Chapter Seven
Colorado Mountains
Shoving two frozen dinners into the microwave, Jonah set the timer and waited. The pantry and freezer were well stocked, which was a good thing since he couldn’t cook worth a damn. They had plenty of frozen meals and canned foods to last them through the summer if need be. Not that he planned to be here that long. Once he got the information he needed, he’d be out of here, and Gabriella Mendoza would be on her way to a new life.
He had to admit she had surprised him. Most people would be at least a little apprehensive to wake up to find a complete stranger standing over them. Instead, once she’d regained her composure, she had acted as if nothing unusual had happened. Hell, with her family, maybe things like that happened all the time.
He’d read her file and had been prepared to dislike every person who shared the Mendoza name. Even though the crimes were somewhat different, there were too many similarities to his own screwed-up family to have any kind of good feeling about meeting Gabriella, much less being her caretaker.
He still didn’t plan on liking her, but at least she wasn’t completely disagreeable.
Hearing a noise behind him, he twisted around. Three years of prison meant no one got the drop on him. So how did this woman suddenly appear without him knowing? He told himself that lack of sleep blurred his concentration and that the noise from the microwave had obscured her sounds. His lack of wariness had nothing to do with the beautiful, doe-eyed creature who looked far too innocent for her own good. She had been exposed to a cesspool of human vermin her entire life. No way had she escaped without some kind of corruption. Just because she wanted to get away from her family didn’t mean she didn’t carry that evil inside her. Wasn’t he a prime example?
“So what now?”
He couldn’t fathom why, but she was looking much more cautious than she had before. He switched his expression to neutral. He was here to gain her trust and learn what secrets she might harbor. Glaring at her like she was his enemy wouldn’t exactly inspire trust.
“We eat.”
“Thank you. I’m starving.” And with that, she sat down at the table, folded her hands in front of her, and looked up at him expectantly.
Jonah raised a brow at the obvious sign that she was waiting to be served. “You’ll find the plates in the cabinet behind you and the silverware in the drawer to the left.”
Confusion flickered in her eyes, and then she caught his meaning. Flushing a lovely shade of pink, she jumped to her feet and went to the cabinet for the plates.
He held back a sarcastic remark. Wasn’t her fault that she’d been pampered and waited upon her entire life. Going from a privileged background to fending for herself was going to take some adjustment.
After the plates and silverware were placed on the table, Jonah pulled their meals from the microwave. Placing a tray of food in front of her, he took his own tray and transferred his food to the plate.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as she copied him. Something odd clinched his heart at her obvious attempt to do exactly what he was doing. He knew how it felt to be a fish out of water. He’d been a privileged young man thrown into a prison filled with the most-hardened criminals. It had been sink or swim for him. And if he’d thought about it too hard, he knew he’d have never fully emerged.
They ate in silence. She had a healthy appetite, greedily scraping up the last bites of the plate of salmon, wild rice, and broccoli until there was nothing left.
“Want anything else?”
“No. Thank you. It was delicious.”
“Let’s get this cleaned up.” He took his plate, silverware, and glass to the sink. Rinsed them and then placed them in the dishwasher. He walked across the room to look out the window and figured she would copy him in that, too. He listened as she took care of her dishes and wasn’t surprised to have her come stand beside him.
“You said we’re in Colorado. What city?”
“A few miles outside Grand Junction.”
“I’ve never seen snow like this.”
“Supposed to be like this for at least a couple more days.”
“It feels so isolated.”
He glanced at her, wondering if she was nervous about being alone with a stranger. He didn’t see fear in her eyes, but there was definite guardedness in her manner.
“Is there any way my grandfather’s men can find me?”
“We’re thousands of miles away. No one followed us. We’re isolated, with plenty of safeguards. If anyone does venture here, friend or foe, I’d know about it in advance.”
She nodded her head in agreement, but her body language said something else. She was still uncertain about things. Maybe this would help. “Follow me.”
In silence, Gabby followed Jonah Slater from the kitchen into a small, efficient-looking office. He had been coolly polite. She was thankful he hadn’t laughed at her when she had sat down at the table. Setting a table for a meal was something completely out of her realm of experience. Other than dressing herself and taking care of her personal hygiene, she wasn’t allowed to do much of anything else. Some people might think that was a blessing, but she’d always seen it as a curse. Helplessness was abhorrent to her. It was a feeling she’d had most of her life and the one thing she was determined never to feel again.
She stood in the doorway while Jonah clicked a laptop keyboard on the desk. She didn’t trust him…not completely. She knew too much about him and his family to feel remotely comfortable with him. He hadn’t given any indication that he remembered her. No, he wasn’t overly friendly, but he didn’t seem to hate her. If he had remembered, she was certain there would have been animosity.
“There’s someone that wants to talk to you.”
A spurt of panic burst through her. She had been betrayed. He was going to contact her grandfather. Gabby backed away one step, on the verge of running for the door. She’d rather take her chances in a blizzard than be returned to hell.
“Gabriella?” A female voice called her name.
She’d heard that voice only a couple of times, but she recognized it immediately. She rushed to the desk where the laptop screen revealed the one person she did trust—the woman who had arranged her abduction—Kathleen Callahan.
The relief made her practically gush her words. “Kathleen, it’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you, too. How are you? Is Jonah taking good care of you?”
“Yes, of course. I—” She threw a glance toward Jonah, uncomfortable talking in front of him.
Giving her a slight nod, telling her he knew exactly what she was thinking, he backed out of the room. “I’ll give you two some privacy.” Surprising her even more, he closed the door.
Feeling as though the air had been sucked out of the room, Gabby felt her legs give out, and she dropped into a chair.
“Are you okay?”
“No, but I will be.”
Kathleen’s face scrunched up into a frown. “I had hoped to be there to greet you, but I’m a little indisposed.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing other than I’m pregnant and can’t fly.”
“Oh! Congratulations.”
“Thank you. It’s been a while since we talked. I’m sorry it took so long to get you.”
A few months more of waiting had been hard, but that was behind her now. “My brother…what’s happened to him?”
“He’s in jail in Dallas. For now, he’s been charged with the rape and kidnapping of Stephanie Pierce, but there are three other women who have come forward with the same allegations.”
Even though she was still exhausted and more than a little emotionally overwhelmed, she recognized the significance of the timing. Kathleen and whoever she was working with had been prepared for this.
“I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about him again.”
The compassion in Kathleen’s voice brought tears to Gabby’s eyes. At least one evil was locked up where he could no longer hurt the innocent.
Gabby had feared Carlos would never be punished for his crimes, but during her visit to Dallas to attend the McGruder Art Show, she had been approached by a beautiful red-haired woman named Kathleen Callahan, and a liaison had been born. It had taken almost a year, but Gabby had never given up hope. Mostly because hope was all she’d had left.
“Thank you, Kathleen. I’m glad things worked out the way we wanted.”
“Without your help, we never would have been able to get justice for these women.”
It was obvious Kathleen had some strong backing and influence, but she still couldn’t help but worry. “My grandfather—”
“Your grandfather will not have the chance to intervene.”
She said the words with such conviction, Gabby believed her. Carlos really would never get a chance to hurt another woman again.
“Now,” Kathleen continued, “let’s talk about you.”
“What about me?”
“What are your plans?”
Plans? She chewed on her bottom lip as her gaze skittered away from the screen. She had no plans, not really. Only dreams.
For years, getting away from her grandfather had seemed like such a nebulous idea she had never really believed it could happen. Yes, she had planned and dreamed, but deep down inside, she hadn’t believed it could ever be a reality. Then, when she’d realized escape was possible, she’d had no resources. Her clothes and food, her every necessity, had been provided by her grandfather. She had no money and nothing of value. Even the clothes she was wearing now were not her own.
Gabby took a breath and straightened her spine. Kathleen had kept her end of the bargain and owed her nothing. The next step was hers alone. The time had come to stand on her own. “I don’t have any concrete plans, but not to worry. I’m resourceful. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you will be, too, but we’d like to help you get settled into a new life.”
“We who?”
“Let’s just say you have a wealthy benefactor.”
She had known Kathleen had influential and possibly wealthy contacts. Arranging for the successful abduction of two people couldn’t have been an inexpensive endeavor. The men who’d carried out the event had been professionals. That kind of expertise didn’t come cheap.
“Can I know his or her name?”
“It’s best for both of you if you don’t. At least not yet.”
Unable to help herself, Gabby looked over her shoulder at the closed door. Was it Jonah Slater? His family was almost as wealthy as her grandfather. If so, why? Did he have a vested interest in sending Carlos to jail? Had her brother hurt someone in the Slater family?
Correctly interpreting her thoughts, Kathleen said, “It’s not Jonah.”
“Why is he here? How does he fit into this?”
“He works for the same organization that I do. He’s there to watch out for you until you get relocated.”
She could accept that, but she sensed there was more.
“What else?”
For the first time, Kathleen looked slightly uncomfortable. Before she could answer, Jonah spoke from the open doorway. “I’m here to find out what you know.”
She hadn’t even heard him open the door. And it was obvious that he’d been listening in the entire time. Whirling around, she stared at him. “Know about what?”
“Your grandfather’s activities.”
Gabby didn’t know why this news surprised her. Of course they would want to use her. Didn’t everyone?
“Don’t look like that, Gabriella. This is for your own protection as much as anything,” Kathleen said.
“How so?”
“There are government agencies, including several in the US, that know about your disappearance. They’re looking for you.”
“But why?”
“Your grandfather is a dangerous man. Many countries would like information on him to bring him to justice. Some think you know things. Others likely want to use you as leverage or to ransom. Finding out what you know can help ensure your safety.”
Exhaustion dropped on her like a silent bomb. She had wanted to disappear, have a normal life. She should have known that wasn’t a possibility. People like her didn’t get to be normal.
“Jonah will lead you through a series of questions. He’ll—”
“Begin tomorrow,” Jonah finished.
“But we need—” Kathleen said.
“It can wait until tomorrow, when everyone is fresh.”
Too tired to comprehend all the nuances of the conversation, Gabby sat in silence. Her mind was a kaleidoscope of thoughts and worries. What would they want to know? What should she tell them? What if they decided to return her after she told them what she knew? What if this had been their plan all along? A trap to get to Luis Mendoza. Kathleen was the only person she’d dealt with, and just how much did she know about her? Almost nothing.
A hand settled on her shoulder, grounding her back in reality. Jonah stood at her side. Though his face showed little emotion, she saw something in those remarkable eyes that told her he understood what she was feeling.
“Why don’t you go back to your room and lie down?”
Though a part of her wanted to run out the door and into the night, disappearing forever, she knew that was a ridiculous notion. No money, no transportation. Plus, there was a blizzard roaring. She wouldn’t get twenty feet before she was completely lost. Escape had been her goal, dying was not.
Even though her legs felt like they were made from gelatin, Gabby walked out of the office with her head held high. She knew Jonah watched her from the doorway. She might be weak as water, but she was bound and determined to not need his help. She’d been dependent on people her entire life. Getting away from her grandfather was supposed to be about gaining her independence. She didn’t care what others had planned for her. She had finally escaped. There was no way she would ever return. One way or the other, she would survive.
Jonah waited until Gabriella disappeared up the stairs before turning back to Kathleen. He had come to this job with the intention of getting it done and leaving. That was still his intent. However, after spending only a few moments with Gabriella, he was planning to adjust his timeline. Not only was she physically exhausted, she was much more vulnerable than he had anticipated.
“We need to give her a few days, Kathleen.”
“We may not have that much time.”
“How so?”
“The news of the abduction broke a couple of hours ago. Since then there have been more than a dozen law enforcement agencies scrambling for information. Between the FBI and Interpol, plus numerous other foreign government agencies, the frenzy is just beginning. Everyone is accusing one another of being responsible. And everyone wants to get hold of Gabriella Mendoza.”
“I would’ve thought Carlos’s abduction would cause the biggest uproar.”
“That’s what we thought, too. And that might have been the case if it wasn’t for a tiny bit of information that Gabriella forgot to mention.”
“What’s that?”
“She’s engaged to Rudolph Bianchi.”
Jonah snorted his disbelief. “The man’s eighty if he’s a day.”
“Ninety, to be exact. It’s his grandson she’s engaged to. Goes by Rudy.”
His stomach revolted at the thought of Gabriella within a thousand miles of Rudy Bianchi. “Isn’t he in prison for murdering a half-dozen young girls?”
“Yes. After tons of legal wrangling and years of delay, they finally got a conviction. Life sentence, no parole. There were reports that the engagement was called off after that, but there are some who think the thing’s still on. Apparently, the arrangement was made years ago.”
No wonder Gabriella had wanted to escape. Jonah had done extensive research on the Mafia and crime families throughout the world. His father and brother had had ties with several. The Bianchi family of Rome, Italy, was one of the more mysterious and frightening ones he’d delved into.
“And she didn’t say anything to you when you collaborated on her abduction?”
“No, but to be fair, we’ve only exchanged a handful of words. We wanted Carlos…however we could get him. Gabriella was the one who created the opportunity.”
This put a whole new spin on the questions Jonah needed to ask. What did Gabriella know about Bianchi? Could she provide information to bring down a Mafia family as well as a crime boss?
“I’ll get started in the morning. She’s not going to be able to give me anything tonight. She needs to rest.”
“She did look a little shell-shocked. What do you think of her so far?”
What did he think of her? How was he to answer that? She was a job, nothing more.
“Jonah?”
“What the hell should I be thinking?”
“Okay.”
Though her expression remained serene, the way Kathleen answered told Jonah he’d overreacted. Hell, that was nothing new. But treating Kathleen unkindly was uncalled for. Not only was she just doing her job, she was his sister-in-law.
“Sorry, guess I’m tired, too.” Forcing a pleasant demeanor, he gave her his assessment of his charge. “She’s scared and uncertain. Entrusting your life to strangers can’t be easy, especially for someone who’s had it easy for so long.”
“You think she’s had it easy?”
The file he’d read had given him only the barest facts on Gabriella and almost nothing on her personal life.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter what I think about her personally. I’ll get the information you and Justice want, and then she’s all yours.”
“I wish I could be there. But—”
Another face appeared on the screen beside Kathleen’s. “But her husband and her doctor want her to stay healthy.”
As usual, Eli, Jonah’s older brother, brought a calming influence. When they were kids, Eli was the one who stood up for him against his old man. Mathias Slater had been a mean old buzzard, and for whatever reason, his youngest son had often been his favorite target. Eli had saved Jonah from multiple beatings. Neither of them had known that Mathias’s cruelty to his children was just a precursor to what he’d do to them when they were adults.
Eli had endured hell because of their father. Since Kathleen had come into his life, a remarkable transformation had taken place. Jonah admired his sister-in-law for her kindness, quick wit, and intelligence, but he loved her for the happiness she’d brought his brother and his nieces. Violet and Sophia adored their new mother.
“Hello, big brother. How are things there?”
“Good. I spoke with Mom last night. She’s coming home soon so she can be here when the baby arrives. She’s ready to sell the house in Dallas. Wants to get a place close to us.”
Jonah nodded, a momentary lump in his throat preventing speech. Their mother had suffered much over the years, but the last year had been the worst. A dead husband, an incarcerated son, and a tragic secret that could never know the light of day.
“That’s good to hear. She’s been hidden away long enough. It’s time for her to come back home and get on with her life.”
They both knew a normal life for their mother was probably not in the cards. The past would always lie heavily on her, shrouding her happiness, but she deserved to have as much of a good life as she could.
“Lacey has decided to stay in Europe a little while longer.”
Their baby sister was like a beautiful hummingbird, flitting through life without any clear direction. Even as much as he believed that each person had to make their own way in their own timeframe, he hoped to hell that Lacey found her way soon. Who she was and what she stood for was a mystery that even Lacey herself didn’t seem to know.
“Maybe that’s for the best. She’s been on the front lines, taking care of Mom. Spreading her independent wings might be good for her.”
“I agree.”
“But you have someone watching over her. Right?”
Eli raised a brow. “Of course.”
Jonah huffed out a laugh. They both knew that if Eli hadn’t taken care of it, he would have.
Returning to the business at hand, he said, “I’ll call you tomorrow, Kathleen, after the first interview. Once we get what we need, what’s the next step for her?”
“Depending on what she wants to do, Grey will make arrangements for her.”
That was good. Justice would see that she was safe, far away from her grandfather’s evil reach. She would be fine.
Saying goodbye, Jonah clicked off the call and sat back in his chair. He would do the job…get the information he’d been tasked to get, and then he was out of here. He ignored the odd, ominous feeling that told him it wasn’t going to be that easy.