High Stakes Seduction - Book 5 (15 page)

"Why do you care about Walker?" he asked, his eyes narrowing and the scowl deepening.

"Well, I noticed he's in this same building. And you guys seemed awfully chummy on the cruise, but… "

"But what? What are you getting at? And why the sudden interest in Walker?"

"Antonio, I don't like the man. I don't trust him. He's as slimy as that Carmiante guy I met just before the cruise."

He gave a little 'humph' at that. "Well, I always did think you were a pretty good judge of character. Walker is someone to stay away from. And that means
you
. Angela, I want you to stop snooping. I've told you before, stay out of this."

"But, Tony…"

"But nothing! Angela, this is dangerous, and I couldn't be more serious. Leave it alone. And leave Walker alone. Listen to me, and
please
trust me. I want you to mind your own business and let me handle this. I swear to you, I'll answer all your questions soon."

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, he placed his hand on my lips, raising his eyebrows and giving me a look that said,
Are you listening to me?

I shut my eyes and nodded. There was obviously no arguing with him at this point.

"Good," he said, pulling me toward him. "That's my girl." He pressed his lips to mine, making my tummy flutter, and all my resistance melt.

"Tony," I said as he pulled back from the kiss. "How did your father die?" Call me perverse, but too much had happened in too short a time. I cared deeply for this man, and I wanted some answers.

His face twisted through a range of emotions… from sadness all the way to anger, stopping somewhere in between. He leaned back to look at me, holding onto my upper arms as he pressed himself away.

"What is this, Angela, twenty questions?"

"I'm curious, you said he took ill suddenly."

"So?"

"You said he was worried that you might end up like him. What did he mean? How did he end up?"

I watched him intently. I couldn't tell what emotions were playing across his face, but it was obvious there were at least two, and they were conflicting.

"Angela, what are you getting at?"

"Antonio, was your father tied up with gamblers? And shady businessmen? Because it seems like those are the only people I see you with anymore."

His eyes narrowed again. "
What are you getting at Angela
?" His tone was low and measured. A tone he seldom used with me.

"Did your father die because of his involvement with the wrong men? You pretty much told me that's what happened to Naomi's husband." His brow creased even more. "I'm worried about you, Antonio. I don't want you to suddenly disappear from my life."

His eyes softened at that, but his mouth remained resolute. "That's not likely to happen, Ange. We have too much ahead of us. Cara, I promise you, everything will be okay. But please, listen to me, and stay out of this. Promise me."

I tried to keep my face neutral. But it was difficult. My heart was thudding in my chest. He had as good as verified my deepest fears. I was suddenly very afraid for him, and whatever this game was that he was playing. I could see he wanted me to stay out of it, but there was no way I was going to sit back and pretend nothing was going on. There was too much at stake for me now.

"Whatever you say, Antonio." It was as close as I could come to not lying, while still avoiding giving him a straight answer.

"That's my girl," he said, kissing my forehead as he stood me up and nearly pushed me out the door. "I'll call you later."

Chapter Forty-One

ANTONIO

"Hilary, get me Brad Stephens." I straightened up, looking over at the drawings Angela had left for me, still sitting on the table. I knew she meant well, but now I was worried. The last thing I needed was for her to become involved in this.

"Stephens on line 2," Hilary said.

"Brad, we need to wrap this up. And soon."

"What's up, Mancini? Has something changed?" Stephens asked.

"Not yet, but things are getting a bit too dicey, and I'm not so sure I can keep everything under control. Or under wraps."

"That doesn't sound like you, Mancini. Is there something I should know about?"

"No." It wouldn't do any good for me to tell him about Angela, or to voice my concerns. "But there are some unexpected complications raising their ugly heads. I know everything takes time and you can only push so much, but shouldn't we be getting pretty close to having this handled?"

"Yes. I should have everything in place within a couple of days."

"Thank God. I'll be glad when this is all over."

"Me too, buddy."

Chapter Forty-Two

ANGELA

Antonio seemed awfully glad to get rid of me. No matter what he said, I had already made my mind up that I wasn't going to simply let this go. There were things I needed to find out, and if he wasn't going to give me the answers, I'd just have to find out by myself.

Besides, I was serious. The last thing in the world I wanted was for him to suddenly disappear on me, and I was willing to take a few chances to make sure that didn't happen.

It was getting dark outside and I should be heading home. After our little celebration last night, I was sure Maria would appreciate some help with dinner at least. She wasn't used to drinking, and we'd certainly done our share. I'd been a little slower to start than normal today, but it was worth it to me. I couldn't remember the last time we'd had so much fun or so many giggles. I was amazed at how different our lives were now, compared to just a few months ago.

All due to Antonio.
Just another reason to protect my man… my heart… and my future.

I walked through the hallway, noticing most of the offices were closed, people gone for the day. I pulled my cell phone out to check for the time as I stepped into the elevator, pressing the eighteenth floor. I'd decided to pay a visit to Mr. Wendell Walker myself. Certainly he'd remember me from the cruise, he'd gawked enough at me in the casino.

I wasn't sure what good any of this would do, or what information I might be able to find out, but I was pretty sure I could fake my way through just about any conversation I had with him. Besides, the temptation of him being only fifteen floors above me was just too much.

My heart was thudding as I stepped out of the elevator. I almost turned back, but I noticed there was a light shining into the hallway from his office. The door was slightly open, and I just couldn't resist.

Okay, it's now or never
, I told myself, taking a deep breath and crossing my fingers.
Buck up, girl. You can do this
.

I stepped across to the office door, pressing it gently. I heard voices, but they weren’t very loud. I peeked around the door and office was empty. The secretary was either in the back room or gone for the day. The door on the far wall showed light coming through the glass, so I glanced down the hall, and then stepped inside the room, being as quiet as possible.

I hurried over to the lighted door and pressed my ear near the door jam, straining to hear what was being said.

"When is that delivery coming, Carmiante?" came Walker's unmistakably whiny voice. "I'm tired of waiting. I did my part, now do yours."

"It's supposed to be matching funds, Walker. I don't see no matching funds this time. You're expecting us to transfer the money in first? You know that won't work with the boss. What are you trying to pull?" Carmiante sounded just as angry as Walker.

"Technicalities! The funds will be there, stop worrying. It's all got to be there by the end of next week for the quarterly billing. Isn't that right, Armstrong?"

I heard a low, rumbling voice muttering something, but it wasn't loud enough to make out. Quarterly billing? Matching funds? Carmiante?
What was going on?
And who was this Armstrong? That was a name I hadn't heard before.

"If we don't get that money into Cartoli's account pretty quick, there'll be hell to pay."

Lorenzo Cartoli? The alderman? I remembered his face again from the other night at the gallery. In my mind's eye I saw him turn, revealing the blotchy scar. And then I realized where I had seen him before. That weasely little man with the tablet at the meeting where I'd first been introduced to Carmiante. The slimy little fellow had tried to hide the face on the tablet. I didn't recognize him then, but I knew who he was now. It had been Cartoli. The scar was a telltale giveaway now that I knew what the man looked like.

Holy crap! What in the world was Antonio involved in? And just how deep did it go? I leaned in further, straining to hear more.

"And what about you? When are you going to deliver?" Walker demanded. "I need the evidence to either nail Stephens, or some way to make sure he plays along."

"Don't you worry none, darlin'," came Naomi's sharp drawl. I had to cover my mouth to silence my gasp. "Our man will be in line. You just need to be a little more patient, honey."

"Darlin', my ass," Walker retorted. "I'm beginning to think you aren't nearly the expert persuader you claim to be, regardless of your beauty and cunning."

I knew I hated Naomi, but now I think I hated her even more. She was tied up in this alright. Antonio said she had an important role, and it obviously had something to do with the District Attorney. But if she was trying to
frame
the D.A., then what was Antonio really doing here—and whose side was he on? I'd come here hoping to get more answers, but now all I had was even more questions.

I heard a soft scuffing sound behind me and the hair on the back of my neck rose in fear. Before I could turn to find out who else was in the room, a hand clamped over my mouth and nose, shutting off my air. A powerful arm circled my waist and lifted me off my feet.

I struggled against my captor. I even tried to scream, but no sounds left my mouth. I kicked with my heels as hard as I could and tried to bite the hand fastened to my face. I heard a curse as I landed a random kick, but my flailing proved less than effective, and I began to panic as I fought to pull air into my lungs.

Between the hand over my mouth and nose, and the arm clamped tightly around my middle, I couldn’t breathe and my lungs began to burn. Tears ran hot down my face as the edges of my vision grew dim. The last thing I remembered as blackness overcame me was Antonio's voice saying, "
We have too much ahead of us, Cara. I promise you, everything will be okay
.”

Chapter Forty-Three

ANTONIO

It had been a long day. I stretched my shoulders, trying to work out the knot that had been there since Angela's visit earlier this evening. She'd asked too many questions, questions I wasn't prepared to answer until this mess was over. She deserved to know what was going on, but I wasn't at liberty to explain. Not yet. Too many little pieces needed to be tied up before I could tell her everything.

But now I was worried. I rubbed my temples, trying to get rid of the headache behind my eyes.

She was intelligent, and curious, and determined when she wanted to be. The fact she'd come with the questions in the first place sent up warning signals that she was getting too close to the action.

Her loyalty was one of the things I appreciated and found most attractive about her. What worried me right now was her brazen tendency to forge ahead, regardless of the consequences. She seemed determined to get answers to her questions, and it would only get her into trouble if she dabbled in this business.

As I stepped into the elevator, all I could think of was that I loved this woman, and wanted to protect her, to wrap her up in something soft and warm and hide her away. Or lock her in some damned castle where she'd be safe from harm.

I shook my head at how much had changed. She hardly seemed to be the same person I'd met a few short months ago. But having her in my life had shifted things forever. She had captured my heart, there was no denying that.

God, I would be
so
glad when this was over. I had only taken the assignment because Brad asked me to, as a favor to him. Now I was sorry. For the hundredth time in the past several weeks, I asked myself if I would've taken it on at all if I'd known her first.

The building was strangely quiet as I left the elevator and walked through the lobby. My footsteps echoed loudly in the silence.

I was relieved to find Thompson waiting for me at the curb. Here was someone I could trust, count on. Someone who never asked questions that I couldn't answer. The trust between us went both ways. I knew he'd listen to anything I had to say, without challenging my requests.

As I reached for the door, my phone buzzed.

"Yes?" I asked, my hand already grasping the door handle.

"Mancini. What is this crap?"

"What do you want, Walker?"

"I thought you said the girl had nothing to do with this."

I felt the hair on my neck bristle up on end. "What the hell are you talking about, Walker?"