Held Firm: A Dark Mafia Romance, page 11
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” Mike shouted. “Go ahead. I’m fine.”
“I’m surrounded by fucking morons,” Roland snarled, moving to the hard damp sand so he could jog, but as he did, a ripple rolled to shore and lapped over his feet. “Goddammit,” he shouted, jumping back and pulling off his handmade Italian loafers, only to see the expensive footwear was ruined. “When I get my hands on that fucking guy for sending me down here, he and that slut of his will be fucking sorry!”
Still lying on the ground and watching Roland furiously hurl his costly loafers in the sea, Mike broke into a broad grin. He loathed the man, and the sight of him enraged over a pair of his fancy shoes had made Mike’s twisted ankle a little less painful.
Roland’s fanatical obsession about his clothing was bizarre and disturbing. From his socks to his tailor-made suits, he wore only the best, and if he found a spot on his perfectly pressed jeans, he’d change them and take them straight to the cleaners. But as his furious boss jogged away, Mike’s attention returned to the regrettable situation in which he unexpectedly found himself.
Limping all the way back to the house wouldn’t be easy, but there was something far more important weighing on his mind, and his dilemma might well be fortuitous. He’d been looking for a safe exit from Roland’s crew for a while, and lying alone on the sand, never had he wanted to get away more.
Mike knew he was no saint, but Roland’s heart was black and pumped ghoulish burgundy blood. His latest act of cruelty with Matteus Anderson had been merciless and unforgivable.
When Mike had joined the Albertini organization, he’d done so with his eyes wide open. While the job hadn’t been ideal, with a wife and three kids, he’d been struggling to make ends meet. He’d already been moonlighting for Lorenzo, and when he was offered a permanent role for triple what he’d been earning as a security guard, it was just too good to pass up. For the first couple of years he’d had no complaints, then he’d been promoted to Roland’s elite crew.
Now gazing out at the sun sparkling on the water, and hearing the squawking gulls, in spite of his painful ankle, Mike savored the moment alone on the deserted beach. He had to call Jimmy, but he took an extra moment to soak in the idyllic moment. Finally looking around and spotting his phone, he slowly rose to his feet, limped across the sand, picked it up and placed the call.
“Hey, Mike, what’s up?” Jimmy asked, answering on the first ring. “I’m halfway up the canyon.”
“Turn around. Roland is on his way back to the house. He thinks the couple next door aren’t what they seem and he’s pissed off.”
“No shit. Why is that?”
“He doesn’t think Bianca would have taken off down the beach during the storm, and the guy purposely lied to him. You know what that means,” Mike added with a sigh.
“Shit. Roland will pound him,” Jimmy muttered, “and God knows what he’ll do to the girl.”
“More like the devil knows,” Mike grunted. “Anyway, he wants you to meet him at the garage. I have a feeling the three of us will be paying this Vincelli guy and his girl a visit.”
“They’re not home. Before I left I saw them walking near the water heading up the beach, but they can’t get away. Once they get past that last house they’ll run into the rocks. Man, I sure wouldn’t want to be in their shoes, that poor bastard—and that girl. Damn.”
Mike caught his breath.
Even if the couple were completely innocent, which they probably were, Roland wouldn’t believe them—or care.
“Hey, Mike, are you still there?”
“Uh, yeah, Jimmy, I’m here,” Mike replied, a chill rippling through his body. “I tripped on a log and twisted my ankle. It will take me ages to get back. Can you pick me up?”
“Sure, where are you?”
“Look for the second lifeguard tower, but by the time you get here I should be up on the road.”
“Maybe I should call Roland and pick him up too.”
“By now he’ll be almost back at the house,” Mike said hastily, “and he’s in a mood. Best leave it.”
“Ah, right, okay. See you shortly.”
Ending the call, Mike hobbled across the deep sand, struggled over a group of smooth boulders, then pushed himself onto the sea wall and sat down to wait for Jimmy.
All the while he’d been teetering on the precipice of a dangerous decision. There was no evidence the happy couple had any information about Bianca. The guy had simply offered Roland a possible theory.
I sure wouldn’t want to be in their shoes, that poor bastard—and that girl. Damn.
As Jimmy’s comment echoed through Mike’s head, a stream of grisly episodes he’d been forced to witness flashed through his mind, and ended with Matt’s despicable, torturous death.
Roland was a demon.
A loud honk snatched his attention.
Jerking his head up, Mike spied the approach of the lone car on the empty road. As it rolled to a stop, Jimmy lowered the windows.
“Hey, Mike, are you ready to go?”
“Hi, Jimmy, can you join me for a second?”
“Sure, but you don’t look so good,” Jimmy remarked, stepping out and moving toward him.
“I’m not. Roland just called. Give me your phone.”
“Uh, sure,” Jimmy muttered with a worried frown, pulling it from his pocket and handing it over. “Is something wrong?”
“Yep,” Mike replied solemnly, opening it and removing the sim card. “It’s okay, kid,” he continued, returning the disabled phone. “You’ll get it back.”
“What’s going on?”
“I need the car, but don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble.”
“Can you tell me anything?”
“Sure, I could tell you a whole lot, but then I’d have to shoot you,” Mike replied with a grin as he limped past him.
Awkwardly climbing behind the wheel, he burned rubber as he turned the car around and sped off. He was on a mission from God.
CHAPTER 15
Holding Bianca’s hand as they strolled along the water’s edge toward his home, Nick had managed to keep the conversation light, but he sensed she was still troubled by Roland’s heartless cruelty and Matt’s death. When they arrived at the spot where they’d first met, an idea popped into his head. With a wicked grin curling his lips, he lifted his phone from his shorts and buried it in the dry sand.
“Nick, what are you doing?”
“Keeping it safe,” he replied, pulling off his T-shirt and laying it over the spot.
“Why do you need to hide it? Are you going for a swim? It still doesn’t matter, there’s no one around. Roland and his crew left.”
“Uh-huh,” he muttered, then suddenly scooped her up and marched into the sea.
“Nick! Oh, my God! Nick!” she squealed. “Don’t throw me in! No!”
Ignoring her protests and wading forward until the water was up to his thighs, he tossed her from his arms, but she quickly found her feet and began splashing him.
“I’m going to get you for this,” she warned, grinning broadly. “You just wait. You’d better sleep with one eye open.”
He laughed out loud, then lunging toward her and effortlessly picking her up a second time, he spun her around and dumped her again. As she shrieked, then surfaced and glowered at him, for a moment all he could do was stare.
She was wearing a bikini, but she may as well have been naked. The skimpy triangles covering her breasts couldn’t hide her puckered nipples, and the meager fabric clinging to her full, fleshy ass left nothing to the imagination. As she yelled obscenities and came toward him, he swiftly moved an arm around her waist, jerked her into his body, then slid his fingers into her wet, tousled hair and tugged back her head.
“You’re fucking gorgeous. I want to devour you right here, right now.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she retorted with a sassy grin, her intense green eyes staring up at him.
“I’ve only said it once, and that was five seconds ago,” he replied solemnly, then abruptly crushed her lips in a fervent kiss.
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, energy surged though his loins. With his cock stiffening, he looked to shore in search of a secluded spot, but to his shock he saw Roland at the water’s edge urgently waving his arms. Brad and John were no longer on the roof. Though they could reappear at any moment, Nick had to assume he had no backup.
“Bianca,” he began, placing his mouth at her ear, “I’m about to tell you something, but you can’t react.”
“Oh, no, what’s wrong?”
“Roland is on the beach directly in front of us.”
He heard her gasp, and her arms around him tightened.
“Don’t panic. We don’t know why he’s here, but he’s certainly trying to get my attention,” Nick continued. “I’m going to ignore him until I have a minute to think this through.”
“Is that why you buried your phone? But you couldn’t have known he’d show up.”
“I didn’t, but with guys like him, believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. It’s the best way to stay a step ahead.”
“Why do you think he’s here?”
“No idea, but at least Brad and John are in my house.”
“That’s a comforting thought, but my heart is still racing.”
“I know, I can feel it,” he said softly, but as he finished speaking, a tall, powerfully built man hobbled out from the space between his house and his neighbors. “Bianca, a heavyset guy just showed up and he’s limping toward Roland. I’m going to turn you around. Tell me if you recognize him.”
As they pretended to play, he maneuvered her body so she could view the beach.
“He’s built like Big Mike,” she said, then quickly dropped her head. “It’s hard to be sure with that baseball cap and sunglasses.”
“Who’s Big Mike?”
“He’s one of Roland’s soldiers. I only know him because he worked with Dad for a while, except Mike has long hair. I suppose he could have tucked it under the cap.”
Nick sensed trouble. Though it was a warm day, the stranger was wearing a jacket, and his hands were in the pockets as he walked up behind Roland. Apparently oblivious, Roland continued to shout and wave his arms.
“Maybe we should go in and find out what he wants,” Bianca suggested. “We can’t stay out here forever.”
“We’re not going anywhere near those two,” Nick replied gravely. “I have a very bad feeling about this.”
Mike had recognized the couple in the water the moment he’d stepped onto the beach. The beautiful girl’s blonde hair was like a halo around her head, and the handsome man had his arms protectively around her. The demon was at the water’s edge waving them in, but they were ignoring him. Tightening his grip around the gun in his pocket, Mike felt strangely calm, and just as he was about to pull out the weapon, a cloud blocking the sun drifted away.
Roland was suddenly bathed in bright light.
It was a sign.
A confirmation from God.
The divine moment had come.
Determination rippling through his body, Mike lifted the gun and took aim.
“Evildoer!”
Dropping his arms to his sides, Roland slowly turned around.
“You do the devil’s work,” Mike growled, scowling at him. “It’s time to join your master.”
“What the fuck are you playing at?” Roland demanded. “Put that thing down, you moron, before I—”
With the shot still echoing across the quiet beach, Roland’s lifeless body flopped to the sand. Stepping forward, Mike removed Roland’s wallet and phone, then straightened up and looked across at the couple in the water.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to worry,” he yelled, thinking the girl was as lovely as the beautiful Bianca. “You’re safe for the moment, but you must get out of here. The demon has evil servants. They’ll come looking for him.”
“Who are you?” the handsome man called. “How can we thank you?”
“Thank almighty God. He sent me.”
Feeling a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Mike turned and began limping back to the track between the two houses. Roland always carried plenty of cash, and his credit cards could be sold for a decent amount, but Mike suddenly realized he couldn’t go anywhere. The beautiful Bianca, the angel he’d worshipped for so long, was still missing. He couldn’t leave without saving her and punishing those who had dared to take her. She mesmerized him, and had from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. Whenever he was at the Albertini compound, he hoped and prayed their paths would cross. When they did, he would walk around in a daze for hours, endlessly reliving the moment. Now with God’s help, he’d rescue her, and her father would bless their union.
He had just started walking between the two houses when he felt the compelling need to rest for a few minutes. The walk up from the water through the heavy sand had hurt his ankle, and he was almost out of breath. Slumping behind a tree stump, he thought about where to start the hunt.
“Bianca, where are you?” Mike murmured under his breath, closing his eyes and picturing her. “Please, God, give me guidance.”
As her image swam in his head, he smiled—then frowned. Except for the blonde hair, the lovely woman in the water bore a striking resemblance.
His eyes popped open.
Peering around the tree trunk, he stared at the couple now standing over the demon’s body. Though he tried to see the girl’s face, she was too far away, but the man took her hand and they began striding up toward the cottage. Hoping to see them when they entered, Mike crept across to a half-open window and peered inside. Two men were standing in a living room decorated like a beach shack from a 1960s movie.
“He couldn’t have gone far,” one of them remarked. “He was limping like he had a broken leg.”
“Maybe it’s just as well we didn’t find him. That was mob business.”
“Hey, what we’re involved with is mob business. Bianca is Albertini’s daughter!”
“True, but that’s different, and the last thing Nick wants is to draw attention to himself. He wants to get Bianca out of here with no fuss and as fast as he can.”
Nick’s first instinct had been to race from the water and chase the shooter, but he wasn’t about to leave Bianca, and things were complicated enough. As the seconds ticked past and the man hobbled away, Nick began to hope Brad and John would leave well enough alone.
Waiting until the assailant had disappeared, he moved Bianca behind him and moved slowly to shore. Now standing over Roland’s body with an arm around her waist, Nick’s mind raced with the various scenarios that could come from the man’s demise.
“A quick death was too good for him,” Bianca remarked, her voice trembling. “I’d heard he could be ruthless, but what he did to Matteus was horrible. Dad’s in a rough business, but how could he have a bastard like that working for him?”
“That’s a complicated conversation for another time,” Nick said gravely, then lifting his eyes, he scanned the beach. There were no signs of life except Brad and John stepping onto the porch. Knowing what had to be done, he took Bianca’s hand and started up to the house.
“Did either of you see the shooter?” he asked as they approached.
“We were in the garage when we heard the shot,” Brad replied. “By the time we got to the living room and looked out on the beach he was gone. I thought I saw movement at the side of the house, but when I checked, there was no one around.”
“I went out to the street, but it was empty,” John declared. “He must have climbed up the bank to the coast road, or maybe he broke into the house next door.”
“Okay, listen up. Brad, you call it in. When the police arrive, tell them just what you told me. You two were in the garage, you heard a shot, ran into the living room, and briefly saw the perp as he moved between the houses. If they ask about me, stick to the story. My roof was damaged during the storm, and I rented the house a few doors down. Add that I left early this morning because some guys moved into the neighboring property and were making my girlfriend uncomfortable. That will send them over there and they’ll find Matteus. Any questions?”
“Not a one,” Brad replied.
“John, I want to get out of here fast, so I’m taking your car to my sister’s. This is the key to the Marshalls’,” he continued, handing it to him. “Pack up our stuff, put it in my Porsche, and drive up there. Be quick, but be thorough. The key fob is in the center console, and so is the remote control for the gates.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Have I missed anything?” Nick asked Brad as John hurried away.
“You were worried Roland might have left eyes on you. One of his guys could still be lurking on the street somewhere.”
“That’s another reason I’m leaving in John’s car, but now that you mention it, tell him to make sure he’s not followed.”
“Will do.”
“Uh, what happens now?” Bianca piped up. “I mean, Matteus is lying dead in that house, and Roland is on the beach with a bullet in him. The police will be all over this.”
“We’ll talk about everything on the way up the canyon,” Nick replied. “Right now we need to get the hell out of Dodge.”
“Can I take two minutes in the bathroom? I’m all sandy and salty. I promise to be quick.”
“Okay, and I’ll get you something warm to wear,” he said, seeing the goosebumps on her skin. “Two minutes! No more!”
CHAPTER 16
When Bianca hurried from the bathroom, she found Nick wearing joggers, a rugged True Grit sweater, and holding a gym bag. Handing her a fleecy sweatshirt, he borrowed Brad’s cowboy hat, then bustled her into the garage. Grateful for the warm hoodie, she settled into the Ford Explorer, buckled her seatbelt, and willed her heart to settle.
“Stay below the window until we’re on the coast road,” he ordered, pushing the hat low across his forehead.
