Love and Truth

by FRANCES, KAREN

  “I’m doing okay,” I say, shifting restlessly in the chair.

  “Glad to hear it. What are you doing about Pete?”

  “I’m going to leave that to the proper authorities.”

  “Is that wise? Maria, I can deal with him for you. It’s the least I can do for Tony’s widow. Look, how about dinner? I have a proposition for you.”

  There’s something about the way he says, ‘Tony’s widow,’ that has the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention. I shiver.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Our last meeting didn’t go well.” My voice is shaky and I’m hoping he doesn’t pick up on that.

  “I want to apologise for that. Please, have dinner with me and we can sort things out. You’ve made your stance on the shipment very clear, but you have to understand a gentleman’s handshake on a deal means more to me than a piece of paper drawn up by a solicitor.”

  “Yes, I’m aware of that, and if your deal with Tony was for anything other than guns, I would honour it. But I will not be responsible for more blood on the streets of Glasgow.”

  “And I understand.” I had expected him to start getting impatient, but he’s surprising me. “Please have dinner with me and hopefully you will agree to my proposal.”

  A proposal? I hope he doesn’t mean the marrying kind of proposal. I smirk and have to stop myself from laughing.

  My eyes silently question Joe, seeking his advice. He nods, although I see the uncertainty in his eyes. “Okay, when?”

  “No time like tonight. Seven at the Hilton. Do I need to send a car for you?”

  Joe shakes his head. “No, thank you. Joe will bring me and remain in the hotel until I leave.”

  “Of course. See you tonight.” McGovern ends the call and I sigh loudly.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” James says, and I can hear the hesitation in his voice, but I have to deal with this.

  “I agree, but what else can I do?” Tony and McGovern weren’t the closest of friends. In fact, they were rivals, but each had a mutual respect for the other and they worked together over the years to iron out a few issues. “I think I should go to Crave now, then after dinner I’ll head back there. I don’t need a manager for the club if I intend to run it myself.” At least I’ve made my final decision on the manager of Crave; his services are no longer required.

  “No, you don’t. And you’ll do a fine job,” Joe says with a smile.

  I wish I shared his confidence. I’m sure through time I will. Especially if I can wash my hands of all the other businesses Tony has left me to deal with.

  “Before we finish,” James interrupts. “Can we talk about Colette?”

  “I’d rather not, but if we must.”

  “She has been asking what’s happening with her job.”

  “Get rid of her. I have no need for the services she offers, unlike Tony. She’s not my type.” Joe attempts to hide his smirk but doesn’t do a very good job and James shakes his head at my bluntness.

  “We’ve already discussed this. It’s not that easy.”

  I know James and I have already spoken about this situation, but I have enough crap to deal with and she’s an added complication I don’t need right now. “Pay her off. Do whatever it takes except hurt her physically. I don’t want her or her unborn child on my conscience.” I hear the determination in my voice. They’re words I mean but I’m a little taken aback by the forcefulness. It’s about time Maria DeLuca stood up for herself again. I’m not a Fraser. Probably never have been.

  “Okay, I’ll come back to you when she’s no longer employed by you.”

  “James, thank you,” I say as he stands. He exits the office, leaving me alone with Joe. “Well?”

  “Well, I think someone is taking back control of her life and I’ve promised you I’ll help. But you won’t be out of my sight at dinner. Are you going to tell Jack?”

  “What do you think? I’ll tell him after my meeting. After I’ve heard what McGovern has to propose.”

  He shakes his head; his frustration is completely obvious to me. I can’t tell Jack now. He’d only try and talk me out of it, and I need to know what McGovern wants from me in replacement of me taking his shipment of guns. It can’t be good.

  “Let’s head to Crave,” I say, pushing my chair back and standing up. Joe tries to hide his smile, but I see it. He loves leaving here.

  * * *

  It’s been such a long day already and it’s only just going on seven o’clock. As I walk into the hotel with Joe at my side, I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t agreed to this meeting. What the hell was I thinking? My earlier confidence has all but disappeared. All the issues at Crave have left me feeling drained. Joe and I went through the books and the bank statements with a fine-tooth comb. We’re both in no doubt that the manager is behind the extra money. It’s his name on all the deposit stubs for the bank pay-ins.

  I’ll need to deal with him tonight after dinner. If I don’t, he’ll continue thinking he’s getting away with it. And then there will be the problem when he or Pete decide they want the money back. I don’t even want to imagine how that will work out.

  “Are you okay?” Joe asks.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Although I just want this day to end. It’s been one thing after another.”

  “That it has.”

  We wander through the hotel to the restaurant. I spot McGovern straight away, at a table in the corner out of the way. I see a few of his men sitting at another table. Their eyes are all focused on me and Joe as I’m led to where he is by a member of the hotel staff. Joe stops at an unoccupied table and asks for some water to be brought to him. The waiter frowns then looks around, not sure what the hell is happening. He’s not the only one.

  McGovern stands with a huge smile on his face. “Maria, thank you,” he gushes, taking my hands in his and then kissing me on both cheeks before waiting for me to sit down.

  “It would’ve been rude for me to turn down your polite invitation.”

  “I’ve ordered champagne. I trust this is acceptable?”

  “I can have one or two. I’m working tonight at Crave.”

  “Maria, isn’t that what people like us have staff for, so we don’t need to work?”

  “Maybe, but I have a few issues that I need to take care of.”

  “Anything I can help with?”

  “No.”

  He reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I was deeply saddened when I heard the news of your attack and miscarriage. I can only imagine that it will take a great deal of strength to get over something as tragic as that.” My guard is up. I’m not going to let his soft approach misguide me. Right now, he reminds me of Tony, and I know he’s a man I need to be wary of, not let my guard down around.

  “Thank you for your concern. With the help of family, I know I’ll be fine.” He doesn’t need to know that I didn’t want the baby I was carrying. It’s none of his business, but with a man like him, I don’t want to appear rude.

  The waiter arrives at the table and takes our order. I order steak, knowing that I might manage some of it. “So, you have a proposal for me?”

  “It would be nice to spend time with you, but you’re a woman after my own heart getting straight to business. Okay, so my deal with Tony was worth two million.” I try not to act shocked by the figure he’s just said, but bloody hell. How many guns was Tony bringing into the city? “Exquisite is worth approximately one-point-five. So, you could give me that.”

  I sit back in the seat, take a slow drink from my glass, and watch him for a moment. “Let me get this right. You want me to give you Exquisite instead of the two million, I presume in cash, that was agreed with Tony? What happens to the guns? And what do I get out of this deal?”

  He laughs. “Dinner with me, and you wouldn’t be responsible for guns on the streets of Glasgow.”

  I sit with my glass in my hand and stare at him. He’s confident that I’m going to agree to his terms. “Jimmy, I might
be a woman, but I’m no fool.” He’s still amused and that’s his prerogative, but it’s really not much of a deal. “I don’t think so. You are wasting both of our time and I didn’t take you for that type of man.” I push my chair back, and he reaches out his hand. From the corner of my eye, I catch Joe standing, ready to step in between us if he has to.

  “Maria, tell Joe to sit back down before my men step in.” I glance at Joe, making eye contact, ensuring he knows I’m okay. “I was prepared for your reaction, of course.”

  “Just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I’ll settle for whatever you offer.”

  He leans back in the chair; his eyes are almost smiling. “Of course, I knew that. I had to see your fighting spirit. Had to see for myself you still had it after everything you’ve been through. After all, you are Mrs Fraser.”

  “I’m sorry, Jimmy, you have me mistaken. Mrs Fraser was a woman who sat back and let a man walk over her. She was weak. But Maria DeLuca will always stand up for what she believes in. And I don’t believe more guns are needed on our city’s streets. I also don’t think the deal you have presented to me tonight has any benefit to me. The only person that gains from this deal is you. And for a deal to work, both parties have to be in complete agreement.”

  Our dinner is served by the poor waiter who can’t get away from our table fast enough. Does he know who is sitting with me? Of course, he probably does. Jimmy’s face has been in the papers more times than I remember, and for all the wrong reasons.

  “I’m looking forward to working with someone who will challenge me,” Jimmy says with a smirk as the waiter dashes away from our table.

  “Who mentioned anything about working together? Not me. I want a peaceful life.” I’ve danced with the devil himself; why would I want to spend time working with his brother?

  “And I can make sure you get that. I’m going to deal with our mutual problem.”

  “What’s that?” I ask hesitantly.

  “Pete Jamieson. He needs to pay for what he’s done to you. I owe Tony, but more importantly, I owe your brother a huge favour.”

  I’m not sure I like McGovern’s tone. Like before during our phone conversation, something doesn’t sit well with me, until he mentions my brother.

  Giovanni. What the hell is going on? Do I even want to know? I hope and pray to God that Giovanni isn’t doing work with this man.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jack

  I thought I would be long gone from my office. But no, I’ve been dealing with nothing but crap for the last few hours. I’ve even had Tony’s bit on the side in my office this afternoon. What a fucking pain in the ass she is. I’m sure the only reason Maria hasn’t slapped her across the face is because she’s pregnant. That was the only reason I put up with her being here for so long.

  All I could do when she was here was ask myself what the hell Tony was thinking about. He had Maria at home, yet he played with fire with some tramp that worked for him. She sat before me, moaning, and all I could think of was that she has nothing on Maria. No class. The words common as muck spring to mind. Along with mutton dressed as lamb.

  Yes, Colette is younger, according to her records, but she actually looks older than Maria.

  I’ve been so damn busy handing over the contents of a safe to Colette that I’ve not even had a minute to drop Maria a text to see how she is. Colette’s face lit up when she saw she and her unborn child have been provided for after all. I was relieved when she finally left my office and the building.

  The room beyond my office is quiet. Craig took off over an hour ago with a few officers. I didn’t even ask where they were going or what they were doing. My phone buzzes on the desk. It’s a message from Craig. I open it and stare blankly at the picture on the screen.

  What the actual fuck?

  What the hell is she doing? And where is Joe?

  I push to my feet, anger seeping through every damn pore. He has his hand in hers. McGovern is holding my Maria’s hand and she doesn’t look too fucking pissed about it. Why is Craig following her? I grab my phone and press call.

  “What the hell is going on?” I shout when he answers on the second ring.

  “Hey, boss. Good to hear from you.”

  “Quit the crap and fill me in. Why are you keeping tabs on my lady?”

  “I’m not. I was following McGovern. He’s a man of interest in not one but several investigations. I was as surprised as you no doubt are.”

  “Is Joe with her?”

  “Yes. He’s sitting at a table a short distance away, keeping a watchful eye on her. Jack, what am I missing? There’s something you haven’t told me.”

  Fuck, there’s lots I haven’t told him. “Their meeting before was about a deal McGovern had with Tony. He wanted Maria to keep to the agreement. I presume he’s trying to talk her into taking the shipment of guns.”

  “Wow, hold up. From my position, it all looks very cosy between the gangster’s wife and McGovern.”

  I cut him off, ending our call, not wanting to hear another word from him. As I pace around my office, which I now feel is closing in around me, I call Joe.

  He answers almost instantly. “Is Maria okay?” I ask.

  “Yes. Why?”

  “Because I know where you are. What the hell is going on?”

  “Can I tell you later? Forgive me, but I’d rather my attention was elsewhere and not with you on a call.”

  “Of course. Call me as soon as you leave the Hilton.”

  “I will,” he says and then ends our call.

  I’m mad as hell but I also can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. Joe ended our call to keep his attention on Maria. I know he’ll keep her safe. And after all, they’re in a very public hotel so nothing bad will happen to any of them.

  I need to get out of here before I go crazy. But where the hell do I go? Home, or to Crave to wait for her? I know where I should go, but I need to see her. I need to know she’s okay. She’s having dinner with Jimmy McGovern, and looking at the picture on my phone, things look fucking cosy. Or he looks comfortable with my woman.

  Taking the envelope from my desk, I switch off all the lights in my office and make my exit. I’ll decide what to do about the contents later. I hardly speak to anyone as I walk through the station. I’m not in the mood to make idle chit-chat with anyone.

  I drive away from town. Home it is.

  I’m so impatient as I drive home. All I want to do is speak to her. Why wouldn’t she call me first and tell me she had a dinner date with McGovern? What is she playing at? I press call and at least Giovanni doesn’t keep me waiting.

  “Do you know who she is with right now?” I bark at him.

  “Jack, if you are speaking about my sister, then no, but I’m presuming Joe is with her and she’s not on her fucking own.”

  “Of course she’s not on her own. She’s currently sitting in the Hilton with McGovern. One of my officers sent me a picture.”

  “Now now, Jack. You sound, how shall I put it? A tad jealous. I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.”

  “If you think him wanting to hold Maria responsible for a deal Tony made with him to bring more guns to the streets, then I suppose that’s reasonable.”

  “Cazzo, cazzo. Quel bastardo.” I guess Giovanni is now as pissed off as me. “Jack, I’ll deal with McGovern and he’ll have no more contact with my sister.”

  “How can you be so sure?” I ask, hearing his confident tone.

  “Because he owes me, and as I’ve told you, I won’t have my sister in harm’s way. She’ll not be doing any deal with him.”

  “Fine.”

  “I’ll call her myself and find out what the hell is going on and then I’ll deal with him. Now, I should go. Hopefully Maria will be honest with us both.”

  “I hope so too,” I say and end our call.

  For our relationship to work, we need both love and truth. We can’t have one without the other. It just won’t work.
/>   I have to believe that she’ll be open and honest with me and I should do the same. I sigh as I pull up outside my house. The only things I’ve kept from Maria are to do with the case. Or, more importantly, the fact that Pete has been following her.

  I should tell her, show her the pictures he sent to me. Doubts filter through my head. How will she take the news?

  With thoughts of Maria, my phone buzzes, and her name appears on the screen. “I was thinking of you,” I say.

  “I bet you were. Joe told me you know where I’ve been.”

  There’s an edge to her voice and I sense maybe she didn’t want me to know this information. Not yet, anyway. “Yes, we need to talk. I need to know why you wouldn’t tell me you were meeting McGovern. Bloody hell, Maria!”

  “Have you finished?”

  “What?” I ask, questioning what the hell I’ve done wrong.

  “Shouting. You don’t get to speak to me like that.”

  I take a deep breath and think about what she just said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise, but you have to understand I can’t protect you if I don’t know where you are or who you’re with. McGovern is a dangerous man. You know that. Come home so we can talk?”

  I hear voices in the background, but I can’t make out who it is or what they’re saying. “Jack, I’m sorry. I need to go to Crave.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you about it later. Is it okay for Joe to drop me off at yours when I finish in the club?”

  “Maria, I thought this had already been decided. You don’t even need to ask. I can come and pick you up.”

  “No. I won’t be finished until closing time.”

  “Okay,” I say, hoping she can hear the sadness that I hear. “Joe has a key and knows the codes.”

  “Thank you. Wake me before you leave in the morning and we can talk then. Bye.”

  I don’t get a chance to reply as she ends our call. If Maria thinks I’m going to relax and fall asleep before she gets home, she’s very sadly mistaken.