Dangerous Kiss

by Michelle Love

They caressed and explored each other’s bodies for hours until, utterly exhausted, they fell asleep. In the morning, they were awoken by an excited Lars, telling them the FBI had a lead.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  They all sat in the hotel’s conference room, listening to the FBI agent’s radio communication on a sound system they had set up for them to hear the operation. Biba sat with Cosimo, her hand clutching his, her heart beating wildly in her chest. To know that soon, maybe, they’d get Stella back was making her feel sick with hope.

  Please, please let her be okay…Biba swore to all her Gods that if they brought Stella back, she’d never argue with her again. Both of them would be changed by this, but she was determined that they would be changed for the better—both of them.

  Luke Harris nodded to them as he came into the room. “Any minute now, you’ll hear the lead getting his men into position.”

  “Where are they?”

  “Rainier—a cabin near the Nisqually entrance to the park.”

  Biba studied the agent. If he brought Stella back safely, she would take back every negative thought she’d ever had about him. “How did you find them?”

  “It’s important to say that we haven’t found them, we’re just working on a tip. I don’t want to give false hope, but this is the best lead we’ve had.”

  “From a tip?”

  “An anonymous call from someone staying on the mountain. He told us he’d seen something suspicious—a woman fighting with a man—outside one of the cabins the night Ms. Reckless was taken.”

  “And it took him this long to call?” Cosimo’s voice held all the skepticism that Biba felt. Luke Harris shrugged, and Biba tried not to snap at him. He really was the worst.

  “So, the caller might have lied? The caller could have been the real killer throwing you off the scent?” Biba’s voice was cold, but again Harris shrugged off her question.

  “We don’t think that’s the case,” he said, a smug, patronizing smile on his face. Biba wanted to punch him. Instead she leaned over to Cosimo and whispered in his ear.

  “This isn’t going to be what he thinks. I don’t believe this is genuine.”

  Cosimo studied her. “I hope you’re wrong, but I agree. Something is hinky.”

  As they waited to hear what happened, there was a knock at the door, and Reggie stuck his head in. “Can I join?”

  “Of course.”

  He gave Biba a hug, clapped Cosimo on the back. “How goes it? Channing told me downstairs they’ve got a lead.”

  Biba shot him a look. “Yeah. Agent Harris is sure.”

  Reggie got her drift right away. “Ah.”

  Ten minutes later, Biba’s worst fears were confirmed. The tip turned out to be a false alarm—the SWAT team burst in on a very shocked elderly couple who were doing a puzzle. Agent Harris looked crestfallen. “Well, obviously, we’ll…”

  But Biba had had enough. She got up and stalked out of the conference room, followed by Cosimo and Reggie. Biba was steaming angry as she slammed into her suite.

  “That asshole,” she spat out, “he’s not taking this seriously. This is Stella’s life we’re talking about.”

  Cosimo put his arms around her. “I know, Snooks.” He looked at Reggie. “Look, Reg, I know you’re here to take Biba to your mom’s, but I want you to take protection with you.”

  “No problem,” Reggie said, his eyes serious. “Anything to make sure Biba’s safe.”

  Biba looked up at Cosimo. “I don’t know if I want to go. No disrespect, Reg, but I need to stay with Cosimo.”

  “No,” Cosimo said firmly. “You need to be away from all of this, so you can recover. I want to stick around, but I’ll follow you up in a couple of days—if that’s okay, Reg?”

  “Perfect. Mom’s cabin has plenty of room, so we’ll have quite the party.”

  Cosimo smiled. “Thanks. So, baby, we won’t be apart for long.”

  Biba wasn’t happy but nodded. “Okay.”

  Cosimo went to seek out Steve, the head of his security, and asked him to accompany Biba and Reg. “Just don’t let anything happen to them,” he asked, and Steve nodded.

  “I won’t.”

  “And call me every hour to give me an update…okay?”

  “Done and done, boss.”

  Before Biba left with Reggie, she and Cosimo took some private time. Pressing her lips to his, Biba kissed him, murmuring, “I love you so much, Cosimo DeLuca.”

  “Marry me, Biba May.” Cosimo stroked her hair back from her face. “I know it’s crazy. I know we have so much to learn about each other, but I don’t want to wait any longer. When all this is over, when Stella is safely back with us, marry me.”

  “Yes,” Biba said without hesitation, “yes, my darling Cosimo, I will marry you. You’re right. Let’s not wait any longer.”

  Cosimo smiled, and it lit up his entire face. “I can’t wait to be your husband.”

  “Nor I, your wife.” She hesitated a little. “Do you think Nicco would mind?”

  “Let’s call him and ask.”

  Facetiming with him, they could tell Nicco was overjoyed. “Nice work, Pa,” he said making Biba laugh. “I don’t have to call you Mom, do I?”

  “Hell, no,” Biba made a face, “How about we just be besties?”

  “I like that. So, when’s the big day?”

  “Unclear yet. When all this nightmare is cleared up, Nic.” Cosimo smiled at his son.

  “I’d like to get married in Venice,” Biba said suddenly, “In the summer, all four of us together. Or five if we include Reggie—I’ll need a bride’s… man.”

  They all laughed, and Cosimo looked touched. “Then Venice it is…”

  He kissed Biba and Nicco protested. “God, get a room.”

  As Reggie brought his car around and chatted with Steve, Cosimo kissed Biba goodbye. “I’ll be happier knowing you’re out of the line of fire. I love you.”

  On the journey to Reggie’s mom’s cabin in the Olympic mountains, they chatted about nothing in particular, aware of Steve’s presence in the car behind them.

  “I just wish this was all over,” Biba said, “I keep thinking how scared Stella must be.”

  “Don’t think about it,” Reggie said, “I’ll bet your imaginings are worse than the reality.”

  Biba frowned. “Dude, did you read the crap he sent her? Guy’s a nutjob.”

  “I know that, but what I’m saying is, maybe once he actually got her, he chickened out.”

  “Chickened out? Reg…this man stabbed Rich seven times. He stabbed me twice. I doubt chickening out is in his wheelhouse.” She was mad now, staggered by her best friend’s lack of sensitivity.

  “I don’t want to argue, bugs.”

  They drove on in an uncomfortable silence for a while, Biba wondering if she had made the right decision. Now, driving away from Cosimo, she felt more vulnerable, not less.

  As they entered the Olympics, Reg suddenly looked at his gauges. “Shit.”

  Her attention was caught. “What is it?” She noticed the car slowing. Outside, the snow was coming down heavily as Reg put the blinkers on and moved to the side if the road.

  “Car’s misbehaving. Hang on…”

  He stopped the vehicle and got out, walking to the front and popping the hood. Biba looked around and saw Steve pull up behind them. He got out of the car and walked around their car. He knocked on her window, mouthing, “You okay?” Biba nodded and gave him the thumbs up, and Steve continued around to talk to Reggie.

  Biba waited while the two men took a look at the car, jumping slightly when the hood was slammed back down. Biba watched them talk, but then as Steve turned away, everything changed.

  In horror, Biba watched as Reggie pulled a handgun from his jacket and leveled it at the back of Steve’s head. “No!” Biba screamed, but it was too late.

  Reggie shot Steve in the head, and the bodyguard dropped like a stone. Biba couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She clawed at the door of th
e car and staggered out, staring at her best friend.

  Reggie smiled at her. “Don’t run, Biba. I don’t want to kill you here.”

  Her legs wouldn’t move even though every cell in her body told her to run. Reggie was at her side in a flash, taking her upper arm and dragging her back to the car. He pressed the gun to her wounded belly, hard, and she gasped at the pain. “Now, in the glove compartment, you’ll find some handcuffs. I want you to cuff your left hand and put it around the back of your seat. Try anything and I’ll empty this whole clip into you.”

  Was this really happening? Her best friend? Her Reggie? Had he gone crazy?

  Biba did as she was told, and Reggie cuffed her right hand to her left. She was trapped.

  Reggie got back in the driver’s seat. “Now, let’s go. I know someone is looking forward to seeing you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Cosimo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He sought out Lars, who was working at one of the tables in the lounge. Lars smiled at him as he sat down.

  “Biba get away okay?”

  Cosimo nodded. “Fine, but now I’m thinking I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight.”

  “It’s the yips,” Lars said with a shrug. “We’ve all got them since Stella. She’s with Reggie and Steve, Cos, they’ll die before they let anything happen to her.”

  Cosimo sighed. “You’re right. Any news?”

  “Not on Stella, but Rich’s family is suing the studio.”

  “Well, I don’t blame them. Tell them I’ll support them in their bid.”

  “They’re suing you, too,” Lars said with a half-laugh, and Cosimo snorted.

  “I don’t blame them for that either. Tell their lawyer I’ll settle.”

  “Seventeen million?”

  “Do it.”

  Lars laughed again. “Oh, to be a billionaire.”

  Cosimo smiled, but his eyes were serious. “I’m responsible, Lars. When I’m the director on a film set and something like this happens, I’m responsible. I should have upped the security, asked for a different FBI agent—so much more.”

  “Dude, you had an army—relatively speaking, of course.”

  Cosimo rubbed his face then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Steve’s supposed to be checking in every hour.”

  “How long ago did they leave?”

  “Forty minutes.”

  Lars took the phone from Cosimo. “You’ll drive yourself crazy like that. C’mon, man, relax a little. There’s nothing else to do.”

  “Maybe I should follow them up to the cabin.”

  “Jesus, Cos.” Sifrido came up behind them, rolling his eyes. “Always the control freak. Relax, brother.”

  He flopped down into an easy chair and exchanged a look with Lars that Cosimo didn’t understand. Lars picked up his phone. “Gotta make a call. Be right back.”

  Cosimo waited until Lars had left and then looked at Sifrido. “What is it?”

  Sifrido hesitated. “I’m not sure this is the right time to bring this up. Then again, I don’t think there is a good time to have this conversation.”

  “Just spill it, ‘‘’Frido.”

  Sifrido squared his shoulders and nodded. “It’s about Grace...and me. And one night sixteen years ago.”

  He didn’t need to say anymore, but Cosimo would bet all of his money he wasn’t expecting the reaction Cosimo gave him. “Oh, thank God.”

  Sifrido’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

  Cosimo started to laugh. “As weird as this sounds…I’m glad. I’m glad it’s you, ’Frido. I had always suspected you and Grace were attracted to each other, I just didn’t know you’d acted on it. But, God, I’m relieved. Knowing Nicco…you know.”

  Sifrido was incredulous. “You’re okay with raising another man’s son?”

  Cosimo smiled. “I did no such thing. I raised my son. Nicco is my child regardless of whose DNA he shares. If these past few weeks has taught me anything, it’s that family doesn’t mean sharing blood. It’s more profound than that. You are my family, ’Frido, so the fact you and Grace…I don’t care. Nicco is my son, and I love him more than anything.”

  “Apart from Biba?”

  “On par with Biba. I’m not saying finding out he wasn’t my biological son wasn’t a shock, but by God, ’Frido, I could not be prouder of Nicco and the man he’s becoming.”

  Sifrido ran his hand through his hair, still not believing what was happening. “I’m sorry about Grace. It was a moment of weakness, and we both felt awful afterward. I don’t think she knew about Nicco. I truly believe she thought Nicco was yours.”

  Cosimo got up and hugged his friend. “Do you want to tell Nicco?”

  “I don’t know. Would he rather not know?”

  Cosimo pondered the question. “I’ll ask him.”

  He called Nicco a little while later and told him that he found out who his father was.

  “Yeah, you,” said Nicco, “but I suppose I should know whose DNA I got.”

  Cosimo was relieved when Nicco took the news well. “Better than expected,” Nicco said, “at least ’Frido’s a friend.”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “Although I will have to pound on him just a little bit for messing with my mom.”

  Cosimo chuckled, knowing Nicco was joking. “I guess that’s your prerogative.”

  “How’s Biba?”

  Immediately the weight in Cosimo’s chest returned. “On her way to Reggie’s mom’s cabin.” He checked his watch. “And her protection is late calling in. Nic, I have to go.”

  “Sure, Dad. Give Beebs my love.”

  “I will.”

  Cosimo ended the call and dialed Steve’s cell phone. Even if he were driving, Steve should have hands-free, but the phone rang and rang. After ten rings, it went to voicemail.

  It’s okay, don’t panic, everything is okay. He sucked in a deep breath, telling himself to relax.

  After three hours, however, he knew. Something was terribly wrong. He went to find Lars and Channing. “Guys,” he said in a grim voice. “I’m calling the police. Both of you—get on the phones and find out everything you can about Reggie Quinn. I think our killer was hiding in plain sight all this time.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Reggie shoved Biba, still cuffed, into the cabin, and she whimpered when she saw Mary Quinn’s body propped up in the chair. “God, what did you do?” Her whisper was full of grief. Mary? There was no doubt what had happened to her seeing the gaping hole in her neck.

  Reggie smiled. “Momma’s at peace now. She was really sick, Biba.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Like her son.”

  He laughed. “Being in love isn’t a sickness, Biba, you should know that. My love for Stella is real, a dream, and now you are going to help that dream come true.”

  He undid her cuffs but kept a tight hold on her as he steered her towards the back of the cabin. Unlocking a door, he pushed her inside.

  Biba saw Stella at the same time her boss saw her. Stella gave a cry, and the two women threw themselves at each other, embracing hard. “I thought you were dead. I thought you were dead,” was all Stella could say through hysterical sobs.

  Biba held her so hard she could feel her arms going numb. “It’s okay, it’s okay now, I’m here.”

  “How sweet.”

  Stella rounded on Reggie. “You told me you killed her.”

  Reggie shrugged. “Semantics. It’ll be true soon.”

  Biba couldn’t believe what was happening. Reggie? Her person? Her best friend? “You stabbed me.”

  He smiled. “I did. I hadn’t planned on hurting anybody, but first Rich, then you got in my way.”

  “He told me he enjoyed stabbing you.” Stella was holding Biba’s hand. “Didn’t you, you sick fuck?”

  Reggie laughed. “I did, I admit it. And it was true, sinking my knife into your soft belly, Biba, I got hard. Which is why I’m going to do it again, only this time, the
re won’t be a happy ending for you.”

  “Don’t you touch her!” Stella dragged Biba behind her. Biba was just numb.

  “Why do you think I brought her here, Stella? She’s our insurance. We’ll make it to the Canadian border with her, then I’ll stab her to death and leave her body somewhere to throw the feds off the scent. We’ll be in the wind before they know it. Plus, while she’s with us, Cosimo will do anything I tell him to.”

  Biba didn’t even feel afraid. Reggie was going to kill her. He was going to use her murder to help him escape with Stella, and to torment Cosimo. Bastard. She had no intention of going quietly.

  “You’ll have to kill me first,” Stella growled at him, but Biba shook her head.

  “He won’t do it. He hasn’t got the guts.” She faced down her old friend, the man she had thought for such a long time was the only person she could trust.

  Reggie studied her. “You know, you’ve changed since you started fucking DeLuca. I have to admit, I was surprised. For years, you were telling me about how you were abused as a kid, how sex wasn’t important, how you’d never trust a man. That you were broken inside. Then the handsome rich Italian turns up, and you open your legs as wide as they will go.”

  “Fuck. You.” Biba said, ignoring Stella’s whimper of fear. “You have no idea what real love is. It’s not this. Keeping someone prisoner, threatening them, aggression. So, who’s the dysfunctional one out of the two of us, Reg?”

  “I’m going to enjoy killing you, Biba.”

  “You’re not going to get the chance, asshole. Now, you want to go right now, because I’m in the mood to kick your ass into next Tuesday.”

  Reggie laughed mirthlessly and then grabbed her, twisting his fingers in her hair as he held the knife to her throat. Biba stamped on his instep, ignoring the knife. Reggie roared with pain and released her, but he still managed to lash out with his knife, slicing through her back just above her buttock. Biba gasped, Stella screamed, and Reggie slammed his elbow into Biba’s head, and everything went dark.