Held Firm: A Dark Mafia Romance, page 14
“Bianca, let your father—”
“No fucking way!” she shouted, cutting him off. “Sammy has nothing to do with what happened to me.”
“Bianca, I’ll ask you again, how can you be so sure?”
“I know him, you don’t, and you’re judging him without even meeting him.”
“I’m not judging anyone, I’m simply saying—”
“I should let my dad get hold of him. No, I won’t, now give me the fucking phone.”
To her surprise, he handed it to her and walked away.
“Thank you,” she muttered, then hastily dialed Sammy’s number.
“This is Sammy.”
“Sammy, thank God you answered.”
“Bianca? Is that you? Is that really you?”
“Yes, yes, it’s me, and I’m okay.”
“I can’t believe it. Where are you? What happened?”
“It’s a long story and I’m fine, but Sammy, you have to go underground. Dad thinks you were involved.”
“Is he out of his mind? How could he even begin to believe something like that?”
“I don’t know, but if you’re home or at a casino—”
“I’m having something to eat at our favorite place.”
“That’s a relief, they’ll never think to look for you there, but you should leave. Go to our old haunt, but for fuck’s sake, don’t take a cab.”
“I’m not an idiot, Bianca.”
“No, you’re not, sorry. Anyway, go there, and lay low until you hear from me.”
“I will, you take care, and Bianca, thanks.”
Letting out a heavy sigh and hanging up the phone, she leaned against the wall, then glanced across at Nick sitting at the kitchen table. He was eating a muffin and drinking his coffee.
“Sorry I yelled at you,” she said meekly, walking back to join him.
“Apology accepted, but I still think you’re making a mistake. Hiding out only makes him look guilty.”
“If you know my father, you’d know hiding out is the smart thing to do,” she remarked, sitting down, “at least for the moment.”
“Let’s change the subject,” Nick said with a smile. “There’s a small, romantic French restaurant on the other side of this canyon. How would you like to go out for dinner?”
“Really? I’d love to, but is it safe?”
“Roland and Matteus are dead, and Roland’s soldiers are on their way to Vegas. The only loose cannon is Big Mike. I’ll ask Brad and John to ride shotgun as a precaution.”
“What does that mean?”
“They’ll be in a car traveling behind us, and they’ll stand watch outside the restaurant.”
“Wow, that’s fantastic, and dinner out sounds wonderful.”
“Great, it’s a date. Now I need to call Cindy and deal with some things I’ve let slide. You should unpack, and while you’re at it, pick out something slinky to wear,” he added, lowering his voice.
“I will,” she replied happily, then pushing back from the table, she stepped over to him and circled her arms around his neck. “Nick,” she began softly, “I don’t know how you were able to get in touch with my parents, but thanks, you’re the best.”
“Bianca, don’t ever doubt how much you mean to them.”
“Why would you say something like that?”
“I sense your relationship is strained. Bear in mind, all parents have flaws, it comes with the territory. When this is over, make an effort to see things from their point of view, and don’t expect perfection. It doesn’t exist.”
“Where is this coming from?”
“It’s just some friendly advice. Take it or leave it. Now go and unpack, I have work to do.”
As Nick watched Bianca leave the kitchen, he picked up another muffin, took a bite, and washed it down with his coffee. She was under his skin, and his feelings for her were growing with every minute that passed. All he could do was hope and pray things would develop as he believed they would, and at the end of it all, she’d forgive him.
CHAPTER 19
Sammy Parker had been born prematurely to a woman he never knew, and raised in a series of foster homes. As a small, frail child, he learned to use his wits to survive and his imagination to escape, but on his tenth birthday his life suddenly changed. He was given a deck of cards, and quickly discovered he’d been born with a gift.
Not only could he effortlessly perform sleight-of-hand, when he played card games with the other kids he could read their expressions, and almost always knew if they held good hands. As he grew into his teens, he became obsessed with poker. While other boys chased girls, he watched endless hours of television tournaments, read every book he could find, and saved every penny he won.
Arriving in Las Vegas straight out of high school, he found a job as a bus boy in a small deli, rented a tiny apartment, and spent every minute in the casinos honing his skill. He hated spending money, and when he won the cash, it went into his small battered suitcase hidden behind the garbage can under the kitchen sink. His savings became the only security he’d ever known. As time passed, his nest egg grew, but his habits did not. He remained a loner, scrimping and saving every dime. His sexual appetite, when it surfaced, was directed toward handsome young waiters, often resulting in anonymous moments in dark alleys. It was following such an interlude late one night that fate stepped back into his life, and for a second time, offered him another precious gift.
He was leaving an alley after a fleeting encounter, when he heard what sounded like an animal in distress. Quickening his pace as he walked down the dark back street, he found a young woman doubled over on the ground, whimpering and moaning. Managing to get her back to his tiny apartment, he put her to bed, and slept on the small, lumpy loveseat. The following morning, hungover and miserable, she told him she’d been followed from a bar, dragged into the street, then punched in the gut and her purse stolen. While she was taking a shower, he lifted his suitcase from its hiding place and removed fifty precious dollars.
“Take this,” he said awkwardly, handing her the money when she was about to leave. “I don’t have much in the way of food here and I have to go to work, but that should buy you a decent breakfast and pay for a cab.”
He had no idea she was Bianca Albertini, the daughter of a powerful mob boss and one of the richest men in the state. The two quickly became close friends.
Now sitting in a pancake house near his apartment, almost crying with relief that she was okay, he took the last bite of his waffle, finished his coffee, and placed a ten-dollar bill under the mug. But as he rose to his feet, his heart sank. Two beefy men were standing in the doorway glaring at him. He knew who they were immediately. To run would be futile, and would only end in pain. Trying to swallow back his fear, and maintaining his well-practiced poker face, he walked over to them.
“I assume Mr. Albertini wants to see me,” he said politely.
“He certainly does,” one of them replied. “Come with us.”
Though quaking with fear, he marched confidently between them into the parking lot, climbed into the back seat of a gleaming black limousine, and found himself face to face with the man himself.
“Sammy Parker,” Lorenzo declared. “I’m glad you could join me.”
“Hello, Mr. Albertini,” Sammy replied, thinking the remark was ludicrous.
“You’ll be happy to hear Bianca has escaped her kidnappers and is alive and well.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Sammy replied earnestly.
“But you probably already know that. I’m sure she’s called you, and I respect you for not giving her away.”
“Uh, forgive me for asking, Mr. Albertini, but why am I here?”
“I know you win far more than you lose. In fact, you’re probably one of the best players in this town, but you live in a shit apartment and dress like a bum. You also borrow money from Bianca.”
“Then you know I always pay her back,” Sammy said hastily, surprised the infamous boss was aware of his poker skills.
“I do, but why the farce? Why take her money when you have a mint stashed someplace?”
Fighting an unexpected rising well of emotion, Sammy wanted to lower his gaze, but instinct told him he needed to maintain eye contact.
“Sammy, I asked you a question.”
“I’m not sure you’ll understand,” Sammy replied quietly, though leaning forward and frowning at Lorenzo across the small space.
“If I don’t, you’ll explain. Tell me.”
Sammy took a breath, steeled himself, then spoke. “It makes her feel needed,” Sammy said softly, then pausing, he added, “and I can relate to that in a way that’s truly indescribable. It’s something I would never take away from her.”
An odd expression crossed Lorenzo’s face, and for a moment, Sammy thought he was about to be slapped, but the man’s look suddenly changed.
“Sammy, I’m going to make you an offer,” Lorenzo declared, a smile curling his lips.
“One I can’t refuse?”
“One you’ll be happy to accept.”
Though Nick had been busy for the rest of the afternoon, the time alone had given Bianca the opportunity to catch her breath and explore the landscaped grounds at the back of the home. She discovered a plateau with a picnic area offering a majestic view of the distant ocean to one side, and the craggy canyons on the other. Sitting down and taking in the grandeur of the sight, she began to feel calmer. By the time she returned to the house, she was relaxed and ready for her date with Nick.
After taking a long, hot shower, she found a sexy emerald green silk dress, and though the white high-heeled sandals she selected were a size too big, they were manageable. Smoothing out her new blonde hair and staring at her reflection in the window, she liked what she saw, but she missed her long auburn locks. She decided the short blonde cut would become a memory, and with it, the traumatic events, but she hoped and prayed Nick would stay in her life.
Recalling how he’d taken control and slapped her ass when he felt she needed it sent her tummy tumbling. He was forceful, but he wasn’t a bully, and when he held her she never wanted to leave his arms. The thought made her sigh, and she felt a warm flood of moisture between her legs.
They’d agreed to meet in the living room around seven p.m. Checking the clock on the nightstand, she saw it was already five past. Giving herself one last look in the mirror, she hurried down the hall and walked inside. Though he wasn’t there, a low fire burned in the fireplace, and looking outside through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she admired the long shadows cast by the sinking sun. The ambience was setting the stage for what she hoped would be a romantic night ahead.
“Wow, look at you.”
Nick’s voice startled her, and quickly turning, she caught her breath. Dressed in dark slacks, a light gray polo shirt, and charcoal gray sports coat, he looked like a handsome billionaire, or maybe even a Hollywood star.
“Wow, back at ya,” she retorted with a happy smile. “You clean up good, Mr. Vincelli!”
“Not as good as you,” he replied, moving toward her. “You have no idea how badly I want to smear that perfectly applied lipstick.”
“Be my guest,” she murmured, leaning into him, purposefully pressing her breasts against his body.
“Not yet, but I’ll be thinking about it all through dinner. Anticipation is half the fun.”
“Or it can be torture,” she suggested with a wink.
“Bianca, are you wearing panties under that ridiculously sexy dress?”
She paused, then tilted her head to the side. “That would be telling.”
“Yes or no,” he insisted, leaning forward and placing his lips at her ear. “Are you wearing panties?”
“I’ll give you another answer,” she quipped. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
“Ah, so you want to play games,” he said, grinning as he straightened up. “Not a problem, but are you sure you want to play with a big boy, little girl?”
“If you think I’m a little girl, I have an advantage already,” she retorted. “Bring it on.”
“This evening will be even more entertaining than I thought,” he remarked, taking her hand and starting to walk from the room.
“Nick, wait, what about the fireplace? Don’t you need to turn off the gas?”
“It’s on a timer.”
“A fireplace on a timer? I’ve never heard of that.”
“This is a frighteningly smart house,” Nick said as they continued down the hall and out the front door. “My brother-in-law is into all things tech. It drives my sister crazy, but there are certain advantages.”
“Why do you always refer to her as your sister? Doesn’t she have a name?”
“Alexandra.”
“Ooh, you mean like Nicholas and Alexandra?”
“Yeah,” he replied, rolling his eyes as they walked to the car.
“That’s why you don’t use her name?”
“I’ve heard too many bad jokes over the years, and she doesn’t like to be called Alex. Besides, Alexandra is a mouthful.”
“I suppose it is,” she said thoughtfully, then glanced around the empty motor court. “Nick, where are Brad and John? Aren’t they supposed to be going with us?”
“They’re waiting halfway down the canyon on a side street. After I’ve driven by, they’ll wait to see if anyone is behind me. If there is, they’ll follow the car to see if it parks near the restaurant or continues on. It’s a simple maneuver, but effective.”
“That’s brilliant,” she exclaimed as he opened the car door and she climbed inside. “Have you ever thought of becoming a private detective?”
“Have you ever thought about becoming a comedian?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“Just as well, you’d starve,” he declared with a grin, then closed the door.
She laughed for a moment, then closed her eyes and said a silent thank you to the gods who had allowed their paths to cross. He hadn’t just saved her skin, she was falling in love, and that was something she never thought would happen to her.
Parked a short distance away, hidden under the canopy of low-hanging branches, Mike watched the Porsche emerge from the beautiful home.
Throughout the afternoon, he’d scouted for a way over the wall. Keeping his eyes peeled for security cameras, he’d ducked around them when he’d spotted one, but he couldn’t be sure he’d seen them all. Since he hadn’t heard any alarms, and no one had appeared to chase him away, he assumed his presence had gone undetected.
But it had been a futile exercise.
There was no back gate, and no area of the high fence was climbable without wearing a thick pair of overalls, gloves, and some kind of acrylic mask to protect his face. His only option was to wait outside and hope the evil men holding his beautiful Bianca would leave, then he could slip through the gates before they closed.
But in an instant, his plans changed.
As the SUV slowly turned onto the canyon road, he saw Bianca’s tell-tale short blonde hair in the passenger seat. Convinced they must be taking her to another location, he pulled out and began to follow.
With no cross traffic and only a couple of side streets, it was easy to keep his distance through the twisting canyon, but when they reached the bottom and entered a residential neighborhood, he had to draw closer. To his shock, the Porsche stopped in front of a small restaurant with valet service, and Bianca stepped out looking resplendent in an emerald green silky dress. Completely confounded, Mike’s mind went into overdrive.
Had she been drugged?
Was she just playing along, waiting for an opportunity to get away?
Deciding that had to be the answer, he grinned.
She was clever.
She’d fooled them.
Reassured, he decided he’d help her get away when she came out, though he wasn’t exactly sure how. But as the minutes passed, he came up with a plan. He’d follow them back to the canyon road, then speed ahead, swerve to a stop in front of the Porsche, and rescue her.
CHAPTER 20
The dimly lit restaurant was as romantic as Bianca had hoped it would be. Gentle music filled the air, and red candles sat on white tablecloths. The moment they entered, a nattily dressed host greeted Nick effusively, kissing him on both cheeks.
“It’s always so good to see you, Nick,” he said in a thick French accent.
“Hello, Henri, this is Bianca. Bianca, Henri pretends to be the maître d’, but he’s actually the owner of this wonderful place.”
“Delighted to meet such a beauty,” Henri said with a slight bow of his head. “Please follow me.”
Glancing around as they moved through the elegant dining room, Bianca noticed wing-backed chairs offered every table a level of privacy.
“Your restaurant is beautiful,” she remarked as she sat down.
“Merci, I try to provide my guests a comfortable atmosphere,” he replied, handing her a red leather folder. “I hope you enjoy your meal.”
“I’m sure I will,” she replied with a smile, then as he walked away, she leaned toward Nick and whispered, “He’s so French.”
“You’re right about that,” Nick whispered back. “Henri is as French as a Frenchman can be.”
“How do you know him?”
“I helped him out of a jam once, and even though he’s booked up months in advance, he always gets me in when I call. But, Bianca, before we have dinner,” he began, his expression becoming serious, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
Her heart skipped. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, I just have to get this out of the way. I know you’ve been wondering how I was able to reach your father so quickly.”
“You’re going to tell me?”
“I am, but you must keep this to yourself.”
“I will, I promise. Believe me, I know how to keep my mouth shut. It was one of the first things I learned.”
