“I’ve drawn up a few more sketches of Daddy in his various disguises. But warn Booker and Seth not to be fooled. Daddy has others, many others.
“I’ll be getting a new cell phone, a pay-as-you-go, so I can toss it regularly. If by chance Daddy finds me, I’ll try and text you. It will only say one word: Shakespeare. That way Daddy won’t have a clue what it means and hopefully it won’t tip him off.
“I don’t believe Daddy’ll be alive much longer. If I hear that he has passed on, I’ll get in touch with you to see if you still love me and want me back.
“Cole, I have one ace in the whole. One thing that is all but guaranteed to stop Daddy. Losing Alan just about killed him, but losing me, his princess, will be the nail in the coffin. And I promise to use it only if absolutely necessary. If it comes to that, well, I guess I won’t ever see you again, but know I love you most of all, and that’s not impossible.
Forever yours,
Lilah.”
“Nice psycho drivel, Lilah.” He set the letter on the half-wall. “Now, I want to know the truth. How did you plan on shooting all of us? Were you hoping to separate us, or track us down like dogs? Make us beg, maybe? You seriously don’t think we’d all just stand there and take our turn dying, right?”
“Look in my purse, you hardheaded idiot,” I snapped.
“Now, now, no need getting testy,” he said flippantly. He dumped the contents of my purse upside down onto the floor, spilling everything out, including the bullet. It rolled to the wall. Booker scooped it up.
“One bullet? So who’s the lucky one this is meant for? Me probably.” He shrugged, tossing the brass bullet repeatedly in the air and catching it as he spoke. “I’m guessing Daddy’s going to kill the rest, though I have to admit one bullet’s pretty cocky. I’m a great shot and even I wouldn’t limit myself to only one bullet.”
“The bullet’s not meant for any of you,” I confessed softly.
He fisted the bullet as he caught it this time, glaring at me. “So you expect me to believe that this is meant for your father?” He laughed. “Not even you’re that coldblooded. Or are you, Delilah? You have no problem destroying poor Cole’s heart, even after watching him go through that horrific surgery, but could you really kill your own father?” He tossed the bullet up again.
“No! I’d never do that.”
“Then who exactly . . .” He caught the bullet, mid-sentence, studying my face through cynical eyes. He snatched up the note again, rereading the words several times, each time shaking his head in disbelief.
“Booker, this will work. When my brothers died, it about killed my father. I don’t know how he survived this long. I think getting revenge is the only thing that’s fueled him. But this time, this time he’s much more fragile. If I’m . . . gone, it will push him over the edge. I know it will.”
He limped across the living room. “No, this can’t be.” He glanced back at the letter yet again, and then at the bullet in his hand before collapsing onto the couch. He dropped his head down, shaking it. “I was wrong. I was so blinded by my hatred that I let it impede my judgment. What a fool I’ve been.”
“You believe me? You’re going to let me go?”
He sat silently for a moment as if he were letting the truth sink in. Finally he stood and hobbled over to me, his eyes scanning my face. “I think you just may be telling the truth. In fact, I’m almost positive you are.”
“Do you believe me enough to take these off?” I rattled the handcuffs at him.
“Yes,” he said, somewhat hesitantly as he dug in his pocket and produced a key.
“Good. Cole’s going to be calling to find out where I am. I want to get as much space between him and me as possible. You know as well as I that he’ll try and follow. You can’t let him. He’s in no shape to come after me. I left a map under my bed to mislead Daddy. Don’t remove it, and whatever you do, don’t let Cole follow it. I’m pretty sure Daddy will and I don’t want Cole anywhere near my father.”
I was so busy talking, I didn’t realize that Booker hadn’t undone the handcuffs. I panicked. “Did you change your mind?”
“No. As a matter of fact, listening to you has me even more convinced, and honestly, more disgusted with myself.”
“Booker, after all you’ve been through, I don’t blame you. But what does that have to do with these?” I rattled the handcuffs again. I was beginning to feel like Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol.
“I was going to remove them,” he started.
“Was?”
“You see, my car’s down the street a couple blocks, and with this limp, I’d never catch you if you decided to run. You are planning on running, right?”
“I . . . I . . .”
“Yup, you are.” He slipped the key back in his pocket. “Lilah, if your father, who knows you best, has a hard time finding you, what chance do I have? I owe it to Cole to keep you safe.” He took out his cell phone again.
“No! Please,” I begged. “This is the perfect plan. It will work, I swear.”
“Sorry, Lilah.” He put the phone to his ear. “Hello, Cole. How are you doing?”
Seriously? He’s making small talk, now?
“I thought you should know I’m at your house and I have Lilah handcuffed to the post in the entryway. She was trying to pull a Juliet on you. You may want to head over here.” He pulled the phone away from his ear as yelling erupted. Abruptly it stopped.
“He’s pretty mad. I may have crossed the line this time,” he said grimly, putting his phone in his pocket.
“Booker, please, if you really love him, you’ll let me go.”
“I do really love him, and because of that I’m going to make sure you don’t escape.” He looked at his watch. “The park’s fifteen minutes away. Do you want something to drink while we wait?”
“You’re insane, you do realize that?”
“I’ve been called worse, by you, as a matter of fact.”
I gave a hard tug on the post. Solid. “Booker, please.”
“Lilah,” his tone serious again. “I’ve made a big mistake here. I’ve ignored evidence, blatant evidence, because of my hatred. I’m not proud of that. I want to make this up to you, and to Cole. We can win if we’re all on the same page. And finally I’m on the right page. I can get you protection. We may not know exactly when your father’s coming, but I don’t think we’ll have to wait long.”
“Birdie told me two weeks, but you heard her. She’s in contact with Payo’s wife, who works with my dad. They’re traveling together.”
“Payo. Do we have any info on him, a picture, a last name?” He took the notebook out of his pocket and flipped it open.
“Santiago. But he’s a good guy, Booker. He’s been trying to get out of the business, but my father won’t let him.”
“We’ll give him a fair chance to prove himself. Promise. I’ll have my people run his name. See if we can get something.” Booker limped over to the couch again and placed the call. I jerked frantically on the post, but nothing happened except for some pretty deep grooves in the wood.
Squealing tires pulled my attention to the window. Cole drove up onto the lawn. The conservative car jerked to a stop and Cole flew out the door, leaving it wide open.
Booker ended his call and stepped toward the door. Cole rushed in and launched himself at Booker, catching Book’s chin in a hard right-handed punch. Booker flew backwards and onto the floor, knocking over Cole’s brand new coffee table on the way.
Chapter 39
“Get up!” Cole shouted at Booker. I sat dumbfounded in the chair, my jaw hanging open. I’d never seen Cole so angry before. It was kind of sexy.
“Are you out of your mind? You just had surgery. Do you want to kill yourself?” Booker said, clearly as stunned as I.
“Get up!” Cole repeated his demand.
“Do you plan on hitting me again?” Booker asked, rubbing the red mark on his jaw.
“Yes!”
“I think I’ll stay
put,” Booker said. “You need to calm down. You’re going to hurt yourself. By the way, I should issue you a ticket for speeding. There’s no way you could have gotten here in . . .” he looked down at his watch, “seven minutes without breaking the law.”
“Cole, stop. He’s right, you just had surgery,” I pleaded. “You could hurt yourself.”
Before Cole could drag Book up, Seth’s car came screeching to a stop out front. He shot out of the car and across the lawn.
“Did you hit him?” Seth demanded of Cole as he burst through the door, rushing passed me.
“Yes, and as soon has he stands, I’m going to hit him again.” Cole’s eyes were fierce.
“You will not hit my best friend again,” Seth spit out. “I will. You just had brain surgery.” Seth turned to Booker. “Get up.”
“No way. I’m staying right here until everyone’s calmed down,” Booker said, half sitting, half laying now.
Maggie flew into the room next. “Get up. Get up so I can smack you back down.”
“‘Et tu, Brute?’” Booker asked, his hand over his heart. I had to admire the man’s quick wit. If three people stood over me intending to beat me half to death, I don’t know if I’d find humor in it.
“Did you hit him, Cole?” Maggie asked. Cole nodded and she smacked him on the arm. “Are you out of your mind?” She threw her hands in the air. “Let Seth do it.” She rounded on Booker. “And you stink, by the way.”
“Wait. Before you beat him up,” I interrupted, “and I’m all for that, just so you know, could you please uncuff me?” I did my Jacob Marley again.
“Give me the key,” Cole demanded.
“I don’t think you’re going to want to do that yet. Juliet over there’s planning to—”
“Give me the freakin’ key, now!” Cole snapped out his hand.
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Booker dug into his pocket and produced the small silver key, which he handed to Cole. Cole all but ripped it out of his and stomped over to me.
“Are you okay?” He caressed my face.
“Yes. But I’d really like these off.” I held up my hands and shook them a little. I knew I’d have to work fast. As soon as I was free, I’d have to encourage them to start arguing with Booker again. Hopefully in the mayhem I’d be able to sneak out.
“I’d ask her why she’s here before you remove the cuffs,” Booker said from his spot on the floor.
“If I want your advice, I’ll ask for it.” Cole twisted the cuffs around to find the lock.
As he inserted the key, Booker spouted off again. “Ask Juliet what she intends to do with the gun I caught her trying to steal from your room.”
“Gun? What’s going on?” Seth asked.
“Dreser’s on his way,” Booker said, looking up at Seth and Maggie.
Cole stopped dead. “Is he making that up, about the gun, I mean? And why does he keep calling you Juliet?” His beautiful blue eyes pierced mine. “I’ll believe you if you tell me he’s lying.”
Tears spilled down over my cheeks. “I only wanted it as a last resort. I don’t plan on using it if I don’t have to. Cole, listen to me. I know Daddy will follow me. He hates when I’m not under his control. I’ll lead him away from here. It took him three years to find me last time. I can do it again. His health’s so poor, it will be even more difficult for him to find me.” Cole shook his head, looking confused. “Please, let me go. It’s the only way to keep everyone safe.”
“Ask her again about the gun,” Booker said softly. “Ask her why only one bullet.”
Cole’s eyes searched my face, his brow furrowed, his jaw set, all signs that he was Brain Gaming me. Just like the surgeries he’d watched over the years, just like his tumor.
“She wrote you a letter. It’s on the wall next to her immaculate purse, well, not so immaculate anymore,” Booker added. “Skip the first two paragraphs. It’s nothing but lovey dovey crap.”
Cole reached behind me and picked up the letter, color draining from his face as he read my words.
“Please, trust me. I know it’ll work,” I whispered.
“This is your idea of a plan? You think pulling a Juliet will solve this mess?” he asked incredulously. “Have you lost your mind?” He put the key in his pocket. “Lilah, why would you think for one minute I’d agree to this? Is this what you’re going to do when our marriage hits a bump in the road? Leave? Or worse?” He shoved his hand through his hair, grimacing as his fingers crossed the scar.
“It will be only as a last resort, Cole. Only if he catches me, and he won’t, so really, this is a non-issue.”
“No, Lilah. Leaving is a non-issue. Killing yourself is insanity.”
“We’re not talking suicide here, Cole.” He glared at me. “Okay, we are, but only in the technical sense. I’m not seeking a quick fix to this mess. It’s to protect your friends. And you. I’m petrified he’s going to come after you, too. I couldn’t take it if anything happened to you because of me.”
“And how do you think I’d feel if you put a bullet in your head for me, with my own gun, no less?” He pinched his eyes shut for a moment, as if imagining the worst.
Maggie’s hand flew to her mouth. Seth snatched the letter, reading it over. Cole’s eyes welled with tears.
“My only thought was to protect you.” I dropped my head against the post. “I was desperate. I didn’t think this out.”
“No, you didn’t.” With slumped shoulders, Cole walked away and sank onto the couch next to Booker, who’d moved from the floor. He immediately jumped back up and moved to the chair. “Maggie’s right. You do stink. If you ruin my new couch, you’ll be replacing it,” he grumbled.
Maggie came over to me. “Lilah, this isn’t good. We’ll come up with something. Seth and Booker are two of the best MET agents around. It’ll be okay.”
“You don’t know my father.”
“No. But I did know your brothers,” she said soberly.
“Then you know I’m right, Mags. I’ll lead my father away from here, far away from here. Far away from Seth.” Cheap shot, but I needed her on my side. “This is the best option. Please help me.”
She looked me square in the eyes. “Killing yourself is never the best option, Lilah.” She touched my arm. “There’s always a better way. Always.”
She slid a bench from the entryway over next to me and sat down. I gave up and sat too, leaning my head against the post.
“I’m sorry. Really sorry. I should have trusted you,” Booker said.
“Yes, you should have,” snapped Cole.
“Everything was right in front of me, yet I refused to see it.” Booker took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m going to resign as soon as we catch her father. I can’t do this job anymore. It’s killing me.”
“I’m glad, because you’re right. It is killing you,” Cole said. Booker nodded gravely.
What do you know? Booker Gatto was human after all.
“What am I going to do? How am I going to protect Lilah?” Cole asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
“How are we going to protect her, you mean?”
Cole smiled slightly. “Yes, we.”
“She can’t stay here. Your security system’s woefully inadequate,” he pointed out. “You two are welcome to move in with me, but I don’t think that’s going to be much help. The second we leave, she’s out of here.”
I had to give Booker credit. He may have been wrong about my involvement in Daddy’s business, but he was right on the money about my plan. As soon as these ridiculous cuffs came off, I planned on leaving. Frustrated, I jerked fruitlessly on the handcuffs.
“You think she’ll still try and leave?” Cole asked.
“Yup. Lilah’s decided there’s no other way.” Booker looked over at me tugging on the cuffs and frowned.
“I guess we’ll have to show her there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” piped Maggie.
“Do you really feel cat jokes are necessary at a
time like this?” Booker asked, his brow wrinkled.
“They’re always necessary,” Maggie grinned.
“She can stay with us,” Seth said, “but I’m afraid that wouldn’t work either. Maggie would have to be handcuffed to her, otherwise you’re right. Lilah’s going to sneak out.”
“I love how you’ve all decided what I’ll do. Has anyone thought to ask me?” I demanded.
Cole came over and squatted down in front of me. “Are these too tight?” He lifted my wrists, checking for marks. He turned and smiled. “Thanks, Booker.”
“I’m not heartless. I left her enough room to be comfortable.”
“Okay, Lilah, tell me honestly. Are you going to try and leave still?”
“No. I realize it’s a stupid plan,” I lied. “Now please take these off.”
Cole kissed my forehead. “I love you.” He turned back to Seth. “You’re right. She’s still planning on leaving.”
“Take these off!” I jerked hard, this time hurting my wrist.
Cole wheeled back to me. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes, of course. As soon as my father’s—”
“No, now. Marry me now. Tomorrow. The city offices are closed so we can’t get a license until tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow won’t work. New York has a twenty-four hour cooling off period,” Maggie pointed out. “And the next day’s Saturday. You’ll have to wait till Monday.”
“Unless they get a judicial waiver.” Seth came toward me. “Then you could get married tomorrow. We can use the decorations from our wedding, and I’ll bet Booker will let us use his backyard.”
“Definitely. I know a judge, too. I’ll give him a call right now and get the wavier in motion,” Booker volunteered.
“I think we should make sure Lilah wants to marry me tomorrow first.” Cole turned to me. “Do you?”
“Don’t you think you should Brain Game this idea for a few days first? I mean, why now? Why not after they catch my father?”
Unbelievable Page 33