by June Kramin
“I’m not telling you what you want, Angelo. Why are you fighting with me on this? If I’m wrong, go in there and tell Eddie to shove it. I’m happy to let you duke it out and get home to my daughter.”
He leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. “I don’t want this. I never did, but I’ll be dammed if I’ll let you fight my battle.”
Mandy kneeled in front of him. “I’m not fighting your battle. I screwed up somewhere along the line, and I need to fix it. I need Eddie out of my hair once and for all. He couldn’t make me stay if I didn’t want to. There is no way I’m going to spend my life running from him.”
“He’s not going to just let me walk.”
“Yes, he is. He won’t have a say in it. When things are over, I’ll get you taken care of.”
“Witness protection? And how is that working out for you?”
“Someplace deep inside, I knew this wasn’t over for me.”
Angelo met her eyes and chuckled. “You little shit. You still love this, don’t you?”
She pinched her lips tight together. “You tell Hunt, and I’ll neuter you.”
He laughed hard then took her hand. “We made a great team. You sure I can’t stick around and help?”
“Absolutely not. You’re in no shape to crash warehouses with me.”
“Can Hunt handle it?”
“He held his own saving you just fine. I’m not worried about him doing the job. Physically he’s able do it; I only worry about what will happen when his morals kick in.”
Angelo held his head low. “They didn’t force me to drink, Mandy.”
“Who? Axle and Kermit?”
“Yeah. I wanted to get good and drunk, and I wanted to stay that way.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to be numb. I figured it was over for me, and I wanted to be drunk through the ordeal. It became a game with them.”
“A punch for a shot?”
“Something like that. You know I’ve been pretty much drunk since you left.”
“Pretty long drunk. That’s not much of a life.”
“It wasn’t much of a life, anyway.”
“You done now?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Angelo reached for her locket and opened it. “You in touch with Sue?”
“I’m not supposed to let anyone know.”
“Tell her I said ‘hey’ next time you talk with her.”
She took his hand again. “Maybe you’ll get the chance to tell her yourself soon.”
They stood and finished packing. Angelo needed to rest when they were done. It worked out well; Mandy needed to make a call.
When everyone was loaded into the limo, Mandy gave the driver one last set of instructions before sending them on their way. They were quite the sight. One blonde nineteen-year-old girl and her Italian boyfriend, two bodyguards (one black, one white), one Asian doctor, a Hispanic driver, and one handsome twenty-six-year-old Italian that pretty much melted any woman of any age.
Mandy never admitted how handsome Angelo was. He was just a kid to her, even though they were close in age. She always saw the boy first, but she knew there was a man fighting to get out. In agreeing he wanted nothing to do with the family business, he was maturing. It took more courage to leave than to stay. Hopefully she could end this quickly and get him on his way.
Angie would probably take a few years to realize leaving was best for her, too. Darin was nothing like Angelo. He loved what he did and would stay in; there was no question there. Angie would stay with him as long as he’d have her or until his usefulness ran out. She was certain of that.
Mandy waited until the limo was out of sight and turned to Hunt. She leaned into him, and he held her tight.
“Will you pinch me and wake me up from this nightmare,” Hunt said softly.
“It’ll be over soon.”
He held her face with both hands and gave her a long kiss. “What’s the plan now?”
“I’m not starting anything tonight. Let’s get a good night’s sleep and have at it in the morning.”
“You have some kind of game plan?”
“Get back out in the game and let it be known I’m back.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The next morning, Hunt and Mandy added lightweight bulletproof vests to their attire. Hunt walked over to Mandy and fastened the last Velcro strap. He had an unsure look in his eye.
“Hunt, I do know what I’m doing. You’ll need to trust me or go home.”
“I know you think you know what you’re doing, but you can’t blame me for worrying.”
“We’re not having this discussion again.” He shoved his gun into his shoulder holster a little too harshly. “Careful. You’ll shoot something I want later.”
“Later?” He brought his eyebrows together and twisted his lips into what Mandy called his “wounded puppy” look. Nothing snapped them out of a fight quicker than the mention of sex.
She crossed her arms, pretending to be put out by his reaction. “It’s been twenty-five minutes since we had sex. You really want to pull that look now?”
He walked over and took her by the hips, pulling her close to him. “Come on. You know anything over eighteen and I’m good to go again.”
She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and drew him in for a kiss. “I know, but we need to get going.”
“You also know I’m still upset.”
“I know. Thanks for pretending to be distracted for a minute. Fighting isn’t going to get us anywhere. I know these streets, and I know my people.”
“Your people?”
“You know what I mean. I did this for a year, Hunt. Sometimes it was hard telling which was the act: the FBI informant or the Mob lawyer wife. I know I can do this.”
“I love you, dammit. It’s my job to give you grief and worry about you. I was on the other end of your shtick, remember. I know what you’re capable of; I don’t have to like it, though.”
“No, I guess you don’t.” She pulled on her jacket and tucked her gun where it had always been most comfortable, at the small of her back. She had never used a holster. Even in the middle of summer, she preferred a dress jacket.
“We do need to make one stop first.”
“Where’s that?”
“My old job.”
“I thought this was your old job.”
“My first old job.”
Hunt finally understood what she was talking about. “Oh that. Fine. I could use more coffee, anyway.”
They arrived at the little corner store where Mandy had worked. She had taken the job when she was undercover, as directed by Craig Abbey, and thought for weeks that it was a waste of time. As time progressed, she was dealing drugs passed off as cartons of cigarettes for the mob. Slowly she earned the trust of the men in charge then became Angelo’s “right hand man.” Of course it seemed strange to her, but she stayed in, thinking she was making headway and sending the FBI the information needed to shut Vince Menusco down. She had been clueless that Vince was on to her and that her contact at the FBI had no intentions of letting her succeed. He’d hired her to fail, and she refused. Vowing not to fail now either, she walked into the little shop like she owned the place.
They sat at the counter and waved over the young girl working there. Mandy fought a smile. She reminded her of herself. A lot. Or at least the part she played while she worked here. The girl cracked her gum.
“What can I get you?”
“Two coffees,” Hunt said as he slid the container of sugars towards Mandy. When she came back, there was another crack of her gum. “Anything else?”
“How’s PLU number ninety-nine looking today?” Mandy asked.
The girl hesitated for a moment. “We’re out.”
“When will it be back in?”
“Not sure.”
“Is your boss around?”
The girl leaned forward on the counter. Her ample breasts and low cut top were enough to make Hunt turn away and pretend to be inter
ested in a paper a few chairs over. He stood up and walked away. Smart man. “You a cop?”
Mandy laughed hard. “Not even close. I used to have your job.”
“You did? Well, shit. You look okay, but honestly that dude you’re with reeks of cop.”
“Yeah…don’t I know it. They had to go and give me Pretty Boy Floyd here for back up.”
“Doesn’t look like a Floyd to me.”
Mandy sighed. “It’s an old expression. Goes by Hammer.”
“I thought Hammer was black?”
Crap. Mandy forgot about that when talking to Axle. “Obviously not this one,” is all she could say in recovery.
“He’s a hunk, anyway.”
Mandy had to not let her jealousy show. “I’m not here to talk about my man.”
“Your man—your man, or your man as in your man.”
Mandy blinked and stared at her, wondering how this girl could even operate a cash register. “We’re not a couple if that’s what you’re asking.”
“So…is he available?”
“No.”
“Bummer. There’s no ring.”
“There’s no what?” Mandy spun around then quickly caught herself. She shouldn’t react that way in front of someone else. “No, there isn’t. But he still has a gal at home that would shred you in two if she caught wind of you. Can we get back to business?”
Hunt joined them again and pretended to be reading the paper. Mandy was sure he overheard. He gave her knee a squeeze under the counter. Now that her breasts were out of Mandy’s face, she read her name tag. Terri.
Terri took one last look at Hunt and let out a heavy sigh. “Right. I really don’t have anything. My last runner was plugged, so things are late by a few days. Should be later today, though, if you’re desperate and want to stick around or check back.”
“They killed Buck?”
“Buck? No. Must be someone you don’t know. Todd something. I don’t think I was ever given his last name. He was the delivery and messenger guy. I guess they killed the messenger.” She laughed until she snorted. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t funny.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Ummm…you still want the boss? He really ain’t here either. Want me to tell him you stopped in?”
“Sure. Tell him Mandy’s back in town, and I’m going to fix whatever this is.”
“Holy shit. That’s you?”
Hunt jumped to his feet when Terri swayed forward as if she was going to faint. She took a step back and gathered herself.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I held a reputation here.”
“Are you shitting me? Angelo doesn’t stop talking about you.”
“You mean used to not stop talking about me.”
“What do you mean ‘used to’?”
“Angelo died this morning.”
“No!”
Terri managed to faint after all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“What did you do that for?” Hunt asked as he jumped over the counter and picked Terri up.
Mandy whispered. “How was I supposed to know she’d faint? She should have thicker skin than that with this job. We have to tell everyone he’s dead, Hunt. We can’t pick and choose. When this is over and he’s relocated, everyone has to think he’s dead.”
“I think Suzie D cups here had a crush on him.”
“Well, she has one on you too, so there’s no accounting for taste.” He grinned at her. “Take her to the office in the back. There’s a couch. She’ll snap out of it soon enough. Where the hell is your ring, anyway?”
“You really think we need to be walking around with matching bands?”
“Oh. Good point. You could have warned me.”
He shrugged. “Just thought of it as we walked out. Are you afraid I thought if you could play mobster, I could play single?”
“Jackass. I was worried you lost it.”
Hunt leaned over Terri and gave Mandy a kiss. “Never. I’m afraid the tan line will make it look like I’m hiding it, though.”
Mandy scoffed. “That’ll only make you that much more mysterious.”
“You’re right. A total turn on.”
Just as they parted, the chime from the door sounded. Mandy hurried behind the counter. She smiled at the familiar face. The man was carrying a box filled with cartons of cigarettes.
“Hello, Buck.”
“Mandy? You have your old job back? That your punishment for getting caught and going to jail?” He laughed as he dropped the box on the counter.
“You look like you were demoted.”
“Yeah. It’s temporary. The other driver was capped.”
“So I heard.”
“I thought you would be promoted after saving Angelo.”
“You heard, huh?”
“Of course. Rumor has it you and some white Hammer shot up the place good. Where’s Terri?”
“She passed out. I’m not actually back. Not here, anyway. I stepped up while she comes to.”
“Comes to? What happened?”
“She kind of fainted.”
“Fainted? What’d you do that made her faint?”
“I guess I let it blurt out, and I shouldn’t have. I should have taken more care with the news.”
“What news, dammit?”
“Angelo’s dead.”
“What? When?”
“This morning. We didn’t think he was as bad off as when we brought him back. They just couldn’t pull him out of it.”
“Damn. That’s some serious bad news.”
“Feel free to let everyone know. I’m back now in every sense of the word, and I mean business. With Vince gone and now Angelo, that leaves me.”
“You? Why you? Weren’t you like his assistant or something?”
“That’s what we were selling, but I’m also his sister. That leaves me in charge.”
His jaw hit the ground. “His sister?” he asked with a squeak.
“Right. Vince never wanted anyone to know. Angelo promised never to tell anyone. That’s why we were together. He insisted on keeping an eye on me. I refused to listen to Vince and play Susie Homemaker, staying put in some mansion and getting married off. Being with Angelo was the compromise.”
“Holy shit. You do know what’s going down around here, right? Things ain’t good, beautiful.”
“I’m aware of that. I intend to fix it.”
Hunt walked out of the back office. “Let me guess. Hammer,” Buck said with not too much emotion behind it.
Hunt stopped and frowned.
“That’s right. And we need to split. Will you go sit with Terri until she’s okay?”
“Got it. Dammit, Mandy. Nice to see you, but I’m really sorry to lose Angelo. He was a good friend.”
“We’re going to miss him. There will be no services. We can’t risk any kind of gathering right now. Do spread the word, though. People need to know.”
“Got it.” He nodded to Hunt as he walked by.
Hunt walked over to Mandy. “Hammer?”
She shrugged. “My spontaneous name-making-up sucks. Take it out on me in bed later.”
After they were on their way, Hunt turned to Mandy. “So was making the new girl faint the reason we were there?”
“Of course not. I really wanted to see my old boss. I guess Buck showing up was good enough. I needed the rumor mill to start spreading the word about Angelo.”
“You sure he’s really okay with you telling everyone he’s dead?”
“I talked with him more while you were packing Angie and Darin. He holds no ties to anyone here and will make a clean break without any problems.”
“We’re not adopting him, are we?”
Mandy laughed. “He’s a big boy, you baby. I know what you think about my feelings for him, but I really don’t see the need for us to become pen pals once he’s out. He’ll need to move on, and that includes saying goodbye to me. We’ve done it before.”
“Exactly.”
“Exactly what?”
“You’ve done it before, but wild horses couldn’t keep you away from coming back and helping him.”
“I knew you were upset.”
“I’m not. Honestly. You’d think you could drop your defenses for once and read me like I know you can. I know he’s important to you. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I think—” He slammed on his brakes as a black sedan came to a sudden stop in front of him. When the driver got out, they both reached for their guns.
Mandy got a good view then said, “Put it away, Hunt. It’s okay.” She rolled down her window.
“What gives, James?”
“Good news travels fast, Mandy. You’re going to play kingpin now? What’s this shit?”
“If you’re not going to do anything, someone has to.”
He leaned on her window and sighed heavily. “I knew you were going to be trouble the second you stepped into my office.”
“So look the other way. It’s never bothered you people before.”
“This isn’t the same department with Abbey gone, Mandy. You go rogue agent on us and you won’t be protected.”
“Well, lucky for you, I’m not an agent anymore.”
“You’d go to jail as a vigilante. You’d be no better than who you’re looking for.”
“I have to do what I have to do, James. You know this.”
He looked over to Hunt as if asking for help. “Don’t look at me. I’m afraid of her, too.”
James reached in his pocket. He tossed two leather items between them that resembled wallets. Mandy and Hunt both picked one up. Mandy opened hers and met James’s eyes.
“I don’t want my badge back, and I’m pretty sure I speak for Hunt when I say he doesn’t want one either.”
“Well, tough shit. You go out there without them and I can’t help you when all hell breaks loose. At least it’ll keep you out of jail.”
“I can’t report to you.”
“I’m fine with that. Throw me a crumb or two when you can. Just stay safe, dammit.”
He turned and walked away, but Mandy climbed out of the car and hurried after him.
“James?”
He stopped and turned around. “What is it?”
“Just thanks. I know you had to take some shit for this.”