Sweet Vengeance (31 page)

"What?" 
Joey had recorded a huge mob boss committing murder?  Allie couldn't believe
he'd have had the guts.  Or been so stupid.  "How did he manage to get
anywhere near a meeting between Winslow and Franco Trasatti?"

"That's
easy."  Cates sipped his coffee and made a face.  He pushed the cup away. 
"Joey was friends with his grandson."

Allie
nodded.  "You're right.  He was one of Joey's boys."  She should have
known Joey couldn't get that close to organized crime without getting sucked
in.  "I should have seen that coming."  She sighed.  "I was so
young...we both were."

"Rumor
was Joey and Benny were in the warehouse when the confrontation took place. 
Buzzer said Trasatti arranged the meeting, hoping to buy off Winslow.  But
Winslow would have none of it.  He showed up to the meeting to prove he wasn't
afraid of their organization.  He'd promised Trasatti he'd bring him down, showed
Trasatti some kind of evidence against the family, and
pop
."  Cates
smacked his lips like he was giving the kiss of death.  "Winslow's dead. 
Evidence disappears.  Next thing you know, Joey's dead, too."

"So
they killed Joey because he recorded the conversation?"  That made sense.

"It
gets better."  Cates' eyes glimmered with excitement, and Allie could tell
this was a case he'd become obsessed with.  "It's been said Joey tried to
blackmail Trasatti with the recording.  Thought he'd pull a fast one on the old
man."

Allie's
heart cringed.  "He'd always been cocky.  I just never thought he'd be so
stupid."  That was probably what he'd meant when he'd said if things went
the way he'd planned, he wouldn't have to worry about going to school.  She
wanted to cry for him all over again for his stupid, naïve courage.

"Here's
where it gets murky.  Now Joey's dead, and there's a few holes in my theory. 
First off, I don't suppose you know where the recording is?"

Allie
shook her head.  "He never mentioned it.  I had absolutely no idea he'd
done something so crazy."

Cates
picked up his pen and tapped it.  "I figured as much.  Without the
recording or Joey's testimony, we can't pin the murders on Trasatti."

"You're
sure the Trasatti family didn't find the recording?"

He
threw the question back to her.  "You tell me.  You were the last one who
saw Joey alive."

"If
I had to guess, I'd say Joey had it somewhere.  He was nervous that night, kept
saying something like, 'if he gave them what they wanted, then everything would
be okay'.  Could very well have been the recording."

Cates
gave her a quick nod.  "More than likely."

Wow. 
She did a quick mental review of everything she'd just learned.  Unbelievable. 
"We have to find that recording."  It was the key to her freedom.  She'd
be free from constantly worrying the Trasatti family would catch up to her. 
Jase would be free from his violent past.  It would give them both a chance for
a real future, even if it wasn't a future together.   

"Yep." 
Years of trying to do just that showed on Cates' face.  "And I'm hoping
you're the key to solving it all."

She
rubbed her fingers over her temples.  "I don't know.  He obviously didn't
tell me much."  Then a piece of the puzzle clicked into place. 
"Except—" 

She
glanced at Cates.  "I think I can say for almost certain they didn't find
what they were looking for."

Cates'
eyebrows shot upward.  "Why?"

"They
were relentless in their pursuit of me.  They must have thought I had the
recording."

"I
think you're right."  Cates shoved back from his desk with a tired sigh. 
"I think we both need a break.  We've gone over a lot of information, and
we need some time to let it gel.  See what we come up with.  See what memories
we've stirred up in your brain.  I can have an officer drive you back to your
hotel, if you'd like."

Allie
stood.  "No.  I think I'd like to walk for a bit.  Clear my head.  Maybe
something else will fall into place."

Cates
smiled.  "That's what I'm hoping for."

*       
*        *

Allie
walked out of the precinct, her thoughts caught up in the information she'd
received from Cates.  A brisk wind had picked up during the hours she'd been
inside, and dark clouds rolled across the late September sky, promising more
rain.  But the air was fresh, and it felt good to be up and moving.

She
stepped around a man who'd stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, caught up in
his phone conversation.  At least now she knew why the Trasatti organization
had wanted her so badly.  She'd originally thought they'd wanted her dead, but
maybe they'd intended to question her first—she swallowed—maybe even torture
her to get information on Joey's recording.  She blew out a breath.  Thank God
they'd never found her.

A
gust of wind swirled around her, and she wished she'd brought a coat.  It had
been so nice that morning that she'd skipped it.

Where
would Jase be right now, she wondered, as she continued toward her hotel.  She
knew he had his spies out on the streets.  Would he know she'd spent the
morning at the police station?  Probably.  What would he think of the
information she'd just received?  Or was he already aware there was likely a
missing recording of Winslow's murder?

If
he tracked her half as well in Chicago as he had in California, he or his men
would be somewhere nearby.  Being out alone on the streets might be enough bait
to reel him in.  But did she really want to see him after what had taken place
the previous night?

She
sighed.  Maybe. 

Okay,
she did want to see him.  The years apart hadn't diminished her attraction to
him one bit, and even if she was smart enough now to not get personally
entangled with a known vigilante, she'd missed seeing his face, missed hearing
his voice.  And now she had information that could possibly assist him.

If
nothing else, she wanted to help the man who'd given her so much.  Too much. 
Maybe that was why she was so drawn to him.  If she could somehow repay him,
she wouldn't feel so indebted and maybe then she could leave the past in the
past.

She
wrapped her arms around her to ward off a chill.  Where would Joey hide a
recorder?  She was pretty sure it wouldn't be at his mother's house.  Surely
Benny would have found a way to check there years ago.  So where?

Without
warning, someone grabbed her elbow and pushed her toward the curb.  Terror
ripped through her as she stumbled forward.  Then her training kicked in.  She
jerked out of his grasp and had his arm bent at an awkward angle behind his
back before he could react.  She struggled to hold her position. 

The
tall, blond man cursed. 

"I'm
a cop, and I'm packing, so don't mess with me."  She jacked his elbow a
little higher.  "Who sent you?"

"Mr.
Tyler wants to speak to you," he said, between gritted teeth.

Allie
swiveled her gaze around just as a long black limousine pulled to the curb.  A
door opened, and she could see Jase sitting inside.  She released a breath
laced with adrenaline and shoved the blond man away from her.  "Couldn't
you have asked nicely?"

She
stalked to the car, more than a little angry, and climbed inside.  The blond
man recovered enough to shut the door, and the car pulled away from the curb.

She
focused on Jase who sat in the opposite corner, wearing dark sunglasses and
looking sexier than a man had a right to.  She ignored the instant spark of
attraction.  "It took you long enough."  She allowed herself a second
to appreciate the beautiful black leather interior of his vehicle, before she
gave her anger full reins again.

"Why
are you still in Chicago?"  The deep timbre of his voice made her heart
pound faster, and she absolutely refused to acknowledge how nicely his muscles
looked under the dark blue T-shirt he wore. 

"I
don't answer to you."  And she didn't.  She only answered to herself.

"You
need to go home before you get hurt."

"In
case you haven't noticed, I'm all grown up now.  I'm perfectly capable of
making my own decisions
and
taking care of myself."

Rain
began to pound on the sunroof as they faced off in a silent war of wills.  She
refused to look away, and he obviously had no intention of backing down. 

She'd
thought she'd won when he broke their visual connection, but he turned and
pushed the intercom button.  "Mario, take us to the airport."

She
gasped.  "You can't force me on a plane."  Not a chance.  He had no
right to keep interfering in her life.  "And even if you could, what's
going to stop me from turning around and coming back?  Are you going to lock me
in my room, too?  Ground me for life?"

The
car stopped at an intersection.  Before Jase could answer her, Allie unlocked
the door and climbed out.  She did not need this kind of harassment.  She
hurried across two lanes of traffic before the light turned green.  Hard
droplets of water pelted her.  He could go to hell for all she cared. 

She
stepped up on the curb and turned to glance at Jase's car just as a delivery van
cruised past.  A wall of muddy water washed over her, and she sucked in a
surprised breath.  No.  That did not just happen.  She wiped her face as best
she could, but she had just as much grit on her hands as on her face. 

She
should never have come back to Chicago.

Then
Jase was there.  He grabbed her arm, making her wobble in her heels.  She tried
to jerk away, but he was too strong.  "Let me go," she said, just as
angry with him as she was with the driver who'd splashed her.

"Are
you okay?  I can't believe that jerk."

"I'm
fine."  Except for the grit in her mouth.  "Now, let me go."

He
searched her face as though ensuring her well-being.  "No.  Not until you
see reason."  Fat drops of water landed on his cheeks, but he didn't seem
to notice.

She
tried to yank her arm free again, but her actions only made him hold on
tighter.  The rain continued to assault her, creating a river that cascaded
down the back of her neck, over her collarbone and between her breasts.  At
this point, what was a little more water?  "The only thing I want to hear,
is why you won't stay out of my life." 

"I
would if you'd go home."

"No,
you won't."  She reached up and ripped the sunglasses off his face,
annoyed that she couldn't see his expression.  His gaze instantly captured hers,
and her traitorous heart warmed.  "There's no sun out," she said,
trying to rekindle her anger.  She knew her actions and statement were
pointless, but she didn't know what else to say.  Truth was, she was right
where she wanted to be—inches from the man who made her heart stop with just a
glance.  Who cared about the Trasatti family?  Who cared if Cates' men were
watching?  Who cared that the rain poured down all around them?  It only served
to narrow the focus of her world even more.

"Allie." 
He eased the hold on her arm and reached up to touch her face, wiping away some
of the water and pushing her soaked bangs out of her eyes.  His tender gesture
ripped down her walls.  "Please listen to me.  I'm only trying to protect
you.  It would kill me if they hurt you."

"Why?" 
That was the damn question that plagued her so much.  "You don't want me
around.  Why does it matter what happens to me?"  God, was that really why
she was in Chicago?  To see if there might be a shred of hope that he was still
attracted to her?

"When
my family was slaughtered, I made a promise over their graves to do everything
I could to make sure the Trasatti family never killed another person.  Not if I
could prevent it."

So,
that's all she meant?  A promise to his family?  She'd wanted to be so much
more to him.  She quickly shored up her emotional wall as best she could. 
"I'll go home when you stop sending money."  She blinked, trying to keep
the water out of her eyes.

Thunder
rumbled through the air, and Jase looked up to the sky.  "You're already
soaked.  Can we please talk about this in the car?"

Allie
was surprised to see the limo waiting at the curb just ahead of them. 
"Only if you promise not to try to force me on an airplane."

Jase
sighed in frustration.  "Fine.  For now."

He
walked her to the car and sat next to her on the seat as the driver pulled into
traffic.  She shivered.  The heat in her blood had faded away, leaving her
cold.  Splotches of mud covered her legs and skirt.  Her beautiful new shoes
were most likely ruined.

Jase
put an arm around her, and she stiffened.  He was too close.  She couldn't
think with him touching her.  He pushed an intercom button on the panel next to
him.  "Take us home, Mario."

Allie
swallowed.  He was taking her home.  Again.  To his lair.  To the place she'd
be most vulnerable.  "What about my hotel?  I need fresh clothes." 

"You're
shivering.  My place is closer, and I'll arrange for some clothes."  He
tightened his embrace, warming her.