Friends and Lovers Trilogy 02 - Charmed (23 page)
Read Friends and Lovers Trilogy 02 - Charmed Online
Authors: Beth Ciotta
Jean-Pierre turned to face him, hands on hips. “It is what you wanted, is it not?”
Rudy swallowed hard. His lover looked hung over and angry as hell. Unshaven, dark circles beneath his normally luminous eyes. His shirt was actually wrinkled and clashed with his pants. He’d never seen this side of good-natured, fashion-conscious Jean-Pierre. He feared no matter what he said or did, he’d only make matters worse. Somehow he managed to force words past the gigantic lump in his throat. “I want you to take advantage of a phenomenal opportunity. I want you to win the recognition you deserve. I don’t want you to pass up a chance to design costumes for a Hollywood film, only to resent me months from now.”
“Your lack of faith in my judgment is astonishing, Bunny.”
The nickname that used to irk Rudy, and then later warmed his heart, now sent a shiver down his spine. “I just … I want you to be happy.”
“Yet you did not come home last night. You did not return my calls, did not bother to let me know that you had not crashed and burned on the highway. No. I had to learn from Jake that you were safe. At three in the morning no less.”
“I behaved badly.”
“Ah,
oui.”
He returned to his packing.“No, I mean …” Both Afia and Jake had warned him against confessing his indiscretion. Suggested he’d be better off addressing his insecurities, strengthening instead of sabotaging the relationship. He supposed it didn’t matter now. He had a reputation. He hadn’t come home. No doubt Jean-Pierre already assumed the worst.
Address your insecurities.
“I heard you talking to Luc. I was consumed with jealousy, convinced that you were going to pick up with your old lover.” When Jean-Pierre didn’t comment, he tossed up his hands in frustration. “The two of you have so much more in common. You’re young and artistic.
French.
I don’t know what happened. I lost it. I … I …” Ah, Christ, he couldn’t say it.“You sought solace in another man’s arms.”
“It wasn’t … We didn’t …”
“It does not matter.” Jean-Pierre snapped shut two suitcases, curled his long fingers around the handles. “I will advise Anthony of my decision tomorrow. I already gave my notice at the Carnevale. I will be staying at a motel for the next few days.”
At last, Rudy moved forward and risked contact. He placed his hand over Jean-Pierre’s, the only hand whose touch he truly craved. Renewed guilt flooded his being, causing his voice to sound flat and detached. “You don’t have to do that. Stay here. I can move into the guest room.”
Jean-Pierre’s eyes brimmed with tears as he broke free and moved toward the door. “Ah, Bunny. If only you had asked me to stay, period.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jake. If you don’t watch over Lulu, Murphy won’t leave her, meaning he won’t be able to watch over Rudy. You have to go. I’m fine, really. Just tired.”
Jake watched as Afia spooned canned gourmet food into their cats’ double serving dish. She looked pale and exhausted. The exhausted part he understood. She’d tossed and turned with worry most of the night, only to spend the wee hours into dawn comforting Rudy. Even her attempt at an afternoon nap had been a bust.
But it was her trembling hands that caused him real concern. The scene with Rudy had stressed her out. Even worse, she’d walked in at the end of his red-eye phone call with Murphy. He’d had two choices: come clean or straight out lie. The latter was not an option. So now she was not only worried about JP and Rudy, but Rudy and Lulu pitted against those crazy Falcones.
“I
have a feeling something bad is going to happen
.”Shit. Shaking off his own sense of foreboding, he moved in from behind and wrapped his arms around Afia’s waist, his palms against her flat belly. Knowing that Joni had almost lost her baby in the early stages of pregnancy tweaked his concern to an excruciating level. “Baby, why don’t I drop you off at Joni’s. I’d feel a helluva lot better if you weren’t alone just now.”
Afia dropped her head back against his shoulder and sighed. “If I don’t go, you’re going to be distracted, aren’t you?’
“Probably.”
“In that case, I’ll go. If you’re distracted, Lulu won’t be the only one at risk. I have enough on my mind without having to worry about you.” She nudged him away and carried the dish toward the laundry room. “I’ll feed the cats. You run up and get my purse.” She looked over her shoulder and winked. “Chop, chop, baby.”
He’d once used that phrase when trying to coax her into dumpster diving for a case. The Angela Falcone case to be exact. Her attempt to lighten his mood failed. He forced a smile then headed for the stairs. In addition to her purse, he was tempted to dig her charm bracelet out of the top dresser drawer and to clasp it around her wrist for good luck.
Though it went against his logical nature, at this moment Jake welcomed any and all protection from misfortune and evil, even the magical kind.
Sofie was in protective custody. Rudy was on his way to Philadelphia. As soon as Jake arrived, Murphy would be off to meet Bogie. Their objective: To crack down on an international smuggling ring and to incapacitate the upper echelon of a notorious crime family.
Murphy, Lulu knew, had a special eye on her stalker, Paulie Falcone.
Her Disney life had become a Hollywood thriller. And it was only getting worse.
Lulu stared at the computer screen, disbelieving. An estimated 2.8 million teenagers had tried Ecstasy at least once and many went on to become regular users despite the dangerous cognitive, physical, and psychological effects. Children as young as twelve years old experimented with the increasingly popular
love drug.Twelve years old
!She hadn’t argued when Murphy had asked her to call in sick to work. Hadn’t panicked when he’d relayed an update on Operation Candy Jar. She knew her impulsive sister was in safe hands and that Rudy could take care of himself. But nervous energy had demanded she rein in her imagination before she
what if’d
Murphy and his brother into a deadly shoot-out with the Falcones. That meant occupying her mind.Murphy had suggested she work on a loonytale while he prepared for the sting. Wanting to better understand the significance of this particular FBI investigation, she’d ended up surfing the Net. Knowledge, she’d recently decided, was power.
Knowledge was also dangerous.
The red haze intensified as she skimmed more statistics and scientific reviews. Pumped up and armed with disturbing facts, she catapulted out of her chair, and into the bedroom. “Did you know that MDMA is a popular club drug for teens?”
Murphy pulled a black mock turtleneck shirt over his head. “I thought you were going to work on a loonytale.”
“We’re talking
millions
of kids,” she vented, as she paced the length of the room. “It’s not addictive, but they begin to crave the effects. Chronic users of MDMA experience cognitive or memory loss. In high doses, MDMA can lead to hyperthermia, resulting in liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system failure. It’s not just a harmless
mood-altering
drug, Murphy!”He tucked in his shirt, regarded her with a somber expression. “I know, honey.”
“Did you know that one tablet costs about twenty-five dollars? Joe said the Falcones are importing millions of dollars worth of Ecstasy! How many tablets is that? How many children and teenagers will be affected? Those mobsters are greedy, treacherous scum!” She spied his gun on the bed and, without any hesitation whatsoever, picked it up and thrust it at him. “You’re going to need this.”
“Whoa.” Murphy relieved her of the weapon, redirecting the business end. “Watch where you point that thing, tiger.”
“Make sure you have lots of bullets. If one of them shoots at you, shoot back. Just try not to kill anyone. I’d hate for you to have that on your conscience.”
He grinned while holstering his firearm. “I think I can handle it.”
Lulu sank down on the bed with an exasperated sigh. “Why do people use drugs? Drugs that can damage your brain and other vital parts? I just don’t get it. Aren’t kids listening? Say no to drugs!”
Murphy moved toward the bed, reached out, and tucked a curl behind her ear. “Apparently, that catchy slogan isn’t enough, Princess. So what are you going to do about it?”
“Me?”
“If anyone can sway the hearts and minds of young kids, I suspect it’s you. Determine where you can do the most good and attack with a vengeance.”
She blinked up at him, absorbing the confidence in his tender, heart-tripping gaze. Her mind whirled. “I could create specific loonytales geared toward drug education. Maybe I could submit them to schools as special programs. I think they have grants for things like that.”
He smiled. “I’m sure they do.”
“It would take a lot of time and dedication. To do it right, I’d probably have to give up my job at the Carnevale.”
“So do it.”
“And kiss my health benefits good-bye?”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Of course, I do. Then again making a difference entails taking risks, right?”
His eyes twinkled with pride. “Right.”
A man of action. A man of honor. A warrior.
Lulu’s heart pounded with an epiphany. She’d been so worried about falling for the man, that she’d missed the obvious. She’d been a goner at “hello.” She loved Colin Murphy. This love was fierce and all-consuming and on an entirely different level than what she’d felt for Terry. The enormity of the realization struck her speechless.The doorbell rang.
“That’s Jake.” Murphy’s smile faded as he urged her to her feet and into his arms. “When I get home this battle with the Falcones will be over and we’ll be free to begin. As clichéd as it is, you’ve inspired me to look on the bright side, Lulu. You’re right. My kid could make a difference. I’d be happy with four or five.” He stroked a thumb over her flaming cheek, smiled into her burning eyes. “How about you?”
Her stomach rolled with nausea. “I’d be happy with one,” she choked out.
“Well, that’s certainly a start.” He brushed a kiss across her mouth, then stepped back and ruffled her hair with a cocky grin. “Don’t look so glum, tiger. The Falcones are nothing compared to enemy forces.” He strode for the door, winked over his shoulder. “OohRah.”
She stared after him, dizzy with grief, as her happily-ever-after died a bitter death.
Chapter Twenty-TwoJake glanced over at Lulu just to make sure she was still breathing. She hadn’t moved or said a word in forty minutes. Granted they were watching a movie, but her focus seemed to be somewhere else. The chick-flick was fairly amusing, and she’d yet to crack a smile. In fact, at times, she’d looked on the verge of tears. A far cry from the firecracker who’d given him hell days before.
He supposed she was worried about Murphy. He would ask, but that would mean conversation. He didn’t feel like talking. He had worries of his own. He focused on the big-ass plasma screen—Murphy had an obvious boner for state-of-the-art electronics—but all he saw was a blur of flapping lips. All he heard was blah, blah, blah and a ringing phone.
His
phone.He glanced at the incoming number. Joni. His gut clenched as he rose from the recliner, distanced himself from the television and Lulu, and hit the answer button. “Hey, sis. Everything okay?”
“Don’t panic, Jake.”
Nice.
“Freaking hell, Joni.”“Afia’s spotting.”
His stomach dropped. “What?”
“Vaginal bleeding. She told me that she’s only a few weeks along, and that she had a very upsetting night. It’s probably nothing. Probably stress. I’m betting the doctor simply advises bed rest.”
Jake palmed his forehead certain his brain was going to shoot through his skull. “Don’t sugar coat, Joni. Is Afia having a miscarriage?”
Lulu’s head snapped up, and he realized then that he was shouting.
“I don’t know.” She sighed, lowered her voice. “I hope not.”
“Where are you? Where’s Afia?”
“We’re on our way to the hospital. Carson’s driving. Afia’s sitting in between Kylie and me. She didn’t want to call you. Said you’re on an important case. But I knew you’d want to know.”
“Put her on the phone.”
“She’s upset, Jake.”
“Put her on the
fucking
phone.” His body vibrated with the urge to ram his fist through a wall. He just wanted to hear her voice. He felt a gentle squeeze on his arm, glanced down and saw Lulu gazing up at him with tender support.“Jake?”
“Baby.” He struggled to keep his voice calm. “Are you in pain?”
“No. I’m just …” Her voice cracked. “I’m scared.”
A thousand knives stabbed at his heart. “I know, honey. But you’re with Joni and Carson. And I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“You can’t. You have to stay with Lulu.” She sniffed back tears. “Like you said, I have Joni and Carson.”
“I’ll bring Lulu with me.” Lulu shook her head no, but he ignored her.
“I love you, Jake.”
“I love you, too, baby. Remember positive thoughts over negative.” He slipped the phone into his inner jean jacket pocket, conscious that his hands were shaking. He leveled Lulu with a deadly glare. “You’re going to the hospital with me if I have to knock you out and carry you.”
The golden-haired pain-in-his-backside inched away, eyes brimming with tears. “I can’t, Jake.”
He wanted to throttle her. “My wife might be losing our baby.”
The tears overflowed. “I know. I heard. That’s why I can’t go. I can’t handle anything having to do with babies just now.”
The pain in her voice intensified the crack in his heart. “I can’t leave you here alone, Lulu. I can’t call Murphy or Bogie or Rudy—”
“Jean-Pierre!” She was already across the room, rooting through that ridiculous poodle purse for her cell. She punched in numbers as she shooed him toward the door. “Go on, Jake. Afia needs you. I’ll lock the door behind you, and I won’t let anyone in but Jean-Pierre.”
It sounded like a safe alternative. Or maybe he just wanted it to sound safe. He should’ve been five minutes down the road already. “Goddammit, woman.”
“Hello? Jean-Pierre? Yeah, it’s me. Fine, but I need you. Now.” She rattled off directions, hurried over and physically shoved Jake toward the front door. “Fifteen minutes? Great. See you then.” She signed off, disengaged the security system by punching in a code, and swung open the door.
All Jake could think about was getting to Afia. “Lock this door behind me. Set the security system. Do
not
leave this house under any circumstances.”“Positive thoughts over negative,” she said, before nudging him outside and firmly shutting the door.
The waiting was painful. Waiting to learn whether or not Murphy was safe. If his brother and Rudy were safe. Waiting to learn whether Paulie Falcone was out of her life and if a huge amount of drugs was off the street. And lastly, waiting to hear that Afia and her baby were okay. She’d only met the woman once, but she was kind and generous, and deserving of a child with the man she loved.
Positive thoughts over negative.
Lulu paced the spacious living room, trying to put a positive spin on Murphy’s bombshell.
He wanted kids. Four or five no less.
She couldn’t even give him one. She could suggest adoption, but she’d done that with Terry and he’d balked. He didn’t even want to discuss the option.
“It’s not the same.”
Personally, she didn’t see the difference. She didn’t love Sofie any less because she was only her
half
sister. But men, apparently, were cut from a different cloth. In researching infertility, she’d also examined sociobiological studies, hoping to pinpoint Terry’s increasing disinterest in sex. Time and again she’d read man’s natural tendency was to pursue and procreate. The role being primal and important to his sexual drive.Terry lost interest in her because she couldn’t reproduce. Even if Murphy was open to adoption, she feared she’d eventually suffer the same fate with him. Just the thought of him shying away from her physically left her feeling undesirable, inadequate, and thoroughly sick to her stomach.
Her cell phone rang and she sagged with relief. She didn’t care who it was as long as they had good news, anything to lift her self-pitying spirits. “Lulu’s Loonytales.”
“Thank goodness,” came a woman’s voice. “I was afraid I wouldn’t get you. This is Martha Hudson. I’m Jessie Hudson’s aunt. You performed at Jessie’s birthday party two years in a row and also at a family reunion a few months back. Do you remember?”
“Yes, I remember.” Only because she’d dealt with the Hudsons on three occasions now. She didn’t remember Martha per se, although her voice sounded familiar, but little Jessie’s face was firmly in her mind. “How can I help you?”
“Jessie was involved in a car accident.” The woman’s voice quavered. “They don’t know if she’s going to make it through the night. Her mother thought, we all thought … “ she paused, sniffled.
Lulu sank down on the couch, knees weak. This was one of those scenarios she’d discussed with Murphy. A parent’s worst nightmare. She felt sick for Jessie and her family.
“Jessie treasures her personalized storybooks,” the woman continued. “She calls you her very own fairytale princess. We were hoping that you’d be willing to pay her a visit at the hospital as Princess Charming.”
“Of course.” Jake’s warning not to leave the house flashed through her head, but surely this counted as an extraordinary circumstance. Surely he’d understand, and besides, even now, Murphy and Bogie were in the process of capturing Paulie Falcone, so where was the danger?
The doorbell rang.
Jean-Pierre.
Lulu rose, grabbed her poodle purse and bolted. “I have to pick up my princess gown and change, Martha. I’ll be there as quickly as possible.”“Bless you, Princess Charming.”
Lulu signed off, keyed the security pad and flung open the door, her thoughts on a dying little girl.
“Bon soir, Chaton.
I am glad you called. I need to talk and—”“Later.” She slammed the door behind her and prodded Jean-Pierre back toward his car. “We’re on a mission.”
“You’re a fucking dead man.” Paulie Falcone spat on Bogie’s shoes.
Murphy itched to step in, but a squad of special agents stood between him and his brother.
Expression staid, Bogie pulled a pack of Wrigley’s Spearmint gum from his leather jacket pocket. “Good luck.”
To Murphy it sounded like a challenge. He couldn’t decide if the comment was typical, cocky Bogie, or a thinly-veiled death wish. One thing was certain. His brother was in deep shit. Someone had blown his cover during the crackdown.
Other than that unfortunate glitch, and Murphy’s near miss with a wise guy’s bullet, Operation Candy Jar was a success. Rudy had come through with flying colors, delivering the couriers and drugs straight to Oz. A specialized team of federal agents had descended on Paulie Falcone and his accomplices, trading minimal gunfire and making fourteen arrests. By the end of the day that total would double. And although Rudy was being detained for questioning, Murphy had been assured he’d be released by tomorrow at the latest.
The only good guy to suffer was Bogie.
“Columbo’s going into retirement,” said the SAC, utilizing Bogie’s undercover name.
“I don’t care if he’s going to the moon.” Paulie leveled Bogie with a sinister glare as another agent slapped his wrists in cuffs. “When Vinnie learns that you screwed this family, and one of its members
literally,
there won’t be a place you can hide.”Nonplussed, Bogie folded a stick of gum into his mouth. “Small price to pay in order to get a woman beater and millions of dollars of drugs off the street.”
“Woman beater?” Paulie barked a sarcastic laugh. “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
“Stalker,” Murphy corrected. He couldn’t hold back. The longer he listened to this jerk, the more he wanted to annihilate his ass.
“Seducer,” Paulie said with a slow, perverted smile.
Murphy’s stomach burned with rage. “Since when does drugging a woman to lower her inhibitions count as seduction?”
“You’re the second person in two days to accuse me of that.” Paulie shook his head. “Not my style. My obsessions come to me willingly.”
Murphy traded a look with Bogie. The man who’d called Lulu, the one who’d threatened her, had accepted responsibility for her drug-induced state.
“On the inside and still clueless.” Paulie laughed as the SAC prodded him toward the door. “You’re a fucking idiot, Columbo.”
“Are you sure you do not want me to come inside with you, Chaton?”
Lulu unfastened her seatbelt. “I’m sure. Honestly, Jean-Pierre, I’m going to run in, change into my costume, and run out. Just keep the engine running. They said Jessie might not even make it through the night.” She choked back frantic tears, feeling ultra-sensitive due to the night’s multiple disasters. On top of everything else, Jean-Pierre was leaving Rudy to move to LA.
Death and desertion.
Her nightmare come to life.Spooked, she scrambled from the car. “I’ll be right back.”
She ran across the lawn and up the steps, nearly breaking her neck when she slipped on shattered remnants of her jack-o-lantern. Darned mischievous kids. Swearing, she pushed open the outer door, and squeezed past boxes and bicycles to get to the front door. Luckily, she’d already dug her keys out of her purse because it was pitch black. The porch light must’ve burned out. She was certain Murphy had left it on.
Racing against the clock, she pushed through the door and flicked on the foyer light. Nothing. “Gosh darn it!” It wasn’t the first time they’d tripped a breaker, but she’d be hanged if she was going to venture into the basement to fuss with the breaker box. Jessie Hudson’s face haunted her, blinding her with purpose. She had to get to that girl and fast.
Six years old!
How could fate be so cruel?
