Chapter 23
Vinny’s penthouse apartment resembled a scene from a bad gangster movie, all chrome and leather. The lawyer dropped him off outside the high-rise in an upscale part of town and drove away after nodding to the doorman to admit Jake. They hadn’t spoken beyond her inquiry about the cut on his eye. Before he exited the car, he asked, “What happens now with my arrest?”
She smiled that phony smile. “Don’t worry about it.”
He shrugged, thanked her, and stepped onto the sidewalk. Once inside the lobby, another uniformed bellman escorted him to the penthouse elevator, tapped the button for him, and waited until the elevator arrived, touching the brim of his cap when Jake entered.
When the doors opened, Vinny stood with his arms spread wide, a wineglass clutched in one hand.
“Jake. Mio fratello.” He embraced him, patting him vigorously on the back. “It’s good that you called me, brother. Come in, come in. How about some wine? Or do you prefer beer? A cold one sound good after the day you’ve had? What about food? I can have something sent up. How long were you locked up, man?”
Jake ran his hand through his hair. “Yeah, a beer sounds good, Vinny. Thanks for bailing me out. I couldn’t call anyone else.”
Vinny waved it away as he walked to the stainless-steel kitchen and retrieved a beer from the double-door refrigerator. “Don’t mention it. Glad to help. It doesn’t pay you back for saving my life but it’s a step closer. You want to talk about it? The news wasn’t clear about the case and we couldn’t find out much on our end. I figure the feds are keeping a tight lid on things. What was your involvement, Jake? I didn’t know you worked at City Hall.”
Vinny’s comments surprised him and Jake hoped his internal reaction didn’t register on his face. They weren’t able to find out information? From whom, he wanted to ask. If nothing else, it confirmed that Cabacolli had inside contacts. But where?
“I’m just a bagman, Vinny, doing a guy a favor to work off some gambling debts. I didn’t know anything about the payoffs. That’s my luck. The wrong place at the wrong time.” He needed to change the subject. “Thanks for sending the lawyer. Man, she was a hottie. Worth getting arrested just to meet her.”
Vinny slurped his wine and bobbed his head. “Yeah. Pretty sure my old man is banging that but I don’t know. I’d sure like some of it.”
Same old Vinny. Put the man in a penthouse with a state-of-the-art kitchen, high-end furnishings, and expensive artwork on the walls and he was still a low-life.
Jake sipped his beer and nodded as if he agreed. “Thanks for bringing me here, man, but I gotta get home. How ’bout we hook up tomorrow?” By now, Mackenna had seen the news. When she called, he’d been unable to answer and she hadn’t left a message. Was that a good sign or a bad one? He wanted to hold her in his arms when he told her his version of today’s events. It’d be the same story he just relayed to Vinny. Caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’d ask questions. She was too smart not to. He’d tell her anything to keep from losing her. Except the truth.
“You should stay here at least for a couple hours, Jake. Let the dust settle. My people will make sure the feds aren’t scoping out your place. That’s how they operate, you know. Turn you loose then sneak around spying. You’re better off here, outta sight. There’s a guest room you can use. And friends are coming over later. You remember, Misty, don’t you? I invited her special. Sink between those thighs and you’ll forget all about today.”
Jake ran his hands across his face, frowning at the stubble. “I don’t know, Vinny, after the day I’ve had I’m not sure I can get it up. I need a shower and my head is splitting from a punch I took. Some overzealous deputy trying to prove his worth. I’d prefer to crash at home.”
“Not until I get an all-clear from my men,” Vinny said, reaching for his phone. “I’m ordering dinner. Clean up in the guest bathroom if you like. Everything’s in there you should need. I’ll try to rustle up a shirt that might fit you. Or just wait for the ladies to arrive. I’m sure Misty will be happy to wash your back for you.”
Already making his way toward the guest room, Vinny’s lecherous laugh smacked Jake in the back. Good thing. Vinny didn’t see the disgusted look on Jake’s face.
Fuck. Reaching out to Vinny for bail might’ve been a mistake. The last thing Jake wanted to do was have a goddamn pajama party with him and his cheap entertainment.
Standing in the hot shower, Jake debated calling Mackenna. He needed to talk to her but a phone call wouldn’t work. This rationalization required a face-to-face meet so he could look into those beautiful brown eyes when he explained about his arrest. His FBI training kicked in as he scrutinized the bathroom, scanning all the corners, rummaging through the drawers, suspicious that Vinny would have a listening device planted somewhere. He couldn’t take the chance.
Jake stepped into his jeans and yelled, “Enter” when Vinny knocked on the door. He held out a black undershirt, the type often referred to as a wife-beater shirt. Vinny’s eyes widened when he saw Jake shirtless. “Ah, you don’t look that built with your shirt on. I don’t know if this will fit. It’s the only thing I have without sleeves and your shoulders are twice the size of mine. I can send someone to your place for your own clothes if you want.”
Vinny’s goons nosing around his undercover apartment was the last thing Jake needed. He shook his head. “Nah, this is fine.” The soft cotton undershirt hugged his chest like a layer of skin. But he’d already gotten a whiff of the dress shirt he’d worn all day and it definitely couldn’t stand another wearing.
Vinny canted his head. “You look like something off a magazine page, man. Misty’s gonna love it. The girls are on their way with dinner.”
“I’ll be right out.” Standing in front of the mirror, Jake laughed. What magazine? Guns and gangsters? Hang a few gold chains around his neck and dangle a cigarette from his mouth and he’d resemble the stereotypical mob guy. If she saw him right now his mama would have a fit of the vapors, a condition she always threatened but he’d never witnessed.
Misty couldn’t keep her hands off of him but her attentions turned him off. She wasn’t the woman he wanted falling all over him. At least the meal Vinny ordered from his family’s restaurant was top-notch. Vinny reiterated his invitation to the upcoming family dinner and hinted that he might have a job for Jake since he was now gainfully unemployed. That was all good. But Jake was on edge. And wary of the whole buddy-buddy performance.
Half-heartedly, he placed a kiss on Misty’s cheek. “Listen, honey, I’ve had a helluva day and my head is pounding. You and me will happen some other time, okay? But not tonight.” He rose. “Vinny, I gotta crash for the night. Too much has happened today. I’m turning in.”
Misty jumped to her feet. “I’ll come with you, baby.” He shook his head, said “no thanks,” and started toward the bedroom. But she followed him, closing the door and leaning against it with her hands behind her back.
“I can make you feel better if you give me the chance, Jake. You’ll forget everything that happened today, I promise.”
“Not tonight, Misty.” He sat on the edge of the bed with his back toward her. God he wanted out of this place. The mattress sagged behind him when she crawled onto the bed and his back stiffened. She leaned in from behind and extended her arm in front of his face. A black lace bra dangled from her fingers. Her enhanced breasts pressed into his back like torpedoes and he immediately recalled the rush of excitement he’d felt with Mackenna behind him on the motorcycle. This was nothing like that.
Misty blew into his ear. “Mommy can make it all better,” she cooed.
He rocketed up out of her reach and strode to the window, stunned by the sudden realization that he was a one-woman man now who would opt for celibacy if he couldn’t lie in Mackenna’s arms. The depths of his feelings for her drowned him, at the same time bringing him a sense of peace. Finally, he’d found his soul mate.
But he couldn’t let Misty, and by extension Vinny, know that. He turned to find her stretched out on the bed wearing only black lace panties. Her pose mimicked the way Mackenna had waited for him to emerge from the bathroom that morning they first touched each other. Misty missed the boat when it came to arousing his desire.
He clenched his teeth and forced a smile. “I’ll tell you what, Misty. Give me about an hour to catch a power rack and I’ll be all over you.” She knitted her eyebrows.
“You know, a quick nap. Let me get some sleep, get rid of this headache, and I’ll be all yours.”
Misty patted the bed. “Sure, Jake. Let’s both take a nap. I have a unique way of waking up my men.” Her tongue wiped her upper lip and his stomach turned.
“You can go out and watch TV or something, honey. You don’t have to stay with me.”
She held out her hand, long shiny red talons beckoning him. Not even close to Mackenna’s invitation to join him on the bed. “I’ll be right here beside you when you wake up.”
Reluctantly he climbed onto the bed and stretched out on his back beside her.
“Don’t you want to take off your clothes, Jake?”
He didn’t. Not even his shoes. He wanted to escape this lair as fast as he could. Out of Misty’s claws and away from Vinny’s scrutiny.
Jake mumbled his response. “I’m too tired, honey. Just let me rest.” He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, lying perfectly still so she’d think he was asleep. Endless minutes ticked by while she rolled her fingers along his arm and across his chest, blew warm breath on the back of his neck and ear and plastered her body against his side, stretching her leg over his groin and rubbing. It took every ounce of self-control not to move. Once Misty realized her attempts to interest him were useless she dropped onto her back and hummed softly, eventually falling asleep. When she began to snore, Jake decided it was safe to move.
As gingerly as he could, he eased off the bed, grabbed his shirt and tie from the chair, and tiptoed to the door. No sounds came from beyond and after opening it ever so slowly, he slipped out of the bedroom. Raucous laughter and muffled moans emanated from Vinny’s bedroom across the hall, causing Jake to smile. He doubted the elevator ding even disturbed them.
~ ~ ~
After sneaking out of Vinny’s apartment, the building doorman asked his destination. Jake nodded to the twenty-four-hour drugstore on the corner. “Condoms.” He walked the block, sensing the doorman’s eyes on him the whole way, and exited the building out an employee’s entrance. Just to be safe, he strolled two more blocks and then hailed a cab to home. Even though it was after midnight, he was determined to talk to Mackenna. He rode the elevator to her floor, grateful the business office was closed and he didn’t see any other tenants. But she didn’t answer his knock and his phone call went straight to voice mail. Dammit. Where the hell was she?
Jake stopped dead the minute he entered his apartment. He hadn’t left the television on yesterday morning. Or the light in the guest bathroom. Automatically, he reached for his ankle. But he’d left his gun home yesterday knowing the arrests would go down and not wanting his colleagues to confiscate it, which they’d be forced to do if anyone knew he carried. Since he’d ended up back at Vinny’s it had been advantageous not to have his weapon. He felt certain Vinny searched the guest room while he showered. Nothing to find but his dirty clothes. Jake carried his cell and wallet into the bathroom with him.
No, he walked out of his apartment yesterday unarmed. And now he felt naked.
He slipped out of his shoes and socks. Bare feet could be a viable weapon in a fight. After his eyes adjusted to the shadows, he crept down the hallway in a rehearsed step, rolling from heel to toe in a fluid movement while he scanned the rooms. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Arriving at the kitchen he eased an eight-inch chef’s knife from its wooden block holder. He was much better with a gun but he’d been trained to defend himself with and without various weapons. The knife was better than nothing.
Jake tapped the flashlight app on his phone to better search the rooms. The beam wasn’t nearly as powerful as his bureau-issued tactical flashlight but again, better than none. He’d have about a five-second advantage if the light momentarily blinded his intruder. He could do a lot of damage in five seconds.
The guest bedroom and bathroom were vacant. No one under the bed or hiding behind the doors or furniture. He turned his attention to the master bedroom, his senses heightened by his diminished vision. He smelled beer. Soft, easy breathing reached his ears. Distributing his weight evenly so the floor didn’t creak he advanced a step and studied the mound on his bed. Now a waft of familiar perfume grabbed him and he saw the outline of one dainty hand hanging limp over the edge of the bed. The sight of Mackenna wrapped up like a burrito in his darkened bedroom instantly made him grin.
He clicked off the light beam and placed the knife on top of his bureau. Starting by her feet he crawled onto the bed, his hand running over her hip to her shoulder. She stirred and rolled toward him.
“Sugar, what are you doing here?” The emotions that surged through him choked his words. Elation that she was here. Grateful he’d have the chance to talk to her, to somehow explain about today. And desire so hot he forgot his pounding head and lack of sleep.
No, the only ache he felt right now was his need for her. To touch her and taste her and be inside her. To never let another day pass without her being a part of it. He wanted that more than anything. And then he acknowledged the pang of disappointment because he knew it would never be. Once she found out his true identity and learned that he’d weaved a web of mistruths about his life, she’d likely run for the highest hill. And the woman who completed him would be gone.
But he had her now, this minute. And if he had to, he could live on this memory for the rest of his solitary life.
Jake brushed the hair out of her eyes and whispered again. “Sweetheart, why are you here?”
Mackenna smiled and freed her arms from the blankets to cup his face like he always held hers. “I didn’t want you to come home to nothing.”
His heart exploded simultaneously with the smile on his face. Her fingertips touched the butterfly bandage over his eye and she caught her breath. “Oh Jake, you’re hurt.”
He turned his face to kiss the palm of her hand. “It’s nothing.” Then he dropped a light kiss on her mouth. “I always want to come home to you, Kenna. I don’t ever want to lose you.”
She blinked the sleep from her eyes and rewarded him with a slight nod. Her thumb eased over his bottom lip while her eyes roamed his face. “Make love to me, Jake.”
The hell of the day faded away and Jake kissed his way to heaven.
~ ~ ~
Jake awakened slowly, feeling as if he’d had no sleep at all. His limbs were heavy and he wanted to reposition and go back to sleep. But Mackenna sprawled across him, her breasts pressed to his chest, one leg stretched between his. Their legs were entangled in the sheets. He closed his eyes reliving their lovemaking, marveling at the heights Kenna sent him. He’d methodically kissed every inch of her body and when she allowed him to bury his mouth between her legs, he discovered a new and exciting nirvana. Never had a woman so captivated him. If she wasn’t in his life, he had no reason to exist.
She stirred and he stretched his hand over her hip to caress her velvety smooth bottom. Nothing to do about his erection right now. There wasn’t time. If she didn’t get moving she’d be late for work.
Jake kissed the top of her head. “Sugar, wake up. You’re going to be late.”
She murmured a negative response.
“C’mon, honey, you have to go to work.”
Her breasts pressed into his chest when she took a deep breath and her eyes fluttered open. “I don’t have to go into work today. I just want to hide here. In your arms.”
He rolled his head backward to see her face. “What do you mean you don’t have to go to work today? Did something happen with your boss?”
She tried to nuzzle closer to him but he nudged her away. “Mackenna, tell me what’s going on. What happened yesterday?”
“Oh all right.” She jabbed him in the chest, sat up and moved her hair behind her ears. His eyes were drawn to her beautiful breasts. This was the first time she hadn’t reached for a sheet or a shirt to cover up in front of him.
“I don’t have to go to the bank today because yesterday I was suspended without pay.”
He bolted up into a sitting position. “Why? Because you filed an HR complaint against Gleaner? They can’t do that.”
Mackenna’s gaze dropped to her lap. “No, Mr. Gleaner has nothing to do with this. The Ninth Street bank was robbed yesterday. I was the teller she robbed.”
“Wha-at?” His question came out loud and long. And more reproachful than he intended.
She glared at him.
“Mackenna, what the hell. What are you saying?”
She drew the sheet over her breasts. “I’m saying I was robbed again yesterday. Thanks for the sympathy.”
Sympathy, hell. No way could she be an innocent victim three times in a row. After one day of rookie training with the FBI he’d know better than to believe a story like hers. Sweet Jesus, he was in love with a con artist. A damn thief, no better than Vinny.
He all but yelled at her, “What the hell happened? Dammit Kenna, tell me everything.”
She straightened her back. “Don’t swear at me. You’re as bad as Agent Crews. How about a little support when I need it? Don’t you think I’m traumatized having a gun poked in my face for a third time?”
She was right. He strived to regain control of his emotions. But Jesus, God, this was beyond bad.
“He held the gun in your face?”
Mackenna shrugged. “No, not exactly. But I saw it. And it was a she this time, an old woman.”
“Will you tell me what the fuck happened? Every detail. Don’t leave out a single thing.”
Her eyebrows knitted and she stared at him. “Who do you think you are? The FBI? That’s all you’re worried about is what happened? Not if I’m okay? If I was hurt? You only want the gory details? I think I’ve greatly misjudged you, Jake. I was a fool to think you cared about me.”
Jake grabbed her arm when she moved to crawl out of bed. “I do care about you, Kenna. More than I can express. But this is so goddamn serious. Did you give the FBI the whole story? Did you tell them the truth?”
She wrenched from his grasp and jumped out of bed, hiding her nakedness with the sheet. “How dare you ask that question? What do you think I told them? Lies? I was scared out of my mind. They took me down to their office and Agent Crews questioned me. I felt like a criminal. You should know that feeling. I saw you in handcuffs yesterday on TV.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “I can explain that, sugar.”
“Don’t bother. Agent Crews didn’t believe me and it’s apparent by your reaction you don’t believe me either. I made a mistake coming here expecting you to understand. I need to leave.”
She bent and began retrieving her clothes. Jake jumped out of bed and tried to take her in his arms but she shoved him away. “Don’t touch me.”
His arms shot up as if someone pointed a gun at him. “Okay, okay. Please, can we talk about this? I overreacted. I’m sorry.”
With her clothes in a bunch she raced to the bathroom. “I’m sorry too. I thought I was in . . .” She burst into tears and disappeared behind the sliding door. He listened to her crying while she dressed but her face was dry when she emerged minutes later, her hair in disarray, her nose red and tiny droplets clinging to her eyelashes.
He reached for her but she evaded his grasp. “Sugar, wait. Don’t leave like this. Don’t leave at all.”
“Go to hell, Jake.” She never looked back.
~ ~ ~
Blinded by her tears, Mackenna raced up the stairwell to her temporary apartment. How could she have been so stupid to believe in Jake? He was a rebound relationship, just as Arthur had been, and once again, she was the fool. The only difference was this time, her heart hurt. She thought Jake wasn’t like other men, that he was a good guy and that he’d look out for her, believe her when the chips were down. But, no. He thought she was guilty. Of collusion in a series of bank robberies. Seriously? Her? The mere idea was laughable but she didn’t feel like laughing now.
The satchels she transported her clothes in lay folded on a chair in the bedroom and she snatched the top one from the pile. Running into the bathroom, she swept the top of the vanity with her arm, dumping everything into the bag, not caring if the bottles broke or the jars popped open.
A second bag caught the handful of lingerie she grabbed from the dresser drawer. She stuffed a fistful of T-shirts and shorts from the drawer below into the sack. It didn’t matter if anything matched. She had to get out of here. Out of this building and away from Jake. Away from everything.
Sobbing, she scooped up her keys and hurried to the elevator. She’d held out a thin thread of hope that when she opened the apartment door, Jake would be standing there. But he wasn’t. The bastard hadn’t even chased after her.
So there it was.
Jake the Jerk was indeed one. Well, he could kiss her ass. This whole town could. Her cousin in New York had been arrested some years back for shoplifting and minor drug possession and was anti-police. Surely her cousin would understand Mackenna’s need to hide out with the law breathing down her back. And New York was a perfect city to disappear in. She might even change her name.
The tires on her car screeched as she tore out of the underground parking garage. Thankfully, Jake had filled the gas tank for her. Well, at least he was good for something. How far a full tank would take her she had no idea but once she ran out of gas, she’d call her cousin for bus fare. That way the feds couldn’t track her car if they were looking for her. How long would it take them to discover she’d left town? That was a directive always issued on the TV cop shows. They told the criminals not to leave town. Well, Agent Crews hadn’t said that to her so she wasn’t disobeying any police orders.
She drove blindly, knowing she had to reach the turnpike. New York was at least eight hours away if not longer. After she put some distance between her and Jake, she’d plot a more definite route. She didn’t want to run out of gas alongside the highway. Tears streamed down her face unchecked. Damn you, Jake. I thought you were different. I thought you cared. I thought I loved you.
Her cell phone sounded Jake’s designated ring. She’d programmed the theme from Rocky to play when he called thinking he was her champion. What a delusion. She ignored the call. Her tendency to leave half full bottles of water in her car would pay off. Even though they made her car look trashy, she just never seemed to carry them to the recycle bin. But now, that was a good thing. One sat in the cup holder, one balanced on the passenger seat and another rolled around on the floor in front of the seat. She knew there were at least two more on the floor in the back seat. She wouldn’t go thirsty and food wouldn’t be a problem. She had no appetite. So she’d drive until it was dark and then find a truck stop. The facilities would be open and she could sleep in her car. With the doors locked, she’d be safe. And if she wasn’t, then let some husky truck driver kidnap her. At least she’d be away from Jake and the FBI.
A new life. A fresh start. It was the only ray of hope she had now. A new name. What should she call herself? She’d always liked the idea that her first and last name began with the same initial. The alliteration was fun. Maybe she’d keep that pattern. Betsy Belle. It reminded her of cow. Sandra Sheller. Down by the seashore immediately popped into her mind. Well, she had plenty of time to think up a new identity. Nothing to do but drive and think.
After two hours on the road, she drove into a rest stop. Thankfully, the bathroom was clean and after using the facilities she splashed water on her face and returned to her car, turning when an engine in the distance fired up as she stepped inside her Taurus. The car eased out behind her and then sped ahead of her. A black, newer model car.
A light rain started to fall, which Mackenna decided was par for her life. What else could go wrong?
Another three hours and she could barely keep her eyes open. To be safe, she should rest for an hour or so. A brief nap would sustain her until dark when she stopped for the night. She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, thanks to Jake’s incomparable lovemaking. The memory made her smile. She’d miss that action in bed, that’s for sure. Somehow, Jake transformed her into a woman who went through the motions of sex to a willful wild cat begging for more. Like planting a tiny seed, nurturing it, feeding and watering it until it blossomed into a full-grown shrub resplendent with beautiful red rose blooms. She was that rose. She’d always have Jake to thank for that.
A rest area came into view and she signaled her intent to leave the main highway, noticing the car behind her followed. Once parked, she pinched the bridge of her nose and silenced her phone. Jake again. He’d called and left four messages. Whatever he had to say, she didn’t want to hear it. There was no believing any fabrication he spun now.
She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror before exiting the car and caught site of the dark sedan that departed before her at the last rest stop. Tinted windows prevented her from seeing inside. Was it the FBI following her? How could they know already that she was on the run? And why hadn’t they stopped her long ago?
Deciding her imagination worked overtime she strode to the restroom, clutching her purse tightly under her arm. She was a lone female traveler and likely an easy target for a purse snatcher. As with every rest stop on a major highway, travelers rushed about their business ordering food, using the bathrooms, and averting the gazes of fellow road warriors.
Mackenna went unnoticed, which pleased her. Anonymity right now was a blessing. As she emerged from the building she spotted a large man standing in front of her car, his back to it, smoking a cigarette. No big deal. She didn’t plan to bother him. Footsteps sounded on the pavement behind her and then a man caught up with her on her left side, grabbing her elbow.
“Let’s not make a scene, miss, okay?” Another man came up along her other side and squeezed her upper arm. Mackenna made to scream but a white cloth covered her face before she found her voice. The material reeked of fumes that singed her throat. Her eyes watered immediately. Tightness in her chest grabbed her lungs. The last thing she remembered was a feeling of nausea, then fainting.