Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 (42 page)

“I know. I'm sorry. Here.” He placed two pills in her hand. “The doctor gave me these. Take them. They should help. I just need you to hang in there a little bit longer. Can you do that for us?”

Selma reached over the front seat and handed back a bottle of water.

Angelina started to nod but stopped instantly and grimaced. Her fingers moved to her mouth. “I'm going to be sick.”

“I've got something for that, too.” He handed her the antinausea pills. “Just a little longer, Angelina. We're almost there.”

“Where?” Selma stage-whispered from the front seat. “You never did tell me where I'm supposed to be driving.”

“I don't know.” Dylan raised his head and looked out the back window. They'd pulled into an alley when Angelina had lost consciousness. “Have we lost them?”

“I think so.” Bear slid his gun back into his shoulder holster. “I haven't seen anyone for a while now.”

Dylan returned his attention to the woman sprawled on the backseat. “That's it. Slow, deep breaths. Keep your eyes open. Just listen to my voice and blow the breath out slowly. In. Out. There you go.”

He tapped the driver's headrest. “Just drive, Selma. Give us a few minutes to figure this out.”

She nodded and turned the key in the ignition.

Dylan gathered Angelina in his arms. He held her tightly in the confined space in an attempt to steady her as much as possible as Selma pulled out of the alley.

Bear squished himself against the door and window in an attempt to give them space in the cramped quarters.

“I don't see anyone behind us.” Selma and Dylan's eyes met in the rearview mirror. “We've lost them.” Selma slowed the car and merged into normal traffic. “What do you want me to do now?”

“Find a diner or small restaurant. Something off the beaten path while we wait for the text on the location of the safe house. Angelina needs to rest. We need to call this in and all of us need to take a minute to unwind and regroup.”

“Sounds good.” Bear pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. “I'll call it in and find out what's the holdup on the safe house.”

Dylan repositioned Angelina. For a moment when she'd blacked out he had thought he'd lost her. Panic had coursed through his veins. He couldn't afford to lose this witness. If she didn't testify, her father would walk free. That's what it was, worry about his witness.

His hands shook. He almost had to sit on them to refrain from brushing the hair off her face.

What was the matter with him? Why were his insides in a knot and his chest feeling as if he'd just had a major heart attack when he saw her slip into unconsciousness?

She was an important witness. Nothing more. That's all she was.

He looked down at her long lashes wet with tears as she closed her eyes and burrowed in his arms.

Yeah, right. Just a witness.

Who did he think he was kidding?

FIVE

B
ear supported one arm and Dylan the other as the three of them followed Selma into the restaurant. Angelina's feet didn't seem to want to hold her weight. She stumbled and dragged them and was grateful for the men's support. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting, which was much dimmer inside than outside. The establishment had strategically placed candles and amber glowing lanterns to light the pathways and tables. Probably to create an air of romance or intimacy but Angelina didn't care why, she was just happy that glaring sunlight wasn't hitting her eyes and exacerbating the pain in her head. The pills Dylan had given her in the car were beginning to take effect. The pain was manageable. The nausea ceased and the aroma of grilled steaks actually made her stomach growl.

When they stood at the hostess stand in the foyer, the hostess took one look at the two men literally holding Angelina up and then locked gaze with her. Angelina had thrown clothes from Selma's car on over her hospital gown, but it did little to help with her disheveled appearance, bandages and bruises. The hostess's wary demeanor and hesitancy couldn't conceal her curiosity. “Is everything all right?”

Angelina forced a smile on her face. “Everything will be fine as long as those steaks taste as good as they smell.”

Dylan sent her an appreciative smile. He probably didn't feel like making up excuses or explanations for nosy hostesses.

The woman smiled, picked out four menus, silverware wrapped in white linen, and said, “Follow me.”

The four of them slid into a booth, accepted their menus and within minutes had placed their drink orders with the waitress.

When the waitress stepped away, Dylan lowered his menu and looked at Angelina, concern evident in his expression. “How are you holding up? Have the meds helped?”

Angelina started to nod and caught herself in time. Nope. No moving her head if she could help it. Instead she simply smiled. “I'm starving. That's a good sign, right? And since the feds are picking up the tab, I'm going to order the biggest and most expensive steak on the menu.”

Bear chuckled. “Great idea. Sign me up.”

Dylan grinned at both of them. He perused the menu, taking time to make his own meal selection but he didn't fool Angelina. His gaze had located all entries and exits from the moment they'd hit the foyer until they'd been seated. His senses, on high alert, sprang to attention with every person coming anywhere near their table. His gaze noted every new customer walking through the door. At this rate, the poor man would never get anything to eat.

“Dylan, relax.” She smiled at him again but even mere smiles were quickly becoming taxing and tiring. The past twenty-four hours seemed like a nightmare that wouldn't stop.

“She's right, partner. I kept an eagle eye and nobody followed us. We're okay for the moment.”

“I agree.” Selma stood. “I'm going to the ladies' room.” She glanced at Angelina. “Do you need to come?”

Angelina shook her head no and winced.

Selma pulled out her cell phone and looked at Dylan. “I'll step outside and make contact with the boss. They must have the safe house ready by now and I want to see if there have been any new developments on the case.”

Dylan nodded his approval. “What do you want me to order for you?”

Selma gestured with the phone toward Bear. “Half the size of whatever you order for him. You see what large portions cause.”

Bear grumbled and everyone at the table chuckled as Selma left.

The three of them engaged in idle conversation when suddenly Bear stilled. His partner's stoic expression and sudden ramrod posture instantly alerted Dylan to a potential problem.

“What?” He kept his voice low and quickly glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Bear's gaze.

“I know that guy.”

“Who?”

“White hair. Black windbreaker. Just sat down at the bar.”

Dylan dropped his napkin on the floor, bent to pick it up, and used the opportunity to look in the man's direction. When he came back up, his mouth formed a grim frown. “That's Joey Bitters.”

“Yep. Small world isn't it?”

Angelina glanced back and forth between the two men. The tension between them made goose bumps raise on her flesh. “Who is Joey Bitters?”

“He's a low-level thug in your father's organization.” Dylan threw his napkin on the table. “Let's get out of here.”

“Whoa, hold up.” Bear loosened a button on his jacket and slid his hand inside. “Could be a coincidence. We're not that far from the city. People do come to restaurants to eat. Even thugs.”

Dylan's frown deepened, carving deep worry lines into his face. He didn't seem to like this new turn of events, not at all.

“Dylan?” Angelina's heart beat double time. Had they been followed? Was Dylan right? Now that she was back in protective custody, had her father put a contract out on her life?

Dylan didn't respond. Instead, he leaned his left arm over the back of the booth. To an innocent bystander he appeared casual and laid-back. But Angelina noted the way his jacket hung open. Saw his gun nestled in his shoulder harness. Knew in this position he could draw his weapon in an instant.

She had to get out of here.

Frantically her gaze darted around the room in search of the nearest exit. Her mind ping-ponged with one poor scenario after another as she tried to plan her escape. She couldn't let these men be killed while trying to protect her.

She glanced at the other patrons.

And all these innocent people, simply out to dinner with their friends or family members. How could she live with herself if anything happened to any of them?

She placed her hands against the edge of the table and prepared to push and run when Bear's voice caught her attention.

“See? Nothing to worry about.”

Dylan dared another glance in that direction and so did she.

A woman with big hair, bleached blond and piled up like a bad wig, sat down beside the man at the bar. The woman, poured into a dress that left little to the imagination, stretched out an index finger to Mr. Thug's chin and leaned forward giving him a clear look at her cleavage.

“That's Vinnie Salvo's wife. Seems like Joey is dipping his toe in someone else's water. No wonder they're meeting out here in nowhere's land.” Bear removed his hand from his jacket, took a swig of his soda and relaxed. “Nothing to do with us. Let's eat and get out of here.”

Dylan sighed loudly. “I don't like it.”

“I don't, either, but I'm not walking away from a free steak dinner because a nobody thug has the same taste in food as me.”

Angelina watched the pair at the bar. Unless both of them were superb actors, they were so into each other they didn't have eyes for anyone or anything else. Bear was right. Eat and leave. Fast.

Still...

“The safe house is ready.” Selma slid back into the booth. “The boss texted the address to all three of us. Check your phones.”

Dylan and Bear did.

“Tom's River?” Dylan asked.

“Actually, Lanoka Harbor, which is just outside of Tom's River. I took the liberty to do a Google satellite search,” Selma said. “We'll be sitting smack-dab in the middle of an average middle-class neighborhood. No one will think to look for us there.”

“That's not like the boss. He usually picks someplace remote and private.”

The waitress arrived with their food and their conversation was put on hold. When she'd left, Dylan leaned toward Bear and stage-whispered, “Does this feel right to you? First the low-life thug showing up and now a safe house that is anywhere but safe?”

“What thug?” Selma twisted her head to look around the room.

Bear dived into his steak. “Short notice. Boss did the best he could.” Between chews he gestured with his fork in Joey's direction. “And I don't care what you say, that guy over there only has one thing on his mind and it ain't us.”

Angelina listened quietly to the conversation as she ate her food. Despite twinges of nausea, she enjoyed every bite. She hadn't eaten since yesterday's celebratory dinner and she was hungry.

Thoughts about that dinner and everything that had happened since threatened to steal her appetite away but she knew she had to keep up her strength if she was going to be able to go through with her plans. She needed to escape. She needed to save these people...and herself. But how? She could barely walk on her own two feet let alone run.

Angelina shot frequent glances at the two people sitting at the bar. She had to agree with Bear. Whoever that guy was, the only thing that seemed to be on his mind was finishing his drink and getting a room. She doubted he had anything to do with them. Some of the tension left her body. As for the safe house, she was glad it was in a middle-class neighborhood and not a remote, isolated location. It would be easier for her to slip away.

And she would slip away...the very first chance she got.

* * *

Dylan could have been eating shoe leather for all the appeal his dinner had. His gut remained clenched and his senses jumped at every sudden sound or unexpected movement. Not one to believe in coincidences, although he knew they happened to people every day, he had to admit the thug at the bar didn't seem to be an immediate threat.

He was sure there was an arrest warrant out there for the guy but Dylan wasn't concerned with contacting the local police. Dylan had a feeling when Vinnie Salvo discovered his wife was two-timing him with Joey, the consequences would be stiffer than any slap on the wrist the law could impose. Sometimes you just had to sit back and let things happen on their own.

Dylan finished as much of his meal as he could manage and pushed the plate away.

Thank God, Angelina looked better. Taking the medication and getting some food seemed to be doing her a world of good. She had color in her cheeks again. The dark shadows of pain beneath her eyes lightened. He sighed heavily. This was going to be the toughest six days of his life—or five and a half days, now. But he'd do it. He'd keep Angelina safe and he'd get her into the courtroom no matter what.

It was the “what” he'd have to do that worried him.

Selma slid her cell phone across the table toward Angelina. “Does this man look familiar to you?”

Dylan leaned forward for a quick look and shot a questioning glance at Selma.

Angelina picked up the phone and studied the picture. “I'm not sure. Should he?”

This new information grabbed Dylan's attention. What was going on? Who was the person in the picture? Where had Selma gotten it? And why hadn't she shared it with him or Bear prior to showing it to a witness?

“His name is Frankie Malone.” Selma folded her hands on the table and waited.

Angelina studied the photo harder. “Yeah. Now I remember.” She glanced up at Selma. “Maria dated him. I only met him once so that's why I didn't recognize him right away.”

“What can you tell us about him?”

Angelina thought for a moment. “Not much, I'm afraid. She dated him for a few months. Talked about him all the time but, truthfully, nothing special or specific. Things like how handsome he was...or how thoughtful...or how hot.” Angelina grinned at the memory. “She was crazy about the guy.”

“Nothing else?” Selma stared hard at her. “And you only met him the one time? Even though Maria was your best friend and she was crazy about him?” Selma shrugged. “Your words, right?”

“What's going on?” Dylan pierced Selma with a look but she ignored him.

“Nothing. I'm just wondering why our witness doesn't know more about her best friend's special guy. After all, you roomed together. You'd think you had to be home once in a while when the guy came to pick her up for a date.”

“I don't know why I didn't see more of him.” Angelina shrugged. “I guess I was preoccupied with our advertising agency and wasn't paying much attention to Maria's private life. He never came inside the apartment. He'd always pull the car up front, beep, and she'd go out.”

“Didn't you find that behavior strange for such a ‘great' guy?”

“Like I said, I didn't think about it at all.” Angelina squirmed under Selma's intense scrutiny. “Besides the relationship didn't last long, anyway.”

“What happened?”

“I don't know. Once things started to sour, Maria kept pretty quiet. She didn't want to talk about it and I respected her privacy. They stopped seeing each other about three or four weeks ago. Broke Maria's heart but she was working her way through it. The advertising contract we got the other night made her happier than I'd seen her in weeks.”

Angelina slid the phone back to Selma. “Why are you asking about Frankie?”

All eyes at the table focused on Selma.

“Because it's beginning to look like he might have been responsible for killing Maria.”

Bear choked and almost spit out his mouthful of coffee. He swallowed hard and then said, “What? Who says so? When did all of this happen?”

“Frankie killed Maria?” Angelina's eyes widened like a deer in headlights. “Do you mean I wasn't the target? That Frankie was after Maria? That my dad hasn't put out a contract on me?”

“Wait a minute. What's going on?” Dylan grabbed the phone from Selma, took a long hard look at the photo and then handed it back. “Explain, Selma. And make it good.”

Selma tucked the phone in her purse. “When I checked in with the boss a few minutes ago about the safe house, he sent me this picture and told me to show it to Angelina and see what I could find out. Seems they have a witness who saw this man running away from the area beneath the pier.”

“Nice of you to tell us.” Dylan's tone left no doubt he was annoyed to be getting this information after the fact.

“Sorry, Dylan. I received it only a few minutes ago.” Selma looked at Angelina. “I didn't want to show it to you in front of her. I wanted to catch her off guard and get an honest reaction to the picture.”