Making Angel (Mariani Crime Family Book 1) (32 page)

Nonna lived in an upscale retirement community not far from my father’s house. The facility sign boasted of everything a retired person could want: a beauty salon, a library, a movie theater, and an activities director who knew how to keep the clientele busy without blowing up their pacemakers. I’d always assumed Nonna loved the place, but as we parked in front of her door, her grumbles did not sound complimentary.

“What’s that?” I asked, leaning closer.

She sighed, watching a group of women clustered in front of the clubhouse. “Look at them, gossiping about who’s got more money and who’s sleeping with whom. Like it even matters at our age. Not a one of them has anything useful to do with their time. I’m so sick of this place and its pretentious old crones.”

“I thought you liked it here?” I opened my door and hurried around to help her out.

“No, I like being with my family. This place… it’s the pasture your father has put me out to in order to keep me out of the way. It looks nice and welcoming on the outside, but here I’m just another old nag waiting to die.”

“Nonna, don’t talk like that,” I said, helping her out of the Hummer and toward her door.

Bones and Markie followed us but hung back, giving us privacy to continue our chat.

“Why not? It’s true. I am a grandmother, Angel. I should be fattening up my grandchildren with homemade treats and reading them stories
every
day. Not just coming over for Sunday dinners.” Her tone sounded genuinely hurt and offended.

“I’m sure the family would love to have you over more often,” I insisted.

Hand on my arm, she leaned closer and whispered, “Rachele doesn’t want me there any more than she wanted you there. Neither of us has ever fit in. Not since your mother died.” Nonna made the sign of the cross. “
Dio l'abbia in gloria
.”

“God rest her soul,” I repeated in English, mimicking the gesture.

“Yes, well, nothing to be done about that now, is there?” We reached Nonna’s door and she looked back and waved Markie forward. “Come along now,
young lady, and we’ll let the men get on home.”

Nonna unlocked her door and I opened it for her.

“We can come in and wait to take Markie home,” I said.

“No, you most certainly may not.” She looked at Markie and her face softened into a warm and welcoming smile. “I’d like to chat with your friend one-on-one. Come along, dear.”

Without batting an eye, Markie marched past me and followed Nonna into the house. Then she turned and said, “I can take the bus home, Angel. Thanks anyway, though.”

The women said good-bye and the door closed. Bones and I were left standing on the sidewalk, wondering what had happened.

“The boss is gonna shit a brick,” Bones muttered.

“I think that’s an understatement,” I said. “But what do we do? Bust down Nonna’s door, or sit out here like a couple of schmucks?”

Bones shook his head. “I don’t know, man.”

We ended up getting back into the Hummer, driving to a nearby convenience store, and grabbing a roll of antacid to help my sudden indigestion. Then we returned to the parking spot in front of Nonna’s door and waited.

It had been over a half hour since I’d dropped off Markie when my phone rang. Grimacing at the display, I answered.

“Where are you?” Father asked.

When the old man wanted to know where someone was, he didn’t call them up and ask. Instead, he accessed Tech’s software and saw for himself. He knew damn well where I was, which is why he’d made the call.

“Nonna wanted to have a chat with Markie, so we’re waiting outside.”

Father sucked in a breath. “You left an FBI agent alone with your grandmother? What the hell are you thinking? Get her out of there.”

Right. Bust down her door and drag Markie out. Why didn’t I think of that?

“Nonna said—”

“She’s an old woman, Angel. If you can’t figure out a way to get that broad out of there, I will. And it will be in a body bag.
Capisce
?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Good. Do it now.”

The call disconnected. I took a deep breath, and then Bones and I climbed out of the Hummer and approached Nonna’s door. She answered before we knocked.

Nonna gave me a knowing smile and a wink. “Oh, good, you’re right on time. I promised Markie you’d be back in time to give her a ride.”

Markie eyed me. “I told you I could take the bus.”

“Angel’s a gentleman. Enjoy it, dear. It will probably end after you spread your legs for him.”

Markie turned beet red.

I barely resisted the urge to pound my head against the door. “Did you ladies have a nice time?” I asked between gritted teeth.

“Oh, yes. Markie stitched up my sleeve and painted my fingernails as we chatted. They look lovely, don’t you think?” Nonna held up her hands for my approval.

I tried to smile. “Yes. She did a great job.”

Father wants to kill her now, but yes, your fingernails are beautiful. I hope it was worth it.

“Angel, don’t worry,” Nonna said, pulling me forward to kiss my cheek. “Everything will work out. I will make sure it does. Your Nonna always takes care of you.”

Then she shooed us out of her apartment so she could get some rest.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Angel

H
AND-IN-HAND, I WALKED Markie to her apartment door while Bones leaned against the Hummer, hand on the gun in his pocket as he watched us.

“Tonight was… interesting,” Markie said.

Interesting wasn’t the word I’d use, but I nodded anyway. “How’s your head?”

“Better. Nonna gave me some tea that helped quite a bit. Even sent some home with me.” She patted her purse.

“Good. You gonna tell me what you guys talked about?” I asked.

She dimpled and shook her head. She’d been incredibly tight-lipped about the whole experience, making me very curious. Seeing that she still wasn’t going to open up, I left it alone.

“Sorry about… well, everything,” I said.

“Thanks for uh… saving me from those guards,” she replied.

We stood in silence for a while before I asked, “Are we good?”

“Yeah.”

But she was still holding back. “You gonna tell me about the guy in that picture?”

She nodded. “I will. Just give me some time, okay?”

I had no other choice, so I nodded. “Yeah, okay. I’ll give you as much time as you need.”

They were empty words since I didn’t know how much time Father would give me and couldn’t promise anything. If Markie came clean as an agent and asked for my help, I would do my best to make us both disappear. Maybe together—with Bones’s help—we could outrun the old man. Most likely, we’d all end up dead, but I’d try anyway.

Thoughts of the future made me appreciate the moment we were in. Markie looked beautiful beneath the street lights. The time we had together was precious, and I didn’t want to waste a second of it.

“Can I kiss you?” I asked.

She shook her head no. Disheartened but determined to honor her wishes, I started to turn away. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into her. Her lips met mine and all our problems disappeared for a few breathless moments. All too soon she pulled away, said good-bye, and slipped into her apartment.

“The old man’s got something on you now,” Bones said once we were back in the Hummer. “He’s gonna use her. You know that, right?”

I nodded. “What should I do about it?” I asked.

Bones rubbed his chin and stared out the front window. “He thinks he’s found your kryptonite. Make him question himself.”

“Okay, how?”

More rubbing of his chin. “If it was me, I’d call Terrance.”

You could find anything in Vegas if you knew the right guy. When it came to girls, Terrance was definitely the right guy. “You want me to call for a hooker?” I asked, completely confused.

Bones chuckled, nodding. “Hell, yeah. You don’t have to do anything with her, just pay her to say you did. Word’ll get around to the old man and he’ll wonder why you’re paying for it. Why you’re not gettin’ it from Markie. He’ll question how committed you are to this broad. If nothing else, it’ll screw with his head.”

And that, right there, was worth the cost. Convinced, I dialed Terrance and asked him to send me a companion for the evening. He asked if I had any preferences.

“A local. Someone born and raised in Vegas,” I told him.

“I’ve got just the girl. She’ll be there within the hour,” Terrance said.

He always had just the girl. That’s why he was the man.

Bones and I headed upstairs. We’d just changed into sweats and gotten comfortable when a knock sounded on the door. Bones answered, and a tall, thin, redheaded knockout sauntered into the room. She was in her early twenties and wore a black business jacket, skirt, and pumps, all working double time to accentuate her curves. Her hair was up, and a single strand of pearls hugged her neck. More pearls dangled from her ears. Her makeup was heavy, but tasteful. Had anyone seen her walking into my condo, they would have assumed we had a business meeting. Except it was after eleven p.m.

“Damn,” Bones said, openly ogling her.

She gave him a coy smile before dismissing him and sashaying over to stand in front of me. “You must be Angel.” She looked me over, from head to toe, and licked her lips like I was a T-bone steak and she was one of the tigers from the safari park. I stayed perfectly still, certain that if I made any sudden movements, she’d pounce.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“You can call me Ginger. What can I do for you, sugar?”

I was holding the answer behind my back. I brought the deck of cards forward, offering them to her with a sheepish smile.

She grabbed the deck from me and her eyebrows rose in question. “Okay. Do you want me to wear these or something?”

Now that had potential. It evoked all sorts of images I had to ignore. “No. I want you to play cards with me.”

“Ah. Strip poker. Got it.” Her hips swung as she strolled to the dining table and sat down, tugging the cards from their case.

Bones chuckled.

“Not exactly.” I sat in the chair across from her, pulled out my wallet, and started stacking hundred-dollar bills on the table. She played it cool—pretending not to watch me—but I definitely had her attention. “We need to see how good you are at bluffing.”

“Bluffing, huh?” Her smile turned predatory. “All right. I’m game.”

Of course she was game; she was a local. Locals knew better than to ask questions, and they pursued easy money like bulls charging a Matador’s flag. Ginger stretched her fingers, and then dealt the cards.

Bones stood off to the side, fiddling with his phone and looking completely disinterested in the game. But I knew differently. My friend caught every detail.

Not only was Ginger a great bluffer, she was also quite the card shark. By the fifth game, I was confident she could do the job. With a scratch of his neck, Bones told me he’d got what he needed as well.

I set down my cards and palmed the stack of hundreds.

Ginger sat up.

“The job’s a simple bluff,” I said. “You arrived, we had wild, passionate sex, I compensated you well, we made plans to do it again, and then you left.”

She was staring at me, but watching the cash fold over in my hands. “And who do I tell this story to?”

“Anyone who asks. You in?”

“Yes.” No questions. No hesitation.

“Good.” I handed her the money. “Because if they buy it, next time I’ll double this.”

She struggled to keep a straight face and tucked the bills into her bra. When she stood, Bones stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

“Ginger. Or Elaine Jones. You share an apartment with your friend, Samantha King, and your three-year-old son, Brock, on Esmeralda Avenue. Brock attends the Montessori academy a few blocks from your house.”

She stared at him, unblinking.

“Angel’s given you a generous opportunity, and you’ve agreed to do as he asks. You get greedy and screw him over, and you will not be able to hide.
Capisce
?