hands on his chest, and closed his eyes. He could think better this way.

  He heaved a sigh and let his thoughts wander to the couple holed up in the hidden apartment. What the hell was he going to do about his buddy?

  Not once in the months he'd known Jase Tyler had he seen him go soft on a woman. Not once. And now, just when he needed to have his head completely in the game, Jase had started thinking with the wrong fucking head. This had the potential to change everything.

  "Shit," he hissed under his breath. "Johnson," he yelled, as he sat up straight in Jase's chair. "Get the hell in here."

  Five-foot-six and not more than one-hundred fifty pounds, Steve "Stick" Johnson, appeared at the door. "Yeah, boss?" His head was as bald as a cue ball, but he had a hell of a brain inside it.

  "I need info, and I need it now. What's the word out there?"

  "Not much new. Cops still haven't been able to come up with any evidence to link the Trasatti family to the murder. But it looks like the Pagano kid was definitely connected to them."

  Max nodded. "That's what we figured." He steepled his fingers. "But why whack him?"

  The scrawny man cleared his throat. "I was just now talking to Jorge. He spent some time with a hooker who works in the Trasatti territory. Rumor is the kid threatened to expose the family. He supposedly had something on them."

  Max sat up straighter. Now that was information he hadn't heard before. "What the hell could Joey have had? He'd only been working for them for a couple of months, and it sounds like that was petty stuff. I've heard he was close to Trasatti's grandson, but still." The Trasatti family was a close organization. Jase and Max had tried numerous times to infiltrate them with no success. But the Pagano punk walked right in? Interesting. Very interesting.

  Johnson shrugged. "That's the mystery, boss."

  "What about the girl he was with? What have you heard?"

  He grunted. "That's what's messed up, man. A hundred-K for anyone who delivers her, preferably alive, but they'll take her dead."

  Max couldn't have raised his eyebrows any higher. He leaned forward, slapping his hands on the desk. "What?" He couldn't believe it. "A hundred grand?"

  Johnson nodded. "Jorge heard it from a couple of different people."

  Max whistled. "Damn. I know that family has access to millions, but still. What could possibly make her that valuable?"

  "She must have what they want. Or at least they think she does." The bald-headed man paused, looking uncertain.

  "What?" His employee obviously wanted to say something.

  Johnson took a step forward and lowered his voice. "Has she said anything?"

  Max sent him a warning look. No one was to say a word about the visitor they had hidden away. "Not so far." He wouldn't tell Johnson anyway if she had.

  A plan jumped into Max's head. "Here's what I want. I want you to arrange an accidental meeting between me and young Benny Trasatti. Somewhere public, but where people won't overhear our conversation. Follow him until the opportunity presents itself and then give me a call."

  Johnson nodded and turned toward the door.

  "I want it yesterday, Johnson." Max needed answers now. This whole shitty thing felt like it was about to crumble around him. He hadn't made plans for years to see them fail now.

  "Sure, boss."

  As Johnson walked out the door, Max picked up the office phone and dialed Jase's cell. Whether Jase liked it or not, he needed to put the screws to his little darlin' before he shipped her off.

  * * *

  Jase stirred his concoction of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and basil, sending the delicious aroma swirling into the air. He hoped Allie liked what he'd made for her. Although he enjoyed cooking, it wasn't often he indulged in more than a basic meal. Tonight was different. He wanted to share a nice dinner with her, and quite honestly, he hoped it would make up
for his planned interrogation and the news that she'd be leaving soon.

  He still couldn't fathom why the mob would put such a large bounty on Allie's head, but Max's sources were good, and he didn't doubt the information for a minute. Jase needed to find out what he could from Allie and then send her to safety.

  "Something smells like heaven."

  Jase looked up to find a sleepy-eyed Allie standing in the kitchen doorway. If anything was close to heaven, it was looking at her with her tousled hair and bare feet. "You're just in time." He turned and pulled fresh rolls from the oven.

  "Wow," she said from behind him. "This is nice. Nothing sexier than a man in the kitchen."

  He turned. "Really? You think I'm sexy?" He liked her calling him sexy. He also liked the way her cheeks turned pink when he pinpointed her with his gaze.

  "I mean...well, that's the saying."

  "Oh. Then you're saying I'm only sexy when I'm in the kitchen."

  "No." She shifted her stance. "I'm saying—" She stopped, her lips tilting in a small grin. "Stop teasing me."

  "Whatever you wish, sweetheart, as long as you keep telling me I'm sexy." He lifted the lid off the pasta sauce, unable to stop smiling. He hated to admit but being around Allie left his heart feeling lighter than it had in years. For a moment, it seemed okay to forget the past and enjoy the present. "Will you grab some plates out of the cupboard?"

  Allie brought two dinner plates, and Jase loaded them with capellini and topped it with the tomatoes and basil. A light sprinkle of gorgonzola cheese went on top.

  "I don't think I've ever had this nice of a meal in my life."

  "No?" Jase drew his brows together as he handed a plate to her and watched as she breathed in the scents and exhaled with a smile. The look on her face alone made his efforts worthwhile.

  "Never," she said, almost snorting. "Not in Aunt Rita's house."

  "Well, I hope you enjoy it then." He deposited his plate on the table and retrieved the rolls before taking a seat across from her.