CHAPTER 22

 

The restaurant was a madhouse on the eve of the wedding. Food and supplies rolled in all day. Angel opened the place, helping with the set up of the banquet room. Certain things like the dance floor and the stage set up he wanted done just so. It was his wedding, so Alex watched and let him have at it. In a way he a was a little surprised Angel didn’t seem nervous at all. Then again, Angel had been sure since he’d met Sarah back in high school that she was the one. The only reason they’d waited this long was because they both wanted to finish school first.

As if the wedding preparations alone weren’t enough to make things hectic, Sal arranged for the pay-per-view heavyweight champion fight to be watched at the bar that very evening. He mentioned doing a little promoting on the internet. Alex now knew what was behind the sly grin when Sal had told him. The place was already packed. The main fight wouldn’t even start for another hour.

Alex should’ve known when Sal mentioned he’d hired a couple of Romero’s guys to make sure things stayed under control. They’d never needed security before, but the bar area was already nearing capacity and customers were still arriving. Romero was there, throwing a few back. He said he was off duty, but Alex could see he was doing more looking out than drinking.

Valerie, Isabel and Sofia had taken Sarah out for dinner and some drinks. They assured Angel it wasn’t a bachelorette party. More of a dinner and girl talk the last night before the big day. Alex told Valerie it sounded an awful lot like a bachelorette party to him. She just laughed and promised it wasn’t.

With the exception of Monday’s incident, the week went without episode. Wednesday, Alex accompanied Valerie to the hearing. There was no doubt the judge would rule in favor of granting Valerie the restraining order, especially after what just happened.

He did, but the problem was the restraining order was only good for three weeks. Bruce had to be served first for it to be permanent. Anybody but Valerie could serve him. Alex wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Unfortunately, when Romero went to serve him at the homeless shelter listed as his primary residence, they hadn’t seen him in weeks. His probation officer was no help either. He’d finally returned their calls today, simply to say that Bruce was only required to check in every ten days. The last he’d heard from Bruce, he’d said he was staying at the shelter at night and looking for work during the day. Bruce wouldn’t be required to check in for another week. There was no way of getting a hold of him either, since Bruce supposedly didn’t have a cell phone. The whole system was a damn joke.

Bruce was more frightening than Alex expected. He’d been in the armed forces until he was dishonorably discharged for computer fraud. Most of that information was classified, so Romero was having a hard time getting the details of it. But apparently this guy was some kind of computer wiz. Great. This just kept getting better and better.

All his priors were violent ones. His stalking wasn’t just limited to following his victims around. In all the cases, he’d done extensive snooping, hacking into their computers to gain more info. He’d even served a couple of weeks in a mental facility. Why they ever let this nut out was beyond anything that made sense to Alex.

Most of his crimes included attacks against women. The only one that included an attack on a man was when he tried to run an ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend off the road. Alex more than welcomed the animal to come after him. He’d make sure the guy got what he deserved, but most importantly they’d have him locked up.

The only positive thing that came from the background check was that it appeared his ex-wife’s disappearance was more of a self-initiated disappearance. There was evidence she’d already changed her name once. Her family never even attempted to file charges against Bruce. Basically they accepted she’d disappeared and went on their merry way. It was unlikely that a family would do that unless they knew where she really was and were intentionally keeping quiet about it.

Very small consolation, but at least as far as Alex knew, Bruce didn’t have blood on his hands… yet. With that thought lingering, Alex decided to check on Valerie. He walked toward the back room. The restaurant was just too damn loud for him to make a phone call out there.

Once in the back room, he was quickly distracted going over some of the wedding details on the computer. When he was done, he decided it was better to leave Valerie alone. Hank would call and update him if anything happened. He went back to the bar. The place overflowed with loud patrons now. Alex leaned over to Sal. “You sure we’re not over capacity?”

“We’re good now, but we had to turn some people away. They weren’t too happy about it, either. It’s a good thing we had Romero’s people here. They started getting rowdy.”

Alex frowned, taking it all in. The tables were crammed and every booth at the bar taken, with people crowding around each booth. He sure hoped Romero’s guys knew what they were doing.

He took a stroll to check everything else out. Workers diligently transformed the banquet room upstairs into a wedding paradise. The flowers would arrive in the morning. His parents would be pleased. They were both home working on the trinkets they’d pass out at the wedding. Alex told them he could just order them already made, but they insisted they had to be personal and hand made.

By the time he’d made it back to the bar, the fight was in full swing and everyone cheered loudly. Alex watched along with the crowd. It was a good fight with both fighters going at it.

One of the waiters nudged him on the arm. “You have a call on line one.”

Alarmed, Alex reached for the cell phone on his hip. Maybe he hadn’t heard it with all the noise. He had no missed calls but he still felt the need to rush to the office to take the call. He picked up the phone as soon as he got to it, forgetting to close the door behind him.

“This is Alex.”

“Whose ass do I have to kick to get a beer around here?”

Alex pressed the phone against his ear not sure, if he’d heard correctly. “What was that?” He reached for the open door with his foot and kicked it shut.

The caller raised his voice. “I said whose ass do I have to kick to get a beer around here? The service sucks! I’ve been waiting for over twenty minutes.”

Bruce cackled. “No, I’m not at Moreno’s anymore. No, no… I’m at Tres Italiano. You know where that is, Alex?”

Alex squeezed his fist shut. It’s where the girls were having dinner. He gulped hard in a failed attempt to remain calm. He texted Romero to come to the office ASAP. “Yeah, I know where that is.”

Bruce cackled until he was coughing, then he started up again. “Is that your pretty little sister with Valerie? And your brother’s lovely wife-to-be? Her name escapes me… oh that’s right, Sarah. ”

Alex’s heart thudded a little harder. He listened for background noise. It didn’t sound like he was in the restaurant. It was too quiet. Romero swung the door open. Alex brought a finger to his lips.

“You’re fucking crazy.” Though his words were harsh, his voice remained calm. He’d die before letting this idiot know his mind games were working. “That’ll never happen, Bruce.”

Alex had both Romero and Angel’s full attention now. He covered the receiver, “Ask Hank where the girls are exactly. This fucker is watching them.”

The blood scorched through Alex’s veins like fire. Bruce sounded like a raving mad man. “That’s where you’re wrong Bruce.” He said calmly. “Valerie’s always been mine.”

Bruce cackled even louder this time. “Is that so? So, even when Luke was fucking her she was yours?”

No way would Alex let this guy rile him. He took a long deep breath, glancing at Angel who was standing arms crossed waiting anxiously to hear the next words out of Alex’s mouth. “Listen here, Bruce—”

“No you listen!” He was screaming now. “If you think you can stop me, you’re stupider than I thought. You keep trying, and I’ll make you sorry!” He stopped screaming and started laughing, this time in a low droll. “I didn’t realize you had such a pretty sister, Alex. And wouldn’t your brother be sorry if he had to cancel his wedding?” He paused for a moment then added, “Valerie looks beautiful tonight. I’ll be sure to tell her.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” Angel’s eye were ablaze. Alex couldn’t say he blamed him. Up until now he felt pretty safe with Hank watching them.

Alex cursed under his breath and charged out of the office with Angel and Romero close behind. He turned to Romero who still held his phone to his ear. “Tell him not to take his eyes off of them for a second. I don’t care if he pisses his pants!” He’d reached his boiling point now. He turned back to Romero again. “Make sure you tell him I said that.”

The fight was under control when they got there, but it left the entire bar area a mess. Romero’s guys escorted two big guys out. Sal held back a smaller guy with a bloody nose and a fat lip. Apparently, he wasn’t the trouble maker, but still yelled obscenities at the guys being escorted out.

Alex had seen this a million times. The guy was obviously putting up a Mr. Tough Guy act for his startled girlfriend to make up for the fact he’d gotten his ass kicked. Well, he was in no mood for it. He had other customers to think of.

Alex got right in little man’s face, still reeling from his conversation with Bruce. He spoke just loud enough for the guy to hear him. “Calm the fuck down, or I’ll throw you out there with those two and let you settle things on your own.”

The guy stared at him but didn’t say a word. Alex took in the sight around him. It would be hours before they could get the place back in order. I’m getting real good at timing his piss breaks. Damn it, the wheels spun in his head.

Sarah and Sofie met Isabel and Valerie at Isabel’s apartment earlier that evening. They’d all driven in one car to the restaurant and were supposed to head back to the apartment after dinner for drinks. Valerie told him they’d play it by ear. Depending on how the night went, they’d either drive home tonight or spend the night if they didn’t feel well enough to drive. Alex’s money was on the latter. The wedding wasn’t until three in the afternoon tomorrow, so they’d have plenty of time to get home and get ready the next morning.

Of course, Alex had offered to pick Valerie up but she said if the girls all stayed, she would too. If that was the case, Romero would have to put someone else on the nightshift, someone unfamiliar with the case. That didn’t sit well with Alex. He could only hope Valerie decided to go home tonight. The notion of not having her in his bed all night wasn’t a welcome one either. He’d made it a point several times to tell her that would never happen again. Here just two weeks into it, the possibility of it happening was already upon him.

 

***

 

Valerie got the text on the way home from the restaurant. Alex explained briefly about the call from Bruce. He said he didn’t want to call her, because he didn’t want the girls overhearing and becoming alarmed. But he warned in all capital letters to stay in the apartment and lock all the doors and windows. Valerie understood completely about not wanting to alarm the girls, most specifically, Sarah. This was way too heavy to dump on her the night before her wedding.

He didn’t tell her everything Bruce said but mentioned a lot of ranting and crazy talk. Valerie was surprised he didn’t tell her to just cut the night short and insist on picking her up that minute. But she supposed not wanting to alarm the girls had a lot to do with it.

They all kicked off their shoes as soon as they walked in. Valerie held in a laugh as she watched Isabel cringe at the sight of shoes flying in all directions. Isabel was a good sport about it and said nothing. Instead, for the first time Valerie had ever seen, she kicked off her shoes and left them where they landed. Valerie knew Romero had a lot to do with Isabel’s newfound liberation from her usual obsessive personality.

Valerie broke out Sarah’s special wine, the kind that came in a jug rather than a bottle.

“My Precious!” Sarah clapped her fingers together in front of her.

Valerie laughed, pouring her a glass. Sarah always called it that, even back in high school. They’d all made fun of her for bringing a cooler with a small jug to the backyard parties rather than just a six pack of beer like everyone else.

A cell phone rang in the front room where they’d all dropped their purses. “That’s me.” Sarah rushed to her purse.

“If that’s my brother again, Sarah, tell him to take a chill pill.” Sofia shook her head. “Geez what’s that? The third time in less than an hour?”

Sarah pulled the phone out of her purse and smiled when she read the caller ID. She looked at Sofia and nodded. “It’s him, again.”

Sarah took the call in the front room. After everyone poured their drinks, Valerie jumped on the kitchen counter and took a long swig of her beer. Still a little shaken by Alex’s texts, she was determined to enjoy the rest of the evening. “If Sarah could ever pull herself away from her phone,” she said loudly leaning her head in the direction of the front room, “we should play a game.” She turned back Sofia and Isabel, “one of those girlie games like back when we were teens.”

“Ooh, fun.” Sofia grinned taking a sip of her wine. “I don’t think I ever played any, but I remember hearing about them.”

“Don’t worry,” Isabel clinked Sofia’s wine glass with her own and took a drink. “I never played any back then either.”

That didn’t surprise Valerie. By the time she’d met Isabel, they were well past theie girlie teen years. But even in college, Isabel rarely joined her in their drinking games. Once or twice, Valerie had managed to twist her arm.

Sofia was a whole other story. That poor girl was lucky to do anything with those three brothers of hers watching over her like the secret service, especially Alex.

Sarah hurried into the kitchen. “Okay, I’m sorry. I think it’s because he hasn’t seen me all week that he keeps calling to check on me.”

Sofia rolled her eyes but smiled. “You’d think it’s been a month, the mood he’s been in all week.”

Valerie couldn’t believe it. Those two had literally been inseparable since high school. “You haven’t seen him all week?”

Sarah seemed pleased with herself, picking up her glass of wine from the counter. “I always said I would do this the week before we got married. I don’t think he ever believed I’d actually go through with it, even after I asked Alex for the week before the wedding off. I’m sure he thought he’d weasel his way somehow and see me.” Sarah giggled and drank some of her wine. “He tried to act like it was no big deal but by Tuesday he was already trying to talk me out of it. Ever since then, he’s been making excuse after excuse why we have to get together.”

Valerie laughed. She was surprised Sarah had stuck to her guns. She wasn’t sure she could do it. Even now she was beginning to consider taking Alex up on his offer of picking her up. “Okay, so we’re playing girlie games, Sarah. Remember those?”

“But we have to have a them,.” Isabel added. “In this case, I say all games have to do with looove.”

Sofia squealed. “I’ve never even had a sleepover.”

Valerie jumped off the counter and patted Sofia on the shoulder. Poor girl, not only had she dealt with her brothers, she’d also been claimed by Eric the moment she turned seventeen. Sarah told her all about Sofia falling for Angel’s other best friend.

“Follow me, ladies,” Valerie walked into her front room and turned on the iPod sitting on Isabel’s neat media center. She set the music to a slow and easy station.

Isabel grinned and lifted her hand, almost spilling her wine. “I’ll start. Mine is for Sarah. Where was the first place you and Angel did it?”

Sarah turned to Valerie, completely scandalized. “Wait, aren’t there rules?”

“Yes,” Valerie laughed, “The rules are, the hostess makes the rules. So, answer.”

Valerie already knew the answer, but she was having fun watching Sarah squirm. Sarah glanced at Sofia. She turned back to Isabel then took a sip of her wine. Just when she was about to answer she decided to take another sip.

“Is that bed in the back room still there?” Valerie spent quite a few glorious hours in that bed, back before Alex got his own place.

“It sure is.” Sofia winked, smiling wickedly.

Valerie’s jaw dropped. They all burst into laughter. Sarah always told Valerie how brazen Sofia could be. She’d gotten a taste of Sofia’s gutsy behavior over the years. But to have sex in the back of the restaurant with the possibility of any of her three brothers walking in was pure insanity.

After another hour, not only had Alex, Angel, and Romero interrupted them several more times, but Eric joined in on the check-in calls. Sofia stood up. “Alright, hand them over.”

Sarah handed hers over, looking very remorseful. Isabel laughed, tossing hers at Sofia without argument. Any other night Valerie would have gladly handed it over, but tonight Alex would hit the roof if she didn’t answer her calls or return his texts. “My dad hasn’t been doing well. I can’t turn my phone off.” She felt terrible using her dad. But it was true. Her dad hadn’t looked very well when they’d gone to see him that week. Her step-mom let her in on the dizzy spells he’d been having for days. Sofia almost gave in.

“Don’t fall for it, Sofia. He can call her on the house phone. He’s the only one who ever does.”

Valerie glared at Isabel. Sofia held out her hand. She handed the phone to her grudgingly. “I won’t turn them off, just set them on vibrate. You’ll be allowed to check if your dad called periodically. But the guys aren’t going to die if we ignore their calls for the rest of the night.”

Valerie wasn’t so sure about that. Sofia placed all the phones on the coffee table. “I need a refill. Anyone else?”

Sarah stood up. “I do.”

Sarah helped Valerie off the floor. They moved the party into the kitchen. Isabel threw some appetizers in the oven and poured a few bowls of chips. The girls dug in and continued to play Truth, laughing hysterically at times.

Even through all the laughter, Valerie couldn’t stop thinking of what the guys must be thinking with none of them answering their phones. Alex was probably having a fit.