by Cindy Stark
CHAPTER NINE
The sun was low in the sky when Allie and Jase's plane arrived at a small airstrip somewhere near the coast in Oregon. Allie had seen the ocean as they'd circled overhead, and she hoped she'd have the opportunity to see it up close. They weren't in Portland, that much she figured out. The airport was too small, and if she remembered right, Portland was inland, away from the ocean. Her question was answered as they taxied down the runway, and the pilot welcomed them to Tillamook.
Allie had watched Jase sleep through the remainder of their flight, while she'd fretted about the past, her future, and tried to figure out why the mob wanted her dead. She'd also spent considerable time thinking about the choice she'd made to give up her baby. By the time the plane bumped to the ground and Jase lifted his head, she knew she'd made the right decision.
The pilot opened the door and descended the stairs with Boo trailing behind him. Allie tried to follow, anxious to see what Oregon looked like beyond the airplane window, but Jase put a hand on her arm, stopping her.
"There's something you need to promise me before we leave this plane." His words seemed ominous, but she nodded without hesitating. "Once you go down those stairs, you cannot say one word about Chicago or anything that happened there unless we're completely alone. I'm trusting you and praying I'm not making a huge mistake." His expression was stern, and he watched her as though he were probing to see if she was trustworthy.
She was.
He raised his brows. "Not one word."
Allie swallowed. He was dead serious. "You've already risked so much for me. I won't say a word. I owe you that much. I promise."
"That world doesn't touch this one. Ever. Understood?"
She nodded. "You can trust me." She wouldn't let him down. That was how he survived, she realized. He lived in two separate worlds. One filled with violence, and the other one? It looked like she was about to find out what the other side of his life was like.
"Let's go, then. Robert should have the car here by now, and if we're lucky Carole will have a dinner waiting for us when we get home."
Home. He'd brought her to his home. His sanctuary. Did he realize how much that meant to her? Allie couldn't wait to see it.
The first thing she noticed when she reached the tarmac was the cooler temperature. Granted, Chicago was in the middle of a heat wave that year, but Tillamook was downright chilly.
And refreshing. Already, everything here seemed slower, safer and cleaner. It was a relief to be away from Chicago.
* * *
It seemed they had been on the road forever. Allie rode in the backseat next to Jase, with Jase's driver, Robert in the front. Boo rode shotgun next to him.
Allie would have checked her watch if she'd had one. All she knew was the sun had long since set, and they had to have been driving for hours. Robert, an older black man with a deep, engaging voice seemed to be a pretty nice guy. Jase had kept her engaged in general conversation for the most part, with Robert chiming in from time to time. She'd tried to keep her attention on the majestic pines that flanked the road as they drove through some kind of forest, but Jase and Robert kept distracting her. She was tired of being stuck in a plane or car, and itched to get out and explore her new surroundings. But now, everything had faded to black outside her window.
Earlier, they'd left the quaint farming community of Tillamook, heading away from the setting sun. Everything seemed so green, from the towering pines to the lush trees and grass. Jase had asked Robert to turn on the heat to compensate for the cool outside air, and Allie was reminded once again that other than the clothes on her back, she had nothing. Not even a jacket to cuddle into. She refused to think about what had happened to her previous jacket. It was easier to put each horrific thought of the past few days into a mental box and lock it away. She was on her way to a new life. A better life. Remembering what she'd lost to get to that point would do her no good.
She closed her eyes, weary from travel and was almost asleep when Jase announced they were home.
Allie perked up and tucked her long bangs behind her ear as she peered out into the darkness, trying to get a good glimpse of what Jase's home looked like. At the end of a long drive that wound between tall pines, she finally spied a sprawling ranch house glittering with large windows. The house and his property were the exact opposite of what she'd had growing up. The rambler was huge, and there was so much space around it. Tons and tons of empty space. Nothing like the crowded, dilapidated homes she'd had with her mother and with her aunt. At least she'd been happy with her mom even though they didn't have much.
But here? What did people do with so much room?
Allie couldn't see lights from any other houses anywhere in the vicinity. The car's headlights showcased the manicured lawns and gardens of Jase's home as they pulled around a circular drive, stopping in front of the house.
She wanted to say something to Jase about how nice it was, but words escaped her. Everything was so fresh and green. The closest thing she could think of was the city park her mother had taken her to as a child. And she hadn't been there for years.
Allie glanced at him and found him smiling. He looked more relaxed than she'd seen him since they'd met, and his expression wiped out the last bit of anxiety she'd felt for leaving Chicago.
It was good to be home. Even if it wasn't her home.
"Come on," he said, motioning for her to climb out his door. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
At first glance, Allie knew Carole Henrie was not somebody to mess with. Jase made the introductions while Carole surveyed Allie with the eyes of a police sergeant. Almost as tall as Jase, Carole had broad shoulders. Bouncy auburn curls softened her look, but her piercing green eyes intimidated Allie.
Until Carole smiled. Then soft wrinkles skirted the edges of her eyes, making her more...pretty. The older woman held out her hands. "Welcome."
Allie reached out to her, not surprised to find the woman's hands were strong, masculine. But they were warm and comforting, too. "Thank you."
Carole put an arm around Allie and led her into the house. The foyer was filled with warm woods, green potted ferns and a wall-mounted water fountain. A lovely pine scent followed them in from outside. "We always knew Jase would eventually bring home a girl, and we're glad to see that day has finally come." She squeezed her shoulder as they stopped inside the door.
Bring home a girl? "Oh, no. I'm sorry. I think—"
"It's not like that, Carole." Jase spoke from behind them, and both she and Carole turned to him. "She's just a friend."
Carole snorted as she gave him a doubtful look. "She doesn't look like just a friend." She turned to Allie. "Look at her. Long, dark hair, gorgeous eyes. If you gave her some clothes that fit, she could be Miss America."
Allie almost choked. Heat crept up her face, and she'd never seen Jase look so powerless. If she wasn't in the hot seat with him, it might have been funny.
He quickly recovered. "Let's change the subject." Jase shut the door behind him. "What's for dinner?"
Carole gave him a look smeared with attitude. "I'm not sure you deserve dinner." She glanced at Allie. "And I don't mean you, Allie. You're more than welcome to eat. But Jase—" She turned back to him. "Robert told me you were bringing home a girl, so I cooked up a romantic roast beef dinner complete with potatoes and cherry pie, and now you're lying and telling me she's no one special." Allie's stomach started to grumble as Carole continued. The older woman put a hand on her hip. "I think Robert, Allie and I will eat it instead."
Jase surprised Allie by walking up and giving Carole a big, fat kiss on the lips. "I love you, and you know, that I know, that you and Robert have your romantic dinners every night." He studied her with a knowing smile until Carole's cheeks flushed, and then he took Allie's hand. "Come on, I'm starving."
"You eat that dinner, and I'm going to know you're lying to me about her," Carole called from behind them.
"Gotta love her." Jase chuckled as he led Alli
e through a room lined with bookshelves and a huge, friendly fireplace surrounded by brown leather sofas. From there, they walked into a kitchen that glowed. Allie didn't know if it was the warm oak woods or the sunny yellow walls, but the room radiated happiness and comfort.
And the scents. "Oh, Jase. That smells heavenly." Her stomach grumbled louder, and she didn't want to think about the last time she'd had a decent meal.
"Wait until you taste it. Carole should be a chef at one of those four-star restaurants. Luckily, I have her, instead."
Allie's mouth watered as she watched Jase serve up two plates of food. Just as he set them on the bar in front of her, Carole came in from a side entrance, her auburn curls bouncing with determination. "Oh, no, you don't. If you're going to eat that romantic dinner, you are not eating off the bar. There's a perfectly good dining table in the other room. You can eat in there while I clean up the dishes." She stared at him, daring him to defy her. Allie almost laughed. The power struggle between them was hilarious—big, muscle man versus Amazon woman.
"Yes, ma'am." Jase conceded and picked up their plates, nodding toward the direction from which Carole had come. "Let's go, Allie. It will be quieter in there, anyway."
The dining room seemed like a whole different world. Where the kitchen spoke happy, this room whispered sensual. The lights had been dimmed, leaving two flickering candles vying for attention at the end of a dark mahogany table. The table could easily seat eight, but with the candles and two glasses of wine marking their spots, it seemed much more intimate.
"Sorry for all the hoopla." Jase set their plates down and held out a chair for her.
She felt like a fairy princess. "That's okay. I don't mind. Carole seems very nice, and I can tell she loves you."
He went back and shut the door between the dining room and kitchen. "Don't let her hear you say that, or she'll smother you with affection."
Allie let out a soft laugh. The ambience had subdued her mood. "That doesn't seem like such a terrible thing."
"Just wait." He sat next to her and started immediately on his large slab of roast beef. "Mmm," he groaned. "Damn, she's good."
Allie couldn't wait any longer. She cut off a section of beef and let it melt in her mouth. It was divine. Maybe she had died in Chicago, and this was what heaven was like.
Jase swallowed some of the red wine in his glass, and then eyed her. "Can I get you something else to drink?"
She shook her head. "I'm okay. I don't need anything." In fact, she was happier than she'd been in a long time. It was nice to feel cared for. She hadn't had that experience since her mother had died.
Carole's pie was to die for, and by the time dinner was finished, she felt like she'd gained ten pounds.
"I'm feeling kind of fat and sassy," she said as they stood up from the table. She couldn't help grinning.
"It looks good on you." He smiled back.
It looked good on him, too. He needed to leave Chicago forever and stay in this place where he could be happy and have a real life. In that second, she wanted to grab him and pull him into a fairytale world where she could kiss him forever. A place where bounties and revenge didn't exist.
"You kids should go sit by the fire on the patio." Carole spoke from the doorway, and Allie jumped not realizing Carole had entered the room. "You shouldn't let a good fire go to waste, and I have a jacket Allie can borrow since you didn't see fit to bring any clothes for her with you." She paused, eyeing Jase. "Or did I miss your suitcases?"
"Uh, no suitcases." He gave Carole a sheepish grin. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that."
"Nonsense. Allie and I will work on her wardrobe tomorrow. Get out there and enjoy that fire."
Allie couldn't remember the last time she'd been bossed around so much, nor the last time, if ever, she'd enjoyed it. By the time she'd slipped into Carole's oversized jacket, and they'd made their way to the patio, Carole had delivered a tray with all of the fixings for s'mores.
"Oh, wow." Allie eyed the spread with amazement. "She goes all out, doesn't she?"
"A little overboard, I'd say." He chose to sit on the log bench as opposed to the more comfortable padded chairs.
That was the one thing Allie really liked about his whole house. It had the feel of luxury, but still managed to be outdoorsy and comfortable, too. She sat on the log next to him. "She's kind of like your surrogate mom, huh?"
Jase paused and then nodded. "I guess you could say so."
"And Robert could be your surrogate father. You have a nice home, and it's kind of like you've found a second family."
Jase picked up a marshmallow and jammed it onto the end of a metal stick. He tucked it deep down into the flames where it began to char instantly. "Nobody can replace your family."
She'd hit a nerve, she realized. Allie picked up her own marshmallow and followed Jase's example. After several moments of silence, she spoke. "I've never roasted a marshmallow before."
"You don't want to scorch it like I've done." He pulled his away from the direct flames, sliding it off the end of his stick into the fire.
Allie pulled hers back, too, and inspected it. It was a nice brown on one side, not black like his had been. She rolled it over, but didn't put it as close to the fire this time.
He stuck a fresh marshmallow on his stick. "There are a lot of things you've never done before."
"True." She turned her marshmallow a little more. "That's what happens when you grow up on the streets. Life's a little different from that side."
He nodded, staring at the mesmerizing flames. She followed suit, deciding to be happy to just share his company. He obviously couldn't appreciate the wonderful things he had in his life. Revenge was an ugly thing. A violent thing. Maybe, before she left, she could help him understand that. Help him see the good in life again.
Until that happened, it was a beautiful night with all the stars shining in a huge black sky. The fire crackled and her marshmallow had turned a crusty brown on all sides. The brisk air was scented with pine and smoke from their fire, and it smelled wonderful. She was so full from dinner, but she couldn't resist trying one roasted marshmallow. She pulled the crusty glob from the end of her stick and plopped it between her lips. It filled her mouth with gooey goodness.
"We need to talk."
Allie stopped mid-chew, not liking the tone of Jase's voice. Why did he have to ruin their beautiful evening with a sentence like that? "About what?" she said around her marshmallow. No one ever said, we need to talk and had a happy conversation.
"I need to find out why they killed Joey."
She swallowed and sighed. She just wanted to forget that night, forget her whole previous life in fact. Couldn't they stay in this fairytale dream, instead? "Okay, fine."
"I'm hoping you'll take some time while you're here to really think about Joey, what he said, what he did. Things were crazy back in Chicago, but it's quieter here. Maybe you can remember something. Nothing's too little or insignificant."
"Can't we just leave that behind us? What does it matter now?"
He looked at her with an earnest expression, the light from the flames making shadows on his face. "You know I want revenge for my family, but more than that, I want you safe. I don't like knowing they're hunting you."
"I don't like it, either. If they were gone, I could—" She stopped. She'd almost said "keep her baby". "I'd feel a lot better."
"This money that's on your head—it's big. You've got something or you know something they want. If I could get it before they do, I might have a chance of bringing down their whole organization." A loud pop from the fire punctuated his statement.
"But, I don't know anything." How many times had they been over this?
"Maybe you've forgotten something, some little detail that will give us a hint as to why they want you so badly."
She hunched deeper in her jacket, feeling a sudden chill. "I met Joey a few years ago. He'd come into the bowling alley where I worked. He was always so cool, and, you kno
w." She fluttered her fingers. "I was so excited when he finally asked me out." She'd thought he'd held the world in his hands.
"We'd been dating for almost two years. I knew he sometimes hung with Benny Trasatti and his boys, but he never said much about them. We never talked about the mob. Joey knew it made me mad, so he hid his involvement with them from me." She sighed. "That last night was the first time I realized he'd had dealings with them. He'd said they wanted something from him. He also said if something worked out, we'd be set for life. I never had a chance to ask him what it was."
"And you said he didn't give you anything, right?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Papers. A photo. I figure they must want something tangible. If they were afraid he'd told you something that could hurt them, they'd just kill you. They want you alive. At least for now."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "No, he didn't give me anything. I'd kind of hoped he'd propose to me after I told him about the baby, but I didn't get the chance."
"I'm sorry about that."
Allie looked at him. He seemed mesmerized by the dancing flames. A haunted look shadowed his face. She shivered. She wanted him to give up this notion of revenge. "I think you should let this go."
He eyed her then. "No. There's a connection there. Something to do with you, and I'm going to find it."
"I don't just mean the incident with Joey and me. I mean your vengeance all together. Let it go. Stay here where you're safe, where you're happy."
"No." There was a lot of power behind his answer. "I will bring them down. For what they did to my family and to you."
"No, Jase. Please don't include me in your reasons for revenge. I just want to put the past behind me." She laid down her roasting stick and folded her hands in her lap. She looked at the beautiful scenery surrounding them. "Can't you see what you have here? Somehow, someway, the Trasatti family will pay for what they've done, but you don't need to be the one to make them. Let the cops or God handle it."
"I can't."
"Jase—"