Gabriel nodded and extended his legs, relaxing back in his chair. “I thought you were heading back to New York today.” He tapped the heavy ring he wore on his right thumb against the knuckles of his left hand in a steady rhythm, which stopped when Alek sat forward, his mouth firming into that grim I-got-some-bad-news line. After so many years held captive in a life where that look usually meant something had gone wrong, one was wise to dread seeing it.
“Stefano dropped in at the biker’s place this morning.”
Okay.
Not what he was expecting.
The biker was Caleb Paynne, a member of the Obsidian Devils MC, the infamous motorcycle club known throughout the world with chapters in every major city in every major country. When Gabriel had learned there was a connection between Paynne and Eva—through the biker’s sister—he’d taken advantage and arranged for Paynne to transfer charters so he could keep a close eye on Gabriel’s charge in a way a perfect stranger never could without throwing up a field of red flags. The move had been made easier by Gabriel’s solid relationship with the Manhattan charter’s President, who Caleb also knew well. Only problem? Gabriel didn’t think much of the close relationship Eva shared with the fuckin’ biker. Too bad he hadn’t known Alesio, Gabriel’s little cousin, would chum up to Eva at school, he could have avoided using Paynne altogether.
Not that it mattered now. She’d graduated and was returning to Seattle.
Today.
He glanced down at the Breitling on his wrist and frowned, not happy to note she hadn’t even left New York yet. “And?” he said as Alek’s announcement hung in the air between them.
“Eva stopped by on her way to the airport.”
A chill swept through him around the roots of jealousy digging deeper into his chest.
“Stefano was still there. Waiting for her.”
No outward reaction came, but deep down, oh, deep down a mighty hurricane of holy fuck ripped through Gabriel.
His brother. In the same room with Eva.
God…damn.
“She okay?” She’d better be okay. Otherwise the world was going to see a bloodbath of epic proportions within the organized crime world. If anything had happened to Vasily’s daughter, within days the Moretti family would begin to fall. The Tarasovs and their Russian counterparts would move in and clean house. Just like, Gabriel suspected, they were currently doing with the Baikov organization.
“She’s fine,” Alek confirmed. “At JFK waiting for her flight as we speak.”
Relief speared the base of Gabriel’s skull and spread throughout his body. “Did you ask Vincente if they’re looking for some extra muscle? Maybe Paynne was the go-between.”
Alek shook his head. “Your family currently has nothing going with the bikers. Not since that weapons deal they did last New Year’s Eve.”
“So the visit had nothing to do with Paynne. Or the bikers. Or business. Everything to do with her.” His worst fear confirmed: Tasked with keeping her safe from the Russian mob, he’d turned around and served her up to the Italian one instead. This was not happening.
“Exactly. Vincente said he couldn’t interfere in the meet without it looking suspicious, but she was totally safe. Didn’t turn his back for a second. Said she left after telling them she was heading to the airport.” He raised a hand before Gabriel could curse. “Made no specific mention of Seattle, but Stefano seemed to get this was where she was heading. Asked about a lover. Start to finish, it lasted less than ten minutes.” Alek sat back in his chair. “Guess the question is, how does he know about her?”
Gabriel answered it. “He still has eyes on me.” Staring blindly at an article written in the Seattle Times about a large function being held at the Crown Jewel tomorrow night, he ignored the urge to hammer his fist on the top of his desk. Disgust at his carelessness attempted to rise up, but he slapped it away. It returned to press home the fact that if he hadn’t been so distracted by a killer body and a flawless face, he’d have paid more attention to the things going on around them. And if he’d paid more attention to what was going on around them, he’d have nailed the peeping fuck—whoever he was—and cut off the reports making their way back to New York. “Does V have a lead on where Stefano is getting his information?”
“He said they were seeing a private investigator today that he thinks might be our guy.” Alek’s tone was hopeful. “And I agree. Stefano’s visit today was about recon. He was fishing. If he was already convinced you were sleeping with her, he’d have played it smarter and not brought Vincente with him, my cousin would be dead, and Paynne would be tagged as the murderer.”
Harsh, but all true. Stefano had gotten close enough today to kill Eva in the same violent and sadistic way he’d taken the lives of at least three other women Gabriel had slept with. To the public, the murders had seemed like random killings, three more unsolved crimes for the Seattle PD, as was the way in their world. He and Stefano kept their business their business, but the photographs his brother had sent Gabriel had let him know who was responsible. And who would be responsible for the next killings, because the calculating lunatic wasn’t going to stop until he’d followed through on the threat he’d made the last time he and Gabriel had spoken five years ago.
The day I hear you’ve found the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with…I’ll be there to take her away from you. The same way you took Adrianna from me.
Never would Gabriel forget looking across that dark warehouse at the raw hatred on his brother’s face. Guilt was a nasty companion he’d lived with ever since. Because, inadvertently or not, he was responsible for the explosion that had killed Stefano’s woman.
Gabriel had left New York, and the life, that same night and hadn’t looked back. Truth be told, he found no fault in his brother’s thinking. Sure, he hated the years-long vendetta—not that he and Stefano had ever been close. And, of course, the looking over his shoulder and the casualties were all one large, unnecessary pain in his ass. But he respected it. Understood it. Would probably do something similar if the tables were turned.
But.
Stefano’s vindictive nature was once again reaching out to wrap around others. Involving innocents in something that should never have extended beyond the key players: Gabriel and his brother. Eva Jacobs should not be in the equation, and knowing she was being pulled in made it clear the vendetta could no longer be ignored.
Stefano coming into contact with her today hadn’t just crossed a line; the meet-and-greet had obliterated it. And Gabriel couldn’t let it happen again.
THREE
Having refused a seat, Stefano Moretti stood in front of a messy desk and opened one of the folders he’d just received. The thing smelled like French fries.
No one would say Ian Preston was the most glamorous private investigator in Queens, but his work was unparalleled.
“Them’s the pics and info on the other one you wanted to know about,” Ian wheezed through his flabby throat. “Wasn’t easy to get. The husband keeps her locked up real tight.”
As he should, Stefano thought absently while scanning the top page in front of him, which was a short bio. Flipping it over, he took a moment to appreciate a striking redhead with ivory skin and green eyes.
It had been his underboss who’d suggested putting Preston onto gathering information on Caleb Paynne. And Furio been right. Dangling a threat over the biker’s little sister would keep a lid on any hurt feelings Paynne might have regarding today’s B and E. And she might come in handy if Stefano was in need of information only the biker could give him. Always smart to have insurance.
Closing the file, he moved onto the other one, focusing his attention on a photo of Eva Jacobs crossing the street in Morningside Heights, her dark hair flowing over her shoulders and down her slender back.
She was stunning.
“That’s who you and Romani had to see before you picked me up?” Furio Abella hovered over Stefano’s shoulder, never far away.
“Gab
e sure knows how to pick them.” He hated to compliment his brother but couldn’t fault the guy’s choice in women. Even though something was off with this one.
It had taken a while to notice the common theme in the many photos the PI had taken of Gabriel in the last few weeks. But once Preston identified the unifying thread and brought it to Stefano’s attention, he’d seen for himself that Eva Jacobs had been somewhere in the background of too many shots for it to be a coincidence. Way too many. But the strange part was, the two of them were always in the same area, but never together.
And even stranger?
Gabriel’s eyes were glued…Eva Jacobs’s were not. In fact, it was as if she didn’t know he was there at all.
Very interesting. For his self-banished brother to break his own golden rule by repeatedly coming back to New York just to trail behind a woman as she went about her business? Never speaking to her, never in any contact whatsoever?
What were they missing?
“Still no connection?” he asked Preston.
“Nothin’. But I’m workin’ on it,” came the quick promise.
Nodding, Stefano tucked the folders under his arm. “Work harder. You should already be on a flight to Seattle.”
As he left the stuffy office, Furio fell into step beside him. “I don’t think we should wait,” his underboss said, volunteering his opinion as freely as he always did. Stefano didn’t mind. Saved him from having to solve all of their problems himself.
“Preston’s close.” As they headed down the narrow staircase, he tried to speak and hold his breath at the same time so he wouldn’t inhale the heavy odor of poverty. “We’ll give him a day or two once he reaches Seattle—”
“Why the extra time?” Furio interrupted impatiently.
After a brief pause, Stefano relented. “Fine. Who do we have that’s dispensable?” Because if he knew his brother, whoever they sent to the West Coast likely wouldn’t return.
“Skars just got out.”
When they reached the street, Furio exited the building first, crossing the sidewalk to open the door to the Navigator. Once Stefano climbed into the back, his underboss shut the door and joined Vincente, who was at the wheel in front.
Stefano resumed their conversation. “Send Skars to Seattle. Tell him to give her a message to stay away from Gabriel. And make sure he understands that he isn’t to touch her. That’ll come later.”
† † †
As the lights from the airport terminal faded, Eva gave another Uber driver her Mercer Island address and tried to calm her rolling stomach. She hadn’t been home since her mom’s funeral. What would it be like rattling around their empty house? Being reminded every day that the only family she’d ever had was gone.
She’d keep busy, she reminded herself around a yawn. Get a job right away so she wouldn’t be home that often. Shouldn’t be too hard now that she had her MBA.
She looked out the window, thinking how hollow that accomplishment seemed now when at one time it had been so important to them. She hadn’t even attended her graduation ceremony. She’d thought about it, wondered if someday she’d regret not going, but in the end, she hadn’t wanted to cross the stage, her classmates looking out into the proud faces of their loved ones, while she searched in vain for the one face she wanted to see. Caleb would have been there, of course, but her mom wouldn’t have.
Straightening in her seat, she shoved away her melancholy thoughts and tried to find something positive kicking around in her head.
Maybe she wouldn’t have to search for a job. She had, after all, interviewed for that position at TarMor Inc. Perhaps she’d get a call back.
She bit her lip. And then? If she got that job, she’d what, sell the house she’d grown up in and walk away from her life in Seattle as if none of it mattered? It was bad enough she’d sold her mom’s dress shop, which she’d only done when Kathryn’s lawyer had called to tell Eva someone had shown an interest.
But their house?
And what about Nika?
She rubbed at her brow with the tips of her fingers. If she got the job, she could always think of it as a temporary position. It wasn’t what she was looking for anyway. The only reason she’d applied was because the headhunter who’d interviewed members from her graduating class had pushed her into “seriously considering” his lead on the “wonderful learning experience” at TarMor, a “most sought-after placement” in one of the “fastest growing building contractors in the US.” When Eva had balked at the title of associate business manager, seeing herself doing nothing more than grunt work for someone with a secure place on the board, the headhunter had encouraged her to see it more as a stepping-stone. In what other position could she get such an overview of the workings of such a large company? There was also room for quick growth. If she proved herself, the company had guaranteed a promotion to manager after her first year of employment, which was more in line with her credentials. And to have the chance to actually shadow a CEO—even if his name did cause her teeth to grind a little. Alekzander Tarasov. Ugh. Could it get anymore Russian?
Aside from his heritage, shadowing him had been the one selling point that wasn’t part of any other job she or her classmates had heard of.
She really couldn’t afford not to at least consider the opportunity. Even if by accepting the job, she’d have to return to New York because that was where Mr. Tarasov was relocating within the month.
As she leaned her head on the window while the cab crossed the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge from Seattle onto Mercer island, perks and drawbacks continued to drift through her mind. Two stood out. One was frivolous, the other, not so much.
The first was a silly perk that involved some eye-candy she’d seen in the lobby after finishing up with the chief human resources officer the day of her interview. Beyond tall, dark, and handsome, Eva had thought about the man much too often since. She’d even gone so far as to wonder if the company had planted him, knowing four of the candidates competing for the job were women.
The second was the possible drawback that had occupied her mind during much of her flight home. The interaction she’d had today with a known organized crime figure. Stefano Moretti had known her by name. And he’d seemed damn sure they’d meet again. Why?
“This it?”
Eva’s head came up at the driver’s query, and she looked out to see they’d stopped in front of her house.
With her heart lodged in her throat, she got out and waited while the woman popped the trunk and placed Eva’s bags on the driveway. She continued to dawdle as the driver got back into her car and drove away, watching until the vehicle disappeared up the street.
Okay. She could do this.
Taking a deep breath, ultra-conscious of the silence of the night—no traffic, sirens, drunken conversations—she picked up her things and used the glow from the streetlight to make her way up the front walk. Shoving her key into the lock, she swung the door wide and paused to turn off the beeping alarm before hitting the switch to illuminate the entrance. She squinted in the sudden brightness as she dropped her luggage at the foot of the stairs…
Tears burned behind her lids as the familiar, if stuffy, smell of home hit her. “Mom,” she whispered, blinking hard, half expecting to see a beautiful blonde head pop out from the kitchen.
“Hey, boo-boo!” her mom would say with a welcoming smile that adored from any distance. “Come tell me about your day. Coffee’s on.”
Treasuring the memory, Eva backstepped, hovering just outside the door where she gulped in some fresh air. Too bad Nika hadn’t made it over to air the place out, she thought as she took the brunt of her grief amid the loneliness she now lived with. She turned, her blurry gaze skimming over the front yard…
She stilled as a coming-to-be-familiar sensation tickled her nape. Like she was being watched. She’d felt it in New York, so often lately, and even on the flight back to Seattle. It wasn’t as disturbing as it should be, considering what had happened that morning,
but brought with it an odd sense of peace.
Maybe it was her mom’s spirit—
Eva jumped when she felt a vibration against her left buttock. Blowing out an annoyed breath, she took her phone out to see a text from Caleb. As she read, she flicked the volume button back on.
You home?
Yeah. Just got here.
You okay?
Her lip curved, her heart warming as she typed in a lie. Yup. Did you learn anything about this morning?
She waited almost a minute, staring at the bubble that signified he was responding.
Still working on it. Ttyl
Sending a kissy-face emoji, she tucked her phone away.
Before she could fall back into the pit, a light breeze whispered against her face. The scent of rain and grass mingled with what came from the house, watering down the emotion it evoked.
“I know we didn’t go for the ghosty shit, mom,” she murmured, smiling a little because Kathryn Jacobs, a literal genius, hadn’t been one to believe in anything that hadn’t been studied to death. “But I’ll take you anyway I can get you.”
As night shadows stretched over what would be a brilliant green lawn come morning, hiding the sword ferns and other foliage surrounding the yard, a dog barking in the distance, the sound more a let-me-in-I’m-done-peeing than someone’s-in-the-yard, Eva had to admit being home wasn’t so bad after all.
† † †
Gabriel watched Eva linger in the entrance to her house, her lips curving in a private smile.
Gorgeous.
Who was she texting? Paynne? Her friend Nika? Which one had caused her expression to soften like it had? Hopefully Nika, he thought with a scowl.
“She kept her earbuds in and ignored the guy the entire flight.”
His scowl deepened as he looked sidelong at the right brain of his security team, Quan Mao. He’d hired the skilled Asian American when Quan had first landed in Seattle a little more than four years ago. He’d come from an Asian unit in New York that had turned sour, and he’d proven himself more loyal and trustworthy than even some of the boys Gabriel had known for twenty years back home.
Vengeance Unleashed (The Wanted Men Series Book 1) Page 3