J.M. Griffin - Vinnie Esposito 06 - Death Gone Awry (20 page)

“Not good enough, Dad.”

“Too bad, Lavinia,” he said softly.

I backed off and swept my attitude away like dirt on a floor. When he spoke softly, I knew I had reached the edge of the cliff and there would be no return if I stepped off it.

“Fine, then. Thank you for looking out for me. I appreciate your efforts. What was the cost of this enormous favor you asked?”

He shrugged, took my arm, and together we strolled into the card room to find Lola laughing and sharing hilarious stories while she pulled piles of money toward my father’s already insanely huge pile.

“You did good,” Dad said to her with a smile.

“I did, Mr. E., and it’s all for you.” Lola left her chair, then curtsied to the men she’d ripped-off, and gave me one helluva grin as we made our way from the room.

At the door, we turned back and Lola blew kisses to the four men who watched us. My father’s eyes twinkled with humor at Lola’s theatrics, and I laughed as the others waved in response. We scooted along the corridor, ran out the door, and stopped short.

Chapter 20

Two men leaned against their respective cars. One vehicle was a grey muscle car, those used by the Rhode Island State Police. It had lots of powerful horses under the hood. The other was the black Yukon, owned and operated by Aaron Grant. Marcus stared, Aaron glared, while Lola grinned and stepped forward to greet them.

For the first time ever, Lola’s smile did nothing for us. Neither man succumbed to the charm of it, they didn’t melt, but studied us with detachment. My antennae waved about, like live wires out of control, and tension filled the air between the four of us.

I stepped forward and asked innocently, “What’s going on, guys? You look like someone died.” My heart thumped hard against my rib cage, my breath labored to enter and exit my lungs. With fractured nerves, I awaited an answer.

The tone of his voice was crystallized ice as Aaron asked, “What do you think you’re doing here?”

“My father asked us to come by,” I answered.

Marcus moved away from his car where he’d been leaning. “You had to drag Lola into your drama, didn’t you? You can’t help yourself, can you, Lavinia?”

Yes, indeed, they were both pissed off. Crap on a cracker, what now? I was about to answer when Lola piped up.

“Not to worry, we’re fine. Vinnie’s father wouldn’t let anything happen to us, you should know that,” she said to both men.

They looked at each other, and then at me. “Considering the mob has already kidnapped you, and roughed you up, as well as tried to grab you today, Vinnie, I fail to see how your father thinks he would be able to protect you. Why don’t you explain what has changed and how that happened?” Aaron asked smoothly.

A shrug and a shuffle was all I could manage as dread layered itself across my shoulders.

“I can’t say.” Darned right I couldn’t say, I’d just been told my talk with Dad had never happened, right? Was I a stool pigeon? No way, not now, not ever. My lips were zipped as far as my dad’s actions, and connections, were concerned. Even water-boarding wouldn’t get me to talk. At least, I didn’t think so, and fervently hoped not.

“Can’t or won’t, Lavinia?” the men asked in unison.

Wow, two men of the same mind. It didn’t matter what they thought, I refused to utter a word about my father.

“Nice to see you think the same, guys. I can’t say because I have no idea what has happened. I just know my father wanted to assure me all will be fine as long as I mind my own business.”

His laugh sounded forced. Marcus looked from me to Lola and back again, he shook his head, glanced toward Aaron and said, “She’s all yours. I can’t be involved in her problems any longer.”

Marcus got into his car and idled into traffic without as much as a backward glance. I watched until his car disappeared and then studied the ground at my feet. The dread that covered me like a mantel lifted a tad.

Aaron said, “Get in the car. I’ll follow you home, unless you’d like to ride with me, Lavinia?”

“I’ll ride with Lola, thanks. She’ll drop me at the house.”

He gave me a nod, got into his SUV, and waited for us to pull into the street before doing the same. He was close to the back bumper the entire ride to Scituate. Lola often glanced in the rearview mirror as I explained what my father had said.

“You have to keep this to yourself, Lola. I don’t want anyone to question my father, besides, my mother would have a fit. Dad called in favors—what they are and how he was owed them—I don’t want to know, even if he’d tell me.”

“My lips are locked,” Lola said and made a motion with her thumb and index finger against her lips.

Relieved, it occurred to me how thankful I was to have such a close friend. “I’d do the same for you, Lola, no doubt about it.”

When we arrived, I left the car, waited for Lola to scoot up the road toward her own home, and dragged my feet as I slowly walked up the driveway. Aaron had parked his vehicle and watched me.

“I know you’re angry, but could we talk about this?” I asked.

“You bet we can. I’m anxious to hear what you’ve got to say,” Aaron remarked and opened the door wide so I could enter first.

The house looked the same as when I’d left it. The only difference being that the living room door was closed and bolted. I turned up the thermostat and watched the fireplace flames mesmerizingly flicker.

Aaron stretched out his long legs after he’d assumed his usual spot on the sofa. “I came to check on you, but the house was empty. Stuffing your pillows under the blankets? Honestly, you’re not fifteen years old, Vin.”

“I can explain,” I said and plunked into Lola’s favorite chair.

“Please.”

I stared into his brown eyes, which were usually warm and caring. At the moment, they were dark and cool, his expression stern, and his nostrils flared.

My inner voice ranted:
Tell him, get the truth out into the open or you’ll lose him, too. Isn’t the loss of Marcus enough?

I pressed my lips tight, thought the words ‘shut up’ real hard, and then said, “My father called and issued an order that I go see him. He said not to take any law enforcement with me.” I shrugged. “I didn’t dare ask why, but did as he said. I should have told you, but I wanted to avoid an argument. You’ve been wonderful throughout this entire nightmare, and if it hadn’t been for you, I couldn’t have managed to keep things together.”

Honesty was the best idea, as far as I could take it, that is. There’d be no giving up my father, which was a certainty in my mind.

Aaron gazed at me, leaned forward with his hands lightly clasped and his elbows at rest on his knees. “Nightmare?” Aaron snorted. “I guess you’re right. Tell me what was said at this father-daughter get together.”

“When my dad came by after you’d rescued me from the cellar, he was quite angry. I was worried about what he’d do. Whatever it was that he did, he got results. Tonight, I was told I would be fine and there’d be no more need for protection. That’s all he’d say, honest. We argued, but he stood fast, and wouldn’t tell me anything more.”

His brows rose and Aaron asked, “You’re sure you want to stick to that story?”

I sat upright, stiffened my spine, and asked in surprise, “What else do you want me to say?”

He sighed and smiled a little. “Nothing. You don’t know any more than that, do you?”

I shook my head and slouched back against the soft cushions. “He was adamant about the bodyguard thing, Aaron.”

“I’m sure he reached out, after all, he’s friends with Tony Jabroni and that crew, right? Maybe Jabroni helped out from within his jail cell.”

“My father had no help from Tony Jabroni, not from Tony’s jail cell, or anywhere else. He stays away from the likes of Jabroni and his crowd.”

“Well said, Lavinia, even though the man hid at your parents’ home, and all the while Jabroni’s wife had put a contract out on her dear husband’s head, thus putting your mother and father in danger.” Aaron leaned back and stared thoughtfully at me.

“You and Marcus are finished, am I right?” he asked curiously.

I gave a brief nod, and a tiny smile tickled the corners of his lips.

With a slanted look, I asked, “You find that amusing?”

“Not at all, I think Marcus made the wrong choice, but then I’m not a state trooper and have leniency in my position at the agency. I work both sides of the fence and, while it can be difficult, I don’t have to listen to someone caution me about the rules and regulations that bind Marcus. He cares for you, Vinnie, he really does.”

“I know, but he made his choice, and I made mine. I’m too independent to be anyone’s little woman. It’s evident that I’m a bit reckless, but I simply refuse to stand around waiting to do as I’m told.”

“True, tonight was a good example of that.”

I peered at him through my lashes as my eyes narrowed, and said, “I apologized, already. Let’s move on, shall we?”

His laughter caught me off guard. I stared as his white teeth flashed and his eyes warmed. Aaron nodded, and my heart swelled over his acceptance of my attitude.

He kept chuckling and said, “There’s a pint of ice cream in my freezer. We could share it, if you’re up for it.”

The anger he’d displayed earlier was gone. How far away was it? I didn’t care. We climbed the stairs to his apartment, made short work of the ice cream and sat back in comfortable silence.

“Tell me why you work undercover?”

“I can’t, it’s classified. Sort of like you can’t tell me about your father.”

I nodded and understood perfectly. He had secrets and had taken a vow not to share them, and so had I. In my estimation, Aaron and I were one and the same in the secrets department.

Car lights reflected off the barn and Aaron peered out the window. “Marcus has arrived. You’d better go down and let him in.”

“Good night then, we’ll talk in the morning. I’ll leave for the university around seven-thirty, but the coffee will be on if you want a cup before we both start our day.”

“Sure,” he said and shut the door behind me.

Chapter 21

There was no offer of coffee, beer or anything else when Marcus strode into the house. He peered in rooms, and then sat at the kitchen counter, fiddling with his car keys for a moment before he looked at me.

“You’ve had a rough time lately, Vinnie, and I realize I’ve added to it, instead of offering reassurance. I’d like to apologize and hope that we can at least be friends, if nothing more.”

Finality.

I’d been aware we’d reached a point of no return, and Marcus had now made it officially final. I was being dumped, or maybe we were dumping each other in the name of independence, my independence.

Was I wrong to discard our relationship because I was too pig-headed to be more compliant? With a mental headshake, I knew marriage or any future with Marcus would be out of the question. Remaining friends might be all we could both handle.

“I’d like to remain friends, especially since I can’t bear to argue with you over my choices, what happens to me, or that I keep some things to myself.” My throat constricted as I watched him. His eyes held a troubled look that I took for disappointment. Had he thought I’d capitulate? That I’d curb my lifestyle to suit his and that of his bosses?

“That’s it, then, we’ll be friends. I don’t wish to argue either. I can’t take the pressure because my senior officers think they should run every officer’s life. I’m sorry, Vin, but it has to be this way.”

“I’m sorry, too, Marcus,” I choked out and wished he’d leave.

As he put on his campaign hat, Marcus stepped close, kissed me softly and left without another word. I stumbled into my bedroom, flounced onto the bed and had a good cry.

*    *    *

Life sucks, but the alternative is even worse. I cried myself to sleep, woke up to the smell of fresh coffee and a knock on the door. What the hell, I rolled off the bed, still dressed in yesterday’s clothes. This would never do.

The knocking didn’t cease and in a cranky tone, I mumbled, “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming, just a damn minute.”

I stood at the door and raised a hand to unlock it, when I thought better and asked, “Who is it?” I smoothed my hair, straightened my wrinkled clothes, and smirked when Lola’s muffled words came through the door.

“Let me in, Vinnie, or I won’t share these croissants with you.”

I swung the door wide, told her to come in, and shuffled off to the bathroom when she started to giggle at my disheveled appearance.

When I returned to the kitchen, I was more human than when I’d left it. I inhaled the scent of steaming hot coffee, and my mouth watered over the croissant that shared space with dollops of butter and jam on a plate.

“Yummy, you know how to make an entrance, lady,” I said and slathered both butter and jam over a chunk of flavorful, flaky pastry.

“I assume you plan to go to work today?” Lola asked.

I glanced at the clock and said, “I’ve got time before I have to rush across the bridge and get to the other side of Rhode Island. Even if I’m a bit late, the students will wait.”

Her glance flicked to and fro. Lola asked in a low tone of voice, “Was Aaron very angry?”

“He wasn’t happy, but he did show more understanding than I’d first thought.” I lowered my own voice and said, “He asked if Marcus and I had called it quits. I said yes, and he seemed pleased by the news.”

“Uh, huh, well, that’s interesting.” Lola said and snickered as I shook my head.

“Don’t get any ideas. I’m not in the market for another boyfriend, geez, I just lost one.”

“We’ll talk about this over supper. Come by the house tonight around eight and I’ll have a meal ready for us.” Lola grabbed her purse and scurried out the door with a quick hello to Aaron, who was on his way in.

“You slept in those clothes?” Aaron asked with a slight smile.

“Looks that way. Help yourself to pastry and coffee while I change.” I left him on his own and headed for the bedroom closet. While I pulled on jeans and a sweater, and added a pair of boots and a scarf to the affair, I heard Aaron chatting away as though somebody was there with him.