by Lexy Timms
He stifled a groan. Apparently, it wasn’t as easy as “look for something similar and put it there” as Luke had instructed.
“You’re in for it now, buddy,” Luke said, chuckling.
“Thanks. I learned from the best. But really, aren’t we going to talk to Rob?”
“Yeah. Right. Hey, Em,” Luke said, whipping out his wallet. “I could use a latte, too. How about we break the bank and you get a couple for us?”
“You? Luke Wade? Drink lattes?”
He waved a twenty at her.
“Yeah, make sure it has a double shot of espresso.”
Emily gave him an incredulous look but pulled up her purse and slung it onto her shoulder. As she walked to the door, she snatched the twenty from his hand. “A double shot of espresso,” she said, arching her eyebrow.
“Yeah, thanks, babe,” he said. He gave her peck on the cheek.
“You’re up to no good,” she said.
“Yeah,” he said, patting her stomach and giving her a sly smile. Saks looked away at this reminder of Luke and Emily’s happiness. She wasn’t showing, not yet, but she glowed as only a pregnant woman could.
“You’re awful,” Emily shot back, though she said it affectionately.
The door shut behind her.
“Double shot of espresso?” Saks snorted. “Where did you hear that shit?”
“Television. It sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“Espresso should be straight espresso. Not some dressed-up to become a mediocre coffee concoction.”
“Someone’s snobby today.”
“Rob? Remember?”
“What about me?” Rob asked. He strolled in from the garage, coffee cup in hand.
Luke leaned against the counter that spread down the inside wall that separated the bay from the office.
“I want to ask about my uncle,” Luke told him. “I need to know where he is right now. Does the FBI have any information on his location?”
Rob’s face twisted in an apologetic and sad half-smile. Saks guessed the FBI agent knew something, but wasn’t ready to give up the information. Rob’s answer confirmed Saks’ suspicion.
“The FBI does domestic work, Luke. You know that.”
“Are you telling me you can’t find out anything about him? From anywhere?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Saks was growing annoyed. This guy was using Luke’s shop as a cover for an operation that he wouldn’t share with either of them. He at least owed them information.
“Look, it’s important,” Saks said. “If there’s any chance he had anything to do with what happened to Hawk and me, we need the info.”
“And,” Luke interjected, “I’ve been mighty patient with this whole camping in my shop while you’re pretending not to hold your government job.”
“You have,” Rob admitted.
“So perhaps you can spill a few things just to grease the wheels of your employment with me.”
“You're aware I can’t keep the money you give me.”
“That’s not the issue,” Luke argued. “Whatever shit you’re into can come down on me and mine. Lately, with everything happening, that's been weighing on my mind. If was just me? I wouldn’t care. But Em, Robbie, and the new baby coming? Yes. I have serious concerns.”
Rob’s lips drew into a hard line. “I understand, and I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Emily, Robbie, or the new baby. You and they are the only family I have left.”
Luke blinked. Saks didn’t realize that Rob considered Luke family. Rob was Emily’s biological father, but had been a no-show since before Emily’s birth. Rob had been the one to initiate the reconnection to his long-lost daughter, but Emily was loyal to a fault to her mother, sister, and the man who’d raised her. While cordial to Rob, she didn’t welcome him into the family circle.
“The truth is, Luke, we have no idea where your uncle is. He’s dropped off the grid. His business is running just fine, but where he is operating? Not a clue. The reason I’m stationed here is to keep an eye on you.”
“Me?”
“Well, you and the Spawn. You guys are clean, but the people around you, your uncle, the Roccos, the Rojos and Hombres, and now the Serafini aren’t. The Spawn have become a magnet for interactions with the worst elements in Connecticut.”
“You aren’t telling us anything new.”
“Just to inform you, this is my last assignment before retirement. I’m just to observe and report. What action the Bureau takes is up to them.”
“And you’re hoping my uncle will contact me?”
“He can’t help himself. Eventually, he’ll show up. It’s anybody’s guess when that will be.”
Luke sucked in a huge breath, and Saks didn’t blame him. Raymundo Icherra had shown up just before the birth of Robbie. If he had any idea that Emily was pregnant again, he’d show up in a few months’ time. Saks did a quick mental calculation and realized that would be just around the holidays.
Shit. Unfortunately, he had more immediate concerns. “Look, that doesn’t help us now.”
Rob shrugged. “If it’s any consolation, Threat Analysis thinks he has nothing to do with the hits placed on you or Hawk.”
“That comforting,” Saks replied sarcastically.
“If not him, then who?” Luke asked.
Rob sighed. “If you’re looking for an answer such as the Rojos, Hombres, Roccos, or Serafini, nothing indicates them. Sure, the Rojos and Hombres are ticked off at you, but they have other troubles they’re dealing with. Both the Roccos and the Serafini have never put a hit out on a family member, so that’s unlikely. We haven’t picked up chatter from any other crime families in New York, New Jersey, or New England. My best professional guess is that it’s none of them.”
“You have a guess, don’t you?” Saks observed.
“This is just a gut instinct, but I believe it was James Pearson.”
Saks clenched his jaw as alarm shot through him. “Why?”
“The way he looked at you at the airport. Like you were someone he wanted to kill, like you were in the way of something important. Is it possible Christina is having an affair with him?”
“No,” Saks responded in a low, guttural growl.
“The man’s in love,” Luke explained sourly.
“She doesn’t like him at all,” Saks said. “No way would she go to bed with him.” Saks' teeth clenched tightly. He didn’t like the turn this conversation was taking, and he glared at both men. Apparently, Luke took notice.
“We’re getting off topic,” Luke said. “The big question is what are we going to do now?”
“Why would you do anything?” Rob queried. “The man’s trouble. It’s best to steer clear of him.”
Saks watched how Luke glanced at Rob and how his eyes narrowed. His boss wasn’t buying Rob’s story, and didn’t like the conclusions the big man made. Despite the shitty way in which the day had started out, Luke had demonstrated he wouldn’t abandon his friend. He always had his back, and now, even though Luke clearly disapproved of Chrissy, he still stood by him.
“That’s probably true,” Luke agreed, on wanting to avoid Pearson, “but you all you have on him is suspicion and innuendo?"
Rob nodded. “We don’t have a goddamn thing on him. The man is a master of covering his tracks.”
“Besides,” Saks grunted, “the trail of bodies following him.”
“Thanks, Rob,” Luke interjected, with a sharp change of tone that signaled the end of the discussion. “How’s that Kawasaki coming?”
Rob groaned. “No Harleys today?”
“Nope, aside from taking the customers’ bikes out of winter storage and getting them ready for the road. So, let’s get that Kawasaki finished and start on those.”
“Sure,” Rob said with a disapproving shake of his head. He disappeared into the shop.
Luke turned to Saks immediately. “How much info do you think Chrissy can get on Pearson?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Wh
at’s going on, Gloria?” Chrissy walked with her sister toward the elevator, with the ostensible mission of grabbing coffee from the cafeteria.
“I just want to show you my ring.”
“Ring?” Chrissy repeated. “You told me that Mario wouldn’t go against Grandpa.”
“That was right after you left. But when Grandpa took off to go fishing, Mario rethought the engagement.”
She pulled out a chain she had under her blouse. “It was Mario’s mother’s.”
Chrissy stared at the ring, a symbol of a lifetime promise, but also a harbinger of trouble. Gloria chattered happily away, detailing the carat weight and shape of the emerald-centered ring. The details flew right by Chrissy, as she couldn’t help but feel uneasy over it and her talk with Saks.
“It’s beautiful,” Chrissy said, when she realized her sister had finished rambling. How angry would their father be once he realized that Mario had disobeyed their grandfather?
Gloria giggled happily. “How are things going with you and Saks?”
She saw Gloria’s game now. If Chrissy distracted the family with what was going on with Saks, Gloria and Mario could slide under the radar with their unsanctioned union.
“None of your business,” Chrissy admonished. She tried to keep the annoyance out of her voice, because that would only inflame her sister to more mischief. Whenever Gloria was up to something, it usually involved getting Chrissy into trouble. And Gloria Serafini’s eyes sparkled with the devil’s work right then.
Gloria leaned in close. “You didn’t come home last night.”
“As if you were home,” Chrissy responded, snorting.
“To tell you the truth, Mario has moved in a few of his things.”
“You’re playing with fire, Gloria. Are you telling me that you and Mario are living together?”
The elevator shot them to the main floor, and they walked off toward the cafeteria a few steps from there.
Gloria gave a little half-shrug, a glint in her eye. “You left me alone in that apartment. I didn’t want to stay by myself. And Mario was glad to get out of his parents’ house.”
“Mama mia,” Chrissy huffed. Now she knew why Mario rethought the engagement. “So, I’m paying Mario’s rent?”
“Hey, that’s not how it is.”
“But I’m still paying for my half. And Mario pays what?”
“Things are tight for Mario since Grandpa left on his fishing trip. He’s not driving for him, and Dad won’t pay him.”
“Why not?”
Gloria’s jaw tightened. “He wasn’t happy that Mario asked me to marry him without getting his permission.”
“You told him?”
“He saw the ring and put two and two together.”
So, Gloria and Mario were suffering blowback already. How much worse would it get if Grandpa and Dad found out they were living together? Old-fashioned wise guys didn’t like that. They could rob, cheat, and steal, but their little girl putting out? A father like theirs would end lives if it meant protecting his girls.
“What? When?”
“That day we went to the airport to try to stop you.”
Chrissy’s eyes grew wide. All that was going on, and she didn’t know?
Why would you know? You’ve had your head all into James Pearson’s business instead of your family’s. Could she be any worse a daughter or a sister?
No. I did what I needed to keep Saks safe from my family... And then ran away to avoid the consequences of loving a man my family did not approve of. At least Gloria stayed and faced them.
Sort of. Except that he’s hiding out at our apartment. And now I have to deal with that.
“Why would Mario do that?”
“Perhaps he was sure of the answer. Mario is more Grandpa’s man that Dad’s. He was hoping to get in a good position before Dad became the big boss.”
“Oh, Gloria,” Chrissy moaned.
“And now with Grandpa gone fishing, Mario’s position in the organization is a big question mark.”
Unfortunately, that meant he wasn’t in good with any of lieutenants and he wasn’t earning a dime.
Terrific, thought Chrissy. And now my sister is supporting him. Well, me too. “And why didn’t Grandpa take Mario with him?”
“He thought that Mario would help Dad, but Dad’s pissed off because he won’t stay away from me. He’s too stubborn to take Mario’s help.”
“And who’s keeping the lieutenants in line with Dad in the hospital?”
Gloria shrugged as a distressed look descended onto her face. Unfortunately, their father was too goddamned stubborn to use Mario, when he was in no condition to do the job of heading the organization.
“This is a freaking mess, Gloria.”
“Yeah, I know.”
They stood in the middle of the cafeteria with visitors, staff, nurses, and doctors swirling around them.
“Get the coffee,” Chrissy instructed. Her tone was no-nonsense, but she was thinking hard. If no one was taking Mario under their wing, and no one was stepping up to help their father, then there was also the worry of what else they’d all be up to. These would be the sorts of things that would get them into a world of hurt when her Grandpa returned. Plus, it was exactly the kind of situation another crime family would take advantage of to usurp the Serafinis’ position.
Gloria returned with a tray filled with coffee cups.
“Gloria, I want you to call Mario and tell him to call the lieutenants to the house tonight. This is an or else call.”
“What?” Gloria’s grip on the tray faltered in her confusion. “Why?”
“Just do it. I’ve gotta go. Tell Dad I’ll see him later.”
“Go? Where are you going?”
But Chrissy was already out of the cafeteria hall and to the valet parking. While she waited for her car, she called Saks.
“Hey, babe,” he answered.
“Hi, honey,” she said. “Can you talk?”
“I’m at work. Can it wait until later?”
“Um, no. I just found out important information, and I need your help.”
“Hang on.” Saks’ muffled voice filtered through her phone.
“Come to the shop. Luke says it’s okay.”
Chrissy drove on autopilot all the way to Luke’s shop. Her head spun with the myriad problems in front of her. She and Saks, her sister and Mario, her grandfather’s fishing trip... and then there was James Pearson and her missing friend, Jessica. The only thing she could think to do at that moment was get to Saks as quickly as possible, so they could come up with a plan before things went haywire.
Saks was standing outside, already waiting for her when she pulled up. In a hurry she jumped from her car and raced over to where he was. Every second felt paramount in the race of whatever it was they were truly up against.
“Hi, babe,” he said. “What’s the 911?”
“It’s a mess, Saks. Grandpa took off, and expected Mario to help Dad while he’s in the hospital. But Dad isn’t letting him.”
The words came out with the speed of a locomotive, but Saks understood what she meant. “So, there are problems with the organization?”
“Yes. After Dad left him without work no one took in Mario, and you think they would, thinking they could score points with Grandpa.”
“That’s too bad for Mario.”
“No. That’s too bad for us. There’s no one running the ship. If one of the lieutenants decides this is an opportunity to make this into civil war, it could lead to a gang war—”
Saks took a deep breath. “I get it, sweetheart. What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to back me up when I talk to the lieutenants tonight.”
Saks stared at her shocked. “Not for nothing, babe, but how am I going to do that?”
Chrissy breathed in deep to steel herself. “As my fiancé and the heir apparent of the Serafini crime family.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Saks couldn’t have looked more shocked
. “Why would I do that?” His words came out in a surprised bark. Had he not been able to look Chrissy in the eye to see she’d meant every word of it, he would’ve thought it all a huge ruse.
Chrissy touched his cheek. “I’m sorry, Saks. So many things are going on. But my grandfather is off on one of his ‘fishing trips.’ Dad isn’t letting Mario help him run things, and you don’t know these guys like I do—”
“Whoa, sweetheart, slow down.”
But it didn’t seem like she could. “And Jessica isn’t answering the phone, and I can’t reach my boss.”
Saks put his hands on Chrissy’s shoulders. “Sorry, babe. I can see why this upsets you. But me showing up trying to tell them what to do will make things worse.”
Chrissy’s face scrunched up as she frowned. “You won’t help me.”
Saks melted into her blue eyes that stared at him with fevered intensity. How could he not help her? He would do almost anything she wanted except stand up as a representative of a crime family, either hers or his.
He slid his hands down her bare arms and then took her in his. Saks gazed into her eyes, hoping she’d understand what he was going to say.
“I didn’t say that. But I think we need a more practiced hand for this operation.”
“What do you mean?”
“How long has your father been in the hospital?”
“Two days.”
“I think it’s time for him to check out.”
“What? He’s not ready for that.”
“He can leave anytime he wants. But don’t worry. I can get qualified medical help to stay with him for a couple days. I probably can even arrange for an ambulance to get him home.”
“Everything okay out here?” Luke poked his head out the front door.
“Yeah. Chrissy has some family problems that we need to work on. Sorry, man. I have to cut out early.”
“What else is new,” Luke responded, exasperated.
Saks pushed inside the door while Luke gave him an annoyed glance, and took his jacket off the hook.
“Sorry, man. Come on, Chrissy.”
“Where are we going?
“First we’re going to speak to Uncle Vits.”
“Why?”