by June Kramin
“Likes you? Like how?” Gerard asked, demanding an answer.
“Like a big sister. Like a mother. Dammit, Gerard. He’s my boss’s son. You think we’re fooling around?”
“No, but I think he wants to.”
“It’s not like that.”
“So he didn’t run his arm up your thigh in the limo?”
She was caught off guard for a second. “That was months ago, and I handled it. He has more on his mind than pussy, for crying out loud.”
“He’s twenty-two. There ain’t nothing on his mind but pussy, sweetheart.”
Mandy stormed away and picked up the phone. Gerard took the receiver away. “Give it back,” Mandy said. “I need to call Vince. I need to let him know he’s okay. My ass is in a sling because of this little stunt. He snuck away from me. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“I’ll call him. You go get that little prick’s stench off you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.”
Mandy slapped him and stomped away. She was grateful he knew better than to come after her. Even though he had over a hundred pounds on her, she’d kick his ass just as easily as taking out the trash. Doing a job was one thing. Making her angry was another. None had suffered her wrath so much as those that dared question her integrity.
Mandy didn’t bother to come out in her robe at the commotion of Vince’s men coming for Angelo. Too upset to really concentrate, she had been staring at the same page of a book for over fifteen minutes. Her mind only went to Angelo, secretly wishing she could send him away.
Gerard entered the room and she suddenly managed to pull out interest in the pages she held. He tried to pull it away, but she held firmly.
“Come on, Mandy. I’m sorry. He hit you and I went crazy.”
“That’s why you accused me of sleeping with him?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“The hell you didn’t.” She threw the book at the wall. “You honestly think that I’m that stupid?”
“No.” He took her hands in his and kissed them. “I was an asshole. It’s just been a bad day, baby.”
“That’s no excuse.” Sadness was replacing anger and tears were forming in her eyes. She was so hurt by his words that suddenly nothing else mattered. Nothing else that had gone on over the past few months registered at all. The dodging bullets, watching one of Vince’s men break a store owner’s finger. A dead body left for Angelo to find in a warehouse where a meeting was held. Nothing registered, only the fact that her husband was suspecting her of cheating. Strange how the littlest details brought her to tears.
He held her face and kissed her on the lips hard. “I don’t doubt you. I don’t. Forgive me.” He kissed her lips longer then kissed her cheeks where the tears fell. Going back to her mouth, he opened it with his tongue. She could no longer fight him.
They made love with a little added aggression that night. Hers was a hint of “I’m still angry, but I want you” while his had the passion of “I’ll never suspect you unfairly again.” When they were done, Gerard removed a box from his pants pocket.
“I knew I’d need this today,” he said as he opened up the box, revealing a two carat weight diamond tennis bracelet.
“Why did you get me a gift?”
“Because I love you. Because you deserve it. And because I don’t deserve you.”
“It’s a bit flashy.”
“It suits you. My remarkably gorgeous wife deserves equally beautiful things.”
“I don’t want things. I want you.”
“You’ll have both and like it. Say you’ll stay with me always, Amanda.”
She swallowed hard before saying, “I will.” She really meant it. Even if it meant waiting for him while he did jail time…because of her.
Chapter Fifty-Four
The next morning when Mandy went to Vince’s apartment to get Angelo, she was escorted into the den.
“What’s wrong?” she asked the butler.
“The young master isn’t quite… how shall I put it? Up to snuff this morning.”
“Has the mother of all hangovers?”
“I’ve seen worse. He’ll be out shortly.” He nodded and left. It amazed her that a ‘gentleman’s gentleman’ worked for a man like Vince. She guessed if you had enough money, you could get anyone to fetch your bedroom slippers and kiss your ass.
Angelo came out looking like death. He was still in a robe and his hair was untouched. He was drinking what had to be a Bloody Mary.
“Hangover cure?”
“I’ll know soon enough.”
“I’m sorry about Gerard last night.”
“Don’t need to apologize. I know what he thought.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“Because you really are? Or because you’re afraid of my father?”
“Dammit, Angelo. I don’t give a rat’s ass about what your father thinks. Fire me yourself if you want. I’m sorry because you didn’t deserve what Gerard did.”
“I’m sure I did at some time, on some level.”
“Come again?”
“I made a pass at you before. I guess it’s catching up with me. That’s all.”
She took his hand and sat with him on the couch. “I know you didn’t mean what you did.”
“Why do you think that?”
“We don’t have that kind of relationship. I’m not as stupid as you think.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid at all.”
“Now who is full of shit? You wanted to see where my loyalties were. You figured if I took you up on your pass, I was yours and not your father’s. You didn’t want to sleep with me; you just wanted to know if you could.”
“Maybe. You didn’t sleep with me, but I still want to know.”
“Know what?”
“Is your loyalty to me or my father?”
“Aren’t you on the same team, Angelo? This is silly.”
“You’re not answering my question. If both of us were drowning, who would you save?”
Mandy stood in a huff. “What are you? Six? Knock off the shit and get dressed. You have work to do.”
Angelo held her by the arm. “I need to know, Amanda. You were right. Okay? I don’t want to sleep with you. Not that I’d kick you out of my bed on a cold night or anything. But Gerard has been like a brother to me, and I won’t mess with what’s his. My dad has half of New York kissing his ass and bending over backward for him. When he says jump they ask—”
“How high.”
“Exactly. I want to know—no, I need to know who you belong to.”
“Who’s my daddy?” she asked with a grin.
He smiled back. “Besides Gerard.”
She placed a hand on one cheek and kissed the other. “I’d drown saving you both. Now go get dressed.”
His smile faded and he left the room. Mandy felt horrible lying to him, but she knew better than to fall for something as simple as that. She knew he meant it with all his heart and that he wasn’t setting her up with a bug in the room. This wasn’t another test. The kid needed to know. She wished she could tell him. Leaving the room, she returned to the limo to wait for him.
Angelo was downstairs in fifteen minutes. His face didn’t look much better, but at least he was dressed. Mandy couldn’t tell if he was angry or just sad. He sat next to her and opened up his hand. He picked up the long chain and let the pendant dangle in front of her.
“What’s this?”
“A locket.”
“I can see that. Why are you giving it to me?”
“Because I want to say thank you.”
“Angelo…you don’t need to buy me presents for doing my job. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
“I cleared this with Gerard long ago. I was going to give it to you for your birthday, but I don’t want to wait. Open it.”
Mandy took the locket from him and opened it. She squealed when a picture of Gerard’s niece smiled back at her. “It
’s Darci!”
“I know how much you love her. You spend more time with her in her room at parties than you do with the adults.”
“She’s more mature than most of the adults.”
“Touché,” he said with a laugh. “Are we cool?”
“Of course we’re cool. You really shouldn’t have done this.”
“It was for selfish reasons, too. Look at the design.”
She closed the locket and flipped it over. “A cross? Why?”
“Because I think your take on religion sucks. I’d feel better if you at least wore a cross.”
“You’d rather me wear a cross and be a hypocrite than voice my opinion?”
“I’d feel better thinking you were looked after. If you don’t know any better than to pray for yourself, you’ll know I am.” Mandy could only stare at the pendant as it dangled in front of her. “If you won’t wear it, I’ll go buy you a St. Christopher.”
“No. This is nice. It has Darci in it. Of course I’ll wear it. Thank you, Angelo. I’m just confused. We only had this conversation last night.”
“You think my father doesn’t have twenty-four hour access to a jewelry store?”
She laughed. “I suppose you’re right. I didn’t think you were very coherent last night. I never would have thought you paid attention to what I said with such detail.”
“I always listen to you, Amanda. I’m beginning to think if it were you and my dad in a pool, I wouldn’t have the trouble you would deciding who to save first.”
She placed her hand on his. “You can’t ask me to voice what I really feel on this matter again, Angelo. You know I can’t.”
“I know. I can tell when you’re lying too, you know.” He grinned.
“Can we get on with this day? People to maim and all.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
When Gerard arrived at home, Mandy was a little nervous about showing him the necklace. He walked right over to her and gave her a big kiss hello as if he were still apologizing for last night. After rocking with her for a few moments, he leaned back and picked up the pendant.
Mandy immediately blurted out. “He said he talked to you.”
He gave her a kiss on the nose. “He did. No worries, mi amore. I like that the little shit put some thought into something for a change.”
“He’s a better kid than you give him credit for.”
“You don’t need to defend him. I’ve been around him since he was in diapers. He’ll always be a snot nosed brat to me.”
“Even when he’s running the show someday?”
“When he earns my respect, he’ll have it. I’m really not looking for a fight about Angelo tonight. I know what your relationship is with him and that you can separate personal and business feelings.” He grinned as he kissed her again.
“What?”
“I think it’s funny the boy got you to wear a cross.”
“It happens to be on the back of a locket pendant with a picture of my niece.”
“The cross is the front, baby.” He chuckled through his words.
“I don’t care. I like it this way.”
“Can I take you out tonight?”
“I’d rather stay home if you don’t mind.”
“I sort of do. I promised Eddie we’d hook up at the Black Oyster.”
“So, it is work. You don’t just want to take me out.” She pretended to pout, not really being upset. Mandy didn’t mind the fancy dinners. But even if she didn’t feel like it, she definitely couldn’t pass up a work opportunity to play wife. Work being the FBI. She had to try hard to keep that straight in her head.
Gerard gave her a playful pat. “The limo is waiting. Go get something nice on.”
“I know. Underwear optional.”
“That’s my girl.”
“You could have called me,” she said as she hurried into her room to change.
“I was just given notice myself. Things are going strange with the Face. Eddie is talking about smokin’ him and not waiting for the shipment.”
Mandy came out holding her dress. “They’re going to kill him? Before you get the goods? Where does that make sense?”
“Vince smells a rat in the organization and wants Willy taken care of.”
“Why do you think it’s him?”
“We’re not sure, but whoever it is needs to get the message.”
“This isn’t right, Gerard.”
“Since when do you give a rip about one of our connections? You don’t deal with Willy.”
“I do too. Angelo and he seem almost like friends.”
“There are no friends in this business. You know better than that.”
“I mean it, Gerard. Don’t let Eddie jump into this. Willy isn’t the rat.”
He took a few steps toward her. “You know who it is?”
“No. Of course not. I didn’t even know there was one. Are you even sure there is?” She fumbled badly and had to recover fast.
“Been suspecting it for a while.”
“But you’re not sure.”
“Things aren’t adding up.”
“You can’t take it out on Willy!” Mandy dropped her dress and pounded her hands into his chest to make her point be heard.
“Hey. Knock it off, baby,” he said as he held her hands. “Why do you care?”
“Because there is no fine line between killing someone to make a point and just plain killing someone innocent. I don’t care what Vince thinks about this. I’m not letting you do it.”
“I think you have me mistaken with someone who cares.”
“Dammit, Gerard. You know we’re on the same side, don’t you? Willy and Angelo have ties that you can’t snuff out.”
“Says who?”
“Says me, goddammit. Now you’re messing with my side of things. We’ve kind of had this agreement of sticking to our own turf, so to speak. But right now, you’re messing around in mine. You can’t do this. We need him.”
“You want to tell me why?”
“Willy handles the stores on the east. There’s punks there I don’t even want to deal with. He’s proving himself to be invaluable to us. He isn’t a rat, Gerard. So help me God I’ll drive to Vince right now and shoot him in the leg for even thinking about it.”
“You’re getting a little emotional here.”
“No emotions at all. Just business. Vince put me with Angelo, and I know my boys. You’d be making a mistake.”
“And you’ll put your ass on the line and say so?”
“To whoever you want. I don’t know what you are suspecting, but if you think there is a rat, give me the info. I’ll flush it out and take care of it myself if I have to. You can’t keep me in the dark about crap like this, Gerard. We’re supposed to be a team.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “My little toughie. You beat up a couple of thugs and now you’re ready to kill someone. My little girl is all grown up.” He pretended to sniff and she smacked his arm. “Angelo said you kick ass at the range.”
“Yeah, well…I’d do even better if there were a set of balls at the crotch of the target.”
He laughed. “I can handle the dinner if you want to stay home.”
“I really don’t feel like it now. If you promise you’ll talk him out of it, I’d like to run an errand and maybe go see Darci instead. That sounds like more fun. She’ll love my new necklace.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Is it really all right?”
“Go play with my niece. She’d like that. I’ll handle dinner and I promise you, Willy is off limits for now. But if he even sneezes in the wrong direction, I can’t make any promises.”
“I’ll find your rat if one exists. I promise you that. You go share that news and bring me back a Bailey’s cheesecake.”
“Will do.” He gave her a kiss and said goodbye. Mandy hurried up and dressed. She knew it was risky, but she had to talk to Abbey about this. Were they on to her? Was this just a setup? Was
Gerard telling her this to see if she’d crack? This couldn’t be good.
Chapter Fifty-Six
“Are you sure it’s safe to be calling?” Abbey asked in response to Mandy’s, “Hey, it’s me.”
“I’m at a payphone at the mall. It’s okay.”
“What brings you out tonight? Shouldn’t you be home sleeping info out of your husband?”
“I acquired info without sleeping with him, you dick. I gave up a meeting with Gerard and Eddie tonight to come talk to you.”
“A meeting with Eddie? You should have been there.”
“I already know what it’s about.”
“And…”
“They want to snuff out Willy. They think he’s a snitch.”
“Willy? Why the Face?”
“I don’t know. Is there something you’re hiding from me? I haven’t done anything to make them suspect a snitch. You have someone else working this from the inside?”
“I don’t, Amanda. We’re too careful with you to add someone else in the mix. The whole ‘too many cooks’ thing. I don’t like this. Maybe we need to take you out of this until things calm down.”
“Take me out of this? How is that possible? You suggesting I leave my husband and tell him I want a divorce because I’m a federal agent, and by the way, watch your ass?”
“You obviously didn’t think that one through. Don’t go having a hissy fit now. Where do you think this will go?”
“I can’t even think of that right now.”
“You going double standards on me? When I swore you in, you took an oath to uphold the law.”
“When I got married, I took an oath to love, honor and cherish. He’s not the monster you think.”
“A lawyer is bad enough. A mob lawyer certainly doesn’t pull any heart strings with me. Even if he is great in bed.”
“Oh shut the fuck up, Abbey. How many times are we going to have this conversation?”
“Look, just watch your back. Do what you need to get in deeper. I want to wrap this up. You need to spend more time with Menusco and less with his son. If we’re going to nail him good, you need more one-on-one with him.”
“I’m working my way there. It’s not easy. Vince keeps Angelo on his own jobs.”