by Kay Maree
“All I want you to show me is the man who talked me into this ludicrous plan. I asked you for help and you agreed if I stuck to your stipulations.” Lurching back to my feet, I jam my hands on my hips. “Well, I’ve done everything you’ve asked so you don’t get to back out of your side. That’s not how it works.”
I stomp my foot. “And you’re not coming with me.”
Spinning on my heel, I storm up the stairs. It takes me two goes to find the room with my bags in it. Since it’s the master bedroom, I drag my biggest bag to the room furthest down the hall, then slam the door shut and lock it.
My ripped skirt is thrown in the bin. I shuck the matching jacket from my shoulders and toss it in as well. Changing into the only half-way suitable clothes I own—the same outfit I wore to Desmond’s office—I head downstairs with my hands balled in fists and my mind screaming for a fight.
“What’s the address?” Without looking at me, he rattles of an address. “Once I’ve ordered a taxi, I’m going and you’re not following me.”
Desmond turns around. He advances on me. “You’ve brought yourself a reprieve. My father needs me. I’ll be back tonight. Wait here. We’ll continue this conversation then.”
“No, we won’t.” I take off my engagement ring and put it on the kitchen counter. “If you won’t honour our agreement, then I won’t either.”
In a repeat of his behaviour at the office, I find myself backed up against the nearest wall. He slaps the wall next to my head, then takes hold of my chin and tilts my head back. Our gazes lock. His eyes are wild, and I feel my first real spike of fear. Phyllis’ warning pops back into my head.
It seems like my misgivings have been confirmed.
Desmond is a bigger ogre than my father.
Digging my heels in might not be the smartest choice, but I’m quickly running out of options.
A broken engagement will anger my father more than a non-acceptance.
I could’ve jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire, only to backtrack my way into the middle of a bushfire.
“Mac,” I try to use his nickname to create a connection between us. “I think we’re getting off on the wrong foot here. How about we take the day to cool off and talk about this tonight? I’ll even cook dinner if that helps?”
He eyes me up and down. His suspicion is strong enough to taste. My mind freezes when I try to come up with a way to calm him without arousing his doubts about me. His hand is too close to my throat for me to make a misstep.
“I want you, Jen,” he rasps out in a needy voice. Resting his forehead against mine, Desmond lets his eyelids flutter closed. “You’re under my skin and I don’t know what to do with that. Your father has plans. My father wants things I don’t want to give him. Everything revolves around you and I don’t like that.”
We remain in this position in complete silence for what feels like an eternity.
Finally opening his eyes, he kisses the tip of my nose. “Go. Have your fun for one day. Tonight, will come soon enough—I should have a clearer picture of how the chips are going to fall after I meet with my father.”
His grip on my chin eases. When he steps aside, it takes every iota of inner strength I possess not to cringe as I pass him. My engagement ring sparkles on the counter. Praying that it’s the right move, I slide the diamond back on my finger and lift the handset to call a taxi.
With the call placed, I grab my purse. “I’m going now.”
“Walk with me,” Desmond commands. I follow him out to the front steps, holding my breath the entire way. It can’t be this easy to leave him, can it? He gestures at the second Escalade. “My man will drive you. He’ll stay with you all day.”
Hopelessness weaves a path through me. My chest tightens and panic takes hold.
“But, my taxi?”
The only response I receive is a slap on the arse before he says, “Off you go before I change my mind. I’ll see you tonight.”
Delicately picking my way down the steps, I wait by the passenger door while Desmond speaks to the biggest of his security men. The man looks at me, then back to my unwanted fiancé. My fear increases the longer they talk.
I know he’s making sure that I’m not let out of the bigger man’s sight.
It’s too bad for them. I’m not completely stupid. I may have walked into this willingly, but I’ll be damned if I’ll remain here without at least attempting to break free of my latest cage.
“Let’s go,” the security man orders in a gruff tone.
“Jen,” Desmond calls out to me when I weave my way to the Escalade.
“Yes.” Stopping, my shoulders lift as I drag in a lungful of breath.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
A huff escapes my lips. I spin, my hands coming to my hips without thought. “Colour me surprised. What now?”
The smirk I’m beginning to think he is default lifts his lips. “The entire deal’s off. No ‘one’ time. No man but me. You spread your legs for anyone before I find my way through them tonight, I’ll kill you.”
And, there we have it. He’s laid it all out.
The reality of my situation should bring me to my knees.
For some reason knowing the truth empowers me. I’m sure when I take the time to examine why, I’m not going to like the answer.
Rather than acknowledging him, I sit in the front seat—a deliberate break from protocol—and stare straight ahead. Turning to my driver once we’re out on the main road, I hold out my hand and introduce myself with a jovial handshake.
“Hello, driver man. Got a name?”
My cheerful greeting throws him. He stammers, his professional façade dropping and his expression betraying his worry about what he heard Desmond say, “Nice to meet you, Jennifer. I’m Brett.”
He might think I need his sympathy. I don’t. He has mine. Poor Brett is going to lose his job by tonight. He just doesn’t know it yet. Because, while there’s still breath in my lungs, I will not be returning to Desmond or my father.
I’d rather be dead. Unfortunately, it’s been confirmed that might be on the cards if I make the wrong step.
Not so dramatic proclamations aside, to pull this off, I’m going to need the perfect plan.
The perfect plan.
Three words with the capacity to either save or ruin my life.
I pray it’s the first.
This time as we drive through Western Sydney, I’m not looking at the crumbling houses and run-down storefront that are so different to where I live…
…I’m plotting my way to freedom.
Chapter Nine
Angelo
I make my grandfather’s men drop me off two streets over from the library so I can walk the rest of the way. The last thing I need is for anyone to spot me emerging from a SUV driven by a Carlucci Clan member.
The walk gives me time to formulate a plan. Despite the Don’s assurance that the clouds will part, and a giant arrow sent from heaven will appear directly above the head of the Imbruglia member who’s wandered into enemy territory, I don’t hold such confidence. I barely have faith that I’ll be able to find Maria in the midst of all the do-gooders converging on our neck of the woods for their annual session of lording their superiority over us lesser beings.
“Angie,” my little sister screams as if on cue. The crowd parts, and she runs toward me with her arms wide open. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Maria doesn’t stop once she gets to me, instead she climbs me like a tree and smothers my face with kisses. She was ten years old the last time she did this so, at first, I’m a little awkward with her. That feeling evaporates when I realise that the sense of impending doom that’s been hanging over my head since Friday has lifted with her presence. I clasp her to me and turn in a circle.
“I missed you too, kiddo.”
Once she’s done kissing me, Maria buries her face in the crook of my neck. I quickly realise that she’s crying when a wet patch sticks my t
-shirt to my skin and her body shakes in my embrace. Looking over the heads of the people standing between us and the library entrance, I spot Martha beckoning me over to her. I ignore the exclamations that follow in our wake as I push my way through the throng of well-dressed people.
“Poor mite. She was here at seven looking for you,” Martha informs me when I reach her. She pats my arm then Maria’s back. “Take her inside. Spend a few moments of quiet together before the snobs descend.”
I don’t need to be told twice. After a quick nod in Freddie’s direction, I head downstairs to the basement. It’ll be the quietest place. As dingy as it, I doubt too many of the bleeding hearts will venture down here.
Perching on the edge of the ping pong table, I hold my sister in my lap and pat her back while she gets herself under control. When she lifts her head, five or so minutes later, I meet her sheepish grin with a half-smile.
“I’m beginning to think I’m your favourite person.”
Maria giggles, then she pushes against my shoulders to indicates she’s ready to get down. “You’re all right but I wouldn’t say you’re my favourite person. You left me for three days. That’s a long time when you’re fifteen.”
Pretending to be offended, I scowl at her. She dances away from me when I reach out to mess up her hair. It’s so fucking good to see her; my heart feels too big for my chest.
“Tell me their name, and I’ll make them disappear.” Her final sentence penetrates my happiness to see her. I drop my head into my hands and screw my eyes shut to avoid acknowledging what I’ve done. “Fuck, I missed your birthday.”
“It’s okay.” Maria tries to placate me. In a reversal of our previous positions, she pats my back. “I know you had a good reason. Grandpa didn’t come here to say hello. He obviously wanted something.”
“He did.”
“Did you do it? Is he going to come back?”
Her second question has me raising my head to look at her. “Do you want him to come back?”
During my time with him, it never crossed my mind that Maria might want to see him again. All my plans have revolved around minimising her exposure to him and his world.
“I don’t know,” she hedges. I see the longing in her kind eyes. “He’s a bad man… I mean, I’m not stupid. I know he’s a murderer, but he was kind to me, and he looked at Papa the same way you do. He can’t be all bad if he hates how Papa is… plus he was nice to Mama when they spoke.”
I all but gnaw off my tongue to stop from telling her that he was nice to Mama because they have business together. One sold me to the other like I was a spare television set.
“He’s okay.” It’s my turn to dodge the truth. “I’m not sure he’ll be back, though.”
“So, it’s all done then? You’re coming back home?” The earnest light on her face makes my gut twist. The ache to stay with her—to keep her safe—is overwhelming. “I want to go home. Freddie won’t let me and Hayden guards me when he’s not around. I need to check on Mama.”
I file away a mental note to find out why Hayden’s involved when I specifically asked Rafe to watch my sister.
“Ah, I might need to—”
We’re interrupted when the door to the basement is wrenched open and someone comes running down the stairs. I push Maria behind me and let my arms hang loose at my sides. It’s a deceptive stance. To the untrained eye, I look relaxed. Little do they know, but I’m ready to explode if I need to.
My alarm at their abrupt entrance is reduced when I see that it’s a tall, black-haired girl about my age who’s clambering down the stairs like a bat outta Hell. She stops when she sees us and lifts her gaze from the steps beneath her feet to meet my eyes.
The second my dark eyes meet her brilliant green gaze I’m paralysed. Everything in the room pixelates out of focus and it feels like a spotlight has been shone directly at her. She licks her bottom lip and offers me a tentative smile.
I don’t respond.
I can’t respond.
“Um, hi,” she says with a little wave. “I was looking for the back entrance.”
Her cultured voice gives away her identity. She’s one of them; the privileged arseholes who’ve come to rebuild our library with their hand-me-downs. I should hate her on sight. Instead I see the desperation brimming in her eyes and I want to reach out and soothe the frown that’s wrinkling the alabaster skin on her forehead.
“This is a basement.” Maria steps out from behind me. She slams her hands on her hips. “Basements don’t have back entrances.”
The girl deflates right in front of us. Her shoulders droop, and she tugs at the bottom of her green top. Stretching the material, she twists and turns it in her hands until the neckline is pulled high on her left shoulder and most of her right side is exposed.
“Oh.” A solitary tear rolls down her cheek.
My sister nudges me. I lean down to her.
“I think she’s in trouble,” Maria whispers. “Now, I feel bad for being mean.”
I finally regain control of my body. After a slight nod to show Maria I heard her, I step toward the beautiful girl. Since subtlety isn’t my forte, I decide to take the direct approach. Making myself as unthreatening as I can, I move closer to the girl with my hands held in front of me.
“Do you need help?”
As she’s about to answer, the basement door flies back against the wall and a big man in a suit strides down the staircase.
“Jennifer,” he barks. “This area is off-limits to you. Get back upstairs.”
Every hair on my body stands on end when I catch sight of him. He’s obviously a security guard—the mic in his ear, the radio strapped to his side, and the expression on his face are dead giveaways. Unconsciously, step toward Jennifer. She looks at me, then at the man behind her, before she glances back at me. Understanding lights up her beautiful face, then she shakes her head at me.
The beautiful girl is sending me a message, only I don’t know what she’s trying to say.
“It’s all right, Brett. I got lost. I was asking this lovely couple for directions back to the front counter.” There’s a false note to her assurance. I can hear it and I know Maria does because she grabs the back of my shirt to anchor us together. It seems that the only one who takes her word at face value is Brett. “Do you know the way?”
He is further disarmed by her question. He blushes slightly, then holds his hand out to her. As they head back to the ground floor, she shoots me a look over her shoulder. Again, it looks like she’s trying to tell me something.
I still don’t know what.
“Do you know her?”
Facing my sister, I shake my head. “Nope. Never seen her before in my life.”
“Well, she thinks she knows you.”
“Yeah.” I watch the two newcomers disappear from sight. Holding out my hand to Maria, I change the subject. “Come on. It’s time to show our gratitude for their castoffs.”
“Yee haw,” Maria affects her best cowgirl accent. She pretends to swing a lasso above her head. It almost works, except I see the sadness she’s trying to hide. “I guess I’ve hidden long enough. I did promise Martha I’d help her with the organising.”
She plays with her fingers and looks everywhere but at me. I act the same way. It’s what we do. The reality is that I’ll continue to avoid answering her question about what I’m doing with our grandfather and she’ll dance around the topic until it consumes her, and she bursts. We both know we have an argument in our future—we just don’t know when.
We’re walking up the stairs when she quips, “I’ll see if I can find something out about your pretty friend.”
I swat at her, but she dances through the doorway and out of reach. “Maria. Don’t. Leave her alone.”
She acts like she can’t hear me. I know it’s feigned. Give Maria an inch and she takes a mile, especially when she needs something to take her mind off what’s really bothering her.
; This is not going to go well.
It takes a second for my eyes to adjust when I emerge into the brightly lit main floor. When my sight clears, my eyes are immediately drawn to the front counter. Maria’s already halfway there, except that’s not where my gaze remains.
No, I end up locking gazes with Jennifer. The paralysis takes hold and I can’t look away. She doesn’t break our connection, although that’s what I expected, since I’m coming off as a world-class creeper.
It’s strange.
She’s strange… or she’s mistaken me for someone else.
Who though? Big, tall, Italian-looking dudes aren’t exactly the norm in this area.
The little wave she gives me confounds me further.
“She’s a stunner.” Hayden nudges me in the side. I startle. He sniggers. It’s enough to pull me out of the spell Jennifer seems to cast on me every time I look at her. “Almost hurts to look at her.”
Scratching my nose with my closest hand so I don’t plant it in his face, I swallow down the burning desire to tell him that she’s mine. I even go as far as twisting to face him, until it hits me that he’s staring at Maria, not Jennifer.
The possessive need that’s consuming ignites into rage. With both hands, I shove his shoulders. He stumbles backward but catches himself a step later. I advance anyway, pointing my finger right in his face. I’m close enough to hear him breathing. I feel it on my face.
“Stay the fuck away from my sister.”
Hayden holds his hands in the air. “Jesus, man. Back off. I was just saying, is all.”
“There a problem here, boys?” Freddie shoves between us.
I realise we’ve gathered quite an audience, Jennifer and Maria included.
“Hayden? Angelo?” he snarls. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Quickly, I say, “No.”
Of course, fucking Hayden answers, “Yeah.”
“Do I need to open up the ring?”
We both look at our trainer. This time we’re in agreement. “Yes.”
Freddie fights to hide his grin. It’s a losing battle. He’s as keen to escape these people as I am. He makes a production out of escorting us to the exit. Maria laughs when we pass. Martha slaps my wrist, then flicks Hayden’s ear.