Twist of Fate (23 page)

Kate put the finishing touches on her hair, adding a pair of diamond and emerald earrings to compliment the green satin cocktail dress. Dante had stayed out the night before and had not yet returned home to prepare for dinner with Carlo and Dina Santini. Kate’s stomach had been in knots all day. She’d tried to call his cell several times, but he never answered or returned her messages.

“Daddy!” She heard Hope call from downstairs. Adjusting the top to her strapless dress, she slipped her feet into ivory leather platform pumps and ventured to greet him.

“How is my princess?” Dante scooped Hope in his arms when Katrina reached the bottom step. “Look how beautiful Mommy looks tonight.” Dante kissed the tip of Hope’s nose and set her back on the floor.

“Thank you,” Kate replied, feeling embarrassed by his compliment. “Hope, go finish your dinner with Mrs. Jones. And don’t forget to be a good girl at bedtime.”

“I will, Mommy.” Hope disappeared into the kitchen.

“You really do look delicious tonight.” Dante’s voice seemed husky, and he took a step closer.

“Where have you been?” Her question was direct and snapped him out of his daze.

“It doesn’t matter, I’m home now.”

“Sure, thirty minutes before we have to leave for dinner. And it does matter, damn it. I tried to call. I didn’t know where you were.”

“Did you worry about me, Trina?” He paused, and she was so full of anger she couldn’t answer. “See, you do care.” He caressed her cheek with his hand as he passed by to go upstairs.

“Have you been drinking? Answer me, Dante, where were you?” She followed him to the base of the stairs but refused to go further as he continued to climb.

“Sealing a deal, nothing more.”

Dante returned fifteen minutes later, showered, freshly shaven and wearing his black on black pinstripe suit. The spicy scent of his cologne drifted through the foyer, and Kate remembered his devilishly handsome countenance as her dark man when she was living with Sam. The wound was still fresh, and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t stop the memories of her time with Sam. These men were so different, and the one who held her heart was the one she could never have. With a cleansing breath, she stepped into the gilded elevator with Dante, riding it to the underground garage where he kept his SUV.

They rode in silence for a while before Kate found the nerve to speak. If Dante sealed a deal, then who was it with? Was it the deal with Rico or someone else? He was taking great strides to separate himself from Carlo. She didn’t want it ruined by someone in her company dealing drugs.

“Who was your deal with?” Kate turned in her seat, but Dante kept his eyes on the road.

“No one you know. Why do you ask? You have never cared about my business dealings before.”

“Rico stopp
ed by the warehouse yesterday.”

“Ah, Rico.” Dante smiled. “We are working on something special.”

“He hinted to that fact.” Kate didn’t say more, hoping Dante would elaborate. When he remained silent, she pushed further. “He seemed very pleased to be working with you, privately.”

“Mmm. What else did he say?” Kate could still make out the tipped up corners of Dante’s mouth.

“Not much else, really. Something about a surprise.” Kate raised her brows in expectation, but he still kept quiet. “I don’t want to ruin our evening, but there’s something I have to tell you.”

“About Rico?”

“No, something that is going on at the warehouse. One of the girls was taking a rack of dresses to the dock, and one of them had what I think was cocaine sewn into the hemline. Dante, someone is using my company as a front to smuggle drugs.”

“Are you sure?” He seemed surprise by her statement.

“I’m pretty sure, but I don’t want to get the police involved until we find out more. I have too many employees to have someone wrongly accused.”

“Smart idea. I will have some of my men look into it and see what they can come up with.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“You have worked too hard to have someone’s carelessness be your downfall.”

***

Dante tried to keep his eye on the road ahead, but his mind kept returning to what Katrina had said. He never intended for her to find out about the cocaine shipments. Heads were going to roll once he learned who slipped up. With the increase in clientele from Rico, Dante had been forced to encourage Francesca to hire new people. Everything had been running smoothly until now. Kate said the dresses were to ship to
Panama
, which was Carlo’s new contacts. Great, they would be short and he would have to answer to Carlo. No worry, the fools in sewing and shipping were dispensable. It would be their life not his.

In the meantime, he would be the rock Katrina would need to get through this. She seemed comfortable with him tonight, and that made him happy. Regardless of the cocaine she’d found, apparently her first day back to work had done much to change her focus. If they could get through dinner tonight and stay on track, Sam Hackett and his escapades would become a memory and nothing more. Dante was prepared to remove the man from their lives for good if he had to, but only as a last resort.

“Are you ready?” He put the Hummer in park.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” Kate replied, and he rushed to open her door.

He placed his hand at the small of her back as they entered Carlo’s expansive Italian-inspired villa on the outskirts of the city. Dante had always met Carlo at the Black Opal, never at his residence. This was an honor he planned to take full advantage of.

Tonight would be about smoothing things over from Kate’s disappearance, and convincing the elder that Dante should be his right hand from here out. Once everything was in place, Dante would work with Rico and his people to overthrow Carlo and take over completely. Rico believed in him, and Dante hoped that with the changes he was seeing in Katrina tonight, that she would, too.

“How nice to see you, Dante.” Dina Santini kissed his cheek and moved to do the same to Kate. “How lovely you look this evening, dear, do come in.”

There was not a hair out of place with Dina’s platinum blond bob tucked neatly behind her ears. She wore a soft turquoise pantsuit which accented her slender, matronly figure and deep tan from her many weeks in
Rio
. Dina was the social one in their marriage, and Carlo happily paid her way to anywhere she wanted to go. Dante wanted more from his marriage with Kate. Soon they would be equal partners and he would include her in all decisions, although he still planned to keep the cocaine a secret.

“You have a lovely home,” Kate said as she walked beside Dina to their spacious patio.

“Thank you. Carlo loves the European influences so I shop abroad all the time. It gives me something to do since Carlo works so much and leaves me alone all the time.”

“Now Dina, don’t play games. You know I accompany you when I can and give you plenty of spending money when I can’t.” Everyone laughed and Dina signaled a passing wait staff, whispering something then dismissing the woman with a flick of her wrist.

“We will dine outside tonight if you all don’t mind. The view of the city is just gorgeous from atop the hills,” Dina said, motioning to the large iron and glass table.

“This will be wonderful. Thank you again for having us,” Kate replied, taking a seat next to their hostess.

So far Dante was amazed with his wife’s behavior. If she kept this up, tonight would be easier than he’d planned. After their original discussion, he thought for sure Kate would fight him every step of the way. Something must have happened to change her mind. He wasn’t sure what exactly, but he was thankful.

Dinner consisted of small talk ranging from Dina’s trips and decorating such a massive home to their vacations and Carlo’s long hours. Dante made sure he kept the tone light and showed affection to Katrina every chance he had. Tonight they were the perfect couple. He wanted more than anything for this union to continue, but with Katrina he couldn’t be sure. This change happened almost too sudden. He’d learned from Carlo not to be so trusting, especially in the realm of love.

“Come, let’s retire down by the garden fountain. I will have
Devon
bring ice wine and scotch.” Performing her hostess duties to the maximum, Dina delegated orders to the petite redhead in a maids uniform and led the way to a lush garden with a humongous marble fountain of two dolphins jumping. They took their seats at a small bistro table, and the men lit their cigars.

“Katrina, what is it exactly that took you away from your husband for so long?” Carlo blew a stream of smoke and leveled his eyes on Katrina. She shot Dante a discreet look for help.

“I told you, we had an argument and she left to stay with friends and make me miserable,” Dante stated, making a move to stand by Kate until Carlo put up a hand.

“I was asking your wife. I’d like her to explain.”

“It’s exactly as Dante told you. He made me angry, and I walked out. I wouldn’t come home until he came crawling back with an apology.”

“Such a pretty liar, I don’t believe you.”

“Believe her, Carlo.” The hairs on Dante’s neck quivered a warning. So much for the night being easy. If Carlo wanted a fight, then a fight is what he would get.  “She has no reason to lie to you.”

“Then maybe it is you who is the liar?”

“Carlo, must you?” Dina interrupted.

“Drink your wine, Dina, this does not concern you,” he ordered his wife, and she obediently placed her blush painted lips on her glass.

“Let me rephrase my question, Katrina.” Carlo fixed his gaze back on Kate. “What is it you and your husband were arguing about?”

Dante watched as Kate slowly set her glass on the table, never breaking Carlo’s stare. He feared she was a bomb ready to explode, not caring which direction she went off. She knew the rules, knew what was expected tonight. Katrina stood as tall and elegant as Dina, her heels clipped across the stone patio as she made her way to stand defensively with Dante.

“If you must know, we argued about you. I don’t approve of you and your business practices which keep my husband out all hours of the night. He knows, and now you do as well.” Dante felt her hand slip into his, and he closed around it.

“You question my business practices when they put food and more on your table?” Carlo laughed and Dante bristled. “Apparently that is not enough for you if you must find satisfaction with another man.”

Kate gasped and Dante growled, “Enough! What goes on between me and my wife is not part of the deal, Carlo.”

“Oh, but it is when it affects my profits. Maybe your trip to
Milan
will be just what you need to retrain your wife in the art of being submissive…like my Dina over there.” Carlo pointed to the bistro table where Dina sat, seemingly oblivious, as she poured another glass of ice wine.

“
Milan
?” Kate questioned, the shock registering on her face along with something he dared to think was…happiness?

“Yes. We leave in a week, all of us.” His tone was flat, and he continued to keep his arm around Kate and his eyes fixed on Carlo.

“Submission, Dante, remember that. I told you to rein her in, and I meant it. Nothing can go wrong, or it will be on your hands. I need you to have control of her.”

“And I told you, Katrina is not your concern. She doesn’t need controlling. Unlike you and Dina, we are equal partners.” Dante pulled Kate close. “I believe it’s time to leave. Thank you for dinner.” He tipped his head toward Dina, and they exited the patio.

Dante sped back toward the city, eager to leave the confrontation with Carlo behind. There had been no reason for him to bring up Sam Hackett. Dante had never told him, which meant someone was giving information to Carlo. One of his trusted men was playing both sides and that irked him. He wondered if it were the same person who slipped up with the cocaine? And if that was the case, then they knew of his dealings with Rico, too, which meant Dante needed to watch his back until everything went down.

“You defended me in there,” Kate’s surprised voice filtered through his thoughts.

“Of course.” He glanced over to her then back at the road. “I didn’t like what he was implying. I am in charge of my family.” Dante caught the edginess in his voice and stopped to calm down. “I would never let anything happen to you or our daughter.”

“I’m actually starting to believe that,” she said, again sounding surprised.

Dante wasn’t sure what that meant, but the indestructible feeling it gave him was enough to see him through. He would move mountains if it meant his family would stay together. This was far from how he wanted the evening to play out, but it didn’t matter. In the end Carlo Santini would see who the stronger player was.

Chapter Fourteen

Kate sat on the edge of her bed, in the guestroom, wondering what was in store for her. Today was a new day. She and Dante had seemed to reach an unspoken agreement of sorts, which if nothing else, allowed her to feel comfortable around him. Dinner with Carlo had ended horribly, except for the fact Dante stuck up for her. She’d been so overwhelmed when he didn’t turn on her in front of his superior and demand answers about Sam. Instead he defended her and their privacy. They didn’t speak much about it on the way home, but Kate felt the tides were turning in their favor for once.

She’d wanted him to see she was trying, and what he did in front of the Santini’s meant a lot to her. She could tell his words were sincere, and he would protect her and Hope. As long as he was making an effort to leave the Santini family, she would make an effort to ease back into their marriage. Of course, that didn’t mean she would jump back into their bed. Her heart still belonged to Sam. She’d caught the disappointed expression on Dante’s face when she went straight for the guest room. All he’d said was goodnight.

Last night was the first night since being back in the penthouse that she’d slept soundly. Last night was the first time she’d actually felt safe since being in the cabin with Sam. She stood with a groan, wondering how long she would be tormented by thoughts of Sam Hackett?

She’d tried over the years to get over him. Somehow he always managed to be there, deep inside her heart. How many times had she wished she could call him? How many times had she wanted to tell him about Hope, her first steps, her first words?

Dante was right. She’d never get over Sam, but she could learn to move on without him. As long as Dante made progress to become the man he used to be, she could do it. Her only fear was now Sam wanted her daughter, too. She may approve of visitation, but Dante would never let that happen.

“Weather the storm one day at a time,” she said while shoving her feet into fuzzy white slippers. As she padded down the stairs, she noticed an unusual quiet about the penthouse. This was good. She’d be able to think through who she thought was selling drugs and how to appease Sam while keeping him at a safe distance so she could move forward with Dante.

She paused midway on the stairs, wanting to cry. All she ever wanted was a lifetime with Sam. Through one misunderstanding after another, their chance was gone. She tried to think of one positive thing they could do to be together but couldn’t think of one that would actually work. Their relationship was doomed. The only beautiful thing to come of it was Hope.

Kate knew he would never let her go, but she also knew if they stayed in
Philadelphia
, there would be too many complications. Sam had never known his daughter, never known what he’d missed. He’d had time with his son and until he remarried, that would have to be enough. Kate decided the best thing she could do was take Hope to
Milan
, a place where Sam wouldn’t follow, and stay. Start her life over in
Italy
.

At the bottom of the stairs she sniffed the air, thinking it odd there was no coffee brewing. She cocked an ear toward the living room. Odder still, the television wasn’t on, either. She jogged back upstairs and opened Hope’s door to find the bed empty.

Puzzled, Kate made her way down the stairs, holding the hem of her red satin nightgown. Dante had been known to surprise her by bringing home breakfast from time to time and to take early-bird Hope with him. She wouldn’t have expected this after the horrible night last night, but stranger things had happened. Maybe things were really turning around.

As she stepped out the door to retrieve the morning paper, there was no Paulie on the other side. An uneasy feeling swept over her and she quickly closed the door, leaning against it as if to keep out evil. Her eyes scanned the room. Something wasn’t right.

Her anxious, overactive imagination took over. Had last night with Carlo been a set up? Was Dante testing her, and she failed by not sleeping with him in return for him saving her honor? No, that couldn’t be. She hadn’t been nervous with him. There had to be something else, but what? Kate dropped the paper on the table and paced.

“Why aren’t they home?” No sooner were the words out, then she heard the turn of the knob. “Thank God!”

She rushed to the door as Dante stepped through. His face was bruised and bloody and his suit torn. He looked about ready to drop.

“Dante, what happened? My God, where’s Hope?” Kate frantically searched behind him for the precocious five-year old.

“Don’t worry about me, Trina, I’ll be fine.” Dante blinked several times and shook his head as if just registering her words. “What do you mean, where’s Hope? She’s still sleeping.”

“No, her room is empty. I thought she was with you.” They looked at each other with growing alarm. “Dante?” Fear strangled her throat, and no other words came out.

Together they searched the entire penthouse, in every possible place a five-year-old child might hide. Panic inched its way through every fiber of her body. She’d just been reunited with her daughter. She didn’t want to lose her for good. Where was she? How could this have happened?

Dante came in from the terrace, and it didn’t matter he looked as petrified as she felt. This was the price he had talked about. This was their payback for showing unity against Carlo Santini last night. Every sick, hateful emotion she felt for that family churned like a cyclone. She raced over to Dante, her eyes burning into his.

“You bastard, this is your fault.”

“I didn’t think they would go through with it.”

“Go through with what?” She pushed at his bloodied shirt, sending him back a couple steps. “You knew about this?”

“I thought it was only a threat. I never dreamed they would touch her. I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen.”

She raised her hand and slapped his face. “And I told you to get away from them, but you wouldn’t listen. I trusted you and now look what’s happened.”

“It’s not that simple. There are rules, things you don’t know about.” He rubbed his cheek, his fear being replaced by anger. “I’ll let this go, but make no mistake. Raise a hand to me again, Trina, and it will be the last thing you ever do.”

“I don’t care. Will you let them take me, too? Damn you and your rules to hell! If something happens to Hope, they’ll wish to God they never took her. I’ll come after Carlo Santini myself.” In spite of her anger, instinct took over and she ran for their first aid kit.

“Don’t be foolish.” Dante said as she returned with the small metal box.

The lid flew open as she put a hand to her chest. “Oh my God, I know who it is. It’s Paulie. He’s not here this morning. He must have taken her.”

“Impossible,” Dante corrected. “Paulie was with me. I took him to the hospital.”

“Paulie’s in the hospital? Why?” She dabbed the cotton ball under Dante’s eye, and he winced. “Who did this?”

“It was Carlo’s new favorites, Jose and Cody. Paulie took a bullet for me. He saved my life.”

The thought of some strangers sneaking into their home and taking her sleeping child terrified her. “Why would Carlo kidnap my baby?”

“To show me I need to keep you in line. He doesn’t trust you, Trina. Nor does he trust me. Someone in my crew is filtering information to Carlo. He knows about my dealings with Rico and my plans to take over.”

Kate dropped the cotton ball and gripped the table edge so she wouldn’t faint. She should have run while she still had the chance. There was no future with Sam and only danger and lies with Dante. This was all her fault. What was she going to do now?

**
*

“You’re a first class idiot.” Sam lectured his reflection for the hundredth time since the incident at the trailer. Lifting his chin, he surveyed the bruises. He’d cleaned up pretty well, considering, and he’d barely gotten three hours of sleep.

She’d haunted him all night.

Between throbs of pain, he realized he hadn’t handle things properly with Kate. By no means was that the reaction she’d wanted. How was he supposed to act after hearing such news? He wondered if she’d ever planned to tell him. To think she’d had the nerve to be angry with him for what he’d done, and he’d even felt guilty. Shaking his head, he swallowed some aspirin and smirked back at the tired face in the mirror. What did it matter now? The secret was out.

He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to forgive her. Before going downstairs, he stopped short at the edge of the bed. Visions of creamy skin flashed before him, and he cursed. He may not be able to forgive her, but that didn’t mean he could forget her. Yanking on a fresh pair of jeans, he pulled a crisp white t-shirt over his head. As the collar passed over his eyes, he looked toward the bed again.

She was still there. He’d never be able to forget her as long as he lived.

“This is crazy.” Slapping the leather watchband over his wrist, he turned on his heel and treaded wearily through the door. He wandered around the insanely quiet house, but everywhere he looked, he saw Kate. How wonderful it had been to have her back, even for a little while. A smile warmed his face as he looked out at the reddish-dawn sky.

“I have a daughter.” How many times had he repeated those words since he’d found out? While waiting for the coffee to brew, he knew he couldn’t let this lie. If Kate didn’t care about him that was one thing, but they had a daughter to consider. There were many details to work out. Details he needed worked out.

He hoped after the way he acted, she’d still want to see him. He’d be lucky if she didn’t tell him to go straight to hell, but he knew she wouldn’t. No matter how mad she’d ever gotten at him, she could never stay mad for long. He gazed at her picture on the mantle as it smiled back at him.

Without a second thought, he grabbed his keys and coat. To hell with sitting back and idly accepting what life threw at him. He’d gone too long without her and had come too far to lose her. It was time he fought for what was his. He was the kind of man she needed, not some ‘stuffed shirt’ who’d gotten in trouble way over his head. No, she wouldn’t turn him away. He’d somehow get her to listen.

Jumping into his truck, he headed for the highway. Maybe he’d been a little hasty to declare he’d take her to court. All he wanted was a fair chance to get to know his daughter. She’d have to give him at least that much. This was his flesh and blood. After having time to think, she’d have to understand. If things got ugly or unreasonable, well...then he’d have to take drastic measures. For now, he’d be willing to compromise, to a point.

His heart swelled with pride when he thought of his child. After going through so much pain losing Ben, he could barely believe he was really going to be a father. He was anxious to see Hope. Before he’d fallen asleep, he’d started making a list of all the things he wanted to do with her.

First, he’d take her for a ride on the carousel in town. Then he’d take her for ice cream, followed by a trip to the toy store to pick out the biggest, fuzziest, stuffed animal imaginable. He couldn’t wait to be able to tuck her in at night and read her a bedtime story. Would she be too old for a story? Then a sobering thought hit him. Would she even want to see him?

He’d never know unless he tried. “Might as well let Kate know I’m coming.” He picked up his cell phone and called information. Moments later he connected.

“Hello?”

“Kate, it’s Sam.”

“Sam? Why are you calling?”

“To talk to you.” He noted the nervousness in her voice. “What’s going on? Have you been crying?”

“I can’t talk right now. I’m waiting for a phone call.”

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. She had every right to be upset with him, but his gut said this had nothing to do with him. He cleared his throat hoping to disguise the worry. “Are you okay?” He gripped the phone tighter when he heard her break down in tears.

“Something horrible has happened.”

“Did Dante do something to you?” Fury fueled him behind the wheel at the thought of that man raising a hand to Kate. “If he did, so help me--”

“No. It’s Hope. She’s been kidnapped.”

“What? Kidnapped?” Sam clenched his jaw, his eyes focusing on the road with new intent. “I’m going to kill that guy.”

That is, if he didn’t kill himself first as he cut into the other lane on the highway. He barely heard the horns blaring at him. His chest tightened, and he could feel the blood slow in his veins as fear crept its way through his body. Perspiration dotted his forehead, and he had to force himself to breathe so he wouldn’t pass out.

He couldn’t lose Hope. He wouldn’t lose her. His daughter would not become a statistic or a pawn in some ‘family’ war. His voice hitched when he found it to speak. “Have you called the authorities?”

“Dante says we can’t. I don’t know what to do.”

Dante is the reason you’re in this mess is what he wanted to say but instead assured her, “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m on the highway.” There was silence on the line, and then he added, “I was coming to apologize for the way I’d acted with you.”

“Oh, Sam, I’m so scared. We’ve got to find her. What if they hurt her?”

“I won’t let them.”

Sam hung up the phone, feeling as if his heart were lodged in his throat. He swallowed hard, but the lump wouldn’t leave. A sense of urgency coursed through him, and he stomped on the gas pedal. The truck roared to life under his feet as the force of the engine molded his lower back into the seat. Scrubbing a hand through his hair, he blew out the breath he’d been holding. Let the police try to pull him over for speeding, he’d lead them right to the criminal himself.