Chapter 22
Jack remained silent as they rode the elevator to the fifth floor. His old department. The Attorney General had practically wet himself when he’d handed over the evidence. A call to an honest judge, one not on Victor’s list, had gotten arrest warrants issued for the twenty-three people listed on the mobster’s payroll. Currently they were on their way to arrest his old boss, Jeff Curry. Several federal marshals and his FBI friend, Chris Shaunessy, accompanied him. He had no authority himself, being persona non grata for so long, but the Attorney General had allowed him this little bonus. It was the least he could do for handing him Victor Cabrini on a platter.
Walking into the outer office, his old partner, Steve, noticed him first. His eyes widened perceptibly then filled with fear. Was he in on this too? Had he been behind the numerous attempts on his life?
“Hey, partner, the boss in?”
“Jack? What are you doing here?”
“These men have something to discuss with Agent Curry. If you know anything about it, I suggest you either fess up or get out of Dodge.”
The half dozen agents standing around the room all stared incredulously as the marshals sauntered into Curry’s office and read him his rights.
“He was on Cabrini’s payroll?” Steve asked, a scowl on his face. “All this time he was dictating how we proceeded on the case. No wonder we never got anywhere. Where did you finally get this information?”
“How we got it doesn’t matter, only the fact we got it. The Attorney General is rounding up everyone on the list. It’s going to be a little crowded in lock up. You knew nothing about it, huh?”
“Me?” Steve looked affronted. “Why would you think I knew anything about this? I thought you trusted me, man.”
He wasn’t sure what to believe. “You were the only person who knew Jonathan was in the hospital when he ingested the rat poison. I told you about the New Jersey cops being there. I still have no idea how they knew. No one else had any idea he was my kid.”
“Rat poison?” Karl, another of the agents hanging around the room, questioned. “That’s weird. My nephew got real sick from rat poison a few months back. Remember, Gerry, I told you about it right after it happened,” He gazed across the room at Steve’s new partner. “You were real concerned about his symptoms and how long he’d be hospitalized.”
Gerry Kimball had been sitting quietly until now. Suddenly it seemed like he had someplace to go. Jack’s senses went into overdrive. Kimball hadn’t been on the list but that didn’t mean he hadn’t done someone else’s bidding. Maybe a boss he wanted to impress? One who might move him up the ladder a bit quicker? He would have been in the perfect position to overhear any of Steve’s conversations.
Taking a few steps, Jack intercepted him. The guilt shining from Kimball’s eyes was like a neon sign saying, ‘I did it’. His blood began to boil. This man had poisoned his son.
Grabbing Gerry by the shirt collar, he pushed him up against a wall. “You gave my kid rat poison. You could have killed him.”
“It wasn’t me, I swear. You have no proof it was me.”
The man was lying; it was evident as his eyes darted all over the room.
“The boy’s mother saw who gave him the juice box. She can identify you. Should I get her here right now to do that? Will she say she’s never seen you before?”
Gerry started to sweat. His eyes couldn’t stay still then zeroed in on Agent Curry, who was being brought out of his office in handcuffs. “He told me I needed to get you back here. I knew you’d show up to check on your kid. But you still managed to get by them. I didn’t give him that much. He shouldn’t have gotten as sick as he did. Cabrini was screaming for your head. It was the only way.” His eyes turned desperate. “But we never told Cabrini you were FBI. We kept your real identity from him.”
Jack pushed against the man’s throat a bit more. “And I’m supposed to thank you for that. You stole three years of my life from me and I’m supposed to be grateful.”
Kimball’s eye began to roll to the back of his head. Yeah, he should let him go, but this man had tried to kill his son. And he damned well almost succeeded. The fear of losing Jonathan returned and he pushed harder.
“Jack,” Chris interrupted, “Maybe you should back off. We’ve got him. We’ll bring him to a holding cell, read him his rights.”
A hand on his shoulder made him come back to reality. If he killed this man, he’d be no better than Cabrini. Easing off slightly, he still didn’t let go. The tone of his phone finally made him drop his hands.
“Get him out of here,” he ordered, pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking the screen. Callie. He pressed the connect button. “Hey, everything all right?”
“No, I do not think everything is all right, Jack,” the voice of Victor Cabrini came through the line. He couldn’t breathe. “I am here with Callina and I think we have a few things we need to discuss.”
* * * *
Damn this truck. It needed to go faster so he could reach Callie. Save her.
Why hadn’t he foreseen the possibility of Cabrini figuring out what Callie had done? Now her life was in danger from the mobster. He should have insisted she come with him or at least get her some protection? Sent her over to Heather’s or Scott’s or even to work? She would have been surrounded by people and Cabrini wouldn’t have dared grab her there.
Guilt was no good now. It wouldn’t get her away from Cabrini. He had to do it.
Steve was rounding up a task force to arrest the mobster. Chris had gotten sucked into the whole mess also but promised he’d follow as soon as he could. Things were in an uproar at the office with Curry and many other supposedly upstanding people being found on Cabrini’s payroll. The marshals hadn’t wanted to let anyone go anywhere without further questioning. Plus they needed to get an arrest warrant for Victor. The judge had needed to review more of the evidence in order to issue that one. Being thorough, because Cabrini had slipped through the cracks too many other times. Like hell he’d wait for that. Callie was in danger now. And Cabrini had said to come alone.
Calling Scott on the way, he made sure his cousin picked up Jonathan. No way would he take any chances Victor would get to the child as well. Scott had assured him the boy was safe, scoffing down chicken fingers and French fries. He’d call the other guys too but none of them were close enough to be of any immediate help. Scott had wanted to come, but Jack needed his son safe and didn’t trust anyone else with the boy.
He approached the turn off for the state park Victor had asked to meet in. The place would be empty in January. Cabrini’s car was in the lot so he parked the truck next to it and slashed the tires, just in case. Walking in, he stopped at the wooden map and studied it, seeing the trail Victor said they’d be on. Looking again, he found one that looped around connecting to it from a different direction. That would be the one he took.
The wind blew and he zipped his jacket higher, the snow crunching under his feet. It was cold today but not as cold as it could be in New England at this time of year. He should be thankful. And when Callie was safely away from the monster, he would be.
It took almost fifteen minutes but he finally approached the area Cabrini wanted to meet in, cautiously circling around the outskirts first. Could there be a way to rescue Callie without confronting Victor? Get the drop on the man so he didn’t have the upper hand?
As he peered through the trees, something bright waved from the distance. Callie’s crimson winter coat, signaling like a red flag. At least she had on something warm. Moving silently, hoping to sneak up on them, he patted the gun tucked in the back of his jeans in reassurance. He tugged his coat back over it so it might go unnoticed.
Getting closer, he checked out the area. Callie stood on the edge of a clearing, her arms around the branch of a tree. A few steps farther and he could see her hands fastened together with some sort of binding and she struggled to get free. Cabrini was nowhere in sight.
This was a trap. Had to be. No way would Cabrini leave her here by herself for him to find. But where was he? Glancing around nervously, he waited for what seemed like forever. Was Cabrini on an earlier part of the trail expecting to shoot him when he came down the path? If he was, that could work to Jack’s advantage.
After another minute, eyes moving in every direction, he crept closer to the woman he loved. Had he ever told her that? Actually said the words? He’d shown her in so many ways how he felt but thinking back, maybe he hadn’t said it outright. Once they got out of this, he would make sure to tell her every day of their lives together.
Still searching the area, he approached her. Her head flew up, her eyes filled with fear.
“I’ll get you out of here, Calico.”
She shook her head as he ran to her side. “No, Jack, Victor…”
“Is right here,” Cabrini said, from behind him.
Damn, he’d walked right into it. But what had his options been? To stand here and watch Callie twist in the wind?
Turning around, he made sure to get between Callie and the mobster. Cabrini stood less than ten feet away with a gun pointed in their direction. Shit. Disarming him might be a possibility if he were closer, but he wouldn’t take the chance of Callie getting hurt with a stray bullet.
“You wanted me, you’ve got me, Cabrini. Now let her go.” It would never happen but he had to try.
The mobster laughed. Not a pleasant or humorous sound and terror ripped through his gut. He didn’t care what happened to him, hell he’d thought of putting a bullet into his own head a time or two in the past few years, but Callie needed to survive. To be there to take care of their son, and now their new little baby.
“Why should I let her go?” Victor sneered.
Jack clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. “I’m the one who killed Angelo. She had nothing to do with it. Let her go.”
“She may as well have killed my son,” Victor growled. “She betrayed him by sleeping with you. Is that why you killed him? You wanted him out of the way so you could have her?”
“It was self-defense. He came after me with a knife. Gave me a nice little souvenir too.” He pressed his hand to his stomach. “I never meant to kill him. My mission was to stay alive.”
“And you are alive and he’s not.” Victor’s face was filled with rage. There’d be no negotiating with him.
How could he get Callie out of here safely? His eyes flickered around the clearing, hoping for some miracle to pop out. Maybe Chris and a whole FBI contingent were on their way into the park right now. Yeah, he was delusional. The chaos at headquarters would take a while to simmer. He’d need to keep Cabrini talking and distracted, maybe kill some time without getting them killed. Find an opening to get Callie out of here at least.
“I need to remedy that situation,” Cabrini added. “Put your hands on your head and keep them there.”
Doing as he was told, he debated whether he could jump Cabrini as he came closer. Or would the man simply shoot him while he stood here? Then what would Cabrini do with Callie? The thought sliced sharply through him.
“You know this place will be crawling with cops in a few minutes. You might want to consider running now.”
“Is that what you are, a cop?” Cabrini practically spit out the words. “All this time I thought you worked for a rival syndicate. Thought maybe Callina here worked for them too. But she also mentioned the authorities and some of the information she took from my computer wouldn’t be at all useful to any rival of mine. Only to the law.”
Moving closer, Cabrini motioned for him to turn around. Still not close enough to make a move on. He rotated, slowly. Callie’s tear-ravaged eyes stared at him and his heart bled. Fury bubbled through him at the red mark growing on her face. Cabrini had hit her? Had he hurt her any other way? Hurt the baby?
Victor patted him down and he closed his eyes when the man found his gun. Was that his last hope? He looked at Callie, hated the terror he saw in her eyes. Would this be his final vision of her? If it was, she needed to know how much she meant to him.
“I love you, Calico,” he whispered.
A tiny smile crept on her face as more tears coursed down her cheeks.
“Isn’t this sweet,” Cabrini sneered. “Well, I’m going to help you here. Soon you’ll both be together forever. Six feet under.”
Jack turned around again, glaring at the mob boss who still held the gun straight at him. Jack’s gun was in his other hand. He carelessly tossed it aside.
“Before I kill you, I need to know exactly who you are and who you work for.”
He swallowed hard. What did it matter if Cabrini knew his identity? One of them wouldn’t be around much longer. Be positive you’ll survive this. You have to.
“Special Agent Jonathan Holland, FBI. My friends call me Jack.”
“Jonathan? Of course. Callina insisted she name the baby Jonathan. Wouldn’t hear of naming him after Angelo. Now I see why.”
Victor shook his head as he growled, “FBI. Can’t believe Tony hired an FBI agent to be my chauffeur. Stupidity.”
Victor’s anger made him lower the gun slightly but it was enough for Jack to take a step forward and kick the weapon out of his hand. He followed with a knee to the gut and when Victor was still standing, albeit hunched over, he threw his fist into his face. Hitting him again and again, the mobster finally fell back into the snow.
Wasting no time, he slipped his knife from his pocket, opened it and cut Callie’s bindings. Her arms fell and landed around his neck, clinging to him. Now wasn’t the time but he’d like to spend eternity like this. Giving her a quick kiss, he ordered, “Get out of here. I’ll take care of Victor.”
“Unless he takes care of you first,” Victor hissed, from behind him. A hard cylinder pressed against Jack’s neck. The knife was yanked from his hand. Pushing her away with his other hand, Jack hoped she’d take the hint to run.
“Now I can finish the job my son didn’t.”
Agony slashed through him as Victor shoved the knife into his lower back. Colors starburst and swirled across his vision then exploded into shades of red. White-hot pain pulsated and intensified. He tried to speak but no sound came out of his mouth. Callie’s distraught face matched the scream issuing from her lips. He pushed again and finally mouthed, “Run.”
She stumbled away, her expression torn between concern and fear. Yeah, he’d been there before. How many times had he walked away from her and Jonathan, knowing it was what he needed to do, not what he wanted to do?
His legs gave out and he dropped to his knees, reaching for the knife. He couldn’t catch his breath; the pain coursed through him, escalating and throbbing.
“That’s just punishment for people who stab me in the back. And this.”
Victor lifted his gun, pointing straight at Callie’s retreating back. He didn’t know where the strength came from but he swung his arm up, knocking Victor’s aim askew. The gun went off anyway.
Callie fell to the ground with a cry. No. She clutched her leg, blood staining the snow around her.
* * * *
Callie pushed past the pain as she fell. Jack was still on the ground, barely able to hold himself up. Victor walked toward her, his gun wavering between the two of them. Would she watch the man she loved more than life itself die before her eyes? Would she be first, making Jack witness her death? The ache in her leg was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.
I love you, Calico. The words echoed in her mind. She’d wanted to hear them for so long but now it wouldn’t matter. Not if Victor had his way. At least the authorities had the evidence about him. He wouldn’t be allowed to ruin any more lives. Or corrupt her son. One good thing would come out of this.
“Hmm, how do I do this?” Victor mused, a nasty grin on his face. He was enjoying this, the bastard. He looked back and forth between them. Jack attempted to stand but barely managed to crawl a few feet in her direction.
“Anyone wish to volunteer? Or should I be polite and let the lady go first?” He swung the gun in Callie’s direction. Something inside her snapped. She’d be dead in a few minutes, if not sooner, so she had nothing to lose.
“You are a despicable, evil person, Victor, and it’s a good thing Angelo was killed so he wouldn’t turn out to be just like you. A monster with no redeeming qualities. Maybe I won’t live to see it, but I’m glad I got the evidence to put you away for good, someplace you’ll never hurt people again.”
“Don’t be too sure, my dear. About that anyway. You are correct about not living to see it.” He aimed the gun at her head.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the shot but they flew open again when Jack stumbled in front of her, then slumped against her on the ground. A slight moan escaped from his throat. Wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, she held on tight, burying her face in his neck. The snow underneath them chilled her but not as much as the thought of what Victor was planning.
“Cabrini,” Jack pleaded, his voice shaky. The wind rustled past, stealing his words. What else could he say? Victor couldn’t be talked out of this.
She clung tightly, trying to be brave. But not as brave as Jack. The pain must have been excruciating to get over here, but he had done it to protect her. To keep her safe till the end. It wouldn’t be enough.
Victor cackled as his finger tightened on the trigger, aiming right at Jack’s chest. She hugged him closer, wanting to feel his hardness, smell his musky scent, taste the salt on his skin, one last time. The blast of the gun echoed in the empty woods along with her scream.
“Jack!” Sobbing, she pulled him tight to her, not wanting to let him go. But he still held himself up, barely. Had Victor missed? He’d been standing so close.
Looking up, her eyes focused on the man who’d stolen so much from her over the years as he jolted and fell to his knees, crimson staining his pristine white shirt. What? Snow crunched from behind her and she whipped her head around. Had the cavalry shown up? Perfect timing.
A figure moved forward, bundled in a long, dark coat. He circled around, looked down at Victor, then turned the gun on them. Tony Pascucci.
* * * *
“Tony,” Victor cried from where he lay huddled on the ground, blood discoloring the snow from the wound in his chest. “What have you done?”
What had he done? Pascucci had always been loyal to a fault. Why would he shoot Victor? He’d never liked her. She doubted he had some sense of righteousness that made him want to save her.
“Victor.” A sly smile grew on Pascucci’s face. “I didn’t want to do this but you left me no choice. I was willing to wait a few more years, hoping the stress would finally get to you, but you’ve been making too many mistakes lately.”
“What?” Victor’s voice grew weak, though the anger and arrogance still came.
“I want your empire. I thought it would be a done deal when your chauffeur took out Angelo. With a little help from me.”
“What did you do? You helped this agent kill my son?”
“No,” Jack piped in, his voice not much stronger than Victor’s. “But when I left, Angelo was still alive. Always wondered why…he didn’t make it…and I did. I was hurt worse.”
“Yes, but he was still seriously wounded. All it took was a little bit of time and he finally had no chance of living.”
“You let my son bleed to death,” Victor roared, then coughed and folded in on himself. “How could you do that?”
“I knew what was in your will. I figured with Angelo out of the way, my path was clear to inherit everything of yours. Until the bitch found out she was pregnant. You doted on the kid like he was freakin’ made of gold.”
“Is it why you always glared at him?” Callie finally spoke up. “Are you the one who poisoned him?”
“No, Steve’s new partner did,” Jack informed her. “Trying to draw me out into the open.”
When had he learned that information? Not that they’d had time for a chat since this morning. Had it just been this morning she’d given him the file?
“I don’t kill kids,” Pascucci spit out. “It’s not my style. I want to focus more on the legitimate aspects of Victor’s empire. He could make millions every year and not have to worry about the law wanting to take him down.” He looked at Victor, still squirming in the snow. “But he thinks the ‘business’ is too important.”
“It’s what keeps you alive, Tony, you’ll find that out.”
“Actually, Victor, I have a few friends willing to buy that part of your ‘business’ once I get my hands on it. And they’ve offered a pretty penny for it. Now I only have to get rid of the little heir to the fortune.”
Ice froze her blood. He meant Jonathan. “But you said you didn’t kill children.”
“I don’t. But I can grab him and send him far away. Italy is a nice place and I have relatives who would love a cute little kid like him.”
“He’s not Angelo’s,” Jack’s voice was gruff but Callie loved hearing it. He’d gotten heavy in her arms and she thought he’d passed out. She’d refused to think it was anything more.
Pascucci looked curiously at him. “Not Angelo’s? What are you talking about? She was seeing him at the time.”
“He’s my son.”
Three little words but ones Jack had wanted to shout to the world. He finally had. But would he be able to say them to anyone else? Would Pascucci want them dead, or could they talk their way out of this? Callie’s hopes flared to life but whatever happened, had to happen fast. Her leg had long gone numb and Jack was slumping heavier against her every second.
Pascucci looked at her, for confirmation. She nodded.
“I never slept with Angelo. He was using me to cover that he was gay. I was only seeing him to get information for the FBI.”
Pascucci laughed. “That’s a hoot. You know Angelo babbled a few things about cheating on you before he died. Didn’t realize the rest.”
Victor made a garbled sound and Pascucci walked over to check him out. Could she get Jack out of here while he was busy? Pushing up, she tried to stand but her leg was useless and wouldn’t get far. She attempted again but Jack was too heavy and with the blood she’d lost, she didn’t have the strength.
“Tony?” Could she appeal to his human side by using his first name? “You won’t hurt Jonathan, will you? Please.”
“No reason to,” he said, carelessly then kicked at Victor’s side. “He’s dead. And he’s got no heir. Which means I inherit everything the law doesn’t confiscate. And there are quite a few legal businesses I’ve built up. I might have a case against them being closed down.”
“What about us?” she asked nervously. He might seem like he wanted to go legit but they were loose ends. Would he want to take care of them?
“Yes, what about you two? Good question.”
“You’re holding my gun,” Jack stated, gazing at the weapon the man still held. “You can either stay…we’ll say you saved us from Victor…which you did. Or you can…walk out of here. I’ll say…I shot Victor in self-defense…after he shot Callie…and stabbed me.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
Pascucci narrowed his eyes and looked at the gun in his hands. “I did save you when I shot Victor, didn’t I? How very brave of me. You’d seriously let the cops know this? That could go a long way in my case to take over some of the legitimate businesses.”
“It’s the truth,” Callie said. They needed to get medical help and soon. Jack was fading away. She couldn’t lose him. To get this far and still spend her life without him, too unfair.
Pascucci nodded.
“On one condition,” Callie added, her mind thinking of the future. “You get rid of the price on Jack’s head. Take the hit off him. Can you do that?”
Pascucci smirked. “With Victor dead and no pay off guaranteed, that’s easy. But I’ll even make a few phone calls to make sure.”
“Thank you.” Callie was thankful, but they still needed help. “Now any possibility you could phone for an ambulance?”
The sound of footsteps running over snow and through branches met their ears. Pascucci lowered the gun to the ground and raised his hands in the air. “I don’t think I’ll need to. Looks like help has arrived.”