by Cindi Madsen
She got the smile she’d been hoping for. Ever since his brother had called yesterday, stress radiated off him in waves. After switching shifts with Tyra without a reason why, they’d headed to her place. When Bobby called again, Vince stepped into the hallway to talk. She’d tried not to be hurt by it. She understood he was a private person, but she’d basically spilled her entire life story to him over the past few weeks, and she wanted to help him, while worrying he’d never let her.
But the second he’d stepped back into her apartment, her main concern had switched to taking away the worry creasing his features. She’d wrapped her arms around him and told him she was there for him, whatever he needed.
Then he’d said, “I want you to come with me to New York. I…I need you with me.”
And even though it was fast and possibly foolish, she fell a little bit in love with him right there.
“Your offer to take your vehicle is very…well, it’s very something,” Vince said now, putting his hand on her back and guiding her to the next spot over where his badass Jeep sat ready to take down other cars that dared come near. “But I’m going for anonymity today.”
“Sorry, I don’t think you can pull off anonymity.” She made a circle in front of his face. “Not with the whole sexy-hotness-look you’ve got going on.”
He shook his head, but flashed another smile that demonstrated exactly what she meant; it left her a little breathless and a lot enchanted. “You’re one to talk.” He opened the door and made a sweeping, gentlemanly gesture for her to get in. Then he smacked her on the butt as she moved past.
She glanced over her shoulder, and he gave an unapologetic shrug. And all she could do was grin at him like an idiot. I’ve completely lost my mind.
Even worse—or maybe even better—she didn’t care to get it back.
Vince fired up the Jeep and wrapped his hand around her thigh. Obviously last night his mind had been on his brother, and she understood, but lately she was having one-track thoughts about sex. Every gesture, every heated look said he wanted her, so she didn’t understand why he always pulled away. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself, but much longer and she was going to research seduction tips.
His fingers twitched on her thigh, and it shot a jolt straight through her core. Okay, make that any longer.
“So…” Her voice came out breathier than she would’ve liked, and she reached for the water bottle she’d brought and took a large gulp.
Vince raised one dark eyebrow at her.
“I actually don’t have anything to say.” She pushed her glasses up her nose. “It’s just a long drive, and it’ll be super long if there’s total silence.”
“I like listening to you talk,” Vince said.
“And I appreciate that, I do, but we always focus on me. What about you?”
“No, let’s not do me.”
“But what if I want to… do you?”
The Jeep swerved, and the car next to them honked as Vince straightened out the wheel. “Holy shit, Cass.”
She clamped her lips together, trying not to laugh. At least she knew she could elicit that kind of reaction. “Would you rather talk about you, then?”
He slid her a dark look that sent the temperature of the car skyrocketing. “No, I’d definitely choose the other, but I’m sort of in the middle of driving, and apparently you’re trying to kill us both.”
She shrugged innocently, and his throat worked a swallow, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
For a few minutes only the radio filled the air, then Vince said, “I know I’m going to regret this, but what do you want to know?”
She barely resisted jumping up and down on her seat like an eager puppy. “Well, I didn’t even know you had a brother until the other day. What about your mom? You never say anything about her.”
“After my dad died, she decided she’d rather join him than stay here with me and Bobby.”
Cassie’s stomach bottomed out. She hadn’t expected that.
“My uncle took us in, but I’d already been getting into trouble. It wasn’t like anyone was there to stop me. Bobby followed in my footsteps, and then I decided to clean up my act. He didn’t. The reason he’s in the place he is now is because of me.”
“You can’t blame yourself for that. You were a kid.”
“I was old enough to know better.”
“I didn’t know about your mom,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. But that’s why we don’t talk about me.”
“I’d rather know.” Cassie reached over and ran her fingers through the hair at his neck.
“I’m not a fan of conversations better suited for a leather couch and a doctor who’ll hand you tissues as you cry.”
“Yes, heaven forbid you pretend to have emotions.”
He scowled at her, as if even the word “emotions” made him need to throw something.
“When I lost my dad, I completely shut myself off from everyone,” Cassie said. “For a long time, I thought it made me safe. Then I woke up in that hospital alone and realized it just made me, well, alone.”
Keeping his eyes on the road, he bent closer and kissed her temple. Then he gave her a half smile. “We’re kind of a sad duo.”
She laughed, because while it was true, it wasn’t at the same time. “When you think about it, it’s actually incredible we found each other.”
“I guess that means I must’ve done something right.”
It amazed her how they could go from topic to topic, sad one moment, flirting the next, and having a heart-to-heart right after. She’d never experienced anything like it with anyone else.
She tested the limits of her seatbelt and kissed his check.
He sighed. “I wish I could forget about everything else and start over with you.”
“You can,” she said. “We’ll both start over.”
His hand went back to her thigh, and he gripped it like he meant to never let go. Heat pooled low in her stomach and butterflies swarmed her heart.
For this moment, she’d cover a hundred of Tyra’s shifts.
Yep. Coming on this trip was totally worth selling my soul.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Each turn took them down an even more desolate road with rundown buildings that should be—and probably were—condemned. There weren’t many people out, and the ones who were looked homeless.
What the hell, Bobby? Things must’ve gotten really bad if his brother called this rough neighborhood home.
Cassie’s face remained carefully neutral, despite the fact that she most likely felt the same thing he did—that instinctual tug telling you to get the hell out of there.
“I should’ve never brought you here,” Vince said, easing off the accelerator. “Let me take you back to where the buildings didn’t look like death traps. You can set up in a library or a coffee shop, and I’ll come—”
“I’m here already,” she said. “And I’m not gonna let you leave me behind. Let’s just get it done and then get out.”
She had to be scared, but she put on such a brave front. He kept thinking about how she’d said it was incredible they’d found each other. Even taking away the reason he searched her out after her accident, it was amazing they’d found their way to each other in the first place.
They couldn’t be more different, yet there were things that tied them together, more than just losing their parents. When he was with her, he felt a strong sense of purpose. She put things in a way that made sense to him, and even in the quiet moments, something inside of him spoke to her. The girl had gotten under his skin and let loose every emotion he tried to hold back, and instead of shying away from them or backing off, she understood and pulled him closer.
He reached for her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. He was still tempted to flip a U and get her out of there, even though he knew she’d put up a hell of a fight. He should’ve had Bobby meet them, but he was too worried someone would see him, and then he
’d be dragged in to his drug dealer before Vince got to New York. Then they’d both be screwed.
“You haven’t said much about your security job,” she said. “Are you still thinking that’s the way you want to go?”
Since right now his security job was her, he didn’t know how to answer. As for the second question, if Carlo thought this stunt with Bobby would make him more eager to jump into the mafia, he was sorely mistaken. He gripped the wheel tighter, careful not to do the same with the hand holding Cassie’s. “Because of the nature of my job, I can’t really talk about it.” Truth mixed with lies. More guilt—you’d think he’d be used to it by now, but every damn time he had to give her half-truths it came. Add driving into the middle of the ghetto for his brother, and self-loathing quickly followed on guilt’s heels, wanting a turn at him. “I do miss restaurant management some, but I’m good at the security side. It all depends on how my current job goes, really.”
“That makes sense.” She looked out the window at the decrepit buildings. “If I go to the Culinary Institute of America in New York, maybe I can afford a place here. What do you think? A nice wreath on the door and it’ll be as good as new, yeah?”
A surge of affection wound through him; she could make even the shittiest situations better. “A wreath. That’s what’s missing.”
“You’ll come over, right?”
“Depends on the wreath,” he said, and she laughed, the happy noise echoing through his chest. God, he was going to miss her when this was all over. Just the thought made a pit open up in his gut, sucking all happiness into it.
“I think that’s it,” Cassie said, checking the map on her phone and then pointing at the building up ahead.
The apartment complex looked like it’d been made from cement and scrap metal, more industrial than homey. Cardboard stood in place of glass windows and there was more spray paint than original paint on the walls. Vince put the Jeep in park but kept the engine running.
Cassie rubbed soothing circles over his shoulder. “It’ll be okay.”
He huffed out a laugh. “I love your optimism, baby, but…” His gaze drifted out the windshield again. “I didn’t expect this.” He shook his head. “I had no idea he…” A lump rose to his throat, and he fought for control, unsure whether to hold on to the regret or switch back to anger.
Vince reached over Cassie and pulled his .40 caliber Beretta out of the glove box. He looked at her, trying to gauge her reaction. He’d hoped he wouldn’t have to pull it out until they talked to the guys Bobby owed—Cassie would definitely be tucked away for that—but he didn’t dare go into a place like this unarmed.
“I actually feel better knowing you have it,” she said, answering his unasked question.
He curled his fingers around the door handle. Last second he spun back to Cassie, who was already starting out her door. She turned at the hand on her arm, and he tugged her to him and planted a hard kiss on her lips. “Stick close to me, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, and then they climbed out of the Jeep.
The rickety metal staircase creaked as they made their way up it to the second floor. Vince stopped in front of the door with a chipped thirteen on it and knocked.
“Unlucky number thirteen,” Cassie muttered.
Vince shifted her behind him and drew his gun, just in case they met someone else looking for Bobby instead.
The door cracked open, the chain on the inside lock pulling tight, and Bobby peeked out. “Jeez, Vince, put the gun away before you kill somebody.”
The door closed, the mock wood muffling the sound of the chain sliding free before Bobby swung the door all the way open. Taking hold of Cassie’s hand, Vince cast one more glance around and led her inside.
***
Cassie couldn’t help staring at Bobby. He and Vince had such similar features, only Bobby’s were pinched and pale, and he was too skinny, his cheeks sunken in. Even though he was younger than Vince, he looked older by several years, and the whole effect was eerie.
“So, this is what you’ve been up to lately,” Bobby said, looking Cassie up and down and eliciting a low growl from Vince. He extended a hand and shot her a smile that softened his features and hinted at the charm hidden underneath the strung-out appearance. “I’m sure you’ve heard about me, the no-good brother. I’m Bobby.”
“Cassie,” she answered, shaking his hand.
“Sorry you got dragged out here, Cassie.” Bobby furrowed his brow and turned to Vince. “Why the hell did you bring her? It’s not exactly a nice area.”
“I didn’t realize you lived in a crack den now. Silly me. I mean, seriously, Bobby. Has it gotten this bad?”
“Whoa,” Bobby said, throwing up his hands. “I’m just squatting until things cool down. One of the guys I…” He glanced at Cassie and then back at Vince, widening his eyes. “Anyway, he owed me, so I’ve been here the last two nights. Not even the guys after me dare come here, and you bring Blondie right in.”
A vein popped out in Vince’s forehead, and Cassie wrapped her arms around him in a side hug. “Blondie’s just fine, but thanks for the concern.” She also couldn’t help noticing the needles, blackened spoons, and lighters on the filthy coffee table.
Her knowledge of drugs was pretty much limited to don’t do them, but she’d written a paper on addictions and recovery in high school. She’d needed a subject, and since Annie’s work at the rehab center had always interested her, she used her as a source. Basically she learned that it was a long, hard road full of a lot of downs before you got to the ups.
“You introduce her to the family yet?” Bobby asked.
“No, because I actually like her. Remember how we’re not talking about my business or the family?” The way Vince said it made her think they’d discussed it over the phone.
Vince moved like he was going to sit on the couch, but then curled his lip at the stained, used-to-be tan material and wrapped his arm tighter around her waist.
“Anyone want a drink?” Bobby asked.
Cassie peeked through the open archway to the kitchen. Dishes sat in the sink, and judging from the faint smell of old food, they’d been there a while. “I’m gonna pass.”
“Stop stalling, and let’s get this taken care of so we all can get out of here,” Vince said.
“Fine. Did you bring the money?” A hungry gleam entered Bobby’s eye as he looked at Vince, peering at his pockets like he was trying to see hidden wads of cash.
“You’re going to call these guys you owe, and you’re going to set up a meeting.”
Bobby shook his head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Yeah, well, neither is using the drugs you were supposed to sell, but that didn’t stop you. If I give you the money, I have no idea if you’ll decide you can double it with a couple of bets, use it to run, buy more drugs to make a profit down the road, or…whatever dumbass idea you’ve got rolling around in your skull.”
Cassie flinched at the harsh tone and words. She got it, because it obviously wasn’t the first time Vince had bailed Bobby out, but she couldn’t help wanting the brothers to hug and just be happy they had each other. She’d always wished she had a sibling.
Bobby looked to her. “Is he always so serious? He used to be fun.”
Cassie’s defenses prickled. It cost Vince a lot to come save the day, and the guy could show an ounce of gratitude; no wonder there’d been no hugging. “He’s actually very fun when he’s not saving his…how did you put it? No-good brother?”
Bobby mimicked a knife to his chest, but then he grinned at her, his dry lips cracking slightly. “I was wrong about you, Blondie. You’re tougher than you look.” He clapped Vince on the shoulder. “No wonder you like her so much. I always figured you for a hit and run guy when it came to women.”
Vince gave a sigh that carried the weight of the world with it. “Do you want my help or not? Because I swear I’m about to walk out that door and let you sort it out yourself.”
“Relax, bro. I’
m just busting your balls. I want your help.” He straightened and saluted Vince. “Reporting for duty, sir!”
Cassie couldn’t help but laugh. Vince scowled at her, and she shrugged. “He’s sort of charming in a yippee-dog-type way.”
Bobby flashed her a megawatt grin. The drugs, the constant trouble, the jabs at Vince—she wanted to dislike him on principle, but something about him made it hard to completely write him off.
“Time to tell me who we’re dealing with,” Vince said. “No more games. I’m going with you, and I can’t go in there blind.”
Bobby scuffed his shoe on the dingy floor. “It’s…” he mumbled, and Vince leaned in and asked him to repeat that, but to actually say the name this time. “It’s Big Al, okay?”
The muscles in Vince’s jaw went rigid. He ran both hands through his hair and muttered a string of curses—English mixed with Italian that she instinctively recognized as swearwords—as he paced the length of the tiny room twice.
He snatched Bobby’s phone off the coffee table and shoved it at him. “Set it up, but don’t mention me. When we get there, you’re going to let me do all the talking. I’d actually like to make it out of the meeting alive.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Cassie tried crossing her arms tighter—she even tried a scarier scowl—but Vince’s jaw remained set.
“Baby, please don’t fight me on this.”
Every time he called her baby, tingly warmth swirled through her, and that made it even harder to hold on to her attempt at stone-cold intimidation, which big surprise, had never been her strong suit.
“It’s not like I want to go into the meeting,” Cassie said. “I just don’t want you to go, either. Aren’t you supposed to meet somewhere super public? In all the movies they—”
“The club is public,” Vince said.
“And according to Bobby, owned by them.”
Bobby waved from his seat in the back of the Jeep when they both glanced at him. They spent the day driving around New York to kill time, and Vince even insisted on stopping at the Culinary Institute of America. The people there told her about their program, as well as their admissions information session in December, when prospective students could spend a week learning about the college.