Held Firm: A Dark Mafia Romance, page 5
“You know what to expect if it does,” he warned, dropping his arms away as he felt his cock stirring, “but enough about that. Sit down, we need to talk. Do you want something to eat?”
“Yes, please, I’m starving.”
“There’s coffee in the decanter on the table, and I’ll whip you up some scrambled eggs and toast,” he said as she settled into a chair. “While I’m doing that, you can tell me how that so-called detective managed to kidnap you.”
“Okay, but who’s coming up here?”
“My assistant, Cindy,” he said, opening the refrigerator for two eggs and a block of cheese. “I’ll fill you in after I hear your story.”
“There’s not a lot to tell,” she began, pouring herself a cup of coffee and adding cream as she spoke. “It’s other stuff that’s complicated.”
“Start with how Matteus managed to abduct you.”
“I was on my way home from the country club when a squad car came up behind me with its lights flashing. I pulled over, and the next thing I knew, Matteus was pulling me out and handcuffing me. Then a panel van drove up and he shoved me inside and locked me in. You can’t believe how fast it all happened.”
“Actually, I can,” he remarked, grating cheese into the eggs. “Did you know him?”
“Uh, sort of. It may not seem like it, but Las Vegas is a small community.”
“Yeah, I know about that too,” Nick said quietly as he plated the scrambled eggs.
“I started screaming and kicking, but the van stopped fast. I went flying and banged my elbow. It hurt like hell, then Tony Balboa opened the back doors. He told me if I didn’t stop making a racket he’d gag and hogtie me. I promised to stay quiet, he slammed the doors shut, and a moment later the van took off again. The drive was forever and ended at the beach house. He locked me in that bedroom where you found me, and Matteus arrived a little while later. When Matteus let me out, Tony was gone.”
“I take it they want money for your safe return.”
“A lot of money,” she replied, scooping up a mouthful of eggs. “Matt boasted about it. He told me they were asking for twenty-five million.”
“Can your dad gather that much cash?”
“My dad can do anything confidently,” she said between mouthfuls.
“Finish eating, then tell me why you don’t want to call him.”
Moving across the kitchen and dropping two pieces of bread into a toaster, thoughts began rippling through Nick’s head. Kidnapping Albertini’s daughter was ludicrous at best. It made no sense. If Tony had been the lone driver from Las Vegas to Malibu, and Matteus had joined him later, it suggested they were the only two involved. It was possible, but seemed as unlikely as the kidnapping itself, and Nick suspected a third party was pulling the strings.
“I can’t call Dad,” Bianca exclaimed, interrupting Nick’s deep pondering. “I think his phones are being monitored, and, uh…” Her voice trailed off, and her face crinkled, as if she was trying to hold back tears.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Nick asked quickly, hurrying back to the table.
“Things are a mess at home right now,” she mumbled with a pained expression. “My brother, Alfredo, has always been extremely ambitious, and he’s in a big fight with my dad. I’m kept out of the business, and I’m not supposed to know this, but Alfredo wants more responsibility, and Dad is refusing to give it to him. There’s a lot of tension and I think things between them are getting worse. For the last few weeks, I feel as if I’ve been invisible.”
“What does this have to do with your abduction?”
“I’m not sure, except I wasn’t supposed to be at the club that night. It was a spur of the moment thing, and the only person who knew I’d be there was my father. When I left I was running late, so I called him to let him know I was on my way home. Someone must have bugged Dad’s office, or his phone, or something, and this is a terrible thing to say, but it’s possible it was Alfredo.”
“But your father must have top notch security, and would your brother do such a thing?”
“No system is perfect, and I don’t think Alfredo would ever hurt me, but he hasn’t been himself lately.”
“I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions,” Nick said solemnly. “It’s more likely you were being watched, or Matteus had an informer at the club. There could be any number of ways he knew where you were and when you took off.”
“Maybe, but what if I’m right? What if someone is monitoring my father’s office or phone?”
“I understand. You can’t risk calling him.”
“Exactly, so how can we get a message to him?”
“Bianca, there’s an old saying: the best place to hide something is in plain sight. While you were sleeping in, I set a plan in motion. We’re going back to the beach and moving into the home next door to Matteus.”
“You can’t be serious,” she sputtered, staring at him in disbelief.
“I’ve arranged a short-term lease,” he continued, fetching her toast. “The couple who own the house, David and Penny Marshall, have been told the storm has damaged my cottage and I need somewhere to stay while the repairs are being made.”
“But—”
“Eat your toast and listen,” he ordered, placing it in front of her and sitting down. “Cindy, my assistant, is going to cut your hair and dye it blonde, and you’ll borrow some of my sister’s clothes. Trust me, she won’t care. She could open a boutique with her wardrobe.”
“Nick, I know you said you work in security,” Bianca said slowly, “but what does that mean? Who are you?”
He paused. “I’m a private detective who specializes in helping people out of difficult situations.”
“I see. Well, that’s great, and this is definitely a difficult situation, but what you’re proposing is still crazy.”
“Hey, I do cunning and sometimes brazen, but I don’t do crazy.”
“It sounds impossible.”
“I’m sure it does, but I know my business and how to manage risk. Finish your toast, drink your coffee, and I’ll tell you how this is going to work.”
“Okay, and for the record, I do trust you. I mean, how could I not? You saved me.”
“If you do what I say, you’ll come out of this in one piece,” he said confidently. “When Cindy arrives, I’ll leave you here with her. I have no doubt Matteus believes I whisked you away, and when I show up, he won’t know what to think. If he asks why I’m there, and I’m sure he will, I’ll tell him the same story I told the Marshalls, my house was damaged—but I’ll also tell him my fiancée will be joining me. One of my men will pick you up in a town car. When you arrive you’ll be dressed in fabulous clothes and have a large suitcase. Remember, by then your hair will be short and blonde, not long and dark. As long as you wear sunglasses when you’re outside, Matteus will never imagine in a million years it’s you. Oh, and Cindy is also going to take care of your nails.”
“Yeah, they are pretty crappy,” Bianca remarked, looking down at her fingertips. “I bite them when I get worried, and I’ve been worried a lot lately.”
“By the time she’s finished, they’ll be long, sleek, and polished. Matt’s a detective, he’s trained to notice things like that.”
“It sounds like it will work, but I’m still not sure.”
“I haven’t finished,” Nick said with a smile. “I own some pretty sophisticated equipment, and we’ll be listening to everything going on in that house. It won’t take long to find out what he’s up to. If he has any suspicions about my gorgeous blonde fiancée, we’ll know that too.”
“Wow, that’s brilliant,” Bianca exclaimed, “but what about your house? When no one shows up to repair the damage, that will be weird.”
“Ah, but there will be workmen there, two of my best agents,” Nick replied, grinning at her. “If we need them, they’ll come running. I can assure you, Bianca, not only will you be safe, you’ll find out if Matteus is working alone or for someone else.”
“Nick, this is incredible—you’re incredible. I must have had an angel on my shoulder when I came out of the water yesterday.”
Nick shot her a reassuring wink, but there was more she didn’t know about him, much more. He needed to tell her, but it would have to wait. It would be a bombshell, and she was still fragile.
CHAPTER 7
Bianca was munching quietly on the last piece of toast and Nick had just finished washing the dishes when the house phone rang. Quickly walking across the kitchen and lifting the receiver, he found it was Cindy waiting by the callbox at the gates. He buzzed her in, then left to open the front door.
“Hi, Cindy, you made good time,” he said as she walked in carrying a large tote bag.
“Bianca Albertini,” she whispered. “I can’t believe it. Are you sure you want to get involved?”
“I already am.”
“I guess you are,” she muttered under her breath as they started down the hall.
“Hey, Cindy,” he murmured, pausing his step, “if you’re worried you can—”
“I know what you’re going to say,” she interrupted, “and the answer is I’m not going anywhere. Just please be extra careful with this one.”
“You bet I will,” he replied solemnly. “Come and meet Bianca. You’ll like her.”
She nodded, but made no comment.
She didn’t have to.
He knew what she was thinking.
He was a sucker for damsels in distress.
Though he hated to admit it, she was right.
“Bianca, this is Cindy, my assistant,” he announced as they entered the kitchen. “Cindy, meet Bianca Albertini.”
“Hi, Bianca,” Cindy said with a warm smile. “It’s good to meet you. I’m just sorry it has to be in these circumstances.”
“Thanks, it’s good to meet you too.”
“Cindy, directly opposite the master bedroom is a guest suite my sister uses as a dressing room and second closet,” Nick declared. “Most of the clothes will be in plastic from the cleaners, or even still in garment bags from the stores where she bought them. You should be able to find whatever you need. There’s a suitcase there as well. Pack enough for at least a week.”
“Are you sure your sister will be okay with this?” Bianca interjected. “I wouldn’t like someone borrowing my clothes without asking.”
“I called her hotel, but they told me she’s unreachable. She and her husband go off on overnight campouts in the middle of nowhere, but I’m not worried,” Nick said confidently. “She’s always asking if she can help me with a case. She’ll be thrilled when I tell her about this.”
“When she gets back, maybe you should bring her into the office for a day or two,” Cindy suggested, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “You know I need the help.”
“Sorry, that’s not going to happen. The first thing she’d want to do is redecorate.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Cindy said with a grin, “but back to business. There’s food and supplies for about three days on the front seat of my car, and your equipment is in the trunk. I’ll make a start on the clothes. Bianca, come and find me when you’re ready for your makeover.”
“I can’t imagine what I’ll look like as a blonde,” Bianca said skeptically, “especially with short hair.”
“With your amazing bone structure you’ll look fabulous,” Cindy exclaimed. “Nick, I forgot to tell you, I managed to pick up a pair of brown contact lenses like you asked.”
“Great, can you wear contacts, Bianca?”
“Sure, I used them before I had Lasik surgery.”
“Okay, I’m off,” Cindy declared, and picking up her bag, she strode from the room.
Sitting back down, Nick picked up his coffee, took a sip, then leaned back in his chair.
“I’ll be leaving shortly, and you can join Cindy,” he began, “but I just had a thought. Is there somewhere or something uniquely special to you and your parents? It could be anything. A book, maybe a favorite food or restaurant? I can use a burner phone to send them a text. It might be a way to let them know you’re okay.”
“I’m not sure, I’ll think about it, but we don’t spend much time together. Mom is busy with all sorts of charities and her friends, and Dad, well, he’s running his empire,” she said with a sigh. “I just had a thought too. With this drastic change in my appearance, maybe we can figure out a way I can go home. I’m sure Dad would put a twenty-four-hour guard around me until he finds out who’s behind all this.”
“One step at a time. Remember, we’ll be listening to Matteus. We’ll probably learn a great deal very quickly, and information is crucial. We can decide what to do based on what we find out.”
“That makes sense,” she agreed as a frown crossed her forehead, “and Dad has so many people working for him, there’s no way to know if one of them is involved. He could put someone in charge of protecting me and I could end up the way you found me.”
“Great minds,” Nick remarked. “I was about to point that out, but Bianca, before I leave, is there anything else going on with your family or friends? Are you having arguments with anyone?”
“Oh, lord,” she said with a groan.
“You just thought of something?”
“No—yes—I can’t imagine it has anything to do with this.”
“Let me be the judge of that. What is it?”
“I’m in an endless debate with Dad about—do you really need to hear this?”
“Yes, I do.”
“It’s annoying and messy,” she declared angrily.
“Messes can spin out of control.”
“I don’t even know where to start.”
“Just tell me why you’re arguing.”
“He wants me to go out with one of his executives, Brian Mancini. Brian’s attractive enough—if you like that type—which I don’t,” she added vehemently, “but he’s so smarmy.”
“Ah, I see. Tell me about him.”
“He went to Harvard business school, comes from a great family, blah, blah, blah, but he’s boring and pompous. Even though I’ve made it clear over and over again the guy is not for me, Dad will not stop pushing.”
“That’s it? That’s the extent of your argument?”
“Not exactly,” she muttered, shaking her head. “He’s also angry with me because he doesn’t like one of my friends, Sammy Parker. I understand Sammy will never be Citizen of the Month, but I’ve known him for years, and he genuinely cares about me. He’s funny, I like hanging out with him, and uh, I feel sorry for him. He’s a bit…”
Her voice trailed off, but Nick could guess.
“A bit of a loser?” he suggested.
“I’m sorry to say he is, but not everyone can be a mover and a shaker. Sammy just needs to catch a break, but whenever we have lunch, or dinner or whatever, and Dad hears about it, he gets crazy, too crazy. I mean, what’s the big deal?”
“Has Sammy ever borrowed money from you?”
“Sometimes, but it’s fine. I don’t care, and he doesn’t borrow from me, I give it to him. Even though I insist it’s a gift, he always pays me back, every time, and fast too.”
“Does he have a job?”
“You won’t like this,” she replied, lowering her voice. “You’ll judge him, just like everyone else does.”
“Bianca, please!”
“Okay, fine, he’s a poker player, but he’s really good, I know he is. Like I said, when I stake him for a game, he always pays me back. I think he’s going to be a big star one of these days, and those players make a fortune.”
“What does your mother say about all this?”
“She agrees with Dad, though she doesn’t get dramatic about it like he does. But Nick, Sammy wouldn’t have anything to do with what’s happened, and as much as I don’t like him, I don’t think Brian would either. He has too much to lose.”
“Right now everyone is a suspect,” Nick said gravely. “You may think you know who they are, but you’d be surprised the secrets people carry around with them.”
“I can’t stand it. I’m sick of it all. I just want some peace,” she suddenly shouted, then banging her elbows on the table, she let out a cry of pain and dropped her face in her hands.
Startled by her unexpected outburst, Nick quickly moved around the table, helped her to her feet, and brought her into his arms.
“Hey, I know things look impossible right now,” he said softly, “but everything’s going to be okay.”
“Because I’m bleaching my hair and pretending to be someone I’m not?” she mumbled, sinking against him.
“That will help us get some answers. You probably think my plan is extreme, but I know what I’m doing. People pay me a lot of money to get them out of trouble, all kinds of trouble.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second, but do I really have to go through this big charade? Why can’t you just leave me here in this lovely home?”
“I wish I could, but one of those bastards might make a comment, or mention someone’s name that could mean something to you. Besides,” he said, lowering his voice, “I’ll feel much better with you at my side where I can keep an eye on you.”
“Nick, I know I sound ungrateful, and I’m not,” she breathed, shifting in his arms to look up at him. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for getting me away from Matteus. You were like Superman, swooping in to rescue me.”
“I’ve been called many things in my life, but Superman’s a first,” he replied, a smile curling his lips. “Try not to worry. You’ll be home and fighting with your father again before you know it.”
“Maybe you can help me with that too.”
“Maybe I can,” he said, feeling a ripple of anger toward the infamous mobster for putting so much pressure on his daughter. “Bianca, just so you know, I don’t believe Matteus Anderson engineered your kidnapping. He’s not smart enough.”
“But he said he’s asking for twenty-five million dollars for my safe return.”
“When it comes to people like him, believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. Trust me, he’s just a front man, and now he’s a front man in big trouble. You managed to get away.”
