Break Point

by Danielle LaBue

  “Take a picture it lasts longer,” Summer quipped, putting in her diamond earrings.

  “Wow.” He finally said. He was surprised he managed that.

  She checked her upswept hair in the mirror over his shoulder. “I thought you prefer my hair down?”

  “Yeah, and that’s the only reason your dress is still on.” Again he looked her over, his wide eyes lingering at her cleavage. “Damn, and you worry about me carrying concealed weapons.”

  “You’re disgusting. I’m almost afraid to ask you to zip me up.”

  “Turn around.” he said, motioning with his finger.

  Standing in front of him, she was a full-on assault to every one of his senses. His feasting eyes followed the line of her shoulders to the nape of her neck where he knew it made her crazy when he kissed her there. The familiar, sweet scent of vanilla tickled his nose, mingling with the musky punch of her Chanel Number Five.

  His fingers lingered on the zipper, slowly, painfully, pulling it up. “All set.” he said, relieved to be stepping away. He went back behind the bar and poured himself another shot. “You going to save me a dance tonight?”

  “Yeah right, you’re lucky you got an invite as it is.” She sat down to fasten the buckles on her shoe. After a close inspection she stood back up with a snap. “I’m just glad I’m marrying someone decent and honest like Geoffrey. At least I know he wouldn’t take advantage of me.”

  “Looks like he knows his way around a jewelry store too,” he gestured to the obnoxiously, gigantic engagement ring on her finger. “Nice ice.”

  “Jealous are we?”

  Her words hit him like darts, striking dead on his heart. Telling her the truth about Geoffrey would feel damn good, but for now he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. “Maybe you should go put a rush on Geoffrey, sweetheart. We’re late.”

  “He’ll be out in a minute.” Grabbing her pocketbook she headed out the door. “I’ll be on the porch getting some air.”

  He watched the door close behind her then finished the last of his bourbon. It burned as it trickled to his gut, but did nothing to calm the churning just below it.

  ***

  Red carpets were all the rage in Hollywood but Summer never figured there would be one at the Citrus Ball. What was once a party of about two hundred people had grown to at least a five hundred head affair. It was lavish as always. Food, drink, ice sculptures with fountains of champagne. Even the help was dressed in black tie, smiling wide as they floated through the room.

  “Wow, I think every photo journalist in the state of Florida is here tonight.” Summer declared as she stepped into the ballroom. “But I’m not complaining. The attention certainly is nice.”

  “And necessary.” Geoffrey replied, glancing at Jake. “It may be a security risk but if you want a career, you need fans.” He looked back at Summer, studying her dress. “Take off the scarf, will you, darling? Camera’s love cleavage.”

  She would have protested if he hadn’t walked off. Presumably, to schmooze his business contacts whoever the heck they were.

  “Hey Riley, nice dress.”

  Summer smiled as she turned toward the voice. “Thanks, Nila.”

  “Prada or Valentino?”

  “I’m surprised you can’t tell.” Nila reminded her of a small child using new vocabulary she just learned at school. It seemed like yesterday Summer was explaining to her the difference between Vera Bradley and Vera Wang. “Vintage Halston actually. You like it?”

  “Who doesn’t? Don’t you see every guy and some of the women gawking at you? Including your bodyguard here.”

  Summer glanced at Jake beside her. “Well, you can borrow it when I’m done.”

  “The dress or the man.” Nila struck a pose in her skimpy black dress. “You can protect me anytime, by the way.”

  “Good evening everyone.” Anston Vitalie cut in, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. “I hope you all are having a good night.”

  “Are you alright, Anston?” Nila asked, taking him by the arm. “You look a little faint.”

  “I’m fine,” he slurred. “What makes you think I wouldn’t be?”

  His eyes were focused on Summer. They were bloodshot and dull and his lips trembled in between words. “We need to talk later,” he said to her. “Privately.”

  “Sure Anston,” she said sweetly. “I’ll be here.”

  He took off as abruptly as he appeared, presumably toward the bar. Nila took a swig of her water, thoughtfully chewing on an ice cube. “Anston is getting weird in his old age.”

  “He does seem a little off,” Summer replied. “ I hope everything is okay.”

  “Okay, new subject!” Nila declared with a clap of her hands. “Let’s talk about our big grudge match tomorrow. You ready or what?”

  This was Nila’s true sincerity, not a threat. She may be annoying, but she wasn’t a viper. Something that was widely regarded as her Achilles heel on the court. She was honestly just a nice, yet annoying, person.

  “Come on, you know I’m never under prepared.” Summer teased. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s tomorrow. I’ve missed it so much.”

  “Well as much as I hate to admit it. We’ve missed you too.” With a wink Nila touched her glass to hers. “See you on the court.” Slipping by Jake, she squeezed his butt. “And I’ll see you on the dance floor.”

  Silence crept in as the rest of the room seemed to drift away. All night she pretended she didn’t notice how incredible he looked. Jake in jeans and a t-shirt was striking, but him in a tux should be down right illegal. It took a moment to realize she had lost herself, suckered again by his mesmerizing blue eyes.

  “Take a picture it lasts longer,” he teased.

  She could feel her face redden as he peered down at her.. This was the moment she swore she would avoid all night. Being so close to him and looking that good was too tempting a situation to navigate. He held his hand out to her, leading her out to the dance floor. At that moment, she would have followed him to the ends of the earth.

  “Summer, may I have a word with you outside, please?” The tight grip of her shoulder startled her. She turned, her eyes meeting the frantic bloodshot ones of Anston Vitalie. “Please, this is urgent. Can you step out side with me?”

  “Of course I will, Anston.” Winding her arm around him, she led him out to the terrace. “Jake I’ll be right back.”

  ***

  Jake watched with a frown as the doors closed behind Summer, Anston and his opportunity at a moment alone with her. “Take a number, Harrison” he mumbled, then made his way through the crowd to follow.

  “Hey just because you’re not on her dance card doesn’t mean you have to leave.” Nila laced her fingers around his arm. “Wallflower must be a new gig for you.”

  “Looks that way.”

  “I’ll right that wrong.” With a tug of her hand, she hustled him to the dance floor and wrapped herself around him. “You move pretty well,” she said after a few seconds. “Don’t tell me you’re not the dancing type.”

  “I’m not. I more of the drinking-watching-the-game-at-the-bar kind of guy.”

  “You’re a very good looking man.” she said. “Summer’s lucky. I suppose you’re heading off to Switzerland with her and Geoffrey?”

  Jake cocked a brow. “Switzerland? What makes you say that?”

  She leaned in closer as if sharing a secret. “Okay, I know I’m not supposed to know, but I heard Geoffrey filing a flight plan with Miami International Airport. Seems a weird time to leave when he just bought this place and all.” A devious smile pulled at her lips as pressed against Jake’s ear. “Don’t tell anyone I know, but they’re eloping. Geoffrey told me.”

  “Really?” He would have fallen over from shock if his well-trained brain hadn’t been shifted into high gear. “Yeah, that eloping thing was top secret. What else do you know you aren’t supposed to?”

  She shrugged. “Not much except they’re leaving after the match tomorrow. I guess Summ
er was pretty adamant about it. It’s strange but I had the impression it would never happen.”

  “Yeah, me too.” He heard the disappointment in his voice and wondered if she did too. But it did make sense. If Summer was truly afraid of repercussions from either her father or the federal government, she’d be unreachable in Switzerland. She’d also have a place to train, and a husband who was a full citizen.

  A waiter finally reached their area of the dance floor. Jake helped himself to a glass for Nila before glancing at the man’s face in front of him. He looked familiar. The bad complexion. The dark eyes, long hair. Jake was never one to forget a face, but it was his presence as a whole that struck him. Somehow he was significant.

  Jake watched him disappear in the crowd, obviously more rushed than when he had appeared. When he reached the terrace doors he ditched the tray and slipping outside into the night. It was then something clicked in Jake s brain. He did indeed recognize the waiter. The night in the bar. This was the man with the tattoo.

  Without explanation he pushed passed Nila and headed out into the night. The terrace was empty but over the stone ledge, he could see his shadow tear across the lawn. As best as Jake could tell in the haze, he was heading toward the pool complex across the valley below. Beyond that there was an access road. Jake couldn’t let him get that far.

  He didn’t want to leave Summer alone, but he didn’t have choice. Scaling the brick wall, Jake tumbled onto the lawn below. He jumped back on his feet taking off in to the darkness, each step vibrating in his tightened chest.

  ***

  Summer hugged herself against the chilly drizzle. The terrace was empty and given the storm clouds above,, it would stay that way. The revelation caused a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  Summer’s heels skidded on the wet stone as Anston pulled her around the house to a well-hidden part of the terrace. In his other hand he clutched an empty tumbler, its contents she could smell on his breath. When they turned the corner he shoved her to the wall, then heaved the empty glass at the stone all beside her.

  “Anston, you’re scaring me,” she told him, eyeing the glistening shards at her feet. “How about we talk inside.”

  “You must think I’m a very stupid man, don’t you?”

  “Why would I think that?”

  “Letting things go like this. Letting things happen like they have.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about, Anston.” She peered around the corner for anyone else who could be outside. Nothing, just a few rouge mosquitoes and the chirp of crickets on the lawn below. “Anston, please can we go inside.” she asked. “It’s really cold.”

  “This is your new home now, Summer. I suppose this is your wedding gift.”

  He was scaring her. His face. His words. This was a side of him she had never seen. In all the years he had coached her, he had never been anything but gentle. She took another step around the corner, hoping she could be seen from the terrace doors if someone stepped out.

  “I’ve always treated you like a daughter, Summer. And this is how you repay my kindness. You knew all about this, didn’t you? Maybe this was all your idea.”

  “What idea? I don’t what you are talking about.”

  “I should have known. You’re still a Riley at heart, aren’t you?” He leaned into her, his liquored breath burning her face. “You’re just your father’s little whore.”

  She slapped him with a force that surprised her and he tumbled back against the stone ledge. Seeing a chance for escape she turned back for the house but the sound of the cock of a gun stopped her cold. “You’ve been a bad little girl.” He hissed in her ear. “Someone needs to teach you a lesson.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jake’s rubber soles skidded on the grass as he bolted across the lawn. The faint moonlight did nothing except confuse his eyesight. He could make out a canopy of trees looming in front of him, a shed and the smooth surface of the pool inside an iron fence. Slowing to a walk, he stepped through the trees. Something moved, and then again when a motion light on the shed flipped on.

  Suddenly a figure flew by him and Jake grabbed the man by his shirt. In one sweeping movement he dragged him to the shed door, breaking it in with one well-placed kick. “What’re you doing, man?” the waiter yelled, shielding his eyes from the sudden, bright light overhead. “You’re messing up my uniform!”

  “That’s the least of your problems.” Jake yelled, shoving him into a stack of pool chairs. Both crashed to the floor. “What the hell you running from, pal? I just want to talk.”

  The man nodded at the gun holstered in Jake’s waistband. “You need that to talk?”

  “No, but you might.” He pulled out the piece and pointed it at him.. “So why don’t you tell me what you’re doing around here.”

  “What’s it to you?”

  “What do you want with Summer Riley?”

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  Jake backhanded him, sending him to the floor in a heap. He pulled him up by his tattooed arm, for the first time getting a good look at the picture. “Don’t mess with me, pal.” Jake hissed. “I’ve read your mail and I’ve seen your handiwork. What are you doing with a tattoo of Summer on your arm?

  “Hey, I don’t know nothing about no girl.”

  Jake thrust his gun to his forehead, the skin blanching under the pressure of the barrel. “You better start feeling chatty fast,” Jake seethed. “I want to know who you are and what you’re doing hanging around here.”

  “Okay, fine.” The man held a shaky hand in the air. “The name’s Malcolm and I work here.”

  “Doing what?”

  The man shrugged. “I don’t know. Whatever I’m supposed to.”

  Again Jake smacked him, this time with a closed fist. “Okay, I work for Vitalie.” The thug panted, rubbing the side of his face. “I work in the commissary washing dishes. That’s all.”

  “Why ya running then? You got nothing to hide, why not stay put at the party?”

  “Because I know you’re after me,” he blurted. “But I didn’t do nothing.”

  “You like Summer Riley, don’t you?”

  “Having a crush ain’t no crime?”

  “No, but you know what is? Threatening a girl and scaring her to death.” Jake lunged forward grabbing him by the collar. “What the hell where you doing in the bar the other night, Malcolm? You want to see her? You want to talk to her?”

  “I work there. I wash dishes just like I wash dishes at Vitalie.”

  “And Summer happened to walk in.”

  “Look man, whatever you think I did, I didn’t do it.”

  “I’m not buying it, Malcolm.”

  “Okay so maybe I sent her a few letters, and visited you in the hotel, but I didn’t hurt nobody! I was set up, man! I swear it.”

  Now they were getting somewhere. Cocking his head, Jake squatted in front of him. “Who set you up?”

  Malcolm looked at Jake, then back at the revolver in his hand. “Anston Vitalie came up to me one day and asked me if I would like to make some money under the table. I said okay and he offered me three grand to send mail to Summer Riley. He told me what to write and when to send it.” He shrugged as if it made perfect sense. “I just got out of the state pen, man. Lots of things I can do with three grand.”

  “So you did it?”

  “Yup.” He replied. “Then a few weeks later he tells me some guy is pushing him to fix a tennis match. He offers me another five grand to rough up Summer Riley. I said I would but for ten, and he said he’d think about it, but I never heard back. Next thing I know they’re peeling her off the locker room floor in Tampa.”

  “Vitalie?” Jake took a deep breath, his fingers clenching around the handle of his revolver. “You knew the whole fucking time Vitalie was responsible and didn’t say a damn word?”

  “I told you, I already was in trouble sending those letters. If I went to the police I’d end up back in the pokey. Besides the other
guy offered me money and a job if I kept quiet.”

  Jake cocked a brow. “Wait a minute, what man?”

  “Big Al. He hangs around in the Eager Beaver all the time. You know him?”

  Jake nodded. “Yeah, I know him.”

  “He come up to me the other day at the court and hands me a check. He says he wants to thank me for my good work, and offers me a bartender gig at the Beaver if I pull some graffiti job at the Pelican.”

  “And you did.”

  Malcolm shrugged. “Like I said, I could use the money.”

  It was all making sense. Like the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fit. He now knew for sure Al was behind it all. The attack. The threats. However, he didn’t bargain for Vitalie to be in on it too. “You telling me everything, man?” Malcolm looked up rubbing the side of his face where Jake had hit him earlier. He was stalling. The bastard was still hiding something. “Spill it, buddy or I swear I’ll pop you.”

  “Okay, Okay.” The guy held his hands up in surrender. “There’s a tape?”

  “A tape?” Jake’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of tape?”

  “An audio tape,” he said, pointing to his ears. “Vitalie taped all the conversations he had with Al about hitting Summer. Insurance I guess. He didn’t want to be the only one to go down if they were busted. Summer’s on there too.” He shook his head. “Why would you want to have yourself whacked?”

  Jake thrust the gun in Malcolm’s face, denting his scared cheek. “Tell me where the tape is,” he sneered. “Tell me, and maybe I won’t kill you.”

  Again Malcolm put his hands in the air. “Chill out, man.”

  “Talk!”

  “Okay, Okay” he whined. “If I tell you, are we cool? I can go?”

  Jake studied the guy carefully, liking the fear he put in his eyes. “Yeah, we’re cool.” He mumbled, staring down the site of his revolver.

  “It’s in his office, up in the house.” He nodded toward the mansion across the lawn. “I saw him tape it under his desk.”

  The sound of gunfire echoed outside the door. Jake jumped to the small shed window, his gun still poised at Malcolm. “Where the hell did that come from?”