When he had driven back to the pool so he could pick up her car, he promised that he would have it ready for her today. He hadn’t mentioned anything else about taking her out again, and she found she was a bit disappointed that he hadn’t pressed her to say yes.
She still couldn’t believe he was doing so much for her, but with the way Pete had taken Jay’s offer in stride, she imagined Jay was the kind of guy who wasn’t a stranger to helping someone in need.
She saw her car pull into the parking lot and felt a smile play on her lips when Jay climbed out and headed toward her. He gave her an easy smile as he dropped his towel over the chair beside her.
“Hey, Carina. How’s it going?”
“Good, thanks.” She watched him strip off his T-shirt. “Is everything okay with you? I didn’t see you at practice this morning.”
“I slept in.” He shot her a grin. “And I wanted to get to the auto shop early.”
“Did you find something else wrong with the car?”
“No, you’re all set.” He reached into the pocket of his shorts and pulled her keys free. “Here you go.”
“How much do I owe you for the parts and everything?” Carina asked, preparing inwardly for an amount that she likely couldn’t afford.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
Relief and surprise swept through her. She did some quick calculations in her head and said, “At least let me pay for the oil.”
“Just consider it a trade for my ticket to last night’s game.”
“I got those tickets for free,” she told him as Pete glanced in their direction.
“I’d better get in the water.” He pulled off the baggy shorts he wore, revealing his Speedo swimsuit covered only by a drag suit. “I’ll talk to you later.”
He tossed his shorts on the chair with his towel and moved toward the pool. Carina watched him greet the other swimmers and chat with his dad for a minute. Then he looked back at her. Their eyes met, and he gave her a smile that made her feel like she was the most important person there. A second later, he rolled his shoulders and then dove into the pool.
* * *
Jay stretched his arms above his head in an attempt to work the tightness out of his shoulders. Bianca came to a stop beside him and grinned.
“So how was your date last night?”
Jay laughed and let his arms fall to his side. “Your sister still isn’t sure she wants to consider it a date.”
“Close enough.”
“How was your sleepover?”
“Amber’s mom actually made us do our homework before she would let us watch a movie.” Bianca let out a sigh. “And she made us go to bed at nine.”
“You did have a five a.m. practice.”
“Yeah, but still . . .”
Jay leaned back against the wall and looked across the pool. Carina was still sitting at one of the poolside tables, her laptop open in front of her. Even from this distance, he could see the way her brow furrowed as she concentrated on the screen in front of her. “How far away do you live from here?”
“Three or four miles. Why?”
He rolled his shoulders again. “Just wondering.”
His dad shouted from across the pool to start them on their next set. Jay pushed off beneath the water and considered that maybe he should go for a run after practice.
* * *
Lou sat in his chair facing the window, the parking lot in his view. Nick and his buddies from Chicago hadn’t been around for a couple of days, but he was sure they were still here. Even though he hadn’t seen anyone besides Nick, he knew there were more. There were always more.
He was still furious that Nick had found the girls through him. He had worried that something like this might happen when they found these apartments. The place they had found in Phoenix right after Donna Perelli’s death had been smaller than they were used to, but at least it had been in a decent neighborhood. Everything had seemed to be going smoothly enough until Giovanni Perelli was finally convicted.
The trial had been long and drawn out, Giovanni’s conviction not coming for a full eighteen months after Donna’s murder. Lou had convinced Carina and her sisters to leave Denver immediately after their mother’s death for fear that the family would pressure them to go back to Chicago, the one place Donna had been so determined to protect them from.
The girls had all been in shock, losing their mother so unexpectedly, so tragically. Lou had felt their sorrow. He had shared it.
Carina had understood more than the others, and he hadn’t been able to prevent her from attending her father’s trial. She had seen more of the dark side of her heritage than she should have. She didn’t know everything, of course. It was too risky for her to know what had really happened the day her mother had died, but for now, her hatred of her father was serving her and her sisters well. She knew enough of her family’s business to understand the danger, and the loss of her mother had brought out her protective instincts when it came to those closest to her.
Lou hated the burdens she carried now, but unfortunately, that couldn’t be helped. When they had first relocated to Phoenix, money had been plentiful enough for him to hire a bodyguard, even though the girls didn’t realize the guy down the street was more than just a helpful neighbor.
The move to Miami had taken a toll on the little money he had managed to stash away before all of the family’s bank accounts had been frozen. Carina’s job had been a godsend, but he felt useless knowing that she was now helping support him instead of the other way around.
He wished he was the one drawing a paycheck, but his age and his health were starting to catch up with him. He didn’t want to admit that he wasn’t moving as fast as he used to, but he knew it was the truth.
Carina and Bianca had arrived home earlier, but Lou hadn’t managed to catch them before they’d disappeared into their apartment. He had been watching for them for hours, worried that something was wrong. The girls hadn’t come back to the apartment between practices, and it wasn’t like Carina to break her routine without telling him. And even more strange was that a few minutes later, they had headed out again, and then Carina had returned by herself.
It was then that he finally caught her at the door, expressing his concern that she hadn’t checked in with him. She had brushed away his fears, certain that Nick had followed her request and was leaving them alone.
Lou shook his head. Carina might think she knew what her family was capable of, but she had only been a girl when she had escaped. She had only seen glimpses of what her uncle was really like.
Lou’s eyes narrowed when he saw the tall, dark-haired man jogging toward their complex, and he did a quick assessment. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt and didn’t appear to be armed. The man slowed as he approached, eyeing the faded numbers painted on the outside of each door.
Immediately suspicious, Lou hauled himself out of his chair and pulled open his front door. “Can I help you?” he asked in English, the flavor of the old country hanging in each word.
“I hope so.” He nodded and motioned to the girls’ apartment. “Is this Carina Channing’s apartment?”
Lou’s eyes narrowed, and he took a protective step forward. “Why do you want to know?”
“I lent her my car while I was fixing hers, and she left today before I got my keys back from her.” He offered his hand, apparently unaffected by Lou’s protective stance. “I’m Jay Wellman. My dad coaches Bianca.”
“Oh.” Lou studied Jay and considered. He didn’t look like one of the goons the Perellis normally employed, and if Jay was lying, he was extremely convincing.
Jay’s eyes were direct and honest, and he didn’t appear to have any ulterior motives. Slowly, Lou nodded. “That’s Carina’s place right there.”
“Thanks.” Jay took another step forward, his eyes still on Lou. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“I’m Lou.”
“Nice to meet you, Lou.”
Lou nodded and stepped b
ack inside. Then he angled his chair so he could make sure this Jay fellow was really a welcome guest in Carina’s home.
15
Jay approached Carina’s door, fully aware that the older man’s gaze followed him. His curiosity was piqued as he tried to reconcile the rundown neighborhood with Carina’s shiny little sports car. Surely if she was able to drive a Mercedes, she could afford someplace to live that didn’t include bars on the windows.
He rapped on the door twice and listened to the hesitant footsteps approaching from the other side. A moment later, the door swung open.
Carina looked at him, clearly stunned by his presence. A faint flush of embarrassment crept into her cheeks and she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I forgot to get my car keys from you.” Jay could almost see the wheels turning in her mind as she replayed the moment he had returned her keys but neglected to mention retrieving his own.
Her cheeks reddened, and she motioned him inside. “I am so sorry. Come on in, and I’ll get them for you.”
Jay followed her into the tiny living room, surprised by the décor. Elegant furniture contrasted sharply against the shabby carpet. Tasteful artwork brightened the dingy walls that were in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint. In fact, the whole room looked like it belonged in a model home but had somehow been misplaced in this rundown apartment.
Carina motioned to the brown leather couch. “You can sit down if you want. I’ll go grab my purse.”
“Thanks.” Jay lowered himself onto the couch, his eyes drawn to the bulletin board across the room. Pencil sketches and swatches of fabric were tucked into the ribbons crisscrossing the corkboard. Little sticky notes lined the edges of the board, and more stuck out on the desk. A partially finished dress hung from a headless mannequin, and swatches of fabric were piled on a bookshelf.
Jay had planned this meeting so he could get a glimpse into Carina’s life to see if she might share some of the details of what it was like to be responsible for her two younger sisters and just maybe to convince her that living the life of a parent didn’t mean she couldn’t go have some fun for herself.
Faced with her unexpected living conditions, Jay felt a new sense of admiration and determination. Like Carina, he was the oldest of three children, but he could barely fathom the idea of being responsible for his younger siblings and certainly not if he lived in this kind of neighborhood. He also now understood why Bianca had been so eager to help Carina get out where she might have some fun. He suspected that Carina didn’t often put herself first on her list of priorities.
She reemerged from the short hallway that presumably led to the bedrooms, his keys jingling in her hand. “I really am sorry about this. I thought I had given these to you when you gave me mine back.”
“No big deal.” Jay held out his hand and curled his fingers around the keys she handed to him. “I needed to go for a run anyway.”
“You ran here?”
“It’s only a few miles.”
Carina sat down on the other end of the couch and shifted so she was facing him. “You say that like it’s no big deal.”
“It isn’t.” Jay shrugged. “I do a lot of running for work.”
“You’re in the navy, right?”
He nodded and looked around the apartment once more. “Where’s Bianca?”
“She’s babysitting for some friends from church,” Carina told him. “She’s supposed to call me when she’s heading home, but it probably won’t be for about an hour. Do you want me to drive you back over to the pool to get your car?”
“That’s alright. I don’t mind running.”
“That’s really not a good idea in this neighborhood, especially after dark.”
As if on cue, a siren sounded nearby, growing fainter as it moved down the street. Jay looked at her, amused.
“Besides, it’s the least I can do after you fixed my car.”
“If you insist, but I actually had another idea.”
“What’s that?”
“I thought maybe I could take you out to dinner tomorrow night,” Jay suggested.
Carina looked at him warily. “I don’t know . . .”
“Bianca can come along too.” Jay shot her a mischievous look. “It wouldn’t hurt for her to learn to like the food that’s good for her.”
The corner of Carina’s lips lifted. “You mean eat dinner without begging for french fries or brownie sundaes?”
“Exactly.” A knock sounded at the door, and Jay didn’t miss the concern illuminating Carina’s face. “Is something wrong?”
“I just don’t normally get visitors, except for my home teachers or visiting teachers, and they always call first.” She stood and crossed to the door to look out the peep hole. To Jay’s surprise, instead of opening the door, she turned back toward him.
“Who is it?”
“His name is Nick,” Carina said, her voice low. “He’s the guy who was bothering me at the swimming pool yesterday. I’m afraid he isn’t getting the message that I want him to leave me alone.”
Another knock rattled the door, Jay stepped toward the entrance, and a shout echoed through the room.
* * *
Carina cringed when Nick called out in Italian, his voice heavy with annoyance and frustration. “Open the door, Carina! I know you’re in there.”
Jay put a hand on Carina’s arm and nudged her farther away from the door. “Maybe you should let me handle this guy.”
“Jay, really, it’s okay. He’ll go away eventually.” Her lips pressed together, a little ball of fear curling into her stomach. Even as a teenager, she’d seen the way her uncle had taken Nick under his wing and molded him to take part in the family business. The last thing she wanted was to see what would happen if Nick and Jay squared off for a fight. And with Nick, there was little doubt that a confrontation would result in a fight.
“Come on, Carina. Open the door!”
This time Lou’s voice answered at full volume. “I told you I didn’t want to see you back here. Leave Carina alone. She doesn’t know anything.”
Jay moved to the door and leaned down to peer through the peep hole. Carina shifted to the side in an attempt to see through the gauzy drapes covering her window. The two men grappled, and Nick shoved Lou to the ground. Then she saw Nick’s hand disappear under the back of his shirt in a practiced move she recognized too well.
“No!” Carina shouted, but before she could react, Jay yanked the door open and rushed outside despite the gun that Nick now held in his hand.
One of Jay’s long legs kicked out, knocking the gun to the ground. Surprise and fury melded together on Nick’s face, his fist clenching and then swinging toward Jay. Jay ducked and delivered a counterpunch that left Nick groaning.
For a brief moment, Carina thought the fight was going to end with only a single punch thrown. She should have known better.
Nick straightened and steadied himself, his eyes now lit with rage. Jay reached for the gun, but Nick surged forward. Jay stumbled backward when Nick’s fist connected with his jaw, but he regained his footing quickly.
The expression on Jay’s face was one of determination, and Carina saw a look of concentration there she hadn’t expected. He balanced on the balls of his feet like a boxer, his fists clenched and lifted to defend and to strike.
Jay waited for Nick to swing again, countering his move with another well-aimed blow.
“Nick, stop it!” Carina shouted, her attention torn between the two men grappling and Lou, who was still on the ground, his hands pressed to the sidewalk as he struggled to stand.
“Get back!” Jay ordered Carina, but she couldn’t move. She could only stare from the open doorway as punches flew, the deadly gun gleaming on the sidewalk at their feet.
Lou finally managed to get to his feet, one hand lifted to his temple where blood was oozing from an open wound, the other hand pressed against the wall as though he wasn’t quite steady enough to stand without help.
Ja
y landed another punch and sent Nick reeling. As they continued to scuffle, Jay managed to kick the gun out of Nick’s reach. Hoping to end this madness, Carina started forward, glancing briefly at the car idling in the parking lot.
Even though Jay was facing away from her, he must have sensed her presence. “Get back inside!”
Carina ignored him, leaning down with the intent of scooping up Nick’s gun. Then she heard a squeal of tires and glanced up to see the car at the other end of the parking lot veering toward them, the barrel of a weapon visible from the passenger side.
Jay cursed under his breath and moved in a blur. He released Nick and dove toward her. One arm hooked around her, and he shoved her back into her apartment. One of his legs must have kicked the door because it slammed closed as he pulled her into the space between the front door and the window. A split second later, gunfire rang out.
Her body jerked in surprise, surprise from the gunfire and from finding herself plastered against this man she barely knew. His hands were at her waist, firmly holding her in place, his breathing surprisingly steady. His eyes were focused outside where Nick jumped into the open back door of the car a moment before it sped away.
As soon as the car was out of sight, Jay looked down at her, concern showing in his dark eyes. “Are you all right?”
Slowly, she nodded and took a shaky step back. “I need to check on Lou.”
Jay followed her outside, one of his hands sliding from her waist to the small of her back as though he was afraid to release her completely. He lifted a finger to where a bullet had impacted in the doorframe, several other bullet holes visible in the wall where he had been standing a few minutes before. Lou was on the ground behind one of the shrubs in front of his apartment.
Jay released her now, abandoning her to tend to the older man. “Are you hit?”
Lou shook his head. “I’m okay.”
Jay helped him stand and then looked from Lou to Carina. “Are you going to tell me who that guy was and why people were shooting at you?”
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