Break Point

by Danielle LaBue

  He looked her in the eyes. “What?”

  “You almost lost your life because of Al Riley once. Please don’t give him a second chance.”

  The door slammed before he could answer. He watched her disappeared back into the pavilion, then ejected the tape from the deck.

  ***

  Summer sprawled on the locker room couch and stared at the textured ceiling. The flutter in her stomach had returned, bothersome enough to drive her from her own reception. The band had already played two songs since she snuck out. A few more minutes and Geoffrey would probably send a search party.

  The rain that moved in earlier was now heavy enough to hear on the roof. It reminded her of the rumble of the ocean she would hear falling asleep at Jake’s. A shiver passed through her, her blue chiffon dress doing little to warm her. She closed her eyes imagining Jake hands on her, and somehow her goose pimples vanished.

  “Are you sick?”

  Summer looked up at a smiling Nila in the doorway. “No.” she answered. “I’m just tired. It’s been a while since I’ve played a match.”

  “You didn’t seem tired on the court.” Nila motioned to the cushion at her feet. “Can I sit down?”

  Too tired to protest, Summer moved her legs to accommodate her.

  “You aren’t mad at me, are you? I mean about Geoffrey, Vitalie. That whole thing.”

  Summer shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, I just want you to know if Geoffrey was favoring me over you, I certainly didn’t know anything about it, and if I had I would have told you. Really.”

  Nila didn’t do “serious” much, which was why her words seemed all the more sincere. Summer smiled then nudged her with her foot, telling her the apology was accepted.

  “And I also just wanted to say whatever goes on between you and Geoffrey is your business, but my relationship with him is strictly professional. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thanks, I believe you.”

  “Even though you kicked my butt today, I still consider you as a friend.”

  Summer did too. Nila was a good soul. And yes, a good friend. They were hard to find in this business, and too precious to let go. She adjusted the pillow behind her head and sighed. “You haven’t seen Jake, have you?”

  “No, but that Leslie woman has been looking for you.”

  She opened an eye a slit. “I know. Why do you think I’ve been hanging out in here?”

  They laughed, Nila patting her on the leg. “Well, I guess one of us should go to our own party. I’ll hold down the fort. You stay here and rest. Are you sure you’re okay? You look a little pale.”

  She swallowed the pooling saliva in her mouth. “Yeah, I’m fine, but can you keep an open eye for Jake for me? And if you see him...”

  “You won’t see him. He’s gone. I’m here taking his place.”

  The girls looked up to Leslie in the doorway with her standard black suit and scowl.

  “Well, I guess we can talk later.” Nila hugged Summer before heading to the door. “Have fun in Switzerland.”

  Summer held her breath, suddenly aware Leslie had heard her. She closed her eyes and fell back on the pillow, he stomach flipping against her.

  “Switzerland, huh?” Leslie chirped. “So you haven’t reconsidered your plans, I guess?”

  “I didn’t know you knew about them in the first place.”

  Leslie loomed over her with her face tight with disgust. “So you’re running out on Jake, huh. How could you? That man is risking his whole life for you and you’re hanging him out to dry!”

  If she had any strength left, Summer would have slapped her right in her mean little mouth. But all she had were words to defend herself, and even those she couldn’t find easily. “He’s the one who told me to go.”

  Leslie took a step back, her mud brown eyes narrowed in disbelief. “He told you to?”

  “That’s right.” Summer’s pushed herself to her feet and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I admit at first it was my idea, but I love Jake, Leslie. I don’t want to leave him.”

  The gravity of her admission urged her stomach to churn. Eager to fight it off, she headed to the sink and splashed some cool water on her face. Leslie came up behind her, handing her a towel from the shelf. “Are you sick?”

  “You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” She walked around her, sitting back on the couch. “Look, as much as I hate to admit it, we are both on the same side. We both have feelings for Jake and neither one of us wants him to get hurt.

  Leslie rolled her eyes as if resenting the assumption. “But the difference is I understand what Jake stands to lose by helping you.”

  “I do understand.” Summer whispered, her head resting on the damp towel. “But you need to understand I didn’t create this situation. I’m not a criminal. I’m a victim. I didn’t ask for Big Al Riley to be my father.”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “No, the point is I don’t want to let Jake down. He’s the only person in my whole life who hasn’t steered me wrong.” She lifted her head, wanting to look Leslie in her eyes. “Do you really think I am that awful a person I would ruin his life after everything he’s done for me?”

  “I honestly don’t know what to think.”

  “Well than your instincts aren’t half as good as Jake believes them to be.”

  A sudden burst of laughter outside the door startled Summer silent. The distinctive baritone made it obvious who it belonged to. She looked up at Leslie. “What the hell is my father doing here?”

  “Shh.”

  The voices retreated down the hall, presumably into the vacant player’s lounge next door. In the quiet she could near their muffled voices mingling with the distant rumble of thunder signaling a building storm outside.

  “Does he usually come to your matches?” Leslie asked.

  “No.” she replied. “You don’t think he’s here looking for Jake, do you?”

  “That’s what I need to find out.” Leslie opened the door but Summer jumped in front of her.

  “Let me go. If he sees you it might blow your cover. I’m supposed to be here. It’s okay if he sees me.”

  Summer took a quick look around before slipping out the door. Despite the thick pile carpet she tread softly, sure the slightest sound would alert them. When she reached the lounge she pressed her ear against the crack in the door, holding her breath for fear she would muffle the sound.

  “Are you sure Malcolm was telling truth? Is a man like that really trustworthy?

  “Why would the jerk lie?” Al replied. “Listen, we have to get that tape or else we’re all in deep trouble.”

  Summer didn’t need to see to know Geoffrey was the other man in the room. She pushed closer, straining her ears, her stomach pushing against her throat.

  “If Harrison has it, why hasn’t he turned it in?”

  “Probably to protect Summer from conspiracy charges. He's waiting for you two to leave the country,” Al said then lowered his voice. “But you and Summer aren’t the point. What I care about is finding that tape from Harrison.”

  “How do you propose we do that?”

  “We eliminate him.”

  “You mean kill him?”

  “Geoffrey, keep your voice down.”

  Summer covered her mouth with her hand. She pushed closer to the door, her legs quivering in the awkward position.

  “Geoffrey, I thought you wanted to play with the big dogs now,” Al teased, frustration lacing his voice. “Sometimes you have to bite before you get bitten. You know what I mean. That’s the business.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  “I already have a guy on it.” Al assured him. “Don’t you worry. Al Riley always covers his bases. Once we clean up this mess we can make a new one.” They laughed and the sound drew Summer from behind the door.

  She stormed in the room, her legs weakening under her. When her father saw her, he smiled as if he knew she’d heard every word of their convers
ation. “Is this what this is to you? A mess?”

  “Summer, I’m glad you’re here! I watched your match. You do your father proud.”

  “Please! You don’t give a rat’s ass about me.” She knew that now for sure. As a child she had craved his love, but now it was obvious he was incapable. “You’re my father. You’re supposed to protect me from people like you. What kind of monster are you?”

  He didn’t answer. Snapping his lighter open, he lit his cigar.

  “First you use me as a pawn, now you want to kill the only person in the whole world who has ever done right by me?”

  “Summer, darling,” Geoffrey cooed. “I think you are misunderstanding your father.”

  “What kind of fool do you take me for, Geoffrey? You two set me up, used me and what has that left me? Nothing.”

  “Nothing!” Al challenged, getting up from his seat. “You call this place nothing? This whole Vitalie compound is yours thanks to me. You and Geoffrey will be happy here.”

  Summer shook her head. “I don’t know how you roped Anston into all of this or how Geoffrey acquired all of his things. But I know it’s because of your dirty work and I sure as hell don’t want any part of it!

  “Geoffrey, get her out of here.”

  She ripped the engagement ring off her finger and tossed in his face. “No need,” she said, snagging the car keys from Geoffrey’s sweat jacket pocket. “I’ll show myself out.”

  On her way out the door she spotted Leslie at the stairs with her cell phone tight against her ear. “I tried calling Jake but he won’t answer,” she whispered. “I’m trying Diggs but he’s in Tampa at the field office.”

  “There’s no time for that.” Summer said. “I’ve got to find that tape.” She bounded down the stairs, Leslie tailing behind her.

  “Summer, wait! What are you doing? You can’t just take off by yourself.”

  Summer knew the danger in betraying the plan, but running to the ends of the earth wouldn’t save their lives. Rain spilled from the sky as she darted across the lot with her dress sticking between her knees. She kicked off her heals and ran barefoot through the puddles scanning the row for Geoffrey’s Jag.

  When she found the car she quickly piled in, her wet skin dragging loudly against the leather. In her rear view mirror she could see Leslie coming at her. A flash of lightning illuminated her panicked face as she peeled away from her into the night.

  ***

  Jake stepped into the shower. The hot water scalded him but he didn’t mind. Maybe if he concentrated on the burn, the pain of his broken heart wouldn’t seem so bad.

  He had watched the coverage on ESPN when he got home from the court. Even her smiling face on the damn TV screen was enough to knock him off his feet and he sat on the couch a good hour after just thinking about it. He wanted to remember her just that way. Happy.

  When his skin was red and raw he turned off the water and grabbed a towel from the rack. He eyed his gun and the CD sitting on the counter across from him. As long as he still had the tape, he would have to be extra careful, but there was actually a small part of him that would welcome Al’s retaliation. One parting shot and Summer would be free of him forever.

  He chucked the towel to the floor when he heard the front door open. He pulled on his pants then jammed the tape in his pocket, before snapping off the bathroom light. His car was in the driveway, but the house was dark. If the intruder thought he wasn’t home, Jake didn’t want to alert him to his presence.

  The creek of his bedroom door opening drove him for his gun. Urgent footsteps padded across the tile until they stopped at his dresser. Drawers crashed to the floor, presumably spilling their contents. He felt for the tape in his pocket to re-assure himself. Safe and sound against his hip.

  “Come and get it you bastard,” he whispered to himself, before lifting his gun and throwing the door open.

  Thunder crashed and lighting lit up the room. He lunged on the figure and pinned him to the bed, pulling his arms against his back and smothering his head in the comforter. “What the hell are you looking for?” Jake demanded. “If it’s a bullet in the head you’ve come to the right place.” He thrust his gun into the figure’s temple, digging it into his skull.

  The rain pounded against the roof, making the muffled pleas of the intruder inaudible. With a grunt, Jake hauled him off the bed, then threw him against the wall. “Jake, don’t hurt me. It’s me!”

  “Summer?” He stumbled away, tossing his gun on the bed as if it burned him. The lightning illuminated her pale face as she fell on the bed. “What the hell were you thinking?” He yelled, pushing his hand through his damp hair. “I almost shot you! Why didn’t you say it was you?”

  “You didn’t give me a chance. The place was dark and you didn’t answer either of your phones.” She wiped the rain from her eyes, still panting from the force of his blow.

  Jake searched her eyes as best he could in the darkness. She looked pale and weak and her skin was clammy and chilled. “Sweetheart, look at me,” he pleaded with his thumb on her cheek. “Are you okay?”

  “Where is the tape?” she croaked. “You need to give it to me.”

  “What?”

  “Al! He wants to kill you.” She gasped, rubbing her stomach with an unsteady hand. “He was at the reception with Geoffrey and I heard them talking.”

  He wondered if she was delirious. As far as he could tell she had no fever, but it was obvious she was somehow stricken. “Summer, what’s up? Did Al hurt you?

  “Jake, I can’t do this anymore!” she screamed over the roar of thunder. “I’m sick of living my life in fear. I don’t care what happens to me. Just arrest my father.”

  Again the thunder clapped. When the lighting flashed he could see her wild eyes, tearful and desperate and his heart ached in response. “Baby, listen to me. You could lose everything, your career, your freedom and maybe even your life. I care about you too much to let that happen.”

  “What about you, Jake? You stand to lose as much as I do. You’ll never have a chance at my father again.”

  “I don’t care about that.”

  “But I do!” Her voice trailed off. Her teeth were chattering now as she clung to the comforter. A sweatshirt hung from his middle drawer. He pulled it over her head then took her in his arms. “Shh, just relax.”

  “Leslie called Earl. They know you have the tape. You have to turn it in.”

  A flash of lightning lit the room. He cursed, his stomach hitting his throat. “Damn it Summer, why are you doing this?”

  “Because I love you Jake!”

  He looked at her, incredulous.

  “You opened my eyes to the fact there is so much more to life than just tennis. I realize now my career doesn’t love me back, but even if you can’t either, at least I know your life won’t be ruined twice at the hand of a Riley.”

  “Are you crazy, Summer? You are the farthest thing from ruining my life.” He brushed the hair from her eyes and held her cheek to his. “You saved me! Before I met you I didn’t care if I woke up in the morning. But you changed all that. I love you, Summer! I just want you to be happy.”

  “Then please give me that tape!” She jammed her hand down his pockets, and he feared she was too fragile for him to fight back. Finding what she was looking for, she stormed out the bedroom door. “Summer, wait!”

  “I’m going to drive this to the field agency in Tampa if I have to.”

  “No need for that.”

  Al’s voice pierced the silence, the orange light of his cigar glowing in front of them. He was flanked by a stooge on each side but the darkness hid their faces.

  Jake placed his hands on Summer’s shoulders. He shoved her behind him when he saw the silver glean of the revolvers poised in their direction.

  “I’ll be happy to take that off your hands,” Al said. “Save you the time and trouble. Come on Summer, be a good little girl and give Daddy the tape.”

  “No.”

  Jake chuckled. �
�I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

  “Shut up, Harrison.”

  “Look, you have a problem with me, you deal with me.” Jake warned. “But let Summer go. She’s your daughter, for Christ sake.”

  Al smirked, a cloud of grey smoke settling in front of his face. “You know, you two have a lot in common. Blessed with talent but cursed by fate.” He gnawed on the tip of his cigar. “To bad it had to end in your untimely death, Harrison.”

  “Daddy, please don’t hurt him.”

  “This guy is nothing but trouble for you Summer. Daddy’s only righting a wrong here.”

  Jake felt her shudder against him, her fingers clutching his waist. Reaching around, he wound his fingers in hers, just as much an effort to calm her as it was to calm himself. He took one last glimpse around as best as he could in the darkness. He was cornered and defenseless, but a part of him didn’t care. He didn’t want to live his life without the woman he loved and if it was his fate to die in her arms, he couldn’t think of a better way to go.

  Al gave a nod to his stooges and they raised their guns in unison. He closed his eyes and held a breath.

  “Freeze! FBI!”

  Leslie’s voice echoed over the thunder. A flash of lightning revealed the gun in her hand, as a herd of officers stormed in behind her.

  “Summer, get out of here!” Jake yelled, jumping the stooge in front of him. “Go! Now!”

  Yellow explosions flickered in between the white lightning as bullets whizzed back and forth. Jake wrestled the stooge to the floor, pushing his face into the tile.

  Another surge of uniformed men barged through the door with guns wielded and voices raised. Earl and his constituents followed. They barked orders in rain slickened trench coats before Jake signaled to them for help.

  “You guys have good timing.” Jake said to Earl. “I’m glad for the backup.”

  “You should be. Looks like you were close to being fish food.”

  Jake nodded, looking over at Al. Another agent was handcuffing him. “Well, at least we can add attempted murder of a federal agent to the list of charges.

  Earl laughed. “Well, either way you got your man, Harrison. Congratulations.”