Ties That Bind (20 page)

A tortured expression crossed his face but he washed it away quickly, replacing it with placid indifference. But it wasn't so fast that Jimmie missed it.

“You feel guilty for killing him,” he surmised.

Mitch didn't bother to deny it.

“But not out of disloyalty,” Jimmie continued, puzzling out Mitch’s emotions. “Because taking a life, any life, actually means something far deeper to you.” He looked to Mitch for confirmation but received no response. “You feel guilty for saving me, then. Is there a way for me to fix that for you? To make it easier for you to swallow?”

“No.”

Jimmie's voice was even quieter, a murmur so slight Mitch thought he was talking to himself. “Toni? Sonny? Could they erase your guilt?”

Mitch considered. Killing someone had become increasingly easier over the years; he'd learned to compartmentalize the actual physical act itself. But, in the aftermath, when the adrenaline had run dry, when he was alone, safe with his defense mechanisms no longer on red alert, the guilt would envelope him. It was a stupid, childish response that he kept expecting to disappear and yet it never seemed to.

The conflict of knowing he could kill with the same inhumanity as the criminals he was supposed to be fighting caused his stomach to churn, his heart to race and beads of sweat to trickle down his spine – he hated his own recognition at how much he had in common with the men he was trying to destroy.

Would he ever learn to kill without guilt? He shook his head, fiery eyes focusing on Jimmie's softer, more somber ones.

“I hope to God not.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

The glowing lanterns strung across the over-sized stone patio cast a surreal glow over the hundreds of party goers that had convened on Gino Palmese's Mediterranean villa. Villa was perhaps a disingenuous way to describe it: at over 15,000 square feet it was the largest single residence on the entire island. Dignitaries, ambassadors and rival corporate stockholders had all been bartering for the property when Gino showed up in his characteristic style and provided the owner an unknown sum of money in cash – untraceable America bills. The property had been signed over in the middle of the night, the local magistrate presiding over the transaction while still in his bathrobe after being roused from sleep at three in the morning.

From his perch on the northernmost balcony of the property, Mitch could understand Gino's affection for the place. Defensible from every side due to its high elevation over the island, the palatial space would allow Gino to have numerous guests while still providing him enough room to never have to actually see them for the duration of their stay. Mitch's eyes roamed the crowd, wondering if Jimmie was finding this as relaxing as Mitch found it stressful. His eyes found him quickly, lounging on the plush pool chair as two women in matching white bikinis, gold bangles glittering from their wrists, danced around him in obvious drunkenness. Mitch knew Jimmie was in heaven.

“They will be gone by tomorrow, Mitch. Will you come out of hiding then?” Gino chuckled as he stepped up behind Mitch without so much as a footstep of warning.

“Perhaps,” he answered, hugging him. “I know this couldn't have been your idea.”

“No, no,” he laughed and Mitch was glad to see him in such a good humor. “Marla wanted to welcome everyone. I suggested she invite a few friends over.”

“Your latest stray. She defines her friends quite broadly.”

“Dangerous, I know. But, she has me whipped as the Americans say.”

“You seem quite happy this evening.”

“What's not to be happy about?  Aside from the crowd below?  I have a beautiful new home, an amazing view of the stars over the open sea, a new shipping fleet to call my own and,” he clapped his hand on Mitch's shoulder, “my closest allies at my side.”

“I'm honored, Gino.”

“Don't be honored. Those moronic twits below are honored,” he spat. “Be you.”

Mitch nodded and motioned for Gino to sit while he fixed the two drinks. “You heard about Sonny?”

“Yes. He’s okay?”

“Several hours of surgery but yeah, he’s coming back around.”

“Good. I know what he means to you.”

Mitch offered him a glass and then sank down in the chair opposite him. “And you? What’s happening in your world?”

Gino laughed. “You’ve been nothing but phone calls for two years and that’s all I get?  Is that Vinetti’s influence?”

“No, it’s my self-preservation being on overdrive.”

“I hear, of course. I know you’ve had a rough time of it. First Coppell, then Ashli, and now Sonny?”  Gino shook his head. “You should have called much sooner.”

“Nothing I can’t handle, Gino.”

“I don’t doubt you can handle it, Mitchell.”

“Jimmie. You forgot Jimmie.”

“An attempt was made on Jimmie? When?”

“Just before we got on the plane. I don’t think it’s related but,” Mitch shook his head, “it’s still there.”

Gino’s eyes narrowed. “Is it the Vinettis?  Or is this something following you?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?  I just don’t know.”

“That’s unlike you.”

Mitch nodded. “I’ve lost perspective, I think. Let myself get distracted.”

“Yes, I know that as well.  She’s here, you know.” Gino gave a small smile. “Antoinette.”

“No. I assure you I did not.”

“Well, that eases some of my heartache, at least,” he said with a frown. “And your safety?”

“I’m careful, Gino. Your lessons echo in my head always. That hasn’t changed.”

“You were acting like a loose cannon.”

Mitch stood up, moving to pace the room. “Yes. I won’t deny that. And then she resurfaced. It changed a lot of things for me.”

“It changed a lot of things for everyone,” Gino corrected. “We are family, you and I, aren't we?”

“Of course.” Mitch nodded. “Gino, please-”

“My seriousness worries you, doesn't it?”

“Undoubtedly.”

“I apologize. On such a happy night I should never do such a thing. Tomorrow, we shall talk tomorrow.”

“Gino,” Mitch grabbed his arm as he tried to move back inside, a stray thought finally flittering into his mind.  “Are you in danger?”

He laughed as if Mitch had told a joke he'd never heard before. “Always, my friend. Always.”

“Because of me?”

“Don’t be so arrogant,” Gino scowled but then hugged him. “Welcome home, Vincenzo.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Mitch turned back to his view of the party and, as if called, Jimmie was staring at him. He lifted his head in question and Mitch motioned to his watch then the horizon. Jimmie nodded understandingly. Whatever it was could wait until sunrise.

“Mitch!” a whirl of turquoise and citrus orange blurred onto the balcony and into his arms before he could get control of his senses again. But the smell of her was unmistakable, a blend of fresh ocean water with a hint of something summery sweet could only be one person.

“Been skinny dipping in the Tyrrhenian Sea tonight, have you?” he asked, pulling away from Toni gently as he surveyed her straggling hair. “Should I bother to ask if you were alone?”

“And a fine welcome to Sicily to you, too,” she returned but the smile remained stretched across her face. “Why are you up here all alone?”

“Who says I've been alone?”

“Ah,” she nodded. “Gino was with you then. People were wondering.”

“People?” Mitch circled around her, his eyes moving uneasily over the darkness. “What people?”

“Pour me a drink?”

His response was distant, distracted, a vague mumble of something that he believed he should say even though her words weren't really registering in his thoughts. “You're too young to drink.”

“Where have you been while I've been growing up?” she laughed. “I've been legal even in the States for some time now.”

Her light tone was beginning to irritate, a knot rising in the pit of his stomach. As she twirled around him again, he gripped her shoulders tightly, forcing her to stop and face him. “What people, Toni?”

Her swinging ceased, the intelligence he knew so well finally breaking through her euphoria at being without parental supervision. Years of dark moments had prepared her well and she deciphered his look in an instant. “I didn't know them,” she answered quietly. “Nor did I respond.”

“Were they asking for me or Gino?”

She hesitated. “Gino. I believe.”

“You believe?”

She was quiet, a furrow forming on her forehead as she sifted through the many conversations she had encountered during the evening's festivities. “Gino,” she confirmed.

Mitch pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and moved paces away from her – as far as the wrought iron balcony would possibly allow. He glanced over the railing as he spoke, his voice muffled but his eyes locking with a half drunken Teddy who was now standing at attention watching Mitch from the middle of the dance floor. Before Mitch had clicked off the phone, Teddy was on the move, his hand raised only slightly but enough for the guards to begin circling around him for further orders.

“Mitch?” Toni's eyes stayed on Teddy far below, her voice filled with uncertainty.

“You worry too much,” he admonished with a chuckle. “Come, tell me stories of your late night affair. Was he a local?” Mitch took her arm, leading her into the parlor and sinking into the soft, peach colored sofa that lined one wall.

“You are trying to distract me,” she argued, but sat down beside him anyway.

“Allow me that.”

She nodded and moved to fix herself a drink, ignoring his penetrating gaze. “Would you like one?”

“Not tonight.”

“That tells me more than you realize.”

“When have I ever doubted your powers of perception?” he chuckled and pulled her down to sit beside him again. “Tomorrow, you and I, when all these people are gone, will sit alone on the beach and drink until the sun rises.”

“Promise?”

“Well, Jimmie and Teddy will likely interrupt but it will not be by my doing. I promise.”

“Tomorrow then?”

“Tomorrow. Now tell me about the Greek god you enchanted.”

“You are using me as a distraction,” she laughed to ease his tension. “I am fabulous at distraction.”

She wasn't lying. After nearly an hour and a half of regaling Mitch with stories of her recent escapades which ended not with a torrid romance with a  Greek god but a skinny dipping session with a bunch of teenage boys who stayed paces away from her murmuring in Sicilian and thinking she couldn't understand their embarrassed comments, Mitch was in stitches. He was laughing uproariously by the time she got to the end where the boys’ parents appeared and dragged them home while cursing the American girl for her harlot ways.

“Mitch?” Teddy's voice sobered him immediately and he moved to the doorway in one swift movement that caught Toni off balance and almost caused her to topple to the floor.

“Tell me.”

The news did not surprise him nor did it worry him. It would require tightening security for Gino, which Mitch and Jimmie would happily provide, but the unorganized Italian crew who were currently angry with Gino were small time crooks that didn't appreciate Gino cutting off their shipping contracts. Nothing related to the dangers they were facing back in the states. Simple business and certainly nothing that would have caused Gino's earlier seriousness. Mitch ordered Teddy to tighten security, place more guards around the perimeter and lock down the residence before the party ended to keep any drunks from attempting to stay the night.

“Has Jimmie been informed?”

“No, he was occupied.”

“Occupied?” Mitch searched his memory. “Not the bikini twins?”

Teddy couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. He cleared his throat. “No, someone else caught his fancy. They are upstairs. Shall I inform him?”

“Better leave that to me. You two stay here and get acquainted.”

“Of course,” Teddy grinned. “So you’re the infamous Antoinette. I didn't even know you were here.”

“Isn't that your job?” she joked but took him by the arm. “I have been hidden up here with Mitch. He really is a downer at parties, did you know that?”

“He has his moments, I assure you.”

“Gossip about me and find yourself unemployed,” Mitch said with a wink to show he was joking. “Surely you two can find better things to talk about. Jimmie, for example. He's always good fodder for gossip.”

“I prefer not to be shot, thank you very much,” Toni retaliated and shoved Mitch toward the door.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

“Jimmie?” Mitch knocked once on the door.

“Go away,” a female voice laughed from somewhere behind the oak door.

“It's Mitch.”

The door opened immediately, before the girl in the bed even had time to cover herself. Not that she seemed in any hurry to do so. Her eyes sparkled when she saw him and let the sheet fall to the bed again, her naked body stretching welcomingly across the bed.