Protected by Shadows (31 page)

Lexy wasn’t sure the woman didn’t truly know the answer to that. The fact she knew about Jaydee and Gio surprised her. “Not that long.”

Mrs Maybelle was silent for a few seconds. “How’d you get him to come down here?”

“Told him I was coming.”

“And you knew he wouldn’t let you go alone.” She nodded. “Smart woman. You’re good for him.”

Lexy wasn’t too positive about that, but she wasn’t going to air that out in public to a woman she barely knew. So she smiled instead.

* * * *

Lexy sat in the large kitchen at the table and snapped green beans as Mrs Maybelle sliced peaches and apples. The guys had been gone for a few hours now and there wasn’t any lack of conversation in the house. Mrs Maybelle had been keeping up a steady stream from the get-go.

“He come to say goodbye to his boy?”

Mrs Maybelle’s question surprised her and she nearly dropped the beans in her hand.

Knowing eyes met hers. “Please, chile. I look at him like one o’ mah own. As if I’d raised him with Beauregard. His pain affected all of us when he came and buried his son. He did it all. Dug the hole, built the casket and put it in the ground. Then covered him up again. One of the worst days here. He refused to allow anyone to help him.” She clucked her tongue. “I had a headstone made, but he’s not been back since to see.”

Lexy stared out of the large window past the numerous herbs growing in pots arranged on the shelf. There was no sign of Val or Beauregard and she briefly wondered where he—they—were.

“I felt it time.”

Mrs Maybelle paused in her peach slicing and pierced her with sharp green eyes.

“You take care with his heart. That boy is special to me and the members of this family. You understand?”

Lexy nodded. “Yes, Mrs Maybelle.”

“Good.”

Maybelle finished the peaches and went on to the apples. Lexy got back to the large colander of green beans.

Valentino and Beauregard entered after the pies had been put in the oven and Lexy was doing the dishes. She paused and peered over her shoulder at the duo. Dirty with faint remnants of blood on each. She quirked a brow.

“I installed a dishwasher so you wouldn’t have to do dishes, Mrs Maybelle.”

“Don’t sass me, Beauregard. I know what’s in my kitchen.”

Lexy turned back to the sink and allowed the smile to lift her lips.

“Watch yourself there, missy, wipe that smile from your face.”

She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “Sorry, Mrs Maybelle.”

“Uppity youngsters. Supper in one hour.”

“Love you, Grams.”

Lexy peeked back over her shoulder and saw Beauregard kiss her and dance away from her playful smack.

“Ain’ too old, Beauregard. You remember that. You ain’ too old.”

Lexy had to work really hard to hide her smile. She truly liked his grandmother.

Chapter Eighteen

Valentino leaned against one of the porch pillars and watched Lexy. She was in the backyard, barefoot and catching lightning bugs. Her laugh was robust and hardy.

He wanted to go down there with her. Have her teach him to be so carefree. His feet wouldn’t move and he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

When she noticed him, she released the ones in her hand and made her way up to his side.

“Enjoying yourself?”

“I am. How are you doing? I see you’ve a bit of a shiner.”

Valentino shrugged. “So has he.”

“I know. He asked me to doctor him.”

“What?” Valentino rumbled.
This time I break him.

“Relax. I told him I wasn’t good with humans and didn’t have a good bedside manner with them. He’d be better off with another doc.”

“I got off the phone with Masters and he said your brother is doing fine.”

“Thank you. You know, for checking and letting me know about it daily.”

She seemed nervous to him and he reached out to stroke her cheek. “He’s your brother. You want to know.” He lowered his hand, immediately missing the softness of her skin beneath his fingers.

Lexy moved around him and lifted herself up to sit on the top rail. Their arms brushed against one another. From inside the house, Mrs Maybelle’s music filtered out to them. Classical, strong on the violin. It was a nice piece but one he couldn’t pull up the name for at this time.

“Will you do something for me?” she asked him in a quiet voice.

“What?” Suspicion immediately flared within him.

“Agree.”

“Tell me what it is first.”

“No, you have to trust me enough to know it won’t be anything insane.”

The music changed inside and this piece he did know.
Nessun Dorma
, a favorite of his mother’s.

“Okay.” His acquiescence shocked him as well as the woman next to him, he knew that by her look. “What is it you want, Lexy?”

She slipped silently off the rail and took his hand. “Dance with me.”

“What?”

She tugged on his hand until he followed her down to the grass. “Dance. You’ve done it before, is it suddenly a hardship?”

“No,” he whispered.

Valentino gathered her near and closed his eyes. As the strands of music floated down around them, they began to move slowly, wrapped in their own secluded world of a soft breeze, lightning bugs and powerful music. They stayed that way for a few of the other pieces that played after.

Lexy was the one who pulled away. “Thank you. I’m going to bed.” She stepped by him, her hand lingering on his chest.

“I’ll be right in.”

The screen door closed gently behind her and he started back up the steps only to pause. “How long you been lurking there?”

Beauregard stepped from the corner. “I didn’t want to interrupt.” He made his way to the top step and sat. “I have to tell you, I like her.”

Valentino took the bottom step. “Apparently. And if you ask her to play doc with you again, you’re going to need a plastic surgeon by the time I get through with you.”

He stretched out his legs and looked up at the sky. It wasn’t anything he did where his apartment was—that was in a city where neon lights ran all night long. One didn’t see the stars there. Perhaps one or two on a rare occasion.

“Just asking, man. Our local doc is old enough to be Mrs Maybelle’s grandpa and has one tooth in his head. Thought it might be nice to have a good-looking doc check me over.”

“Leave my wife out of your perverse desires.”

Beauregard chuckled and moved his foot, the heel from his cowboy boot hitting the next step. “How long you planning on staying?”

“Leaving tomorrow.”

“Are you going to go see him?”

Pain tightened Valentino’s chest. “Yes.”

“Good for you.” Beauregard stood. “It’s time for you to do so. I know you told Lexy you’d be in in a minute, but if you can come look at something first, I’d be much obliged.”

He pushed to his feet and followed his friend into the house. Mrs Maybelle wasn’t anywhere around and the music still played softly. Beauregard stopped at the door to the den before continuing in.

A computer had been set up and Valentino stared at the screen. A map of the United States. A few dots on it, mostly in Virginia.

“What’s this?”

“Ethan’s cell before he was taken. There was a spike yesterday when someone put the battery back in. It bounced off a few towers in Montana. Not that it’s a small area to search, but I’m thinking it’s a start.”

“Wouldn’t it be more logical that his phone was stolen?”

“I don’t know what to think anymore, Valentino. It’s going to kill his parents and Grams if something has happened to him. I have to find him before they really start to get worried.”

“I have some contacts up that way, let me call in some favors and have them check around.”

“Thank you. I called Masters, but he said it wasn’t on long enough to pinpoint where he was.”

Beauregard sat there making a fist with one hand and in that moment, Valentino almost felt sorry for the ones responsible for Ethan’s disappearance. Beauregard had a short fuse and an explosive temper when it came to dealing with family. One simply didn’t mess with the Jackson family.

“We’ll find him, Beau. One way or another, we
will
.”

Beauregard rubbed his forehead and slumped a bit more in his chair. “Yes.” He tipped his head up and grinned. “Go on, man. Don’t keep that wife of yours waiting any longer than necessary. Unless you’d like me to take it for you tonight.”

“Don’t make me really hurt you, Beau. G’nite, man.”

“Later.”

Valentino left him there and walked through the house to the guest room where they were staying. Letting himself in the room, he saw she’d left a light on for him. Lexy was sound asleep. He got ready for bed as quickly as he could and slipped beneath the sheet to join her. He drew her to him and smiled when she didn’t fight. She curved into him, her sleep not even interrupted.

* * * *

“Do you want me to wait here?”

Valentino peered over his shoulder to where Lexy hung back by the truck. The flowers in his hand shook in time with his nerves.

“No.”

She didn’t move and he knew she was gauging his words. With a slight nod, she stepped forward and drew even with him. Her simple black dress honored him. When he began to walk, she moved with him but didn’t touch him.

They walked through the Jackson family burial plot to a place near the back. Tears sprang to his eyes as he saw for the first time the granite headstone which adorned his son’s grave.

Marco

Beloved Son

Taken From Us Far Too Soon And Placed Among The Stars And Angels.

He sank to his knees before the grave marker and reached out to touch the cold stone. There were some engravings, but he didn’t look. A deep shudder ripped through him and the tears began.

All the pain he’d experienced the night he’d lost Marco swarmed over him again. The devastation, hurt and agony tore through him. He moved closer and rested his head upon the tombstone then wrapped his hand around it.

I’m so sorry, Marco. Sorry I couldn’t do more to save you. Sorry I let you down. I will always love you, my son.

When the tears wouldn’t fall any longer, he pushed back and looked around. The sun had changed position and he realized he’d been there for hours. Over his left shoulder, he spied Lexy standing there, hands clasped before her. She gave him a small smile.

“I’m sorry,” he began.

“Don’t you dare apologize to me, Valentino Cassano. You needed to do this. Take all the time you need. It’s not something you can rush.”

Returning his attention to the grave, he did a quick touch-up—there wasn’t much to do, Mrs Maybelle did a great job with upkeep. Then he placed the flowers against the headstone. He stood and bent to place a kiss there before he wiped his eyes.

“Let’s go,” he said, pivoting around.

He took Lexy’s hand and they walked in silence back to his truck. He helped her into the seat and made her look at him.

The sorrow in her gaze was too powerful for him to withstand. She laid a hand along his cheek and gave a shaky smile. Dipping his head, he brushed his lips along the top of her head. They returned to Mrs Maybelle’s house, had lunch and took to the road after.

Lexy had changed into jeans and a lightweight three-quarter-length T-shirt. They were driving along 58 after having stopped for a meal when he noticed the headlights in his rear view. Flicking his glance between the speedometer and the trailing car, he frowned.

He wasn’t speeding, but the vehicle was keeping a perfect distance behind him. Too far to see the plate yet close enough to keep them in sight. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he pressed the accelerator. The truck responded smoothly.

Lexy rearranged herself so she faced him more. “Everything okay?”

“Sure.”

“Want me to drive the rest of the way?”

The vehicle behind them sped up as well. They had a tail for sure. “No. I’m fine.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone to send a message. There was nothing more he could do right now. Once he made it to the next small town, he could, but out here they were on their own. There wasn’t even any oncoming traffic.

The lights blinded him—and he knew they’d intended it to be so—and he slammed on his brakes.

“Get down!” he hollered to Lexy.

The truck fishtailed, tires scrambling for purchase. He knew this procedure—have cars all across the road, leaving the ditch as the only way to go. And he planned on using it. Instead of fighting to get back on the asphalt, he jerked hard on the wheel and put them off the road.

Lexy screamed as the first shots rang out but then fell silent. “Stay down, Lexy!”

“Give me your Glock!”

Her fingers were digging into the back of his pants before the words faded. He ducked as the back window shattered, spilling a few shards of glass over them that didn’t hit the backseat. Behind them, vehicles squealed as they whipped around and started the chase. Lexy fired at them.