Ties That Bind (28 page)

“I just knew you would stay stoic in your resolve. And it would excuse any inappropriate tequila induced moves I decide to make.”

“That’s putting a lot of faith in my resolve.”

“Of course.”

Mitch chuckled, letting his head drop to her neck. His lips hovered against her skin, feeling the heat rising from her throat. His lips grazed silkily across her shoulder, her body reacting instantly and curving tightly against his. Before he could prevent it, a soft moan escaped and, sensing an opening, her hands snaked through his hair, pushing his head tighter into her. “For the record, you never have to make excuses with me.”

She tensed in his arms. “There’s man with a camera.”

He continued to tattoo her skin with kisses. “Yes.”

“You know?”

“Yes.”

“He’s yours?”

“Jimmie’s.”

“Same difference,” she grumbled and tried to move away. His hand moved to the small of her waist, locking her in place, his lips never faltering. “You are going to send it to my father. To let him know this was you and Jimmie.”

“Yes.”

“You are using me.”

Mitch hesitated, his eyes meeting hers. “Do you really believe that?”

She sighed. “No.”

He bit her earlobe before kissing the same spot. “Then don’t say it. It’s offensive.”

“Mitchell?”

“Hm?”

“Will you kiss me?”

He laughed. “I am.”

“No,” she pulled away to make him face her. “A real one. The kind you are afraid to give. Right now.”

“Toni-” he frowned.

“Please.”

And he couldn’t deny her. Slowly, slipping one hand to her neck, he pressed his lips to hers, feeling the hardness and tension in her before she finally let herself go. Her body moved instinctively, melding against his, her tongue slipping against his teeth as the kiss became deeper. Mitch heard the camera click, noticed the flash several more times as her hands explored his body, and then pulled a breath away.

“That,” he murmured, “was you using me.”

She considered denying it but finally nodded. “Yes, but-”

“No excuses,” he reminded. “If kissing me gets your father to ease up on you then so be it. I’ve been used for much less noble causes.”

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Two days later, Toni had been safely placed on a plane to New York on her way to a “vacation” in Sicily. Ashli had remained a calming influence for the men as they tried to unwind in Houston but Mitch couldn’t forget the nagging tug of her betrayal with the casino bomb threats. It was Jimmie who argued in her defense, eventually wearing down Mitch’s objections. When he finally returned to her bed, it felt more out of obligation to Jimmie than any desire of his own.

“I feel like I’m cheating on Toni.”

“No wonder Vinetti secrets were getting spread everywhere. You really cannot keep your mouth shut in bed.”

Ashli gave him a playful slug. “I’m serious. The two of you, your history, just everything. She should be here, not me. I’m intelligent enough to recognize that.”

Mitch rolled over to lay on top of her, propping himself up on his forearms. “Then you are intelligent enough to know why she can never be here.”

“You are a better man than I ever imagined, Mitchell Kerlin. Do you know that?”

“Not even close.”

“You were just this wiseguy that everyone talked about as if you walked on water. I couldn’t figure it. What made you more special than everyone else?”

“So you didn’t approach me for my good looks, then?”

“I’m serious.”

He nodded. “I know you are.” He let his fingers ruffle through her hair. “I told you once it all ends where it begins, do you remember?”

“I do.”

“Tell me, Ashli.”

“Jimmie was so out of sorts. He was going through men every week it seemed like. He wouldn’t let me in, wouldn’t tell me anything but I knew. Of course I knew. It was just this silly wall he had built up. I thought if I could just find one person he could trust completely, one person that I could trust to be beside him and keep him safe forever then-” she trailed off as silent tears began to spill over her cheeks.

Mitch wiped them away, kissing her forehead softly, knowing she couldn’t bear to say it. “Then you could leave?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“And now? Now, what is it you want Ashli?”

“Was the story true? The one Toni told me about the fire when you were little?  How you saved someone and your life went all to hell because of it?”

“I didn’t realize you two were sharing stories about me.”

“We tired of the darkness of Sierrita,” she explained.

“She likes to tell stories,” he shrugged. “It’s easier for her to blame the world for my life than to believe the choices I made were my own.”

“Were they, though?”

“We are talking about you,” he grumbled rolling away from her to climb out of bed and pull on his pants.

Ashli struggled from under the covers, grabbing her robe and tightening it around her waist. She headed for the door but stopped and returned to stand beside him. “Do you know why you two get along so perfectly? You are Jimmie’s soul. You make him good. Not just the public appearance political face type of good but the down deep, far in your core, wanting to save the world type of good. What you two did in La Sierrita, what you two accomplished together?  It changes everything.”

“Jimmie is a good guy.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head before kissing him lightly on the lips. “But now he wants to be.”

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

“I own boats? Why the hell do I own boats?  I hate boats.”

Ashli stood between Mitch and Jimmie in the decrepit boxing gym, her hands on her hips. “Because they use boats to do the ocean research that brings you in millions of dollars in Gulf oil stakes.”

“Oh.”

“Mitch, say something here?  It’s the freaking governor’s invitation. You can’t tell the governor of the largest state in America no.”

“That would be Alaska,” Mitch mumbled, tugging the tape around his wrist off with his teeth.

“What?”

“Alaska is the largest state. Not Texas.”

“For chrissakes, it won’t hurt us to make an appearance. We’re here for another twelve hours anyway.”

Jimmie laughed. “Fine.”

“Fine?” Ashli hesitated. “Did you just say fine?”

“Do you want me to change my mind?” he growled. “You take care of arrangements. Clothes, get us a car, whatever. One hour tops and then we are on a plane right after.”

“I promise.”

The Bell Tower on 34th was one of the most sought after venues in the city. With a look reminiscent of Gino’s villa, the ivy coated stone walls towered high above the partiers. The ball, some sort of Houston tradition in the oil industry, was already in full swing before the trio finally pulled up in the drive. Teddy helped them out of car, whispering briefly to Mitch and Jimmie about the high level of security that was surrounding the event. It made Jimmie feel more at ease...it made the hairs on the back of Mitch’s neck rise. Low profile it was not.

They made their formal greetings quickly, posing for photos that made Mitch cringe and then Ashli led them to a cobblestone walk that edged between the two buildings. The party goers had spilled out here, scantily clad girls seeking out quiet alcoves for romantic entanglements. Mitch took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, something tugging in his psyche. Teddy was at his side instantly.

“What is it?”

Mitch shrugged. “It’s too quiet. Too…”

“Secluded,” Jimmie offered from a pace behind. “There’s a thousand people inside but hardly anyone here.”

“You’re just still on edge from Sierrita,” Ashli said, borrowing Mitch’s glass and taking a sip.

“Maybe.” Jimmie didn’t sound convinced.

“Nonetheless,” Mitch’s commanding voice echoed down the corridor, “we’re going back in.”

“No.”

“No?” He whirled on her but she was already stalking off the opposite direction, away from the ballroom entrance.

It all happened in a moment’s breath.

Teddy was moving to follow Ashli when he was grabbed from behind. He spun, his fist dropping the man. Paces away, Mitch saw the knife glint under the gaslights. He intercepted him, kicking him in the chest before whirling to put eyes on Ashli. Two men in cheap black suits had cornered her but Jimmie would reach her first. His punches were as legendary as others had said and he had one down instantly. The other was pulling a weapon when Jimmie kicked him hard in the groin, dropping him to the ground and pressing his gun to the man’s temple.

It was only a scratch. A split second sound of a mis-step of a dress shoe clicking against the uneven stone walk. Mitch’s eyes focused on the shadows, taking a moment to adjust before he found the one who had stayed hidden...undoubtedly, the one who was the real threat.

“No!” Ashli screamed at the same moment the man lurched from the shadows, gun drawn and glittering in the light. Its aim perfect on Jimmie’s back.

Mitch flung himself at the man, taking him down just as his finger squeezed the trigger. Mitch felt the warmth of blood pool around him, ignored it long enough to snap the man’s neck in his arms, and then felt nothing. Jimmie’s face swam in and out of view, Ashli’s screams puncturing the night.

His last conscious thought was voiced unbidden: fuck this.

CHAPTER FIFTY

“Stop it!  Jimmie, please!” Ashli's anger had quickly turned into miserable pleading. It was bad enough Mitch was lying near comatose in the next room. To have this fist fight going on in the middle of the hallway where everyone was staring at them was more than she could take.

She expected hospital security to step in at any minute but the lineup of mafia wiseguys – both Sonny's and Jimmie's- along the wall seemed to have stalled them in the periphery. Instead, it was a flash of silver sequins that pushed through to stand in between the two bloodied men. Sonny's fist came within inches of Toni's face before he stumbled backwards to prevent it from making contact.

“You better be damn glad your reflexes are still good,” she hissed.

“Antoinette-”

“Be quiet. Don't you think you've made enough of a scene already?  You're just lucky Gino's men have kept the press at bay.”

“Gino-”

“Yes. Gino.” She turned on Jimmie. “And you better have a damn good explanation for him by the time he arrives. Teddy, give Ashli something, will you?  The damn girl is near hysterics.”

“Toni-” Ashli glanced at her, any cool business like demeanor she had in reserve now evaporating. Not caring that they barely knew each other she ran into Toni's arms for the comfort Jimmie had been unwilling to provide. Rather than skirt her, Toni took her arm and led her to a side room a few paces away. Accepting a bottle of water and a few pills from Teddy, she followed Ashli inside and shut the door.

Placing Ashli on the sofa, she waited for her to down the pills before sinking down to sit beside her.

“You love him?” Toni asked without preamble.

“No. It's more than that.” He's my future, my escape, the key to a new life away from all this, she added silently. She offered Toni a sideways smile. “I swear, I'm not usually so inept.”

“I know,” she assured her. “I've seen you in action. You thought it was Jimmie, didn't you?”

Ashli was quiet. Yes, for a moment she had. And the relief that flooded through her filled her with guilt. And then she realized the truth – that it was Mitch who had been shot. And her emotions sank into a cavern of fear, knowing his death would solidify her in Jimmie's world forever.

“I’ve seen the tapes. They went for you.”

“No, I-”

Toni’s voice was laced with hatred. “I don’t give a damn what Jimmie thinks he saw. I don’t care what Mitch happens to remember when he wakes. And he
will
wake.  I know it was you. And I will never forgive that.”

The tears streaming down Ashli’s face did nothing to soften Toni’s fury. “And make no mistake, I will spend my entire life making sure Mitch doesn’t either.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

“Where’s Jimmie?”

Teddy nodded to an office, its blinds closed. “The doctors offered him a space. He wanted privacy.”

“Fuck what he wants.” Toni strode passed all of them, didn’t bother knocking and slammed the door behind her as she entered. Jimmie, his head in his hands, barely lifted his eyes to meet hers.

“You face armed assassins in Sicily. You take on La Sierrita. And then you let this happen here?  In fucking Houston in a damn opera house?”