“We’re not going to a hotel.”
Panic filled her. He’d been so kind up to this point, but was it possible the man wasn’t actually one of Rafe’s trusted men? Josh had promised her she’d make it back to the States safely. She was here, safe and sound. No one had said she’d stay that way.
Stammering she asked, “What . . . where . . . exactly are you taking me?” She held her breath, almost too afraid to hear the answer. Deanna wasn’t very intimidating even without an injury. But now what could she do, kick him with her splinted foot? That’d probably hurt her more than him.
“I told you, Alice, someplace comfortable. A place where you’ll be taken care of.”
The only thing he didn’t mention was a place where she’d be safe. Had that been intentionally left out? “I was thinking maybe a place close to the hospital. You know, in case I need to return for some reason.” Like you attack me or something.
He shook his head. “Sorry, but Mr. Turchetta wouldn’t be pleased with that.”
Deanna should’ve known this was Rafe’s doing. “You don’t need to tell him. I’m very capable of taking care of myself.” At least on a good day. This wasn’t one of those. She didn’t want to let it show, but her ankle was killing her. When she saw it in the ER, it looked three times the normal size and several shades of black, blue, and purple.
“He was happy it wasn’t broken, but he doesn’t want you alone. Not until you’re back on both feet as he put it.”
Deanna glared at the man. “How does he know it’s not broken?” She hadn’t divulged that information.
“He has his ways.”
Oh, I’m sure he does. Besides being immoral, it was illegal to hack into medical records; he seemed to have an uncanny way of getting information that couldn’t be obtained any other way. Somehow she didn’t think he cared too much about what was right or wrong. Rafe did things the way he wanted to. That might work for others, but she didn’t like being manipulated one bit.
The limo was already on the highway, and she couldn’t jump out. Her ankle would be the least of her worries then. Crossing her arms in front of her, she said, “You can tell Mr. Tur—”
“Miss, he can hear you.”
She looked around the limo for a microphone. Then he pulled out the small earpiece like Josh had worn. Darn it. In all the commotion she’d somehow missed that. Then again I’m not used to looking either. “Rafe, I’m not finding this funny one bit. I’ve done what you asked. I’m in the States. All I ask now is that you respect my privacy and let me live my life.”
The man looked uncomfortable, and she knew he didn’t want to repeat what Rafe said.
“Might as well tell me.”
Clearing his throat, he said, “The day you don’t have to be Alice is the day you get your life back.”
Deanna huffed and leaned back. She was trapped. This time by someone who said he was doing it for her, but she knew that wasn’t possible. He made it plain. He doesn’t trust me. Whatever he was doing, this was all about him and what he wanted. She was just a pawn in it. Something I’ve been for years now.
She didn’t speak for the rest of the ride. What more could be said? The mighty Rafe had spoken, and heaven knows no one would dare defy him. Deanna wished she wasn’t jealous of such loyalty, but she was. The only people she could trust were her parents, but turning to them could be risking their lives. Being all alone was an emptiness she thought she had come to accept. But after meeting Rafe, her life felt emptier than ever before.
Deanna must’ve fallen asleep on the way because she awoke when she heard the limo driver’s door shut. Her eyes fluttered open, and she noticed it was dark outside. She strained her eyes, trying to get her bearings. When her door opened, the smell of the ocean flowed inside.
“Where are we?”
“Mr. Turchetta’s beach house.”
Deanna’s hands trembled and her heart raced. She’d been there so many times with Phoebe. It held some of the best memories she had. It was perfect, and yet it was the worst place to be. How was she going to stay there without her best friend? It wouldn’t be the same.
The driver stood outside, holding her crutches. She slowly got out and looked around. The grounds didn’t appear to have changed much. The house was just as she recalled.
She made her way inside, and the men left once she confirmed she had everything she needed and was settled in for the night. She was told her someone would be by in the morning. Arguing that she didn’t need anyone was useless. They were going to do whatever Rafe told them. All Deanna could do was sit back and let her foot heal. Then she would be mobile, and Rafe wouldn’t hold all the control. At least she hoped not.
Deanna couldn’t sleep and made her way onto the deck. The sound of waves crashing on the beach was soothing. She looked around, and the rocking chair built for two was still there. She sat down on the left so she could put her right leg up. Keep it elevated they’d told her over and over again at the ER. She wasn’t doing it because they told her to, but because it actually felt better that way. Guess I’m stubborn too.
She spent almost an hour outside listening to the waves. But with the chill of the night air, she was getting cold. Grabbing her crutches, she headed back inside. As she opened the door, she looked up at the archway. Phoebe’s and her initials were still carved in the wood. Her heart felt as though it shattered into a million pieces. She wasn’t going to be able to do this. It hurt worse than her ankle.
Sobbing, she went into the house and to her room. She didn’t bother undressing as she fell onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow. Everything is the same, yet nothing will ever be the same again.
Chapter 8
Rafe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Gabe had to be wrong . . . but Gabe was never wrong.
Gabe had dug really deep and crossed a few lines but was able to locate a single text message to Deanna. It wouldn’t appear as much to most people, but Rafe’s team knew how to decipher what others might overlook as a friendly message. “BE CAREFUL. YOU DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOUR PARENTS TOO.” It wasn’t much, but because it came from an untraceable phone they questioned it. However, it was Deanna’s response that raised a red flag. “I UNDERSTAND.”
Gabe was great at finding secrets that wasn’t meant to be found. That partnered well with Rafe’s knack for reading between the lines. For him, it was all about the unspoken words, because what wasn’t said usually spoke volumes. So far, nothing indicated that her parents were ill or lived a high risk lifestyle. That could only mean the text message was a threat of some sort. “I don’t know how, but I have a feeling this is linked to what happened in Moreira. We need to find out who sent it, Gabe.”
“That’s a lot of assumption about something so small.”
But that’s what made Rafe good at what he did. His gut didn’t normally steer him wrong. “Gabe, we’ve had a lot less to go on and we’ve hit pay dirt.”
“I’ll keep looking.”
Gabe didn’t need to tell Rafe that. No one on the team backed down from a challenge. Especially one that might give us answers about Phoebe. “Good. Why the heck would someone go to such lengths? And why wouldn’t Deanna go to the authorities or anyone else for help?” Rafe asked, knowing dang well Gabe didn’t have a clue either. Not yet.
“I’ve checked into her parents’ backgrounds, and they are clean. Deanna is the one who concerns me.”
Rafe had his concerns as well, but surely for different reasons. “What did you find?”
“Absolutely nothing. She was a straight-A student . . . never even had a traffic ticket. From the looks of her, she’s perfect.”
“Perfect? Deanna?”
“Yeah, Rafe, I’m telling you, that woman is so squeaky clean she should run for office someday.”
Although Gabe was excellent at providing details, Rafe wasn’t in the mood for any of his smart remarks. Ever since they’d overheard him speaking to Deanna in her tent, the comments had become more frequent. He tolerated
it because they were brothers, but his fuse was running short.
“No one makes it to thirty-two and remains as innocent as you’re making her out to be. You have to be missing something. Or they’ve wiped her record clean. Check again.”
“Rafe, I’ve triple-checked. There’s nothing to be found.”
Rafe wasn’t buying that crap. He’d had several conversations with her, and she could hold her own nicely. That sharp little tongue of hers must’ve gotten her in trouble a time or two. Asking her wouldn’t get him anywhere. She’d only continue to lie as she’d been doing since the moment they met. Yet Gabe still thinks she’s innocent. Go figure.
But it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. His gut told him otherwise. No documentation from Gabe was going to change that. “The threats make no sense. Why go after the Glenn family if they all are as clean as you say?” To answer that Rafe needed to know more about the threat.
“We’ve seen some screwed up crap. Heck, I can tell you from personal experience, if someone wants to plant false information, it can be done.”
“I know that, Gabe, but what do they gain?” They wanted something big to take such drastic action. The Glenn family had money and prestige. This didn’t appear to be about blackmail.
“Why don’t you ask Deanna?” Gabe didn’t try to hide his sarcasm.
Deanna probably wouldn’t be any more forthcoming with information than she’d been before. Heck, probably less. But Gabe was right, someone needed to talk to her—in person. Someone she wouldn’t feel threatened by.
“Has Melissa left Rhode Island yet?” When he gave orders, he didn’t follow up, but he didn’t consider her part of the team. We need a favor, maybe two.
“The jet was fueled and waiting, but I don’t think so. Why?”
“I think Melissa would like to meet Deanna.”
Gabe laughed. “Smooth. And are you planning to tell Melissa why?”
“No. I think it’ll be better if they become acquainted first.” He didn’t quite consider that using his sister. Obviously, Deanna needed someone to confide in. Melissa was not only a good listener but a medical professional. She would be perfect for keeping an eye on Deanna. It was a win all the way around as far as Rafe was concerned.
“And you actually think this is going to work?”
Gabe didn’t normally question him. “You don’t?”
“Heck no, I don’t. Rafe, you’re forgetting one important factor in this.”
Angrily he asked, “What is that?”
“They are both women. Do you think Melissa is going to side with you once she finds out how you spoke to Deanna?”
Rafe hadn’t given that any thought. Deanna was nothing to him or the family. Melissa was his sister. It was logical that she’d do what Rafe asked, and that’d be the end of it. “I don’t see that being an issue.”
“Your call.”
Finally, you remember that. “Just keep digging. I’m telling you, you’re missing something.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s me who’s off his game, but you’re the boss.”
Gabe disconnected the call, but Rafe could hear him chuckling before he did so. This was not a laughing matter. Lives were at stake, potentially their family’s. When he had a chance, Rafe was going to need to sit down with Gabe and go over a few things.
He didn’t blame Gabe. Normally he was behind a desk hacking into some database or ripping down a firewall in someone’s security system. That wasn’t the same as looking down the barrel of a gun and trying to read if the guy holding it was bluffing or not. Rafe had split-second decisions to make, sometimes affecting only him, but usually involving the entire team. He had seen more than he cared to remember and lost more than he ever could have imagined. I don’t know if I’m capable of laughing anymore.
Melissa hadn’t been involved in the physical action of Turchetta’s Promise, but she’d helped pick up the pieces of those suffering from its effects. She would smile, but he knew behind those brown eyes of hers was a deep-rooted pain like the rest of them had. And I hope I’m not about to open a wound that’s trying to heal. Picking up the phone, he reached out to Melissa.
“Rafe, can you please make up your mind. First you want me to leave; now you want me to stay. I have a job, you know. I can’t drop everything to run around and talk to people for you. If you want my help, maybe you should tell me what’s truly going on.”
He’d prepared for this response. “Melissa, she’s not just anyone. She knew Phoebe.”
Rafe knew that must’ve come as a blow to her. She and Phoebe were only eleven months apart. Growing up, they’d been more like twins. Until they’d entered high school. Then Phoebe had become more independent and full of dreams that didn’t include Melissa. She’d had her own set of friends that, obviously, none of them had met. Rafe wasn’t sure if he was jealous or just hurt that Deanna seemed to know Phoebe better than he did. He hoped Melissa wouldn’t feel that way too.
“Is that why you have her at your house? Because she was friends with Phoebe?” Melissa’s tone held all the doubt it should.
She knows me too well. Actually, Melissa knew all of them, because she’d made it a point to keep in contact with her siblings no matter what obstacles stood in her way. Rafe had been the most elusive—on purpose. He didn’t want anyone to know him, because often he didn’t like what he’d become. It made him exceptional at his job, but on a personal level, he was wacked. After they all left the service, Melissa had tried planning gatherings, and he’d always had an excuse why he didn’t show. Contemplating helping him was more than he deserved from Melissa. I’m one difficult Turchetta.
Even with all his effort, she managed to see through his excuses. Why shouldn’t she? The one he’d doled out to her was as lame as the ones he’d been telling himself. It is for Phoebe’s safety. Or better yet, I need her there so I can monitor her movements. Both were believable, but neither was the truth. The logical place for Deanna was home with her parents. Everything Gabe told him said they loved her very much. They might have been a bit overprotective from some people’s point of view, but Rafe didn’t believe there was such a thing with someone you love. So why did he insist Deanna stay at his house?
“I guess I have my answer,” Melissa stated.
Rafe didn’t like the sound of that. “What does that mean?”
“It means this is personal. I still have to figure out why you want me there, but I have my suspicions.”
“Don’t go looking for something that isn’t there. She’s hurt and needs someplace safe to lay low. Nothing more.”
“Sure.”
Melissa normally didn’t pry into their personal lives, so he had no reason to believe she would now. Don’t let this be a first.
“Good. Then I need you to do me another favor.”
“Rafe, I’m keeping a list, and all these favors are going to cost you.”
He wished she meant money, but that wasn’t what drove Melissa. Rafe needed this, so he’d promise her whatever she wanted. He needed to beat her at her own game. “Great, we can talk about it at dinner next week.”
Melissa laughed. “I’m thinking bigger, but we can discuss it over dinner.”
“Get me the information I need and consider it a deal.”
“Don’t worry, Rafe. Unlike you, people talk freely to me. If she needs or wants to, I’ll be there to listen. Whether or not I give all the information to you . . . well, that is yet to be determined. Since your pilot so kindly brought my bags from the plane, I guess that’s my cue to head to your house.”
“I’ll be calling you.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Rafe knew Melissa was hurt that he chose not to keep in closer contact, but it wasn’t about her. It was all about him. She looked and acted so much like Phoebe that he grew angry when he was around her too long. He was hoping her presence would have a different effect on Deanna. She can’t tick Deanna off any more than I have already.
There was one more
call he needed to make. It wasn’t required; he knew Melissa didn’t need his help with introductions. Heck, Melissa was going to be much more tactful. But he wasn’t stepping back. Rafe wanted to talk to Deanna, hear her voice again. She may not feel the same way.
“Rafe?”
“I wanted to let you know my sister, Melissa, will be staying with you while you . . . heal.”
“How did you get my number?” Deanna asked.
He’d forgotten they’d never officially exchanged phone numbers. He’d programmed his into her phone when she wasn’t looking. Rafe didn’t feel the need to give any details.
“She should be arriving within the hour.”
He heard Deanna snort her displeasure. “Tell her I don’t need her. I’m doing fine on my own.”
I’m sure you are. “She usually comes by when she has vacation time.” However, Melissa never stopped working any more than the rest of them.
“Oh. I can leave, so she can have the house to herself.”
Rafe believed Deanna really was saying that out of consideration for Melissa. Dang. Why does she need to be so nice? His intentions were far from that. Melissa was there to do what Rafe couldn’t do himself. If Deanna didn’t open up to Melissa, she sure as heck wouldn’t like what came next.
“If you have issues with it, take them up with her. I’ll be in touch to check on things.” His tone was sharp, and he ended the call before Deanna voiced whatever objection was coming next. Two things he knew: she definitely had one, and he didn’t want to hear it. Not because it wasn’t valid, but the exact opposite. He was more concerned that if they spoke too long, she might wear him down. The last thing Rafe needed was more guilt eating at him. He needed his head clear and conscious free. If not, he might mess up and cost them all big time. That’s not happening. Not again.
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