Chapter 42

Dane

I see Salvatore as he walks towards the house. Kat is upstairs making sure Dave and Truth are ok. I meet him at the front door.

“Coffee?” He accepts with a nod. I lead the way into the kitchen and he sits at my dining table.

“She is ok, a little shook up but she’s going to be fine,” says Sal.

I’m pouring two cups of coffee from the machine when Dave walks into the room.

“Dane, could you please pour me a cup?” he says. He turns, looks at Sal, holds out his hand and says, “Dave Lawrence.”

Sal stands, grabs his hand and says, “Salvatore Agostino.” They shake and then Dave swipes a cup of coffee and sits opposite Sal.

“So tell me, Dane, what have you found out about Christina Saunders?” He looks tired. “

Before we start, Dave, does Kat know anything about her mother?” I ask.

He chuckles and he says, “Yes, Kat knows her mother loved her and left her a beautiful home. She has no idea what that woman was really like.” He sighs and stares at Sal. “How do you fit into all of this?”

Sal looks at me and says, “Is he to be trusted?”

“To a point.”

He nods and says, “I am affiliated with the Abruzzi Family, and we had a deal with Ms. Saunders.”

“Dane, did you ever wonder why Kat or her lawyers never challenged you on the transport business?” asks Dave.

“Kat and I had a conversation about that; she didn’t even know it existed until we met. I offered to give it back to her or even pay her something for it but she said no.” I take a seat at the head of the table and pass Sal his coffee.

Dave nods his head and says, “I didn’t want her to have it, my dear boy. I decided if that woman had something to do with it then I didn’t want my princess anywhere near it and it would appear that I was right.” Dave is fiercely protective of Kat and it doesn’t surprise me that he has kept secrets from her, even if it is about her own mother.

“Yes, as it turns out you were.” The coffee tastes like acid in my mouth as I think about Ms. Saunders, who I thought was my friend. “Dave, do you know anything about her that could be of use to us?”

“She’s been in the transport business for a long time. I know she ran her illegal activities either through them or around them. She was smart, Dane, but I was lucky; she slipped up with me. She assumed that because I am in the music industry I must be around drugs. Apart from the odd bit of fun at parties in my youth,” he pauses and smiles at Sal, “I never got involved. The bands I manage, I try to keep them away from it. I even write it in as a code of conduct into their contracts. So when she approached me and showed her true colors, I never trusted her again and tried like hell to keep Kat away from her.”

I nod and stare at Sal whose gaze is riveted on his cup of coffee. “Thanks, Dave.”

“Is my girl in any trouble? Can anything blow back on her?”

“No, Dave, she’s not involved.”

“Dane, are you involved? Because if you are that means my girl is involved. Tell me how I can help?”

I am sure that in all his years around the music industry Dave has seen his fair share of shit but this is slightly above his pay grade.

“Dave, Dane is right; your girl is not involved. Nothing will blow back on her,” says Sal with no small measure of authority.

“Good. That’s all I needed to hear. Now, I need sleep. Will you both excuse me?” We both nod at him; he stands and begins to walk out of the room. Before he gets too far he stops and says, “I have friends in many circles. If you need anything all you have to do is ask.” He smiles at us then leaves.

“Everyone who is important is out at the barn, including your men.”

Sal nods at me and says, “Good. Before we leave, could you ask Kat to check in on Emily? I don’t want her to wake up and be afraid. She was in a considerable amount of pain and I gave her two painkillers. Her hands are the worst.”

When I think about what could have happened to her, it makes me angry. Kat walks into the kitchen and puts her arms around me.

“How’s Emily?” she asks as she stares at Sal.

“Asleep, she may not wake up for dinner,” he says.

“Kat, do you think you could go and sit with her? We may have to work late and Sal doesn’t want her to wake up and be afraid.” My woman is still mad at me. She thinks I disrespected her back at the Compound and I understand why she would feel that way but it’s not the case. I am used to being in charge and having my men do as they are told. It is rare for someone to question me.

“Of course I can. I’ve got a new book on my kindle so I can sit and read it while she sleeps.”

“Thank you,” says Sal.

“Ain’t nothin’, she’s family,” says Kat with a grin. “I will need sustenance though so I’m taking chips and chocolate with me. Which means tomorrow, my love, you will need to come jogging with me so I can work it all off.” She kisses the top of my head and starts opening cupboards.

I look to Sal who has a smile on his face. “If he won’t go jogging with you tomorrow, Kat, come find me. I could use the exercise.”

She chuckles and comes back to me with chips and chocolate firmly in her grasp. “I’ll hold you to that. Now, the pair of you go and do what you need to do and come back to us.” She bends, gives me the barest of kisses, then pulls back and stares into my eyes. “Don’t be too late.” She clutches my face and kisses me thoroughly, puts her forehead to mine, smiles then heads for the door. She’s forgiven me a little bit but I still have a long way to go.

“Shall we go?” Sal is ready to hit the road and he is right, we should make a move. It’s going to be a long night.