Secret Past

by Sharee Stover

  Marino shook his head. “I would love the gift of time, but as you can see, I’m an old man and growing weaker by the day. I had to expedite your travel. It is my great desire to destroy the lies you have been raised to believe. However, if you prefer I call you Katie, I will honor your wishes.”

  “Not that this hasn’t been fun, sitting bound for hours on end, but maybe you could remove the handcuffs?” Daniel inserted.

  As if annoyed by his presence, Marino faced him. “I cannot trust you, US Marshal Daniel Knight.”

  “That’s not very nice. You don’t even know me.”

  “I appreciate you protecting my daughter, but like her, you have been misinformed. Until I believe you are trustworthy, I must insist upon your restraints.” Marino gestured toward Katie. “Remove my daughter’s handcuffs.”

  The smaller of the two bodyguards, a man resembled a meaty leprechaun in his bright green shirt and jeans, scurried to Katie’s side, unlocking the shackles.

  Katie rubbed her wrists. “Remove Daniel’s handcuffs too. He won’t hurt anyone.”

  “Yeah, I promise not to hurt anyone.” Daniel made no attempt to hide his sarcasm.

  Marino’s lips flattened to a straight line. “No, he won’t.”

  We’ll see about that.

  When Marino reached for Katie, she scooted backward and tucked her hands between her knees.

  “Please, I only wish to see if you’re okay,” Marino cooed.

  Daniel gritted his teeth as Katie complied.

  Marino gently rubbed at her bruises from the cuffs then shot a venomous glare at the leprechaun bodyguard, who ducked his head and scurried back.

  “Isabella.” Marino kissed Katie’s wrists.

  She flinched, and a protective volt blasted through Daniel. “Don’t you touch her.”

  Marino ignored him.

  Daniel wanted Katie to yank her wrist free, but instead she gently pulled away.

  “She doesn’t know you,” Daniel growled.

  Marino inclined his head toward Daniel. His expression softened. “Yes, an unfortunate truth. We will change that.”

  “I only learned of you after Mama’s death,” Katie said.

  “I heard of Evangelina’s demise. God’s punishment for her betrayal and lies,” Marino hissed. As if someone slapped him, he paused; the anger quickly morphed into a mask of compassion. “Regardless of our differences, I was sorry to hear of her prolonged suffering. Let us not speak of her. Isabella, you are home now. That’s all that matters.”

  Katie shot Daniel a glance. Confusion? Fear? She faced Marino again. “If I’m home, as you’ve said, release Daniel.” She rested her hand on his arm. “He’s done nothing but protect me.”

  Marino’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t argue. “Very well, but understand, any move I deem a threat will result in shackles or worse. Am I clear, Mr. Knight?”

  Daniel worked his jaw and gave a quick, one motion nod. He fought the impulse to attack the leprechaun bodyguard as he removed the handcuffs.

  “Leave us,” Marino barked at the two bodyguards. Both darted out of the room.

  Katie gave a slight nod to the aviator-wearing guard by the glass doors.

  Marino turned to follow her gaze. “That is Lorenzo. He’s always with me.”

  “Oh,” Katie said, the apprehension thick.

  Good, she hadn’t failed to see the issue. Marino didn’t trust them. And she shouldn’t trust him.

  Katie kept close to Daniel’s side. “So, what do you want with me?”

  Marino’s face was gleeful. “You’re my precious daughter. I want to give you the life you deserve and remove all the lies that Jezebel of a mother poisoned you with. We’ve lost much time—we will make up for it now that you’re here.” Marino unbuttoned his suit jacket and leaned back in the chair, crossing his legs. “Perhaps it’s better if we speak alone.”

  Why was Marino trying to get rid of him? “No way,” Daniel asserted, sitting up straighter.

  “She’s in no danger, I assure you. Lorenzo.” Marino waved the guard over. “Please take Mr. Knight to his room.”

  “I don’t want Daniel to go,” Katie argued.

  “I’m afraid what I need to say isn’t for him to hear. It is private.” Marino turned to Lorenzo. “He will join us for dinner after I’ve had time to talk with Isabella.”

  Lorenzo moved toward Daniel, reaching for his arm.

  Daniel stiffened, his glare hard. “I’m not going anywhere so either shoot me or start talking.”

  TEN

  Katie put her hand on Daniel’s leg, willing him to stay. She needed him there; his presence was not only comforting, it was essential. His muscles tensed beneath her fingers. “With all due respect,” she said, gesturing around the massive room, “this is a little intimidating. Not to mention the bodyguards and guns.”

  Anthony exhaled loudly. “Very well.”

  “Thank you.” Would he acquiesce to a certain degree for his daughter? Might be good information for later.

  Lorenzo stepped to the windows without turning his back on them.

  Anthony’s determination to get her alone left Katie unsettled, feeding her already increasing fear of the man. Her gaze traveled over him. He was well-dressed, clean-shaven and wore his silver-and-black hair in a short, neat style. His eyes, the same color as hers, acted like her own DNA test, confirming their familial connection. Naive perhaps, but the elder Marino’s welcoming exuberance stabbed at her defenses. Yet, she didn’t want to know him. Did she? Except this man was her father.

  Anthony grasped her hand. “It’s important that I speak with you—”

  He paused, dropping her hand. His posture grew rigid as he looked past her. Katie twisted around. A younger, taller and darker image of her father entered. Giovanni? Classy and suave in his dark dress pants and light gray sweater, he beamed a perfect Hollywood smile at her.

  “So, the prodigal returns. It’s great to have you home, baby sister.” He moved toward Katie, pulling her upward into a hug.

  Daniel inserted himself between them. Lorenzo moved forward, gun poised.

  “It’s okay.” Katie gave Daniel a shaky smile.

  He returned a wary glance before sitting down.

  Lorenzo returned to his post at the door.

  Katie obliged the awkward hug. “You must be Giovanni.”

  “I must.” Giovanni’s dark eyes surveyed her. He released his hold and slid onto the chair next to Anthony. “Who’s he?” His politeness turned ice-cold as he regarded Daniel.

  “US Marshal Daniel Knight.” Daniel’s voice was low and menacing.

  “I thought the old guy was the marshal.” Giovanni smirked at Anthony.

  The man’s rude callousness struck Katie.

  Daniel narrowed his eyes. “Mason Garrett is dead thanks to your men. He was tortured for information before—” He gave Katie an apologetic grimace then looked down.

  Katie gasped. “What?”

  Daniel slowly lifted his head, and met her eyes. “I’m sorry, Katie, I shouldn’t have said it that way.”

  “Is it true? Did they torture...” Katie covered her mouth, unable to speak the rest of the sentence.

  Daniel didn’t answer, confirming her worst assumptions. Horror at the mere thought of Uncle Nick being hurt caused bile to rise in her throat. She swallowed hard. Maybe, he’d gotten away. Somehow. Tears welled in her eyes. “We should’ve gone back and helped him.” She glared at the Marino men. “How could you do something so horrid?”

  “I know nothing of this. My men were sent with the sheer purpose of retrieving my daughter,” the older Marino defended. “These wretched allegations are more lies by your government to paint me an evil man.”

  Katie’s gaze ping-ponged between them. Anthony’s confused expression spoke his surprise while Giovanni’s n
onchalant manner infuriated her.

  Giovanni interrupted the silence with his coldhearted comment. “I’m afraid the death of the marshal was an unfortunate accident by my men. I assure you, he was not tortured.”

  “You’re a liar,” Daniel spat.

  Katie met Giovanni’s eyes. He gave her a thin smile and faced Daniel. “Did you see it happen, Mr. Knight? Or were you informed by your people?”

  “They have no reason to lie,” Daniel said, but the conviction wasn’t as strong as she’d hoped. “Murder isn’t accidental.”

  Anthony pinned Giovanni with his inquisitive gaze. “Why would you send more men?”

  “I hoped to bring my baby sister home as a surprise to you, Father. But you beat me to the task. I guess we were both anxious.” Giovanni snickered.

  Anthony’s lips tightened. He shifted. Was he upset?

  “My employees were reprimanded for their haste. Had they waited, we might have saved the trek from Starling to Manitou. You have my apologies.” Giovanni offered his hand, which Daniel refused.

  “I’d prefer justice,” Daniel growled.

  “Justice comes in many forms, Mr. Knight,” Anthony answered. His green eyes darkened.

  “Perhaps your men were misinformed, Daniel?” Katie needed that to be true. Prayed it so.

  “No, Katie. These murderous monsters killed Mason Garrett.” Daniel’s gaze locked with hers.

  “Have either of you seen pictures? Video? Real proof?” Giovanni quizzed.

  Daniel slowly turned to face Giovanni but didn’t answer.

  Katie’s head spun. She closed her eyes trying to eliminate the thoughts of Uncle Nick—Mason—and the dreadful images that fought for her attention. The need for real answers kept her sitting. She had to remain strong. She inhaled deeply and surveyed the room. The men postured for control. That was the least of her worries. “Could we get back to why I’m here?”

  “Isabella—”

  “Katie,” she corrected.

  Anthony folded his hands in his lap and sighed. “Yes, I suppose that is the only name you have known, my darling. Your mother’s deviousness knew no bounds. Even to remove your Christian name.”

  Katie chose her words with care. “My mother was a wonderful woman. I will thank you not to speak of her in any way other than pure respect, Mr. Marino.”

  Anthony’s lips flattened. “Please, call me Anthony until you feel comfortable calling me Father.”

  “Anthony, as I said, I only learned of you after my mother’s death. I haven’t even had a chance to grieve her loss. One day I’m sitting in my living room crying, the next I’m handed...”

  Daniel shifted against her, his movement invisible except to her. She caught the warning and her gut agreed. The increasing weight of the locket solidified its existence.

  Anthony quirked an eyebrow and leaned forward. “You were saying?”

  “One minute I’m reading my mother’s obituary in the morning paper.” She gave herself a mental high-five for a quick recovery. “The next, I’m being rushed out and men are shooting at me.”

  “What?” Anthony stood, his hands fisted. “Who shot at you?”

  “Again, Father, it was a misunderstanding,” Giovanni cajoled, resting a hand on his father’s back.

  “That’s no excuse! She could have been killed!” Anthony’s face reddened.

  “Yes.” Giovanni waved his hand as if he were shooing a pesky fly. “That would have been terrible.”

  Anthony slumped back. Not the mannerisms of a heartless crime lord, more like an elderly parent.

  “Yes, Giovanni. Do explain how your men accidentally shot at us in Nebraska at the safe house, the airport and in Colorado on the Manitou Incline,” Daniel disputed.

  Katie glanced between her father and brother. Giovanni fisted his hands over the arms of the chair. His eyes sparked as he reclined. “Again, they were misinformed. You have my apology for the miscommunication.”

  His poised demeanor didn’t disguise the venom darting from Giovanni’s narrowed eyes. He collected himself, but his arrogance said he wasn’t used to being questioned.

  “How does one misinform another about killing someone versus kidnapping? Autocorrect on a text message?” Katie snapped.

  Giovanni’s lips twitched into a tight smile, and for a second, his eyes flashed. Then, as if a drain plug had been pulled, all the displayed tension flowed into the distinguished pose he wore like a coat.

  “Would someone start telling me truth?” Katie demanded.

  Anthony sighed. “Evangelina stole you from our home and in a heartless gesture, left behind poor Giovanni.”

  Katie flicked a glance at Giovanni, who looked anything but poor. His jaw flexed at the mention of her mother.

  Anthony’s voice increased in volume. “She lied to the Feds, and I was falsely incarcerated.”

  “What did she tell them that put you in prison?” Katie inquired.

  A look passed between Giovanni and Anthony. “It doesn’t matter. I have forgiven her. She was a troubled woman.”

  “Why didn’t you send someone to come for me?” The blurted words escaped before she could censor them.

  “I tried, child. But Mason Garrett,” he spat the last word, “stole my wife and daughter from me. I believe they were romantically involved.”

  “They most certainly were not! Mama never even dated anyone,” Katie defended. She might be angry at Mama’s choices in hiding the truth from her, but she wasn’t going to allow these two strangers to slander the only parent she’d ever known.

  Anthony’s shoulders lowered, deflating his angry steam. He paused. A look of bewilderment crossed his face. “Mason Garrett didn’t assume a fatherly role in your life?”

  Katie gaped. “Are you kidding? I knew him as Uncle Nick until yesterday. They never had a romantic relationship. In fact, until yesterday I believed they’d grown up together in a foster home. They always behaved as brother and sister. He lived in his own house in town.”

  “Interesting.” Anthony’s relief was palpable. “At any rate, it wasn’t until the picture of her obituary came up that I discovered your location. Nebraska, of all places.”

  “I’d say that makes you the poor thing.” Giovanni’s condescending chuckle infuriated Katie.

  “Starling was a wonderful place to grow up,” she snapped.

  Anthony stood. “You’re tired. There will be time to talk and I’m sure you need to freshen up before dinner. I apologize for my men’s lack of gallantry and Giovanni’s lack of communication.”

  Giovanni glowered at his father. The look faded and he was again the picture of demeanor and class.

  “Ah, timely as always.” Anthony held out his hand.

  Confused, Katie turned. A stout woman with gray hair pinned in a low bun and dressed in a traditional housekeeper’s uniform entered. She trotted straight to Anthony’s side.

  Anthony put his arm around her shoulders. “This is Priscilla. She takes great care of us. My most trusted and faithful assistant. And Giovanni’s childhood nanny.”

  “More like a pest,” Giovanni mumbled.

  Katie jerked her head toward him.

  He covered his mouth, muting his fake cough.

  The woman either hadn’t heard his comment or ignored it, because she beamed at the older Marino’s praise. Wrinkles around her eyes implied she laughed a lot. She had beautiful sun-kissed skin and wore sensible black shoes that complimented the uniform. Everything about her gave off a gentle maternal vibe.

  “She will show you both to your rooms. Dinner will be served in an hour. Will that give you enough time?” Anthony asked.

  Time for what? It wasn’t as if she had luggage to choose an outfit from. Anthony’s quick dismissal had Katie questioning what he was hiding, and from whom. Giovanni? “Yes. That would be fine.”

 
; “Your room has been supplied with clothes and toiletries. If you need anything, Priscilla will help you,” Anthony stated.

  “It’s really you,” Priscilla exclaimed, reaching for Katie and pulling her into a hug. “Ah, Bella. You’re more beautiful than I remember.”

  Katie liked her immediately and relaxed in the embrace. Priscilla could be a complete fake, but everything within her wanted to believe in the woman’s genuineness.

  “And you are?” Priscilla released Katie and turned to address Daniel.

  “Daniel Knight, ma’am.” He shook her hand.

  Daniel’s kindness toward Priscilla endeared him even more to Katie.

  “Welcome, Daniel. Come, come. We’ll get you all set.” Priscilla grabbed Katie’s hand and led her out of the living room. Daniel trailed close behind. “It’s so good to have you home.”

  “Remember your place, Priscilla. This isn’t your home to welcome them into,” Giovanni bit. “You’re nothing but the maid.”

  The trio stopped and turned.

  “Giovanni!” Anthony bellowed.

  Though the rebuke wasn’t aimed at her, Katie’s ears warmed. She could slap Giovanni. The smug expression he wore like a trophy proved he’d meant to hurt the older woman, increasing Katie’s outrage.

  Priscilla’s shoulders drooped. “Yes, you’re so right, Mr. Giovanni. My apologies for overstepping. I’ll not make the mistake again.”

  Katie didn’t miss the sorrow in the elder woman’s expression. More than receiving rebuke, it was the look of deep regret. What had gone on in this house?

  * * *

  Daniel glowered at Giovanni. Katie must have sensed his irritation because she wrapped her arm in his, and pulled him along behind Priscilla.

  The sweet housekeeper chattered while he surveyed the enormous house, built and paid for with crimes and blood money. They walked through a long hallway and an immense foyer. The front door’s intricate smoked glass design allowed the light to penetrate while casting a kaleidoscope across the white marble floor.

  Daniel and Katie followed Priscilla up the staircase, winding from one side of the foyer to the other. Giovanni watched below. Every instinct in Daniel’s body blared on high alert.