“We don’t have to ask anyone,” she interrupted. “I’ll drive it.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will. If I can drive this one, I can drive—”
“I said no.”
Gaze fixed on his back, she waited for him to face her and explain his reasoning. A full minute passed, during which he didn’t even bother with a glance over his shoulder. As if he’d said “No,” and that was it. Disbelief combined with rising anger.
“There is no way you’re leaving me—”
He banged a fist on the counter and swung around so fast she took a step back before she could help it.
“Damn it, Halli, I knew this was going to be an issue. Why the hell do you think I wanted you to stay at Simone’s? You are not going, so let’s end this argument right now. I’ll ask Giovanni to drive the boat.”
“You can’t drag him into this. It’s not fair to Concetta or your friend George and you know it. Or me for that matter, because if something happens to him...”
The flexing of muscle in his jaw told her she was right. She crossed her arms over her chest in satisfaction. “You got no one but me to drive that boat.”
“I’ll call Simone’s cousin.”
She shook her head. “That was my choice, and I’m not risking Ben’s life by involving any police.”
“Then I’ll find someone else,” he vowed. “I’m not taking you in that close to these guys.”
“And I’m not letting you go in to rescue my brother alone.”
“Because you still don’t trust me, do you?”
“That’s not it at all,” she shot back, annoyed he’d play that card. “And after last night, you should know that.”
That made him pause. Emotion flared in his eyes but he quickly turned back to the bar and pulled the cell phone from his pocket. “No. End of discussion.”
Determination ground her teeth together before she forced a deep breath and said calmly, “Doesn’t matter how many times you say the word, short of tying and gagging me, I’m going.”
He braced his hands, hung his head and regarded her with a rigid sideways look. The unwavering force of his piercing gaze bored between her shoulder blades on her way up the stairs to the deck.
An hour later, Halli sat on a sun-warmed wrought-iron bench, a nameless book in her hand that did no more to hold her interest than the splendid view of Lake Como and the lush, colorful gardens of Villa Melzi surrounding her. She only had eyes for the tall, dark haired man some twenty yards away.
Trent could insist she stay behind all he wanted, didn’t mean his decision was final. She was here now, wasn’t she? Not back at the boat like he’d also tried to dictate. Lack of trust wasn’t the issue any longer, like he’d accused in an attempt to guilt her into complying. No way she’d let him go into such a dangerous situation without any form of back up.
Besides the fact he needed her, it was her responsibility to help rescue Ben.
Trent didn’t look around as he sat with a newspaper and a to-go cup of espresso on the stone wall by the steps some twenty yards away, but Halli would bet he hadn’t read any more than she had. Beneath that tattered baseball cap, behind those mirrored sunglasses, she knew his razor-sharp hazel gaze scanned the garden’s visitors, locals and tourists alike, searching for the man who held the key to her brother’s survival.
Somewhere in the distance, church bells chimed the four o’clock hour. Halli looked around for anyone with a bag that could be holding cash. Her unsuccessful gaze doubled back to Trent as he flicked down one corner of the paper. After a casual glance, he returned his attention to the newspaper.
Amazing how he blended in with the other Italians in the area despite being U.S. born and raised. An air of sexy mystery surrounded him, and she forgot she was mad at him. She knew she’d never look at a magazine picture of him clean-shaven without imagining the shadow on his jaw and the look in his eyes as he made love to her. Would looking at those pictures in a few years hurt as much as the live version now, knowing their time together was almost over?
She forced the question from her head and wondered about the man delivering the money. Anxiety ate away her outer layer of calm as the minutes ticked by. Worry mushroomed when Trent gave up all pretense of reading to openly scan the area. No one approached, and he gave no indication of recognizing anyone.
Halli shut her unread book with a thud and headed in his direction. The tilt, hang, and slight shake of his head conveyed his annoyance at her deviation to this supposed simple plan, but she didn’t care. The stone warmed her hip and palm as she leaned against the wall next to him.
“What if he doesn’t show?”
“He’ll show,” Trent ground out.
“You’re that sure you can trust your buddy Brad?”
“I’m that sure.”
Was the taut line of his jaw conviction or doubt?
Thirty-five minutes later, Trent snapped the cell phone shut with an emphatic curse. He didn’t need to explain Brad hadn’t answered and Halli’s stomach knotted tighter than a wet shoelace. Trent’s firm grip on her hand led her down the garden steps and back toward the boat.
“I promise you, it’s not over,” he said. “I’m going to get Ben back no matter what.”
Emotion thickened his voice, and in a startling moment of clarity, Halli realized his vow had as much to do with helping her and her family as him making up for the fact that he hadn’t been around to protect his own brother. She tightened her fingers around his when they reached the dock, drawing him to a halt.
Nerves attacked out of nowhere, and she blurted, “It’s not your fault.”
He pulled free and strode along the wooden planks. “How do you figure? You depended on me for the money and we’ve got squat.”
She jumped down into the boat after him, grasping the rail to keep her balance as it rocked beneath their feet. “I’m talking about Sean.”
He whirled on her. “You don’t know anything about Sean.”
“I know you blame yourself for his death.” He’d as much as wrote it in that leather bound notebook of his.
He sucked in a breath as if she’d struck him. Then a blank mask slipped over his expression and he gave her a small smile. “Read a couple pages and you think you got me all figured out, don’t you, sweetheart?”
She recognized the defensive, distancing tactic. “Don’t, Trent, not now.”
His gaze shifted. The mask slipped as he turned away. “Exactly. Not now.”
“Now is the only time we have,” she persisted.
His fists clenched at his sides when she laid a hand on his back. Muscles tensed and held beneath her fingertips.
“Nothing you do in the next couple hours will bring your brother back.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“I think guilt and revenge make a dangerous combination.”
One corner of his mouth lifted as he faced her again. “Bad guys and guns make a dangerous combination, Halli. My combination equals the odds.”
“Your combination is going to get you killed, trying to help me. What do you think I’ll be writing in my journal then?”
“Do you even keep one?”
She narrowed her gaze, but stuck to the subject. “You said yourself Sean was determined to finish the documentary.”
“And I knew it was dangerous.” His fists balled at his sides. “I should’ve been watching his back.”
“You can’t blame yourself for living your own life.”
“I should’ve been there,” he repeated, his expression grim once more. “Whatever happens tonight—”
A muted thump below deck halted him mid-sentence. Trent whipped around, pushed Halli behind him and reached for his gun at the same time.
Chapter 23
No more than the reassuring weight of the pistol filled his palm and he’d steadied his aim with his other hand, Trent heard a voice that put him even more on edge.
“She’s right, you know.”
“Good way to get yourself shot, Dad. What the hell are you doing here?”
The Almighty Greg Tomlin moved forward, unconcerned with the weapon in his son’s hand. He was a little heavier around the middle and a lot grayer on top since the last time Trent had seen him. Halli’s body relaxed from where she’d pressed close against his back. Trent dropped his hands to his sides in resignation.
Great. He was not in the mood, nor did he have the time to deal with this particular family dysfunction right now.
“I heard you needed some money,” his dad said.
Halli stepped up, hope lighting her eyes. “You have the ransom money?”
Trent recognized an annoying combination of relief and dread. Of all people, why’d Brad pick his Dad to bring the money? If he failed, his father would be right there—
“Ransom?” his father questioned, his light brown gaze bouncing from Halli to Trent.
“I didn’t give Brad details.”
“Obviously.”
Trent re-tucked the gun, wanting nothing more than to demand his father leave. Instead, he indicated they should all go below deck. He checked how they were doing on time as Halli and his father sat at the galley table. One more hour.
“What do you need ransom money for, Trent?”
“It’s for my brother,” Halli supplied.
When his father lifted an eyebrow toward her, Trent sighed in defeat and leaned back against the counter. “Dad, this is Halli. Halli, my dad, Greg Tomlin.”
“I know.”
Of course she knew. He gave his father a hard stare and folded his arms over his chest. “How’d you find us here and why didn’t you meet at the designated spot?”
“Despite appearances to the contrary, I’m not completely clueless when it comes to your life and your friends.” His father leaned his elbows on the table and linked his fingers together. “I put two and two together when Brad mentioned Villa Melzi.”
“Doesn’t explain why you didn’t meet us there.”
“I’ve had two shadows since arriving in the country last night.”
Trent stiffened. He reached for his gun as he moved to the opening leading to the deck. “So you came here instead?”
“Relax. I lost them this morning.” When Trent glanced over his shoulder, his father lifted his brows. “I do have some experience losing tails, you know. I just wanted to be extra cautious.”
Given his dad’s experience in war zones, and a fair number of his own criminal activity documentaries, Trent silently acknowledged they likely weren’t in any immediate danger. “Why’d Brad call you?” he asked.
“I called him when I saw the news and didn’t hear from my own son.”
Trent countered with a pointed dig of his own. “I specifically asked for someone I could count on.”
His father’s gaze dropped to the gun in Trent’s hand. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”
“No.”
Halli frowned. “Trent, he could help.”
“Cut the concerned parent act.” Trent stalked over and slapped his palms on the table. It wobbled under his weight as he leaned forward. “You’ve never been around when it mattered. Why show up now?”
His father met his gaze, his brown eyes brightened by an unnatural sheen. “Because I wasn’t around when it mattered.”
A lump formed in Trent’s throat.
“I should’ve been there for Sean, not laid it on your shoulders,” his father said in a low, hoarse voice. “I’m the one who argued how dangerous it was. I knew what he could be facing. I should’ve been here with him.”
Halli’s hand slid over to cover Trent’s. He couldn’t risk a glance at her. As it was now, he had to turn around to blink away the stinging sensation in his eyes. What the hell was with the two of them ganging up on him now? He resumed his cynical stance against the counter.
“Sean committed suicide, remember?”
“I don’t believe that now anymore than you do.”
“What changed your mind? It sure as hell wasn’t me.”
“I thought about what you’d said and decided to do a little investigating of my own. I assume whatever’s going on with you being wanted for questioning by the Italian police has something to do with whoever killed Sean?”
Trent seized on the opportunity to redirect the conversation. “Halli accidentally filmed the shooting of the cop found dead at my place, and in about an hour we’ll meet the killer to exchange her video and the one million dollars for the release of her brother.”
“Same man who killed Sean?” Greg pressed.
“Yes.”
His father’s lips thinned, his fingers tightened until is knuckle were white, but he nodded calmly, his gaze transferring from Trent to Halli, and back to Trent again.
“What’s our plan?”
After one beat of hesitation, Trent swallowed his pride. With his father added to the mix, Halli’s argument that Trent needed her to drive the second boat was null and void. She could stay behind where it was safe and he could focus on rescuing Ben. He explained Halli’s idea.
Color rose in her cheeks as he spoke. In the middle of a question from his father, she gave a sharp shake of her head.
“I’m driving the other boat.”
Trent clenched his jaw. “Halli, I told you that discussion is over.”
“Since when does your order qualify as a discussion?”
“Since your safety is my first concern.”
“The damn video has been your first concern all along.”
Trent ignored the sting of that accusation. “Nice try, but I’m all guilted out.”
She pushed to her feet, blue eyes snapping. “You try to leave me behind and I’ll raise holy hell.”
Quiet settled after she’d stomped up the short set of stairs to the deck.
“She’s got some fire.”
“Yeah, I know,” Trent muttered.
“Reminds me of your brother.”
Trent cast a quelling look at his father and followed Halli above deck. A peek into the family closet of skeletons was enough for today. Right now, he had more important things to focus on. Like the woman strangling the railing as she stared across the water.
When she spotted him, her chin lifted in that defiant way of hers. Just as he expected; reasoning with her would be out of the question. He stood beside her without saying a word, biding their limited time.
She glanced sideways and shifted her stance. “I’m sorry I said you only cared about the video.”
“You’ve ranked above the video from the moment I tossed you in my car.”
Her chin lowered a notch. Not quite a nod of agreement, but it was something. He leaned over to bump shoulders with her. “If I say please, will you stay?”
“No.”
Another bump. “Pretty please?”
“No.”
“God, you’re annoyingly stubborn.”
“When it matters, yes. You’re annoyingly dictatorial.”
“When it matters.” He allowed a small grin and turned to lean back against the rail so he could see her face better. “So, here’s the deal. You ride with my father and stay out of sight. Completely and without a word. If you can’t agree to that…”
He revealed a length of rope he’d lifted from a hook by the stairs.
She gasped in outrage. “You wouldn’t dare!”
He met her wide eyes. “Try me, sweetheart.”
“Your father would never allow you to tie me up.”
“My father has absolutely no say in this matter. I shouldn’t have to remind you Lapaglia is not a nice man. He’s ruthless and vindictive. Not only did you video him murdering a cop, but you’ve evaded him enough times to make him look like an incompetent fool. I don’t trust the man to let bygones be bygones if he sees you.”
She lifted her chin again. “Ben woul
d never sit back and wait if I was in trouble.”
“You’ve more than done your part.”
She shook her head in denial.
He growled in frustration. “Make your choice, then. The deal, or the nice soft rope that’ll keep you safe.”
“Great choices.”
“They are what they are. At least I’m giving you one.”
She huffed and glared back over the water. “Sometimes I really—”
“Love me? I know.” He forced a laugh at her startled look, and then looked up when the drone of a motor caught his attention. “Look at that, the boat’s here. Show time, baby. I need an answer right now.”
Trent rubbed the smooth nylon rope against her skin, wishing he could replace it with his lips. She jerked her arm away and swung around to watch Giovani guide the rental boat around to their side of the dock.
If he thought he could get away with leaving her here, he’d do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, she had that whole noble, stubborn thing going and he didn’t doubt her ability to raise hell to a holier-than-thou level. They couldn’t afford the attention with the clock ticking.
Maybe, just maybe, she’d stay behind of her own free will.
She set her jaw and shoved away from the rail. “Deal.”
Par for the course he’d been playing on the past couple of days. She wouldn’t be completely safe as he’d hoped, but at least she’d be out of the way.
After Giovani left, Trent took a few more minutes to make sure they were all completely clear on the plan. Then he turned for the rental boat before his father voiced the concern etched in features Trent didn’t remember looking so old the last time they’d seen each other. The switch from his father’s usual disappointment or anger threatened to undermine the detachment Trent needed to successfully survive the next hour.
“Trent.”
Halli’s low voice stopped him with one hand on the rail. His gut clenched. Much as he wanted to ignore her, he couldn’t help but turn around.
“Be careful, okay?”
Despite the fact that he’d just threatened to tie her up and leave her behind, trust radiated from her darkened blue eyes. Nothing like reminding him how much was riding on this exchange. How much she depended on him to save her brother. How much they both had to lose.
Lost in Italy Page 31