Chasing Shadows (15 page)

Chase knew that this small fact was the only reason Bruno hadn't just come out and killed him.  For all his fancy speech about family values, Bruno always put money first.

"And there's Jay, how would he feel if his brother 'went away'?" Bruno continued his lesson.  "Never do something irrevocable until you're certain of all the consequences."

Neil's face went pale as he realized that his father's definition of "going away" was a lot more permanent than the change of address Neil had in mind.  

Chase almost felt sorry for the kid.  Neil glanced around, taking notice of Addison's gun, held so nonchalantly on Chase, and the blood still dripping from Chase's nose. 
Wake up and smell the coffee
, Chase wanted to yell at the kid,
get out now while you still can
.

But it was too late for Neil Gianotti.  Just as it had been for his uncle, Nicky, who'd drowned his shame about the origins of the family fortune in a heroin addiction.

"Maybe," Bruno said, lips pursed together as if he'd given the matter extensive consideration, "it's KC who should leave town."

"KC?" Neil said, almost jumping away from his father.  "No."

Bruno sighed dramatically, spreading his hands wide.  "It's all up to you, son.  What do you want me to do?"

Before Neil could answer, the outside door opened and a figure in black ran inside.  A figure with familiar purple hair.

"Stop, please, Mr. Gianotti," KC yelled as she sprinted across the cavernous garage to where they stood.  "Please don't hurt him anymore, he didn't do anything."

Damn it, he was almost free and clear.  What the hell was she doing here, ruining things?  KC the teenaged vixen had been trouble enough, KC the FBI Special Agent could get him killed.

CHAPTER 20

"Mr. Gianotti, please, it's not what you think."  KC tugged Bruno Gianotti's hand into hers, playing to his delusion of being the next Godfather.  She hung her head low, not making eye contact.  "Neil misunderstood."

"My son sees his best friend's older brother climb into your bedroom window and he's misunderstood?"  Gianotti jabbed a finger under her chin, forced her head up.  "Look at me, young lady.  What kind of games are you playing?"

Damn, Carson would have heard that.  She was going to have some explaining to do for the official record.  Later, after she got herself and Westin out of here alive.  

KC chewed on her lower lip for a moment before answering.  "Chase wasn't there to do anything.  He was offering me money to stay away from Jay, to leave town and," she faltered, eyes darting around the room, "give up the baby."

The announcement had the desired effect.  Gianotti dropped his hand, stepped back as if she was contaminated.  Beside him, Neil made a small sound of surprise.  For the first time, KC was wondering if maybe she was in over her head.  Too late to back out now.  And by twisting the story this way, she should be giving Gianotti just what he wanted: a way to get her out of Neil's life for good.

"I didn't take his money."  KC raised her head high now.   "I told him he has no right.  I threw him out.  I'm having Jay's baby, and I'm keeping it.  Jay and I have plans, we don't need him."  She jerked her head at Chase.

Gianotti turned.  "This true, Westin?"

"Look, Mr. Gianotti, my brother's smart, he wants to go to college, be a doctor someday.  I have to protect him from girls like her," he cut his eyes at KC with a dismissive glare, "who just want to take advantage of his good nature.  You know what I mean, family comes first."

Gianotti nodded, obviously enjoying playing his role as King Solomon.  "I see.  Let him go.  Leave us," he said to his men.  He turned back to KC.  "Does your father know about this?"

"No, sir.  Please don't tell him, he'll kill me for sure."

Gianotti looked over at Neil.  "See son, why it's so important to never turn your back on family?"  

In response, Neil glared at Chase as if he was to blame for KC's alleged condition.  

"KC," Gianotti continued in a gentle voice, taking her arm.  "After the holidays your father and I are going to have a long talk.  Have you seen a doctor yet?"  

KC shook her head, hanging it like a chastised fallen woman.  It took all her restraint not to jerk away from Gianotti's patronizing touch.  

"We'll set up an appointment for next week.  One thing I know for sure, young lady," Gianotti ran a finger over the length of chain that adorned the sleeve of her jacket, "you can't keep running around half naked in this weather.  You have to start taking better care of yourself, thinking of your baby."

KC sniffed loudly.  Sanctimonious prick.  Acted now like he should be nominated father of the year when a few hours ago he was ready to do anything to keep her away from his son.  She couldn't wait to get him in custody, then he'd see who was really in charge around here.  

First, she had to save Chase Westin's sorry but oh-so-cute ass.  She risked a quick glance in his direction.  He was slouched, leaning against the fender of the Lexus, one arm wrapped around his belly, barely standing.  A flutter of panic seized her chest.  Was he badly hurt?  God, she'd make Gianotti and his goons pay for this.

"Yessir," she mumbled, her eyes locked on the concrete floor as she swallowed her fury.  "Can I take Chase home now?  I promised Jay—" she let her voice trail off, waiting for him to grant her a royal boon.

"Westin, no more fighting, do I make myself clear?  I'll take care of Jay and KC, you've got your own life to attend to." 

Chase's head jerked up at Gianotti's impervious tone.  

Don't blow it now, KC pleaded silently, locking her gaze with his.  How in hell had Chase managed to piss so many people off in a few hours was beyond her—but as long as it didn't interfere with the arms deal today, she didn't care. Finally Chase nodded.

"Yes, sir.  Thank you for helping my brother, Mr. Gianotti."  The words emerged clipped, as if they were forced under threat of torture, but Gianotti appeared appeased.

"All right, you two get home.  It's late and today's a big day."  With a wave of his hand, Gianotti dismissed them, ushering Neil back into the house.

KC ran over to where Chase was slumped against the Lexus.  "Can you walk?" she asked, wrapping an arm around his waist to help support him.  "My car's not far."

It was difficult to contain her temper during the drive to Jay's house.  Idiot could have ruined everything.  All her time and effort, all almost flushed down the toilet because of one psycho brother who suddenly felt like he had to play Mr. Mom.  KC kept her silence, afraid she might blow her cover if she told Chase what she really felt.  

Number one on the list of feelings that she wasn't about to reveal to anyone was the fear that had choked her when Gianotti's thugs were whaling on Chase—they could have killed him.  She spun around the corner onto Jay's street twenty miles over the speed limit, gearing down when the wheels began to slip into a skid, and screeched to a halt in front of the house.  

Should have just driven Chase right over to the police station, get him safely out of the way of her operation and his own idiotic impulses.  But then she'd lose her chance to nail Gianotti and Dinkum.  Westin was small change, she reminded herself.

Other than to refuse to go to the hospital to get checked, Chase remained silent during the short trip.  Didn't even thank her for sacrificing her reputation to save his sorry ass.

KC slammed her car door so hard the Mustang rattled.  Why should this ex-con give a shit about her reputation?  After all, the only thing they'd shared was a kiss.  And she'd been faking it, playing a role, it hadn't really been her that he'd kissed.  Not at all.

The memory of her erotic fantasies involving him teased her brain.  She shooed them away with her hand.  Snow slushed beneath her Doc Martens as she stomped around to the passenger side of the car.  Chase had managed to unfasten his seat belt and open the door but still sat in the passenger seat.

She blinked hard at the sight of his battered face.  His lip was split, swollen.  One eye was already turning black and blue. His eyes were half-closed as if he were too tired to fight his way out of the low-slung sports car.  She blew her breath out and with it most of her anger and reached a hand down to help him.

He grabbed her arm, leveraged himself upright.  Then, in a sudden move that caught her off balance, he spun her so her back was against the car, his body pressed against hers.  His mouth took hers with bruising force, a greedy quenching of his desire.

KC's hunger matched his in intensity.  After her initial gasp of surprise, her body surrendered to her need.  

She opened her mouth beneath his, inviting him to deepen the kiss as her free hand slid under his jacket, dug into the muscles along his back.  A feral noise emerged from his throat.  He adjusted his position so that his leg was between hers, his thigh pressing against her in a way that made her pelvis rock.

The kiss was blinding, white hot and searing.  Nothing had ever felt so right before to KC.  This man who was wrong, so very wrong in every respect, sparked something within her she was helpless to control.

He slid his hand beneath her butt and lifted her onto his hip with one hand, stepping back far enough to swing the door closed.  Then he lurched forward, almost slipping in the slush, and propped her on the Mustang's hood.  The engine was still ticking as it cooled, its heat radiating into KC.

Chase pinned her legs between his, pressing her back against the hood, his fingers dancing as he unzipped her jacket and peeled it open.  A wicked grin played across his face.  He kissed her roughly, a quick, tantalizing taste, then ran his palms over her chest.

She struggled, fearful that he'd stray too close to her concealed weapon.  "No.  Not here, not now." 

Her voice surprised her as it emerged a breathless wisp.  Like a woman who meant exactly the opposite of what she'd just said.  

In response he rested one elbow on the hood beside her, aligning his body against hers, watching her face as he flicked one thumb over her hardened nipple, rubbing it against the leather of her vest.

"Do you want me to stop?" he said, his own voice taut and raspy.

Before she could answer, he slid his hand down, between her legs, stroking her through her jeans.  Her hips arched up as heat surged through her, engulfing her.  He pulled his body away from hers enough so that he could lower his face to the naked skin exposed above the snap of her jeans.

His tongue found her navel ring, flicking it, taunting and teasing her as she writhed beneath him.

"We can't," she managed to gasp.  

He pressed his hips forward, pinning his hand between them and she bit her lip against the wave of pleasure the pressure brought.

"Do you want me to stop?" he repeated.

"I'm," she gulped as his fingers pressed down, "I'm asking you to stop."

"That doesn't answer my question, KC."  

He buried her mouth beneath his.  She tasted his blood as their teeth and tongues and lips collided.  A breathless, brutal, primitive taste of passion made her temples pound and her vision blur.

"Chase—"

"Do you want me to stop?" he insisted.  

He ran one callused thumb across her swollen lips, tracing its path with his tongue.  His gaze bore into hers as his pelvis ground against hers.

She met his glance.  Was he insane?  Who in their right mind would ever want this to stop?  How long had she been hoping, dreaming, fantasizing about a moment like this?

But not this man, not this moment.  Not with the lives of his brother and her team at stake.

She slid her hands up, pressed them flat against his chest.  "I'm telling you to stop.  Now."

His eyes blazed in the night.  For a moment he resisted, leaning his weight onto her, his mouth hovering over hers.  

"You want to be in control, KC.  But you like it when someone can make you lose control, don't you?  Don't you?"

He lowered his lips for one more kiss.  It took everything she had not to struggle beneath him, not to give in to the sudden panic that he might be right.  The kiss was surprisingly gentle, soft and warm.  She opened her mouth beneath his, wanting, demanding more.  And he gave it to her.  In spades.

Then, just as he stole all conscious thought and will from her, Chase stepped back, abandoning her, leaving her alone in the cold.

"What the hell was that?" she asked, her voice quavering.

"Payback," he said with a grin that mirrored the one she'd given him earlier in her bedroom.  "Come into the house.  We need to talk.  Special Agent."

KC's stomach clenched in fear and surprise at his words.  He didn't wait for her answer but turned on his heel and stomped through the snow into the carport.

To hell with having Chase Westin arrested, KC thought, shivering now that his body wasn't next to hers.  

She straightened her vest and jacket, slowly stood, her vision spinning until she caught her breath.  Her hand rested on the cold comfort of her Glock.  Should've shot him when she had the chance.  Might still just shoot him.  

The man was nothing but trouble.

CHAPTER 21

Rose looked up as Marion Rockey entered the conference room.  The California blonde ran her fingers through her long hair, wincing at the bright lights overhead.

"You know, we have this quaint tradition in LA."  Marion shuffled over to the coffee machine. "It's called a good night's sleep."

Billy poured coffee for Marion, stirred in two sugars without asking.  Hmm.  Rose wasn't certain if it was such a good idea for her second to be fraternizing with the troops.  Although part of her, that deep, hidden kernel of maternal instinct, was glad Billy might have found someone.  He was a good man, deserved to find a woman worthy of him.

Marion Rockey could definitely be a match for Billy Price.  The FBI forensic accountant had been working with the Team for almost eighteen months and had helped to track several terrorist cells.  As Marion said, show her the money, and she'd follow the trail to the crooks.