CHAPTER 23 - Deny, deny, deny
Tanner excused himself from the card game he was in, as Sara pretended to nag him about his drinking, and afterwards, they returned to their suite after a day spent playing rich and clueless tourists.
Sara locked the door and let out a sigh.
“I think the guests and the staff certainly know we’re here, but what do you really think the odds are that we’ll be kidnapped?”
“I’m not sure of the odds, but I say we give this some time before trying something else.”
“Fine, but Jenny has been gone for days and I can only imagine what she’s going through.”
“It’s the best I could think of, but there are no guarantees.”
Sara stifled a yawn.
“I’m tired, do you mind if I shower first?”
“No, and I’ll be out on the balcony enjoying the quiet. Today was noisier than I’m used to.”
Sara smiled.
“I don’t think you stopped talking for more than a minute.”
“Yes, Robert Coleman is a big mouth with too many dollars and not enough sense.”
“And what part was I playing?”
“You’re my trophy wife.”
Sara made a face.
“I suppose that’s better than being called the old ball and chain.”
***
Sleep eluded both of them for a time, as they waited to see if their playacting would bear fruit. If it did, that meant that they might be attacked and abducted at any moment.
“Tanner.”
“Yeah?”
“Remember, don’t fight back, just let them take us.”
“Don’t worry, and try to appear afraid.”
“I won’t have to act, trust me.”
“You’re the bravest woman I know, Blake, and you’re smart, if you weren’t, I’d have killed you the first time I tried.”
“I was just driven by hate and it made me too stupid to be afraid.”
“We should get some sleep.”
“Right, goodnight,”
They became silent, but neither of them would fall asleep until more than another hour had passed.
***
After their visit to see Krupin, Tamir and Justina visited the Cabaret Strip Club, where Sammy Giacconi escorted the FBI agents into the office and offered them seats in front of Joe’s desk.
Sammy was about to leave when Joe told him to stay, and the young man grabbed a folding chair and sat beside Joe behind the desk.
Tamir made a show of looking around.
“Where are your lawyers, Pullo?”
Joe smiled.
“Knowing those bums, they’re probably out playing golf.”
“Michael Krupin had six lawyers with him, what do you think of that?”
“I think I should have went to law school with suckers like Krupin around.”
“I did go to law school and let me tell you, you didn’t miss anything. Now, as you probably know, I’m here to ask you about the pipe bombs that went off inside the warehouses earlier this week, because we have reason to believe that you were behind it. That also makes you responsible for the deaths of eighty-two men.”
Joe said nothing and Tamir and Justina looked at each other.
“What do you think, Justina?”
“I think that Mr. Pullo is too smart to open his mouth and he doesn’t need a lawyer to tell him to keep it shut.”
“I agree.”
Joe smiled at them.
“You two want a drink?”
Tamir waved the offer off.
“Since you won’t talk, I will. It’s believed that you and the Russians are involved in a turf war and that it was Little Mikey Krupin that started it. We also believe, but have yet to prove that you were behind those bombings and the deaths of those men. That said, let it be known that this sort of shit won’t be tolerated by the Federal government and that if this war, vendetta, or whatever you want to call it continues, every effort will be employed to stop it.”
Sammy spoke up.
“How would you stop something like that?”
Tamir pointed at him, but looked at Pullo.
“Is he your kid?”
“This is Sammy Giacconi.”
“The grandson? Well hell kid, it looks like you’ve joined the family business.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Sammy said. “How would you stop a mob war? Because if you can stop it, why not do it now?”
Tamir looked at him for several moments and saw that the ice-blue stare wasn’t working on Sammy the way it did on Michael Krupin. He leaned forward and spoke in a whisper.
“That’s the kind of shit that they teach us to say, but you and I both know that the war will end when one side wins.”
Sammy smiled at him and Tamir leaned back in his seat.
“Our main concern is that no civilians get hurt,” Justina said. “It’s bad for the tourist trade, you know?”
Joe nodded.
“My guess is that the only people who will be hurt are the ones that deserve it, but again, that would just be a guess on my part.”
Tamir smiled at that before turning to his partner.
“Anything else, Justina?”
“Nah, Joe there knows the score and he also knows that we’ll be back.”
Tamir stood along with Justina, but turned in the doorway, as Sammy held it open for them. He gestured around at the office.
“You’re a Don now, Pullo. Why not get fancier digs?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about; I’m just a manager here.”
“I hear you, deny, deny, deny, see you around, boys.”
***
Once they were out on the street and back in their car, Justina laughed.
“I know I’m Italian and it might sound biased, but I still say that The Giacconi Family will win the war.”
“Hell, I’m a distant relation to Vladimir Lenin and I know that Krupin will lose. The spoiled little punk won’t know what hit him either.”
“That Sammy kid was cute, but I don’t like long hair on men.”
“Why don’t we go have lunch?”
“Italian?”
Tamir laughed.
“I sure as hell don’t want any borscht.”
CHAPTER 24 - Violated
Tanner woke with a start, as an arm fell across his throat.
As he blinked against the daylight filtering in past the edge of the drapes, he looked down and saw that Sara had rolled over in her sleep and had placed her left arm over him. When she moved again, her arm lowered and was now laying on his bare chest, while her face was just inches from his own.
He stared down along her body. She was wearing a set of silk pajamas that did little to hide her curves, while the front of her shirt was parted enough to allow him a view of the tops of her breasts.
Sara Blake had been a target of his gun, had been an enemy, and, without doubt, an enormous pain in the ass, but Tanner never once lost sight of the fact that she was a beautiful woman, and he envied any man who had found his way into her bed.
He then realized that he was one of those men, since he was actually lying in her bed at that very moment and the thought made him let out a laugh.
Sara stirred at the sound, but instead of waking, she snuggled closer and buried her face in his neck, as her breasts pressed against his arm.
“Blake?”
Sara mumbled in her sleep.
“Blake!”
Her eyes opened and her hand caressed his chest, as she was still halfway in and out of sleep.
She then lifted her head up, and as she saw Tanner smiling at her, she scurried back over to her side of the bed with an embarrassed expression on her face.
“Sorry, I guess I moved around in my sleep.”
Tanner grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to his chin.
“You were touching me, Blake. I feel so violated.”
Sara stared at him for a moment and then laughed out loud.
“You have a good sense of humor, Tanner, and that’s the last thing I expected from you.”
“You have your moments as well and it looks like the rebels ignored us last night.”
Tanner went to the bathroom to relieve his bladder and brush his teeth, and when he returned, he found Sara sitting up on the edge of the bed and yawning.
“I’m tired; I kept thinking that every little noise was a rebel breaking into the room.”
“I don’t mind the lack of sleep, but I dread having to play Robert Coleman again.”
Sara rose from the bed and stretched.
“I’m going to take a shower. Would you please call room service and have them send up coffee and eggs Benedict? I’m hungry this morning.”
“You got it.”
After grabbing fresh clothes to put on, Sara turned in the threshold to the bathroom and looked back at Tanner.
“Thank you, for not misinterpreting my... what happened in bed. It really was accidental.”
“I know that. If anything, you’d be more inclined to strangle me in your sleep than caress me.”
Sara shook her head vehemently.
“No, I’m done with hate. I just want to get my sister, go home, and try to build a new life. Once this is over, you’ll never have to worry about me again. I swear it, although, I guess that you have no reason to trust my word.”
“I do trust you. What happened back in New York was driven by paranoia and I don’t think you’ll make that mistake again.”
Sara’s eyes saddened.
“That mistake cost me too much to learn.”
Tanner held up the phone to distract her. He could see that she was about to drift back into despair and feelings of guilt over Rossetti’s death and he wanted to keep that from happening.
“I’ll call for the food, and how about some orange juice?”
“Make it pineapple,” Sara said, before disappearing into the bathroom.
***
They were riding down in the elevator with Tanner dreading another day of playacting, when he realized that the machine was descending without making a single stop on the lower floors, something that was very unusual in a busy hotel.
He whispered to Sara.
“I think something is up.”
“We’re not stopping.”
“Exactly,”
Not only did the machine not stop, but it also failed to open its doors at the lobby level and continued on to the basement.
Tanner and Sara braced themselves as the doors slid open and then they both felt the stinging barbs of a Taser, as they were blasted with enough electricity to drop them to the floor of the elevator car.
Tanner felt himself being lifted up by two pairs of strong hands, then, he was dropped atop something soft.
He had been deposited into a laundry cart and assumed that Sara was experiencing the same, and he stifled his instinct to fight back as a damp rag was pressed over his nose and mouth.
His last conscious thought was recognition that he was being rolled onto a truck and then the feeling of movement, as the truck was placed in gear.
As much as he despised not being in control, he was thankful that the rebels had struck early, because it saved him the trouble of having to pretend to be bigmouth Robert Coleman again, and that was worth a Taser blast any day.
CHAPTER 25 - The right boy
Jennifer watched as rebels returned from their search of the jungle and she could tell by their faces that they had once again failed to find Jake.
She and the other hostages were down at the edge of a stream, but their pairings had been separated, so that she and Melissa were seated several feet away from Juan Rio and Dr. Washburn.
When Melissa saw the smile on Jennifer’s face, she asked her what had caused it.
Jennifer leaned in and whispered to her.
“The man that’s been attacking them, he’s my boyfriend. His name is Jake Garner and he’s an FBI agent.”
Melissa almost squealed in excitement, but fought the impulse.
“Oh my God, are you serious? Oh, that’s so romantic.”
“It’s incredibly dangerous is what it is. I knew he was here, because he had changed his plans at the last second and took a later flight to join me, but I assumed that he had either flown back home or was waiting at the resort in Telunas for news.”
Melissa’s eyes shone bright.
“But he’s here and he’s trying to rescue you. He must be so brave and he must really love you.”
Jennifer smiled.
“Yes and I think I love him too, even if we haven’t been together very long.”
“You must have started as friends.”
“We did, how did you know?”
“Just a guess and I have a friend back home that I wish was more than a friend.”
“What’s his name?”
“Drake Harper and even Daddy likes him... and I want him to be my first.”
Jennifer was surprised by that last statement.
“You’re still a virgin?”
Melissa nodded.
“I’ve been waiting for the right boy, and now, I may never live long enough to be with him.”
Jennifer hugged the girl.
“Don’t think that way. We’ll be rescued and you’ll live a long life.”
“Yeah, you’re right and it will be your Jake who rescues us.”
Jennifer smiled, but her heart was sick with worry for Jake, as she watched a new patrol go off to search for him.
CHAPTER 26 - Temptation
Back in New York City, the sky was growing dark and a meeting was ending inside the Cabaret Strip Club, as new Don of The Giacconi Family, Joe Pullo, finished discussing business with his Capos.
Sophia was at the club, sitting at the bar with Laurel, as the two women had surprised themselves by becoming friends, and although as a woman, Sophia could never be considered a made member of her family, she was still acting as a liaison between The Calvino Crime Family and The Giacconi Family.
As the other men left the club, Sammy Giacconi leaned on the bar and stared down its length at Sophia.
“You like Sophia, don’t ya?”
Sammy turned around and saw Merle and Earl smiling at him. It was Merle who had spoken, and Sammy grinned at him.
“Hell yeah, I like her, and she’s so beautiful she takes my breath away.”
“That’s Tanner’s girl; do you know who he is?” Earl asked.
Sammy nodded.
“Everybody has heard of Tanner, but I’ve never met him.”
“We know that,” Merle said. “Because you’re still breathing, but you might not be if he catches you staring at his girl that way.”
Sammy frowned.
“I’m not scared of Tanner, and besides, it’s not like they’re married.”
Earl shrugged.
“It’s your funeral.”
***
At the other end of the bar, Sophia asked Laurel a question.
“Is he still staring at me?”
“Yes, and I think my brothers are teasing him.”
“He is a hot one, but hell, I must be ten years older than him.”
“And there’s Tanner to consider, no?”
“It would do Tanner good to see me with another guy, maybe then he wouldn’t take me for granted.”
“Does he do that?”
“Yeah, but it’s my fault, I got a thing for him and he knows it,”
“If you’re looking for a commitment, don’t look to Tanner. It frightens him.”
“And if it didn’t, then you two would be together, right?”
“I think so, but the chance for that to happen is in the past, and now Joe is the only man I want to be with.”
Sophia saw movement from the corner of her eye and smiled.
“Here he comes.”
Sammy said hello to Laurel and then spoke to Sophia.
“Why don’t you and I go have dinner and then you can tell me all about
yourself.”
“Maybe I’m not hungry, did you think of that?”
Laurel stood up.
“I have to see Joe about something, so long you two.”
Sophia sent her a mock look of annoyance and watched as Sammy took Laurel’s empty seat.
“So, what will it be? Italian? Thai? Or maybe you’re into sushi?”
Sophia scowled at Sammy.
“If you’re looking for an easy lay, kid, you got the wrong woman, and I emphasize the word, woman.”
“You’re not that much older than me and I’m not a kid.”
Sophia sighed as she tilted her head slightly.
“I actually could go for some grilled sea bass.”
Sammy jumped to his feet.
“I’m ready when you are, and this is just dinner and conversation, okay?”
“Okay.”
As they headed for the door, Sammy looked back at Merle and Earl and sent them a wink.
***
Vance watched Sammy and Sophia leave the club from a hidden observation post on a nearby rooftop, and reconsidered his plans to shoot Joe Pullo when he exited the club.
He had seen the group of men leave the club earlier and realized that it was being used for meetings of The Giacconi Family’s hierarchy.
Vance smiled to himself.
Why kill one man when you can kill twenty?
Vance eased away from the observation post and made his way back to his vehicle with plans to return, and the next time, he wouldn’t be alone.
CHAPTER 27 - Desperation and despair
When Tanner came to, he realized that he was hanging suspended while also moving backwards, and that there was burning pain in his wrists and ankles.
As he moved his head up to look around, he saw that he was lashed to a pole and that two rebels were toting him along. Sara was also being carried, but by the way her head lolled, Tanner assumed that she had yet to awaken.
When one of the men realized that he was conscious, they stopped their procession and lowered them to the ground in a small clearing, slid the poles free, and left them with their wrists and ankles bound together by rope.
Tanner called to Sara, hoping to stir her to consciousness.
“Blake, wake up!”
Tanner’s head snapped back as one of the rebels backhanded him. He glared up at the man and saw the face of a thug looking back at him, as the man shouted for him to be quiet.
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