by Kari Lemor
He kissed her then nudged her into the seat, following behind. “That does sound perfect, but I’ll need some food for my stomach if I want to keep chauffeuring you all over the place.”
“I told you it wasn’t necessary to stay with me all day. I can use a cab or you can bring me to the car rental place right now if it’s that much of a problem.” Just like her to challenge him, yet her tone was hurt as she stared at him.
Shutting the door behind him, he started the truck then wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her near. “It’s not a problem. I told you that. It’s been fun running around with you, seeing you in action as you get people to snap to it and do your bidding.”
Her nose crinkled and he reached up to smooth it out. “Hey, that wasn’t a put down. You are an incredible woman who has so much drive and ambition that you almost glow with it. I like basking in that glow.”
“Sweet talker. Where’d you learn how to dish out all that bullshit?”
“Had to do that in the Army to get the best choppers and supplies for my men. They appreciated it.”
She rolled her eyes. “I appreciate it too.”
Laughing, he kissed her again. “Yeah, that sounded sincere.”
“No, Scott, I do. I guess I’m still a little shell-shocked about my house being gone.” She hadn’t mentioned it much today, maybe trying to remove the horrid memory from her mind. The image of her lying on the ground unconscious was one he couldn’t seem to shake. It made him go cold inside.
“That’s understandable. I’ll help you any way I can.”
“But you don’t need to protect me. I’m a big girl.”
Yes, she was, and he wouldn’t remind her of the mess she’d made when she went looking for Jian. She’d probably kick him in the balls.
The grocery store was fun. Heather kept pulling out her favorite snacks then tossing them in the cart. He’d hold it up to ask, “Do we really need this?” She’d nod and throw it back in.
“Seriously?” he said, holding up a packet of marshmallows.
Planting her hands on her hips, she responded, “I’ll have you know those have multiple uses. To put in hot chocolate.”
“It’s eighty-five degrees out today.”
Her eyes rolled to the ceiling. “You need them for Rice Krispie squares.”
He smiled at her. “Are we sending them in for a birthday at school?”
Pursing her lips, she took the bag and placed it back in the cart. “S’mores. You need them to make s’mores.”
As he pushed the cart farther down the aisle, he chuckled. “You’re worse than Jonathan.”
She jumped up and down then grabbed his arm. “Yes, we can stop by Callie and Jack’s and make s’mores with them.” The jumping stopped and she cocked her head. “This weekend we’ll go over. It’s a school night for Jonathan.”
“I bet he’d like some Rice Krispie squares too,” Scott said as he continued down the aisle.
“I’ll put one in your lunch box for tomorrow.”
“Where am I going tomorrow?”
“Work.”
“I’m going wherever you are tomorrow.”
“You need to stop this, Scott. We can’t be joined at the hip forever. I have clients I need to take care of and show houses to. And you need to get the men working on the renovation project.”
“Until we know exactly what’s happening, I’m not risking anyone else’s life.”
“So the men there lose their paycheck?” Her eyes flashed with anger.
He put some milk in the cart and closed the cooler door. “I moved most of those men to one of my other contracts. No one’s missing anything.”
“But our project is getting behind schedule.”
Moving toward the checkout, he stopped and put his hands on her shoulders. “We have to be patient and take our time with this. I don’t want to risk any more accidents or incidents. We could end up dead next time. I kind of like being alive, thank you.”
“You’re right.” She leaned against his arm as the cashier rang up their groceries.
“Aren’t you going to fight me to pay for these?”
A sheepish smile crossed her face and she bit her lip. “No. I used up all the cash I took out of the bank on all the other things I needed. I can pay you back.”
Shaking his head, he laughed. “I think I’ll manage.”
The trip home and unloading of groceries and all her bags was done in companionable silence with an occasional remark. As she tucked her items in with his, he threw together supper.
“The casserole will be ready in about thirty minutes. Why don’t we sit and relax until then?”
“I’m not sure I know how to relax, Scott.”
“Then I’ll teach you. Come here.” He took her hand and led her to the couch, where he got her settled in the crook of his arm.
“I’m sorry if I keep fighting you about everything. I’m used to doing everything on my own. I forget that sometimes I can accept help from others.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I hate being beholden to anyone, though. I’ve tried not to accept anything from my parents because I’m afraid my mom will hold it over my head to do something she wants me to do. Like marry some boring banker.”
“They’re simply trying to protect you. They love you and don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“Like you?” Was she asking if he loved her? Did he?
“I mean that you want to protect me too.” Her breath was raspy as she corrected her words. He’d think about the other later.
“Yes, I promised your father. But I’d do it even if he hadn’t asked.”
“I understand that. But I don’t want you to smother me.”
“No smothering. Got it.”
Her sassy smile got his heart thumping harder than ever. Damn her. “Hmm, I’m taking back that promise not to smother.”
“But—”
“We’ve got a little time. I’m going to use it to smother you with kisses.”
Her eyes lit up as she reached for his face. “Well, in that case, go right ahead.”
* * * *
“We’re here to see Tony Pascucci.” Jack’s deep baritone made the mocha-skinned beauty at the desk look up and smile.
“Do you have an appointment?”
Shit, had they come all this way only to be turned away? Scott had tons of other things he could be doing today instead of driving down to Jersey to meet with the guy who’d been Victor Cabrini’s right-hand man. That included being with Heather and making sure she was fine. Her thick shell of protection had come back strong, and she’d practically kicked him out when he wanted to hang out at her office. She wasn’t quite steady after having her house explode last week, though, no matter what she said.
“No,” Jack answered, his smile growing. “But he’ll see me. Tell him Jack Holland is here.”
The woman spoke into her phone softly then nodded her head. “Mr. Pascucci’s office is at the end of the hall on your right.”
“Do you trust this guy?”
Jack’s smile slipped. “No, not really, but he did save Callie and me from Cabrini. And I’ve had some friends from the Bureau check on him. It seems he’s trying to make sure any of the companies that survived the criminal sweep stay legit.”
After a quick tap on the door and a call to enter, they walked into a large office where the dark-haired man sat. His expression was pleasant if not a bit surprised. He stood as they walked in farther.
“Holland, this is a nice surprise. Tell me you’ve decided to take me up on my offer of a job.”
Jack shook the man’s hand. “No, but I’ve got something I could use your help with.”
“Of course. Have a seat.”
After sitting, Jack began, “This is my cousin, Scott. He and a partner re
cently bought a mill building they planned to renovate. They’ve had quite a few problems crop up along the way. Victor’s name happened to pop up as possibly owning the building previously.”
Pascucci looked thoughtful. “Victor owned many properties along the eastern seaboard for a variety of reasons. Where is this one located?”
“Prescott Street in Menatuck, Connecticut,” Scott supplied.
“Menatuck. That doesn’t ring any bells, but then I wasn’t in charge of stuff like that. A lot of the warehouses and mills were used for supplies and stolen goods. Hold on. Let me check something.”
As he clicked away on his computer, Jack shot him a curious look. “You still have information on Cabrini’s holdings?”
Looking up, Pascucci grinned. “Sure. The Feds took most of the computers and drives that belonged to Victor’s companies, but there might have been a few they missed.” He winked at them. “Information is a precious commodity, my friend. It’s always good to have as much as possible.”
A minute later, he tapped the screen. “Yes, Menatuck. Victor used that building for supplies and stolen goods he got from some of the Boston syndicate. Had it under someone else’s name so it wasn’t traced back to him. Typical practice.”
“You have no dealings with that building anymore?” Jack asked.
“No, looks like it was emptied a few years ago.”
Scott leaned forward in his chair. “Do you know why anyone would want the renovations of the place stopped? To the point of murder?”
“No.” Pascucci shook his head, his lips pursing. “I didn’t have anything to do with that building so can’t answer much about it. According to this, one of the guys who used to be responsible for the place is still around. In your neck of the woods.”
“Do you have a name and address?” Jack asked.
Checking his computer, Pascucci scribbled on a pad of paper, ripped it off, and then handed it to them. Scott took it and stood, thrusting out his hand. “Thanks. Appreciate the information.”
Pascucci shook his hand. “I appreciate what your cousin did for me so I could retain some of Victor’s companies.”
“You saved my life. And that of my wife and baby. It’s the least I could do.” Jack followed Scott to the door.
“That job offer is still open, Holland,” Pascucci called out. Jack nodded, chuckled, and then walked down the hallway with him.
“Where are we going now?” Jack asked as they exited the building.
Glancing at the paper, Scott shook his head. “You don’t need to come with me. I’ve taken up enough of your time today. Thanks for doing this.”
Jack grabbed the paper, scanning the words. “New Haven. At least it’s kind of on the way home.”
Once they were in the company truck and on the highway north, Scott glanced at his cousin. “You don’t need to come with me, Jack. I’m a big boy and can handle a few questions.”
“I know you are, Scott. But if this guy worked for Cabrini he’s more than likely a little slimy. Even the best agents don’t approach someone like this without back up.”
“Good point.”
They continued on in silence, Scott’s mind going a mile a minute. Would they get any answers from this guy? Would he be able to tell them why someone wanted this project stopped badly enough they’d blow up Heather’s house, with her inside? Had they timed it so Scott would be there too?
The thought of someone wanting him dead scared the crap out of him. Not only because he liked being alive, but because of the potential for others around him to get hurt. Jack, Callie, Jonathan, or any of the people who worked for him.
“How’s Heather doing?” Jack’s question interrupted his thoughts. “Callie asked her and she brushed it all off. Like almost being blown up was nothing.”
“She’s had a few meltdowns. Her emotions are ranging from sad and devastated to angry and ready to rip someone’s balls off.”
Chuckling, Jack said, “Sounds like Heather. And what’s up with you two? Do we need to have that talk again about not hurting her?”
“Back off,” he snapped then regretted his tone. He sighed. “Sorry, got a lot on my mind. Anyone even suggesting I’d hurt Heather kind of pisses me off. Right now I’m focusing on how to keep her safe.”
“You could pull the plug on this renovation project.”
“I could but I’m not sure that will solve the problem. It might for us, but whoever we sell the building to will most likely have the same issues. We need to figure out what the fuck is going on. Before someone else takes a potshot at us.”
“Agreed. It’s why I’m taking time out to go with you today.”
The miles flew by with Jack filling him in on the house addition and some of the possible name choices for the new baby.
“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?”
“Callie didn’t want to know, so I’m honoring that. The ultrasound was a bit sketchy anyway. Good thing I’m not a tech for that. Head, arms, legs, yeah, but anything else was dubious in my opinion.”
“I can’t even imagine.”
“It’s amazing, Scott. You might think about trying this marriage and baby thing.”
A laugh escaped and he shrugged. The truth was he had been thinking of it, a lot more than he’d ever done in the past. Did he want to admit it, though? He sure didn’t want Callie playing matchmaker.
“The address we got is down here,” Jack said as he turned onto a street in a rundown section of New Haven. They got out, checked the apartment, and when there was no answer started asking around. They both had on working clothes, which made them blend in among the casually dressed people of the neighborhood.
“Kenny, sure. He usually hangs out at that bar around the corner during the day. You can probably find him there,” one older guy who’d been sitting on the stoop told them. Scott pushed a ten dollar bill into his hand and thanked him. The man quickly shoved it in his pocket, scanning the area.
“Let’s go find this guy,” Jack said, heading in the direction of the bar.
Once inside, they asked around, and though no one would tell them who he was, many eyes swiveled in the direction of a forty-something guy shooting darts.
“Thanks,” Scott said to the bartender as he and Jack left. They didn’t go far. The alley next to the building was wide and empty.
“How long you think we’ll need to wait until he comes out?” Scott wanted to get back to check on Heather. The images of her crying and falling apart in his arms jabbed deep inside. He wouldn’t even go anywhere near the ones of them entwined on the bed, or God help him, the kitchen table. After dinner yesterday they’d spent a long portion of the night exploring every inch of each other.
“Here he is,” Jack warned and they flanked the man as he moved on the sidewalk.
“Kenny Jefferson?”
Kenny’s eyes narrowed and he frowned. “Who wants to know?”
“Tony Pascucci gave us your name. Said you might be able to help us.” Jack threw out the ex-mobster’s name. Would it help?
“Tony, huh? I ain’t got nothing to help no one.”
“All we want is some information. It’ll only take a second.” Scott didn’t want to be hanging around this guy any longer than they needed to.
Kenny attempted to walk around them, but Jack moved closer and Scott maneuvered him farther into the alley.
“You worked for Victor Cabrini for a while.”
“Yeah, what of it? The guy got whacked and left me with no job.” His eyes darted around the area.
“We were told you worked at the mill building on Prescott Street in Menatuck. What can you tell us about that place?”
“I can’t tell you nothing. Get the fuck out of my way.” He reached into his pocket and Scott grabbed for his hand then twisted it behind his back. The man held a knife.
“All I’m doing
is asking you a few questions. Cabrini’s dead, so you don’t have to worry about snitching on him. I want to know what the building was used for.”
“Yeah, what’s in it for me?” Kenny grunted.
Memories of Heather lying still on the ground after her house exploded flashed through his mind. She’d almost been killed.
“How about I don’t break your face?” Scott snapped, as he slammed the man into the wall harder. “Is that reason enough to give me a few answers?”
“Okay, man, let up. I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
Releasing him, Scott allowed him to turn around but hovered right in his face.
“The building was used to hold stolen goods. We used to move them in and out at night.”
“What else?”
“I don’t know what else.”
Scott’s hand pushed against the man’s throat. “Why would someone be opposed to renovating the building?”
“What the fuck, man, I don’t know. Unless there’s still stolen shit in there. I…wait, the basement. We were told not to go into the basement.”
Easing back on the pressure, Scott asked, “Why? What was in there?” He only remembered debris and empty boxes.
“I don’t know. I never went down there. You think I was going to risk getting my ass killed by disobeying Victor Cabrini? I ain’t that dumb, man.”
He’d have to look more closely at the basement. Stepping back, he crooked his head toward the street. “Thanks for the info.”
Jack stepped in front of Kenny, and it almost looked like he handed him something. Then the man took off down the street. Once back in the car, Scott glanced at his cousin.
“What’d you give him?”
Jack shrugged. “Some money. Figured we didn’t need someone like him holding a grudge. He may have been harmless enough, but I’m sure he has friends.”
“Never thought of that. Guess I’m not cut out for this cloak-and-dagger shit.”
Laughing, Jack said, “You seemed to do the tough guy questioning thing well enough.”
“This thing with Heather almost getting killed has got me freaked out. I need to find answers.”
“You don’t have to explain it to me. Trying to keep Callie and Jonathan safe for so many years was about the only thing that kept me going. But you keep saying how Heather almost got killed. You were right there in the explosion too, Scott. Don’t forget to watch your own back here.”