The Tanner Series - Books 1-11: Tanner - The hit man with a heart

by Remington Kane

  “He can,” Johnny said, as he reached over and took her hand. “Make peace, baby. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

  Sara squeezed his hand, gritted her teeth, and nodded. “I promise not to try to kill Tanner. But mark my words, the man can’t be trusted. The second he goes back on his word, all bets are off.”

  Tanner stood, and Sophia followed suit. Then Johnny stood, offered his hand, and he and Tanner shook.

  “Now that we’ve made peace, let’s discuss war. Heinz won’t quit coming after either of us.”

  “Is that a job offer?” Tanner said. “Because if it is, my price will be high.”

  Pullo gestured toward the doorway, which still sat open while awaiting its new door.

  “If you ladies will excuse us, we won’t be long. Have a drink at the bar.”

  Sara stood, her gaze still one of stone as she looked at Tanner, but she walked past him without a word and headed down the hallway.

  Sophia chuckled. “I’ll go keep the bitch company, maybe she’ll loosen up after a couple of drinks.”

  “Be nice,” Johnny said, and Sophia smiled sweetly over her shoulder as she left the room.

  With the women gone, the men sat once more, with Pullo taking the seat vacated by Sara.

  “How high a price are we talking, Tanner?” Johnny asked.

  “Three times my old rate; I think the last few months have proven I’m worth it.”

  Joe whistled. “That’s a nice fee.”

  “There’s more, I also want fifty K just to sign on.”

  Johnny wagged a finger at him. “That’s a lot of money.”

  “And you’ll get a lot for it. Heinz will regret ever leaving Germany.”

  “That thing with the dump truck this morning, that was you, wasn’t it?” Johnny said.

  “It was, and Heinz lost eight men.”

  “He’ll send more,” Pullo said.

  “He will, and they’ll die too, or I can take Sophia and head off for a vacation. What will it be Rossetti, do I have a job or not?”

  Johnny stared at Tanner as he thought things over. When he came to a decision, he made a nearly imperceptible nod.

  “You’re hired, and call me Johnny; hell, you’ve already saved my life twice.”

  Tanner stood. “You’ll get your money’s worth, don’t worry.”

  “And Sara, I have your word that you won’t hurt her?”

  “Yes.”

  Johnny made a sigh of relief. “Good, she needs to put her old life in the past and move on.”

  Tanner sent a nod to Pullo and headed toward the doorway.

  “One more thing, Tanner,” Johnny said.

  “What’s that?”

  “The Carter brothers, do you care what happens to them?”

  Tanner raised an eyebrow. “Did the boys get on your bad side?”

  “Not me, Joe here, he doesn’t trust them.”

  Tanner shrugged. “I’ve nothing against them, but Joe’s instincts are good. Do what you will with them.”

  “Fine, and I’ll be in touch.”

  Tanner left, and Johnny turned to Pullo. “Merle and Earl, they’re in your hands now; do what you think is right.”

  “Thanks, and I get no pleasure from it, but yeah, they have to go.”

  “When?”

  “I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll take a little ride in the limo with the boys… and come back alone.”

  Johnny sighed.

  “What?”

  “Those two, they kind of grew on me.”

  “Like fungus,” Pullo said, and then he headed out into the bar.

  246

  Wrapped To Go

  Inside the Cabaret Strip Club, Sara and Sophia sat in the roped-off VIP area at the side of the bar, while having a drink.

  The area could be curtained off from the rest of the room and had its own small stage with a pole in the middle, but neither the pole nor the stage was in use.

  Sara studied Sophia over the rim of her glass and asked a question. “How long did you and Johnny date?”

  “A little over two years.”

  “Really? It sounds like you were serious.”

  “We were, and even talked about getting married, but we were just kids then too.”

  “And you and Tanner, is it serious?”

  Sophia narrowed her eyes. “Why all the questions?”

  “I’m curious. Why would you be with Tanner when you know what he is?”

  “Yes, I know what he is, but you’re confusing that with what he does. My father was Jackie Verona. He killed dozens of men, same as Tanner, and let me tell you something, my father was a good man and a great dad.”

  Sara smiled. “Ah, I see, you have daddy issues. That’s why you’re with Tanner; he reminds you of your father.”

  “You bitch! Who the hell are you to psychoanalyze me? Keep talking shit and I’ll—”

  Tanner appeared and took Sophia’s hand.

  “Say goodbye to your new friend, we’re leaving.”

  “Friend my ass. I see why you wanted to kill her.”

  “C’mon, I’ll take you to dinner. Goodbye, Blake.”

  “Goodbye, Tanner, and don’t for a second think you’re fooling me. Johnny may trust you, but I never will.”

  “Right, just keep your word and we won’t have a problem,” Tanner said, and he and Sophia headed for the door.

  As they passed him, a man seated at the main stage stood and followed after them, but before he did so, he sent Sara a nod. The man was Duke.

  Sara intended to keep her word but was not going to be unprepared when Tanner broke his, and he would break it, of that she was certain. Duke would ensure that she wasn’t caught unawares.

  Sara ordered another drink. When it came, she said a silent toast to Brian Ames, her dead and still mourned lover.

  At that moment in Brooklyn, Bruno Heinz was meeting with Robert Vance. They were inside Heinz’s limousine, which was parked near the famous Brooklyn Heights Promenade, but neither man was interested in taking in the spectacular view of Manhattan.

  Vance was in his early thirties, blond, tall, and had light-blue eyes. He was Russian by birth and upbringing, but like Tanner, he spoke many languages, such as English, which he spoke without a trace of an accent.

  He was a trained assassin and a former member of Russia’s Federal Security Service, an organization once known as the KGB.

  “Tanner killed Richards and ruined the man’s plans. I hope you understand, Heinz, Richards’ plan to kill you and the others was his idea, not mine. I simply carried out his orders.”

  A small smile formed on Heinz’s lips. “I understand. As a young man, I too took orders, some of which I didn’t like, but that is the past. If you’re willing, I would like your help.”

  “You’re planning to step into Richards’ shoes?”

  “A crude saying, but yes, in essence, that is what I am doing, and I can use a man with your skills.”

  “You want me to kill Tanner?”

  Heinz looked startled by the question. “Do you think you could?”

  “Absolutely. I’m every bit as good as Tanner and I would love the chance to prove that I’m better.”

  “You may be up to the task, but I have a team of men coming here to solve that problem.”

  “What men, mercs?”

  “Yes, but not just any mercenaries. These men work for a man named Magyar, a Hungarian who lives in Brussels.”

  “Boldizsár Magyar? I know him well. I was once a member of an earlier team of his, as was Lars Gruber. And yes, his men will not be ordinary mercenaries.”

  “No, they will not be, and they will kill this man Tanner. Once they do, that is when I will need you, as I take over and control this city.”

  “Once Rossetti is dead, the rest of the families will fall easily, but Rossetti is protected by a man named Pullo, and Pullo is loyal to Rossetti. I suggest you remove him as well.”

  Heinz smiled. “Good advice, and I assume we have a deal?”
>
  “I’ll join you, and if Magyar’s men don’t kill Tanner, he’s mine. Agreed?”

  Heinz laughed. “Agreed, but really, what are the odds of Tanner defeating such men?”

  Vance frowned. “Not good. Knowing Magyar, each man on that team will be exceptional. Still, if Tanner survives, I want my shot at him.”

  “It’s a deal. Now, let’s discuss your compensation.”

  Tanner took Sophia to dinner at a famous restaurant called Maglione’s. As they dined, they talked over the day’s events.

  “You know that Heinz will be sending more men after you, don’t you?”

  “Of course, it was why I asked you to pack a bag. I have to work tonight, and I didn’t want to leave you alone at your house.”

  Sophia pouted. “I thought we were staying at a hotel for a night of romance, now you tell me that I’ll be there all by myself.”

  “It can’t be helped, as you said, Heinz will be sending more men after me, and he’ll likely be importing.”

  “So?”

  “I want to welcome them to the city, my way.”

  Sophia grinned. “Oh God, I can only imagine what that means, but please, baby, be careful.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Tanner said.

  Sophia looked around the restaurant and spotted a friend she knew who was an actress on Broadway. The woman had been on her way out the door with a large group of people. When she spotted Sophia, she smiled wide, put her hand to her ear and made the gesture that said, “Call me.”

  “Your friend looked familiar,” Tanner said.

  “She should, that’s Amber Rose, she won a Tony last year, but you probably remember her from those insurance commercials she used to do. We grew up on the same block and she used to date my brother.”

  “About your brother…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I was surprised by what you said about snitches when you were talking to Blake, given that Lars Gruber killed him for talking to the Feds.”

  Sophia gave a little shrug. “Tony turned snitch to help save our father and knew he’d pay for it. What Blake doesn’t get, is that you didn’t kill that Brian Ames for the hell of it. You did it because you were hired to do a job. Ames killed himself when he talked and so did my brother. The difference is Tony did it to save our father, who knows why Ames did it.”

  Dessert came, and Sophia downed a piece of chocolate cake while sighing in pleasure. When she was finished eating, she moaned.

  “When you return to the hotel tomorrow, look for me in the fitness center. It’ll take me hours to burn off that cake, but oh, was it worth it.”

  “I don’t have to leave right away, and I have a little fun planned, something I could use your help with.”

  Sophia smiled. “What sort of fun?”

  Tanner smiled back at her. “I need to send someone a message.”

  Sara and Johnny also went out to dinner, while Joe stayed late at the club. Afterwards, they went to a bar in Midtown that featured live jazz. Sara was happy. It felt good to be out on the town after being fearful of leaving her apartment for so long, but eventually, she and Johnny returned there.

  Johnny began kissing Sara as she opened her apartment door, and just seconds after closing it behind them, they were on her sofa locked in a passionate embrace.

  When things escalated to the point that Sara’s dress laid on the floor and Johnny was shirtless, Sara stopped him from removing his pants and whispered in his ear.

  “Take me to the bedroom.”

  Johnny swooped Sara up in his arms as if she were a bride and carried her down the hallway. As they walked along, he used his teeth to slide one of her bra straps down along her arm, causing her to giggle. However, the giggle died in her throat when they heard the moan come from beyond the open bedroom door.

  Johnny stopped suddenly, lowered Sara’s bare feet to the carpet, then reached down to free a gun from his ankle holster.

  “Who’s in there?” Johnny demanded, but was answered by another low moan.

  After gesturing for Sara to stay back, he got down low and peeked around the doorframe.

  “What the hell…?”

  Duke lay on the bed, wrapped in duct tape from head to toe, with only his nose and eyes uncovered. Johnny entered the bedroom with Sara following behind and plucked off the note that was taped to the headboard.

  DON’T PRESS ME, BLAKE. LET IT GO! — TANNER

  Sara looked up at Johnny with a guilty gaze. “I don’t trust Tanner, and Duke was just following him.”

  Johnny paced for a moment, opened his mouth, but said nothing, then he stormed from the room with anger radiating off him like steam from a pipe. Sara sighed as she watched him leave, then she bent over the bed and tore the tape away that was covering Duke’s mouth.

  “Did you plant the device before Tanner caught you?”

  Duke didn’t answer. He was busy staring at Sara’s breasts, which were practically spilling out of a red lace bra just inches from his face.

  She made an exasperated sound, straightened up, and tapped him on the cheek.

  “Duke?”

  “Sorry honey, but I am a man, you know, and yes, I planted the tracker. Now you’ll know where Tanner is at every moment.”

  Sara grinned. “And knowing where he is, I can kill him.”

  247

  Words Fail Him

  On East 38th Street, Tanner rang the doorbell that belonged to Laurel Ivy.

  The lights were on in the townhouse, and he assumed that she was staying up late to greet Pullo when he returned from the club. Sophia was tucked away safely in a 5-star hotel, but after visiting Laurel, Tanner would be visiting another hotel, The Hotel Rutherford, where Bruno Heinz was headquartered.

  Laurel opened the door after checking through the peephole and her large blue eyes were full of questions.

  “Why are you here, Tanner?”

  “May I come in?”

  Laurel hesitated for only a second and then bid Tanner to enter. His pulse was elevated once more at the sight of her, and he inwardly cursed whatever caused the reaction. However, every time he saw her, it was like seeing the sun for the first time.

  “The men who hurt Rossetti the other day, they worked for a man named Heinz. It’s possible that the Giacconi Family will be going to war with him.”

  “That’s disturbing, but why are you telling me?”

  Tanner handed her a strip of paper. “You can reach me at that number. If anything happens, if you even think you’re in danger, call me.”

  Laurel looked down at the paper, and as she did so, Tanner studied her. She wore no makeup, was dressed in a pink robe with matching slippers, and her jewelry had been removed in preparation for going to bed.

  Tanner had seen Laurel only briefly since the days when they were lovers, but he thought that she was more beautiful than ever. He had to stop himself from reaching out to caress her blonde curls.

  Laurel looked up at him. “Why would you give me this? I know you don’t care about me. You made that clear years ago when you left me.”

  “You were married.”

  Laurel moved closer and Tanner inhaled the scent of her, an aroma like roses that was likely just her shampoo or soap. Nevertheless, he found it intoxicating.

  “I know I was married, and yes, I cheated on my husband with you, but it was because I loved you the moment I saw you. Was I a complete fool? Were you just using me for sex and a good time? If that’s the truth, I can hear it. I’d rather live with the truth than mourn for a lie.”

  Tanner blinked rapidly. “It’s not true. I never used you; it’s just that… you wanted too much. You wanted something that I couldn’t give.”

  Laurel touched him on the cheek. “I just wanted to hear you say you loved me, and you did love me, didn’t you? I was so certain back then. I could see it in your eyes, feel it in your touch, and you laughed back then, we laughed every time we were together. We were so happy, Tanner, so goddamn good together… and then you just walk
ed away.”

  Tanner looked down at the floor. “I can’t give you what I don’t have. I walked away so I wouldn’t hurt you anymore than I already had.”

  Laurel lifted his chin with a gentle hand and stared into his eyes. “You weren’t afraid of hurting me. You were afraid of being hurt by me. Love scares you to death, doesn’t it?”

  Tanner backed away and let her hand fall.

  “None of that matters anymore. What happened between us was years ago, and you’re with Joe now.”

  Tanner headed for the door and Laurel called to him. When he turned to look back at her, he saw that she was wiping away tears.

  “Just tell me one thing, please?”

  “What?”

  “You did love me, didn’t you? You couldn’t say it then, but please say it now. I so need to hear it.”

  Tanner swallowed the lump that was suddenly in his throat and pointed at the slip of paper he’d given Laurel.

  “Don’t lose that, and I’ll be there if you need me.”

  Tanner opened the door and stepped out into the night, to rush away from a woman that loved him and toward men who wanted him dead.

  Their hate was far easier to deal with than her love.

  248

  Fool Me Once

  After putting on a robe, Sara returned to the bed and started tearing at the tape covering Duke.

  “How did Tanner wrap you up so much by himself?”

  “He wasn’t alone; he was with that redhead, Sophia. She was actually the one who hit me with a stun gun as I was getting in my van.”

  “That bitch. But tell me, you saw them together, do you think he cares for her?”

  “Yes, but I don’t think he loves her. If you think threatening her would make him give up, you’d be wrong.”

  “I agree, but damn it, the man must have a weakness.”

  “And if you find it, what then?”

  Sara stopped tearing at the tape and straightened up. “I won’t go back on my word, I never have, but I have to be prepared when Tanner goes back on his. I know the man, he’s as devious as they come. If I have any hope of surviving him I’ll need leverage, but tell me, how did you plant the tracking unit?”