Waiting for Him

by Stormy Glenn

  "I'm not sure that is a recommendation, Victor."

  I wasn't either, but right now, he seemed to be helping Lyn. I'd let him live as long as that continued. If it changed, he was a dead man.

  The bodyguard walked in and nodded to Vinnie. "The boys are suited up and waiting downstairs in the cars, sir."

  "Thank you, Barak." Vinnie gestured toward the doorway after glancing at me. "After you."

  I started walking with a quick stride. I was so ready to go find Lyn. I hated that Vinnie had hung up, especially since I didn't know how to call Lyn back. Sure, I knew where he was, but I couldn't guarantee that Lyn or the good father would answer the phone. I couldn't take the chance that it would be someone else.

  I admit it. I was a little intimidated when we reached street level and Vinnie led me to two black SUVs with tinted windows. Vinnie had good taste in bulletproof vehicles.

  The small group of muscle-bound goons standing near them was even worse. Not only were they suited up like I would be if I was going on a SWAT mission, but each one of them carried a semi-automatic rifle.

  I refrained from demanding to see their gun licenses.

  Once we were inside the vehicles and on the road, I pulled out my cell phone and texted the guys in my unit. I was not reassured when they didn't call me back. I even tried Lany, which I did as little as humanly possible.

  I still got no response.

  It felt as if no one else in the world was around. Just those of us in the two SUVs.

  It was weird.

  It took forever to reach the other side of town. I hadn't even realized we'd reached the area we were headed for until the SUVs sped up. We even ran a red light. Just zoomed right through it.

  "Why are we suddenly going so fast?" I asked as I grabbed onto the edge of my seat.

  And why weren't we getting pulled over by the cops for speeding?

  "You don't want to drive too slow through this neighborhood," Vinnie said. "It's not safe."

  I had a basic idea of what Vinnie was talking about when I saw a couple of large dumpsters get shoved into the path of the SUV in front of us. The car just crashed right through them and kept on going. When I looked out the back window, I saw several guys come out of the shadows to stand in the middle of the street.

  "The welcoming committee," Vinnie said. "They are pretty much on every corner for the next six blocks."

  Perfect.

  "How do people survive down here?"

  "By the skin of their teeth if they're lucky. Most fall in with one of the gangs to stay alive. Others learn to keep their heads down, lock their doors, and not go out after dark."

  "Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?" I cringed to think there might be families down here going through this shit. This was no way to live.

  "Considering the annual income of most everyone who lives here, it doesn't garner a lot of attention from the media, the authorities, or the bleeding hearts. They tend to concentrate their efforts on the more affluent neighborhoods.

  That was so wrong.

  I got it, but it was still wrong.

  Maybe I'd drop a bug in Cynthia Harris's ear the next time I saw her. Lany's mother loved a good cause. Cleaning up the neighborhood so good, hard-working families could live there in relative safety would be a huge one.

  "We're about to reach the church," Vinnie said. "My advice would be to get out of the car and inside the church with all due haste."

  I was good with that.

  "I would also advise not tell Father Gabriel who you are. While he is a good man, there are times when he must skirt the edge of the law to provide for his parishioners. The less nervous we can make him, the better."

  "So, who am I supposed to be?"

  Vinnie smiled as he patted my arm. "Just a friend, my boy. Just a friend."

  Worked for me.

  I never ever in my wild imagination thought I'd say that about a man who used to be a mobster—or alleged mobster, as Vinnie always liked to say. I was a SWAT officer, a policeman down to my core. That I was even sitting next to Vinnie without putting him in handcuffs said a lot about my respect for the man.

  When the vehicles stopped, Barak jumped out of the front seat and opened Vinnie's door. I quickly got out on my side. I might not have been able to see anyone, but I could feel eyes on me as I scanned the street.

  Remembering Vinnie's advice, I hurried around the SUV and joined Vinnie and his guards on the front steps of the church. "You should leave a couple of guys out here to keep an eye on the cars. I have serious doubts they would still be here when we come out if you don't."

  "Reasonable." Vinnie nodded before pointing to two of his men. "Stay with the vehicles. If there's trouble, let us know."

  "Yes, sir," both of them said before heading back to the cars.

  I wasn't surprised when they separated, one climbing into the driver's seat of the first car, the other one heading for the second car. I heard the locks engage once they got in and closed the doors.

  These were not stupid men.

  I let Vinnie take the lead as we headed into the church. Besides the fact that entering a church gave me the willies, he seemed to know what he was doing. I hadn't set foot inside a church since the day my parents stood with our pastor and watched from the front steps of the church I'd grown up in as I was beat to crap then escorted to the town limits.

  Organized religion sucked.

  Still, I nodded politely when the parish priest walked up and shook Vinnie's hand. I needed to play nice. This man was the next link in the chain leading me to Lyn.

  "It's good to see you, Vincenzo."

  "Father Gabriel," Vinnie said as he shook the man's hand before gesturing to me. "This is my good friend, Victor Clarke. He works with the young man you've been keeping an eye on for me."

  "Oh yes. He's waiting for you in my office." The older man's brow flickered. "I have to say, Vincenzo, I am concerned about this young man and the path he might be headed down. He did not come to me in the best condition."

  "Not to worry, Father. Lyn is a good man. He's just having a run of bad luck."

  I swear, I didn't snort, but it was close.

  "Tell me about your furnace, Father," Vinnie said.

  I wanted to growl at the change in conversation. This was not going to get me to Lyn any faster. I clenched my teeth instead.

  "I also noticed that some of the tiles have fallen from the roof," Vinnie continued. "I don't believe having a new furnace is going to help you keep the church warm if there's a hole in the roof."

  "Well, yes, but—"

  Vinnie wrapped an arm around the priest's shoulders. "Why don't you show me what else your wonderful church needs while Victor checks on our friend. You do such good work here, and I'd hate to think your parishioners were being denied their freedom to seek the Lord due to an oversight by the Bishop."

  Oversight my hairy ass. The Archdiocese had given up on this place. The peeling paint and cracked glass in the windows was a big clue. I'd wonder how they could continue to let this travesty continue except I knew this was probably the only place of worship in this godforsaken place.

  "Your friend is just down the hallway in my office." The priest smiled. "I'd be happy to show you the way."

  I smiled the bright smile I reserved for Commissioner Harris. "If you'd just point me in the general direction, I'll let you go talk with Mr. Castellano. I'm sure you have lots to talk about."

  "Oh, uh…" The man glanced at Vinnie.

  "It's fine, Father." Vinnie patted the old priest on the shoulder before looking in my direction. "Father Gabriel's office is the third door on the left."

  I didn't even bother nodding. I just started striding down the hallway. When I reached the door Vinnie had indicated, I pushed it open and stepped inside. My heart sank when I got my first good look at my former coworker.

  The man was beat to shit. One eye was swollen almost all the way shut. He had an array of bruises and abrasions covering almost every bit of expos
ed skin I could see. His clothes were dirty and torn, with suspicious spots of blood in way too many places.

  "Oh, baby, what'd they do to you?"

  Lyn sent me a weak, wobbly smile. "I have no idea."

  "You don't remember anything?"

  "I remember everything since I woke up in that alley. Before that is kind of a blur."

  I started for Lyn only to be brought up short by a four-foot threat with a knife. I raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"

  "Stay away from him," the kid growled as he jabbed the knife at me, stopping before he actually reached me. I don't think he wanted to actually hurt me, more that he wanted me to stay away from Lyn.

  So not gonna happen.

  I narrowed my eyes. "Lose the knife, kid."

  Or I'd take it from him.

  The kid held the knife higher. "You're not going to hurt him."

  Lyn gasped and struggled to stand up. "Jig—"

  I held up my hand, indicating for him to stay where he was. He didn't need to be moving. "Look, kid, I get it that you're trying to protect Lyn, but you're barking up the wrong tree here. I'd never hurt him."

  I ignored Lyn's snort.

  "Lyn is my friend, and I'm here to get him." I didn't know what this kid's problem was, but I could understand being protective of Lyn. "I need to check him out and make sure he doesn't need an ambulance."

  "Are you high?" the kid snapped. "Ain't no ambulances gonna come to this neighborhood."

  The kid was a smart mouth.

  I could respect that.

  "Then I'll drive him where he needs to go. Now, you can either get out of my way or I'll simply go through you."

  "Jigsaw," Lyn said, "let Clarke through."

  Jigsaw?

  The kid glared, but stepped aside.

  I quickly hurried to Lyn's side and squatted down next to him. "How bad is it?"

  "It's bad, Clarke." Lyn winced as he lifted up the hem of his shirt and partially turned away from me. "I know I'm hurt here on my side. I just don't know how bad the damage is or even what the damage is."

  I gently probed the injury on Lyn's side, my anger growing with every wince of pain the man tried to hide from me. "It looks like you were cut, Lyn. The edges are too clean to be anything other than a knife wound."

  I turned to glare at Jigsaw.

  The kid instantly raised his hands. "I didn't do it, swear."

  "He's right, Clarke. Jigsaw didn't do this to me."

  "Then who did?"

  Lyn shook his head. "I have no idea."

  Well, that wasn't good.

  Chapter Eight

  Lyn

  I carefully pulled my shirt back down. I wasn't comfortable having any part of my body exposed to Clarke. I knew he wasn't looking at me with any kind of sexual interest. He'd made his position on that more than clear.

  Still, it made me uncomfortable.

  "If you could give me a ride to my house, I'd appreciate it."

  "I think you need to see a doctor, Lyn. That injury on your side needs stitches."

  I quickly shook my head. "Until I know what's going on, I don't want to go to the hospital."

  I didn't want to be anywhere near a hospital, police station, or even my office at work. I needed to be off the radar for a little while. Luckily, I hadn't turned in a change of address yet. It might slow down whoever was hunting me.

  I wasn't taking any chances.

  Clarke stood and took a step back. "I'll take you to my place."

  "Clarke, I just want to go home." I wanted a shower, some food, and a really long nap. "Just take me home."

  "Well, I would, Lyn, but I don't know where you live."

  Oh, right.

  My bad.

  "You didn't seem interested in knowing," I replied.

  "You didn't return any of my phone calls, or you'd know I was worried about you. I tried calling several times."

  "Yeah, I got a new number." After listening to each and every one of Clarke's messages because I liked torturing myself like that.

  I'd finally given in and gotten a new number when it was pointed out to me by Eddie that I was hanging on to something that would never be mine and I should just let it go and move on.

  I had, but I still felt gutted.

  "I came by your house."

  I shrugged. "I moved."

  "Why?" Clarke's eyes narrowed. "Did you think I wouldn't find you?"

  I snorted. "You had nothing to do with it."

  Not really. Sure, I'd asked our mutual friends not to let anyone know where I'd moved until I was ready to tell them—him—but moving really had nothing to do with Clarke. It had to do with the family I was starting, one Clarke wasn't going to be a part of.

  Crap, I needed to make another phone call.

  I started to reach for the phone, but Clarke grabbed my arm before I could grab it. "What?" I asked as I glanced up at him.

  "If your little friend here is right and the guys after you are cops, they can trace any phone call made from this place. I don't know who you need to call, but you could be putting their life in danger."

  I snatched my hand back.

  My eyes widened as I remembered everyone I'd tried to contact. "I called everyone, Clarke. David, Sam, Sal, Lany, then Vinnie."

  "Considering most of them are cops, that should make things interesting for whoever is chasing you."

  "We need to warn them." I'd be devastated if something I did caused one of my friends to be injured.

  "Don't worry about it too much, Lyn. There's a good chance if someone runs the phone records for the church, they will simply think the good father was speaking to some police officers, and they won't connect it to you."

  I didn't think I was that lucky.

  I was still worried.

  "We need to go, Lyn."

  It was against my better judgment, but I took the hand Clarke held out to me. I was still a little wobbly. I didn't relish the idea of making a face-plant onto the floor, especially in front of Clarke. He already thought I was dingy.

  I gasped and stepped back when the door opened. I blew out a breath when I recognized the man who stepped into the room. "Mr. Castellano."

  Vinnie looked me up and down. "You look like you could use a drink, Lyn."

  He didn't know the half of it.

  "A shower would be nice," I said. "And some rest."

  "He needs stitches, Vinnie," Clarke said. "He has a nasty cut on his side."

  "Shall we call Dr. Jones and ask him to meet us at the estate?"

  Why didn't I think of that?

  "Lyn wants to go home," Clarke said.

  "I can go to Sal and Lany's place. They have a spare bedroom and I can get some sleep, and at least there, I know I would be safe. An ant couldn't get onto the estate without Brant knowing about it."

  Vinnie just smiled.

  I glanced at Jigsaw, who was watching all of this with a great deal of interest. "Jigsaw, I'd like you to come with us." When I saw him start to protest, I quickly held up my hand. "Just until the heat dies down. I know a place where we can both get a hot meal and some rest and not worry we're going to be jumped or worse."

  Jigsaw's brow furrowed as he glanced between Clarke and Vinnie. "Them two gonna be there?"

  "Are those two going to be there," Vinnie corrected. "If you want to be important, my boy, you must believe you are important and act accordingly. Using proper speech will separate you from the common street thugs."

  Jigsaw blinked. "Who you—"

  Vinnie raised an eyebrow.

  "Who are you?" Jigsaw corrected.

  "I am Vincenzo Castellano."

  Jigsaw's eyes rounded.

  Apparently, he'd heard of the former mobster. "I thought you were dead."

  "Not quite, my boy." Vinnie chuckled. "And who might you be?"

  Jigsaw's eyes narrowed. "Why do you want to know?"

  Vinnie held out his hand. "Because it is polite to introduce yourself when shaking another man's hand."

 
Jigsaw stared for a moment before reaching out to shake Vinnie's hand. "I'm Jig— My name is Jude Kennedy." Jigsaw swallowed hard. "Sir."

  "It is a true delight to meet you, Jude. I thank you for the fine care you have given my friend, Lyn. I am in your debt."

  I didn't think it was possible, but Jigsaw's eyes grew even wider. The boy seemed mesmerized by Vinnie.

  "Do you prefer Jude or Jigsaw?" I asked, because now I had another name for him.

  Jigsaw glanced at Vinnie. "Jude."

  I smiled. "Jude it is."

  Jude was so much better.

  "The nurses at Kennedy Memorial Hospital named me Jude Kennedy after St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes and the hospital I was born in," Jude said. "They didn't believe I'd amount to much considering my mother was a drug addict and left me at the hospital so she could go get her next fix."

  I winced.

  Some people could be such assholes.

  Surprisingly, Vinnie reached over and patted Jude on the shoulder. "Then we will just have to prove them wrong."

  And with those simple words, I could see the idolization come to life in Jude's green eyes. I almost laughed, wondering if Vinnie realized he had just found himself with a fan club of one.

  I swallowed tightly when Vinnie glanced in my direction. "What?"

  "I came in to tell you that my boys said there's some activity at the end of the street and it would be best if we got underway before that activity becomes a battle we don't want to fight."

  "Did you work everything out with Father Gabriel?" Clarke asked.

  "I did. The father will now be able to purchase a new furnace and have someone repair his roof." Vinnie smiled. "He is a very happy priest."

  Clarke's eyes narrowed. "And that means what?"

  "He never saw us."

  I had no idea what they were talking about, but if it meant the priest wouldn't give us away, I was all for it. "Can we go now?"

  I could feel myself starting to list to one side. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stay on my feet much longer. I'd prefer to be sitting when I collapsed. When Clarke took my arm, I didn't argue. I suspected I'd need the added assistance.

  We started out of the room only to be brought up short by Barak hurrying down the hallway toward us. When he reached Vinnie, he leaned over and whispered into the man's ear. I so did not like the way Vinnie's face paled when he turned to look at us.