by Chelle Bliss
“Morgan called him,” she said quickly as she filled our glasses.
My hands landed on the table with a thud, causing the wine-filled glasses to bounce. “What?” I asked through clenched teeth. “You can’t be serious.”
“As a fuckin’ heart attack. You know I never joke when it comes to that man.”
“What would Morgan want with Tino?” I gulped down half my glass in one fell swoop because the entire situation called for liquor and lots of it.
“I guess he wanted to know if Tino knew where Ray was. Sal has talked to him a bit lately. I guess he’s trying to get his shit together up there after he finally got released from prison. It wasn’t Santino that set Sal off, it was the mention of Ray.”
“Huh.” I leaned back and took a deep breath.
“Sal will never forgive Ray for leaving you the way he did.”
“It was best, Mar. You know how Ray was, and I was actually happy the day he disappeared from my life.”
“I know, but Sal doesn’t know everything that happened. I never told him, even after all these years.”
I stared at her in complete shock. “You better not tell him now. He’s going to be pissed at both of us for the rest of our lives.”
Mar had never been one to keep secrets. The fact that she held on to the one about Ray and his temper for that long was astonishing. Impressive, even. She had always been known as the blabbermouth. An adorable and caring one, but still she wasn’t the one you wanted with you when you buried a body. She would sing like a canary before the cops would even have a chance to question her.
“I know,” she groaned and laid her head on her hands. “But now Tino’s involved. This is going to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.”
I grabbed the bottle of wine and refilled my glass and Maria’s too. “It is what it is now. We have to let the chips fall where they may, Mar. I still can’t believe Morgan would call him. Tino back in the game?”
And by game, I meant organized crime. We always used the neighborhood lingo because it sounded more pleasant than the reality. Even prison had a different name too—college. Half the time I didn’t know if someone was in school or prison, but I rolled with it.
“He claims he’s on the up-and-up, but who the hell knows. Why Betty stayed with him, I’ll never know.”
“You know they were always explosive, but they had that thing…”
“Insanity?” Maria laughed.
“You know who I feel bad for? His kids.”
“I haven’t seen them since they were little. It’s a shame I have two nephews and a niece that I’ve lost touch with.”
“They’re all grown-up now, Mar. Vinnie, the youngest, is in college.”
“Shit. I feel even worse. Thanks for the pick-me-up, Fran.”
“I’m a people pleaser.” I smiled into my glass. “Where is my brother, anyway?”
“He went golfing. He felt the need to beat the shit out of something, so he decided an innocent white ball was the best outlet for his anger.”
“Seems normal.”
We both started laughing. My brother was a pill. He had that wild mix of Italian temper and gentleness. One thing he wasn’t…was an abuser. He and Ray had nothing in common. How I ended up with that worthless dirtbag was beyond me. I knew people always thought the same thing but never asked. Thank God, because I wouldn’t have had an answer.
“Feel like cooking?” She raised an eyebrow.
I nodded. “What are you thinking?”
“Everyone has been traveling so much. Let’s do an impromptu family dinner tonight.”
“Sure,” I said, but I needed to see Bear.
“Invite him too,” she replied like she’d read my mind.
“Let’s do this.”
Maria headed to the refrigerator and started to pull out all kinds of things that we could make. Instead of trying to decide on one thing, we started prepping everything. Cavatelli, meatballs, sausage, eggplant, chicken, and a boatload of other family dishes.
No one was going to walk out of this house hungry.
* * *
“You and Morgan seem chummy,” I told Bear as I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek just above the spot where his beard met a clearing of skin.
He wrapped his arm around my back. “Sweetheart, did you ever doubt we could get along?”
Snaking my arm around his neck, I stared into his eyes and smiled. “You two are both hardheaded, baby.”
“We both care for you and would do anything to make you happy.”
I raised an eyebrow and rubbed my nose against his. “You know what would make me happy?”
“What?” he whispered with his lips barely touching mine.
My fist connected with his stomach. “Making sure Morgan doesn’t get my crazy-ass brother in Chicago involved in this shit too.”
He barely flinched at the impact and tightened his hold on me so I couldn’t get another punch in. “Why?”
“He’s no good. He’s been involved in organized crime most of his life. I don’t want Morgan getting close to him.”
“Morgan’s a grown man, Fran. I can’t make him do anything.”
“You’re right.”
“I like the sound of that.” He smiled against my mouth.
“Don’t get too used to me saying that,” I murmured before he crushed his lips against mine and stole anything else I was about to say.
“You two are gross,” Mike said, walking by us in the hallway as he made a gagging noise in the back of his throat.
Bear pulled away and stared into my eyes with the biggest smile I’d ever seen. “It’s nice to finally have someone to kiss.” I bit my lip and smiled back.
It had been forever since I’d had this feeling. Butterflies still flooded my stomach when he walked into a room, and my mind buzzed with possibilities every time he was near. Bear had that ability to make everything better.
“Where are you guys in the investigation?” Race asked, pushing back from the dinner table and gathering up the dirty plates that everyone had left behind when they headed into the living room.
“Let me get those.” Morgan grabbed the stack of plates from Race’s hand. “We have some solid leads, babe.”
I looked at them, still in Bear’s arms, with pride and accomplishment. The man had manners, and I had no one else to thank for that but myself.
“Think we’ll get the money back?” She followed him into the kitchen with the half-eaten bowl of cavatelli—why we made five pounds, I’ll never know.
“Poor kid,” Bear whispered when I glanced up at him with my lips twisted.
“I know. That’s a lot of money for a new business to lose.”
“We’ll figure something out,” he said in the sweetest voice and pressed his lips into my hair.
“Wanna get out of here?” I asked and waggled my eyebrows.
“Fuck yeah!” He smirked and licked his lips. “I’ve been dying to taste you all day.” Releasing me, he grabbed my hand, and we started to tiptoe toward the front door.
“Where are you two sneaking off to?” Sal asked just as Bear’s hand touched the doorknob.
“Fuck,” I hissed and closed my eyes. Even after fifty years, my brother was still a complete cockblock. “We were just going for some fresh air.” I sighed, staring up at Bear with my teeth clenched.
He squeezed my hand before he spoke. “I forgot something outside, and we were just going to grab it, Sal. We’ll be right back.” Bear glanced down at me and winked.
Sal’s eyes grew into little slits before he gave us a quick nod. “Don’t be too long. We have things to talk about.”
“Give us five,” I called as Bear pulled me out the front door.
“Five? I mean, I’m all for a quickie, but I need more than five minutes to get my fill, Franny.”
“We can’t now.” I looked around the treelined street in the darkness. “Not here. Someone could be watching.”
“Like fuck. Don’t be a cocktease, woma
n. There isn’t anyone out here. We’re in the sticks, for God’s sake.” He wrapped his arm around my back and guided me down the front steps.
My feet touched the driveway and my stomach rumbled, but not out of fear. “What if someone looks out the window?” My body tingled, and the thought of getting caught sent a tremor of excitement through my body.
He looked down at me with a smug smile. “No windows on the side of the garage, sweetheart.”
“Oh,” I whispered and walked a little faster so no one would see where we went.
We were barely around the corner of the garage, hidden from the moonlight by the shadows of the trees, when Bear dropped to his knees and started to yank at my pants. “This is where track pants would be an asset. No buttons.” His face was hidden in the darkness, but his fingers worked quickly.
“Can’t have it both ways,” I teased, placing my palms against the garage and bracing myself for what was coming next.
His hands worked fast, pulling my jeans down to my knees before his lips came crashing down against my skin. I couldn’t move my legs. I tried to make my stance wider and give him better access, but I couldn’t. My pants were too tight, but it didn’t stop Bear.
He dug his fingers into my ass and held me in place as his lips caressed my clit with precision. My eyes sealed shut, the sensation so overwhelming I could barely breathe. Thank God I didn’t have any air in my lungs, or I would’ve been moaning like a whore and drawing attention to us.
When my eyes fluttered open and I was finally able to catch my breath, Bear was already on his feet. He was licking his lips and staring at me like I was the dessert and he was ready for another helping. I bent over and pulled my jeans up, almost falling over because my body hadn’t recovered yet.
“How am I supposed to face everyone now?” I asked, sucking in my stomach so I could button the tight jeans that had become my new go-to pants instead of my comfy track pants. Times like these—I missed them.
“Just act natural.” He chuckled softly as the moonlight glimmered on his hair when his body moved out of the shadows.
“Yeah, I’m sure that’ll be easy.” I rolled my eyes and finally got the top button to close. “How do I look?” I asked as I shimmied down the side of the garage to stand under the light.
“Like you just came.” He smiled.
“Fuck,” I hissed and bit my lip.
“But no one will catch on. I know what I just did to you, so it’s easy for me to see it. Your family won’t think a thing.”
I poked him in the chest as he slid his arms around my back and stared at me sweetly. “You better hope they don’t.”
“Whatcha gonna do to me if they do?” He quirked a bushy eyebrow, and his eyes twinkled in the dim light.
“I’ll think of something. I’m pretty damn good at paybacks.” I smirked, still pushing my finger into his chest.
“I look forward to whatever wicked plan you have in mind.”
“Don’t be so sure, big boy.”
I laughed quietly as I followed him, hand in hand, back to the house. The man was thinking sexual payback, but that wasn’t my style. I was more the type to get you in a way I thought you needed but would never do yourself. I already had a few ways churning in my head and none of them that he’d like.
“That was fast,” Maria said before I even had two feet in the house. “I figured he would take a bit longer.” She winked.
I turned around and glared at him. “Paybacks,” I mouthed before looking back at Maria. “He just forgot something outside.”
“Uh-huh.” She walked toward the kitchen and kept laughing loud enough that it annoyed me.
“You’re so paying,” I said without looking over my shoulder. He laughed with Maria, but little did he know, his laughter wouldn’t last for long.
Chapter Twenty-One
Bear
“I found him,” Morgan said, crashing through my office door without knocking. “Finally found the old bastard.”
I pointed toward the chair because his spazzy ass was too much to deal with this early in the morning. “Well, come on in.”
He took the hint, planting his ass in the chair, and started to shake his leg so fast I wanted to jump over the desk and nail his foot to the floor. “Santino called this morning. He found him.”
I winced and shook my head. “Don’t tell your mom that.”
“Yeah, she and Tino aren’t the best of friends.”
“I had to hear about you calling him for twenty minutes last night.”
He laughed loudly. “Ha, I have you beat. Try an hour after Aunt Maria spilled the beans.”
“Fuck, that woman can sure talk.”
“You mean nag.”
I pointed at him with a serious expression. “Your words, not mine.”
He saluted me. “Anyway, he’s in Chicago. Santino has him.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Has him?”
“He’s keeping him…” His voice drifted off as he smiled. “Company.”
“Well, I’ll book us a flight.”
Cupping his hands, he stroked his cheeks. “I want to get there today before Ray finds a way to…” He wanted to say escape, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“Me too.” I opened up my browser and searched for flights to Chicago. To my surprise, there were a lot of them. “We can go and come back in one day. Think it’s enough time?”
He peered down at his watch. “Let’s stay one night. I don’t want to rush our talk with Ray.”
“Anything you want, kid.”
He rubbed his hands together and sprang to his feet. “Let me know what time we’re leaving. I’ll let Race know I won’t be home tonight. I’ll handle a place for us to stay tonight too.”
“I’m not sharing a bed with you,” I teased.
He stood in the doorway, holding the frame in his hands, and glanced back at me. “You’re not my type, Bear.”
“Hey,” I said before he could walk away.
“Yeah?”
“Let’s not tell your mom where we’re going, ’kay?”
“I have no problem with that. I won’t even tell Race. I’ll just tell her that we’re following a lead. Work for you?”
“Works for me.” I rubbed my forehead, thinking about the headache I’d have if Franny found out that we were going to see Santino, along with Ray. My ears would ring for hours by the time she got done chewing my ass out.
I booked us two tickets for noon, and that would put us in Chicago a little after one with the time difference. We’d have plenty of time to deal with Ray and be back by lunch the following day.
“Where are you going?” Fran asked after I told her I was heading out of town but didn’t say where.
“Up north.”
“As in?”
“Indiana,” I lied, but I kept my voice firm so she wouldn’t pick up on it.
“Okay. Just be careful. Ray isn’t a nice guy. Don’t buy his act.”
“I’m aware, sweetheart.”
“You taking Morgan too?”
“He’s insisting.”
“Just protect him, Bear. Make sure Ray doesn’t fuck with his head.”
“It won’t be a problem,” I told her because Morgan had Ray all figured out and knew exactly how to handle him.
“He’s all I’ve got left. If Ray hurts one hair on his head…”
“Franny, I’ll be with him. I’ll keep him safe. You know I’d step in front of a bullet if it meant I’d save Morgan’s life.”
“Don’t do anything dumb, babe. I want you both to come back to me.”
“I love you,” I said to her for the first time because it felt right.
She sucked in a breath loud enough for me to hear it clear as day over the phone. “I love you too, Murray.”
“I’ll call you when we have any information. Just sit tight and don’t worry.”
“That’s easy for you to say. I’m going to worry until I hear from you that you’re both safe.”
; “We’ll be fine. Talk soon.”
“Not soon enough,” she said in almost a whisper.
“Bye, sweetheart.”
“Bye, Bear.”
I stared at the phone, almost in shock that I had told her I loved her. I hadn’t spoken those words to another woman since Jackie. My stupid ass had to say them over the phone to Fran the first time. I wasn’t sure how she’d respond, and I wasn’t ready for the reaction face-to-face. It felt right telling her then, just before I was going to board a plane to beat the shit out of her ex-husband.
“Ready?” Morgan asked from the hallway.
“Ready.” I nodded and grabbed my phone and wallet from the desk, sliding them in my pockets. “Let’s do this.”
* * *
“Tino should be around here somewhere,” Morgan said when we stepped outside the airport near baggage claim.
“What’s he look like?” I peered around like I knew who I was looking for.
“Me only older and probably more gray.”
“Morgan!” a man called out, waving his arms frantically from about fifty feet away. “Down here.” He motioned to a waiting black sedan that was parked at the curb.
“That him?” I pointed to a man who looked like he had stepped out of a GQ cover shoot. His salt-and-pepper hair was perfect, without a strand out of place.
“Yep.”
I followed behind Morgan, making our way through the crowd to Santino. I could definitely see the family resemblance. The features in the Gallo family were strong and unmistakable.
“It’s so good to see you, son.” Santino hugged Morgan tightly and kept his eyes glued to me.
“You too, Uncle.”
When he released Morgan, his dark eyes narrowed. “Is this your mom’s new friend?”
“Yeah, we work together too. This is Bear.”
“Bear.” He held out his hand, and I slid my palm against his. “It’s nice to meet you.” He tightened his fingers around my hand.
“You too.” I squeezed tighter, not wanting to be outdone.
We stared each other down. I could see bits of Fran and Sal in Santino’s face. Their connection was undeniable. His olive skin was perfectly tanned but completely natural. His eyebrows hung low—almost covering his eyes if he wasn’t looking directly at me. It gave him that shifty appearance.