by Chelle Bliss
“What’s that, bella?”
The redhead paused, as though she wasn’t used to anyone using endearments on her, but then gripped her wineglass and frowned at my brother. “This,” she said, waving her glass around the room. “I want to be in my own bed, back in the city. I want to get away from the forest and fucking…” She paused, searching for a word I guessed she hoped wouldn’t be insulting before she continued. “People…certain kinds of gun-firing people.”
That comment amused my brother. He didn’t bother holding back his smile. “Gun-firing people?” he asked, moving a few feet to get nearer to Gin. “You mean people…like me?”
“People…”
“With a certain kind of business,” Kit tried, dropping her smile when Kane glared at her. “What?”
“Dirty business,” Kane said, interrupting. “Your business, Carelli. The kind that landed on my doorstep.”
“Si,” he said, motioning like Kane’s concern didn’t matter. “First thing’s first.” He tilted his head, watching Gin as she went on downing the red. “I’m sorry about insisting everyone stay here. It was necessary.” Johnny stood across the island from Gin, holding her stare with one of his flirty smirks.
What an ass my brother was. He was handsome, a little too handsome, and he knew it. He’d throw a smile, give away a wink, and women seemed to crumble around him. Ridiculous. Embarrassing, and at the moment, useful. Gin hadn’t released any of her anger since Dale’s sleepshirt at the hospital. We could use a distraction from her sullen mood.
“The cabin is up high enough that we’ll see anyone coming who might try pulling out a lens to get an exclusive.” He grabbed the bottle, offering to refill Gin’s glass, and she let him, unable to do anything but angle her chin in thanks. Johnny didn’t take his gaze from her face as he poured the wine. “The property,” he continued, still watching her, “is large enough that my men can cover each opening and keep an eye on the trail and the road beyond.” He put the bottle on the island and let his smile stretch as she drank. “We’ve stocked the fridge, cut and stacked wood, something none of my guys had ever done before as far as I know, and put a few cases of some of my father’s Barolo in the pantry in case you feel the need to get shitty drunk.” He winked at Gin when she shook her head, as though Johnny’s good looks were nothing compared to her anger. “It’d be understandable, the shitty drunk you might want to become after the clusterfuck that happened here.”
“Yeah,” Gin said, pushing away from the island, her bottom lip against the rim of her glass. “I still don’t like it.” Then the redhead grabbed the bottle and moved out of the kitchen.
Johnny watched her go, tilting his head to keep an eye on her retreating form before he sighed, turning to face us. “Spitfire, sì?”
“She’s disappointed,” Kit offered, leaning against the island across from my brother. “That attitude has nothing to do with you. I’m sure when she’s calmed down she’ll warm up to you.”
“Thank you, bella, but I won’t be around long enough for that.” He looked at Kiel, then to me before facing Kane. “You want me to answer for that shit with your brother?”
Kane nodded but didn’t speak. There was something dangerous in his eyes. Something that reminded me of the warring thoughts I knew ran through Kiel’s mind as he stood over Vinnie, debating if he wanted to pummel him with the poker.
“I can respect that,” Johnny said, getting comfortable, leaning against the island like Kit. He stretched out his legs and crossed his arms as though he was the most relaxed he’d ever been before. “Right now, though, we’ve got pressing issues.”
“Such as?” Kane asked, shaking his head when Kiel opened his mouth to speak.
Johnny watched the big man, eyes narrowed. “Technically, we’re related. Your kid brother, my kid sister, whether either of us likes it. We got ties.” Kane didn’t react even as Johnny watched him. And after several seconds, my brother continued. “Even if it’s distasteful to you, having ties with us can work out.”
“How do you figure that?” Kane asked, his jaw working as he grinded his teeth together.
“For starters, we can handle shit when it comes.” Johnny gestured around the cabin. “If you’ve got a mess, it’s a good bet I can clean it up for you.”
“We clean up our own messes,” Kane said. Tension kept his shoulders tight, straight, but neither his stance or his frown did anything to intimidate my brother. Not much did.
“Yeah? Like how after only a couple hours of being here, that asshole found you all?”
“We handled it.”
Johnny stepped closer, pushing off the island to stare at Kane. “You got lucky.”
When Kane took another step, looking ready to tussle yet again after just having his knuckles taped up, Kiel intervened, holding a hand to his brother’s chest.
“That’s enough,” he said, staring between my brother and his. “Kane, I know you think Johnny owes us for busting me up, but that shit is in the past.”
Kane glared at his kid brother, eyebrows shooting up. “You fucking kidding me? He owes you for that…”
“Look around, man,” Kiel said, pointing to the clean floors and mended furniture. “You see any of those assholes around here? You see anything busted or bloody?” Kane shot a glance around the room but didn’t move away from his brother. “Yeah,” Kiel continued. “He’s paid me back tenfold for what happened. I’m over it.” He clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Time for you to get over it too.”
It took several long seconds for Kane’s expression to change. He didn’t speak, didn’t react at all as Kiel thanked Johnny for the cleanup and handling the shit we couldn’t. Then, when Kit came to his side, Kane reached out a hand, offering it to Johnny.
“Don’t much like you, but I appreciate you helping us out.”
My brother shook the big man’s hand, his features relaxed. “And thank you for keeping my sister safe.”
Kane nodded, the movement more like an afterthought when Kit tugged on his arm. “I’m tired, baby. Let’s get some sleep.” She nodded to Johnny then led Kane through the kitchen to the other side of the cabin.
Kiel waited until the bedroom door shut before he looked back at Johnny, arms crossed as he watched him. “Vinnie and his goons?”
Johnny waited, moving his top teeth over his bottom lip as though he needed time to answer in a way that wouldn’t incriminate him or leave us vulnerable. Finally, he shrugged, walking back to the glass door. “Vinnie and his men won’t be a problem for anyone anymore.”
“Meaning?” Kiel asked, frowning as though he hadn’t meant to ask the question.
“Meaning,” my brother said, still watching the woods outside that glass door. “Our father handled that business, and no one will ever be bothered by those assholes again.” He shot a look over his shoulder, frowning at Kiel. “Ever. Again.”
Kiel cursed, rubbing his neck. He hated the business my family did. He hated that he’d ended up right where he’d never wanted to be and when he cursed, mumbling something he kept to himself. I touched his wrist, getting him to look down at me.
“First family rule?” I started, relaxing when the tension tightening the muscles in Kiel’s face eased. “Don’t ever ask questions if you can’t handle the answers.”
“She’s right,” Johnny said, finally turning to face us. “And here’s an answer I bet you never thought you wanted.”
“Which is?” Kiel didn’t push my hand away when I tightened my grip around his wrist. Instead, he moved his fingers, locking them with mine.
“Cazzo, never thought I’d have to admit this, but since we’re here, and since there seems to be nothing in your way anymore…”
“Talk,” I said, glaring at my brother. He knitted his eyebrows together, making him look older, like he hadn’t gotten much sleep in the past week. I could relate, but that didn’t mean I’d let him off the hook.
“Fine,” Johnny said, moving to the couch, motioning for Kiel and me to do t
he same. We did, taking the leather seat across the repaired coffee table. My brother watched us, gaze shifting before he leaned forward, watching his hands, those long fingers of his as he laced them together. “It was my fault.” I tilted my head, not understanding, and Johnny nodded, looking nervous when Kiel rested his elbows on his knees like he was ready to pounce.
“Vinnie. I suggested him to Papa for you.” My brother ignored the small grunting noise I released then focused on moving his gaze between Kiel and me. “It was stupid, and Papa was so worried you’d be on your own when he…” Johnny waved his hand, as though he couldn’t bring himself to mention the inevitable outcome for our father. “Anyway, he had ideas about seeing you cared for since he knew I’d be…occupied with the business. And I thought of asking you what you thought of the situation. But that’s when I walked in on you in Papa’s office, looking over the file the PI sent you.” He nodded at Kiel, and I slumped against the sofa.
“You had me investigated?” Kiel asked, mouth dropped open as he watched me. I hated that look. I hated the little hint of betrayal I spotted in his features.
“I wasn’t going to interrupt your life if you had other…ties here.” It was a simple explanation, and it seemed to make Kiel’s surprise dim. “Finish,” I told my brother, holding Kiel’s hand when he rested it on my thigh.
“I waited until you left and pulled up your history. All those articles from the Seattle Times that Kiel wrote. The same Kiel you’d promised had stalked you for six months. Didn’t take much effort to pay off the PI and find out what you had him looking up. I got the gist, figuring all the bullshit you told us about him—” he jerked his chin toward Kiel “—was total bullshit.” He shook his head, as though still amazed how many lies I’d told to get Kiel out of my life. Johnny rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking tired and frustrated, but that didn’t keep him from continuing. “My own sister, lying to me. Lying to our father. I got mad at first. Then, when I gave myself time to think about it, I figured you had your reasons for lying to the cops.”
“Stupid damn reasons,” Kiel said, wincing when I elbowed him in the side.
“Stupid or not, I knew she had a reason, and I knew the way she went on, keeping herself off everyone’s radar, not seeing anyone, not doing anything but going to work at the museum. And that fund raiser…” Kiel glanced at me, moving his gaze to my face, then away from it in sudden, swift movements. Johnny caught the look, same as I had, and my brother shook his head, his smile lethal. “The fund raiser wasn’t her,” he offered, stretching an arm along the back of the sofa. “The money? Hell, man, that was me.”
“Johnny!” I glared at my brother, feeling my stomach twist. “Do you have any idea the shit you caused?”
He gestured again, looking impatient. “I replaced it,” he admitted. “Or don’t you remember the bid on the Matisse no one ever claimed? It got paid for, and you kept the piece with an anonymous, ‘With my kind regards’ note, remember? That was me. The Matisse more than covered the hundred grand I borrowed.”
My brother laughed as I kept my glare steady, lowering his shoulders as though he didn’t see why I was still so irritated.
“Why did you take the money?” Kiel asked, relaxing against the cushions with his arm around my shoulder.
Then Johnny slipped his gaze to me, lowering it just as quickly. “Sammy?” I asked, trying to hold off smiling. When my brother nodded, I laughed, not caring if I insulted him. “I knew you couldn’t have paid them off without anyone finding out.” The frown Johnny gave me was sharp, his eyes piercing, which only made me laugh harder. “Give it a rest. Kiel knows. I told him. I tell him everything.”
Johnny cursed under his breath, something low and accented, but he didn’t comment further on my confession. The curl of his top lip relaxed, and in the next second he seemed more interested in his confession than the fact that I’d told Kiel about young Samantha.
“Like I was saying…Vinnie. I’d figured out your lie and guessed about the why. It was clear you still wanted Kiel, and Papa wanted you married. If I got Vinnie mentioned and pushed him in front of Papa, I knew he couldn’t resist.”
“Johnny…” I said, too surprised to think of anything to say.
“You needed a push to bring your man back to you. That’s what I offered.” When Kiel pulled his hand away from mine and started rubbing his palms together, a nervous habit he had, my brother rushed to explain more. “It worked out, didn’t it? It got him here, and it got—”
“Our friend Dale shot,” Kiel said, his expression fierce.
“I didn’t know Vinnie was unstable.” Johnny held up his hands, a gesture of surrender that didn’t last. “Hand to God, I had no idea what a prick he was or that he’d do anything to get you in front of a priest.”
“All of this because I wasn’t honest?” I asked, cupping my face in my hands.
“All of this because our father loves you. He wants you looked after.”
“Still?” I asked, unable to keep the small flicker of hope from my tone. I’d never gone so long without speaking to my father. No matter who he was and what he did, he was still my father. “You mean he loved me. Past tense.”
“No, not past. Now. Today. Tomorrow.” He moved to the edge of the sofa, pressing his thumbs together, a nervous tic he probably didn’t realize he had. “When I told him you’d been shot at, that Kiel had protected you and Arturo and got you out of there and to somewhere safe? Ah, rella, he was beside himself. I told him everything that night—about you and Kiel and how he’d never been your stalker. About Vinnie and his side piece he liked to keep at the ready, and how the bastard only wanted to be with you because of our business. Papa was beside himself.”
When I blinked, failing to keep the burn of tears from clouding my vision completely, Johnny came to me, kneeling to hold my face in his hands. “He wants you to come home.” He glanced at Kiel and nodded. “He wants both of you to come home. I’ve never seen him so miserable.” My brother kissed my forehead, holding me while I cried against his chest. “He’s so sorry, rella, and he wants his bimba back.”
“Give us some time,” Kiel said, resting his palm on my back as my brother stood. Johnny still held my face, tipping my chin with his knuckle before he nodded, an unspoken answer to Kiel.
“It’s been a rough few days,” Johnny said, stepping back. He’d gotten a little teary as he held me—I spotted the redness in the whites of his eyes and the dampness on his face. But like the macho guy he thought he was, Johnny wiped a hand over his face and cleared his throat, pretending there hadn’t been a small break in his in-control composure.
“Papa will understand. You stay here.” He waved around the cabin. “It’s a good spot to be alone with the one…” Another motion, this one between Kiel and me, and Johnny’s voice trailed off.
He was strong. He was controlled, and there had been only one time I’d ever seen my brother lose himself—and that control—completely. The thought surprised me more than it should have, and despite the ache I felt when I thought of facing my father, despite the violence that had been at the center of our world the past few days, I wondered if Johnny would ever have that loss of control again. Kiel made me crazy. He turned me on. He made it so I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t be unless he was near me. Had Johnny felt that way before? Would he ever have that?
Without thinking, I took my brother’s hand, holding his fingers tightly as I watched his face. “Papa will be…gone soon.” His mouth tightened, but he didn’t try to argue with me. “And I have Kiel, and we’ll make a life together. But you, cucciolo, you’ll have the business. You’ll have only the business.”
It took a minute for Johnny to understand my meaning. In that time, he watched me, frown hardening as though he wasn’t sure how to react. Johnny shifted his gaze between Kiel and me, then he relaxed the tension from his face. “Cara, don’t worry about me. I have…means. I have company.”
“The girls you and your friends pass around don’t count.” I sl
ipped my fingers between his, hoping he knew that I only wanted him to be happy. Like I was. Like I finally was after all this time. “Don’t you want to love someone?”
Johnny’s attention went straight to Kiel, who must have seen something in my brother’s expression that told him this wasn’t something he wanted to discuss. Kiel kissed my forehead then went into the kitchen, busying himself with a beer from the fridge.
“Cara, there isn’t space for any of that.” Johnny sat next to me, still holding my hand, but I got the feeling he did that to appease me.
I expected him to tell me this wasn’t my business. Maybe he wanted to lecture me about keeping both of us safe. I didn’t care about any of that just then. I wanted my question answered. “Why won’t you tell me?”
“Does it matter?” Johnny lowered his voice, but he didn’t seem worried about Kiel in the kitchen behind us. For a moment, it was just me and my big brother talking about big, complicated things I wasn’t sure we’d ever quite figure out.
“It matters to me, amore. I want you to have what I have.” He snorted out a laugh, and I pushed his shoulder. “What I have now. Not what I had to go through to get it, but what we have now.”
Johnny watched me, eyes squinting, gaze staring straight, unblinking on my face before he exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I might have had that once. But I was stupid and young, and…I messed it up.”
“Sammy?” I asked, taking the way my brother’s jaw clenched as answer enough. “She’s not a nun?” He shook his head but stayed silent. “You know where she is?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he admitted, rising from the sofa.
“Why not?”
Johnny grabbed his phone, pretending to be interested in whatever caught his attention. I didn’t care if he didn’t want to talk about Sammy. There was something in his eyes when her name came up. Something that made him look both younger and ancient all at the same time.
“Johnny, why doesn’t it…”
He grunted, the noise silencing me before he shoved his phone in his pocket. “Because, rella. She was never the same after…everything. She never will be again, and that’s my fault.”