Rough Diamond (A Mafia Romance)

by Knight, Leslie

  He was grateful to be busy, it stopped him thinking about the cops and the mafia and the millions of dollars’ worth of jewels. The cops had called him in for questioning after a couple of days. His criminal record and his Russian name had landed him on their shit list. They’d identified Dimitri and Nick and suspected the Bratva was involved.

  But they had nothing on him despite their suspicions, they didn’t even have enough to get a search warrant for his place. They’d questioned him for a couple of hours but he stuck to his story. He’d left early that morning to go fishing. Yeah, he’d been on his own but he’d spoken to a few people on the water, they could check.

  They’d given him a real grilling, especially Gallagher, but he knew they had nothing and he just kept on repeating his story. In the end they let him go with a warning not to leave town. He was still very much in their thoughts.

  There was so much heat that he didn’t want to arrange any kind of handover and he hadn’t dared revisit where he’d hidden the jewels. He was sure he was under some kind of surveillance and he hadn’t even dared to approach Chloe again, as much as he wanted to.

  She’d been on his mind a lot and he felt shitty that she was involved. He was sure the cops must have questioned her again and that she was still saying nothing. But as each day passed he was less worried about the cops and the more worried about the Russians turning up to claim their property.

  He’d called the only number he still had for anyone in New York, told them he wanted to hand over the stones but there was too much heat. He’d called anonymously to be safe but he knew of Alexei by reputation and expected someone would be sent to track him down and recover the jewels.

  Once he had the paint sealed and everything tidied up he checked his watch again. It was almost eight o’clock. Chloe would be finishing her shift at the diner soon. He’d kept his distance but managed to work out some of her schedule and knew she usually went for a walk along the lake shore to clear her head after a busy shift.

  He thought about her a lot in the days since and wished she’d never ended up getting dragged into the car by Dimitri. There was something about the way she spoke, calm and yet challenging that he couldn’t get out of his mind. He’d only seen her smile a couple of times but he wanted to see it again, to be able to do something or say something that would bring it back to her face.

  He was worried that if anyone from New York came looking for the stones they would approach her just as Mirko had warned. She was his responsibility now and he had to protect her from any harm due to his own mess.

  She was vulnerable when she went for those walks alone along the badly lit path. It would be the perfect time if someone meant her any harm so he wanted to be close just in case. It was the least he could do in the circumstances. Even if she hated the sight of him he would never forgive himself if she got hurt just because some thug was trying to get to him.

  - 12 -

  Chloe

  Chloe hung up her apron with a sigh of relief. She only did three shifts at the diner each week but it was more than enough. Just having to be friendly and chatty for seven hours in a row to a bunch of strangers was almost more than she could manage.

  She also worked at the adult education center where she did her digital marketing course and they told her there might be a full time position coming up in the summer. They’d always been great to her at Bunk’s but she didn’t want to stay there forever, even after four years she still got the occasional anxiety attack and her shift always left her drained. The chance of a quiet office job would be fantastic while she grew her online business.

  She was just glad to be busy really, it had always been the best way to get through the hard times in her life. All the panic and excitement of the previous weekend seemed so long ago and she was just relieved everything seemed to be returning to normal, glad she had other things on her mind besides that crazy half hour when she’d been snatched off the street and forced into the car.

  She wished she could stop thinking of Vladek as well but she couldn’t help herself. She’d never met anyone like him in her small safe circle of friends and acquaintances. He was bad, a criminal who stole and was involved in a robbery where people were killed. But he was charming as well, friendly and even protective. He was a crazy cocktail and she couldn’t help but try and figure him out.

  The main thing she remembered was his smile and those strong tanned arms she’d first spotted in McBride’s. And the way he’d made her feel, how brave and confident she’d felt talking to him, how she’d even been able to flirt properly. He’d made her feel grown up in a way, like an adult, and it left her feeling all mixed up.

  The police had questioned her again but she just repeated the same story. Rogers, the tough looking guy who was constantly hopping on the balls of his feet, seemed to have lost all interest in her account. But Gallagher still unnerved her. Maybe it was just an engrained tactic and the way she was with every witness, or even anyone she met in her life, just this constant skeptical look and those intense, piercing eyes.

  She hadn’t told them anything new. She hadn’t seen anything and the robbers let her go once they were off the main road and knew they weren’t been followed. They’d asked her if anyone strange had approached her or if she’d felt threatened and that was the only time she had a moment of panic but she still didn’t mention Vladek.

  They told her to be vigilant and to call if anything out of the ordinary happened. They’d send a car regularly past her place. She was surprised that they actually thought someone might approach her but she didn’t think she had to worry about Vladek. A part of her was even hopeful he’d make contact again, if only to help her make up her mind about him once and for all. She had to figure him out.

  She put on her big, warm coat with the fur-lined hood, eager to be finally out of the hot, stale air and into the freshness outside. She was already looking forward to her brisk walk along by the water. Spring had arrived and she really didn’t need the warmth of her big winter coat anymore but she just loved to wrap herself up in it. It was just like a cocoon and it made her feel safer and less anxious somehow.

  She said a quick goodbye to the guys in the kitchen and then slipped out the staff exit and was on her way. The evening air was crisp and fresh and she inhaled it deeply and headed towards the water.

  The last time she’d gone for her walk she had a funny feeling that someone was following her but every time she’d turned there was no one there. In the end she’d passed it off as her overactive imagination because of what detective Gallagher had said. She’d even thought of calling her but decided against it in the end.

  Soon she was out of the town and well into her stride. She liked to go for half an hour, fifteen minutes out and then fifteen back. She’d go home then, make some food for herself and Jackson before checking her emails to see if there were any new orders. Despite what she’d gone through life just had a way of continuing on, you couldn’t just step off and catch your breath, you had to keep going.

  Abbie was pissed when she told her about not telling the police. Chloe could understand why, what she’d done didn’t make much sense. Maybe he’d just charmed her a little so she’d keep quiet, like Abbie said but then Abbie didn’t really know the way she’d felt, even that first time, when she’d met him at McBride’s

  It was a week since the raid and she’d already spoken to the cops twice. She couldn’t just go back now and change her story. In any case that would only make her testimony less credible if it ever went to trial. No, what was done was done and she couldn’t go back and do it differently, even if it had been foolish.

  She knew Abbie was just worried and wanted her to be safe and she appreciated that but sometimes she just had to trust her instincts. Maybe she hadn’t done that enough in her life already, she’d always done the safe thing, the responsible thing. That was probably one of the reasons Abbie was so worried about her because she was acting completely out of character.

  There was still s
ome brightness in the sky but it would be fully dark by the time she’d turned and was heading back to town. Luckily they had lights all along the lake path so she wouldn’t be totally blind. She liked her routine and it always cleared her head and it would be even better in a few weeks once the evenings got brighter.

  It was only after she turned and was heading back towards town that she had that strange feeling again. It was like the last time, as if someone was close but didn’t want to be seen. She’d passed a few other walkers and they hadn’t been suspicious but this time it was different, it was like someone was deliberately shadowing her without wanting her to notice.

  She increased her step, spooked a little and eager to get back near town where there were more people. Night had fallen and the inky pools of darkness between each light along the path grew wider. She could feel her heart thumping louder with every passing step.

  Don’t be foolish, there’s nobody there and you’ll soon be back in town. She walked on even quicker, skipping a little as she felt the temptation to break into a jog. She spun her head quickly but there was no one behind her, it really was all in her imagination.

  Still she rushed on, alert and tense, and then he appeared. A broad, dark shape detached itself from the surrounding night and stood before her on the path. She stopped dead in her tracks, her breath loud and ragged.

  “Chloe Walsh? You are Chloe Walsh?”

  “Who wants to know?”

  He was a wide, powerful-looking man, like a breeze block in a coat with a head stuck on top. His face was wide as well with a squashed looking nose and lips as if someone had shaped his features roughly by mashing them in a vice.

  “You don’t need to know who I am. I have a few questions about what you saw last Saturday.”

  “I already told everything to the police.”

  “Maybe you did, maybe you didn’t but you will tell me everything I want to know now.”

  “I don’t know who you are but I’ve nothing to say to you.”

  A slight tremble had crept into her voice and Chloe cursed herself inwardly for showing her fright and fragility. But the path was deserted and there was no one close to help. She was all alone.

  “You’re wrong Chloe Walsh. You will tell me what I want to know and you will tell me now. The driver who let you go, tell me about him.”

  He brought his hand slowly out of the dark folds of his coat as he spoke and Chloe saw the distinctive gleam of gun mental and the eye of a long, silenced-barrel pointing in her direction. Her eyes flicked around wildly but there was no one else in sight. She thought briefly about fleeing but knew she couldn’t outrun a speeding bullet and she didn’t doubt the stranger’s competence with a gun.

  “What the hell am I supposed to tell you? He was a tall guy, white, but I could only see the edge of his face. He was wearing a dark cap and sunglasses and he..”

  Suddenly there was a noise, a fast approaching rustling sound and it distracted the thug and made him turn in surprise. A new shape flew out of the darkness and walloped into the man with the gun, propelling him back several feet to skid along the path.

  All Chloe could do was stand and gape at the sudden silent struggle going on before her eyes. She saw fists flash and heard a loud grunt of pain. One body detached itself from the pile on the floor and she saw it was Vladek. He kicked the gun away and sent it rattling further down the path, then stood over the body in a boxer’s pose, waiting to strike.

  The guy was just getting up on his knees and looked prepared to launch himself but Vladek moved first. He took one step forward and timed a perfect kick to the thug’s jaw. His head snapped to the side and he collapsed back down to the concrete, the strength gone from his arms as he struggled to stay conscious.

  Vladek came quickly towards her and took her hand. “Come on quick, we gotta go, we gotta get outta here right now before he comes to.”

  It was overwhelming and Chloe was petrified but she let herself be dragged along.

  “Come on Chloe, quick. I gotta get you safe, run with me, faster.”

  The urgency in his voice and the memory of the gun barrel pointed at her finally broke through her fright and the power returned to her legs. Hand in hand they rushed back down the path towards town before taking a smaller path away from the lake that led to a parking lot.

  He led her to a gleaming red vintage Mustang and hurriedly opened the passenger door for her before scooting around and getting in behind the wheel. The V8 roared to life and they shot forward with a speed that pressed Chloe back hard against the black leather seat.

  They turned onto the main road without stopping and Vladek’s hand shifted the stick smoothly through gears as he quickly accelerated down the road and far away from the man with the gun.

  Chloe pressed herself back against the seat, hardly believing what was happening. She vaguely registered that the car they were travelling in was gorgeous and powerful but she was finding it hard to adjust to her sudden change in circumstances.

  “What, why..?”

  “It’s the fucking Russians, the mob. They’re after the jewels from the heist.”

  “But me, why me? I had nothing to do with it.”

  “You were there and that seems to be enough. They’ve no fucking patience, they can’t be trusted. I told them I’d hand over the lot once the heat died down. It’s too risky right now, too soon, but they won’t fucking listen.”

  “This is crazy, we gotta go to the police. I don’t want some guy with a gun after me, the mafia!”

  “We can’t go to the police remember, unless you finally wanna tell them the truth. I don’t think they’ll be so pleased with you, might even treat you as a suspect as well.”

  “Seriously, are you trying to blackmail me now? Just take me home then, what the hell have I got myself mixed up in, I didn’t want any of this.”

  “Me neither, but we’re in this now. Just try and trust me ok, I’ll get in contact, I’ll hand everything over but we gotta be careful. You don’t know these guys Chloe, they’re ruthless, irrational and they wouldn’t give a second thought to getting us out of the way for good, no loose ends. We gotta be extra careful, you can’t go home.”

  Chloe took a deep breath and tried to get herself under control which wasn’t easy the way Vladek was driving and talking. She tried to keep her voice even despite the excitement of the situation.

  “Who are you to tell me what I can and can’t do? If I want to go home then I’m going home.”

  “It’s not safe, haven’t you been listening? I screwed up big time when I got involved in this and I’m not going to screw up again. I’m gonna keep you safe until I’ve dealt with this. That’s the way it’s happening Chloe, whether you like it or not. I’m not going to let any harm come to you. You’re my responsibility.”

  She looked across at his set features as he concentrated on the road. He was tense and his jaw clenched with determination. Chloe was about to protest further but the words never made it out, everything was happening so fast. He had rescued her from that guy though and she couldn’t go to the police after the lies she’d told.

  She wanted to object but another part of her wanted to stay with Vladek and help him find a solution. Ever since the robbery they’d been tied together so maybe that was the only way to finally put it all in the past.

  “Ok, maybe I can’t stay at home but I can’t just run off. I need to pick up some things at least.”

  He threw her a surprised glance. He’d been expecting more objections or that he’d at least need longer to convince her how unsafe it was. She was surprising him again, she wasn’t just the straight laced small town girl that everyone saw. She had strength, she was adaptable and smart.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. If I was that guy that’s probably where I’d head to next to pick up the trail. We have a bit of a head start but if we go there you gotta be super quick, I’m talking in and out, three minutes max.”

  “I’ll be quick, I swear. If I’m gonna
be staying somewhere else for a few nights I at least need to grab a few things and I need to do something about Jackson.”

  “Jackson?”

  “My cat, remember?”

  “Oh yeah, the killer.”

  “That’s right, I need to leave out some food for him and make sure he can get out the window.”

  “He can do that, on the second floor?”

  “There’s a tree he uses, he’s actually quite clever.”

  Vladek swung the car around another corner with a screech of tires so they were travelling towards Norwood. The sudden movement brought Chloe sharply back to her present situation. Now was not the time to be prattling on about her little prince, she needed to keep her wits about her and concentrate on getting through this ordeal.

  Vladek looked across at her again, wondering why she was suddenly silent. He shot her a quick grin. He actually seemed to be enjoying himself.

  “I love cats, all clever animals actually. People, humans, we think we’re so clever but we’re not, we take so much for granted. Everything is made for us by someone else, people have forgotten how to do things, how to survive.”

  Chloe looked again, was this guy actually for real? Driving for their lives and he was enjoying himself and philosophizing about the decline of the human species. How could anyone switch between ideas like that and where would it all lead?

  - 13 -

  Chloe

  They turned in fast to the small parking lot in front of her building. Vladek’s urgency was infectious and Chloe had the feeling she was on a roller coaster or some other fairground ride with the best tactic just to hang on for dear life.

  She leapt out and rushed to the door, taking even longer with the key because of her trembling hands. She ran up the stairs to her door and was quickly inside. Jackson met her with a meow of welcome and quickly entwined himself between her legs with no regard for her haste.