Mafia Queen (The Manning Sisters #1)

by Christina Escue

  “Lis, this is my twin brother, David,” Dakota told her and grinned.

  “Nice to meet you, David,” Lis stuck her hand out and David grasped it firmly.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” David said and looked at his brother. “I’m assuming this is her.”

  “It is,” Dakota confirmed and Lis looked between them in confusion. “Are we ready?”

  “We are,” David confirmed.

  “Then let’s get going. I’d like to get to California as soon as possible.”

  Lis, still looking between the brothers, shrugged her shoulders and let Dakota lead her to the plane. Once they were in the air, Lis curled up in the plush seat and drifted off to sleep. As Dakota watched her sleep, he thought back over the years he’d been employed by her father and sighed.

  As a fifteen-year-old teenager, she’d been cute and adventurous, but as a twenty-five-year-old woman, she was a goddess trapped in human form and he would give his life to keep her safe. Ten years ago he had fallen in love with the girl and pushed those feelings aside. Now, he was head-over-heels for the woman and had to push those feelings down again.

  They’d find her sister and he’d stay with her long enough to make sure she was safe, then he’d get on with his life.

  Chapter Three

  “Wake up sleeping beauty, we’re getting ready to land,” Lis was pulled from her slumber by a gentle shake and softly spoken words. As she opened her eyes, she looked straight into Dakota’s sparkling, sapphire eyes and a smile crossed her face. She had always found him attractive, but knew her father would never approve so she never said anything to anyone except Rachel. The thought of her sister caused her to sit up quickly and fasten her safety belt.

  As the plane touched down Lis’ thoughts were on her sister. She wondered and worried about what Rachel could have gotten into and where she could be. When Dakota reached for her hand she looked up and locked eyes with him once more. “You ready to find your sister?” He asked and looked toward the open door of the plane.

  “Yes,” Lis answered simply and stood from her seat. As they stepped off the plane and into the bright California sun, Lis looked around and smiled. They were at another small, private airport. “You think people are looking for me?”

  “I do,” Dakota answered honestly. “It feels like someone is trying to wipe out the Manning family and I’m not going to take any chances with your safety.”

  “Do you think Rachel is dead?” Lis asked bluntly.

  “No. I think she’s hiding somewhere and doesn’t want to be found.”

  Lis looked at him for a second before she asked, “Why do you think that?”

  “Your sister and her entire security detail are missing. They haven’t turned their cell phones off, but they aren’t answering them either, which makes me think James made them all leave them behind. It’s what I would do if I didn’t want to be found.”

  “So you think they’re hiding? Where would they go?” Lis asked, urgency lacing her voice.

  “James has an apartment here and they could be there, or they could have gone underground somewhere else, but we’re going to try there first,” Dakota told her before turning to the three men he’d brought with them. “I reserved a suite before we took off from Boston, and I got us all burner phones. I programmed the number to mine and Lis’ in each and you three can exchange numbers after you get to the hotel and check in. I’ll call you if anything happens, but I think we will be less noticeable if it’s just Lis and I.”

  “Yes, sir,” they all said in unison and loaded into the awaiting SUV. Once they were gone Dakota directed Lis to a dark grey sedan. Once inside he took her cellphone, took the battery out, and tossed them both out the window. After he did the same with his own he pulled out of the airport and headed into the heart of San Diego.

  “Lis, James’ apartment is just around the corner. When we get there I want you to stay in the car while I check it out.”

  “Like hell I will,” Lis responded in a murderous voice. “I’ll be damned if I’ll sit in the car while you go in there. What if something happens to you and you don’t come back?”

  Dakota thought about what she said as he pulled to a stop across the street from a large building. “Okay,” he said with a sigh. “Do you know how to handle a gun?”

  “Do you remember who my father was?” Lis asked and rolled her eyes. “I’ve been able to handle a gun since I was old enough to wrap my hands around one.”

  He looked at her for a second before he reached over and opened the glove compartment, taking out two handguns, and closing it back up. She took the offered gun and immediately popped out the clip. After checking to make sure it was fully loaded she popped the clip back in place and nodded. “Let’s go find my sister.”

  As they got out of the car, Lis untucked her shirt and slid the loaded gun into the waistband of her jeans and Dakota grinned. “Good idea, but here,” he said and handed her a small holster and a black leather jacket he’d grabbed from the back seat. “This may work better.”

  Lis grinned as she slid the holster on then slipped the jacket over it. “Perfect fit.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised. I’ve known what size jacket you’ve worn for years.”

  “I don’t know if I should be impressed or disturbed by that,” Lis said with a grin.

  “Impressed. Always impressed,” he told her then pressed his fingers to his lips as they approached the building. Lis nodded and followed him silently behind the building.

  As they approached the back stairs, Dakota heard voices and pulled Lis behind the wall surrounding the stairs. “It doesn’t look like anyone has been there in a few days,” a deep voice said and Lis looked at Dakota.

  “After the fiasco in the Student Union, did you really expect anyone to be there? You and Diaz really fucked up.”

  “Diaz and I were only doing what Mr. Morrison told us to do.”

  “He told you to capture Rachel Manning and bring her to me, not shoot up the Student Union and almost get arrested.”

  “Her security was all over the place.”

  The rest of the conversation was lost to Dakota and Lis as the two men walked further away. Once Dakota was sure they were gone he leaned close to Lis and whispered, “At least we know she’s okay.”

  Lis nodded, too shocked to speak, as they stood and walked up the stairs to James’ apartment.

  “Lis, I know what we just heard comes as a shock, but..” Dakota trailed off when Lis shook her head at him. She knew what he was going to say, and she really didn’t want to hear it.

  “Let’s just focus on finding my sister and getting back home.”

  “Elisabeth, you know that if you step up and take over the organization, you’re going to be in even more danger. Not only will the Morrison’s be after you, but the rest of the families will, too.”

  “Dakota, I don’t know anything at the moment except that I need to find my sister. Those men are looking for her and if they find her before we do she’ll most likely be killed.”

  “This conversation isn’t over,” Dakota told her then pressed his finger to her lips. “No arguing. We will discuss this once we find Rachel. For now, though, I agree that finding her is our top priority. Let’s see if James left us any clues.”

  Lis nodded and un-holstered her gun as Dakota slowly opened the door to James’ apartment. After making sure the place was empty, Lis and Dakota searched it in silence.

  “Dakota, look,” Lis said and pointed to the nightstand beside the large bed in the only bedroom. “The clock. It’s been showing the same time since we’ve been in here.”

  “Let’s have a look then,” Dakota said and walked over to the clock. After opening the battery compartment he smiled and slipped a piece of paper out. “Bingo.”

  “What is it?”

  “James left me his new phone number. Let’s get out of here and I’ll give him a call.”

  After replacing the clock, Dakota and Lis left the apartment. Once in the ca
r, Dakota pulled out his new phone and dialed the number on the paper.

  “Dakota?” The voice that answered asked.

  “It’s me, James,” Dakota answered and smiled. “Is everyone okay?”

  “We’re all okay, but things aren’t what they seem. We need to meet and talk.”

  “Agreed,” Dakota said and rattled off the name of the hotel they were staying at. “See you there in an hour.”

  When he disconnected the call he looked at Lis, “They are all okay and are meeting us at the hotel in an hour. Let’s get you ready to see your sister.”

  Chapter Four

  As Lis waited in the restaurant for Rachel and her security to show up, Dakota sat at the bar and watched all the exits. He had been on high alert since they’d left James’ apartment earlier. He knew Morrison’s men were looking for Rachel, but if they happened across Elisabeth they’d be thrilled to get her, too. No way in hell he’d let them get her. “Keep your focus on the job, Jackson,” he said quietly to himself as he sipped his soda and looked around the room again.

  His eyes had just landed on Lis again when he saw her expression change. He followed her gaze to the door just as Rachel stepped in followed closely by James and Tiffany, Rachel’s closest security. When Lis stood from her chair, Dakota slid off the bar stool and walked over to the table to stand beside her.

  “Rach, I’ve been so worried,” Lis said and embraced her sister.

  “I’m fine, Lis. Just been hiding out for a few days. I wanted to call you, but Mr. Bossy here wouldn’t let me,” Rachel explained and tossed a look to James that would make a lesser man stop in his tracks. James just chuckled and shook his head.

  “Rachel, I explained to you why you couldn’t and I know Dakota would agree.”

  “I do agree,” Dakota said softly and motioned for them to all sit down. “Let’s have a seat and discuss what’s going to happen next.”

  Once they were all seated Lis looked at her sister and sighed deeply. “Rach, mom and dad were murdered three days ago.” Tears filled Rachel’s eyes and James gently rubbed her back as Lis continued to speak, “That technically leaves me in charge of the business, but I don’t think me stepping up is the best option at the moment.”

  Dakota looked at her in shock, but she ignored him and continued speaking directly to her sister. “Rach, I’m pretty sure Mike’s father ordered the hit on mom and dad, and it was his men who tried to take you from school. They are still here and they are looking for you.”

  “Mike’s father? Your fiancé’s father is the one who had mom and dad murdered?”

  “Ex fiancé,” Lis told her, then explained what happened three nights ago. “I’ve been thinking and I think what Dakota told me that night was true. I was a pawn and if Mike and I had gotten married everything would have continued as usual. When I walked out of the restaurant that night they all knew that their plans weren’t going to happen. I think you and I are both on their radar, but I’m not sure if we are meant to be killed, or just used in their game to control more territories.”

  “Elisabeth, would you mind explaining what you meant about you not stepping up being the best option at the moment?” James asked and looked between her and Dakota impatiently.

  “When we were at your apartment, Dakota said something that made a lot of sense. He said that if I step up as head then not only will I be a target for the Morrison’s, but I’ll also be a target for the other families as well. We all know this is true, so why risk it? I’ve been thinking while waiting for you to show up and I decided I’d run the organization, but I’ll do it from the shadows.”

  “Who will be doing the public work?” Rachel asked and Lis looked at Dakota.

  “I think Mr. Jackson here would be perfect for the job. He’s been with the family for a decade, which is longer than anyone except for Martin, who was probably killed with mom and dad. Dakota is the obvious choice.”

  “I agree,” James said before Rachel could say anything.

  “Wait a minute,” Dakota said as he shook his head. “I don’t want to be head of the family. I wasn’t even supposed to still be working for your family. I was supposed to be living on a beach in Costa Rica by now.”

  “Then why are you still here?” Lis asked as anger filled her eyes. “Why didn’t you leave as soon as your contract was up?”

  “That isn’t important at the moment. What’s important is that I don’t want to be the head of the family. I don’t want to be the leader of the organization,” Dakota told them all and Lis just looked at him.

  “Dakota, I’m going to ask again, why are you still here?”

  Dakota looked at her and shook his head as he sighed deeply. “I’m still here because of you, Elisabeth. My contract with your father ended and I stayed because I couldn’t leave you.”

  Lis looked at him for a moment as a small smile formed on her lips. “Why?” She asked softly, causing him to lock eyes with her.

  “Elisabeth, I have always wanted to protect you and keep you safe. Even when you were fifteen and running around with your hair in pigtails, I was drawn to you and I knew I couldn’t leave without knowing you’d remain safe. Your father knew this and that’s why he assigned me to head up your security. He knew I’d do everything to keep you protected,” Dakota abruptly stood from the table and walked over to where the rest of Lis’ security was sitting and sat down.

  Lis watched him in frustration for a moment as he talked to the rest of her security before she turned back to Rachel and James. “Well, that was enlightening.”

  “You seriously didn’t know that?” James asked and looked at Lis in astonishment.

  “I seriously didn’t know that,” Lis confirmed and looked at Rachel. “Did you know that?”

  “Yes,” Rachel answered honestly and glanced over at Dakota, who was still talking to his men. “Lis, he has been in love with you forever. I have no idea when it happened, but it did happen.”

  “Wait, what about all those women I’ve seen him with throughout the years?” Lis asked in confusion.

  “Distractions,” James said and Rachel nodded. “He always saw you as off limits, the boss’ daughter, and never once thought he could act on his feelings.”

  “Wonder what he thinks now?” Lis asked quietly and mostly to herself.

  “Now I think that you are my boss and still off limits,” Dakota answered as he walked up behind her. “We need to get out of the open so we can talk more.”

  “Do you have a suite?” James asked and Dakota nodded. “Good, let’s head up there and we can finish this conversation privately.”

  As they all rose from the table, Dakota grabbed Lis’ hand and halted her for a moment so the others could walk ahead. “Lis, I won’t let my feelings get in the way of the job I need to do. I know that you don’t feel the same. I just wanted you to know that.”

  When he moved to walk past her, Lis laid her hand on his chest. “Dakota, here’s something for you to think about. I have had a crush on you since I was fifteen and always suppressed it because you worked for my father,” she told him then rose to her toes and brushed a soft kiss across his lips before turning and walking out of the restaurant.

  Chapter Five

  An hour later, after convincing Dakota that her plan would work, Lis was sitting in her room in the suite thinking about everything that had happened in the past few days. She had lost her fiancé, lost her parents, and almost lost her sister all in a matter of a few hours. Now she was in California with the man she had always had a thing for and had found out he felt the same way.

  When a knock sounded on the door she rose from the chair and walked over to it. Opening it slightly, she saw the face of the man she’d just been thinking about. “Lis, I think we need to talk.” Lis nodded and opened the door wider so he could enter. Once inside he shut the door and turned to face her.

  “Dakota, I know you’re still skeptical about being the acting head of the family, but I feel it’s what’s best for everyone. You know
the organization better than anyone and I feel everyone will listen to you and accept you more than they will me.”

  Dakota looked at her for a second before he gently stroked his index finger down her cheek. “Lis, this isn’t about the family at the moment. This is about what you said in the restaurant. Was it true? Have you really been interested in me for the past decade?”

  “Yes,” she answered and looked his straight in the eyes. “I remember the first time I saw you. It was summer and Rachel and I were sitting by the pool at home. You walked onto the back patio with dad and my breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. Later that night, I asked Martin who you were. He told me who you were and warned me to stay away from you because you were joining dad’s security. Over the next two years I watched you and I learned a lot about you, but I kept my distance because I didn’t want anything to do with the business. I wanted to be far away from it all.”

  “Lis, I am seven years older than you. I was twenty-two, fresh out of the military, and doing a favor for my father. I never wanted to be part of the business either.”

  “I know you’re seven years older than me, but that wouldn’t have stopped me if I hadn’t been so dead set on not being involved with the business.”

  “Lis, I need to ask you something,” Dakota said in a serious tone. “Did you love Mike?”

  “I thought I did,” she answered honestly and then looked at the floor. “Now that I look back though, I think I knew the kind of person he was from the beginning.”

  Dakota nodded and looked toward the door. “I better go so you can get some sleep, but I want to say something before I do. What I told you in the restaurant was true. I stayed for you, Lis. I could not leave knowing you needed protecting. Your father did not assign me to your security detail, I requested the move because I needed to know that you were safe and I did not trust Mike, or Morrison’s men, to keep you protected.”