Surrender (Surrender #1)

by J. G. Sumner

“Yeah, I didn’t expect any of that. I had no idea what my dad left for me. That man. I’ve never met him before. I had no clue he knew my dad since they were kids. It was a little overwhelming. It was like my dad was right there with me.”

  “Do you want to open the envelope before we go to the embassy?”

  “Yeah, but not here. We need to go someplace else.”

  Tony looked both ways down the street before heading to the busier end. Once they got to Via Del Tritone, they were able to get lost into the crowd.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Thompson got off the subway at Barberini Square. He walked up the stairs from the underground station with Manchetti close behind. The piazza was bustling with people, cars, taxis, and scooters. This was clearly a very busy part of Rome; there was a restaurant of some sort on about every corner. Thompson rubbed his eyes, Katherine Anderson could be anywhere. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

  The intel in Italy wasn’t as advanced as it was in America. The fact he was unfamiliar with his surroundings left him with few options in finding Katherine. An overwhelming feeling of defeat settled in his chest. What the hell am I going to do if I don’t get this woman back? This will be the end of my career. He found it very difficult to rely upon and trust the Italian government for everything, but what choice did he have?

  “Any word from your people?”

  “Neither Anderson or Bertalucci have registered at the local hotels. They’re checking security tapes.”

  He hesitated before asking the next question; he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer. “What if they’ve left Rome?”

  “They haven’t popped up at any of the train stations, airports, or rental car agencies.”

  The lack of whereabouts was almost worse than hearing Anderson and Bertalucci had left Rome altogether. “Great. We’ve lost them and we don’t have any leads. This isn’t going to go over well with my superiors.”

  “My office is just around the corner. Let’s head over there and review some of the video footage. Maybe it will give us a clue.”

  The two men took a right onto the street and headed up a street lined with buildings. An enormous American flag waving proudly through the air caught Thompson’s attention.

  “Is that the U.S. Embassy?”

  “Yes, my office is right across the street.” Manchetti motioned to the brick building on the right.

  He marveled at the enormous pink-and-white building housing American diplomats. The architecture was similar to that of many other buildings in the area. If it wasn’t taking up such an enormous amount of space, it would’ve blended in quite well. “The embassy is an impressive building. Does it take up the entire block?”

  “Yes. It also houses the U.S. Missions to the UN agencies building. When an important diplomat comes to town, your embassy shuts down the entire block. I remember a time when it took me an extra twenty minutes just to get in my building. Your country provides excellent security. Those gates are locked down like Fort Knox.”

  He chuckled. “I’m surprised you know about Fort Knox.”

  “Anyone who has studied American history, especially during World War I and World War II, would know the instrumental role it played in your military,” Manchetti replied smugly.

  “I see. We don’t learn a lot of Italian history except perhaps its role in the Renaissance era and the history of Rome.” He shifted his focus back on the embassy. “Perhaps she checked in there. Maybe that’s why they came to Rome. She was fleeing from something.”

  “My people say she hasn’t shown up yet and the embassy will inform us if she does. It seems to me that Anderson and Bertalucci might be on the run. She may know more than we originally thought.”

  “I can’t imagine what she got involved in. Her family is as straight as they come; her father raises money for various charities, her mom works with foster children advocating a better life for them, and her brother volunteers at a local children’s hospital once a month.”

  “You failed to mention Anderson. Does she work for any charities, or is she the rogue one in the family?”

  “She’s very close with her father; she helps plan most of his charity dinners. In addition, she has donated a substantial amount of money to the Bronx Zoo. She’s considered one of their ambassadors.”

  “Perhaps something snapped. Maybe she found the black-market olive oil business a little more lucrative than her family business. Perhaps she’s laundering the olive oil through her family restaurants.”

  Clearly, Manchetti hadn’t done his homework on the Anderson family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be suggesting this sort of thing. “I think that’s highly unlikely.”

  “Why? Have you even thought to look into it?”

  Thompson clasped his hands into fists. He didn’t like the way this conversation was headed. “No, why would I? Up until the last couple of weeks, no one in her family had any connections to anyone in this country.”

  “Until now, when she’s showed up with a man whose family was murdered around the time she arrived in the country. It’s a huge coincidence, don’t you think? Or perhaps she did know someone here. Maybe she was involved with the execution.”

  Thompson thought for a moment; his research over the past few days indicated Katherine was a wholesome person with no ties to anything illegal. In fact, while learning more about her, he began to feel an attraction toward her. She was a beautiful, independent, and influential woman who worked hard and clearly loved her family. Katherine fit his criteria for a woman he would consider dating. What Manchetti was proposing couldn’t possibly be true. “When we get to your office, I’ll have my team in the States look into what you’re suggesting. I’d like it to be on the record that I think you are wrong.”

  “I hope I am. It would be unfortunate for a woman who has everything to get wrapped up in something as dangerous as the cartel. They’d have a field day with her.”

  He couldn’t agree more. From everything he learned about Katherine, she was a straight arrow. Nothing would shock him more than to find out she had dirty hands.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “What’s in the envelope?” Kate inquired.

  “My dad wrote another letter, and the rest appears to be some legal documents. One is a title to the factory.” Tony sifted through the papers. “Hmm, this is interesting. It says my dad owns half of my grandmother’s estate. I didn’t even know that place still existed. I thought it was sold long ago.”

  The waiter brought their sandwiches and Tony wasted no time diving into his. They had skipped breakfast and he was ravenous.

  When the waiter left, Kate pressed for information. “What are the documents for?”

  He continued to sift through the papers. “It appears my dad left something in a safe-deposit box in Geneva. He gave me some additional documentation to be able to access it.”

  “What do you think is in there?”

  “I haven’t a clue. Everything has been a mystery to this point. I feel like I’m on a wild goose chase.”

  “What are those?” She pointed to the papers he pulled from the envelope.

  “I’m not sure. It looks like information regarding the tampering of olive oil. It has specific names on it I’ve never heard before. I think it has something to do with the cartel. Perhaps it’s evidence of some sort.”

  “Tony, that’s great! We can take them to the embassy. They’ll give it to the local authorities and you can stop running. Maybe I don’t need to go home just yet.”

  “First of all, if my picture is plastered all over the newspaper, you can believe your whereabouts are known as well. That means the cartel will be looking for you. Even if we turn in the documents, the cartel can still get to you. This investigation could take months if not years. Second, I can’t hand this over until I find out what’s in that safety deposit box. I need to make sure I have everything before I give it to anyone.”

  “Why would your father give the information to you in pieces?”


  “Based on what my father had told me so far, he wanted to be able to secure our freedom and safety. By splitting up the documents, it would be harder for someone outside of the family to obtain all the packages. The last few months my father was alive, I thought he was becoming paranoid. It seems as though he may have had good reason to be.”

  “So, you’re off to Geneva?”

  “It looks that way.”

  “How long does it take to get there?”

  “About eight and a half hours.” He sucked on the straw, downing half of his Coke.

  “I’m worried about you taking a train. They’re looking for you at the stations.”

  He took a bite of his sandwich before answering. “Doesn’t matter, I’m going to drive.”

  “Do you have a car?”

  “I’ll rent one.”

  “I’m going with you.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin.

  “It’s too dangerous. We need to get you to the embassy.”

  “You said I needed to get out of Italy and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m going to Switzerland. There’s an embassy in Geneva if I need one. There’s no way you’re talking me out of this.” She crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair.

  “I can’t let you do that. If something happened to you, I could never live with myself.”

  “By the time anyone figures out we rented a car, we’ll be halfway to Geneva. They still have to find out where we’re going.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ve always wanted to drive through the Italian countryside. Please, let me do this.”

  She smiled at him with puppy dog eyes, begging for his approval.

  He knew then he had no chance of ever saying no to this woman. She quite literally might be the death of him. “Fine, but we need to get moving. One thing before we go.” He opened the ring box. The band was white gold forming into a heart shape at the top and in the middle, was a heart-shaped ruby. He took her hand and placed the elegant piece of jewelry on her finger. “It’s a perfect fit.”

  “Tony, I don’t understand.”

  “I want you to hold it for me until this mess is over.”

  “What if…what if something happens?”

  “Then you keep the ring.” He tilted her hand so the light hit the stone. “The way it fits—it was made for you.” He winked at her. “Grab your things.” He threw some Euros on the table with the check. She grabbed her backpack and joined him as they started to walk down the road.

  “Where’s the nearest rental car company?”

  “We’ll get on the bus just down the street and head over to the Coliseum. There’s one by the train terminal.”

  Her eyes lit up. “When you say the Colosseum, do you mean the Colosseum?”

  “Yes, but, Kate …we can’t go in. The lines are too long this time of day, and we don’t have time to spare.”

  “Will I at least get to see the outside?”

  “Yes, we’ll be right across the street. You can admire it all you want while I’m getting the car.”

  “I’m really glad I didn’t go to the embassy now. See what I would’ve missed?” She clapped her hands. She looked like a little kid opening presents on her birthday.

  Tension found its way into his shoulders and jaw as an uneasiness feeling set in. “I still don’t know if we made the right decision. At least I would’ve known you’d be safe and soon be on your way home.”

  “Tony, it’s going to be fine.”

  At the bus stop, he purchased two tickets from a vendor and handed one to her.

  “Do they always sell tickets where they sell souvenirs?”

  “They sell them at the train stations too. These places are a little more expensive, but I didn’t want to take a chance being on camera again.” He guided her onto the bus.

  The five-minute ride to the car rental was uneventful. She marveled at the sights, including the Pantheon, and the people along the way.

  “This is our stop.” He stood and motioned for her to follow him. They stepped off the bus. Once it pulled away, they had a clear view of the Coliseum.

  “Wow! It’s amazing! It’s not like anything I’ve imagined.” She stood entranced, staring at the elaborate structure.

  “The rental car place is just across the street. Hang out here while I take care of business.”

  “Sure thing. Is it okay if I get a closer look?”

  “Fine, but stay within my sight. I don’t want anything happening to you.” He walked toward the car rental as she got closer to the Colosseum. As he was signing the documents and waiting for the keys, he kept a close eye on her whereabouts. Clearly she had no idea the amount of danger they were in; perhaps her sheltered world kept her from understanding. It was now his job to protect her. In eight hours, they would be in Geneva. She could be on a flight home and far away from the cartel.

  He was in and out of the rental car agency in a matter of minutes. Tony called Kate over to the vehicle. He opened the passenger side door of the green Fiat and she gracefully settled in. Tony walked around the car taking one last glance to see if he could spot anything out of the ordinary.

  Getting out of Rome was time-consuming. Traffic was a nightmare; they crept at a pace slower than he could’ve walked. Tension built in Tony’s shoulders and neck until his muscles had stiffened and a headache came soon after. It had been awhile since he had driven a car since he usually traveled by train or a Vespa scooter.

  Tony rolled down the windows of the car and hung his elbow out the window. People walked by; the conversations of the tourists provided a distraction. The musty odor of dirt, sewer stench, and sweat permeated the air. The only good part of creeping through traffic was that it gave Kate some added time to check out the city. She didn’t seem to mind the delay.

  It wasn’t until they had been on the road for a couple of hours that he let out a deep sigh and relaxed. Kate stared out the window. “What did you think of the Colosseum?”

  “It was truly breathtaking. I can’t believe they were able to build something like that so long ago.”

  “What’s even more impressive is what it looked like back in the day. It was covered with white marble, but over time, the marble was stripped off and used to build the Vatican. During the fall of Rome, people were so poor and desperate for money; they would steal the metal from inside the walls and sell it. If you look at the walls, you’ll see round holes everywhere from where the metal was removed.”

  “It’s so tragic they would destroy something as amazing as that building.” She sighed.

  “Unfortunately, there are many other things that were destroyed in much the same fashion. I guess you just don’t appreciate how important something is until it’s gone.” His eyes remained focused on the road.

  “Do you think they’ll ever restore it?”

  “There have been several developers who wanted to, but for whatever reason, it doesn’t happen. The expense of restoring it to the way that it was is more than most are willing to pay. The cost of the marble in this day and age is astronomical. I believe there’s a new developer who is fixing some things. But I doubt it’ll ever get back to its glory days.”

  “That’s awful. I would’ve loved to have seen it in its prime.”

  “I think most of the world shares your sentiments.”

  Tony veered off the road and pulled into a petrol station. “I need to fill up the tank. We’re running low.”

  “Wasn’t it full when you picked it up?”

  “No, this was the only car available and it had just come back. They offered to go put petrol in it, but I didn’t want to waste any more time.”

  “Well, hurry up. I want to get back on the road; I love driving through the countryside. I can’t wait to see what Switzerland looks like.” Her eyes sparkled as she smiled warmly at him. He could stare into those eyes forever—they were like magnets and pulled him in.

  He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere,” he warned.
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  She rubbed his knee. “Relax. I’ll be right here when you get back.”

  He took one last look at her before he got out of the car. How on Earth did he get so lucky to find this woman?

  Tony got out of the car and walked into the store to pay the attendant. As he walked back to the pumps, his mind was filled with what his dad could’ve possibly left in Geneva. Perhaps this would be the last clue. Maybe when he got the items out of the safety deposit box, he and Kate could take their time and travel through Europe. Maybe there wouldn’t be a need to leave Kate and go back to Italy. As he opened the car door, Tony’s heart stopped. His hands shook. Kate was gone. He searched around frantically looking for the blonde bombshell who stole his heart. Had she gone to the bathroom? Where was she? His heart raced. In the passenger seat was a note. In neatly printed Italian it read:

  Retrieve the items in the box and bring them to the factory by 4 p.m. tomorrow. If you fail to do so, the girl will meet the same fate as the rest of your family. Don’t even think about contacting the authorities.

  Tony read the letter several more times before the gravity of the situation came tumbling down on him like a ton of bricks. Who took her? I knew I shouldn’t have brought Kate with me! I should’ve left her at the embassy! My God, what have I done?

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Let me go!”

  “Not anytime soon, sweetheart.”

  A blindfold prevented Katherine from seeing the man who dragged her into a room and tied her to the chair. The smell of day-old alcohol on his breath made her nauseous, and the thick Italian accent was difficult to understand. It wasn’t nearly as smooth and sexy as Tony’s. Instead, this was the accent of the Guido’s she had stereotyped all Italian men to be. She pictured him in a wife beater with gold chains and a combination of hair gel and sweat pouring down his face.

  “Why are you keeping me here? What do you want?”

  Footsteps beat against the cement floor at an unusually quick pace. Her head flew to the right as a hot, stinging sensation claimed her left cheek. She had been slapped. It was like tiny needles poking into her skin, and the warmth of blood trickled down the side of her face.