Carrera's Bride

by Diana Palmer

  “What’s going on?” Delia asked her sister.

  Barb looked innocent. “What do you mean, baby?”

  “Barney and Mr. Dunagan are talking on two levels,” she said. “I don’t understand much, but they know each other. I’m sure of it.”

  Barb laughed. “You’ve got a very suspicious mind.”

  “It runs in my family,” Delia said mischievously. “Now, give. What’s going on?”

  Barb was serious all at once. “I wish I could tell you,” she replied. “But I can’t. It’s a very secret sort of project Barney’s working on.”

  “With Dunagan?”

  Barb turned and looked down at her sister. “I can’t tell you anything.”

  Delia grimaced. “I get the feeling that nobody trusts me.”

  “That’s silly. Of course I do. But this isn’t my project, and I can’t discuss it. Not even with my very favorite sister.”

  “I’m your only sister,” Delia pointed out.

  Barb hugged her. “My very special only sister.”

  Delia relaxed. She was very tired. It was her condition, she supposed. At least she hadn’t been sick.

  “Sleepy?” Barb asked curiously. “You’re usually a night owl.”

  “I don’t know what it is about the Bahamas,” she said with a straight face, “but I’ve been sleepy like this for two weeks. Maybe I’m coming down with something.”

  Barb chuckled. “The paradise syndrome,” she teased. “It’s making you lazy.”

  “That’ll be the day,” she laughed.

  “Yes. It truly will. Why don’t you go on up to bed?” Barb asked, nodding toward the two men who were talking outside the hotel, with grim faces. “They may be out there all night.”

  “That looks like a distinct possibility,” Delia said. “I think I will go on up. You sleep good, Barb.”

  “You, too, baby. Tomorrow we might go out in a glass-bottom boat, would you like that?”

  “Yes!” Delia said with forced enthusiasm. “I’d really enjoy it.”

  “Then we’ll do some sightseeing,” Barb said. “You’re not sick, are you?” she added worriedly.

  Delia laughed. “Not me. Good night.”

  “Lock the door behind you. We’ve got our key,” Barb called after her.

  Delia did go up, but she didn’t sleep. She laid awake worrying if the driver of the glass-bottom boat she and Marcus had gone out on would recognize her and say anything. They’d been careful most of the time, but on occasion, they’d been careless.

  She realized that it would be ridiculous to assume that a boatman would recognize one couple out of the thousands that came through the Bahamas during the summer. But she couldn’t help herself.

  As it happened, she didn’t need to worry. She had a phone call early the next morning.

  “It’s for you,” Barb announced, poking her head into Delia’s room. “Some lady with a British accent.”

  “Karen!” Delia exclaimed, grinning as she dug for the phone. “Hello?”

  “Good morning, dear,” Karen’s accented voice replied. “Would you and your sister and her husband like to come sailing today?”

  “I would,” Delia said at once. “I’ll ask my sister. Barb!” she called, with her hand over the mouthpiece.

  Barb opened the door again. “What?”

  “Would you and Barney like to go sailing?” she asked. “Karen’s invited us out on the yacht.”

  Barb’s eyes widened. “Would we!” she exclaimed. “Sure!”

  “Barb said yes,” Delia told her friend. “And thanks.”

  “Come over to my slip at the marina about ten, dear, and I’ll pack a nice picnic lunch for us. See you then!”

  “We’ll be there,” Delia promised, and hung up.

  “A yacht. Wow!” Barb murmured. “Even Barney’s friends don’t have yachts. Nobody sails!”

  “Karen doesn’t, not often.” Delia smiled. “You’ll love her. She’s sweet and British and very eccentric.”

  “My sort of lady,” Barb agreed. “When do we leave?”

  “About nine-thirty, to get to her slip at the marina by ten. We’ll have to take a taxi.”

  “I’ll tell Barney.”

  The door closed and Delia’s heart raced. She couldn’t see Marcus, but being with Karen was almost as good. Perhaps Karen had seen him and had a message for her. If not, perhaps she could take one for Delia. She felt as if she’d had her lifeline cut.

  They took a cab to the marina, and Karen was waiting on the pier, all smiles, wearing a huge straw hat with roses all over the brim.

  Delia introduced them, and Barney and Barb were immediately charmed by the elderly lady.

  “I’m so glad you could all come,” Karen said, leading the way down the pier to the slip where her yacht was moored. “It’s old, but I love it,” she added, leading them aboard the grand white floating mansion. My husband bought it new in the eighties.”

  “It’s glorious,” Delia said with a sigh.

  “Very nice,” Barney agreed, smiling at Karen. “Barb and I went on a cruise once, but we’ve never been nautical. A ship like this could change my mind.”

  “I love the ocean,” Barb agreed. “Thank you so much for inviting us,” she added. “Delia’s been singing your praises ever since we got back from Miami.”

  “She’s a dear girl,” Karen replied, smiling at Delia. “And so kind, to keep an old lady company. Guests are thin on the ground for me these days,” she added with a meaningful look at Delia, who was immediately alert and concerned. Had something happened to Marcus?

  Karen read the expression and shook her head quickly as Barb and Barney wandered off to explore the yacht.

  Delia nodded and followed after them, with Karen in the rear.

  They sailed for the Out Islands, chatting and listening to Karen’s outlandish tales of her first days on New Providence.

  There was a swimming pool onboard, although Marcus and Delia hadn’t used it. But Barb and Barney were like fish in water. Karen offered them suits and as much time in the pool as they liked before lunch. They took her up on it.

  Delia didn’t because she wanted to talk to Karen, and she couldn’t risk having her sister overhear them.

  When they heard splashing in the pool, Delia turned quickly to Karen. “How is Marcus?” she asked at once. “Have you heard from him?”

  “No, dear,” Karen said worriedly. “I was hoping that you might have.”

  “Not a word,” Delia replied. “In fact, he told me not to contact him. Not even to wave at him on the street. Something’s going on. Something bad, I’m afraid.”

  Karen took Delia’s cold hands in hers. “My dear, I feel the same apprehension, but I don’t know what we can do about it. I tried to phone him, twice, and that nice Mr. Smith said that he wasn’t able to take any calls. Something about an ongoing business deal that he had to concentrate on. But I usually see him going in or out near my house, and he hasn’t been.”

  Delia gnawed her lower lip. “You think he’s in some sort of trouble?”

  “I can’t think of any other explanation. But I’m sure he’s all right,” she added when she saw Delia’s expression. “I’m sure he is.”

  “I wish I could be,” Delia replied, worrying about something else that she couldn’t share with Karen, about the child she might be carrying.

  “You might talk to Mr. Smith,” she said.

  “If Marcus doesn’t want me to call him, I’m sure he doesn’t want me talking to Mr. Smith, either. But if you hear anything, anything at all, will you call me at the hotel?”

  “Of course,” Karen said quietly. “And you must make me the same promise. I’ve known Marcus for many years. I’d stake my life on his honesty. And I’ll never believe some of the outlandish things I’ve heard about him.”

  “Neither will I,” Delia agreed. “Not ever.”

  It was an idyllic day, but disappointing, because Delia had hoped against hope that her friend knew something about M
arcus. Now she had no way to find out what was happening in his life.

  Barb was suspicious. She kept watching Delia as if she knew Delia and Karen were talking about something they didn’t want overheard. Once they were back at the hotel, and getting ready to go downstairs to the restaurant for supper, Barb let Barney go on ahead to get a table. She urged Delia out into the room and closed the door.

  “You and that sweet little old lady were trading more than quilt patterns, or I’m a drunken sailor,” Barb said gently. “Now what’s going on?”

  Delia forced herself to look innocent. “Of all the suspicious people,” she exclaimed, laughing. “Karen and I were talking about potted plants!”

  Barb studied her worriedly. “No. I’m sure it’s more than that. It has something to do with Marcus Carrera or I’m a turkey.”

  “Gobble, gobble?” Delia teased.

  “This is serious,” came the quiet reply. “Listen, Marcus Carrera is mixed up in a really bad plot, baby. He’s working with a gang in Miami to take over gambling on Paradise Island. I overheard Barney talking about it on the phone with someone. But he’s been sold out by one of the mob. Federal agents are on his tail. They’re going to arrest him.”

  Delia’s face went pale. She couldn’t even manage a reply.

  Barb grimaced. “So you do know him, don’t you? And it’s more than just having him rescue you at the casino. I thought so. Baby, you can’t go near him again. He’s going to go to prison. You don’t want to throw your life away on a man like that!”

  Delia swallowed hard. “He’s not like that.”

  Barb’s eyes widened. “In only three weeks, you know him better than the federal government does. I see.”

  “No. It’s…hard to explain.” Delia took a calming breath. “He won’t let me near him. He said it was dangerous, that I could get hurt. He said he wouldn’t risk me, in any way, and that I wasn’t to speak to him on the street.”

  Barb groaned. “Oh, baby,” she said miserably, and hugged her sister hard. “I’d have cut off my arm to spare you this.”

  “He’s not a criminal.”

  “They don’t arrest people for being nice.”

  “He hasn’t done anything illegal, I know it. And he couldn’t have killed people,” Delia said fervently. “He’s kind, he has a wonderful heart! He makes the most beautiful quilts…!”

  “There’s a mass murderer who was kind to animals,” Barb replied.

  “Marcus is not a mass murderer!”

  “But he is a criminal, baby,” Barb said heavily. “And nothing you can say about him, nothing you can do, is going to keep him out of prison.”

  Delia swallowed. “I have to warn him,” she whispered. “I can’t let him be killed!”

  “Baby…”

  “I love him,” Delia choked.

  Barb ground her teeth together. “There’s something else. I was afraid that you were involved with him, and I wanted to try and spare your feelings. But there’s no need now. Listen, he’s involved with a woman,” she added. “She’s been seen at the casino and the hotel with him, at all hours of the day and night. She’s young and beautiful and the daughter of one of the gangsters in Miami that he’s connected with.”

  Chapter Nine

  Delia felt her world crumbling. Marcus had told her to stay away from him, for her own protection. But he was going around with a beautiful woman and connected with the mob in Miami. What if he’d just wanted her out of the way so that he wouldn’t make his girlfriend jealous? What if he’d been involved with the other woman all along?

  But if he was, why had he slept with Delia?

  “He said he was crazy about me,” she mumbled miserably.

  Barb was looking at her as if she’d lost her mind entirely. “And you believed him?” she exclaimed. “Do you think a man like that cares about the truth?”

  “He’s not a mobster, he’s a good man,” Delia protested. “I can’t let him go to prison, Barb. I have to go and see him. I have to warn him!”

  “You can’t go near that casino!” Barb said firmly. “I’m not going to let you get killed! Besides, if you go, Barney will know that I told you about Carrera.”

  “It will be our secret,” she promised. “Barb, I have to know!”

  Barb was hesitant. Her face was contorted with worry. “Baby, I don’t want you to take the chance. Maybe I can get Barney to go,” she added with uncharacteristic flexibility.

  “Get me to do what?” Barney asked from behind them.

  Barb jumped. “Don’t sneak up on me!” she exclaimed huskily.

  Barney was looking from one to the other with quiet curiosity. “What have you been talking about?” he asked.

  “Marcus Carrera,” Delia said bluntly. “I know he’s in some sort of trouble with the government. I want to go to Paradise Island and…talk to him.”

  Barney didn’t seem at all surprised by this statement. He cocked an eyebrow. “That might be possible, if you go with a friend of mine. And if you carry a note to Carrera for me.”

  Barb’s jaw dropped. Delia sat down.

  “You two must think I’m an idiot,” he said easily, perching himself on the arm of the sofa. “I know more about what’s going on than I’ll ever tell you. But all you need to know is that there’s a deep project going on, and I’m involved. Sort of. Anyway, I need to send a note to Carrera and Delia’s the only hope I’ve got of getting it to him. I can’t phone him or send a courier over without arousing suspicion.”

  “You’re involved?” Delia asked.

  He nodded. “And that’s all I’m going to say.”

  “Is Marcus in danger?” she persisted.

  His face was somber. “More than he even realizes right now. I can’t afford to let him die. He’s essential to what’s going on. Are you game? It will be dangerous.”

  “She’s not going!” Barb came out of her trance to protest. “I won’t let her get in the line of fire.”

  “I won’t let Marcus die,” Delia replied. “I care too much about him.”

  “He’s running around with another woman, and you want to save him?” Barb asked bitterly.

  “Even if that’s true, I don’t want him dead,” Delia said with quiet pride, oblivious to Barney’s intent stare.

  “I’ll call my friend. You be ready to go in an hour,” Barney told her.

  “Barney!” Barb exclaimed, and she took off after him. “I am not letting you get involved with gangsters!”

  All Barb’s arguments didn’t sway either Delia or Barney. She threw her hands up with a harsh groan.

  “Don’t I have the right to say anything at all?!” she exclaimed.

  “Sure. Say ‘good luck.’” Barney told her.

  “We’re talking about my…my sister!” she persisted, almost in tears. “She could be killed!”

  “Carrera most certainly will be, if I don’t get this note to him,” Barney replied, handing it to Delia. “Don’t open that,” he added firmly. “It could cost you your life, and I’m not joking.”

  “I won’t,” Delia replied. “Thanks, Barney,” she added, grateful to her brother-in-law for almost the first time in their long acquaintance.

  “You do know that most of the things they say about him are true?” he asked, but in a kind tone.

  She nodded. “It doesn’t matter.”

  He grimaced. “That’s what I thought you’d say. Good luck, kid.”

  There was a quick knock at the door. Barney went to answer it.

  “You be careful,” Barb said in a choked tone. “If anything happened to you…”

  “I’m going to be all right,” Delia said confidently.

  Before Barb could say anything else, Dunagan walked in, wearing dress slacks with an expensive white shirt and a dinner jacket and black tie. He wasn’t smiling. He gave Delia a cursory glance and nodded.

  “You look good,” he said.

  “So do you, but why are you here?” Delia prompted.

  “He’s your date,” Barne
y said. He held up a hand. “The less you know, the better this is going to go down. Just pretend you’re out for a night on the town. Nothing more. And try not to be too obvious when you talk to Carrera. Talk about him rescuing you, and nothing else. Got that?”

  “Got it,” she agreed. Her knees were beginning to feel like jelly. She was a quilting teacher. How in the world had she gotten herself involved in mob warfare? And what involvement did the mysterious Dunagan have in all this? Was he working with Barney, and were they for the mob or against it?

  “Pity people don’t wear placards,” she murmured, getting her purse and velvet wrap. She was wearing a black velvet dress, strapless, with red roses embroidered on the skirt. The wrap also had embroidered roses. Her blond hair was up in a complicated hairdo. She looked elegant and dignified.

  “You can tell the players if you know what to look for,” Dunagan said. He took her arm. “I’ll take care of her,” he told Barb, who was fighting tears. “I give you my word.”

  Barb managed to nod. “I love you, baby,” she whispered to Delia.

  “I love you, too, Barb.”

  She went out the door with Dunagan.

  Just as they got to the hall, she heard Barb’s furious voice yelling, “You never told me you were collaborating with gangsters! And just how much trouble are you in?!”

  A cab was waiting at the curb. To Delia’s surprise, it was John.

  “How are you this evening, Miss Mason? To the Bow Tie, Mr. Dunagan?” he added.

  “Yes,” he said. “And hurry, John.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  Delia kept glancing at Dunagan. She couldn’t help it. The smiling, carefree tourist she’d become accustomed to was suddenly someone else. He was somber, watchful, and there was a noticeable bulge under his jacket.

  He noted her concern and forced a smile. “Don’t look so worried,” he teased. “Everything will work out.”

  “Think so?” she asked. She sighed and looked out the window as they approached the high arch of the bridge that led past the marina and over to Paradise Island. “I really hope it will.”

  She was thinking of all sorts of terrible possible futures. She was pregnant, and nobody knew, not even Marcus. Life was very complicated.