by Brynne Asher
“Huh, I guess it’s good shy isn’t your only type,” I say sarcastically.
Jude gives me a squeeze and chuckles. “Yeah, you’re definitely not shy. But she loved her family like you do, I told you she couldn’t wait to have one of her own.”
“Well, that we have in common.”
“I know you do,” Jude murmurs. He rolls, pulls me up to his face and asks, “You want kids, right? I guess I shouldn’t assume just because you have a million in your family.”
“Of course, I want kids.”
“How many?”
I’m quiet for a moment. This is different. Discussing our future is new territory and I don’t want to scare him off, although he seems pretty sure he wants me no matter what.
“Well, at least three,” I answer quietly.
“At least?”
“Yeah. It all depends on a lot of things. Like, how close they are in age, boys, girls, what order they come in, stuff like that.”
“How many do you want at most?”
I smile because I can tell he’s not really bothered by it, so I say, “Twelve.”
With that, I am immediately flipped over to my back with Jude on top of me. “Twelve? You’ve got a big house, babe, but I’m not sure where we’re gonna put twelve kids.”
I feel my face go soft, I melt under him. “Yeah, we will have a nice big house to put kids in. It’s a great family home, Jude.”
Jude looks at me intently. “Yeah, for our family.”
Then he kisses me deep and proceeds to do other things to me deeply, as well.
Walking out of my laundry room with a basket full of clean clothes, I hear Uncle Tony coming up the stairs. Turning the corner, I stop immediately, seeing the murderous look on his face. Stalking into my kitchen, he tosses his briefcase on my island and turns to me but says nothing.
I wade in to break the silence. “So … will you represent her?”
He narrows his eyes on me. “Gabrielle. You have to ask me that?”
Setting my basket down on the island. “Well, I didn’t think I did, but thank you anyway. She has no family to support her. Her older sister has been strung out for years and is now spreading that joy in Florida. Her mom hooked up with another looser last year, followed him to South Dakota and has a million issues of her own. I hate that she doesn’t have a family that’s there for her, but honestly, she’s better off without them. They cause her more headaches than you can imagine. I think she attached herself to Preston in the beginning thinking that was her chance to pull herself out of the mess she grew up in, but what he’s done to her is worse than she ever grew up with and that’s saying something.”
“You need to talk to her Gabby. She says she only wants enough from that man to cover my fees, which I told her repeatedly there won’t be any. She said she wants nothing from him—not one thing. What she needs to do is drain him and take him to the bank, which from what I understand, is pretty full. She needs to be able to set herself up so she can start over without the headache of wondering how she’s going to finance her new life. That man will be judged in a court of law and someday by God for what he did to her, killing their innocent baby. But that woman needs to open her eyes and realize she only has one chance to take what she needs to set up a new life.”
Uncle Tony is on a warpath, which I knew he would be. Anyone with a heart would, but he always takes it to a new level, his family being the most important thing to him. Not to mention he has three daughters. My uncle specializes in family law for a reason. He’s good so he can take on the cases he believes in and truly help people who are experiencing hard times.
“I’ll talk to her. I don’t know what more I can do, she told me this morning she wants no memory of him. She even said she wants to sell her car as soon as she can.” Preston insisted on her driving a little BMW two-seater and she has always hated it, though I think she only hated it because he didn’t give her a choice. “I’m not letting her leave here for a while. At least until we figure out the legal charges with Preston. I don’t want her by herself and she’ll be safer here with Jude and me.”
“Speaking of.” My uncle narrows his eyes on me for the second time.
“What?” I ask, as if I don’t know what he’s asking.
“What do you mean, what? What’s going on with you two? Tony said you looked like hell when he picked you up Monday. You sure don’t look like hell now, so what I want to know is, do we need to kick his ass or not?” His eyes might be narrowed but he’s hiding a grin simultaneously.
“Well, I’d be pretty upset if you kicked his ass seeing as I want him around, so I’ll just say that everything is good. No—great. Everything is really, really great,” I answer on a sigh.
My Uncle Tony smiles and pulls me in for a big hug. “My sweet girl. I’m happy for you. Can’t say I’m happy you’re living in sin and don’t even want to think about what your parents would say if they were here, but I think he’s a good man, he cares about you, and he makes you happy. You’ve had it tough and from what I understand he has too, but that look on your face almost makes you living in sin forgivable. Not quite, but almost.”
And with that he kisses my head and gives me another squeeze. I love my uncle so much—my whole family—and I now realize more than ever how lucky I am to have them as I watch Leigh walk through her nightmare with no one but me. This makes me even more determined to do everything in my power to get her back to who she used to be—a happy and spirited Leigh.
“Thank you for everything,” I say as I walk him to the door.
“Anything, Gabby. You know that. Tell Jude hi. We’ll all get together soon.”
Locking the door, I go to set the alarm. Jude is once again on the Safety Crusade since Preston is out on bail and we’re here by ourselves during the day. Uncle Tony told me earlier he’s filing for a restraining order on Leigh’s behalf, so maybe that will set Jude at ease a bit. I return to the laundry that has tripled having added Jude and Leigh to the mix. Thinking about all I have to do, I decide I need to lighten my project load with clients for a while until I can get Leigh sorted. More time for Leigh, more time for Jude, and I can’t help but think maybe I can squeeze in some time to work on a couple pieces of furniture for Jude’s mountain home. Maybe that’s something I can get Leigh to help me with to get her mind off things, plus it will be fun to work on them together. Folding the last piece of laundry, I pick up Mia before she figures out its bath time and hides from me, making my way to the laundry room sink for a dog bath.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hang-ups
Pressing the eighth-floor button in the elevator, I can’t help but think the Carpinos law firm must do really well to afford offices in this building. Always working for the government, I’m used to mid-scale accommodations at best. This building is the shit, so I’m expecting their offices to be no less.
The elevator bings. I exit wondering why I’ve been summoned by Gabby’s Uncles and cousin. Christmas is a little over a week away and the last couple of months have been nothing short of perfect.
The lease was up on my condo and I officially moved in with Gabby. Leigh is still there as well, but she’s quiet and insists on keeping to herself so I don’t really see her much. Gabby’s worried about her, but Leigh started a new job this morning at the hospital where she used to work and I know Gabby is hoping that will be the first step in pulling her out of her state of depression. She’s recovered physically but is still an emotional mess and refuses to see a counselor so it’s all Gabby, Reagan, and Lilly pulling her through. I think Tony is even kicking in, they seem to be spending a lot of time together lately and he’s even representing her legally, managing her divorce now. She seemed to have a change of heart about not wanting anything from him, so Leigh’s divorce has been dragged out by her bastard husband’s legal issues, plus his lawyers are dragging their feet working on a feeble defense. Gabby will absolutely not let Leigh move out, which I agree, she doesn’t need to be on her own with her assho
le husband out on bail and awaiting trial.
I got here as fast as I could after getting their call. I was in a meeting with the US Attorney, learning that Megan Harper has finally struck a deal, giving up all she knows about her husband. In return, she won’t see any jail time and has already moved out of state, taking her kids with her. I can’t say that I’m not happy. I don’t want her anywhere near Gabby. Trevor Harper’s trial will begin early next year, but the US Attorney assures me he has no case and will go down for a long time.
I open the door to see Paige at the receptionist desk and find I was not wrong. The reception area of the office is swank and classy. Yeah, their firm is doing well.
“Paige? When did you start working here?”
“Well….” her face contorts with her answer. “I’ve worked here off and on for a year or two. I can’t seem to decide on a career, so my dad insists I work here. I’m pretty sure it’s punishment for being indecisive and lame.”
I grin. “You get to work here and think about career options, huh? Come to any conclusions?”
“No, but I can cross off working for my dad, brother, and uncle. This is not fun and is motivating me to make a quicker decision. I mean, who wants to work for their brother? It’s embarrassing, plus he drives me insane. He’s even more obnoxious than he was when we were kids.”
“I bet.” Getting to know the Carpinos over the last few months has been interesting to say the least. I’ve learned that Paige has her own sort of crazy.
Gino walks out of the hallway that must lead to their offices. “Jude, thanks for coming. We’re in the conference room.” Then looking to Paige, he continue, “Hold the calls. We’ll be a while.”
Paige gives him a salute. “Yes sir. Are you sure I can’t fetch you a coffee first? Order your lunch? Make some copies? File anything?”
Gino slowly closes his eyes and shakes his head. I’m thinking everyone is probably hoping Paige comes to a decision sooner rather than later about a career choice. Grinning at Paige, I move to follow Gino through the hallway and into an equally impressive conference room with a long rectangular table with seating for twelve. Tony, his dad, and Nic are all there and from their posture, I can tell something is wrong. I immediately stop and hear Gino close the door behind me.
“What’s going on?” I ask impatiently, not liking their stance or the vibe they’re giving off. My thoughts immediately go to Gabby. I left her this morning in her basement workroom refinishing furniture and I just talked to her an hour ago.
The four of them give each other knowing looks, but it’s Tony, Sr. who starts. “Jude, there’s something you should know, something Gabby doesn’t know. We tried to protect her from this, but some things have happened and that’s about to change.”
He pauses and looks at his brothers and son, then back to me. Finally, I say, “What the hell? Are you going to make me guess?”
Nic lays it out. “We have a significant reason to believe Luka and Meredith’s car accident wasn’t an accident. We thought this back when it happened, but they couldn’t find any evidence. There were no signs of skidding on the road, no other vehicles on the highway that night, and the police thought there could have been foul play with the steering in their SUV. The investigations came up empty but they couldn’t prove anything because the wreckage was so bad.” He pauses to take in air and all I can do is clench my fists and keep listening. “We didn’t know who it could be back then and without proof we decided not to tell Gabby, so that’s on us. But now, we’re thinking there’s a reason to tell her.”
Not able to move a muscle because none of this can be good, I ask, “And that reason is what?”
Gino goes on. “We got a call this morning from Nebraska Corrections, there’s been rumblings going around and they’ve heard the Carpino name being whispered. They started putting two and two together, finally made four. After some interrogations, they figured out an inmate in for Second Degree was just released last week after serving a quarter. That man’s name is Dwayne Pope, he’s known on the street as The Pope if you can believe that shit because he thinks he managed an empire before he was brought down. If you call a gang of street thugs an empire, then I guess he did. Twenty-five years ago, he held up two high school kids on a date, it got out of hand, the boy barely lived. Pope raped and killed the girl. They couldn’t nail him on First Degree, but he went down for Second with Aggravated Circumstance. Luka prosecuted him when he was still an Assistant DA. It was a high-profile case that shook the community. They were good kids, honor roll, just set to graduate from high school, and both going to college on scholarships. Luka left the DA’s office shortly after when we formed the practice.” Gino takes a breath after laying out the horror story. The four of them look at each other and then back to me.
“There’s more?” I ask.
Gino continues. “Yeah. Some of Pope’s crew who were in for unrelated charges were released a few years ago. Specifically, four years and five months ago. The rumblings heard from the inside are saying they messed with Luka’s car, affirming what we’ve thought for years—their death was no accident. But even more, the reason they’re hearing what they’re hearing now is that Pope isn’t finished. He wants his hand in retaliation, has been talking big and arrogant about his plans. We’re worried that this could be directed at Gabby.”
Red. All I can see is red and I can hear my heart pounding in my ears. But wait. Fucking hell.
I can barely get the word out. “Hang-ups.”
“Come again?” Tony asks.
“Hang-ups. Last week, Gabby mentioned she’s had some hang-ups. A couple at home and on her cell. I even looked into it without her knowing—couldn’t find anything. Trever Harper is still in jail awaiting trial and you all know Leigh’s asshole husband has checked himself into an inpatient drug treatment program, probably trying to make a defense for himself that he was strung-out when he beat her. I asked Gabby about it casually, she hasn’t had anymore, so I didn’t want to scare her.” Now realizing she is home by herself for the first time in a long time because today Leigh is starting her new job, I murmur, “Fuck.” I turn on my heel and storm out of the conference room, barely hearing them following me.
I’m at a jog when I make it through reception and hear Paige call my name as I pull the door to the office, slamming it open and make the decision to take the stairs, foregoing the elevator. As I do this, I pull out my phone to call Gabby. It rings and rings and rings. I hear her soft voice come at me through the phone letting me know she’s busy and to leave a message. Disconnecting, I try her at home and get the same. I exit the building at a flat out run, her uncles and cousin trailing me.
I turn to yell, “She’s not answering either phone.”
I make it to my truck as Tony calls to his dad and uncles, “I’m with Jude.” He climbs in and we race to the house, God willing, to find Gabby safe and sound.
“They’re rounding them up, already have two in custody and we aren’t wasting time taking them to the station. Their asses are on the curb in cuffs and we’re talkin' to them here. I’ll let you know if we come up with anything,” Mac informs me.
I’m standing in the driveway next to Gabby’s Tahoe. The property is swarming with police, finger printing her vehicle and questioning neighbors to see if they saw anything. It’s been two hours since I’ve talked to her. I’m on the edge of losing it.
When Tony and I pulled up, her Tahoe was backed half way out of the garage, running with the driver’s door open and her cell lying in the console. Her purse was gone, the house alarm was set so he must have gotten to her on her way out. Omaha PD along with the agents from my office have been rounding up Pope’s followers to question them on what they might know and where he could possibly take her.
“I want properties pulled that could be in his name or his crew. I also want every location listed in his criminal history,” I order.
“We’re already on it. I’ll call you as soon as we get that list,” Mac disconnects.
He’s been in jail for twenty-five years, where in the fuck would he take her? I rake my hands through my hair, trying to keep my shit together instead of counting the minutes as they tick by and what that could mean for Gabby, especially knowing what he was capable of twenty-five years ago.
Fuck.
Twenty-five years ago.
“Gino,” I yell across the yard where he’s huddled with his brothers as I make my way to them. “Where did he kill the girl? At the scene or did he take her to a second location?”
Gino’s face contorts with a mix of realization and horror. “He took her somewhere. They found her body days later in a field outside of town where he dumped her, but he raped and killed her in an old building on that farm used for storage, just north of town. They found evidence there.”
My cell rings and it’s Mac. I press answer and say, “North of town, the location where he murdered the girl twenty-five years ago.”
“That’s what we got from these dimwits. It was his grandparents’ farm,” he says as I move to my truck. “I’m getting the address as we speak, but head north on highway 680. I’ll call you right back. We’re south of you, but are heading that way and I’ll get units radioed out now.”
“Right,” I answer and hang up already in my truck, realizing Tony is coming with me again. “His grandparents used to own the farm where he killed the girl. It’s our only lead, we’ll head there and pray we’re not too late,” I say to Tony.
Tony is pulling out his phone as he mutters, “This cannot be happening. Get to her fast, Jude.”
I speed north, my chest so tight it could burst in two thinking three hours ago I was finding myself lucky enough to find love twice, but now praying it’s not ripped away for a second time in my life. Trying not to let myself think about it but knowing in the back of my head there’s no way I’ll be able to make it through that again.