Thirty-Five Years Ago
Stacy
From the moment I laid eyes on the six–foot-three, brown-haired man who walked into the diner that Sunday morning, I knew he wasn’t from around here. A man like that stuck out. His broad shoulders had the guy next to him shifting down a stool so they didn’t have to touch. I nodded at Jack, who was about to serve him, to let him know I had it. I removed the pen from my ear, pulled out my note pad, and strolled over.
“Hi there, what can I get you?”
He closed his eyes as he rubbed his temples. “Just coffee.”
“Coming right up.” I turned to pick up the coffee pot and checked out his reflection in the glass. He cursed quietly as he looked at his phone while I poured the dark brew and slid the mug over. “Here ya are.”
“Thanks.” He yawned, and his head remained down. Friendly.
I tapped my pointer finger on the counter. “My name is Stacy. If you need anything, just call.”
“Yeah,” he grunted as he rubbed his head again. I reached under the counter and grabbed my purse, then took out my Tylenol and clicked the bottle down in front of him.
My other customers waited, so I moved over to them and took their orders. After I got them situated and went back, he was gone. Under my pill bottle was a twenty.
“Jack?” I called. He poked his head from behind the divider. “Did you see where that guy went? His bill was only a dollar, but…” I held up the twenty.
“Nice! He left about five minutes ago. Looked like he was hung over or something.”
The rest of my shift went quickly, and I never thought about the guy again until I left to walk the ten blocks to my tiny apartment, thinking of the twenty he had left me. Soon after that, I was passed out on the bed.
Mondays were slow, like ‘jam a fork in your eye’ slow. There were only so many times a person could fill the salt shakers and restock the shelves. Jack’s radio pumped Cindy Lauper, and I sang along as I dried a glass.
“Excuse me?” A voice broke into my song. I turned to find the man from yesterday in the same seat as before. I hopped off the counter and made my way over.
“Coffee, right?”
This time he stared right at me. My Lord, his eyes were a soft melty brown, like caramel with a light honey swirl. He gave me a tight smile. “Can I order pancakes along with it…please?”
“Coming right up.” I handed Jack the slip, and he gave me a little wink.
“Stacy, right?” he asked, then cleared his throat. I gave a little nod as I poured his coffee. “Charlie, nice to meet you.”
“It is,” I stated. “Can I ask you something, Charlie?”
“Sure.” He ripped a piece of paper and started to fold the edges down.
I replaced the pot and looked right at him. “Where are you from?”
“Phoenix.”
“So what brought you to Nashville?”
He continued to fold the paper even smaller. I watched in fascination for a few moments before he spoke. “Just felt like a drive.”
Two guys came and sat at the other end of the counter. I recognized Will and sighed inwardly. “Stace!” Will called out as he took a seat. “French toast with extra whipped cream and lots of chocolate sprinkles. Thanks, doll.”
Charlie looked up at me, then over to the guys. “Friends of yours?”
“No.” I sighed as I scribbled Will’s order. “Let me get your food.”
“Thank you.” He kept his eyes on the guys, who were loudly talking.
I placed Charlie’s plate in front of him, then headed to give Will his.
“Can I get you anything else?” I asked. As a reply, Will snagged my hand, pulled me forward, and dabbed my neck with whipped cream. “Will,” I sighed, “please don’t start today.”
“Oh, come on.” He smiled. “I’m just playin’. You want me to clean it off for you?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Stacy?” Charlie looked unimpressed. “Could I get another refill?”
“Yeah,” I called out, but Will caught my arm.
“Who’s he?”
“A customer.” I looked down at his grip and felt my patience wear thin. “Do you mind?”
He slowly let go but stared at Charlie like a bull checking out his next rider. I pulled the pot free from its stand and forced a smile at Charlie.
“How are the pancakes?”
“Great, thanks.” He pushed his empty plate aside and sipped his coffee. I noticed he’d made a little origami bird. Sweet.
“So are you sticking around here for a bit?” I didn’t know why I asked. There was just something about him that interested me.
He tensed but then rolled his neck as if to relieve the tension. “Not sure yet.”
“Well, I hope to see you around.” He glanced up at me, his eyes unreadable, but I knew with a guy like that there was more to his story then he’d ever let on. That was fine with me. All I cared about was that I made enough money to leave this damn town. I pulled out his bill and placed it next to him. “Stick around if you’d like.”
He studied the bill. “This should be eleven sixty. Why is it free?”
I kept my back to him as I rang up Will’s order. “You left too much yesterday.”
“It was a tip—”
“It was too large,” I interrupted.
“That’s not for you to decide.”
“I beg to differ.”
“My tip, my decision.”
I turned to look at him and wondered what his angle was. “Do you always leave such a generous tip?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I was rude to you yesterday. I didn’t feel good, and you helped me out. I can leave you a tip if I want to.” He pulled out his wallet and left a twenty. “See you later, Stacy.”
“Bye, Charlie.” I couldn’t help but stare at his large, lean body as he left the restaurant.
And that’s how it went for three weeks. Charlie would come in, eat breakfast, leave a heavy tip, then disappear until the next day. There was always an unspoken attraction between us, though neither one of us acted on it. One day he didn’t show, and the day after. A month went by, and I realized my sexy stranger had vanished. It bothered me a lot, more than I thought it would. Sad. He interested me; he was way different than the guys in this town.
“Thanks, Jack,” I called out as I opened my umbrella.
“If you can wait, I’ll drive you home.”
I stepped out into the rain. “Are you kidding? I love the rain.” He laughed as I waved goodbye.
Three blocks from home, and my shoes were a soggy mess and I was frozen. I didn’t usually go out after work, but today the Red Piper looked inviting. I slipped inside and sagged into a chair at the end of the bar and ordered a hot rum. It went down a little too quickly. I wasn’t a drinker, and the liquor went straight to my head, but it sure warmed me right down to my wet toes.
I didn’t bother with my umbrella as I meandered the rest of the way home. It was too hard to coordinate my feet and the shield. So instead I let the icy drops hit my face and fall freely down my coat. A homeless man sat next to a building, holding a piece of cardboard over his head to protect himself and his golden retriever. They both looked miserable. I handed him my umbrella and a few dollars. He was way worse off than I was. The guy nearly sobbed at the gesture and thanked me. I made a note to bring him some leftover food from the diner tomorrow.
My place rarely looked as warm and inviting as it did at the moment I approached the door. I patted my pocket, then spat out a loud curse. “Shit, where the hell are my keys?” I started to cry; nothing ever came easily to me. My back pressed flat against the wall to find some kind of cover as I let the tears mingle with the cold raindrops. I didn’t regret the help I offered the old man, but right then I wished I had my umbrella back. I just wanted to break the door down and get into some warm clothes. I sank to the ground near the edge of the building where I could get a little shelter from the rain.
After I gathered myself, I realized my neighbor would be home soon, and she had a spare key. I decided to wait for her instead of tromping back the ten blocks. She was due back in twenty. I could wait.
“What happened to you, sweetheart?” Jack asked as I came in late for my shift. “I was worried when I got your call.”
I still felt terrible. I couldn’t get warm. I didn’t get into my apartment until my neighbor got home from her shift at the hospital. “Long night,” I mumbled through a sore throat. My sweater wrapped around my too-small frame, I felt like my clothes were paper thin my bones ached so much.
My fingers clutched the mug of green tea I hugged close to my chest as the little bell on the door rang. I dragged myself out of the kitchen and behind the counter.
It’s him.
“Wow, what happened to you?” Charlie asked as he took what was his usual seat a month ago. Fate was not on my side. Why, today of all days, would it send him here after all this time when I looked and felt like a total wreck? I didn’t answer him, I just poured him his coffee and ordered his pancakes. “Thanks.” He took a sip of his coffee. He eyed me then reached up to feel my forehead. I blinked a few times at his boldness. “Jesus, Stacy, you’re burning up.”
With a nod, I grabbed the stool and dropped onto it. We weren’t supposed to sit, but I didn’t care. My hands covered my eyes. All I wanted was to be home in my bed, alone in my misery.
Charlie moved his coffee aside and leaned forward, examining my face. I knew I must be flushed and pretty awful-looking, but I didn’t really care. “You’re sick. Why aren’t you home?”
With a heavy sigh, I decided to be honest. “I walked home in the rain last night, only to find I had lost my keys. So I spent forty-five minutes huddled against my building wall until my neighbor came home.” His face remained expressionless, and I felt like I needed to go on. “I had an umbrella, but after a drink, I felt fine and there was this homeless man and a dog who needed it more than I did. In hindsight, I see it wasn’t a smart move.”
Charlie got up from his chair and went into the kitchen. Normally I’d care, but today I didn’t. I placed my cheek down on the cool counter and imagined myself home.
“Up you go, hon.” Charlie’s strong arms lifted me off the counter and around to the door. I briefly heard Jack say something as we left, but I was fading fast.
Next thing I knew, I was on a soft, warm seat, the sound of rain pounding the windshield. The car made one stop, I thought. It was delicious to drift in and out. My next memory was of Charlie handing his keys to a valet. He helped me out of the car in front of a big hotel.
There was a wonderful fire lit, and he helped me to a fluffy couch. I lay down and closed my eyes; it was so warm. “Open your eyes.” Charlie’s voice was low and sounded concerned. “It’s just NyQuil.” I did, and took what he offered me. “Get some sleep.”
I wondered if I should be afraid. I must have looked drunk to the people in the lobby, but that was my last conscious thought as my body shut down on me, and I had no interest in turning it back on. If I were going to be raped or murdered, at least I would not be aware of it, and I was so warm.
I woke the next day with a headache and a sore neck. Pushing back the soft, warm blanket covering me, I was—thankfully—in the same clothes as the day before, and my long hair was still damp from the rain. My legs felt wobbly as I stood and took in the hotel room. I blinked at the clock, unable to believe it was after 5:00 p.m. I had slept through the night and a day. Shocked, I looked for the bathroom and hurried inside and checked myself out in the mirror. I was pale, and my light brown eyes looked exhausted and mirrored the sad–looking, limp hair that hung in long waves down my back. Good Lord, I was quite the sight. I washed my face and towel dried my hair a little.
I opened the door to find Charlie at the end of the bed, waiting for me.
“Hi,” I whispered with a little wave, feeling pretty insecure about the whole situation.
He smiled. “How are you feeling?”
“Better than yesterday, thanks. I…”
“Good to hear it.” He cut me off and pointed to a bag. “I got you some dry clothes. They should fit. Then I’ll drive you home after you eat something.”
“You didn’t need to—”
“I know, but I wanted to, and you need to eat.” He smiled at me again and went over to a silver hotel cart and removed two plates and set them on the table. “Please, come join me. I’m tired of eating alone.”
That, I could understand. I lived on my own forever, and company sure was nice to have.
The prime rib was great, and was certainly not the fare I was used to. Pretty rich for my budget. Charlie remained quiet, just glancing at me with a smile now and then as I ate like I was starving. It wasn’t until he got through his first glass of wine that he started to relax.
“Do I make you uncomfortable?” I asked when I saw him shift in his seat.
“Not in the least.”
“Then why haven’t you said anything to me?”
He rested his glass on his knee and thought for a moment. “I guess I’m too busy wondering why your company doesn’t bother me.”
I gave a little nod. “So you’re shocked you like me?” I grinned playfully. “Boy, you sure know how to flatter a lady.”
He started to laugh, and the way his eyes lit up was so addictive I wanted to see it again. “I don’t have much company. I have a different life than most. Women don’t have time for people like me, and I don’t have time for them.”
“So you don’t date?” I thought the wine and the leftover cold medicine might be a deadly combo for my filter.
“I do, just haven’t for a while.” He filled his glass a little more. “Are you dating anyone?”
“I was.” I lowered my head. “He wasn’t very nice, but we managed to remain friends.”
Charlie studied my face. “Will?”
“Yeah.” I looked away. “We were high school sweethearts, but I outgrew him. He still likes to think he has a chance, but he has a bit of a temper. I wasn’t raised a weakling, but I thought I was in love. After a few arguments, I quickly saw he wasn’t for me.” I glanced at Charlie, who hadn’t moved since I started to talk. “I’m not telling you my story to gain sympathy. I’m telling you because you caught me when I was really down. I thank you for looking after me, but I’m better now and should really get going.”
“Did Will let you leave easily?”
“No, Will likes to get his way, but in time he moved on. Now we’re friends, but that’s all.”
“Where are your parents?”
What is with the drill session? “Dead.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone dies at some point.” I didn’t like to answer questions about them.
“Siblings?”
“What’s with all the personal questions about who is in my life? That, right there, makes me feel like you’re scoping out if I’m an easy kill or not,” I joked.
Charlie ran his hands around the back of his neck. “Stacy, if I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead by now.”
“Good to know.” I sighed. “I have a sister in New York, but we don’t talk.”
“Why?”
“Because when our parents died, she left me to run the diner with my Uncle Jack. She took her cut of the inheritance and moved on. I hate the diner too—despise it, actually—but I won’t leave my uncle to run it on his own. He has a large family, and if the diner closes, well, he goes down with it.”
“That’s noble of you,” he mumbled. “Why do you hate this town so much?”
I let out a little laugh as I reached for the wine and poured a little more. “When you grow up in a small town and your parents die, people look at you like you’re a lost cause. They look at you with that sad, sympathetic face. I’m not Stacy Marie, I’m that ‘poor’ girl whose parents were murdered by a guy hyped on drugs.” I paused. This topic was a no-go area. “It just gets old.” Charlie nodded a few times. “Your turn.”
“I suppose it is.” He cleared his throat. “Okay, my mother passed away when I was five. I have four brothers, and I’m the oldest. Born and raised in Phoenix. My father wanted me to take over the family business, but I didn’t want it. So I left.”
“At least you got out of that town.”
Charlie glanced down at the table. “Well, we shall see.”
Okay…I wanted to ask more questions, but I was stuck on one thing. “So, why did you come back? You were gone for a month.”
“I wanted to see you.” He looked right into my eyes. “I really like you. But…there’s something you need to know.”
Three Years Later
“Charlie,” I screamed from behind him. He reached for my hand and pulled me along. I had never been more terrified in my whole life. “I’m scared!”
“I won’t let anything happen to you, honey.” He opened the door and pushed me in the seat. “Stay low, and whatever you do, don’t leave this seat. I will come back for you.” He leaned in and kissed my lips hard. “I love you, Stacy.” He took my hand and kissed my wedding band. “Don’t move.” With that, he was gone. I was left inside an old Cadillac in a scrap metal yard. My knees banged the floor, and I folded into a tight ball, praying I would stay hidden.
The motor of the Tahoe stopped several feet away from me, and I peeked out the window and saw him as he scanned the property. He motioned for the men to go off in different directions. I was sure he could hear my thundering heartbeat from where he stood. One man got so close I held my breath and pressed myself down flat onto the floor of the car. Peeking out through a crack, I saw his shadow appear over the driver’s seat, and then his flashlight moved to the passenger side. I squeezed my eyes shut and bit down on my tongue in fear, waiting for his shout. The light stopped and became brighter. Oh my God! I knew they’d find us—they always did! Why did we think this time was any different? I had no weapon and no hope left.
“Hey,” someone yelled, “over here!” The light moved away, and I slowly stared out the window just in time to see the man stick his gun in Charlie’s direction and pop two bullets right between my husband’s eyes.
I scrambled out of the car and ran as fast as I could. I knew it was stupid, even suicidal, but I lost all sense of reason as I dropped to the ground where a pool of blood made paths through the dirt.
“No!” I cried and held Charlie’s head to my chest. I looked up at the man and screamed, “You’re a monster! How could you do this?” I looked straight into his eyes, right before he raised his gun and stole my life away.
Present Day
FBI Agent Cooper Colin
Nashville was cooler than Southern California. I had only been here once before, when I came across their case.
I’d worked cold cases for the past nine years. There was something about solving something that others couldn’t that made it exciting. I liked to be down in the gallows of the building alone to connect the dots with little interruption.
My room was huge, with pictures of crime scenes linked with red lines to suspects and evidence. Every case started with a crime, victim, a murder…then the truth. It all came together like a game, clues scattered, witnesses with their own versions of what happed, character traits, and the million dollar question—“who did it?”
I was currently the best detective in my division. It was as if the evidence spoke to me, and I saw things most didn’t.
I’d solved twenty-one cases in my nine years with the FBI. I’d taken out more of the Marrone family than any other FBI agent on our force. I had no remorse for the killers I brought down, and when they got arrested, the looks on their faces were satisfying. I’d solved every case I’d picked up but one. Charlie and Stacy Knight.
The Knights’ murder was the first double homicide I’d come across that I knew who did it but could never prove it with the evidence. Until now…
After I rented a car, I decided to head directly to the diner. I could check into my hotel later.
The place looked exactly the same, and I took a seat at the counter and pictured Charlie waiting for his coffee. I watched as the waitress took orders one by one and imagined it was Stacy. I wondered what they spoke about and how she felt when he disappeared for that month. All I knew was Charlie returned to Phoenix, disappearing until he came back to Nashville with all of his belongings. Well, according to the witness, Stacy’s Uncle Jack.
Jack sat hunched over the cash register and rang in people’s orders. He caught my eye then gave me a nod when he placed who I was. Jack and I had spoken about six times. The poor man has been through so much. I would do anything to make his last few years here happy ones.
“Coffee?” the teenaged waitress asked with a genuine grin.
“To go, please.” I returned her friendly tone. I dropped a five on the counter and thanked her for the coffee. She beamed at the tip and gave me a little wave.
I started to leave, but paused when I saw a picture on the wall. With my cell phone in hand, I snapped a quick photo of the smiling couple and left.
Bobby Marrone was the head of the Phoenix mafia family that was now scattered all over California. They came from Italy in the early forties and had remained in the U.S. ever since. The crime rate skyrocketed after their arrival, and for some reason spread over to Nashville thirty-five years ago. Why? That was what I’d been trying to figure out. I was convinced they had a part in my case’s murder.
The Bureau gave me free rein with the Marrone family, mainly because I’d taken down more of their family than any major crime unit had in the last three years. I had to admit, I was a bit of a dirty player. I had my ways of dealing with people, and I was known for being an asshole. Which was great, because people left me alone. I had one focus in life, and it wasn’t to have friends.
The hotel bar was dark and quiet, perfect for my mood. My phone rang three times; my sister just didn’t take the hint. She and Mom insisted on calling me every week so I’d join them for dinner. I wanted to be alone. I wasn’t the family man they wanted. I had too much internal shit to battle on a day to day basis, and they simply didn’t understand. How could they?
The bartender refilled my drink the moment it was empty. When my head started to fog over, I finally felt myself relax. I wasn’t blind to the fact that Bobby’s men most likely knew I was here because they normally sent someone to follow me. But this time, it was what I wanted.
My fingers tugged at my tie until it broke free and hung in place. I undid a few buttons on my shirt and rolled up my sleeves. Downing my third drink, I watched the amber liquid slide from the neck of the bottle and land with a splash into the glass.
I hunkered down for a peaceful night of just me and my thoughts.
Before I even opened my eyes, I felt the hammer smash the inside of my skull. My neck was stiff from the angle at which I’d slept. Still in my clothes from the night before, I rolled over and trudged to the shower, but right before I stepped in, my phone rang. It was Tommy.
“I heard you were back in town.”
“News travels quickly.”
“Bobby’s brother, Vinnie, is in town too. He knows you’re here. My advice is go home.”
I smirked in the mirror. “Now, why would I do that?”
“Don’t fuck with things you don’t understand.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Tommy. I’m very aware of what I’m doing.”
“Your funeral.”
“Better to be buried by six than judged by twelve.” I shrugged, revising our normal motto to fit my dark side.
The line went dead.
The hotel bar started to pick up by 5:00 p.m. I sat in my spot from last night and nursed my drink and waited. It didn’t take long for the bait to be taken.
Vinnie’s reflection flickered over the ridges of the Bombay bottle as he took a seat beside me. He ordered a Crown on the rocks.
“So what brings the FBI to Nashville?” Vinnie asked as he sipped his drink and slid onto the stool next to me. Vinnie was a billboard for the mafia. It didn’t help that he was born and raised in Italy, later moving to the U.S. to be with his brother. He wore expensive suits, shoes, and cufflinks, and his accent matched his personality. Hell, he was mob right down to the cigar that rested in his breast pocket.
“What brings the Marrones to Nashville?” Most were nervous around this family, but not me. For some reason, they didn’t fuck with me. Sometimes the line blurred as to who was using whom.
“Just visiting an old friend,” he said and snickered into his glass.
“Whiskey sour, please.” Her voice was soft and sweet from behind Vinnie’s massive body. He started to move, and my jaw nearly went with him. Jesus Christ! There she was, right where she said she’d be. I thought my balls had just stood at attention. Her black, skin-tight dress barely covered her ass, and her long legs stopped at her six-inch red heels. Her breasts nearly hit Vinnie in the face, and her hair had a slight wave around her midsection. Christ, she was sex on heels.
Not caring if she saw, I obviously shifted my erection.
“Well, well, well,” Vinnie purred at the uninvited guest who’d stepped up to join them. “Why can’t all women look like you?”
She gave him a sidelong glance as she thanked the bartender for her drink. I nearly groaned when I took in the back, mainly because it was missing. Her spine had a beautiful curve to it, begging for my fingers to coast downward.
She checked her phone as if she were waiting for someone. Vinnie couldn’t remove his stare from her.
“Excuse me?” I asked on cue. “Can I tell you something?”
She turned and stuck her hip out at me. “That’s original. Are you going to tell me that you feel a gravitation pull that goes from you to me?”
I nearly laughed. She was quick. “No, but I rather like that one. I’m not from here and was curious about a good place to eat. You know, somewhere with a local vibe.”
She took a moment and thought. “Trish’s Diner. That always seems to be a favorite with the out-of-towners.”
“Trish’s Diner…You know Jack?” Vinnie’s curiosity appeared piqued.
“Yes, he was my mother’s uncle.”
All I needed to see was written across Vinnie’s expression. It was almost like seeing inside his soulless body.
“Was?” he asked smoothly.
“Yes, that normally means past tense.”
Damn, this girl was naturally witty.
Vinnie smirked, and I could see he was interested. “So, they died?”
“Yes. Anything else painful you’d like to bring up?” She turned her back to us while she signed her bill. “I should’ve been a lesbian.” She sauntered across the bar to sit in a chair across the room.
“Smooth.” I laughed into my glass.
“I suppose you have some questions for me, Agent Colin. If you want answers, get that girl to come to dinner with us.” He stood. “Meet me at the usual spot in twenty.”
I waited for him to leave before I headed over and politely extended my hand, knowing Vinnie’s men were watching. “My name is Cooper Colin.”
She crossed her legs, which made her dress inch up further, before she leaned forward and shook my hand. “Sydney.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” I glanced around. “I don’t suppose you’d like to join me for dinner?”
She gave me a small smile.
Dine in the Shallows was a restaurant located under an old hotel. You’d walk right by it if you weren’t watching for it. The place was dark, and the seating was intimate. Red velvet high-back cushioned chairs circled the tables and booths. Black, sleek tables shone under the flickering candles. A man in a three-piece tux played a violin while a woman softy sang to a late forties tune.
I could tell Sydney was impressed. Her face lit up when she looked around but quickly dropped when she saw Vinnie at a table with four others. One of them was Tommy, my informant, and Vinnie and Bobby’s nephew.
“Relax,” I whispered in her ear and eased her forward. “They won’t bite.”
The men rose as we drew closer. “I’m impressed, Colin.” Vinnie laughed and called over the waiter. “Vino for my guests!”
I pulled out Sydney’s chair and sat next to her. I didn’t want to bring to her attention that Vinnie had this place packed with his men. I could practically smell the steel from their weapons, there was so many. Even the damn waiter shook as he poured the wine.
“Vinnie, this is Sydney Claire.” I looked at her. “This is Vinnie, Tommy, Sly, and Cook.” Most people would have pissed themselves to be at the same table as the mafia. Not me. I knew them so well I could tell you what each of them would order. I’d invested years into understanding their habits so I could take them out…one by one.
“Pleasure to meet you,” she cooed and granted them a smile that made it hard to swallow. Christ, she was sexy. “This is a spectacular place. I never even knew it was here.”
“It’s only been open for a year,” Sly said, eyeing her.
“Well, that explains it.” She smiled at me and caught my expression, which I quickly wiped clean off my face. “I have been on the east coast for some time now.”
“What brought you to the east coast?” Vinnie asked, but I could tell he was digging.
“My aunt lives there. She raised me after…” She looked down and cleared her throat. “So, what’s good to eat here?”
I glanced at Vinnie, who stared at her almost as if he’d seen a ghost. Yes, he’d figured it out…Sydney was the long-lost daughter of Charlie and Stacy Knight.
I knew in my gut Vinnie was connected with their murder. Every piece of evidence pointed to the Marrones, but they were good and had solid alibies.
“The crab is superb.” Vinnie grinned at her, then looked over at me. “Are you gonna tell me it was a coincidence that you and her were both at the bar at the same time?”
I was waiting for this.
“No, it wasn’t.” I turned to face Sydney. “I’ve been following you.”
“What?” Her gaze darted around nervously. Her hand flew to her purse, but I stopped her.
“I’ve been working your parents’ case for some time now. When I heard you were back in town, I hurried to Nashville to see if I could catch you. Ask some questions, see what you could offer me.” I placed my hand on hers. “We’re both looking for answers, that’s all.”
She slowly looked around the table and let out a long, unsteady breath. “I, ah, I’m not sure what I can help you with. I was very young when they were taken from me. So are you a detective or something? ”
“FBI.”
“FBI?” Her voice cracked. “I thought the case was closed. Unsolved.”
I shook my head. “It’s a cold case, but that’s what I do. I solve the unsolved. I have some questions, and I hope you have some answers.”
“So do I.” Vinnie eyed her.
She looked over at him and squared her shoulders. “And who might you be? Because I’m guessing you’re not the FBI.”
Sly and Cook laughed with their mouths full of food. Tommy snuck me a look, and I could see he was uncomfortable. Tommy and Vinnie were like oil and water. Tommy would do anything to see Vinnie at the bottom of a river somewhere—family bickering over who would take over the business when Bobby died.
Dinner was served, and we all ate and chatted about little things. Having dinner with the Devil’s spawn was not something I had planned, but I would take any chance to gather anything new I could.
Sydney avoided any personal questions they shot at her with a witty comment that seemed to put them in their place. Though they kept trying to pry.
“Tell me…” Vinnie pushed his plate away from his huge stomach. “What do you remember about your parents?”
She downed the rest of her wine. This was her third. “How much do you remember from when you were two?”
He smirked, but I could tell he was getting a tad annoyed with her dodging. Perhaps it was time to leave.
“You have quite the mouth.”
“One could say the same about you.”
Sly cleared his throat and rested his hand on his gun. Which, in turn, made me do the same.
Vinnie rubbed his chin while he studied her. Her finger ran along the rim of the glass as she stared right back at him. Liquid courage could be deadly here.
“You’re not what I pictured.”
“Didn’t know you pictured me.” She leaned her elbows on the table. “Is this the part where you tell me you murdered my parents?”
I thought I might have left my body for a moment. Did she really say that to him? To Vinnie Marrone, second in line for the seat at the head table. The next Godfather. I wasn’t sure if I should high five her or cock my gun for battle.
Vinnie’s tongue raced around his teeth before he broke out in an odd laugh, and the rest of the men followed.
“I like you.” He chuckled awkwardly. “I want you to join me at my cottage this weekend. Both of you.”
“Why would I do that, exactly?” she challenged.
“Because I don’t normally ask, my dear.” His eyes darkened and his face changed to the look I knew all too well. Yeah, it was time to go. I would not let her tear down my case.
“You have my number, text me the address.” I rose to my feet. “I will take you back to the hotel, Sydney.”
She stood, then turned back around and held onto the back of the chair. “If you did kill my parents and I find out, I will take your balls and snap them off at the base.” She flashed them a bitch smile. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, gentlemen.”
I took her wrist and hurried her out of the restaurant before we added more red to the décor.
It wasn’t until we were in the cab that she finally sucked in a deep breath and showed me her true emotions.
Her hands shook as she ran them over her thighs.
“Sydney,” I whispered while pushing back my own anxiety from what just happened. “You’re playing with fire, fire that will burn you without a thought.”
“Yeah, I got that.” She wiped a tear away with a huff. “I don’t know what came over me.”
I closed my eyes and remembered that people don’t work like I do. I shifted to get closer and wrapped my arm around her bare shoulders.
“I’m fine.”
“I know.”
Once inside the elevator of the hotel, I felt her withdraw, and she couldn’t do that yet. I needed her to stay focused.
With a sideways glance, I couldn’t help but stare at her tight body inside that little black dress. Damn, she was fine-looking.
“I need a drink.” She fluttered her hands. “Christ, I can’t calm my nerves.” She pulled her hair to one side and let out a long breath. “You want to hit up the bar?”
Yes.
“That’s not a good idea.” What the hell was wrong with me? The doors opened, and I hurried down the hall toward my room. “Night, Sydney,” I called over my shoulder.
“Yeah.” She sighed.
1:00 a.m. burned into my eyes as I stared at the clock from my bed. I couldn’t sleep. My head was spinning about the invitation to the cottage. This was big. I’d never been there. I checked in with Mason, my boss, to tell him what happened. He was surprised we were still standing, and I agreed. Sydney pushed some boundaries even I wouldn’t have tested.
Sydney…I got hard even thinking of her. Fuck it.
The hotel was silent as I headed across the lobby wearing my dress pants, with my white shirt open at the top and sleeves rolled to the elbow. This seemed to be my normal look.
I found Sydney in the corner of the bar with a man who had his hand on her leg. They were laughing and looked to be a few drinks in.
“Sydney.” My hands went to my hips. I had to admit I didn’t like seeing her with him.
She slowly looked over at me. “Good…” She squinted at the clock. “…morning.”
“We have to be on the road in six hours.”
“Noted.” Her attention went back to the man whose hand slipped higher up her leg.
With my eyes closed, I calmed my rage and looked at the bartender, who gestured to let me know the tab was on the man’s bill.
“Time to go, Syd.” I stepped forward and pulled her to her feet.
“Hey.” She tried to push me away, but I held her to my side.
“What the hell, man!” The guy moved to his feet. I didn’t have it in me at that point, so I pulled out my badge, and he backed off.
“That’s fucked up, Cooper,” she spat at me as she wiggled out of my hold and into the elevator.
“Yup, I’m an asshole,” I muttered, punching the button. The lift rose as she gave me a dirty look.
“He was nice.”
“He wanted to screw you.”
“So?”
My hands slipped into my pockets as I shook my head.
“Why did you come down to the bar, Colin?” She pulled at my arm so I’d look at her. “Tell me.” When I wouldn’t answer her, she shoved me. “Tell me!” Tonight’s events were raw on the surface. “Just tell me.”
I suddenly walked right up so she would press back flat against the wall. “Because I knew you’d go looking for something to fuck.”
“So?” Her chest rose and her breasts pushed into my chest. She smelled like gin.
Screw it!
I hooked her waist and pulled her closer, then my other hand grabbed her head and pulled her hair back. “Because that’s fucked up. If you’re hurting, come to me.”
“I did,” she huffed, “and you walked away, left me here in the elevator.”
I slammed my lips to hers as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around me. When the doors opened, I walked us out and down the hallway. The entire time we made out like we were starving for one another. Neither of us cared who saw. As long as my mouth was on hers, that was all that mattered.
“Key, back pocket,” I said between kisses. Her hand freed the key and gave it to me.
Once inside, we barely made it to the bed before she was clawing at my shirt. She was wild in a dark, seductive way.
My fingers inched up her dress, and to my not surprise, she was commando. I tossed her on the bed and kicked off my pants and underwear. She peeled off her dress and removed her bra so her breasts moved freely and bounced as she lay back with her legs spread.
If I really thought about it, I would probably talk myself out of what I was about to do, but no man in his right mind would stop when he had a beautiful, naked woman sprawled out in front of him. I pressed my knee into the mattress and moved to hover over her.
I gave her a smile as I took in her flawless, silken skin.
Her legs gently rose and grazed my skin, slowly wrapping around my waist and lowering me to her.
Not a smart move, Colin! I closed my eyes and sank inside her. My jaw locked down as my body heated.
Then, with a dangerous flicker of my hips, she grabbed my shoulders and held on. My hands were everywhere, her breasts, slender hips, thighs, I didn’t care…I just needed to feel her.
“Faster,” she grunted, which sent me in a race to see who would come first. She screamed, bucked, and moaned as I hooked one leg over my arm and dove deeper inside. A slow rush started in my stomach and soon I came full force, plowing over any rational thoughts. I was lost, lost in the sexiest woman I’d ever known. I didn’t care who she was, nothing would stop me, not even if Vinnie himself walked through the door.
I felt her come, but I wasn’t ready. Instead, I hooked her other leg and bent her in half until I found what I wanted—no, needed…another release.
To say I woke with a smile would be an understatement. Not only did I get the release I’d been craving, but she kicked me out and sent me back to my room afterward. She was perfect, no strings attached. My favorite.
With my suitcase in hand, I waited in the lobby for Sydney. I received the text saying Vinnie would send a car and take us to his cottage for the weekend. Classic Vinnie, to change the plans at the last moment. I quickly canceled with the valet to return my car to the garage and sent Mason the new plans. If I were to guess, the cottage address was fake too.
I was aware it was a suicide mission, but no one had ever gotten this close to the Marrone family. My phone was currently being tracked. I knew Vinnie would take our things at some point, and hopefully it would be after we get to the cottage, and not before.
I looked up and saw her in a sexy yellow sundress and heels, her suitcase rolling behind her.
“Ready to go?” she asked as she brushed by me.
I grew hard and swallowed a knot in my throat. Yes, I was, but not for this weekend trip.
Thirty minutes into the drive, the driver lowered the partition. He tossed us black cloth bags to pull over our heads since no one knew the location of the house. Sydney gave me a worried look before she did as she was told. I didn’t blame her, because this could go south real quick.
I could only make out shadows that whipped by the window. The driver turned up the music to hide anything else. I tried to count the turns but I lost track after the sixth one. For all I knew, he could be driving in a big circle just to throw us off. It wasn’t until we hit gravel that we were told we could remove the bags. Blinking to adjust to the light, I saw we were in the middle of nowhere.
Black, over-the-top, drug-lord-looking gates swung open and we drove through. I rolled my eyes at Sydney, who had her head in her laptop. She nodded, indicating she felt the same way.
“I won’t lie, I didn’t think you’d agree to come.” I reached for the handle.
She climbed out and turned to me. “I want answers just as much as you do, Cooper.”
We were hustled to the back of the property after the butler took our bags. We emerged onto a patio where Sydney nearly tripped in front of me when we laid eyes on the famous Bobby Marrone.
I’d only encountered Bobby once before, when I witnessed him jam a fork in a snitch’s mouth. Of course I had to pretend I hadn’t seen it, as Vinnie had just handed me his cousin for a triple murder earlier that day. I thought he was testing me. I said nothing and stayed alive, but I vowed I would find a way to take down that son of bitch in any way possible. When I came across the Knights’ case, it had Bobby’s name all over it.
“Agent Colin.” Bobby nodded at the seat across from him at a marble table. “Sit.”
I did, and Sydney moved to stand behind me. Bobby snapped his fingers, and some of the men left. Only Vinnie, Sly, and Tommy stayed.
Tommy looked as though he was going to be sick, and this worried me. He knew something I didn’t.
“Please, sweetheart.” He pointed to the seat next to me. “Sit.” She complied without her sass this time. I was thankful.
“Drink?” he asked as he twirled his ring along his middle finger. The blue stone shone in the light. Everyone knew his ring. It was the family ring, and only the head of the family wore it.
“No.”
“Suit yourself.” Tommy poured himself a drink but spilled a little, which caught my eye, and Bobby’s.
Something was off; this wasn’t good.
“Agent Colin, I felt like we had some kind of an agreement here.” The skin around his eyes crinkled. “Vinnie helps you, you get to take down one of our men, so on and so on. But this is a whole new level for you.”
“I don’t follow.” I saw Tommy give a quick shake of the head.
“Sydney, do you know who I am?”
“No, should I?” She glanced at me then back to Bobby.
“Interesting.” He sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “Vinnie, what is my number one rule?”
Vinnie stood straighter. “Honesty.”
I smirked. “That’s rich, coming from the mafia.” Bobby let out a little laugh, but I noticed his fingers rubbed together. It was something Bobby normally did right before he—
“Shit!” I shouted as Tommy’s head slammed down on the marble table, and his eyes popped wide open. The sound was so horrid that Sydney held her stomach.
Bobby opened his pocket knife and reached inside Tommy’s mouth and yanked his tongue out. Tommy screamed and saliva started to drain from his lips.
“I have rules, don’t care who you are, nephew or not.” He sliced right through the muscle and dropped half his tongue onto the table with a splat. Tommy bucked and wailed but didn’t dare move.
Sydney buried her head in my shoulder as she gripped my jacket for dear life. She didn’t scream, but she was clearly terrified.
“Rats.” He nodded at Sly to take Tommy away. “Send my sister his tongue. She’ll see what her boy really is. Now…” He wiped his hand free of blood, before sitting back down as if nothing happened. “Where was I? Sydney—” He waited for her to raise her pale face. “—answer me something.”
Shit…
“You said you lived with your aunt? Does she have any other kids?”
Oh shit…
“Yes.”
“How many?”
She tried to look at me, but Bobby shook his head.
I wanted to bump her leg, but Vinnie caught my eye.
“A daughter.”
“Tell me this. What happened to your grandparents?”
Fuck me.
“They died.”
“How?” He leaned forward, and I knew he saw it.
Oh fuck…
“Car crash.”
In a flash, he pointed his 9 millimeter in her face. I felt the tip of a rifle dig into my neck as my gun aimed at Bobby. This was a nasty triangle to be in. Mob, mob, Fed.
“Wrong answer, Sydney.” Bobby shook his head. “Really, after what just happened, you’re going to lie to me?”
“I’m not lying,” she muttered. “My grandparents were killed in a car accident.”
Well, that’s true.
Bobby rubbed his head with his free hand. He lowered his gun as I did mine. Though Vinnie kept his gun pinned to my neck.
I’ve had enough of this shit.
“I’m not entirely sure why we’re here this weekend, but I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.” I stood, but Bobby raised his hand, then nodded at Vinnie, who placed two gun shell casings in front of me.
A weight suddenly lifted off my chest.
“I knew Charlie,” Bobby muttered. My hands went out to touch the warm steel as his words sank in. Sydney reached for my arm. “He knew about something we were planning and didn’t want any part of it. He left and ended up in Nashville, where he fell in love with some diner bitch.” My eyes stayed locked on the casings. I was afraid to move in case he stopped talking. Answers, I was finally getting answers.
“Vinnie found him and brought him back, but he didn’t want any part of it. So he left again, vanished. He resurfaced a year later, and he had gotten married in Vegas. When I sent Sly to speak with him to remind him that he had duties to uphold, they slipped away.” Sly shifted. “Not before Charlie left Sly with a…parting gift.” Sly craned his neck, and I saw a scar along his shoulder. “Three years later, they popped up at a party, and their picture ended up in the newspaper. Three days later, I paid him a visit, but they knew we were coming.” His finger traced in Tommy’s blood, spreading it outward. “I’m starting to understand how they were tipped off.” He waited a beat.
“So, I followed them home one night. Only they caught on and tried to make a run for it.”
“Into the scrap yard,” I whispered with my palm held up to my face to get a better look at the casings.
“I knew Charlie would hide the girl, and sure enough, when we were close to her, he showed himself. Vinnie dragged him through the dirt to my feet. He didn’t beg. He was smarter than that. He just closed his eyes and said a prayer. It had never made sense to me, and when I thought I understood it, I was proven wrong.” His glance moved over to Sydney then back to me. “It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done. He knew too much.”
“How did his wife play into all of this? Why kill her?” My mouth was dry.
“She saw. If she had just stayed put, I would have let her be…maybe.” He smirked. “But instead she dropped to his side and died right alongside of him. True love and all that shit, I guess. I don’t like loose ends, Agent Colin.”
I cleared my throat and set the bullets upright. My pointer finger rested above my lip while I chose my words very carefully.
“One last thing.” I felt an eerie calm pass over me. “How was Charlie connected to you?”
Vinnie laughed behind me as Sly smirked at Bobby.
“He was my son.”
“Hmm,” I mumbled, then in a blink, I grabbed my knife and jammed it in his throat. Sydney grabbed my gun and held Vinnie and Sly at bay. I moved around the marble and watched as the blood squirted from his main artery, soaking his expensive dress shirt and pooling on his lap. His eyes showed me his life slipped from his grasp. “Sorry, Grandfather, but you had to know it would end like this.”
“Holy fuck,” Vinnie gasped behind me. “He’s Charlie’s boy.” His expression changed as he glanced at Sydney. You could see as it all clicked together for him, “you’re not their daughter.”
I ignore him and look over, “Syd,” I called over my shoulder, “call it in.”
I looked back at the man I hunted for years. I knew he was connected, but I never had enough proof, until now.
“This is Agent Sydney Claire, badge 768 with the Santa Monica agency.”
I looked down at my blood-soaked hands, then at a body that struggled to live, and finally at the woman I love who agreed to help me with this case, and follow me through until the end.
“I can’t believe I’m looking at Charlie’s boy,” Vinnie grunted as he tossed his gun at my feet in a state of defeat. “He would have been—”
Pop, pop! Two bullets burrowed into his flesh. I turned to Sly and did the same. No loose ends.
I bent over Bobby’s lifeless body and pulled his ring free of his fat finger and slipped it on my own.
I looked at Sydney, who gave me a wicked grin and joined me at my side.
I finally got what I wanted—justice and my seat at the head of the family table.
I had mafia ties, and I planned to use them.
The End