The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (10 page)

He turned to his vehicle and opened the door. Once inside, he started the car, and Gio made his way round to the driver side, and got in. Blaze held back, as Andreas rolled up his window.

“Is he kidding?” Nikko asked his brother, the brother not quite two years older than him.

“Nope, he’s not. But, it seems like he wants you on point for this case, so don’t let him down. You better check in every day. And hey,” he added as he reached for the door handle to the rear seats, “What a case?” he teased, gesturing with his hands the old age expression for a stacked lady, “
Poppe
!” he gestured with his hands in front of his chest. “If you’re lucky she’ll be
stracciamanici
.”

Nikko just shook his head at his brother who wished Ronnie might prove to be insatiable, and gave him a dirty look as Blaze got into the car laughing the whole way. Before he had even taken three steps, he heard the crunch of gravel, and his brother’s tires spinning in it. He stopped to give the boys a wave and then began to reach his own car. Looks like he’d be sticking around a few days. Surprisingly, he didn’t mind the assignment, as an image of Ronnie’s “
poppe
” flashed into his head. He enjoyed the thought just as he heard the door to the house open.

It was Ronnie.

“Hey, I’m glad I caught you before you left,” she muttered as she jogged towards his car, her
poppe
bouncing enticingly. The sun was beginning its decline and her hair looked like a halo of gold around her, temporarily blinding him.

“Hey, what’s up?” he asked, squinting in her direction. He put his hand against his forehead in mock salute to block out the sun. She came into focus.

“Just wanted to say thanks for the ride, and well, tell you maybe you’re not the ass I thought you were,” she teased.

She’d think differently if she knew what he was thinking in that moment. He laughed. “Oh, gee thanks. Actually, I’m staying at the hotel down the road for a few days,” he told her. Better to let her know ahead of time.

“Why?” she asked curiously, suddenly suspicious.

“Big brother just informed me, actually. I have some papers in this county to file.” He held up the folder.

“Those about me?” she asked, peering at the file folder in his hand.

He just nodded gloomily.

“Okay, well bye,” she said as he began to turn.

He needed to stop her if just for a moment. “Hey if you don’t mind, maybe I’ll stop in to say hello while I’m here now and then.” He wanted it to appear nonchalant.

She stopped, and turned. From the expression on her face, she wasn’t buying it. “Checking up on me?” her eyes searched his face looking for the truth.

Again he nodded. He felt the urge to reach up and touch her hair.

She just shook her head a little sadly and shrugged her shoulders. “Sure. Why not? It beats hanging out with the folks and talking to attorney’s all day. Why not?” And with that, she turned again and headed back inside.

Nikko waved to her retreating figure, and when the door closed softly, and she was safely tucked inside, he headed to his car. He had some shopping to do. He also needed to get a charger for his phone.

*     *     *

Ronnie woke up
Saturday morning to the sounds of birds outside her bedroom window. Missy, her mom’s Golden Retriever, sat at her feet watching her from the side of the bed, big brown eyes waiting for a sign of movement. Ronnie allowed her arm to slip out from under the covers. “Missy!” she exclaimed softly, and the loyal dog was there licking her fingers.

In the joy of the moment, she almost forgot the charges she was facing. This had been her dog from childhood. Missy was getting old, and she enjoyed each precious moment with her.

It was still early, the sun just rising. It was quiet, but she knew her mom would be up, always an early riser. She might as well get up and enjoy some quiet time with her mom.

Plus, Missy’s tail was wagging furiously, and if she didn’t get out of bed soon, the sweet dog she had gotten for her twelfth birthday would give her away.

“Okay, sunshine. I’m getting up.” The dog yipped happily as she sat up swinging her legs to the side of the bed. When Ronnie’s feet hit the floor, Missy was doing circles in the small space of her bedroom. Ronnie shook her head. Always happy. The simple life of a dog. If only it could be that easy. It seemed the weight of the world was on her shoulders despite her fairly decent night’s sleep.

Her mom’s friends stayed late, providing moral support, trying to keep her and her mother distracted from their worries. She slept well despite her circumstances because it had been the first night in a real bed in quite a few days, longer if you considered the cruise ship’s bed. The jail cell had not been conducive to sleeping with the night sounds and her own worries, and the cruise she had taken had not been very restful.

Her long t-shirt she slept in still on, Ronnie grabbed a pair of gym shorts from the top drawer of her dresser, and slipped into them before venturing into the hall. Missy still hot on her heels. A glance across the living room told her she had been correct. Her mom was sitting on the sun porch drinking her coffee, watching the sun rise over the horizon. She shook her head sadly at the worry she must be causing her mother and slipped into the bathroom before she faced her.

In the bathroom, Ronnie took care of her most pressing need, brushed her teeth, and finger combed her hair. All her toiletries had been confiscated by the police and were locked up as evidence. She was told most of the items would be returned to her, but that hadn’t happened yet, and wasn’t likely to happen anytime soon. She would need to make a stop at Walmart and get some things, she thought dismally, as she raked her waves into some kind of order. It was the best she could do. She didn’t want to go through her mom’s room to her ensuite bathroom and risk waking up her step dad.

Well, time to face the music, she thought. She reluctantly turned the nob, and Missy was waiting patiently for her. A glance told her that her mother was still waiting outside. Ronnie was shocked to see a cigarette in her hand. She had quit years ago, and Ronnie knew it was because of her and the stress of the whole situation, that her mom apparently picked up the habit again. The guilt pressed in on her. Not wanting to be caught catching her, she coughed and crossed to the kitchen not looking her mom’s way. She made for the coffee pot, a mug already set aside for her, and prepped the coffee just the way she liked it, light and sweet.

From the corner of her eye, she could see her mom had crushed out her cigarette and stashed the cigarettes in a side drawer of an end table along with the ashtray. Ronnie took a long sip of the delicious brew. She loved her mom’s coffee, so much better than the concoction served in prison with one creamer and one packet of sugar.

She gave her mom another moment before “seeing” her. Her mom waved at the air to disperse the cigarette smoke, and took a sip of her coffee. Turning towards the Florida room, Ronnie “saw” her mom, nodded and began to approach.

Her mom was out of her seat opening the sliding glass doors. “How’d you sleep, sweetie?” She spoke the words softly. Jay was still sleeping. He and Victor, when he’d shown up to bring Monica home, had a few drinks. Monica had done the driving.

“Good actually,” Ronnie muttered, pressing a kiss to her mother’s cheek and couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose.

Lou saw and blushed, but made no comment other than to tell her to sit. Lou also managed to give her a sheepish smile.

Ronnie nodded and sat next to her mom who placed her hand over hers in what was meant to be a comforting gesture. Ronnie sighed and looked at her mom’s eyes noticing they were quite puffy. She turned her hand over under her mom’s and grasped them, squeezing them and bringing warmth back into them.

“Mom, I love you! Thank you for doing this all for me.” She made her voice upbeat, confident, trying to restore her mother’s usual confidence.

“What else would I do? You’re my heart.”

Ronnie saw the tears welling in her mother’s eyes. Of all that was going on, seeing this pain, this worry on her mom’s face practically undid her. Her mom did not look well at all. Her skin was paler than usual, she’d lost weight, and her eyes had dark circles around them.

“Mom,” Ronnie chastised, “I am so grateful. Really, I am, but I really need you to be strong for me. I need you to take care of you. I am innocent. And, I will clear my name,” she stated with fervor. “But if I see you sad, crying, Mom, I just can’t see you that way knowing I have put this fear in you. The smoking? Please!” she begged her mom with plaintive eyes.

Ronnie’s plea touched Lou. She was trying hard, but old fears resurfaced. She bought the cigarettes yesterday. Had only lit two, thinking they would help calm her nerves. Help her relax. She hadn’t even inhaled them or touched them to her lips. She wouldn’t dare. But it had been the need to have a sense of calmness that had driven her to buy them. They hadn’t helped in the least.

“You’re right doll face.” Lou shook her head. Although she was terrified for her daughter, and her future, she wasn’t worried at all about the house, or the money. She could start over. Again. She’s done it many times, but a mother didn’t want a child to have to go through these struggles. And now she had another child on the way. No one knew yet. She wasn’t far along. It was also the reason she hadn’t really smoked the cigarettes, but she wasn’t willing to share that news just yet.

The morning she had gotten the call from Ronnie at the police station, before Ronnie had called, she had taken a pregnancy test. Thirty eight and a new mother again! Her mind reeled. She looked forward to telling Jay that night. And even though he would be shocked at first considering his history, she knew once the shock passed, maybe even a little guilt, he would be over the moon with happiness. He would love this child, and worship the second chance at a family he had been given.

A glance at the drawer where she hid her stash of contraband, made her guilt return even more. She needed to take care of herself and this child. Ronnie was right about that. She needed to take care of herself for Ronnie, and this new baby. For Jay. She got up and opened the drawer, grabbed the cigarettes and lighter and threw them in the trash.

“It was a stupid momentary weakness. Don’t tell Jay, please. He despises smoking,” she winked at her daughter conspiratorially. “I won’t lapse again.”

She gave her mom a smile. Her tone was stronger and just that gave Ronnie hope. She needed the resilient woman her mother had always been by her side in this fight. Her mom had always been a rock her whole life and she needed that more than ever.

“I need you to fight, Mom,” she voiced her concerns. “I need your faith, and I need your strength. I hate that I am causing you this worry. But, I hate to say this; I need you now more than ever.”

“I’m here for you. Always. And as for my faith, and strength, you have that too baby girl!” Steel was in Lou’s voice now, and as the words left her mother’s lips, Ronnie was engulfed in her embrace and it was like iron.

Momentary weakness gone, she told herself. Strength and courage were what they both needed now. Her daughter would not have to ask her twice.

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

N
ikko was up
early, but waited until nine o’clock before leaving the hotel. The place he was staying at was near Ronnie’s and her mom’s, and a nearby bakery was convenient. He didn’t want to show up empty handed. His momma had always told him never to pop in on someone without a friendly gesture.

Leaving the Italian bakery, his box of goodies by his side, he was surprised at how much he was looking forward to seeing Ronnie again. It hadn’t even been a day.

Nikko laid on the accelerator pushing his classic Cutlass just slightly above the speed limit in his haste to get to Ronnie’s house. He pulled into the gravel driveway, the tires crunching and announcing his arrival. As he got out of the car, he saw Louisa peek through the curtains, and she had the door open for him by the time he reached it.

“Well, this is a surprise,” she called out in greeting, eyeing him suspiciously, especially the white boxed baked goods.

Nikko gave her a flash of white teeth and his most winning smile. “I told Ronnie I’d stop by while I’m in town. I am stuck here until Monday or Tuesday,” he answered her simply.

Louisa gave him another guarded look, but opened the door wider allowing him entrance. “Ronnie’s in the shower, but she should be out shortly. I’ll put on a fresh pot of coffee. We are expecting her lawyer, Ronald Stimson, later on this morning.”

“Oh! He’s good.” Nikko recognized the name. Knew he was an excellent defense attorney from one of the finest firms in Tampa, and one of the most expensive. His eyes widened in surprise.

“He’s somewhat related to one of my dearest friends,” she offered in answer to his unasked question while she began to set up the coffee pot for round two. Nikko took a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen island setting down his box of goodies. He heard the shower running and would have to make nice with Ronnie’s mom. But the sound of the water running, and knowing Ronnie was in there naked, had his mind wandering.