“If you are going to be waving that gun around you better turn out the dome light,” Maureen said as she glanced over then back at the road. “That carload of kids riding alongside us is pretty interested in what you’re doing. Then again it’s all males,” she added dryly.
Bella dropped her hand to her side and took a quick glance in the backseat. The intruder’s firearm lay on the floor within easy reach. She waved at the young men then reached up and turned off the light.
“Don’t do anything stupid, sugar. If you try to sit up and call for help they’re just going to think we are playing some sick sex games, since you’re tied up and all.” Not taking her eyes off their attacker, she drawled, “Maureen, honey, you think you can lose our friends in the lane over?”
“No problem.” Maureen pressed on the gas and with a flick of her wrist swerved onto an off-ramp. “Now’s as good a time as any. Do what you’ve got to do.”
Their attacker cowered back against the seat. “No, please don’t hit me again.”
Bella drew her lip back and sneered, “Coward.” She hunkered in the seat, her gun aimed on the intruder. With her free hand, she felt around on the nappy textured carpeting of the floorboard. Shifting her hand to the right, her fingers wrapped around cold steel. She held eye contact with the thug while she picked up his gun. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, of medium height, disheveled black hair and pasty white complexion. Though that could be due to the thumps she’d given his head, Bella thought with grim satisfaction.
Bella studied the gun she held cradled in her hand. “M9 Beretta. Nice weapon.”
Maureen shook her head. “You and Hank.”
They were outside Madison and merging with interstate traffic.
Putting the Beretta under the seat, Bella twisted around. “What’s your name, sugar?”
The man bit his lips together.
“He’s into pain,” Bella observed, smiling a cold smile that did not reach her eyes as she watched him blanch.
“Save it, RoboCop, we can get that information from his wallet. What we want to know is who hired him,” Maureen said as she checked her review mirror.
“You hear that, sugar? You can ignore my first question. No one cares who you are.” She leaned closer, her voice a purr, “But we do care about who hired you.” The image of their attacker with a blonde hanging on his arm at the mall flashed through her mind. “And who was the girl you were with?”
“If you are going to bash in my head go ahead. But I’m not telling you a thing.”
“That would have been very impressive if your lips weren’t trembling and the whites of your eyes glistening when you said it.” Bella caressed her gun. “So you want to play some more.”
“Save it, Bella.” Maureen tapped on the brake, clicked on the blinker and exited onto a two-lane road. From there she took another right that led into a secluded area and dead-ended into a grove of pine. She cut the motor and turned off the lights.
Maureen rolled down the window to let in the cool night air. The spicy scent of pine permeated the van. A screech owl screamed over head. A dog or coyote responded with a forlorn howl.
Bella gave a dramatic shiver as she taunted their attacker. “How primitive. Are you a city boy?”
He bit his lips together but his eyes rolled from one side of the dark pines to the other.
The dome lights flashed on as Maureen climbed out of the car and Bella followed. The slamming of the doors echoed in the night.
Bella opened the passenger door. She put her hand on the side of the SUV and leaned forward, the smooth metal cool against her palm. “Well, sugar, this is your last chance to cooperate. Who hired you?”
Maureen stood back a pace, her arms crossed.
He spat in their direction. The spittle landed harmlessly on the ground.
“Now, sugar, that wasn’t nice at all.” Bella’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She turned and looked at Maureen. “I think everything we want and need is in his pants.”
“You bitches are sick,” he screamed.
“You want to talk?” Bella asked him, arching a brow.
“Go to hell.”
“I’m getting a bit tired of his conversation, aren’t you?” She turned toward Maureen.
“I must admit I am.”
“I don’t suppose you have any duct tape?” Bella inquired.
“I wish I did.”
“Help.” Their attacker threw back his head and yelled as loud as he could. “Help. Someone help me.”
Maureen shrugged. “You win. Put him out of our misery.”
“Stay away from me,” he screamed as Bella leaned over him. She tapped him on the head and he subsided, moaning, semiconscious.
Maureen motioned Bella out of hearing distance. “We aren’t doing too badly with this good-cop, bad-cop routine but I don’t want to permanently damage him. He’s taken quite a few hits to his skull.”
Bella shook her head. “Sugar, you’re a caution. It must come from being a healer. That man doesn’t deserve any mercy from us. But if it makes you feel any better, you can give him a quick fix of healing right before we leave.”
Maureen nodded. “Fair enough.”
“Let’s get his pants off and get his wallet and cell phone,” Bella said.
They quickly took off his shoes.
Maureen looked at the shoe in her hand then at her friend and winked. “Bet I can outthrow you.”
“You think so?” Bella responded.
Maureen drew back her arm and the shoe she held went sailing into the woods. Bella threw the shoe she carried in the opposite direction.
“Now for his pants.” Reaching in, Bella unclasped his belt and pulled at the zipper. She grimaced as she did so. “This isn’t a pretty sight.”
They each grabbed a pant leg and yanked.
As the pants came sliding off Bella grabbed them and patted down the pockets. “Bingo.” She pulled out a trifold leather wallet and a slim black cell phone. “Okay, we got what we need, let’s ditch him.”
Grunting, they hauled their passenger out. He rolled onto the ground. Coming to, he tried to scuttle backward away from them.
Maureen touching him brought him around. Bella looked at him and grinned. She found herself wishing Hank was here to share the moment. The man wore a black leather jacket, black socks and a pair of red silk boxers that kept slipping down as he tried to push backward away from them.
Bella gave a theatrical sigh and touched her heart. “It’s a Kodak moment.” Straightening, she said in a voice laden with ice, “Sugar, you tell your boss, whoever he is if, he comes near one my friends again, I’ll kill him.” She turned to Maureen and said crisply with no trace of Southern drawl, “Let’s go.”
Maureen reached down and grabbed his leg. Jolted, she let go.
They climbed into the van. Leaving the lights off, Maureen backed out then flipped them on as they pulled onto the two-lane highway.
“He’ll have a headache for a few days but he’ll be okay,” Maureen said as she merged with the traffic.
“It’s more than he deserves,” Bella spat out. “You shouldn’t waste yourself on slime like that.”
Maureen shrugged. “It’s what I do and if you’d refrained from popping him on the head quite so many times…” her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat and bit down on her lips. Her shoulders quivered.
“Oh, sugar, I’m sorry. I don’t like my friends in danger and I really, really don’t like being called a bitch,” Bella said contritely.
Maureen burst out laughing. “You’re priceless.”
“You’re not mad?” Bella blinked.
“No. I’m not mad.”
“How do you feel?” Bella twisted at the waist ‘til she faced her friend.
“I have a little headache. Nothing that an aspirin won’t cure.”
Bella brightened. “I’ve got just the thing if you can find a place to get a drink.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Humor me.”
“There’s a little town five miles down the road with a twenty-four-hour gas station and convenience store. I wouldn’t mind a cup of coffee.” Maureen slowed as she came up on a truck cruising along at fifty miles an hour. “Who do you think that punk answers to?”
The leather creaked as Bella leaned back in her seat. “We know the ultimate puppeteer pulling the strings is Victor. The question now is who is the middleman? Does the long arm of the Mafiosi reach from Atlanta to Wisconsin?”
“That’s a damn good question. Wish I had a clue as to the answer.” Maureen wheeled into a well-lit service area. She started to open the door. “Coffee?”
Bella held up her hand. “Stay put, sugar, I’ll get it.” She opened the door and jumped out. “Lock the door.”
Walking in the convenience store, Bella got two coffees and came back out. Pulling out a small packet from her purse that looked like sweetener, she poured it into the coffee, stirred, put the lid back on and handed it to Maureen.
Maureen stared at her. “What in hell was that?”
“Aspirin powder. Works quicker. Drink it, shug, you’ll feel better in no time.”
Maureen shook her head but did as she was told. She grimaced. “Not sure if it’s the coffee or the aspirin but it’s bitter.”
Bella shrugged. “It’s coffee from a gasoline station. What did you expect, Starbucks?” She flipped open their attacker’s wallet and squinted at the photo on the license. “Not a good picture of our boy Billie Jones.” She spread the wallet open. “Well, well, well. It looks like someone was paid in advance.”
She pulled out a wad of money, counted, then counted again and gave a low whistle. “There’s over a thousand bucks in here.” Straightening, she grinned and handed the greenbacks to Maureen. “That should help offset the honeymoon expenses.”
Maureen looked down at the crisp hundred-dollar bills in her hands. “I can’t take that. Besides, we aren’t going anywhere.”
Bella’s eyes widened in shock. “Well, of course you are.”
A man walked by the parked SUV and looked at them curiously.
“Maybe you better stop waving that money in the air, sugar,” Bella said dryly.
Maureen hastily put the money in her lap. “Take it, would you?”
Bella stuck it in her purse. “Hank and I will take care of the horses if that’s what’s worrying you.”
“Well, I have always wanted to go to Hawaii.” Maureen grinned at her friend, a delicious sparkle in her eye.
Before Bella could respond, their attacker’s cell phone began to ring.
* * * * *
Victor paced the cell waiting for word from Victoria. He shivered. No matter the temperature these days he was always cold
Chapter Eight
Bella snapped the lid of the phone up, hit the speaker button and held it out between her and Maureen.
“Hello. Billie, are you there? Hello,” a female voice sounded on the other line. Bella and Maureen looked at each other. There was a pause and then the phone clicked off.
Bella hit recent calls. She frowned down at the lit phone screen. “I don’t recognize the area code.” The phone rang again. She looked at Maureen. “Let’s see if she leaves a message.”
Maureen dropped her chin in a terse nod.
The phone stopped ringing. A few moments later the message symbol came on. “Dammit.” Bella hit the dashboard with her fist. “We don’t have his password.”
Straightening, Maureen started the car. “At least we have his phone numbers. Maybe Jack’s computer bud who works for Uncle Sam can trace them for us.” She looked at Bella out of the corner of her eye. “Or Madison’s finest.”
Bella grinned. Both she and Maureen had dated a couple of cops when they were trying to track down Victor. At least, Bella amended silently, Maureen had gone out once with the good-looking detective, Tony Cardoza. She herself had done more schmoozing than dating with Detective Russo.
Maureen put the car in reverse and backed out of the lot.
In spite of the caffeinated coffee, Bella felt bone tired. She leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes.
“We’re home, Bella.”
Bella blinked and looked around. They were parked in front of the house. The outside light shone down in an arc of yellow, illuming the driveway and sidewalk, while moths did a death dance in its glow. She yawned and stretched. “I’m sorry, shug.”
“For what? For taking a nap? Don’t be silly.”
Bella glanced at her friend. In the filtered light, Maureen’s face looked tired and drawn. Dark circles half mooned her lovely eyes. She leaned toward her friend. “Are you okay?”
Maureen nodded. “I’m fine. Trouble seems to follow us wherever we go, doesn’t it?”
“Gods don’t give gifts without extracting a price,” Bella agreed. She glanced behind her and sighed. Boxes, sacks and garment bags were strewn in disarray. “Let’s get this mess inside.”
“Looks like we’ll have some help.” Maureen pointed toward the house.
Bella glanced over. Hank and Jack were coming down the walk, their lanky bodies throwing long shadows in front of them. She touched the amulet then touched Maureen, giving them both a glamour sweep.
Maureen glared at her. “I don’t need that stuff.”
“You haven’t looked in the mirror then,” Bella responded dryly. “No offense to Puss–Puss but we both look like something the cat dragged in.”
Maureen glanced down at the smudge of dirt on her tee shirt. “I guess you’re right.”
“I can’t do anything about the dirt and tears but it did remove those dark circles under your eyes.” Bella reached over and plucked a pine needle from Maureen’s hair.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Bella gave Maureen’s hair a light stroke then turned and watched the men stride toward them. She glanced at Jack then turned her focus on Hank. She felt her heart tighten. It made her so damn angry that Victor and his flunkies would put this good man in danger. Every time she’d thumped that punk in the head with her gun tonight she’d seen Hank McHenry returning to her bloodied and bruised after chasing the man who’d tried to run her down. Curse all criminals.
As Hank approached, she read anger and knowledge in his eyes. “Hank knows.”
“I called them when you went in to get the coffee,” Maureen said as she stepped out of the car.
“Oh.”
“Any problem with that?” Maureen leaned one elbow on the open door and the other on the SUV as she peered at Bella.
“No, of course not.” Bella watched Jack hurry to Maureen’s side and take her in his arms then glanced back as Hank opened her door.
“Are you two all right?” Hank took her hand to help her out, his grasp warm and solid. For one moment it tightened around hers. As he pulled her out, she wanted nothing more than to lean against that big, hard body and be comforted like a child.
“Bella, are you all right?” he asked, still holding her hand.
She nodded and managed to push a yes past her tight throat.
He dropped her hand. “Was it one of Morelly’s men?”
“I don’t know but who else would it be?” She gave a helpless shrug.
God
,
I hope he
’
s the only one Victor
’
s sent after us
.
“Well, there’s one way of finding out. Jack, would you mind helping the ladies with their purchases? I have some business to attend to.”
“Sure, Hank,” Jack responded, his arms still wrapped around Maureen.
Hank turned and strode purposefully toward the house.
“Hank, where are you going?” Bella called after him.
He didn’t answer, just strode into the house.
Bella ran after him. The screen door slammed behind her as she hurried through the screened-in porch and into the kitchen. Where was the man?
On instinct she walked into the den. Hank was leaning over the desk, holding a piece of paper and punching in numbers with repressed fury. The expression on his face made her take a step backward. He spoke into the phone. “Morelly, pick up this phone, you son of a bitch. You listen and you listen good. If I find out you’re behind this last attempt on Bella, I’m coming after you. I will rip out your heart and stuff it down your throat. You’ve had your last warning from me.” He slammed down the phone with enough force to make Bella cringe.
Pivoting on his heels, he spied her standing in the doorway.
She steadied herself and strolled into the room. “It takes a very brave man or a fool to threaten Morelly, sugar.”
His expressionless mask was firmly back in place. “And which do you think I am?”
“I’m still trying to figure that out.”
You are my hero
.
You brave
,
foolish man
.
His jaw set, he ground his teeth and fury radiated like lightning from his tense body. “Let me help you figure it out.” In two strides he was beside her. He yanked her to him.
For one helpless moment she stared into his stormy gray eyes then she lost touch with reason as his lips crashed down and claimed hers. She bobbled like a small craft on an angry sea with gigantic waves threatening to engulf her. She could taste fear and fury on his lips and above all desire. Her body molded against him. A perfect fit as she’d known it would be.
Yes
,
yes
,
her mind sang.
This is where I belong
.
You
’
re who I
’
ve been waiting for my entire forty
-
two years
.
“Bella. Oh excuse me,” Maureen’s voice drove through the lightning and thunder flashing around Bella.
Hank dropped his arms to his side but still she leaned against him, unable to support herself. When Bella could finally raise her head, she turned toward the doorway but Maureen was gone.
With a strength of will that surprised her, she forced herself to move her limp body from Hank McHenry’s. If his kiss was this devastating she didn’t dare think about what making love would be like. The chances were good neither of them would survive.
She looked in his face and saw a dozen different emotions warring in his eyes. “Don’t you dare apologize.” Her back straight, she turned and walked out of the room. She made her way to the kitchen and slumped into a chair. Puss–Puss hopped onto her lap. Absently, she stroked his sleek fur, still dazed from Hank’s kiss.
Maureen and Jack, who were stacking the packages sprawled all over the kitchen table, looked at her. Jack grinned broadly. Maureen had obviously told him she’d found her two best friends locked in a steamy embrace. Maureen lifted her eyebrows questioningly. “Coffee?” she asked, hunching her shoulders as if at a loss what to say.
“No, but I’ll take a brandy.” With a trembling hand, Bella brushed back a loose strand of hair.
Jack walked to the cabinet and reached on the top shelf to pull out the brandy bottle. He raised it toward Maureen. “This okay?”
“You bet,” she responded without hesitation.
Pulling out three glasses, he poured then placed one in front of Bella and one in front of Maureen. He raised his glass. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” they responded.
Bella tossed hers down in one gulp. The lovely amber liquid burned all the way down to her stomach where it settled and warmed.
Hank walked in. His gaze locked with Bella’s, searching, evaluating. The world receded.
Jack’s voice broke the vortex Hank’s gaze was drawing her into. “Brandy’s on the counter,” Jack offered.
Her gaze dropped.
Without a word, Hank turned and poured himself a shot and tossed it down.
Bella cleared her throat. “Where’s Wolf?” she asked, referring to Maureen’s wolf mix.
“In the bedroom. He’s been in hiding ever since Puss–Puss arrived.” Maureen sighed.
Bella looked down at the cat at her feet, reached down and petted him. “They’ll get it sorted out.” She stood up. “It’s been a long night. I’m going to bed.”
Hank stood with his back to her, his hands in his pockets.
She looked at him for a moment but he didn’t turn around. The garment bag holding her maid of honor’s dress rustled as she picked it up.
“I think I’ll turn in too.” Maureen pushed herself up from her chair.
“Goodnight, Bella.” Jack rose.
“Goodnight, handsome.”
“Goodnight, McHenry,” she said to the silent figure facing the kitchen window.
“Goodnight, Ms. Tremaine.”
Bella rolled her eyes.
Ms
.
Tremaine indeed
.
She stalked out of the kitchen. Hand on the rail, shoulders hunched she dragged herself up the stairs.
Gods
,
I
’
m tired
. She had just enough energy to hang up her dress then strip before she tumbled into bed. Pulling up the lavender-scented sheets, she breathed deeply then closed her eyes, punched up her pillow and settled in. But no matter how much her body craved sleep her mind kept circling back to that kiss. Damn the man anyhow. It wasn’t like she’d never been kissed before. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t downplay that moment he’d pulled her against his chest and planted his lips on hers. Its heat seared her brain.
Tossing and turning, she watched the red glowing hands move across the face of the clock. One. Two. Three. Finally at four as she heard an occasional chirp from a sleepy bird she drifted off to sleep. She slept ‘round the clock and woke rested, determined to put the kiss to the back of her mind.
It turned out to be easier than she expected since the next several days were spent in a fever of activity. Finding a caterer willing to put on an outdoor barbeque—that included veggie barbeque—a DJ, ordering flowers, a tent and putting together a guest list. Since ordering invitations and getting them out before Saturday was beyond even her scope, she spent hours on the phone inviting Maureen and Jack’s friends and relatives to the reception and arranging places for the out-of-towners to stay.
When she wasn’t in the middle of wedding preparations, she painted frantically from a picture she’d taken on her cell phone of the bride and groom.
She barely had time to think of Hank. Except for those moments she’d find his gaze on her, his look intense. And at night when he would sneak into her dreams and beckon her with those strong arms and heated lips.
By the time Friday arrived, Bella was exhausted and irritable while Maureen glowed with happiness, her eyes bright and clear, content to have left all wedding worries in the hands of her capable friend.
They were just about to go out to dinner at The Olive Grove, an intimate little Italian restaurant that was a favorite of Hank and Maureen’s, when the doorbell rang.
Upstairs—where he still hid from the cat—Wolf began to howl. Puss–Puss, who’d strolled in and was curled up at Bella’s feet, stood, his fur on end. Whether from Wolf’s howling or the knock at the door was anybody’s guess.
“Who the hell can that be?” Jack demanded.
“I don’t know but everyone stay put,” Hank commanded and strode out of the room to return a moment later with his rifle.
They were standing in the kitchen and the doorbell had sounded from the front of the house. He narrowed his eyes at Jack and pointed with his finger toward the small foyer attached to the living room. He gave the women a commanding look and said in a low voice, “You two stay put.”
Bella and Maureen waited until he left the room then followed. They stopped in the hall and watched as Hank melted behind the door. Jack waited ‘til Hank was in place. Leaving the security latch hooked, Jack looked out. He hesitated for a moment then opened the door.
All the women could see was his back but they could heard the puzzlement in his voice as he asked, “May I help you?”
And the musical, almost magical voice that responded, “I’m Sabina Comti and I’m here for the wedding.”