"I don't know. I used to think I knew her, but that was a long time ago."
Bella nodded giving him a sympathetic look. Gio put two more cards on top of his lone ace.
"She told me some stuff about her marriage and it looks like she really went through the wringer. I shouldn't care after what she did to me but she's got a kid." Gio was frowning. She felt horrible that he was in this quandary.
"How old is her child?" she asked.
"Hmm, she didn't say and I didn't ask. Ten, I think." Gio scanned the spread of cards looking for the next possible move.
"It's hard when kids are involved." She saw Gio’s nod as he turned over another three cards.
"Yeah, true. It's not the kid’s fault the parents are a mess. I saw plenty of that when I worked on the force. When we take care of all of this here, I'll probably head back up there and bail her out."
"Everyone deserves a fair trial and a chance to defend themselves," Bella commented, knowing this from first-hand experience. She knew that would have been very hard for her with the reputation the Roman’s had in the Tampa Bay area.
Gio gave her a gentle smile and then picked up all the cards. He was out of moves. "Her husband was, and I guess still is, a real prick. I'd hate to think about him raising their child."
"Hopefully for the kid’s sake, she can prove her innocence."
Gio dropped the deck of cards on the table, and got up suddenly. "Let's order some breakfast." He headed towards the phone.
"I don't think I can eat much," Bella confessed to his back.
"Yeah me too, but it will pass the time." The lead in his stomach was going to make it hard for him to eat, but he didn’t want to talk about Lisa anymore. Not right now. It was bad enough he was going back to New York to bail her out in a few days, and would have to see her again, but no kid deserved having a sick bastard for a father and a mother rotting in jail for a crime she claimed she didn’t commit.
***
Blaze was in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes from breakfast. He'd just talked to Bella, and she sounded good. She was holding up, and she and Gio just finished breakfast. They were planning on playing some cards to pass the time. He was teaching her how to play poker, told her she needed to know if she was going to be in this family.
Blaze laughed. All the brothers gathered at least once a month at Andreas' to play. Ronnie attended last time. The girl was a shark. And they actually enjoyed her company and sharp wit, especially when Nikko was her target. She even took Andreas for a hundred bucks. It was hilarious when she revealed it was on account of a bluff.
Andreas was pissed as hell, but Blaze knew he had been secretly smiling at the little minx who bluffed him. He imagined having Bella there next time. He ached to hold her, but they needed to take care of this business first.
When the doorbell rang Blaze stayed in the kitchen. One of his brothers could answer the door. They were both in the living room finishing up another cup of coffee, and he knew it would be the Tennessee PD. He heard Andreas welcome them and ask them to come in. "It's good of you to help us out on this case. Thanks for coming."
"No problem, Andreas. I'm just glad you reached out." The juice glass Blaze was washing shattered in his hand. He knew that voice. He’d never forget it. What the hell was going on? He dropped the remaining pieces into the sink and ran his hand under the water, relieved he hadn’t been cut.
When Blaze turned around he was about to call out, "What the fuck is going on?" but then choked on his own words as he got his second shock of the morning. Standing right behind Alex Simmons, the voice he had recognized, was Nicole White. He was speechless. Nikko just held up his hands in his direction and gave him the sign not to over react. Andreas narrowed his eyes cautiously. Blaze looked at his two brothers and knew in an instant they both had known who would be showing up this morning. He was furious as hell they hadn’t clued him in on this little tidbit of information.
Blaze finally found his voice. "Well, well, well, thanks brothers." He gave them the evil eye but stood his ground.
Alex spoke first. "We asked them not to tell you we were coming. We knew you wouldn't agree to our help, and we wanted to do something. I'm one of the prosecutors here, and Nicole is one of our best detectives."
Blaze’s eyes went round. Nicole, a cop! "Hi Blaze." Nicole spoke up for the first time. She wasn't in uniform, but was dressed casually, her long brown hair loose around her shoulders. She looked the same, hadn't changed much at all from what he remembered. "We always felt bad for what happened. I should've told you the truth. Just let us help."
Blaze shook his head, turned on his heel and walked back into the kitchen. "Whatever. You're here now." Bella’s safety was what was important now. If Alex and Nicole wanted to do this to ease their conscience, he was surprised, but it didn't bother him at all. He just wished his brothers had been truthful.
He picked up the sponge again intending to clean up the broken glass and to wash the few remaining glasses. A voice behind him startled him.
"Blaze, I want you to know we never intended to fall in love," Nicole spoke softly.
He turned around and looked at this woman. He'd been engaged to her.
"I thought I knew you Nicky," he stated, putting his sponge down and leaning against the counter behind him. He was surprised he didn't feel any malice, just a strange curiosity.
"Blaze, I'm sorry. I really am. I always knew I was gay. But, I want you to know I did love you. Not in the way you wanted, but . . . I was just . . . so confused back then. I hadn't told anyone, not even my parents. When I met you I was living the life my parents expected of me. Be a teacher, find a husband, but it just wasn't me. None of this was about you."
Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked at Nicole with new eyes. He'd had no clue. She had hid this part of her very well.
"Well, I guess it worked out for the best." He'd found the woman he was meant to be with, Bella. He could see Alex looking around Nikko to keep an eye on them, but still talking with his brothers. "Are you happy?" He asked, wishing her no ill will.
"Yeah, we are. We," she cleared her throat, glanced at Alex and smiled. "We got married last year. We’re going to try and have a baby next year, too."
"Wow, congratulations. That's great."
"Thank you," she stated, letting out her breath. One of her biggest regrets was hurting this man. He'd been nothing but kind. "Alex is sorry too. I just wanted you to know, I pursued her. It wasn't her."
"It's okay, really. I mean it," he reached out and pulled Nicky to him. "Be happy. And thanks for helping. I appreciate it." In a way some part of him was glad she had shown up to do this. He could now completely put the past behind him. He let her go.
"Oh Blaze, I'm just glad I could finally explain. And I'm glad you've found someone too."
"She's amazing," he stated pulling back, and thinking it best to join the others and get this plan underway. He steered Nicole back into the living room but he couldn't help getting in one more dig before they got down to business. "Yeah, so when we are in bed tonight, just keep your hands to yourself." The room went silent, and when Blaze smiled revealing he was teasing, everyone burst into laughter.
By ten PM everyone was in place. Blaze was allowed to talk one more time with Bella before radio silence would be required by all parties involved.
Only ‘need to know’ information would be shared. He'd told her he loved her, reassured her he was wearing his vest as was the decoy. Alex, Andreas, and Gio were in place in the loft. Two other officers were hiding in the closet sitting on crates for comfort, and another was in the bathroom. They had six men in place outside. Two watching Bella's condo. Nikko was with her now much to his disgruntlement. He wanted to be part of the action, but Andreas was firm. He had been shot only six weeks ago. There was no way he was allowing him anywhere there might be gunfire.
They received word from their tech guy, several calls had been placed between Vincent Roman and the hit men. The last call just ten m
inutes ago and satellites revealed the hit men were in Pigeon Forge. They were nearby.
Blaze and Nicole were ready to crawl into bed. As much as he wanted to tell Bella who the decoy was, he resisted. He didn't want to leave her in the dark, but she had enough to worry about without this. He was sure she would understand, but he felt it was the right thing to do.
***
Bella paced the small space the condo provided. Nikko tried to distract her, but her nerves were at the breaking point. It was well past midnight, and they'd heard nothing in over two hours. All was silent. Nikko watched a movie, and she'd tried to as well, but when the last fifteen minutes of the program played, she was too worked up. She needed to move, to do something.
Nikko was on his phone, texting someone. He laughed.
"Your fiancée?" she asked.
He nodded and slipped his phone back in his pocket giving Bella his attention. "Yeah, she is um . . . trying to distract me."
Bella smiled. She could guess how the newly engaged couple was distracting each other.
"Want to play cards?" he added, reaching for the deck.
"No, I . . . just can't. No. Sorry," she shook her head in the negative.
Just then the radio crackled. A strange voice, a woman she didn't recognize came on. "We got movement. A car just entered the resort. No plates."
Nikko nodded. "This is it." Bella took a deep breath. She'd be holding it for a long time. She glanced at the clock. It was one AM.
Blaze and Nicole lay in bed. They heard the announcement, and then they heard Alex. “Okay, no more talking. Radio silence is critical now.”
Blaze knew the reason why too. They didn’t want to spook the hit men. The place was crawling with cops, but he was glad to have his brothers here too. The killers needed to enter the cabin, they needed to catch them in the act and it would be even better if they got them on the video talking if they wanted to get to Vincent Roman. If they brought him down, then Bella would be safe. She’d be free too, free to have a life with him. He wanted that for her, wanted her by his side for always.
He felt Nicole’s hand under the blanket, reached for it and gave it a squeeze. She rolled over onto her side as they had agreed, and he curled around her, spooning her. Her weapon was in her hand, his lying between them. They’d need to act fast. As soon as the two hit men were in the cabin, and just as soon as they entered the bedroom all hell was going to break loose. Alex would give the orders, and the place would be flooded in light. Blaze was going to push Nicole off the bed, and follow behind her for cover. They had their vests on, but a head shot couldn’t be prevented if they didn’t act fast enough.
***
The cabin was quiet, deadly quiet when Rocco and Jimmy entered. It was dark too. They knew their targets were here. The rental car was in the driveway. Jimmy picked the lock and made quick work of the door. The light on in the kitchen under the microwave was just enough for them to make out the layout of the place, and their eyes quickly adjusted. They had done this before. Rocco indicated the open door to the bedroom and they saw the form of a man lying on the bed. That had to be Blaze Marino. They also saw the brown hair splayed across the pillow.
Both of the hit men, one in his thirties, and the other in his late forties drew their weapons with silencers already in place. Not knowing they were being recorded, Jimmy mouthed silently, “I’ll get the guy. You hit the girl.”
Rocco nodded, and moved ahead of Jimmy to get into the room first. Rocco whispered softly, “Vincent sent the first payment, and tomorrow we get the rest.”
Jimmy looked angry but nodded, and indicated for Rocco to go on ahead. This was Rocco’s first hit, and he was training him to rise to capo. But he’d remind him later, no words were to be spoken. The fucking idiot.
As soon as Rocco passed through the door, his gun held up, lights flooded the condo and Jimmy was dazed for a moment. He looked to the bed to see both their targets slide over the side, and he pushed Rocco forward, but it wasn’t quick enough.
The doors to the closet burst open, and two men in combat gear emerged with guns drawn. Another cop was coming from the bathroom.
Rocco’s hands went up, and his gun slipped from his hands and landed on the carpet; Jimmy whirled around to try to get out, but a man was running towards him, and he saw two more people coming down the ladder from the loft. He aimed his weapon, and before he could get off a round, he collapsed onto the carpet. The guy in front had shot him in the knee cap, and had rushed him, taking him down.
The pain was excruciating. He twisted to try to get the man off, but then someone else was stepping on his wrist in heavy boots. “Let go of the gun, asshole. We have your partner, we don’t really need you.” A woman with wild red hair was glaring down at him with menace in her eyes.
His fingers released the gun. Vincent was going to be pissed. They screwed this one up badly. He knew it was over when he saw Rocco being pushed through the door hands already cuffed behind his back. Following behind him were two men in full combat gear, and then the mark, Blaze Marino, and lastly a woman in a night gown, but that woman wasn’t Bella Chase. What the fuck! It was a sting operation, and Jimmy knew it was all over.
Bella held Blaze’s hand as they left the Court House. Behind them were three other men, all very similar in appearance to Blaze Marino, the man who had helped take down Vincent Roman, one of Tampa’s most notorious club owners who used his legitimate businesses to launder his more illegal activities, including prostitution, drug dealing, and loan sharking. Bella had just been fully exonerated. The press snapped pictures and called out questions to her, and her attorney, a man by the name of Ronald Stimson. He made a statement to the press.
"Bella Chase is a very brave woman. She's been through the wringer recently, and I'm asking you all to respect her privacy. She has just been cleared in the case of the bank robbery that occurred six months ago, and the prosecution has dropped all charges. As to Vincent Roman, and Anthony and Vito Roman, you'll have to ask their attorneys any questions you may have about their pending trials. But Bella has asked me to say this, to all of you have expressed your support, and concern, she wants to thank you for your condolences and again, asks that you respect her wishes to be allowed to grieve for her mother, and move on with her life. Thank you."
Several more pictures were snapped as they made their way down the Court House steps, the press parting like the Red Sea before the well-respected attorney, but still following as pictures were continuously snapped as she, then Blaze and the other Marino brothers got into the waiting limo. Ronald Stimson waved them off then proceeded to his own car parked directly behind them.
***
It had been a month since the sting operation had concluded. The ride to the Marino Bros. offices was a short one. Three men got out. Gio was headed back to New York. He had a lot to take care of there.
"What do you want to do now, baby?" Blaze asked, pulling Bella into his arms after the door closed on the vehicle and the driver looked in the rearview mirror waiting for directions.
"Can we go to the cemetery?" she asked, squeezing Blaze’s hand.
"Of course," he muttered and then nodded at the driver.
The driver put up the privacy window in the car and sped along Nebraska Avenue on its way to the highway.
Bella hadn't gone yet, to say goodbye to her mother, even though it had been a month since she’d come back. Upon her return to Florida, they’d all gone directly to the police station so Bella could turn herself in.
She’d been there only a few hours and then released after they all gave their statements to the Tampa Police Department and prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor’s office had already received a report from Alex Simmons, the prosecutor in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Bella was in the clear except for a few other interviews and a lot of paperwork.
She spent the next few days cleaning her mother's apartment and putting the things she wanted to keep in storage. Blaze had been by her side the whole time.
&nbs
p; Then he took her to his apartment where she’d been ever since on Bayshore Dr., Trump Towers. Before she said her final goodbyes to her mother though, she wanted everything going on these past six months to be completely behind her. She hadn't been ready to say goodbye too, but now she was, and she was also ready to introduce her mother to Blaze.
***
When the limo pulled into Grace Memorial Cemetery, Blaze squeezed Bella's hand for support. The drive had been a quiet one for both of them. They had a lot on their minds.
They still had a lot to discuss and the future now lie before them. Blaze knew she just had to put this one last thing behind her.
Pulling right up to the mausoleum, the driver stopped and Blaze opened the door and got out. He gave Bella his hand to help her step out of the limo. She took a deep breath and then began to walk. Blaze trailed behind her.
Walking through the open archway, Bella made her way down the corridor, her heels clacking on the marble floor. At the very end she turned left. This was where her aunt had been laid to rest, cremated and then placed. She knew this was where her mother wanted to be as well—with her sister and her father's remains that she’d kept all these years so they could be together.
Right away she saw the flowers around the marker. Her friends and coworkers had sent them, knowing she would be coming here soon. She was touched by the massive ring of tulips sent by Blaze’s brothers, and the potted plant sent by Louisa, her former co-worker and Ronnie’s mother.
Bella reached up to stroke the letters of her mother’s name on the marker. She cleared her throat already thick with emotion. Saying goodbye was harder than she ever thought it would be, even with Blaze by her side.
"Hi Mama, I finally made it. I'm here. I'm home."
Blaze heard her voice choking up. He stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She reached up to take hold of one of his hands.
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