Sweet Vengeance

by Cindy Stark

  "I was scared. Everyone knows how much power the Trasatti family has."

  He sighed. "True." He stared at his notes, tapping his pen on the paper. "So, where did you go? How did you manage to disappear so efficiently?"

  This was the part she didn't want to tell. "A friend helped me."

  "Tyler."

  She bit her lip and nodded. She didn't want to drag Jase into the middle of this. Her intentions were to put this whole fiasco behind her, not re-open old wounds.

  Cates threw down his pen and leaned back. "I knew he had something to do with this."

  Allie scooted to the edge of her seat, setting her coffee on the desk. "He really doesn't. He showed up just after they'd shot Joey. The green sedan had turned around to come back. Jase pulled up in his car and drove me to safety."

  "How long had you known Tyler?"

  "I didn't know him. Not before that night."

  He blew out a breath of disbelief. "So, he's like a white knight on a horse? He rides in to save the damsel in distress? Come on."

  The muscles in her heart tightened. That's exactly what he'd been to her. And she'd loved him for it. She paused.

  She still loved him for it.

  "I think he was in the right place at the right time."

  Cates snorted. "Doubt that." He scribbled more on his pad. "I'm going to need to bring him in for questioning again."

  Allie winced. Jase would strangle her. "Can we not? At least not yet?" She'd beg if she had to. "He didn't have anything to do with the murder. Let's try to sort through everything else first. Please?"

  The officer studied her. "Fine. Since you've been so cooperative, I'll let you have it your way, for now." He retrieved a stack of files from his credenza and plopped them on the desk with a thud. "You can go through all of these later if you want—it's pretty much everything we have on the Trasatti family. But if you don't mind, I'll give you the highlights and see where that takes us."

  "Agreed." Allie eyed the files, a sense of trepidation rolling through her. The folders in front of her could be her key to eventual freedom, but what would she have to go through emotionally to get there?

  Cates watched her for a moment, making Allie feel as though she were on trial. Then he sighed and smoothed his moustache. "I'm still a little hesitant to trust you, seeing as how we got off on the wrong foot...but my gut tells me you're going to help me crack this case wide open." He nodded as though he'd decided. "Here's where we're sitting so far." He opened the top folder and flipped a few pages. "Three days before Joey was killed, there was another murder. A politician named Gregory Winslow was found floating in the Chicago River, a bullet right between his eyes."

  She nodded. Cates had previously mentioned his name, and Allie vaguely remembered her aunt watching the coverage on the nightly news.

  "Mr. Winslow had promised to clean up the waterfront, crack down on organized crime—the typical promises." He glanced up at her. "Some people actually believed he had the wherewithal to do it." He waited for her nod before he continued.

  "We were able to arrest and convict someone from the Trasatti organization for his murder. But it wasn't anyone at the top. Some lackey who went by the name of Buzzer claimed he did it on his own. Said Mr. Winslow owed him some money and wouldn't pay. It was all a bunch of bullshit.

  "Buzzer sang a whole different tune when the iron bars slammed shut in front of him." Cates leaned back in his chair and smiled. "He started claiming the Trasatti family had set him up. He thought they'd pay him well to take the hit for them, but apparently, it wasn't enough. He said it was really Franco Trasatti, Tommy's dad, top dog of the mob squad who pulled the trigger." Cates paused. "He also said Joey had a recording of the whole thing."

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  "What?" Joey had recorded a huge mob boss committing murder? Allie couldn't believe he'd have had the guts. Or been so stupid. "How did he manage to get anywhere near a meeting between Winslow and Franco Trasatti?"

  "That's easy." Cates sipped his coffee and made a face. He pushed the cup away. "Joey was friends with his grandson."

  Allie nodded. "You're right. He was one of Joey's boys." She should have known Joey couldn't get that close to organized crime without getting sucked in. "I should have seen that coming." She sighed. "I was so young...we both were."

  "Rumor was Joey and Benny were in the warehouse when the confrontation took place. Buzzer said Trasatti arranged the meeting, hoping to buy off Winslow. But Winslow would have none of it. He showed up to the meeting to prove he wasn't afraid of their organization. He'd promised Trasatti he'd bring him down, showed Trasatti some kind of evidence against the family, and pop." Cates smacked his lips like he was giving the kiss of death. "Winslow's dead. Evidence disappears. Next thing you know, Joey's dead, too."

  "So they killed Joey because he recorded the conversation?" That made sense.

  "It gets better." Cates' eyes glimmered with excitement, and Allie could tell this was a case he'd become obsessed with. "It's been said Joey tried to blackmail Trasatti with the recording. Thought he'd pull a fast one on the old man."

  Allie's heart cringed. "He'd always been cocky. I just never thought he'd be so stupid." That was probably what he'd meant when he'd said if things went the way he'd planned, he wouldn't have to worry about going to school. She wanted to cry for him all over again for his stupid, naïve courage.

  "Here's where it gets murky. Now Joey's dead, and there's a few holes in my theory. First off, I don't suppose you know where the recording is?"

  Allie shook her head. "He never mentioned it. I had absolutely no idea he'd done something so crazy."

  Cates picked up his pen and tapped it. "I figured as much. Without the recording or Joey's testimony, we can't pin the murders on Trasatti."

  "You're sure the Trasatti family didn't find the recording?"

  He threw the question back to her. "You tell me. You were the last one who saw Joey alive."

  "If I had to guess, I'd say Joey had it somewhere. He was nervous that night, kept saying something like, 'if he gave them what they wanted, then everything would be okay'. Could very well have been the recording."

  Cates gave her a quick nod. "More than likely."

  Wow. She did a quick mental review of everything she'd just learned. Unbelievable. "We have to find that recording." It was the key to her freedom. She'd be free from constantly worrying the Trasatti family would catch up to her. Jase would be free from his violent past. It would give them both a chance for a real future, even if it wasn't a future together.

  "Yep." Years of trying to do just that showed on Cates' face. "And I'm hoping you're the key to solving it all."

  She rubbed her fingers over her temples. "I don't know. He obviously didn't tell me much." Then a piece of the puzzle clicked into place. "Except—"

  She glanced at Cates. "I think I can say for almost certain they didn't find what they were looking for."

  Cates' eyebrows shot upward. "Why?"

  "They were relentless in their pursuit of me. They must have thought I had the recording."

  "I think you're right." Cates shoved back from his desk with a tired sigh. "I think we both need a break. We've gone over a lot of information, and we need some time to let it gel. See what we come up with. See what memories we've stirred up in your brain. I can have an officer drive you back to your hotel, if you'd like."

  Allie stood. "No. I think I'd like to walk for a bit. Clear my head. Maybe something else will fall into place."

  Cates smiled. "That's what I'm hoping for."

  * * *

  Allie walked out of the precinct, her thoughts caught up in the information she'd received from Cates. A brisk wind had picked up during the hours she'd been inside, and dark clouds rolled across the late September sky, promising more rain. But the air was fresh, and it felt good to be up and moving.

  She stepped around a man who'd stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, caught up in his phone conversation. At least now she knew why the
Trasatti organization had wanted her so badly. She'd originally thought they'd wanted her dead, but maybe they'd intended to question her first—she swallowed—maybe even torture her to get information on Joey's recording. She blew out a breath. Thank God they'd never found her.

  A gust of wind swirled around her, and she wished she'd brought a coat. It had been so nice that morning that she'd skipped it.

  Where would Jase be right now, she wondered, as she continued toward her hotel. She knew he had his spies out on the streets. Would he know she'd spent the morning at the police station? Probably. What would he think of the information she'd just received? Or was he already aware there was likely a missing recording of Winslow's murder?

  If he tracked her half as well in Chicago as he had in California, he or his men would be somewhere nearby. Being out alone on the streets might be enough bait to reel him in. But did she really want to see him after what had taken place the previous night?

  She sighed. Maybe.

  Okay, she did want to see him. The years apart hadn't diminished her attraction to him one bit, and even if she was smart enough now to not get personally entangled with a known vigilante, she'd missed seeing his face, missed hearing his voice. And now she had information that could possibly assist him.

  If nothing else, she wanted to help the man who'd given her so much. Too much. Maybe that was why she was so drawn to him. If she could somehow repay him, she wouldn't feel so indebted and maybe then she could leave the past in the past.

  She wrapped her arms around her to ward off a chill. Where would Joey hide a recorder? She was pretty sure it wouldn't be at his mother's house. Surely Benny would have found a way to check there years ago. So where?

  Without warning, someone grabbed her elbow and pushed her toward the curb. Terror ripped through her as she stumbled forward. Then her training kicked in. She jerked out of his grasp and had his arm bent at an awkward angle behind his back before he could react. She struggled to hold her position.

  The tall, blond man cursed.

  "I'm a cop, and I'm packing, so don't mess with me." She jacked his elbow a little higher. "Who sent you?"

  "Mr. Tyler wants to speak to you," he said, between gritted teeth.

  Allie swiveled her gaze around just as a long black limousine pulled to the curb. A door opened, and she could see Jase sitting inside. She released a breath laced with adrenaline and shoved the blond man away from her. "Couldn't you have asked nicely?"

  She stalked to the car, more than a little angry, and climbed inside. The blond man recovered enough to shut the door, and the car pulled away from the curb.

  She focused on Jase who sat in the opposite corner, wearing dark sunglasses and looking sexier than a man had a right to. She ignored the instant spark of attraction. "It took you long enough." She allowed herself a second to appreciate the beautiful black leather interior of his vehicle, before she gave her anger full reins again.

  "Why are you still in Chicago?" The deep timbre of his voice made her heart pound faster, and she absolutely refused to acknowledge how nicely his muscles looked under the dark blue T-shirt he wore.

  "I don't answer to you." And she didn't. She only answered to herself.

  "You need to go home before you get hurt."

  "In case you haven't noticed, I'm all grown up now. I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions and taking care of myself."

  Rain began to pound on the sunroof as they faced off in a silent war of wills. She refused to look away, and he obviously had no intention of backing down.

  She'd thought she'd won when he broke their visual connection, but he turned and pushed the intercom button. "Mario, take us to the airport."

  She gasped. "You can't force me on a plane." Not a chance. He had no right to keep interfering in her life. "And even if you could, what's going to stop me from turning around and coming back? Are you going to lock me in my room, too? Ground me for life?"

  The car stopped at an intersection. Before Jase could answer her, Allie unlocked the door and climbed out. She did not need this kind of harassment. She hurried across two lanes of traffic before the light turned green. Hard droplets of water pelted her. He could go to hell for all she cared.

  She stepped up on the curb and turned to glance at Jase's car just as a delivery van cruised past. A wall of muddy water washed over her, and she sucked in a surprised breath. No. That did not just happen. She wiped her face as best she could, but she had just as much grit on her hands as on her face.

  She should never have come back to Chicago.

  Then Jase was there. He grabbed her arm, making her wobble in her heels. She tried to jerk away, but he was too strong. "Let me go," she said, just as angry with him as she was with the driver who'd splashed her.

  "Are you okay? I can't believe that jerk."

  "I'm fine." Except for the grit in her mouth. "Now, let me go."

  He searched her face as though ensuring her well-being. "No. Not until you see reason." Fat drops of water landed on his cheeks, but he didn't seem to notice.

  She tried to yank her arm free again, but her actions only made him hold on tighter. The rain continued to assault her, creating a river that cascaded down the back of her neck, over her collarbone and between her breasts. At this point, what was a little more water? "The only thing I want to hear, is why you won't stay out of my life."

  "I would if you'd go home."

  "No, you won't." She reached up and ripped the sunglasses off his face, annoyed that she couldn't see his expression. His gaze instantly captured hers, and her traitorous heart warmed. "There's no sun out," she said, trying to rekindle her anger. She knew her actions and statement were pointless, but she didn't know what else to say. Truth was, she was right where she wanted to be—inches from the man who made her heart stop with just a glance. Who cared about the Trasatti family? Who cared if Cates' men were watching? Who cared that the rain poured down all around them? It only served to narrow the focus of her world even more.

  "Allie." He eased the hold on her arm and reached up to touch her face, wiping away some of the water and pushing her soaked bangs out of her eyes. His tender gesture ripped down her walls. "Please listen to me. I'm only trying to protect you. It would kill me if they hurt you."

  "Why?" That was the damn question that plagued her so much. "You don't want me around. Why does it matter what happens to me?" God, was that really why she was in Chicago? To see if there might be a shred of hope that he was still attracted to her?

  "When my family was slaughtered, I made a promise over their graves to do everything I could to make sure the Trasatti family never killed another person. Not if I could prevent it."

  So, that's all she meant? A promise to his family? She'd wanted to be so much more to him. She quickly shored up her emotional wall as best she could. "I'll go home when you stop sending money." She blinked, trying to keep the water out of her eyes.

  Thunder rumbled through the air, and Jase looked up to the sky. "You're already soaked. Can we please talk about this in the car?"

  Allie was surprised to see the limo waiting at the curb just ahead of them. "Only if you promise not to try to force me on an airplane."

  Jase sighed in frustration. "Fine. For now."

  He walked her to the car and sat next to her on the seat as the driver pulled into traffic. She shivered. The heat in her blood had faded away, leaving her cold. Splotches of mud covered her legs and skirt. Her beautiful new shoes were most likely ruined.

  Jase put an arm around her, and she stiffened. He was too close. She couldn't think with him touching her. He pushed an intercom button on the panel next to him. "Take us home, Mario."

  Allie swallowed. He was taking her home. Again. To his lair. To the place she'd be most vulnerable. "What about my hotel? I need fresh clothes."

  "You're shivering. My place is closer, and I'll arrange for some clothes." He tightened his embrace, warming her.

  "That's right. You have a remedy for every situation.
" She'd said it with a sarcastic tone, but she couldn't help it. She hated how vulnerable she felt at the moment and hated how much she wanted to be next to him.

  "I seem to recall you've benefitted from that a time or two. But if you'd prefer to have this conversation with your shirt completely soaked through, be my guest."

  She immediately felt guilty. She owed this man her life. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that." She glanced down at her blouse. The lacy detail of her bra showed perfectly through her transparent shirt. The shivers coursing up and down her only made things worse. She crossed her arms in front of her to not only shield her breasts, but hopefully her heart as well.

  A minute later, they pulled into an underground parking garage, and Mario dropped them off at Jase's private elevator. Neither said a word until they were locked inside his penthouse on the top floor.

  Allie found herself staring at the opulence before her. This was nothing like the safe house he'd kept her in. Even his home in Oregon couldn't hold a candle to the vanilla leather couches that invited her to sink into their luxurious comfort. A wall of water cascaded near the door, its sounds soothing and peaceful. Chocolate pillows on the couch matched another leather chair, and a gorgeous painting that reminded her of the trees in Oregon highlighted it all. "You have a beautiful home."

  He glanced about the room with an indifferent expression. "It's an investment."

  An investment? She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't you care about anything?"

  He met her stare, challenging her. "I cared about my family. I care about keeping you safe." He pulled his wet shirt over his head, before pinning her with a look that dared her to keep questioning him. "I care about putting the Trasatti family behind bars."

  Her gaze fell on his sharply defined muscles, and she swallowed. Her mind instantly shifted to the last time she'd found herself against his bare chest. She was in big trouble. She turned her head. "Is there somewhere I can clean up?" A bathroom. Somewhere. Anywhere she could hide.