Romella floated closer, her ghostly figure less than a foot away. “Oh, Caesar, you really mean it?”
Caesar’s heart skipped several beats as he looked into her eyes. “Yes, my love. I do. No woman, not even LiAnn Tuck, means a thing to me. Only you. It’s always been you.”
He closed his eyes, imagining his arms around her, kissing her full lips. Embracing her with such force, his darling Romella would never be able to leave again. Cold spread through his body, and Caesar wondered if her ghost just passed through him. When he opened his eyes, Romella was gone, the candle extinguished. Tears raced down his cheeks as Caesar knelt in front of the polished marble. His fingers trembled as he ran his hand over the engraved headstone, his heart heavy, and the stone ice-cold. The words tore at his soul. In Loving Memory of Romella Calhoun. Beloved wife. Always loved, never forgotten.
Rising to his feet, Caesar took one last look and left. Romella wasn’t in the ground, at least not her soul. She was alive, waiting for him to join her on the warm, sunny beaches of Tahiti. One final job to complete and he would be able to be with his beloved Romella. Caesar walked away with a purpose, ignoring the heat and the throbbing in his knuckles, excited to start the final chapter of his life.
It was time to go get Vincenzo and start prepping.
32
The World Explodes
Exhausted from hours of back-breaking work, Karina sat down in the grass next to the barn. She heard Ranger barking near the edge of the tree line and smiled. His new favorite hobby was annoying the squirrels. From the corner of her eye, Karina watched Bo walk over to his truck and shut the tailgate.
The last seven hours had been grueling. It took two trips to the lumberyard to load Bo’s truck with supplies. They stacked piles and piles of wood in neat rows about twenty feet from the old barn, along with fifteen buckets of white enamel paint. Once they finished, they tackled the interior. Grampa told her to only save the tools and tack, the rest she could toss. It took three hours to go through all the items, decide what to keep and what to junk, and separate into piles. Karina had three blisters on her palms, numerous splinters, and sweat covered every inch of her body.
Other than water breaks, they’d only stopped twice. Once to eat lunch, which had been hours ago, and when her mom called to say they arrived in Branson. The sun was almost gone, and the mosquitoes were out in droves. Karina couldn’t wait to take a shower and scrub the grime and itchy patches away.
“Feel like a southerner yet?” Bo teased, joining her.
“Almost. Just one more bug bite, and a beer, and I’m sure y’all will be a permanent part of my vocabulary.”
Ranger’s bark grew louder and Bo remarked, “Your dog is ahead of you. Sounds like a regular ol’ huntin’ dog. He’d make a great duck dog. Ever taken him huntin’?”
“Does stalking Frisbees in the park count?” Thunder rumbled and drowned out Bo’s response. Karina groaned. Not another storm. Why can’t it just rain without the light and sound show? “What did you say?”
Bo jumped to his feet and pulled Karina up as well. “I said it’s about to rain. Pour, actually. Gonna need to cover this stuff up. Don’t suppose you’ve got a tarp or visqueen hidden in the house, huh?”
Karina looked over at the exposed items, jumping when another loud clap of thunder boomed. “Uh, no. I haven’t finished all my southerner classes yet, so there may be hope for finding something like that later. Ranger! Come on, boy. Let the squirrels hide in their nests in peace!”
Bo swiped a quick kiss across Karina’s sticky forehead. “Love that mouth of yours for so many reasons. Now, I’m gonna dash to the farm and pick some up. I best hurry, before the bottom drops out. Damn, the weather report this mornin’ said only ten percent chance of rain. Good thing they don’t get paid for accuracy. They’d starve.”
“No kidding. Listen, thanks, Bo. For everything, including sticking around. I’m going to take Ranger inside and start dinner. I’ll wait to take the world’s longest shower until you get back. I’m sure I’ll need plenty of help washing all the sweat off my back.”
Bo winked and climbed into his truck, gunned it, and spun dirt and gravel behind the massive tires. Ranger bounded across the yard at full speed, terrified of the coming storm. Karina knew exactly how he felt. The clouds were dark and ugly, the setting sun nothing but a memory.
Karina went inside the barn and gave it a final once over. It was strange to see the building empty. It was no wonder Grampa didn’t want to watch it come down. Tomorrow would be hard for her as well, and the barn hadn’t been a part of Karina’s life nearly as long as it had Grampa’s. Satisfied there was nothing left to salvage, other than one section of the front door, Karina walked out. She ran her hand across the section carved by her great-great-grandfather. Though Karina couldn’t see it in the dark, she knew it read Tuck Manor, Est. 1839.
There was no way she’d destroy it. Bo had promised to cut the piece out and put it aside, restore the decrepit wood, and then attached it to the inside of the new door. He didn’t laugh at her, or judge the sentimentality of the gesture to save the piece of her family’s history. For some reason, Karina found his understanding sexy as hell.
Evening had settled in, which made her jittery. The storm rumbled in the distance, and Karina hoped it wouldn’t take much longer for Bo to return. Not only did she want to get the materials covered before the rain arrived, but she didn’t relish the idea of being alone in the house when the storm roared in.
Ranger bounded around her feet like he was herding her toward the house, anxious to get inside. Together, they crossed the pasture and front yard in the darkness. The clouds covered the moon, so Karina used her cellphone as a flashlight. The sound of a vehicle made her pause on the steps. She hoped it was Bo, so she waited to see if it kept going down the main road, or turned onto the driveway. When it continued on, she sighed and went inside, locking the door behind her.
“Come on, boy. Dinner time. Yes, who’s Mommy’s good boy?” Karina cooed to Ranger as they walked to the kitchen. “You like Bo, huh? You must since he still has his ass left. Guess what? Mommy does too. Likes him and his ass.”
Ranger grunted and made cooing noises of his own at her while he waited for the nuggets. She filled the bowl and he dug in. After refilling his other dish with fresh water, she went to the fridge and grabbed a handful of ice cubes and a beer. Dropping the chunks in his dish, Karina opened the beer and took a long swig.
“I was cut out all along to be a southerner,” she quipped, patting Ranger on the head. “Mommy does love her beer.”
He ignored her and continued to inhale his food. Karina left the kitchen and went straight to the bathroom, eager to remove her contacts. All the dust and dirt from the barn had irritated her eyes. The second she pulled them out, the itching ceased. Turning the faucet on, Karina let out a squeal of delight when she tossed the first handful of cold water onto her face. She rummaged around for the facial cleanser on the counter, and after finding it, washed the grit away.
Satisfied her face was clean, Karina slid off her filthy clothes and tossed them into the hamper. For a second, she stared at the inviting shower and almost caved. No, she told Bo she’d wait, and a shower with him would certainly be more enjoyable than alone, so she slid her glasses on then flung her tattered robe over her shoulders. Karina grimaced at the reflection. Terrycloth is sexy as hell. Not. Oh, and my hair is a masterpiece. Mom will be proud because this ensemble will not ignite any passionate thoughts in Bo.
She opened her purse and took out the Glock, and pocketed it in the robe. It would stay there until Bo returned. With everything going on, having the weapon nearby made her feel better. Her cellphone beeped from the bathroom, and Karina grunted, realizing she left it in the pocket of her jeans. It was a good thing she hadn’t chunked them straight into the washer. Once she reached it, her heart skipped a beat.
The video program was on, and streaming live was the interior of Cecil’s living room. It was hard to see
much at first since the only light came from a lamp on the table, but Karina could see and hear movement. A flashlight appeared then, sending a bright beam across the couch.
“Come on, come on, bitch. I know it’s you. Turn the lights on. Let me see your face.”
Less than five seconds later, her request was answered. The overhead light in the living room came on, and sure enough, Carmella D’Nucci stood in the center of the room, dressed in black from head to toe.
Karina scooted over to the computer chair, fumbling for her charger. No way she’d let this latest piece of evidence slip from her grasp because the battery croaked. Her fingers shook from anger while she watched the bitch pilfer through Cecil’s apartment. Something about the entire situation was different than the last time she’d watched Carmella skulk around. It dawned on Karina that Carmella wasn’t even trying to hide her presence, and she was moving methodically from one location to the next. Before, Carmella had perused the place in a hurry, making sure she left the room exactly how she found it.
Not this time.
Carmella was trashing the place. Flinging open drawers, rifling through the papers, letting pages fall to the floor. For a few seconds, Karina was dumbstruck, watching the frenzied woman ransack the living room. Ranger was barking downstairs, the crackles of thunder slammed outside, but she pushed it all away.
Karina’s sole focus was on Carmella D’Nucci.
Unwilling to interrupt the video feed, Karina set the phone on the desk and powered up her laptop. Fury barreled through Karina the longer she watched. Cecil hadn’t even been out of his apartment for a full twenty-four hours.
Karina pulled up her email. She had to get in contact with Special Agent Winslow, send him the video once it finished. Thank goodness Cecil heeded their advice and removed all his banking information from their hiding spots. They were safe and sound in a safety deposit box at First Southern State Bank.
The bitch could search for hours and would find only one. Her mom’s idea was to leave information on one account in the apartment for Carmella to find. Cecil had already transferred all the cash out into another, so if Carmella, or anyone else, tried to access it, all it would do was seal the person’s fate.
Karina tried to concentrate and type out an email to the FBI. Between the booms of thunder, and Ranger’s barking, and the rush of adrenaline in her system, it was difficult. Her words would be a jumbled mass of misspelled nonsense if she didn’t calm down. Lifting her hands from the keyboard, Karina took a deep breath and focused her attention out the window on the barn.
For Cecil. Breathe. For Cecil.
The second her fingers touched the keys again, the hairs on her neck stood erect. Lightning crackled across the sky, illuminating a shadowy figure dart behind the barn.
Her skin turned clammy as goose bumps popped out all over. Karina went on alert. Ducking down, she scrambled across the floor and reached up to turn off the light. Before she could touch the switch, the room went black. Keeping low, she moved to the window. The front porch light was out, too. Karina peered out across the yard, praying she was overreacting, that the loss of power was from the storm and Bo’s truck was in the yard.
It wasn’t.
Two sounds hit her at once: Ranger’s incessant barking morphed into a throaty growl, and the unmistakable sound of the screech of the door to the back porch. She’d only heard the ominous snarls during Ranger’s training. It was the final warning to a target before he attacked. Whoever just entered the house was about to have his limbs ripped off.
Extracting the gun from her robe, Karina reached for her cell. The video of Carmella would stop the second she touched the screen, but it didn’t matter at this point. She dialed 9-1-1 while crouching by the door.
“9-1-1. What’s your emergency?”
Cupping her hand over the receiver to amplify her voice, she whispered, “Karina Summers. 817 Highway 35. Junior Tuck’s place. Intruder inside the house…”
The sound of Ranger’s yelp of pain interrupted her words. She fought the urge to rush down the stairs to his aid. Instead, she disconnected the call and flicked it to mute. She shoved it into her pocket, opened the door to the hallway, and stepped out. The house was dark and silent. Fury mixed with fear for Ranger pushed every other emotion away. Her bare feet made no sound as she moved, gun at the ready.
Then, it hit her. The stench of rotten eggs made her gag. Tears formed but she ignored them. Karina could hear the hiss of the gas coming from the kitchen, probably from the oven or water heater. Terror thundered in her chest when the next smell hit: smoke
Shit!
Steadying her back against the wall, Karina peeked around the doorway into the kitchen. It was too dark to see Ranger or the intruder, but she heard the scratch of Ranger’s claws on the floor, along with his low whimpers. Thankfully, nothing else. No heavy breathing. No footsteps. Tears poured from her eyes, so Karina dropped to the floor and crawled toward the sound of her dog. In seconds, she felt Ranger’s furry coat.
Ranger was over one hundred pounds. Karina stuck the gun in her pocket and heaved with all her might. Once in her arms, she braced her back against the countertop and scooted in the direction of the door. Lightning sparkled across the sky, illuminating for a brief second, the door, and the silver handle of the enormous blade sticking out of her beloved dog’s neck.
Coughing, sputtering for air as spit and tears ran down her cheeks, Karina threw her body weight against the screen, stumbling out into the yard. She made it halfway to the barn before the world erupted. The concussion knocked her several feet into the air. Ranger’s body flew out of her arms, Karina’s screams of anguish were drowned out by the explosion.
The entire pasture looked like it was bathed in daylight. Burning heat rushed over her as shards of debris peppered her exposed legs and arms. Karina landed hard, face-down, in the grass. The impact nearly knocked her out, but she fought to remain conscious.
This. Isn’t. Happening.
Disoriented, she opened her eyes and searched for Ranger. She tried to whistle, but her mouth was full of blood. Though the fire from the burning embers of what was once Gram and Grampa’s home provided plenty of light, Karina couldn’t make much out. When it finally sunk in it was because her glasses were gone, panic welled up inside her chest.
I’ve got to get out of here and I can’t see!
Ears ringing from the blast, she tried to listen for sounds of the intruder, but it was no use. Just as she wiggled her left arm out from under her body, blurry movement to the left made her stiffen.
Karina knew she only had one chance. Holding still, she waited for the attacker to close in. Her right hand eased inside her pocket and clamped around the gun. Thankfully, her hair covered most of her face, so she watched through the strands as the figure moved closer. When less than five feet away, she jerked.
Rolling to her right, Karina pulled the gun from her pocket and fired four quick shots. The first missed the target, but the remaining bullets didn’t. Two slammed into the torso and one into the head. The body crumpled to the ground.
“Screw you!” Karina stood on wobbly legs and walked over, gun aimed at the still body. She squinted, and realized it was a man. One she didn’t recognize, and he was obviously dead. Half his head was gone, and blood poured from the wounds to his upper chest.
“You bastard! Why did you…oh, my God. Everything is gone. You killed my dog, you sick freak. Destroyed our house, tried to kill me. Fuck you!”
The dead bastard wouldn’t feel a thing, but Karina didn’t care. She raised her bare foot and brought it down with all the strength she had left on his crotch. “That Carmella bitch sent you, didn’t she? Or some other fucking mobster, like Caesar Calvanio.” Karina continued to stomp on his balls, accentuating each word with her heel. “Don’t. Screw. With. My. Family.”
Out of breath, she backed away and stared at the flames. Tears rolled down her face, and she was actually thankful for the moment her vision was blurry. Anguished sobs
burst out, and she mumbled her thanks to the Heavens above none of her family had been home. Her body started to tremble as cooling rain fell from the sky. Karina knew the adrenaline crash was imminent, along with a hefty dose of shock.
Karina sank to the ground and crawled toward Ranger, ignoring the pain from her injuries. “Oh, Ranger. I’m so sorry. You tried to warn me, I didn’t pay enough attention. Oh, God, I’m sorry. Hang on, buddy. Help is coming. We’ll get you to the vet, I promise.” She choked out, a whimper of sorrow left her mouth when his still body came into focus. In the distance, she heard the faint whine of sirens. “Help is coming.”
“Not in time to save you, bitch.”
On instinct, Karina went for her gun. Searing hot pain exploded inside her head, filling her visions with bursts of white and yellow. She felt her body fall forward, the gun fly from her fingers, and the scratchy fur of Ranger’s body on her cheek. Moaning, Karina felt around for the knife embedded in his body. As her fingers found the cold steel, the last thing Karina saw was a boot inches from her face.
33
The Thunder Rolls
Caesar had Vincenzo drive by the large farmhouse and park several hundred yards away on an unused dirt road. They retrieved their weapons and headed toward their destination in silence. Less than one hundred yards away from the driveway, they stopped and watched a pickup truck leave. Caesar extracted his night vision binoculars and zeroed in on the property. He saw someone walk into the barn, heard the yapping of a dog in between booms of thunder.
Crouched low in the scrub of trees, ignoring the pain in his hands and knees, Caesar smiled. “She’s alone. Remember, no shots. The sound will carry, and we don’t need the cops to roll up on us. Only use the gun as incentive to force her to go outside. Chase her toward the barn, which is where I’ll be. With this.” He flashed the hunting knife in front of Vincenzo’s face. “Understand?”
Blood Ties - A Magnolia Novel Page 29