by It Girls
*
The private room Lucas put the Roses in was elegant and quiet.
Madison, Porsche, Alexa, Vanessa, Samantha and Julia were seated around the table. If they were surprised to see Jack with Chloe, none of them showed it. That meant Renee or Olivia had already briefed them that he had security clearance.
"Well, I'm here." Becca swept into the room in a purple Adelphio suit, which thrilled Chloe. Adele would be beside herself to know the Roses were picking up her designs. She looked preppy and sexy as she slid down onto a chair. "What's up?"
"First, we all have the phone tree going on Emma, right?" When all the women nodded, Chloe went on. "Any news?"
"Not a thing," Porsche said in disgust. "No change."
That earned grunts around the table.
"Her parents haven't left the hospital," Becca said. "That's touching, don't you think?"
Chloe nodded, remembering when she'd been seven and had her tonsils out. Frank had been with her. Not her parents. She had seen them shortly after surgery and not again until she'd come home. But every time she'd drifted off or opened her eyes, Frank was in the chair at her bedside.
Porsche admitted her fear. "I'm scared Emma won't wake up, and if she does wake up, she'll find out she'll never play the piano professionally again, and then she'll want to go back to sleep."
"You're wrong about that, Porsche," Chloe said. "Emma might think about going back to sleep but she'd never do it. She's too strong for that."
"Can anyone really be that strong?" Porsche asked.
"Emma is. Oh, she'll be pissed. She'll hate not playing professionally, and she'll bitch a blue streak about having to go to physical therapy. We'll all have a well-deserved pity party, and then she'll pick herself up and do something else."
"How can you be sure of that?" Porsche didn't look convinced. "She loves the piano."
"I've known her all my life, Bug," Chloe said, using Emma's nickname for Porsche. "It's her way. Emma loves many things. Piano is just one of them."
"I hope to hell you're right," Madison whispered.
Chloe lifted her chin. "You can count on it."
Porsche locked gazes with Chloe. "The Duke did this to Emma."
And the monster Duke could be living in the body of Chloe's only brother. Chloe couldn't respond.
Jack did. "That's what we believe, Porsche."
"Don't you dare faint." Madison shoved a glass of water at her. "Take a drink."
Porsche gulped. Then gulped again. "I'm going to kill that mother— "
"Stop. Now." Vanessa laid a calm hand on Porsche's arm. "Save it. Focus on justice for Emma."
It took a moment for the haze to leave Porsche, but finally she nodded. "Okay. Okay."
They ordered and ate, and talked as they did. "Jack and I reviewed all the mission reports," Chloe said. "Did any of you notice anything recently that's not in your reports?"
"Like what?" Vanessa asked.
"Joint ventures or strategic business alliances with anyone in our circle. Oddities you couldn't explain or didn't consider connected," Chloe suggested. "Anything at all."
"I didn't." Becca took a bite of trout almandine, then swallowed. "Wait. I examined some emeralds for Franklin Greene. Excellent clarity and quality. They were from his mine."
"What mine?" Chloe asked.
"I told you about his mine," Jack said. "In Colombia. The one he owned with Julio's father."
"Ryan tells this story on every first date," Alexa said. "I can't believe you don't remember it."
"I haven't dated Ryan." Chloe took a sip of water.
"Oh, well, do you want to hear it?" Samantha asked.
Jack resisted the urge to roll his eyes by half-a-hair, amusing Chloe. "Sure."
"Wait. I'll give you the short version," Porsche said. "Franklin and Julio's father owned the mine. Franklin was Julio's godfather— a very sacred thing in Colombia— "
"And to Catholics," Vanessa piped in.
"The local mafia— "
"Drug runners," Madison corrected her. "But when you get down to it, aren't they about the same?"
"Whatever," Porsche said. "They wanted the mine, so Franklin told Julio's father to get some protection to cover their assets."
"They hired mercenaries?" Chloe asked.
Samantha nodded, and picked up there. "Julio and his father were heading home and a drunk driver nailed them."
"A T-bone right into the passenger's side," Porsche said.
"The father wasn't hurt, but Julio was hurt badly," Julia told her. "Both of his legs and his left arm."
Jack was rapt. "But Julio's father died in that accident."
"No, not in the accident, but definitely at the scene," Becca said. "This car screams up on them. Someone inside shoots Julio's dad— while he's got Julio in his arms, for God's sake. His dad is dead before he hits the ground, and Julio is beside him on the street, bleeding to death."
Porsche added, "And the drunk driver hauled ass, just leaving them there."
"You've got to be kidding." Revulsion swept through Chloe.
"I am not," Porsche insisted, her hair extensions shaking.
"It gets worse," Samantha said. "The authorities learned the drunk's car was rented by a woman, and next thing they know, she's skipped the country."
"So they couldn't arrest her," Jack said.
"That's right." Becca confirmed it. "Then the drug lords came after Julio— scared he saw them, Ryan thinks, but Julio didn't see them— and Julio's mother and brother, too."
"Good grief." Chloe dabbed at her mouth with her napkin.
Vanessa added more information. "His mother freaked out— who wouldn't— and ran to Franklin for protection. She left Julio with him, supposedly so he could get the medical care he needed, but she was just scared and figured, without Julio, no one would bother her or Paul— her other son. She and Paul took off for Europe and disappeared."
"That's when Franklin adopted Julio?" Jack asked.
Becca nodded. "And hired a small army to protect him and another one to guard the mine. The drug lords apparently figured it was too much trouble to mess with, and left Julio and the mine alone. And that's that."
Vanessa turned to Chloe. "Everyone but Jack knows that on my last assignment I was seeing if I could beat temptation and stay off cocaine."
"You were using?" Jack sounded stunned.
"At one time," Vanessa admitted. "The assignment was to bust up a drug-mule ring in Florida."
"Let me get this straight," Jack said. "Renee sent you, a former drug addict, to break up a drug-mule ring."
"Well, of course, darling," Chloe said. "Who better than Vanessa understands how they operate?"
"That's why Renee chose me for the assignment," Vanessa said. No one needed to remind anyone of Vanessa's supermodel status.
"So models were involved then, too," Jack said. "That's a connection."
Chloe nodded, then asked Vanessa. "When you were on the assignment down in Florida, did you see Ryan, Brit or Erik?"
"No, and I would have noticed them." She hesitated a fraction of a second. "I know Erik is your brother, Chloe, but I hate being around those three when they're together. They're absolute animals."
"Thinking back now, do you remember anything that wasn't in the report, Vanessa— anything that might point to the Duke?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Maybe Fluffy Peters noted something in her report." Vanessa named the woman known as the Matriarch of Palm Beach. "She helped me out down there, and she gets the job done."
"Thanks, we will check with her." Chloe looked around. "Anyone else?"
Madison set down her fork. "Ryan competed against me for the Towers."
Jack looked at her. "Privately, or his cartel?"
"He always invests with the cartel."
Jack glanced at Chloe, who asked, "Was Tatiana involved?"
"Of course. She reviews all his financial documents," Madison said. "But I can't say Erik or Brit were directly involved. Ryan did t
ouch base with his father, Julio, Marcus and Brit's brother, Caulfield, though."
Chloe's stomach sank. Brit had replaced Caulfield after Caulfield's arrest. Erik could have replaced Marcus after his death. Regardless, Madison affixed Marcus firmly as a cartel member.
Alexa set down her wineglass. "Ryan Greene was at the Metropolitan Classic Horse Show, where I was investigating suspicious horse deaths. One of the horses had terrible nerve damage— and recovered, thanks to Ross's company's new technology." She blushed when she mentioned Ross. "Maybe Ryan was interested in seeing proof that the technology repairing nerve damage worked. For Julio."
Before Chloe could ask her next question, Jack did. "Didn't a woman die during that mission?"
Alexa nodded. "Dawn," she said. "She could have worked for the Duke, and she would have talked, but she was killed before she could. I believe the Duke ordered her death. I just can't prove it."
"Anything at all unreported?" Chloe asked.
"The photo I gave Renee," Alexa said. "She said to omit it from the report."
"What was in it?"
"A woman and a little boy. She freaked out over seeing it, so I committed it to memory." She shrugged a shoulder. "Instinct, you know?"
Everyone at the table nodded.
"It was of Julio and Marcella Vitiello," Alexa said. "I have to say, I've wondered a million times why Renee was so upset about seeing it. She looked as if she'd seen a ghost. I have no idea why, and of course, she didn't wish to discuss it."
Same words she'd used about Franklin's "bitch" comment.
"Julio Vitiello Sr. owned half Franklin's mine, Chloe," Jack said. "Julio Vitiello is Julio Greene."
She processed that information, and sought verification. "Were Erik and Brit also there?"
Alexa looked as if she wished she didn't have to answer. "They were," she admitted. "Three women were with them. They were dressed like hookers and kept to themselves."
Chloe passed photos to Alexa. "Take a look."
Alexa did. "That's them. Who are they?"
"We believe three Russians who were sold into white slavery."
"Oh, dear God." Alexa cringed. "And Ryan, Erik and Brit are involved?"
Vanessa grunted. "Brit's as twisted as his brother."
Did they think Chloe was as twisted as Erik, too?
Madison touched her arm. "Don't even think it. Wonder Boy is an idiot, but that has nothing to do with you."
The other Rose agents reassured Chloe that they felt the same way, and under the table, Jack squeezed her hand.
"Erik is likely up to his royal neck in this and drowning. Thanks for not blaming me." Chloe looked at Jack. He, too, knew they were very close to revealing the Duke. He had to be one of the cartel members. And with Renee's reaction to the photo, Chloe suspected she held that key.
"We need to talk to Renee," Jack said.
Chloe hesitated. She was missing something simple but significant and needed a few minutes to get things clear. Talking through it would do that. "First, I need to see Emma."
Chapter 16
On the ride to the G.R.C. to meet with Renee, Jack phoned Harrison for an update on the Governess and looked defeated.
"No word from the abductor?" Chloe whispered.
"No." He glanced over. "Yes, Chloe's with me. Okay." Clearly unhappy, Jack passed the phone. "Harrison."
Chloe bit back a smile. "Hello, Harrison."
"I take it you and Jack have mended fences."
An opportunity to test the waters; Jack was listening avidly. "Sort of. You know how it is. I've been crazy about him since I was a teen. One incident can't negate all that."
"He's giving you fits, eh?" He laughed. "Your cabdriver still hasn't been identified. But the cab was reported stolen just after midnight."
"Oh, thanks for telling me that," she said, acting as if the information were personal. "I enjoyed having dinner with you, too." She avoided looking at Jack. "Mmm, a celebration dinner when this is over?"
Harrison laughed louder. "Give him hell, Princess."
Jack snatched the phone. "We would be delighted to join you for dinner when this is over, Harrison," Jack said from between his teeth. "Get off the damn phone and find the Governess."
"Sure. Hey, Jack?"
Chloe could still hear Harrison's words from the phone.
"What?" Now, he was growling.
"If you and Chloe don't get back together— totally, I mean— let me know," he said. "Or if things just don't work out. Or if you decide to see other people. You know what I mean."
"I know exactly what you mean. Don't hold your breath." Jack shut off the phone and tossed it on the seat. "Chloe?"
"Yes, Jack?" she asked, all sweetness and light.
He reached for her hand. "You know you're mine, right?"
"Am I? Really?" Her heart was hungry, but she did have a sliver of pride left.
He pulled over to the curb, pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, unleashing all the passion he held for her, all the fear and desire and love. She met him with tenderness, with fire, letting him know that she was no longer a child of sixteen but a woman living a leap of faith.
He gasped against her lips. "I love you." Dropping kisses to her jaw, down her neck, he whispered the words she'd craved over and again.
Her hands kneading his back, his sides, slid to his chest. She looked into his eyes. "I love you, too," she whispered, and then kissed him again.
Chloe's cell phone rang. She and Jack groaned, and she answered. "Hello?"
"Did it work?"
Harrison. She smiled. "Like a charm."
"Great. But you need to celebrate later, Chloe. We're about out of time with the Governess. There've been no demands."
If the abductor wasn't making demands, then odds were it was because he already had what he wanted: the Governess. Chances of her safe return were next to nil. "Right." She hung up and looked at Jack.
Her wisest course of action would be to keep her opinions to herself. But Chloe couldn't do it, because if she did and her speaking up could have brought about a positive outcome, the guilt would gnaw at her forever. "I think the Duke has her, Jack," she said quickly, before she could change her mind. "And I think we have him. All roads keep leading back to our favorite suspects, the cartel."
Both she and Jack were pretty damn frustrated, but Chloe pulled out her phone and tried Ashley in Los Angeles. Time to see what she and Rubi Cho were up to. As she dialed, she told Jack, "Harrison says we're about out of time."
"Stands to reason if the cartel is in L.A."
Chloe had failed to reach Ashley at least a dozen times and apparently was going to fail again. No answer. She needed to warn her not to take one of those three private flights back to New York. "Trying her one more time."
When Chloe still got no answer, Jack suggested, "Call Rubi. Ask her to relay a message."
Having to ask Rubi for yet another favor rankled, but Chloe wasn't above it. Not this time. She dialed and waited. When Rubi answered, Chloe said, "It's Chloe, Rubi."
"All's well on the western front."
She sounded half-drunk. Chloe sighed. This, they did not need. "I need to talk to Ashley about the Halloween Ball and her cell is down."
"She forgot to charge it," Rubi said. "Hang on and I'll try to get her. I think— yes, she's still here."
Cold chills ran up Chloe's back. "Is she leaving?"
"Yes. No. Well, sort of. Brit is flying a bunch of us up to Reno to do some gambling."
Shock rippled warnings through Chloe. "Rubi, listen to me. Are you listening to me?" She was singing along with some damn band. "Rubi, listen to me now. Do you understand?"
A pause.
Chloe covered the receiver. "Brit is flying some of them up to Reno to gamble."
"Damn it. He's moving the women." Jack whipped out his cell and dialed a number, quickly sharing the information.
"They haven't left yet, Rubi, right?" Chloe asked.
"Ashley's still h
ere. She was supposed to go with Brit on the first plane, but she's sticking with Erik. She said she had to take care of something first— so she could wait for Erik and the second flight."
Chloe covered the receiver, told Jack, "Brit's in flight. Erik's still on the ground, but taking the second group." Then Chloe asked Rubi, "When did Brit leave?"
"Oh, maybe thirty minutes ago." Rubi stilled, then sobered. "Did you want me to watch him, too?"
"I wanted you to tell me about any private plane trips."
"I thought you just meant with Erik. Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure. Do you see Ashley? I need to talk to her."
"I'll find her and tell her to call you." Sounding tipsy as hell, Rubi hung up.
Chloe was rattled to the core. "If Brit left that long ago, he could be anywhere now."
Jack put a hand on her arm, gently rubbed it shoulder to elbow. "It's okay. We'll pick them up."
"You'd better tag them to see where they're going or we'll never get those women back."
"We're on it, Chloe." He kept rubbing her arm. "Don't give up on Erik. He might be on the plane back to New York. He might not realize…"
"Do you believe that?"
Jack pulled into the hospital parking lot, got out and opened the door for Chloe before he answered. When he did, regret burned in his eyes. "We'll have to wait and see. The FBI is monitoring. They got a fix on Rubi's phone when you called her the first time. They are tagging Brit's flight. I can't predict what Erik will do any more than you can, but I hope. For you, I hope."
"Just talk straight to me, please," Chloe said. "Do you believe Erik doesn't realize what he's been doing?"
"No. No, honey, I don't. But with my whole heart, for your sake, I hope I'm wrong."
His compassion had her blinking back tears. She left the car, tiptoed and kissed him on the cheek, then hugged him hard. He wound his arms around her, and she whispered, "My heart has to fend for itself with you, Jack Quaid." She tucked her hands under his coat and caressed his back. "I adore you."
"Don't stop." He kissed her, then murmured against her forehead. "Don't leave me in love without you."