by Cindy Stark
Jase held up a hand. He knew Carole's motives would be to keep him and Allie together long enough they might stay together, and that was the exact reason Allie had to go. "It's not open for discussion."
Carole snorted. "Your father always had the good sense to listen to my reasoning."
That didn't help matters. "My father's not here."
"Carole..." Robert put a hand on her forearm. "It's not our place." He shook his head.
Carole shifted her aggravation to Robert. "We are the only parents he has." She jabbed a finger in Jase's direction without taking her eyes off Robert. "We let him go back to Chicago all those years ago. You said it would help him accept what's happened. Does he look like he's accepted it?" She didn't wait for an answer. "No. He's got armed men at our gate—that's not normal. And I know he's all tangled up in some crazy mob affair, looking for revenge."
How the hell did she know about his plans for the Trasatti family? Had Allie said something? Jase would have asked, but Carole hadn't finished her tirade. "Then he brings home sweet Allie, and he has a second chance for a family, for a normal, peaceful life, and you're ready to help Jase ship her out the door."
Robert compressed his lips into a thin line, waiting several seconds after Carol finished before replying. "I understand, but this is his life." He flicked a glance at Jase. "He's a grown man. Not much we can do."
Carole rolled her eyes and let out an angry sigh. "Fine." She stood up and headed toward the living room. "You men do whatever the hell you want. You're all idiots anyway." She slammed the front door as she left.
"Mm-hmm." Robert took a sip of juice. "She's probably right."
Jase took Carole's seat at the bar, grateful to have survived the first wave of attack. "No, not this time. Allie will have a much better life away from me."
Robert shifted a slow glance in his direction. "It doesn't have to be that way."
Some days, Jase wished he didn't live the life of a vigilante. Other days, he couldn't wait to obliterate the hell out of the Trasatti family. "Notify the guys watching the gate that someone will be dropping off a vehicle sometime later today or tomorrow. I'll get the keys from you when I return. Allie will be leaving shortly after that."
"All right." Robert stood and walked to the sink. "Whatever you say."
Jase's anger and irritation returned. Robert and Carole didn't understand. They hadn't seen what he'd seen. They lived their little sheltered lives, safe in the confines of his property. They had no idea what life on the street was like. Allie knew, and Jase was determined to do whatever was necessary to keep her away from it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Jase pulled into his Chicago warehouse very much aware of the differences between today and the day he'd snatched Allie away from the men who hunted her. The place had been restored to order. It actually looked like a shipping business. There were no dead bodies lying at the entrance, no sounds of gunshots echoing off the tall cement walls. And thank God, Allie was far away from it all and safe.
He'd hated to leave her in Oregon, but after their night together, he knew he had to leave. Besides, he needed to see firsthand what had transpired in Chicago since he'd taken Allie into hiding. He'd also learned the longer the cat was away, the more the mice would play, and keeping an organization full of would-be criminals in check was not an easy thing.
Now, more than ever, he was desperate to put an end to the Trasatti organization. He had no idea what he'd do once he'd exacted his revenge, but he'd started thinking he might like to find out.
He left his SUV near the entrance and parked next to Max's bright-red Ferrari 360 Spider. Jase had always preferred to keep a low profile when it came to his belongings. The less people noticed, the less trouble he had. Max was different. Max wanted everyone to know he was there. He wanted people to be afraid of him and run when he was in the vicinity.
Jase nodded at the few men he encountered, noticing Timmy and Junior would no longer be counted among his ranks, not to mention the others who'd died during the shootout. He needed to stop and see Junior's widow before he left town. And, God, Timmy's kids. He struggled with the overwhelming knot in his throat, trying to ignore the similarities he shared with them. At least Timmy's kids still had their mother. He'd make sure they were all well taken care of. Of course, money wouldn't replace the lives of his men to the families who loved them. He knew that kind of tragedy first hand. It was unfortunate people with loved ones chose this way of life. It was better suited for the cold-hearted lonely souls in the world. Those who could die and not leave anyone behind.
People like him.
The door to Jase's office was open as he approached. From inside, Jase heard Max talking.
"That better not be all you have for me." Irritation colored each of Max's words.
Jase stepped inside the doorway, giving Max an arched brow when he found him leaning back with his alligator boots propped on Jase's desk. Max immediately sat upright, dropping his feet to the floor.
"I gotta go. I'll call you later. In the meantime, you'd better work on keeping your promises." Max ended his call and grinned at Jase. "You're back." He vacated Jase's spot and took a seat across the desk.
Jase slipped into his comfortable leather chair. He admitted it sounded like Max was on the take, but unlike him, Max was a true mobster, and Jase had never asked him to give up his side dealings. Jase couldn't ask for help from someone neck-deep in mob activity and not expect that person to retain his lifestyle. What would be the point? He needed Max for his connections. Max needed him for financial backing. It was a win-win situation that had turned into a friendship. Of sorts. "What was that all about?"
"It was Frankie. He's trying to back out of our deal."
"Good old Frankie." Jase knew all about Frankie and his small-time money laundering outfit. It was a wonder one of the big guys hadn't taken him out yet. It was also probably why Max kept doing business with him. Just like Jase, Max seemed to have a soft spot for the little people unless they pissed him off. "Guess he'll find a way to fix things."
"He always does. He robs Peter to pay Paul, and as long as I'm Paul, we get along just fine." Max adjusted his ball cap before he scrubbed several days' worth of beard. "So, you're back. What's that mean? Have you squeezed any information out of that sweet thing you've been toting around?"
Jase hated the way Max referred to Allie. Max placed very little value on most people which was why he was good at what he did. He had a strange way of helping the underdogs until they were no longer underdogs. Then they were fair game.
But Allie was more than a "sweet thing". Jase also understood Allie seemed like a threat to their business dealings, but in a matter of days, Jase would ship her off, and he and Max would be like flies on shit to the Trasatti family again. "Allie hasn't been able to tell me anything new. She's pretty baffled about the whole thing."
"Really." Max's eyes narrowed an almost imperceptible amount. "Where is she?"
"I moved her out of town. She's safe for now, and if she does remember anything, she won't hesitate to tell me."
Max inclined his head. Jase could tell he wanted to press for more information, but he knew Max was smart enough to know when it was better to keep his mouth shut.
It was a strange relationship between him and Max. There were some people Jase couldn't trust and some he could. From the moment they'd met, he knew Max was one of the ones that he could, shady character or not. Both men respected each other, and despite their differences, both had the same goal.
Some would say Jase was wrong to trust a mobster, but they had their own codes of conduct, too. And in Max's world, breaking that code would result in death. Trust wasn't something they took or gave lightly.
"Have you learned anything else on this end of things?" Jase eyed his right-hand man.
Max clicked the ball-point pen in his hand. "I've confirmed it was the Trasatti family who took out both of your other properties and attacked us here. Other than that, not much." He clicked again
several times before throwing down the pen. "They're definitely after Allie, but no one, and I mean no one knows what exactly they want with her. Word on the street is that they just want to talk to her."
"And you believe that?"
Max snorted. "Of course not. Talk to her and then kill her maybe, but if they get their hands on her, she won't see daylight again."
The thought turned Jase's stomach.
"They're pretty pissed at you for hiding her, that's for sure."
"Good." Now that Allie was safe, they could bring it on. Jase was more than ready for a fight.
Max shook his head. "The whole thing is peculiar, and it makes me think it must have something to do with the head honcho himself."
"Franco Trasatti? We rarely hear or see anything from him anymore." Jase flexed his fingers before making a fist. Franco Trasatti was the man he held personally responsible for his family's death. Jase had caught him watching from a nearby car as his men slaughtered Jase's family after they'd inadvertently witnessed a brutal hit on two other people. Jase folded his arms, his fingers absently touching the spot beneath his ribs where his own scar lay hidden. The first scar of many. Unfortunately, he'd lived while the rest of his family had died.
Allie was in some serious trouble if Franco was involved. Like he didn't already know that, but still. "What the hell could he want her for? She doesn't know a damn thing."
"Well, that's why I keep asking you, man. You won't listen, but she's the key to this whole thing, I'm telling ya." He leaned closer to Jase. "Can't you put a little pressure on her, or put the moves on her and see what you learn with a little pillow talk?"
Great idea. Screw the pregnant woman to gain information. Or maybe he should torture her instead. Max was only trying to help him, but at that moment, planting his fist in Max's face would have made Jase feel a whole lot better. "It wouldn't matter. She doesn't know anything. Trasatti has his facts or his people mixed up." Allie was telling the truth. She had to be. "Up the bribes on the street. See if that'll get us some information."
"If anyone knew anything about her, I would have heard by now. My sources are impeccable."
Jase stood, glowering down at Max. "Just do it." He wanted answers before he returned to Oregon in two days.
* * *
Allie woke from a restless night's sleep. The time between dusk and dawn had become a nightmare since Jase had disappeared two days ago. He'd made love with her and then left without a word, and the only thing Robert would tell her was he had business to take care of. She wondered if he'd gone back to Chicago, and if so, would he be safe? And why hadn't he said goodbye?
It didn't take long for Allie to dress and make her way to the kitchen, searching for breakfast. Being pregnant made her ravenous.
She entered the sunshine room as she'd started to call it, but no one was around. At the very least, she'd expected to find Carole puttering around, ready to ply her with the latest gourmet version of French toast or scrambled eggs. But, it seemed the box of Cheerios she found in the pantry would have to make due today.
"Allie."
She startled, turning to find Jase standing in the doorway. "Hi." She couldn't help but smile. He was so cute with his dark spiky hair and even darker eyes. Even though he'd only been gone for a couple of days, she'd missed him. She wanted to run and throw herself into his strong arms, but something in his expression kept her motionless. He didn't return her smile, and her heart took a nosedive when she spied the suitcases in his hands.
She couldn't breathe. She struggled to suck air into her lungs. "Today?" she whispered.
He smiled, but it was forced and flat. "Are you ready to try out a new life?"
She wanted to shake her head and beg him to let her stay. But that wasn't part of the deal. He'd offered her a better future, but not a future with him, and what had happened under cover of the night didn't change anything. She should be grateful for the gift. "I suppose so."
She took a breath, trying to compose herself. Deep down, she called on the emotional strength she'd cultivated from living in a rough Chicago neighborhood. "I guess I'm a little nervous." It was a good line, and actually, very true. It had the added benefit of keeping her tears in check.
"Yeah." He held out the suitcases. "Do you need help packing?"
She swallowed her despair. "No. I can do it." She took the empty suitcases and sat them on the floor next to her. It wasn't like she had that much anyway. She had nothing from her previous life, just the clothes from her short stay in Oregon. She was in the perfect position to start anew.
Jase touched her arm. "How's the wound?"
"It's doing good." She wanted desperately to go back to that first morning when she'd woken up in his safe house and he'd cared for her. She needed more time with him. "How about yours?" She hadn't seen his wound without a dressing since they'd left Chicago. Carole or Robert must have been helping him with it.
"It's healing."
Allie bit her lip. Yeah, their wounds were healing, but would her heart? Would his? Or did it not need to? This was the first time they'd spoken since they'd made love. But it was like that night had never happened. How could it have meant so little to him?
Jase had given her an hour to get things together. It was hard to pack. Not that Allie didn't have enough room in the suitcases Jase had given her, but once she was alone, she couldn't stop the tears. Over and over, she paused to blow her nose and splash cool water on her face, but she couldn't postpone the inevitable.
Jase stood near the front door when she rolled her suitcases out into the small foyer, and together, they left the house with Boo in tow. Jase led them toward a white Camry that waited for them near the front of the house. Robert and Carole were curiously absent, but what did she expect? These weren't her people. They were Jase's. She couldn't expect they'd become attached to her after visiting for such a short time.
Allie managed to hold it together while Jase put her suitcases in the trunk. She opened the car door, letting Boo climb in first. She ruffled his soft fur, heartbroken that she would be losing him, too. Allie said nothing when Jase joined her. He started the car and proceeded down the long drive, winding his way through the maples and pines. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She dug her fingernails into her palms, trying to shut the door on her emotions. She reached over and turned up the radio, hoping music and driving would be enough to distract Jase. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her cry.
A few deep breaths helped. From her side window, she watched as they drew closer to a nostalgic red barn. She caught a flash of black and white cows as she and Jase whisked past. Blinking, she focused on her knees, not wanting to see the lush, green Oregon countryside slip away. She'd embraced its beauty during the short time she'd been there, and knowing she was losing it as well as Jase only made her feel worse.
Almost an hour of silence had passed. Not even Boo had made a peep. The Columbia River had traveled alongside them as the landscape changed from luxuriant and peaceful, to a vibrant city, lush, green, and formally groomed. Allie had seen signs indicating they were approaching Portland. She had no idea where they were going, but she wasn't going to ask, either. Wherever it was, it was not where she wanted to be.
"There's another packet in the glove box for you." Jase finally broke the silence as he crossed a bridge. Like Chicago, Portland was a city of bridges. "There's a card in there with a number on it you can call when you're ready to have your baby. You can trust these people to help you with the adoption."
She nodded, not looking in his direction. Her baby. It was funny how it no longer seemed like it was Joey's. Pretty soon, it wouldn't be hers, either. But that was the one good thing she could do. She could ensure this baby had a stable, happy life.
"There are keys to an apartment in a safe area near campus. The lease is in your new name." He turned onto a one-way street and drove them over another bridge. Tall buildings closed in around them, and the sidewalks were busy with people
beginning their lunch breaks.
Jase pulled to the side of the street and stopped. He turned to her. "Did you memorize your new information?"
Allie looked up. "Yes." She hadn't. Not really. She'd glanced at it a few times but couldn't bring herself to face the future until she had to. "Where are we?"
"Downtown Portland."
"Why did you stop?" They were sitting outside a tall building that seemed to be made of nothing but reflective glass. "I thought I was going to California."
"Allie." Jase removed his sunglasses and took her hand. "I'm not going to L.A. with you. This is as far as I can go." He reached over and opened the glove box, pulling out a large white envelope. "Everything else you'll need is in here. Turn left on the next street and follow the signs to the entrance for the interstate. There's a map inside that will get you from here to your apartment."
The switch from what she'd expected caught her off guard, and immediately emotions clogged her throat. She'd thought she'd still have hours with him. "You're leaving now?" Tears slipped down her cheeks.
He squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "It's better this way."
"No. It's not." She'd promised herself she wouldn't say anything, but she couldn't help it. She looked at him through wet lashes. "It's not better. I love you, and I don't want to be away from you."
He shook his head. "It's all the trauma. You feel safe with me, and you're equating that to love."
"No, I'm not." He was so wrong. "Trauma had nothing to do with what happened between us the other night."
He dropped his gaze. "That was a mistake."
"How can you say that?" It wasn't true. She wouldn't believe it. "Admit it Jase. There's something between us."
She could see the distress on his face as his jaw tightened, and she felt a bit of hope. He wasn't as disconnected as he'd like to believe he was.
"Admit it."
He turned to her, and the look of pain in his eyes startled her. "It's not going to work, Allie. It doesn't matter if there's something between us or not. We have no future. I already explained how dangerous we are to each other." He slipped his hand from hers. "I need to get back to Chicago, and you need to get that degree you've always wanted."
