But I have no idea what I’ll do to occupy my night.
Chapter Seventeen
Maria
I should’ve stayed in bed this morning. Why is it, when one thing happens, it sets off a chain reaction? I don’t know the answer to that. I wish I did.
Today, it’s been one thing after another. And right now, I’d give anything to be at Jack’s house, cuddled up on the sofa, watching crap TV instead of being stood here in the bar of the club, not-so-patiently waiting on the manager to show for his shift.
He’s late.
All the time he’s run the club he’s never been late. Tony used to comment on how committed to his job he was. Yeah, he was committed all right, to his own cause.
“Something’s wrong,” I say, turning to Joe.
His eyes aren’t on me, they’re searching the club, and I get the feeling I’ve just uttered the words he was already thinking. “I’ve had the same feeling since we walked through the doors tonight.”
This can’t be good.
All the rest of the staff are getting on with their jobs, setting up the bar before the club gets busy. Nothing out of the ordinary. But my senses are on high alert for some reason, and I’m glad they are.
“Maria.” I turn to the voice calling my name, taking note that it’s Kirsten. She’s a lovely young girl who works at night. She only started a few weeks ago.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I was just in the cellar bringing up bottles. The door to the alley was open, so I closed it. I just thought you should know. Although I’m now thinking maybe I’ve locked out another member of staff who nipped out for a sneaky fag.”
“Thanks, Kirsten, and you might be right,” I say with a smile and she walks off back behind the bar. I turn back to Joe. “Well?”
“I think I should go and check it out,” he says as he reaches around to the back of his trousers. I know Joe carries a gun. I just hope and pray that the day doesn’t come when he needs to use it. He always had one whilst he worked for Tony. All Tony’s men carried guns; they needed to.
“Can you take one of the bouncers with you?”
He smiles and nods before walking off. My phone buzzes and I smile when I see Lou’s name flashing on the screen. “Hey, lovely. How are you and how are my beautiful girls?”
“I’ve no time to talk. Do you think Giovanni would give us his villa?” she asks, her words rushed.
“Lou, slow down. Yes, and what’s wrong?” I can hear lots of noise in the background and one of the girls has started crying. “Lou, talk to me.”
“Mark and I have both been getting calls from a withheld number. All day long. But tonight, a brick came through the living room window. Daisy, go to Daddy…”
“What are you doing now?”
“I’ve just finished packing a few things and we’re getting the girls into the car,” she says. Not much scares Lou, but I can hear in her voice that she’s frightened. It won’t be for herself, it will be for her two precious girls.
“Come to the club. I’ll call Giovanni and ask him to come here. I know it’s easier said than done but you need to remain calm for the girls.”
“I’m trying, believe me. See you soon.”
I stare at the phone in my hand after Lou hangs up. She shouldn’t need to run away. Go into hiding. Has something else happened that she’s not telling me about? If Pete is behind the nuisance phone calls, then he’s doing that out of spite. Tony would kill Pete for messing with Lou and the girls if he were alive.
I call Giovanni. “Ciao sorella.”
“I need your help.” The words leave me in a rush.
“What’s wrong? Where’s Jack?”
“It’s not me, and Jack’s at home. It’s for Lou and the girls.”
“What do they need?”
“The villa.”
“When?”
“Now. Can you come to the club? And maybe bring someone that can take them to the airport.”
“I’m leaving now.”
Just like that, no questions asked. Giovanni would do anything for me, and Lou come to that. I always imagined they would get together. They were so close. I suspect she’s the reason my brother has never settled down with anyone and never had kids. He told me when he was twelve, ‘One day, I’ll marry that girl’. I laughed at him, because at our age, what did we know about love?
Fuck, I’m thirty-two and have only just discovered what falling in love feels like. It’s magical. Maybe I was wrong to laugh at my brother all those years ago.
“Everything seems okay downstairs, except…” Joe says, distracting me from my thoughts. His eyes darken and the slight smile that was on his face turns to a frown as his eyes cast over me. “Maria, what’s wrong?”
“Mark, Lou, and the kids are on their way here, and so is Giovanni.”
“Hold on. Start at the beginning.”
I tell him about Lou’s call and my phone call to my brother. All the time I’m speaking, Joe doesn’t say a word, but I can see his mind ticking. “Okay. I’m not sure getting away is the right thing to do.”
“What? Lou has to. She needs to protect the girls. And what were you going to say about the cellar? Except…?”
“The door has been forced open from the outside. I’ve called out a joiner to make it safe and put in new locks. But I haven’t used anyone that we would’ve used before. I’ve picked a company at random.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to stay away from any company or person that Pete would know about. I think we should call this into the police.”
“No,” I say flatly. “I don’t want them involved.”
He laughs. “A bit late for that considering who you’re dating. If that’s what you want to call it. You need to keep yourself right. Just call it in that someone has tried to break in. Whoever it was has been inside, or maybe Kirsten disturbed them when she went downstairs. We’re lucky Kirsten is okay.”
I hear what he means. He’s right. It’s my job to keep the staff safe. “You make the call. I’ll call Jack.” I don’t want to have to deal with him yet after my dinner with McGovern.
I listen as Joe makes the call, giving all details of what’s happened before I call Jack.
“I didn’t expect to hear from you,” he says with a cheerful voice.
“Jack, someone has broken into the club. The side door from the cellar is damaged.”
There’s a long pause and I hear what sounds like papers rustling. “I’m coming over.”
“Don’t. Joe has called it in. I don’t think you should be here when the officers arrive. But I should mention that Lou, Mark, and the girls are on their way to me.”
“What the fucking hell is going on, Maria? There’s no way I can stay away. I’m on my way and I’ll deal with the officers when I get there.” He sounds pissed off and I know I’m to blame for that. Well, partially.
The club is starting to fill up. People all drinking and having a good time, and all I want to do is lock myself away in my office and pretend this day hasn’t happened. But I can’t do that. Not only have I got a business to run, I have a family that need me. “Joe, can you stay on the door until Lou gets here and bring them to my office?”
“Of course. Consider it done.”
“Can you also let the bouncers on the door know to expect the police and my brother? I’m sure neither of them would get a warm welcome. I really should start removing staff Tony hired and replace them.”
“I hope that doesn’t include me.”
“Present company excluded. I need you.”
“I’ll be lost when you no longer need me,” he says, and I can see a hint of sadness.
“That’s not going to happen. There will always be a job for you with me.”
“That’s very kind of you. Now, I’ll go and wait for Lou.”
I tell Kirsten I’ll be in my office if anyone is looking for me. She tells me that no one should be looking for me, that all the staff should be busy doing th
eir jobs. She really is a likeable girl. I know she’s studying business management. I think it would be worth keeping an eye on her to see what she can do. I know this is only a part-time job for her, but she could be exactly what I’m looking for. She might even teach me a thing or two.
Leaving the loud music behind, I walk the corridor to my office. Sometimes, and I never thought I’d say this, the noise can be comforting. I key in the code, open the door, and switch on the light. Everything appears to be okay. I was worried with the manager not showing up and the break-in of sorts that maybe something would be wrong in here.
After a quick look around, I sit down at the desk with a heavy sigh. It’s then I notice the envelope with my name clearly written in bold letters.
Someone has been in here. Someone who shouldn’t have been.
I reach out to pick it up but hesitate. Maybe I should leave this for the police. I shake my head. There’s no way I can leave this for the police. It could be something that connects Jack to me.
A loud knock on the office door startles me. I’m relieved to see Jack when the door is pushed open. I forgot to close it behind me. “Hi,” I say.
“What’s that?” He approaches the desk without saying anything else and lifts the envelope. “Shit. This is like the one I received today.”
“What do you mean?” I ask as he carefully opens it. I gasp when the contents falls out on the desk.
Pictures of me out shopping with Joe.
“Jack… what’s going on?”
“These were also sent to me at the station today.”
“Are they from Pete?”
“I think so. I don’t want any of my officers seeing these. Craig knows about us and he knows about the pictures.” I stand and step into his now open arms. “Everything will be okay. I’ll catch or kill him if it’s the last thing I do.”
His words don’t bring me any sort of comfort. I hate Pete Jamieson for everything he’s done to me and what he’s doing to my family.
My phone buzzes; an unknown number. It’s a picture message. I hand my phone to Jack, letting him open it. He takes a long look at it before turning it to me. A picture of Lou putting the cases into her car.
He’s watching them. And no doubt he’ll follow them straight to the club.
“If he’s following them, he’ll see Giovanni come here too. He’ll know that’s where they’re going. I need to keep them safe. Jack, we need to.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jack
“We’ll keep them safe. I promise you.”
She tenses in my hold and I know what she’s thinking; how can I possibly promise her that. Easily, because he’s already hurt the one person I love more than anything. I know what Lou and the girls mean to Maria. She’d give up her life to keep them safe.
Look at everything Pete has done. The murders he’s committed lately. What he’s done to the woman he claims he loves.
I hold Maria tightly. I’m struggling to let go of her or even think clearly. Everything in my head is all fuzzy. I close my eyes and try to take deep, even breaths to help me remain calm. Maria needs that of me now more than ever. She can’t see that this is all getting to me.
A darkness hangs over my head. It’s there waiting in the wings to take control of me, but I won’t let it. Not this time around. Darkness has clouded my life for too long now and I’m not allowing it to re-enter. I won’t allow Pete Jamieson and his fucking goons that follow him around to mess with what I have in my life.
My future is with Maria.
Crying interrupts my moment with Maria and I reluctantly release my tight hold of her as Lou and her family enter the office. Joe stands at the door and acknowledges me with a simple nod of his head. I’ll talk to him in a few minutes. He looks stressed. This whole fucking mess is wearing us all down piece by piece.
“Lou, you can’t go anywhere,” Maria says quickly as the two women embrace.
“Why not?” she asks, her eyes filled with tears. Mark has his youngest daughter in his arms while his other daughter clings to his leg. She looks scared. I bet Lou has dragged the girls from their beds in an attempt to get to safety.
“Because he’s been watching you and me. I received a message not long ago. A picture of you loading the car. He knows that you’re leaving. I bet he’s followed you here."
I watch on, helpless, as realisation dawns on Lou. Her body starts to tremble in Maria’s arms, and I don’t see the confident woman who came to my house. All I see is the same vulnerability that I saw in Maria all those weeks ago.
“Lou, please. We need to think of something else. Giovanni is on his way here too, and if Pete or someone else has followed you here, they’ll know where to find you.”
“Lou, sweetheart. Maria has a point. Detective, what can we do?” Mark asks me as he takes a seat on the sofa. His daughters cling to him, and the youngest is sobbing lightly.
“Mark, I can have you all under protection, but you would have to give me everything you have on Pete.”
“I can’t do that without incriminating myself. I won’t leave my family voluntarily.”
“You won’t need to.” Giovanni makes his presence felt as he enters Maria’s office, which is feeling a bit overcrowded. “Evening, everyone. Maria, two police officers entered the club after me. Someone should go and speak with them.”
Mark’s eyes drift over Giovanni. I’d say he looks intimidated by the Italian man, but I’m not sure that’s what’s wrong. I’m missing another piece of the puzzle as I look between the two men for a moment before the penny drops and I turn to face Lou. She’s the connection. She might be married to Mark, but was there once something between her and Giovanni? I think so, given the frosty atmosphere in the room.
“I’ll go,” says Joe, and he looks relieved to be leaving the office.
“Do you want me to come with you?” I ask, thinking I should show my face and see which officers are here.
“No. Stay and see what you can come up with. I’ll also get security to do a check of the area surrounding the club and maybe Maria’s flat.”
That’s a good idea. We need to check out everything. Leave no stone unturned. Although, I don’t want the officers to do too much investigating. They’re here for a possible break-in, nothing more. At this stage.
“I have men in the bar. They can help.” Joe thanks Giovanni before leaving. “So, it would seem we have a bit of a situation,” Giovanni says, stepping farther into the room. “Now, I can presume there have been fresh developments since I last spoke to you, Maria?” She nods her head but keeps her hand in Lou’s.
“Yes,” I state and proceed to tell him everything that’s happened. That we think Pete is involved in tonight. I’ll discuss McGovern with him when we’re alone because that’s another situation that needs to be dealt with, or maybe Giovanni has already dealt with it.
“Okay, now I know we don’t have much to go on, but we can assume that Pete is trying to frighten everyone. And yes, I’m more than happy to have you all at the villa.” Giovanni speaks to Lou, but I can hear there’s a but coming. “But I don’t have enough security to keep you all safe in Italy. I can keep you safer here and it won’t put your family at risk.” I hear what he means and I’m sure everyone else does. He means there will be no risk to Mark, and I get that. From what I know of Mark, first and foremost, he’s a family man and would do everything to keep them safe. I don’t want to be the one putting him behind bars.
Is he an innocent man? No. Like Maria, he’s played a part in many crimes, although not through his own choice. His decisions have all been made by either Tony or Pete.
“But isn’t that putting you at risk?” Lou questions him in a quiet voice. I glance at Mark and his young daughter has fallen asleep in his arms while the other is struggling to keep her eyes open. It’s far too late. They should both be asleep.
“Having you all at my home isn’t going to put me at a greater risk than I am at already. You have met my sister? Trouble seems to f
ollow her wherever she goes.” He smirks.
“Oi, you. Enough,” Maria teases him. “Lou, it makes sense for you all to be there.”
“Ah, you misheard me. I said you all. That includes you.”
I want to interrupt him. Tell him that I’m more than capable of looking after Maria, but I don’t because part of me believes this is a good idea. If she’s with them, I wouldn’t need to worry, leaving me free to concentrate on finding Pete and dealing with him.
“Giovanni, I love you, but I have too much to do. There’s no way I’m coming to stay with you. We’d kill each other,” Maria tells him with a straight face. She’s not amused.
“Maria, we can discuss this later. I think the priority should be to get Lou and the girls to safety. I’m prepared to let you stay here until closing because you have Joe and Jack, but then I want you at my house.”
“But…”
“This isn’t up for a debate,” he tells her firmly.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Everyone’s eyes turn to me. With the intention to silence it, I stop when I see Craig’s name on the screen. “Sorry, I need to take this. What’s up?” I ask.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at Crave with Maria. Why?”
“I need you down here. This is a fucking mess. The fire brigade can’t bring this fire under control.”
I turn away from the others before I ask, but something tells me I already know what he’s going to say. “Where?
“Maria’s sister-in-law’s house.” My shoulders sag in defeat and I close my eyes in an attempt to compose myself. Because, right now, Lou doesn’t need to know.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Evacuate all buildings nearby if it’s as bad as you say.”
“It’s already done, boss.”
I take a deep breath and turn back to the silent room. “I need to leave. Something has come up.”
“Jack.” Maria reaches out, taking my hand, and all I see is worry etched on her perfect face.
“Please do whatever your brother says. I’ll come to you as soon as I can.” I press a soft kiss to her forehead because if I kiss her anywhere else, I won’t want to leave her. “Giovanni, Mark, can I have a word?” I say before leaving the room. Mark puts his sleeping daughter into Lou’s arms before both men exit behind me and Giovanni pulls the door closed behind him.
Love and Truth Page 10