Love on the Edge: Nine Shades of Romantic Suspense, page 110
Kali had shed many tears for him. Even now moisture collected in the corner of her eyes. As if sensing her distress, Grant whispered, “Are you okay?”
She tilted her head up and responded softly, “I’m just struggling with Dan’s acceptance of his own death. Why refuse treatment. It could really make a difference.”
His arms tightened around her. He dropped his chin onto the top of her head. “Because it would only give him a few months. He wants to go peacefully—the way God intended.”
Kali flinched. “And that just reminds me of Brad. How could he kill Christian, his best friend, in order to gain a fresh start?”
A heavy sigh worked free of Grant’s chest. “Brad brought a lot of pain and torment to many people.”
Cringing slightly, she nodded. “True. I’d be happy to take Sergeant. He’s a great dog.”
“Give Susan a chance. If it doesn’t work out then you can suggest it.” His deep murmur sent shivers down her spine.
“And Jarl?” She tried to hold her bitterness back.
“You can’t fix everything, honey. He shot you. He attacked Dan. I don’t care how worried he was you’d finger him for the thefts, attempted murder is going to put him away for a long time.”
“Well I hope he gets to stay with Penny until the end. She only has a few weeks left.” It had to be hard on her to know what Jarl had done and the penalty he’d pay for trying to fix their situation. Not a nice end to her life.
“You’re such a softy.” He cuddled her closer.
Rational, sensible Grant. He’d been the stalwart one throughout all this. He’d calmed her when anger had overwhelmed her. He’d held her when despair had taken hold. He’d loved her when she hadn’t loved herself.
He’d become everything to her.
Grant returned to gently scratching his hand along her slowly healing wounds. Kali moaned with pleasure.
“That feels so good.”
“Didn’t you say that very same thing last night?”
She flashed him an intimate glance. “Yeah, I think I did. Maybe it’ll be your turn to moan tonight.”
He winked. “I look forward to that.”
“Hey you two, my old heart can’t stand much more of this. Keep it clean.” Dan’s teasing voice brought them both back to their surroundings.
Stefan added his two bits. “Take pity on those of us unattached and unloved.” He’d become a regular visitor as he was enlisted to help Kali develop her skills.
Grant snorted at his friend. “You’re alone only when you choose to be.”
And if Julie had her way, Stefan wouldn’t be alone tonight or any other night. Kali surveyed her group with satisfaction, her gaze landing on Dan, his face alight with knowing laughter.
Grant reached out and captured her fingers in his.”So were you planning to do anything special in the next couple of months?”
She wrinkled her nose. “No, I don’t think so. Other than enjoy life.”
“Sounds good to me. How do you feel about having company?”
She glanced sideways at him. “I’d love to have some company. Are we talking for a day or two? For a few weeks or a few years?”
Her fingers were squeezed in a death grip. “If we’re talking that long, maybe I should ask how do you feel about a house guest?”
Wow. Kali raised an eyebrow. “I guess that depends on whether he’s going to be a guest or if he’s moving in.” Kali gave him a saucy look
Grant’s steely gray eyes searched her face. Kali cast a warm glance from her partially closed eyes. His lips twitched. “Is moving in an option?”
“Hell, yeah. House guests are work. Partners share the load.” Kali smirked.
“We do make a good team, don’t we?”
“Damn right we do.
“Then partners it is.”
Dan finally spoke up. “About damn time too.”
They all laughed.
Grant squeezed Kali’s hand. She smiled. Her future looked warm and bright for the first time in over a decade.
Personally, she couldn’t wait.
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Hide’n Go Seek! If you enjoyed this book, I’d love it if you’d help others enjoy it as well. Reviews make a difference. And, I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a short review at your favorite retailer.
I love to hear from readers, and you can contact me at my website: www.dalemayer.com or at my Facebook author page. To be informed of new releases and special offers, sign up for Dale Mayer’s newsletter. And if you are interested in joining my street team, here is the Facebook sign up page.
The next book in this series is Maddy’s Floor.
Cheers,
Dale Mayer
About the Author
Dale Mayer is a prolific multi-published writer. She’s best known for her Psychic Visions series. Besides her romantic suspense/thrillers, Dale also writes paranormal romance and crossover young adult books in several different genres. To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in digital and print formats.
Published Young Adult books include:
Family Blood Ties Series
Vampire in Denial
Vampire in Distress
Vampire in Design
Vampire in Deceit
Vampire in Defiance
Family Blood Ties Trilogy: Books 1-3
Sian’s Solution – a Family Ties short story
Design series
Dangerous Designs
Deadly Designs
Darkest Designs
Design Series Trilogy
Standalone
In Cassie’s Corner
Gem Stone
Published Adult books:
Psychic Vision Series
Tuesday’s Child
Hide’n Go Seek
Maddy’s Floor
Garden of Sorrow
Knock, Knock…
Rare Find
Psychic Vision Set: Books 1-3
By Death Series
Touched by Death
Haunted by Death
Chilled by Death – coming soon
Second Chances…at Love Series
Second Chances
Broken Protocols – A Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy Series
Broken Protocols
Broken Protocols 2
Broken Protocols 3 – out soon!
Other Books:
It’s a Dog’s Life – Romantic Comedy novella
Romance x3 – An Anthology
Riana’s Revenge – a fantasy short story
Dangerous Flames
Wendy Ely
Dedication
To Dan: I love you more each day. Thank you for being my everything.
Acknowledgments
Tyler Dodds: Thanks for brainstorming the vault with me! You helped find the missing piece to the story.
P.J. McLayne and Rebecca Casey: Thank you for all of the hard work you’ve done on Dangerous Flames. Without your help it wouldn’t what it is today.
Chapter One
Energy buzzed through the crowded coffee house and swirled around with the vast quantity of people, some of them decked out in designer labels while others, content in touristy wear, sipped their drinks. Gabrielle had chosen to meet her father here because they wouldn’t need to worry about mixing in with the crowd. She didn’t care, but her father did.
The coffee shop served as the ideal place for her. She’d be able to have the chat with her father and then get into her shop a few doors down to have it open to customers in a half hour. Ordering their mochas ahead of time saved her a few precious minutes. She handed him his drink before taking a seat across the small wooden table from him.
“I could’ve ordered for myself,” he said with a twist of his mouth. “Black coffee is all I ever order.” He sipped the chocolate-flavored liquid in the white and green colored cup while scanning the people seated around him. His face formed into a grimace. “Gabi, I hate this poor excuse for coffee and the establishment you’ve picked.”
“I’m sorry, Dad. It’s been a while since we’ve had coffee together and I automatically ordered this. I’ll remember next time though.” Her hands started to shake while the realization of her screw-up sunk in. If she couldn’t get his stupid order correct, how could she work for him?
For Gabrielle Medini, the goal seemed simple. She wanted excitement and glamour, but her life had changed from country hopping as a teen to boring at age twenty-five and she longed to recapture that sizzle. Everything had become clear, leading her to believe that her father held the answers. She needed this discussion to be perfect, but their conversation had quickly slid in the opposite direction.
“Don’t pretend this is a casual father-daughter bonding moment. Why did you request this meeting?”
She tapped the toe of her Dior pump against the tiled floor as she glanced at the red lipstick print on her straw. Uncertainty swirled through her as she twisted the straw around in the dark creamy liquid. Just ask him. But his answer would certainly be no. She slowly inhaled and then let the breath exhale slowly to calm her nerves. The trembling in her hands stopped. Yes, she could do this.
“Okay, Dad, since we both have a full work day, I’ll cut to the chase so we can get out of here.” She made contact with her father’s steel glare.
“Is something wrong, Gabi? Are you in trouble?” His voice softened a bit which was rare.
“Nothing is wrong, Dad.” Trying to capture another ounce of courage, she took a long drink of her coffee. She replaced the cup on the table and with a faked confident smile, she said, “I think it’s time you tell me about your organization.”
Her father’s jaw dropped in concert with his cup, spewing hot liquid all over. “Damn it!” He jumped up from the table, then grabbed paper napkins from the counter to dab the splotches from his navy, silk suit.
After a quick glance at the long line of customers waiting for service, she decided to wipe the mess from the table herself instead of waiting for an employee’s help. She sighed. With so many interruptions, she’d be lucky if the discussion ever took place, let alone they come to an agreement.
“They provide lids for those cups for a reason, you know,” she snapped as she wiped the table. She stalked over to the trash can and threw away the soggy napkins.
“I don’t like lids.”
“They prevent liquid from spilling, and now I don’t have time to buy you another one.”
She pulled her chair closer to the table as she sat and eyed her father’s posture. His crossed arms and the deepened frown told her he wasn’t happy, but she couldn’t let this go. “I’ve noticed some things about our family and it’s time for you to be honest with me.”
“Why are you wasting my time?” he shot back and glanced at the people nearby. Why did he have to be so paranoid? It wasn’t like anyone would recognize him. Her father looked like an ordinary man with his glasses, sun-induced wrinkly skin, and thinning hair.
“Thanks, Dad. So having coffee with your daughter is a waste of time?” She tapped her foot again, and glanced at her watch, her impatience growing with each second. Even though she’d only been back in town for a year, knowing her father didn’t trust her created pinpricks of hurt in her heart. Sending her away for several years didn’t erase the fact that she was his daughter.
“You’re wasting my time by talking about stuff you shouldn’t be. You need to be folding sweaters in your boutique instead of asking these types of questions.” He took his ringing cell phone out of his jacket pocket and instead of answering, set it on the table.
She did her best to push the waves of pain caused from his declared expectations of her from her heart. “You can answer the call.” She didn’t have the time to wait while he had a conversation over the phone but curiosity voided that fact.
“I can handle the matter later. Let’s finish, so I can get on with my day.” He folded his arms over his broad chest.
“Please stop hiding things from me, Dad.”
The frown on his face deepened. “I don’t have any idea what you’re referring to.”
“I’m not the princess you think I am. I’ve grown up and can face the truth now.” She took a sip.
He shook his head again. “There’s nothing for you to know.”
“Do you think I’m stupid? Tell me how your rental warehouse and cabin in the mountains brings in enough money to finance a million dollar home? Or the expense of sending me overseas to a swanky boarding school.” She took a long drink, savoring the taste of her caramel-chocolate coffee mixed with the satisfaction of being right.
She’d overheard him talking to her mother about keeping her far from the mess. At the time she hadn’t understood what he had been referring to, but she had grown up. Even having dinner each Friday with the members of the business rang warning bells for her, but the men kept it all hush-hush while in her company. Up until now, she hadn’t asked questions. The passive part of Gabrielle had left and she would be demanding answers until she got them.
“This isn’t the place to discuss anything of importance.” His heavy hand hit the table with a thunk. Shaking his head as if she’d failed a test, he said, “Besides, Gabrielle Felice Medini, you need to learn the meaning of trust instead of worrying about my private affairs.”
Her chest tightened but did her best to force the sensation away. She must accomplish what she’d set out to do. Looking around the coffee shop, she forced out a laugh. “Do you actually think these people care what we’re talking about? Everyone has their noses pressed to their laptop screens, listening to IPODs, or chatting with friends about last night’s date. Nobody is listening to us, Enrico Medini.”
He kept his eyes on her as if he contemplated telling her the truth. “Stop pressing the issue.”
Anger welled up in her and she did nothing to hold it back. She knew how far she could push her father to get her way and intended on doing it now. “I want to know.” She pointed at her father. “You talk about trust? Try trusting your daughter for a minute. I have never given you a reason to not have faith in me. I never questioned a single decision you’ve made for me which includes shipping me to Italy for years.”
“That’s enough.” He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed into slits focused on her face, but he didn’t scare her.
Refusing to turn from the burning glare of her father, she asked, “And you say there’s nothing to know? Do you really think I wouldn’t read the papers? Or see your face under the headlines? Don’t underestimate my intelligence, Father.”
He looked around as if checking to see if she’d been right about the people not caring. Leaning forward, he whispered, “Fine.”
Her heart stopped in her chest as she waited for him to say the words. She’d finally convinced him to tell her. Things would now change in her life. The spark of excitement flickered, ready to ignite once he exposed the truth.
Just as her dad opened his mouth to speak, Gabrielle heard someone at a nearby table whispered to his friend, “See that guy behind me? I swear it’s Enrico Medini.”
“Yeah? So?” the guy’s companion asked, not even trying to keep his voice lowered. “I don’t know him.”
“The Mafia boss? My dad follows all that shit.” The guy had to be only a few years younger than Gabriel and wore a University of Nevada T-shirt. “When we get up, take his picture with your phone. I gotta show my dad.”
“See what I mean?” Dad hissed. “Stay out of this, Gabi. I don’t want to see your picture in the papers next to mine.” He swung his gaze to the wall while placing his hand up to avoid having his picture taken as the guys passed.
“Did you get it?” the guy’s friend asked.
“Good enough for him to tell who I had seen,” the college guy answered as he pushed the door open.
She had enough sense to wait until the guys left before whispering, “I want to be involved. Please give me a job.”
He snapped his attention back to her. “This discussion is over.”
Gabrielle glanced at her watch. Almost time for the boutique to open. “How about we continue this conversation over dinner?”
“No.”
“Why not?” She tapped her foot again. His stubborn refusal annoyed her and she couldn’t help the nervous gesture. Unfortunately her father managed to get her nerves coiled up tighter than a ball of yarn and he didn’t seem to care one bit. “Dad, why won’t you let me work for you? Don’t I seem competent enough in running my own business to do a job for you?”
“You have a good life with the best boutique in town, plus a fancy house. Be satisfied with those things.”
Why couldn’t he see her as more than his little princess? She could do so much beyond selling designer clothes and looking pretty. Now that she had returned home, she wanted to be part of it all. The Mafia lifestyle ran in her blood and the desire to be part of her father’s empire pumped through her so strong she could almost taste it.
“Why won’t you let me do something small? Maybe collect money or something?” Excitement bubbled inside of her.
“I will not talk to you about this again.” He picked up his cell and dialed a number, but before sending the call through he took another look at Gabrielle. “You’ll be at dinner, correct?”
“Yes, Father,” Gabrielle said even though avoiding the weekly event might help prove her point. Pushing her chair back and standing, she mumbled, “See you at dinner.”
She spun on her heel and walked out of the coffee shop knowing she had go to the dinner instead of miss out on a moment to speak with her father. He’d almost told her today so there had to be a way to get her father to share some of the limelight with her. If she found an opportunity to get him alone later, she might be granted the opportunity pressure him a bit and then he’d tell her the truth.
