Falling Deep Into You Trilogy Box Set

by Terra Kelly

  As he opened the door to head downstairs, two men rounded the corner from the kitchen. Finley averted the gunfire and shot off four rounds. Both men were hit and went down like a sack of potatoes.

  Cooper yelled from several feet away. “Go.”

  Finley glanced back at his team, nodded, and then made his way down the stairs. Miles appeared suddenly. “I’m here.”

  Finley gave a half smile. “Good. For a second there I thought I was on my own for this part of the blood bath.” He had to sigh, seeing his partner calmed him, but only for a moment.

  Miles moved up closer to him and whispered, “Nope. We’re a team, remember?”

  Just then they could hear a faint cry coming from somewhere in the maze. When they had looked at the layout earlier, it was determined that Giano had expanded the basement beyond what was on the floor plan. Letizia had pointed out she noticed more doors and hallways in the brief time she had been there. Finley looked at all four directions and made the split-second decision to go where the crying seemed loudest. As they both cautiously headed down the dark, dingy hallway, it was getting harder and harder to see. The only light provided was coming from under several doors.

  Just then another cry happened, but more pronounced. Miles grabbed Finley’s forearm. “We went down the wrong hallway.”

  Finley looked around and cursed under his breath. “Yeah, I think you’re right. Fuck.” They didn’t have time for this shit, they needed to get Cristiano and get the fuck out of there.

  Without saying a word, they both turned back, and this time found the correct hallway. When the sobs happened again, it was so loud, almost as if Cristiano was just a few feet away. They could hear footsteps on the stairwell, so instead of thinking about the next move, they stood in front of the door in question. The cries happened again which gave them the confirmation they needed. They were where they needed to be.

  Miles counted to three, then Finley shot a bullet into the doorknob, making the door open and sit ajar. Shards of wood had spewed in every direction, but Finley held his arm over his face and quickly walked into the open space. He sucked in a breath at the sight before him. Giano had Cristiano tied to a wood chair. There were wires connected to his bare skin, running to a small box that was presumably sending electrical volts through his body. The cries they heard were not out of fear or desperation, no, instead, Cristiano was being tortured and time was of the essence.

  Finley wanted to punch Giano as soon as he talked. In a cocky tone, “Well, well, you made it. I was beginning to think you didn’t care about this thing.” He watched as the mob boss pushed his hand against Cristiano’s head. “Looks like you may be late, boys.”

  Miles stepped forward with his gun pointed right at his chest. “We have you surrounded, Giano. You can’t get away this time.”

  Giano held his arms out and moved his body from side to side. “Didn’t you know? I always get away with everything. I own this town.” Finley noticed him look around the room, almost as if he was looking for someone or something.

  Miles shook his head. “You seriously think you can get away with kidnapping and attempting to murder a child?”

  Giano just shrugged his shoulders. “I think I already have.”

  Then, everything that happened next, Finley felt like it was a video put on fast forward. Someone magically appeared behind Giano from a hidden door. The Capo pointed his gun directly at Finley’s head, but before he could react to that action, there was a sound of a gun going off and the bullet whizzing past Finley causing him to duck. Then, just like that the Capo was laid out on the floor with a pool of blood forming quickly around his body. During all the action, somehow Giano had probably disappeared where the Capo had just entered.

  Finley looked back at his partner. “Get Cristiano out of here. I’m going to find out where this secret door leads.” He took a moment and walked over to the boy and crouched down in front of him. Grabbing his hand. “Hey.” Cris slowly lifted his head to face Finley. Fin gave a half smile and reassured the kid. “Miles will take you to your sister, okay?” Cristiano couldn’t talk. His body had been beaten, bloodied, and lit up by the machine attached to him. Finley squeezed the kid’s limp hand. “I promise you this, I will get the son-of-a-bitch who did this to you.”

  Just then Cristiano mumbled something that sounded like, wait. Then he coughed and tried to repeat his words. “Wait.” He took in a shallow breath and let it out. “You won’t…find…him.” He coughed a few more times, closed his eyes and bent his head forward.

  Finley looked at Miles and then back at Cristiano. “What do you mean?”

  Cristiano kept his eyes closed this time. “He has too many hidden compartments…in this basement.” When he looked up into Finley’s eyes, you could see only sadness. “He shared a lot with me.”

  Finley realized at that moment, he only cared about getting Cris out of this hell-hole. He started unfastening the belts that bound the boy to the chair and with each movement Cristiano would whimper from the pain. Finley wanted to scream. How could someone want to hurt an innocent boy? Once he had Cris free of the ties, he leaned forward and picked him up into his arms. Miles stayed close by him and the two men ascended the stairs. It was silent now, and they both had no clue what they would walk into once they reached the top step, but that didn’t stop either of them.

  Miles had reached the landing first, raised his gun, and opened the door to the kitchen. Cooper was standing there in the middle of the kitchen on a phone. “They’re here. Campbell, prepare Letizia, Cristiano’s in rough shape.” Cooper stepped toward them. “We think Giano called them off. Several men just stopped shooting and left.”

  Finley looked down at Cris. “You still with me, kid?” The boy’s head was resting on his shoulder and you could see a slight movement made. “Good. Let’s go see your sister.”

  As they got closer to the van, Letizia turned to see him and ran toward them both. She had tears in her eyes as she approached and cried, “Cris?”

  Cristiano reached out his hand for Letizia to take. “I’m…okay.”

  Finley just looked between them both. What had one man done to this family? How could someone hold so much hate inside their body? He knew he would never get the answers to those questions. Looking into those whiskey colored eyes all he cared about now was keeping them both safe. He planned to keep his promise to Alessandra.

  Thirteen

  Two weeks later…

  Letizia was pacing the room; her feet were leaving a distinct path in the Berber carpet with each round. Two weeks. That was how long it had been since her life changed; when the man known as Giano took another one of her family members. Now, here she was locked up in a house in the middle of nowhere.

  Cristiano’s wounds were healed externally, but he was still struggling with the reality of everything that happened. Zia had tried to comfort him, but he wanted to be left alone. She felt scared for her brother…well, cousin.

  The home where they were both staying was about ninety miles outside of Toronto. Finley had prepared it for them but couldn’t stay because of work. There was security set up around the clock, but the cops could not enter the home unannounced.

  She walked over to the big bay window in her bedroom and pulled back the dark blue fabric just an inch. There, in the driveway, was the normal van she saw every day, and the agents assigned to watch over them were sitting in the front seat bantering back and forth. They stayed in the van, but also stood watch outside the house on the porch. Letting go of the curtain, she sighed and headed over to her four-poster bed to sit down on the light blue duvet. Just then a knock sounded at her door. She was wearing a spaghetti strapped top without a bra and oversized PJ pants. Glancing down at her clothes, she shrugged. “Yeah?” As the door opened, she assumed it was Cris wanting to ask more questions. Every so often he would come in with a new question, trying to absorb the information a little more each day. When the mystery person came into view, she sucked in a breath. “Finley?”


  She noticed Finley still had his hand on the doorknob as he took a few more steps into the room. “Hey. You have a moment?”

  She had to stop the thoughts that were attempting to invade her cluttered mind. The man was so damn handsome. When she first met him, his hair was unruly and out of place and that beard...but now as he stood only a few feet away, he had short hair that was perfectly in place and there was no hint of a five o’clock shadow on that clean-shaven skin. She cleared her throat. “Um…yeah.” Letizia stood up and headed over to her closet to grab a sweatshirt. “Everything okay?” As she put the fleece material over her head, she could’ve sworn she heard a low growl. Putting her arms through the holes, she turned toward him. “What was that?”

  He looked around. “What?”

  Letizia shook her head. “Nothing. Tell me why I get to be graced with your presence today?” She knew she sounded snippy, but seriously, he had been a stranger for two full weeks.

  He sighed and let go of the doorknob, then crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Want to get out of this place?”

  Letizia looked around. “Do bears shit in the woods?” Was he being serious? God, if she could have a change of scenery she may just run and hug him…maybe.

  Finley let out a full belly laugh. “Why yes they do. So, I will take that as a yes. How is Cristiano this week?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Same.” Stepping back to the bed and sitting down on the edge of the mattress, she continued. “He’s asked me a few things, but mostly just stays locked up in his room. If I try to talk to him, he kindly tells me to go away. It’s taken some time to get used to. He’s not mean or grumpy, just quiet.”

  Finley came over and sat down beside her. “Think he would be up for talking to some kids? They have been through some tough times, too.”

  Lifting her head to look into those steel gray eyes, she smiled. “Maybe. We can ask him.” She wanted to touch Fin’s cheek, feel his smooth skin under her hand, but she clasped them tighter together instead. “What do you have up your sleeve?”

  He gave a small smile. “Well, the task force agrees it’s safe enough to bring you both in town. We have not heard a peep from the Nesta mob. Nothing. It’s possible he skipped town. Which I doubt, but the team agrees it should be safe enough with how quiet it’s been. We have eyes on all three of his properties, but he’s not at any of them. There are security guards around the clock at the front gates, but no one is inside the homes.” He stood up from the bed. “If you want, I would love for you both to stay with me?”

  Letizia smiled and stood up from the bed to move closer to Finley. “Why?” She didn’t want to be a charity case. He had to want them at his house.

  Finley reached his hand forward and placed it on her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. “Why, what?”

  She had chills that moved through her body from his touch. “Tell me why you would want us to invade your home, your life, and take over your bachelor lifestyle?” She placed her hand over his to stop the movements. The touch alone was causing her mind to fog up and right now she needed a clear head.

  He smiled. “Because.” Then he bent and kissed her nose. “I have not stopped thinking about you for two full weeks.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You’re on my mind every hour of every day.” Then he moved to kiss her neck. “I need you near me and not just to protect you, but to feel your body close to mine.” Finally, he moved in closer, placed both his hands on the back of her neck and bent to gently kiss her lips. The feeling alone sent shock waves down to her most intimate part.

  If he kept up with this path of desire, she wouldn’t make it to his house. She wanted him, too. Which was one of the many arguments going on in her mind daily. Was it okay to fall for this gorgeous cop? Right now, her mind was screaming ‘hell yes’. Or was that another part of her screaming out? She pulled her head back. “Fin.”

  He smiled. “Yes?”

  She shook her head. “No, seriously, you with me?” His eyes looked glassed over and that made her want to laugh.

  Finley nodded. “I think.”

  Closing her eyes, she smiled. “Are you really sure about all this? About us? Because right now, I need you to only tell me the truth. No bullshit.” She reached back and grabbed both of his hands in hers to kiss each palm, then brought them down in front of them. “I need to get out of here, but I know I’ll feel guilty if you’re only bringing us to your place on a promise you made to my aunt.”

  He squeezed her hands. “Yes, you’re right, I made a promise to Alessandra. That’s about keeping you safe. Wanting you at my house, in my bed? That’s me talking.”

  Letizia sucked in a breath. “Finley.” In his bed? Oh, she wanted that, too.

  Finley smiled. “You asked me to be honest, so I am. I want you, Letizia.”

  She was speechless for a moment. When she found her voice, it was low and raspy. “What about our lives, my career, Cristiano going to school? How do we solve those mysteries?” Damn this man.

  He sighed. “One day at a time?”

  Closing her eyes and grabbing that inner calm. “Yeah. Now we need to find a way to tell that to Cristiano.”

  He pulled her back down to the edge of the bed. “Let’s get you the fuck out of here, okay? We’ll figure out the rest as we go. You need to be by people and I know the perfect group to introduce you to.”

  Letizia smiled. “Yeah, okay. Tell me you have a big bathtub though? This place only has a shower and I’ve been dreaming about taking the perfect candle lit bath for a week.” At her house in St. Cloud they a whirlpool tub, and she loved soaking in the warm water with bubbles surrounding her body.

  Finley nodded. “There is a big bathtub, and I have a hot tub on my patio.”

  She playfully pushed him. “Shut up. Okay, when does the bus roll out?” Live with Finley… interesting.

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Now? Let’s get out of here.”

  Letizia heard her brother gasp. “Where are we going?”

  She quickly went over to Cristiano. “Finley’s house, in Toronto.” She was worried about his reaction.

  Cristiano glanced between them both. “Anything to get out of this hell hole.”

  Letizia’s eyes went wide. “Cris! Please don’t talk like that.” She hated reprimanding him, but he was still just a kid. Of course, a boy who’d seen and experienced too much at such a young age, but a boy nonetheless.

  Cristiano just laughed. “Whatever. So, when do we leave?”

  Finley stepped up beside them both. “How about now?”

  Cris clapped his hands together in excitement. “Let me go grab my few things. Oh, that’s right, I don’t have anything to grab.”

  Letizia hated that they had to leave all their stuff behind in St. Cloud. There was no guarantee they would ever go back to the house she grew up in. “Cris. Stop. Let’s grab the few items we were given and get out of here, okay?” Cristiano just nodded and left the room. Letizia wasn’t for sure if she wanted to scream or cry. “Sorry.” She turned toward Finley. “So, what was that about a hot tub?”

  Finley grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to his body. “Come on, let’s go. This place is not helping your moods at all. Plus, now I’m dreaming about a bubble bath myself.”

  When Finley had planned to go see Letizia, the way it played out in his mind was nothing like what happened. The moment he caught her scent in the hallway right before he opened her bedroom door, it about knocked him over. Then as his eyes roamed over her gorgeous body, his plan…whatever that plan was…was forgotten. She had worn this tight-fitting tank top and no bra underneath. Her nipples were poking through the thin fabric. Shit.

  For the last two weeks, it had taken everything in him to stay away from Letizia. All he wanted was to have her near, but the team needed to be sure it was safe. The guys had spent countless hours checking on Giano, trying to find his whereabouts, but they continued to come up empty handed. There were no signs of the associates in town, whi
ch surprised everyone involved. Cooper had guessed that Giano probably knew he went too far when he tortured Cristiano. They hoped that had been the case, but they all knew Giano had no feelings. They all knew this was not the last of the Nesta mob. More than likely they were just staying under the radar for a while, and then would rear their vile heads. When, was the question on everyone’s mind?

  After the team meeting, Finley changed into street clothes and drove. He had his house all ready for Letizia and Cristiano, Preslie, Miles’ wife, helped get the two spare rooms set up for them both. Then she and her best friend, Vikki, went clothes shopping with his credit card. He was anxious to show them both their rooms, and he hoped they would be okay with living at his home.

  It only took them about thirty minutes to pack up their few things and close up the place. The house where they were living was used for victims during the transition time. It was hidden away from any kind of civilization. Finley knew they both must be going stir crazy after two long weeks of being locked up inside the four walls.

  After about thirty minutes driving Finley had to break the silence. “So, what’re you craving?” He was thinking that maybe if they found something fun to do tonight that might lift their moods.

  Finley looked in the rearview mirror and noticed a smile emerge on Cristiano’s face. “Oh, a banana split with extra caramel sauce.”

  Letizia laughed. “I could’ve guessed that one a mile away.”

  Finley turned towards Zia. “Yeah? What’s your craving?” He could see her eyes close as the thought formed in her mind.

  She looked at him and smiled. “Homemade bolognaise sauce over handmade noodles and some freshly made garlic bread.”

  Finley laughed, because everyone in the vehicle had moaned at Letizia’s craving. “I think I can cater to both of your needs.” He knew Alessandra had made the best Italian food on this side of the Atlantic, but now they had to find a new go-to place to keep that smile on both their faces. For now, happy times would be few and far between, but if he could find the light again with something, he’d make it happen. They both deserved it after what they had experienced.