Here and Gone

by Kelly Wood

  “We eloped and didn’t tell the family for a while. Actually, we came clean the day before he went missing. Antonio worked hard to keep the disappearance quiet. It hurt him terribly. He didn’t want his misery on display for the public. I greatly appreciated it, too.” Gracie paused before continuing. “I was young, recently orphaned, and now widowed, all in a matter of months. The baby was the only thing keeping the grief at bay. Without her, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

  My mind was on overload. So much tragedy in such a short time.

  “Baby?” I asked.

  “Yes, I was in my first trimester when Guy went missing. The baby was the only thing that made me get out of bed. The only thing that kept me eating. It got easier as she grew, when I could feel her move and kick. I never felt alone. Of course, I swore it was a boy.” Gracie smiled and rested her hand on her stomach, remembering that time in her life.

  “Where is your daughter now?”

  “She lives in New York and is a fashion editor for a magazine. She loves the busy-ness of the city. I see her as often as I can.”

  “I’m glad you had her. It must have all been very overwhelming, but how have you stayed out of the spotlight? I’ve looked at every image I could find of Frank. I’ve never seen you in one. I’ve never seen your name mentioned. How are you able to stay close to him, but—”

  “Let’s get back on track here. Although, my story does overlap with Franky’s and with yours.”

  I felt the confusion on my face. Gracie jumped from subject to subject. My thoughts were spinning trying to keep up. I looked to Gray for support. He sipped his tea and watched the show. I turned back to Gracie and addressed her. “Mine? How?”

  “The ring Gray gave you. It was the one that Guy gave to me.”

  “My ring?” I pulled my hand against my chest, covering the ring with my other hand.

  My ring?

  My sudden mama-bear overprotection of the ring startled me, causing me to drop my hands before changing my mind and bringing them back together. I fidgeted for a moment before finally pulling the ring off and holding it up to the light. To me, the ring was special, but now, I realized it was more so than I had thought.

  “Gray has always been special to me. I was a faux-aunt to him. Taking him to the park to play, special days, just him and me. He was such a sweet kid. I love him like my own. He,” Gracie nodded toward Gray, “and my daughter, were the very best of friends growing up. Gray probably knows my love story with Guy better than anyone. It was his favorite bedtime story.” Gracie reached for the ring and I willingly gave it to her. “I passed the ring on to him a few years ago. I told him to find his own path and save the ring for the woman who would blaze the trail with him.”

  My eyes found Gray’s. He had used those words with me before. Blaze a trail. Light twinkled off the band as Gracie twisted it in front of her.

  “That’s really Gray’s motto, as you probably well know. He was unhappy here. He didn’t fit the mold that Mary and Michael wanted. It was frustrating to watch. I finally took Gray on a drive, gave him the ring and told him to get the heck out of here. He’s smart, so he listened.”

  Grace and Gray smiled at one another, love passing between them.

  “Where did you go?” I asked.

  “Don’t you know?” Gracie had started at the question. “Chicago. That was the trip where he met you. He called me hours later and told me everything about you. At least, what little he knew then.”

  “Really?”

  I turned to Gray with a smile in my voice. “Why have I never heard this before?”

  “I can’t give away all of my secrets.” Gray winked and smiled back at me. Electricity zinged between us. I wanted to sit on his lap and curl into him. “I would’ve married you the next day.”

  “I would’ve run for the hills.” When I met Gray, I was commitment shy from a bad break-up.

  “You did the first time I proposed, remember?”

  “Unfortunately,” I said.

  “I knew I had to take my time with you, ease you into the idea of a relationship. Waiting for you to decide to come with me to Costa Rica was the longest twelve hours of my life.”

  “It was the best decision I ever made.” I reached my hand toward him. Gray grasped it in his and pulled me toward him. I got my wish and curled up against him. I laid my head on his shoulder and enjoyed the heat coming from him. Golfers crested the hill behind Gray, reminding me that we weren’t alone.

  My face flushed hot in embarrassment as I looked back over at Grace. I separated myself from Gray and sat back down in my original seat. I resisted the urge to fan my face with my hand even though I felt the heat of the blush.

  Gracie handed me my ring back with a knowing look in her eye. Last night, I had not taken the time to really look at it. I was just so happy to have it on... to want to have it on. I took a moment to inspect it. The ring was smooth and white gold. I turned the ring so the sunlight would illuminate it enough for me to clearly see all of it. Etchings marked the inside of the band. I squinted to read the small print.

  “‘Forever Entwined’. Did Guy put that in here?”

  “Come inside. How about I fix us a little lunch and I’ll tell you about it.”

  The layout was open so I wandered around the house, looking at photographs, and shooting her questions while she prepared the food.

  “Your daughter didn’t want the ring?”

  “She has plenty of personal items to remember us both by. Plus, I always taught her to follow her own dreams, not mine. The ring represents Guy, Gray, and now you, going your own way.”

  “Guy didn’t want to follow in Antonio’s footsteps? He didn’t want the hotel?”

  “He thought he did, until we met. After that he could picture a different life for himself, a simpler one. The hotel and the life it represented lost its appeal.”

  I could understand that. The mob seemed way too controlling for me. I liked not having people in my business all of the time.

  And, yes, I realized the irony since I was always in other people’s business. Like now, as I took in the photographs Grace had framed. I loved glimpsing others’ histories. Gracie’s daughter was stunning. She favored Gracie, but her face had harder lines. A shadow of the chiseled good looks of her father.

  “So, Guy didn’t want the hotel, but went missing, so it’s a moot point. Why didn’t the other two brothers end up with it? How did Frank get control?” We danced around the subject of the mob. I was sure she must’ve known, and I was sure she must’ve known that I knew, but neither of us said it. Yet.

  “Have you met Sal and Tony? Antonio always said that instincts couldn’t be taught. He should’ve known. He spent years trying to get those two to just think. Every decision they made benefitted them, and them only. Those two would’ve run the business into the ground and killed each other in the process.”

  “But Frank?”

  “Frank has natural instincts. He focused himself, got a degree in business and management from the University of Nevada, and became Antonio’s shadow. Antonio’s only stipulation in passing the business to Frank was he take care of Tony and Sal. Keep them on the payroll and give them bogus jobs.”

  “Essentially, Frank is a lifetime caregiver for the brothers. Do you think either of them would ever want control of the casino? Would one, or both, try for a coup?” I asked.

  “Those two are the laziest men I have ever met. They both avoid hard work, so the answer is no. They are both smart enough to realize the time and energy Frank puts in on their behalf.”

  I let her words sink in but decided not to take them at face value. Large sums of money were a huge motivator for anyone. I whispered to Gray that I’d still like to follow up. He squeezed my hand in response.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Gray and I left Gracie shorty after lunch. The drive to his parents’ house was short. I looked up at the monstrosity on the hill and prepared myself to enter. I kept my hand in Gray’s and staye
d by his side. At Gracie’s, it was because I just wanted to be close to him. Here, it was out of fear. Gray’s family was starting to give me the creeps.

  Gray and I entered through the rear door by the kitchen. A maid nodded at our arrival but didn’t greet us. I assumed she wasn’t allowed to speak unless spoken to first. Probably Mary Francis’s doing.

  Gray’s hand held mine, leading me through the house and into his father’s study. The house resembled a well-kept museum. Every piece on display was perfect. I clenched my empty hand into a fist to keep me from trouble. Every vase we passed I wanted to poke with my finger until it toppled to the floor and shattered. This house was as different from Gracie’s as possible. There, I wanted to curl up on the couch and read a good book. Here, I wanted to apologize because my shoes touched the floor while I walked. I didn’t dare sit down on a sofa, let alone tuck my feet under me.

  “Father,” Gray greeted Michael. I gave a little wave. This was Gray’s show. My plan was to fade into the background and watch. Gray sat in one of the chairs facing his father’s desk. I strolled over to the windows to look out at the golf course.

  “What may I help you with? I’d thought you would be off enjoying your honeymoon,” Michael said.

  “We will. There’s something we need to finish up first, though.” Gray hesitated as he broached the subject.

  “Out with it, Gray.” Michael’s tone reminded me of a father about to discipline his son for coming home late.

  “I’ll get straight to it, then. Are you purposefully sabotaging Uncle Frank’s hotel?”

  Michael laughed in response. “Frank and I are friends, Gray. And colleagues.”

  “You weren’t always,” Gray pointed out.

  “That’s ancient history. We’ve been partners longer than it’s mattered.” Michael’s tone was sweet, helpful.

  I didn’t believe a word.

  “The timing is awfully convenient,” Gray said.

  “Drop it, Gray. You’re searching for something that isn’t there.”

  “Really?” Gray sat down in one of the chairs across from his father. “What would be better than two powerful families in Vegas?” Gray held up one finger.

  All humor left Michael’s face. “You’ve made your choice, Gray.” His head nodded in my direction. “You’ve made it very clear you don’t want anything to do with our family business. I’ve respected that, but I will humor you for a moment. I have no desire to eliminate Frank and the Bianchis. Times aren’t what they used to be. There is no power play here.”

  “What about Sal and Tony? Would they try to hurt Uncle Frank?”

  “What would be the purpose?” Michael asked, clearly frustrated that Gray would pursue the conversation.

  “More control? More money? Birthright? You want me to go on?” Gray asked.

  “No. Here.” Michael picked up a pen and scribbled a note before handing it to Gray. “These are their addresses. Go see for yourself, they have no desire to hurt Frank.”

  “Thanks,” Gray said. That saved us the effort of finding out their addresses.

  I split my time between watching them and looking out the window. With the house resting on an incline the view was impressive, but one house in particular caught my attention. From my vantage point, I could see Gracie’s house completely. Even though she was blocks away, I had a clear view. Michael would be able to watch her every move. Every visitor would be known to him. I wondered if she ever felt the tickle of fear that she was being watched?

  Gracie’s house sat perpendicular to Michael’s. I could see if anyone knocked on her front door or if she was sitting out back enjoying the weather. Michael could’ve been watching us the whole time we drank tea on the veranda. A shiver went through me. I turned my back on Gracie’s and watched the exchange between Gray and Michael again.

  “You said sabotage? What’s been happening?” Michael asked.

  Gray laid out the last few days of events that we’d been part of, plus the other things that Passion and Frank had mentioned. Michael’s face grew darker as Gray spoke. The light left his eyes leaving behind a cold menace. Michael picked up his phone and made a call, blatantly ignoring both Gray and me. He spoke quietly for a few moments and then replaced the receiver.

  “A suite is being prepared for you at our hotel. You’ll be staying there until this is hashed out,” Michael said.

  “Until what’s ‘hashed out’?” Gray asked.

  “I won’t tolerate your being put in danger. You’ll move so I can keep you protected.”

  “No, we won’t. We’re staying. I told you long ago, I don’t want anything to do with the family business. Got it? Nothing. That includes staying in your hotel.” Gray rose as he spoke. His voice deepened and his face hardened.

  “Then you’ll both stay here.”

  “No.”

  “You’ll do as I say.” Michael rose, too, matching Gray in size and strength.

  “I’m not a child.” I could see the years of previous arguments starting to bubble up through this one. Michael always trying to exert his will over Gray and Gray was always trying to blaze his own path. I decided to step in before they resorted to blows. I stepped in front of Gray and held my hands up. My right hand laid flat against his chest. My left hand stayed in the air over Michael’s desk.

  “Wait. Let’s not go down this road.” I kept contact with Gray but turned to face Michael. “You said you wouldn’t tolerate us being in danger, right?”

  “Yes. And, I mean it,” Michael said.

  “Why would you think we were in danger? We’ve got nothing to do with the hotel.”

  “You could’ve been injured when the pool flooded the workout facility,” Michael suggested.

  “We weren’t,” I said. “Plus, no one knew we would be there. It wasn’t a target on us.”

  “I won’t stand for taking a chance. It will get you killed. You need to be protected,” Michael said.

  “From who? Who do we need to be protected from?” I asked.

  “No one.” Michael exhaled quickly, regaining control of his emotions. “Regan, you don’t understand. I tried to warn you.”

  “From who?” I asked again. This time more fiercely.

  “From everyone. You can’t just walk through this life without making enemies. You must watch your back at all times.”

  “We’re not in this life,” I said.

  “Oh, you are. You may want to walk away, you may want to be on your own, but you will always be a part of this life.”

  “Why? How?” I asked.

  Michael laughed. “Because he’s my son. I’d always go after anyone who hurt him.” Michael nodded to me. “And now you, too. You both can be used as pawns.”

  “Welcome to the family, huh?” Gray said. “After the show tonight, we’re out. I mean it. We’re not coming back.”

  I patted Gray’s chest in comfort.

  Gray took a deep breath before sitting back down. I took the seat next to him. We kept our hands locked together. The tension in the room subsided as each of us returned to our corners.

  “Maybe we are looking at this the wrong way. Who would be against you and Frank?” I asked. “You said it yourself, you’ve been partners forever.”

  For less than a second, Michael’s face spasmed. The look was so fleeting I couldn’t put my finger on it.

  “No one,” Michael said.

  “Really? In your line of work?” Sarcasm dripped from my question. Gray stifled a laugh by coughing into his fist.

  “Contrary to popular opinion, Frank and I have worked hard to clean up the image of the families. Together, we weeded out the sadistic influence of the Milano family. Since then, we’ve had peace. No more wars, no more raids. Peace. So, no, there’s not another enemy.”

  Michael spoke with passion and conviction. With an American flag hanging behind him, he could’ve been running for office. Even I wanted to believe him. Just a little. About as much as I wanted to believe a real politician.

  I wa
s done with the dog and pony show. I wanted out of this house. “Okey dokey, then.” I braced to stand up, but Michael started to speak again.

  “Son, do you know why I can be sure it was not my enemy?” The use of the word ‘son’ stopped me in my tracks. Gone was the sleek politician, here was the man behind the image.

  Gray hesitated before asking. “Why?”

  “Your mother was pregnant with you during Milano’s reign. I made a promise to her that I would make our children’s lives safer. Safe enough she could take you to the park without a bodyguard. Safe enough you could walk down the street without looking over your shoulder. Safe enough you could walk away from this life if you chose. I kept that promise. Frank and I have been partners since then. We’ve worked together. We’ve been allies. This isn’t like before.”

  “You changed your tune,” I said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Twenty minutes ago, you were ready to keep us under lock and key. Now, you are telling us how safe you’ve made the streets. Which is it?”

  “I’m sorry for the confusion. You are safe. Mostly. But even my power is limited. Watch yourselves.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Franky September 1988

  Frank watched as Garrett’s hand stroked the newly finished wall. Stroked being the only word that applied. Garrett never once looked at it as his hand idly moved in slow circles. Frank shivered as his blood ran cold.

  His hands shook as he remembered the impact of the hammer hitting Guy’s head. To hide the shaking, he kept them in his pockets. He strained to keep his face neutral and show no signs of the fear he felt. Cold sweat trickled down his back.

  Since the Labor Day weekend party at Costa’s hotel, Frank had tried to get back down to the construction site. He hadn’t slept. He hadn’t eaten. He’d only thought about hitting Guy and killing his best friend. He had killed before, but always in self-defense. He had never taken a life out of rage. He had never raised his hand to another with the intent of murder. Not even his father. He’d thought about it. He’d wanted it, but even that was in defense of himself and especially his mother.