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by Lea Griffith

  Acciai’s head snapped toward Dante. There were undercurrents there, things that Tobias was sure he was better off not knowing, but the compulsion to step in for Dante was pressing. Looking between the two was like seeing mirror reflections. Acciai was Dante in about forty years.

  “You walk a thin line with me already, amato nipote. You are my beloved grandson, but even you can make an old man yearn for the tools of his trade.” Acciai’s warning was clear.

  Dante brushed it off. Acciai had clearly met his match. “I am faster than you, adorato nonno. You are my beloved grandfather, but I will have what I want before you get the same.”

  “Then we are at an impasse, and Aria will have to wait even longer than she already has to meet her fratello.”

  Dante stood then, and Tobias witnessed his hate passing like a cloud over his face before he gathered himself and turned to Sol. “You have seen her?”

  The byplay was fascinating. Tobias found himself wanting to know who Aria was, why Dante had never met his own sister, and how in the hell he’d allowed Acciai to keep her from him.

  Sol Dinapoli nodded, and apparently that was enough for Dante.

  “I will kill you, old man, adorato nonno or not, and I will take over your Mafia and dismantle it piece by piece while you turn in your grave. Twenty-six years you’ve kept her from me—kept the truth from her, and by God I’ll make you pay if it’s the last thing I do,” Dante promised in a low, dark tone.

  Acciai smiled again, patronizing, antagonizing. “You will do as I’ve instructed or the port remains mine and your friends with Copeland Shipping will remain shit out of luck.”

  “This is entertaining,” Tobias exclaimed suddenly, sick to death of the undercurrents. He just wanted to be home, wrapped around his woman. A woman once again hurt on his watch. “But do you think we can move on now?”

  “To what?” Acciai demanded, his ire clear as he stood up suddenly and straightened his suit and tie. “Your entry into my port is determined by my grandson. If he comes through, the port will revert into his control and he can do with it as he pleases. Good day, gentlemen.”

  Acciai turned and began to walk out of the room, stopping at the last minute and turning back to stare hard at Tobias.

  Tobias fought off a shiver—it felt like someone had walked across his grave.

  “If you find Gallo first, I would like the opportunity to question him. He has something of mine and I want it back before he breathes his last,” Acciai said calmly.

  Tobias held his hands up and shrugged. “You just put yourself in a very vulnerable position. Asking a favor of me when you already owe me so much.” He appeared to think on the request for a few seconds. “Offer Copeland Shipping the use of the port without the contingency that Dante comes through and I’ll do my best.”

  Acciai cursed, long and low, and then sighed. “The port is off limits for bartering. You’ll do as I’ve asked and give me time with Gallo before you kill him or I’ll come after you and yours. Trust me, Mr. Edwards, the last thing you want is for the Axe Man to be on your ass.”

  “Fuck you, old man. I’ll make no promises to a killer. If it’s convenient, I’ll contact you. If not, I’ll take his head and screw the consequences. You don’t know me or what I’m capable of. Perhaps you should think on that before you threaten me,” Tobias responded savagely.

  Dante, Jeremiah, and Sol all stilled. It was eerie, the light that entered Acciai’s eyes then. But Tobias refused to back down. Eventually, Acciai nodded, the small smile replacing his anger before he chuckled.

  Hell had already tried to hold Tobias. Ruthie was his light. Nothing Acciai could threaten or do could destroy that. Let him come. Tobias would be ready.

  Acciai and Sol disappeared. Dante exhaled on a long whistle and glanced at Tobias.

  “Never seen anyone stand up to him the way you just did,” the other man murmured.

  “Bullshit,” Tobias exclaimed. “You’ve done it yourself, I’m sure.”

  Dante laughed. “But I’m famiglia, so it’s different.”

  Tobias shrugged and turned to Jeremiah. “I’m heading home. Hoenig is going to camp out at my place. Ruthie won’t be back at her apartment until Gallo’s head is in my hands.”

  Jeremiah nodded. “Mimi is gone on the vacation Ruthie paid for. I’ve got Daly.”

  “David left a voice mail on Ruthie’s phone,” Tobias said softly.

  Jeremiah’s eyebrow rose. “You listen to her messages?”

  “When I saw the strange number after she went to sleep last night I damn sure did. He’s back in town. Maybe you should visit with him,” Tobias urged.

  David was Ruthie and Jeremiah’s estranged brother. He’d caused more problems than a few, but he wasn’t a bad guy necessarily, just misguided most of the time. Now that Heyward Edwards was going away, perhaps David could breathe a bit easier. After all, it had been Heyward orchestrating David’s attempt to keep Daly from Jeremiah. He’d played them all masterfully, using Daly and Jeremiah’s insecurities to try and keep them apart again. David had been but one of Heyward’s tools to make that happen.

  David had been through the wringer for sure. Perhaps it was time to settle old scores and reunite the siblings.

  “Give me the number and I’ll track him down,” Jeremiah said finally.

  “Keep my sister safe,” Tobias commanded.

  “She’s my heart, so I can do nothing else. We’ve put the wedding on hold until this situation is resolved. I’ll tell you the same: keep my sister safe,” Jeremiah demanded right back.

  Tobias took a deep breath and rubbed his chest. “She’s my heart, so I can do nothing else.”

  “You two have turned into goddamn saps,” Dante said drolly.

  “Your time is coming,” Tobias warned. “But not if I kill you first. Now I gotta ask—what the fuck do you have to do to make your grandfather happy?”

  Dante’s face blanked. Tobias recognized he wasn’t getting an answer. “None of your business. Now, gentlemen, the papers are here to be signed. Get to them as soon as you can. I hear your Honda deal time frame is almost up.” With that, Dante inclined his head and stepped out of the room.

  “What the fuck have we stepped into?” Jeremiah asked with no small amount of concern.

  “Hell,” Tobias answered truthfully. “I’m leaving. Stanton should be fine, but I’m giving him a few days off. I’m surprised Gallo didn’t slit his throat and just knocked him out. Hoenig’s with me and I’m out.”

  Jeremiah nodded. Tobias left.

  The entire way home, fear clogged his throat and a greasy feeling settled in his stomach. When he’d seen the wound on Ruthie’s neck, Tobias had gone cold. His precious Ruthie had been no match for the insanity of Vessi Gallo.

  Hell, Tobias was a grown man and he’d damn near succumbed to the bastard. Of course, Jeremiah had found him finally and Gallo’s men had scattered under that onslaught, but Tobias had been in bad shape.

  In some ways, it was fortuitous that Tobias had sent Ruthie away from him. He’d been glad as he was recuperating that she’d left town and moved to Vegas. It had hurt to know the reason, but as he’d lain there recovering from surgery after surgery to repair his face he’d been glad she wasn’t there to know about it.

  Now the ugliness that was Gallo had touched her.

  He’d kill the motherfucker and dance on his grave before he touched Ruthie again. He vowed it.

  Chapter 15

  The clang of dishes in the kitchen serenaded Ruthie to awareness. She lay there for long moments, breathing deeply to still the racing of her heart. She was scared now. When she’d first completely lost her sight and she’d begun waking to nothing but darkness she’d felt the same fear she felt now. Jeremiah had soothed her as best he could, but to go from sight to nothing and having to rely on all of your other senses had taken time.

  Terror had been her constant companion. She’d grown strong, but it had taken time and love. Waking this way, to the acrid bite of dread in
her mouth and the pounding of her heart in fright, was hard to take.

  She drew in another long, cleansing breath and released it, stretching her limbs and feeling the adrenaline begin to ebb. Miraculously, she’d slept hard through the afternoon. No nightmares, and she didn’t remember waking even once. She concentrated on the small sounds around her—the air conditioner kicking on, the banging dishes, the sounds of low laughter coming from beyond the bedroom—they were soothing.

  She doubted anything but Tobias’s touch could dispel the queasy feeling in her gut. The specter of Vessi Gallo would be hard to fight without him. So she concentrated on Tobias, his scent and the feel of him against her, and as if she’d conjured him up, he was there, sliding into the bed with her.

  His warm body cradled hers, and she shoved her head into his neck and sobbed. The tears took her by surprise and she almost hated her weakness. She gasped, trying to gain control, but it was Tobias who offered it to her, touching her as she needed to be touched.

  He stroked her back, her arms, her hips, and his lips found hers, drinking her tears and stealing her fear. Heat built quickly, replacing the numbing cold of her fright, and before long her agony had turned to pleasure.

  Ruthie’s body writhed against the hardness of his, reveling in his strength, needing it to bleed into her. He gave her what she wanted, what she absolutely had to have, and in turn took all that she was—everything she had to offer in her weakness.

  He took her nipple into his mouth and she moaned. He suckled at her and she gasped. His fingers played in her drenched folds and she rolled her hips against the demand in his touch. He lifted her leg, slipping into her without a word, knowing somehow that she needed this silent joining.

  He pushed in deep, settling her mind even as he shook her body. She was lost in him—no reservations, no doubts. Their breaths mixed, their mouths came together and separated. He gave of himself endlessly and as the passion built a fire inside her, her pussy clenched and orgasm rolled over and through her, washing away the fear completely and leaving her boneless.

  He followed her to pleasure, pushing in as far as she could take him and staying there. The feel of his orgasm triggered little explosions of delight. She was wrecked and put back together by his loving.

  He slid out of her and she bemoaned the loss of his cock. She heard him moving in the bathroom, heard the sound of water running, and then he was back, washing her off before he returned to bed. “Here, Ruthie. Sit up for a second and take this antibiotic and aspirin.”

  She did, draining the bottled water he’d given her and then lying down again. Tobias climbed back into bed with her, spooning her this time, and a sudden thought hit her. “Tell me you shut the door!”

  He laughed gently and kissed her neck. “I will always take care of you, baby.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He squeezed her closer, sliding one of his thighs between hers, wrapping both of her hands in one of his and resting it between her breasts. “For what?”

  “Being there when I needed you,” she answered softly.

  “There is nothing more important to me than being there when you need me,” he said at her neck. “I rushed home but you were sleeping, so I let you. You’ve had a shit day, baby. But I think I forgot to tell you something.”

  Ruthie felt sleep tugging at her again. The fear, the crash, and Tobias’s loving taking its toll on her rolling mind. “What’s that?”

  “I’m proud of you.”

  Confusion pushed the sleep away for a few seconds. “Why?”

  “Because Vessi Gallo is a killer and you did what you had to do to survive him,” Tobias whispered.

  “He hates you, Tobias. He hates you so much.” Tears clogged her throat, making her voice rough.

  “He hates everyone, baby, but whatever you said to him, however you handled him, you gave yourself a chance to live, and I’m so goddamn grateful for your strength.”

  He was squeezing her so hard it was hard to breathe, but it was okay. She was alive and she had survived. “He called me a whore one second, then told me I was beautiful the next. His voice was horrible. He’s the devil, Tobias. He told me to give you a message,” she whispered.

  “Go ahead, Ruthie, tell me what he said,” Tobias urged, stroking her from throat to hip and back again.

  She couldn’t even feel the cut anymore. It truly must not have been a bad wound. The fear had made it much worse, though. He squeezed her hip and she realized she’d faded out for a second. Ruthie took a deep breath and said, “He said to tell you Vessi Gallo says hello. He’s an evil man, Tobias. I want you far, far away from him.”

  Tobias kissed her cheek and pulled her deeper into his body. Ruthie sighed as his warmth replaced her coldness. “I promise you I’ll only get close to him once more.”

  “Why?” The fear tried to push through her lethargy with sharp, rending claws.

  “Because I’m going to kill the son of a bitch,” Tobias pronounced. “Stop worrying, Ruthie. He’s not getting near us ever again.”

  She took the assurance in his voice and wrapped it around her heart. Tobias was a strong man and his will was even stronger. After all, she had succumbed to it three years ago.

  Ruthie realized the trust he needed her to have in him was becoming second nature, the past slipping away with every breath she took and every gentle caress from her man. “Stay safe for me, Tobias. Don’t do anything stupid,” she said wearily.

  The blissful call of sleep was back and she yawned. Tobias chuckled, but never did he stop touching her.

  “Hold me while I sleep?” she requested.

  “I’ll never let you go,” he answered at her ear.

  She hummed softly and finally gave up. She was in his arms. It didn’t get much safer than that.

  —

  There was a discreet knock at his bedroom door and Tobias untangled his limbs from around Ruthie, waiting for her to settle into the indentation made by his body before he pulled himself completely off the bed. Her midnight hair was spread over his pillow and his heart constricted.

  He loved her with everything he was, and she’d come closer to death than he hoped she ever realized today.

  He’d meant what he’d promised her—he was going to kill Vessi Gallo. Slowly. Painfully.

  He stepped into the jeans he’d discarded when he’d first come into the room to check on her. She’d slept hard, and he had to think that was her body’s way of coping with the trauma Gallo had visited on her earlier.

  Slowly. Painfully.

  Tobias stepped to the door and opened it a crack. Candace stood there with a small smile on her face. “Dante’s on the phone,” she said, holding out her cell phone.

  Tobias moved into the hall and closed the door behind him. “Yeah?” he barked.

  “I’ve got a bead on Gallo,” Dante responded.

  “Where?” Already he was moving to the kitchen, grabbing his laptop and pulling up his mapping system.

  “Motel 6 off Courtland Street, the northeast part of town,” Dante informed him.

  Tobias found the location, plugged it into his phone, and then shut the laptop down. “I’ll meet you there in thirty.”

  Dante sighed. “I thought you’d say that.”

  Tobias hung up and turned to Candace. “Can you guys hang out the whole night? I’ve got some business to handle and I don’t want her in the house alone.”

  She nodded. “Absolutely.”

  Tobias hugged her. “Hoenig will be outside guarding the perimeter. Finch knows where my guns and ammo are.”

  “He does,” came Candace’s husband’s reply.

  Tobias shook his hand and said, “Thank you,” then he went back to dress. Two minutes later he was wearing jeans, a black T-shirt, and boots. He put on his holster, strapped his nine-millimeter into it, and was out the door. He gave Hoenig a rundown and had him call Jeremiah with the caution to remain where he was and that Tobias would call him when everything was clear.

 
; Twenty minutes later he was pulling into a convenience store, shutting down his vehicle, and climbing into the black SUV parked beside him.

  “He’s in Room 9. Lights are on, but there’s no movement behind the curtains,” Dante said quietly.

  “I’m moving in,” Tobias said quickly.

  “I’m right behind you,” Dante intoned.

  Two minutes later, they were jimmying the lock and busting in the door. Adrenaline pumped through Tobias’s veins, wickedly cold and strangely soothing. The sight that met his eyes had him gaping in horror.

  Splattered all over the walls was blood and lying on the bed was a woman cut all to hell and back, her mouth open on a silent scream, her eyes open but vacant. There was no need to check for a pulse. She wasn’t breathing. She’d been butchered.

  “Goddamn,” Dante breathed out roughly. “I knew he was insane, but this is—”

  “Fucking scary,” Tobias finished. He fished his phone out and dialed Hoenig. The man answered. “Be on alert. He’s not here now, but he left us a present and he’s not above killing, dude, so mind your p’s and q’s, yeah?”

  Hoenig was a good man. A solid friend, and a better soldier Tobias had never met. He’d be ready to give his life to protect innocents. It was something he’d been doing his whole life. Next to Tobias, Jeremiah, or Finch, there was nobody he’d rather have protecting Ruthie.

  He hung up and glanced at Dante, then followed the path of the other man’s gaze. His heart damn near stopped beating. His breathing slowed as everything came into focus. Danger did that to Tobias.

  Written in lovely calligraphic script, in the dead woman’s blood, was a single word: Revenge.

  “He’s not just gunning for you—he’s coming for us all. I need to let my grandfather know,” Dante said in a whisper and then walked out of the room.

  Tobias dialed a number he’d never called before. He was sure she’d be surprised.

  “Cavanaugh,” came the clipped, slightly husky feminine answer.

  “Savvy—I need you to come to the Motel 6 on Courtland. Alone. Not even your partner, we clear?” Tobias bit out his instructions.