Sweet Vengeance (6 page)

"Why
is that your problem?"  A moment ago, she was sure he had ulterior
motives, but she no longer believed that.  It touched her in an unfamiliar part
of her heart that he seemed to care so much, but it baffled her at the same
time.  "Why me?"

He
reached for her other arm, taking a step closer to her until their bodies were
only inches apart.  She tilted her head up, puzzled by the confusing emotions
he stirred inside her and that he seemed to struggle with himself.  "I
can't explain it.  I know we're strangers.  I know it's not logical, but can't
you just cooperate with me for now?" 

When
he put it like that, how could she argue?  He wanted her safe.  She wanted to
be safe.  He was a big, strong man who wanted to protect her.  It would be
crazy not to let him.  At least for a minute or two.

He
tugged her closer, wrapping his arms around her.  She didn't resist.  It seemed
like the right place to be.  She pressed her cheek against his chest, enjoying
the fresh scent of his black shirt.

"For
some reason, I like you, and I want to make sure you'll be okay."  He
rested his chin on top of her head.  "Maybe you remind me of my
sister." 

She
relaxed in his arms, enjoying the feeling of security.  Violence did strange
things to people.  "Is she the one who died?"

"Yeah." 
He stiffened.  "Her and others.  I don't talk about them much."

"I'm
sorry."  She hugged him back.

"Yeah,
well.  It's in the past."  He pulled away.  "Let's get you
inside." 

He
tried to lead her to the golf cart, but she didn't want anything to do with his
ruthless men.  Besides, she was determined to make her own decisions from now
on.  "I don't want to stay here."

"I
thought you just agreed to let me protect you."

"I
did, sort of.  It's really sweet that you want to take care of me."  She
couldn't tell him it was just as dangerous inside.  "But honestly, I don't
need you to.  I'm capable of taking care of myself." 

"You're
really not listening, are you?"  He huffed out a breath of frustration. 
"Are you so hard-headed that you're incapable of hearing me?"  He
eyed her, making her feel unreasonable.

"No,"
she responded.  He opened his mouth, but she cut him off before he could
continue.  "But you're forgetting the part where I can take care of
myself.  Last night, I wasn't expecting anything to happen."  She paused,
remembering Joey's face when the first car had approached.  He'd known they
were targets.  He'd let her be a target next to him.  The repercussions of what
that meant hurt deep inside.  "Today, I know better."

"You
don't realize what you're up against.  You're in eminent danger.  Those men
aren't kidding around."  He wrapped an arm around her waist and forced her
to walk with him.  She conceded for the moment because it felt nice.  "At
least lie low for a few days, make them think you've left town.  Then we'll see
about getting you home." 

There
was still one problem.  "I can't go back in there."

Jase
seemed to pick up on what she wasn't saying.  "Why?  What happened?" 
He glanced at the entrance to the hideout.  "What did they do?"

"Nothing." 
She tried to mask her emotions, hoping he wouldn't see beyond them.  "They
didn't do anything."

"Damn
it."  Jase's lips thinned into a hard line.  "I'm going to kick their
asses."

Allie
swallowed, unprepared to deal with his anger.  "Really, they didn't do
anything.  They—they just scare me."  She didn't have to say why they
frightened her.

He
took her chin, tilting it toward him.  She looked into his eyes, finding
determination and masculine strength.  The safety he offered called to her. 
"You don't have to worry about them.  I know they're a sorry-looking lot,
but they do what I say, no questions asked."

Allie
raised a brow.  "Are you sure?"  That wasn't how it seemed earlier.

"They
won't cross me." 

He
sounded so sure, and she really wanted to believe him.  Really needed a place
to lie low for a little while.  "You won't leave me alone with them
again?"

"I
promise they won't step foot in the place again while you're here."

"Okay." 
Maybe, if she disappeared for a time, the mob really would think she'd left
town.  If they were serious about finding her, they'd definitely be watching
her aunt's house.  "I'll stay.  For now."

"Good. 
Let’s get you inside.  I’m sure you’re wanting something for the pain that
should be flaring about now."

She
shrugged.  It hurt like a bugger, but she wasn't about to admit it. 
"Maybe an aspirin."

"Nothing
stronger?"  He sent her a questioning look.  "Doc Green left
painkillers for you."

She
shook her head.  No.  She wasn't about to chance hurting her baby again.  This
child would have a hard enough life as it was.

"Okay. 
I guess it's a good thing I bought some Tylenol, then.  Let me know if you
change your mind."  He headed for the golf cart, picking up the steak
knife on the way.  "You might need this."  He handed the knife to
her.

She
raised her eyebrows, and he replied with a smug smile.  She took the knife and
put it back in her sack, ignoring him.

"What
else have you got in there?"  He glanced at her as he sat down and started
the electric motor.

She
climbed in next to him, noticing several plastic sacks full of groceries
secured to the back of the cart.  "Nothing."

His
lips tilted in a genuine smile that charmed the hell out of her.  "Come
on.  Tell me."

She
turned her gaze to the cement tunnel ahead of them.  "Pop-tarts and some
chips."  That sounded so lame.  No wonder he didn't take her seriously.

A
low chuckle came from his direction, and she couldn't resist a glance. 
"Breakfast of champions, I always say."  He smiled.

She
couldn't help it.  She shook her head and smiled, too.  The man was far too
attractive for his...or her own good.

He
hadn't really deserted her, she admitted as they reached the door to the
apartment.  He'd only gone for groceries.  Somehow, knowing that made her feel
a lot better.  She climbed out of the cart and started to unload the bags of
food. 

"I've
got 'em."  He took the one bag she'd lifted from the back and added it to
the others he carried.  "Your arm's not in any shape to be carrying
anything."

"My
other arm's just fine."  She walked ahead and opened the door into the
kitchen.  "And I believe you got shot, too.  Why aren't you taking any
painkillers?"

"Your
hands aren't fine," he said, ignoring her question.  He walked past her
into the house and put the grocery bags on the counter.  "Do you always
argue this much?"

"Do
you?"  She arched a brow, giving him a dose of the attitude that had
earned her a smack in the face from her aunt on more than one occasion.

He
paused and studied her with dark, unreadable eyes.  She swallowed as he closed
the distance between them in two powerful strides. 
Oh, shit
.  What had
she done?  She couldn't tell if he was really mad or not.  Maybe he had a short
fuse.

He
stopped when they stood toe to toe.  He lowered his face until their lips were
just a kiss apart, his eyes boring into hers.  A sexual thrill zinged into her
like nothing Joey had ever sparked.

"Are
you trying to antagonize me?" he whispered.

She
couldn't breathe.  He was so close, and she was more than tempted to reach out
and pull him to her.  She didn't want to think about what had happened to bring
them to that point.  Didn't want to think about the men in the other room.  All
she wanted was to touch him, wanted him to kiss her with those sensuous lips. 
Please.  Just one kiss.

Jase
took a step back from Allie.  What the hell was he thinking?  He headed toward
the counter in the safe house's small kitchen and sought refuge in unpacking
the groceries.  He'd almost kissed her, and kissing her would only make a bad
situation worse.  He scrubbed his face, trying to erase the need to touch her. 
She needed a place to lie low and heal until he could figure out what to do
with her to protect her from the mob.  She didn't need him putting the moves on
her. 

He
shoved a gallon of milk into the fridge and then glanced at her.  She watched
him from the other side of the bar, her eyes wide from their almost-encounter. 
"Can I help you?"

"No,
I got it," he said a little more roughly than was necessary and then felt
guilty.  "Just hang there for a minute."

Another
thing, he needed to find her some bigger T-shirts.  The little white top she
wore showcased every curve of her breasts just a little too well.   

Big,
black, oversized shirts would be good.

This
was a business arrangement.  He needed to remember that.  It was an opportunity
to stick it to the Trasatti family.  That was all.

Her
show of attitude had caught him by surprise.  She sure wasn't the timid waif
she appeared to be.  If he'd been thinking straight, he would have taken the
time to assess the situation before advancing on her.  He'd wanted to put a
little fear into her, gain some respect and hopefully a little distance from
this crazy attraction he felt for her.  His intent had obviously backfired.

He
turned, like the machine he'd trained himself to be and went back to the
counter.  He pulled a loaf of bread out of a bag and then a head of lettuce,
burying his feelings in the mundane task.  He'd have a major problem if he
couldn't keep his hands off her.  He felt the need to constantly hug her, to
hold her close.  Sure, he wanted to comfort her, but more than that, he wanted
her.

Bad. 

The
recognition that she was attracted to him, too, tied his insides in knots.  He
hadn't expected it. 

The
whole thing really pissed him off.  He didn't need this kind of a distraction. 
What he needed was to kick the Trasatti family's ass.

The
heated discussion coming from the other room echoed his thoughts.  His men
wanted to make the mobsters pay for murdering Timmy and Junior.  Their deaths
were an unfortunate turn of events from the previous evening.  And totally
unnecessary.  What they hell had they been thinking, acting without orders? 
Shit.  When would his men learn?

"I
still say we should put her on the street.  Let her earn her keep."  Sal's
voice was bigger than most, and it carried clearly into the kitchen. 

Jase
stopped.  
What the hell
?  He glanced at Allie, and the look on her face
explained it all.  Her fear of his men.  The reason she'd tried to leave the
safe house.  Her reluctance to return.  She must have heard them talking
earlier.   

He
left the remainder of the groceries on the counter.  "Stay here," he
said, recognizing the nervous look on her face.  "I'll be right
back."

The
conversation dropped dead when Jase entered the living room.  He stood in the
doorway, taking a turn, giving each of his men a long, hard look.  Gene
wouldn't hold his stare, but Sal looked at him without flinching.

"What
the hell is going on in here?"  Jase sent Sal a piercing look.

The
overgrown man held his ground.  At six-foot-five and over two hundred fifty
pounds, Sal Salvatore was a force to be reckoned with.  The day Jase had kicked
his ass, they'd become friends.  "You got to consider it, Jase," his
voice boomed.  "You've been looking for a way in.  Maybe you need to look
at something that will bring them out instead."

"Sal..." 
Jase narrowed his eyes, sending him a warning look.  "
I
decide if
and when we make a move."

Sal
shook his head.  "We have as much at stake as you do.  You know us guys,
we all have good reasons for wanting them dead."

"I
know."  That's what brought his men to him and kept them loyal.  "But
I decide."  Nobody wanted those Trasatti bastards dead more than he did,
but he wasn't using Allie to get his revenge. 

The
men shifted where they stood or sat, their gazes moving from Jase to Sal to the
Glock that rested on the table between them.  Idiot Leo and his need to show
off his new weapon.  Their restlessness was palpable, but Jase knew in his gut
this wasn't the way to go about it.

"You're
going to have to be patient.  Allie might bring out Mick or one of the other goons. 
Sure, their deaths will wound the Trasatti organization.  But I'm not looking
for a little blood.  When I strike, I'm going for the jugular.  I want the
whole damn family to crumble."

"When's
that going to happen?"  Mario raised a brow.

Hell,
now even Mario had the balls to question him?  Good old Mario?  The most loyal
guy of the bunch?

Enough
was enough.  Jase strode the rest of the way into the room, fully aware Allie
could hear everything they'd said.  He picked up Leo's gun and then eyed each of
the men around him.  "So, am I to understand you're questioning who's boss
here?  Some of you don't like the way I handle things?"  He raised his
brows at Mario in a challenge before moving to Sal where their gazes clashed.