View Park, page 10
Sean lifted his feet onto the man’s desk. “Rudio, because of you, two people are dead. Three, actually, if you count Jorge Nesco, whom you killed on the boat. You’ve been busy staking claim to his territory.”
Rudio shrugged. “I don’t know anything about murders. I’m a businessman. As for Nesco, I haven’t heard of a body. No body, no crime. He’s a grown-ass man. What can I tell you? He told me he was looking for an early retirement.”
“And you gave it to him,” Sean said. “We both know drug dealers don’t retire. They die. You see, the problem with guys like you is that you never know how to temper your reach.” Sean knew from Rudio’s stare that the man didn’t know what he meant and that made him angry. He was making a fool of him in his own territory.
Haley approached the bar wondering where Sean had gone. Escaping through Maya’s room, Sean was already at the end of the street when Haley pulled out of the driveway, but she was a better driver than anyone gave her credit for.
“What you want, baby?”
She looked at the bartender. “Gin and tonic.”
“Can I see some ID?”
“You got to be kidding me.” She didn’t have any ID and she didn’t have any money. “Just forget the drink.”
“It’s a two drink minimum.” He laid his hands flat on the table. “Buy something or get the hell out!”
Haley didn’t know what made her look down, but when she did, the tattoo of a curling black and orange snake on the back of his left hand catapulted a lightning bolt of terror through her.
When Sean heard the scream, he searched the video monitors. He saw the coated figure backing up from the bar, screaming bloody murder, and was out of the office in a flash.
“Haley!”
She heard Sean scream her name, but when she swung around, Haley couldn’t see anything but lights flashing. Her heart was beating out of control when she felt a hand grip her arm. It was Sean and she grabbed him back as tight as she could.
“It’s them,” she choked out.
When they reached his car, Sean looked back at the club and saw Rudio standing in the doorway with his crew surrounding him. The look on Rudio’s face told Sean all he needed to know, but he wouldn’t try anything right now. Not with Haley to deal with.
“What are you doing here, woman?”
“That was it,” Haley said, shaking all over.
“What was it?”
“That man’s tattoo was on the side of that boat!”
“Did you recognize him?”
“No, but that creepy snake was on that boat.” She could see it clearly now.
“Okay, Haley.” Sean rubbed her arm to calm her. “This is good. This helps a lot.”
She looked back at the club entrance, but no one was there. They wouldn’t dare come after her with Sean at her side…would they?
“Call the cops. Have them arrested before they can…”
Sean opened his passenger door, helping her in. His beeper was going crazy; no doubt Steven Chase. “It doesn’t work like that. We need more evidence. You have no idea what you risked today, do you?”
“I had to do something,” she retorted as soon as he got in the car. “I hated feeling helpless and scared. I just…I thought I could help.”
“You can help by staying alive. I’m taking you back home.”
As he backed out of the parking lot, Sean kept a steady eye on the club. He could hear Haley crying and was afraid of what the sound stirred in him. When he reached over and placed his hand on her shaky thigh, he was afraid of a lot more.
Leigh stood at the edge of her parents’ bedroom, enjoying the anonymous view of her mother as she quietly brushed her long wavy hair sitting in front of the antique vanity. Her mother was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Not in the way Kimberly was just drop dead gorgeous, but pretty with demure gentility that made her simply incredible. Leigh worshipped her mother in many ways; a woman as strong as an ox, but with the beauty of a swan.
Only right now, something seemed wrong about her posture and it bothered Leigh. “You wanted to see me, Mom?”
Janet turned around with a smile that came a little too slow. “Come in, Leigh. Sit down.”
“Is this about Haley?”
“I don’t want to talk about her.” There wasn’t enough Valium to get her through this day. “She’s fine. I received a call from Giovanna Bridges.”
Leigh swallowed hard. Time to pay the piper. It was horrible to think, but compared to Haley escaping, her lies couldn’t possibly matter now. “I’m not doing anything you haven’t done.”
“You call what you’re doing fund-raising? Showing graphic pictures of dying children and telling stories that scare people to death.”
“Sometimes reality is graphic and scary. I’ve gotten—”
“I know what you’ve gotten. I’ve been making some calls of my own.”
Leigh fought the anger. The way her mother invaded everything she had and turned it around to seem as if she was letting her in on her own life drove her out of her mind. “Mom, if you’re not going to help I wish you would just stay out of it.”
“Just me, then?” Janet asked, feigning confusion. “I just spoke to your father and he told me you dropped your little proposal off at his office.”
“It’s a business case.”
“You’re not a little girl anymore, Leigh. You can’t turn your father against me to get what you want like you used to.”
Always her mother’s perception, but never the truth. “I wasn’t trying to do that. It’s just that Dad has a good head for business and he…”
“Do you know what it looks like to have you pandering to our friends?”
“I’m doing what I have to do for my dream. I’m sorry if it embarrasses you. It doesn’t have to be that way.”
Janet wondered how someone so intelligent could be so dense. “You’re doing this the wrong way, Leigh. It’s going to blow up in your face.”
Leigh stood up, her head held high. “Actually, it’s going to be the most successful thing I’ve ever done with my life. It’s going to be something people will remember about our family for generations.”
Janet let her leave without a word, the Valium making her too tired to argue at the moment. How could she make the girl understand? She was so proud of her heart; it was wider than the ocean. She had always taught her children the value of giving—the obligation of giving—but none of that held a candle to the nightmares she was having. Nightmares of a needle breaking through a glove and seeing herself crying at her baby’s funeral. Nightmares of gang members waiting for her daughter outside at night.
Carter waved the waiter away and seated himself across from Michael and Kimberly in the corner of the new “it” restaurant of the moment. Michael had intended to tease his big brother the second he saw him, but the look on his face told him this wasn’t the time. Five days since “the story” broke, they had been putting out fires all over the place. It seemed like the more work they did, the more bad publicity they got. Michael was stuck between Carter and their father, who could do nothing but argue. A volcano was coming, especially now that Carter wouldn’t even take Steven’s calls anymore.
To the average person, Carter looked as cool and calm as usual, but Michael knew him well enough to see that the pressure was wearing on him. It was wearing on all of them.
“How you holding up? Michael asked.
“Fine, why?”
“I heard Dad leaving one of his messages for you. It wasn’t pretty.”
“Unlike you, I don’t let his every word run my life.” He turned to Kimberly who was applying lipstick to her perfect face. “Hello, beautiful.”
Kimberly winked at him. “You’ve caused a little stir, Carter. I like that about you.”
Michael pulled at his tie as he took a sip of scotch. “Dad is psychotic, man. The reporters were literally on the steps of the building. No one could get anything done. The PR people are all ready to quit.”
“That’s not all we have to worry about,” Carter said. “The Mabrys called the firm threatening to sue if we didn’t give them their salon back.”
Michael searched his memory bank. What had he done to get the Mabrys on board? Yes, that could be a problem. “It’s not a problem.”
“You don’t think so?” Carter asked sarcastically.
“We’ll work this out.” Michael looked intently at his brother and Carter nodded. It was the two of them, struggling to keep their heads above water; all to please King Chase. As always.
Kimberly leaned in, whispering. “Your touched-in-the-head sister escaped and almost got herself killed.”
“Is she all right?” Carter couldn’t believe Haley sometimes.
“She’s fine.” Michael waved it away as a mischievous expression framed his face. “Forget Haley. I called you down here to show you the present I got for you. Check it out.”
Following Michael’s nod, Carter scanned the room. It didn’t take long because she stood out. Avery was sitting in a booth at the other end of the restaurant with Alex. Carter cursed himself for noticing how sexy she looked in that fitted red dress. He watched silently as Avery’s tender, unhappy face tried to fake a smile. As her fingers circled her wineglass, her engagement ring sparkled.
“I had to hold Michael back when we saw her come in,” Kimberly said.
Carter wasn’t listening. He couldn’t take his eyes off Avery. She looked as if she was about to cry and Alex was sitting there talking on and on not noticing a thing. Carter knew the man was a fool.
Then finally she sighed, flipping her hair back. That was when she saw him. When her eyes locked on his, he reveled in the look of surprise on her face. Carter didn’t frown or smile, just stared at her letting her wonder what he was thinking. He wanted her to know a little bit of the hell he was going through, to know even though she’d won the last two rounds, she should keep her gloves on because he was still fighting.
Michael didn’t like this at all. He knew his brother better than anyone and the look on his face wasn’t the hatred he expected. There wasn’t the hatred that should be there. “What in the hell is wrong with you?”
Carter blinked, ripping his eyes from Avery. “Nothing. I just hate that woman.”
“You sure?” Michael asked. “I mean, you should, but I’ve seen that look on your face before and it looks more like you want to go down on her instead of bring her down.”
“Don’t be stupid.” Carter flipped open his menu, but he was too revved up to even concentrate.
“It’s been five days,” Michael said. “What are we going to do about her? We can’t let her get away with it.”
“I’m biding my time,” Carter revealed. “Don’t worry. Avery Jackson is all I’m thinking about now.”
When he looked at her again, he could tell she was trying hard not to look at him and that gave him a certain sense of satisfaction. His eyes lowered to her neck, her skin was glowing and he wanted to touch her. He also wanted to strangle her. Go down on her or take her down. When she turned to him again, her eyes seared through him and her full lips parted just a bit. Carter knew he wanted to do both and he would. He could do anything.
Standing outside the restaurant, Avery felt a chill run through her as she thought of the way Carter had been looking at her all night. She was still afraid of Craig even though she had no clue where he was and was more consumed with waiting; waiting for Carter to get his revenge. Tonight, the way he was looking at her made her feel like she was naked prey and he was the hunter.
“You barely finished your dinner.”
Avery felt all the hair on her arms dart up as Carter stepped beside her. She didn’t look at him, keeping her eyes focused straight ahead. “I’m not hungry.”
“What made you lose your appetite?”
She would never give him the satisfaction. “If you came for another one of your hit and runs, don’t waste your time.”
Carter took a deep breath. It was a nice early October night. A little dry, but a good breeze. “I don’t run away from anything, unlike your cheap boyfriend.”
Avery’s eyes widened as she turned to him. “I beg your pardon?”
“Valet is only fourteen bucks, Avery. Yet he chooses to park and make you walk to the restaurant. He did make you walk, didn’t he?”
This had to be part of his game. He wouldn’t even mention the purple elephant in the room between them. Make her wait and become more anxious, if that was possible. “Go away, please.”
Carter could feel her anxiety and he enjoyed being the cause of it. “You should be happy. You won.”
An impulse made him reach for a strand of her hair that had fallen loose, but she moved her head to avoid him.
“Don’t touch me.”
That was okay. Carter was patient. Soon enough she would be begging him not to stop touching her. “Essentials is safe from the grasp of the evil empire.”
“It was always safe.”
“You know better than that, but I don’t hold a grudge. I never really wanted it.”
Avery sensed the indignation in his voice. “Then what did you want?”
Carter leaned in close to her, his smooth lips curving slightly. Avery’s eyes widened as she leaned back.
“I make you nervous,” he said. “I don’t know why. You’re the victor.”
“I’m not happy.” Avery wondered how many glasses of wine she’d had to feel so light-headed right now. “I…I thought I would be, but…”
“But what?” he asked, enjoying her discomfort. She was attracted to him, he knew that much.
Avery turned away, ashamed. “That person who decided to play so dirty wasn’t me. I’m not…”
“Like me,” Carter finished. “That’s what you were going to say, right?”
“I just felt cruel and dirty. It makes me sick to my stomach.” She stared at him, unable to read any emotion in his face. She couldn’t believe what she was doing, but she had to remind herself it wasn’t for him. It was for her. “I’m sorry, Carter.”
“I don’t want your pity, Avery.”
Avery wanted to slap him in the face. “It’s not pity, you jerk. I was wrong. Not to want to hold on to Essentials, but in the way I went about it. I’m sorry whether you believe me or not.”
When he leaned in closer, Avery knew where the light-headedness was coming from and it was joined by a pull in the pit of her stomach. Her lips parted, waiting.
“Leave her alone!”
Carter hadn’t heard Alex’s car pull up, but didn’t care. His mind was already made up and this man wasn’t even worthy of the title of competitor.
“He’s not bothering me.” Avery stepped toward the car, feeling like her body was a couple hundred degrees.
“What does he want, then?” Alex asked.
“Nothing from you.” Carter stared the man down. If he wanted to go, Carter was ready. He was in enough of a mood to beat the hell out of somebody today anyway.
“Then you can leave.” Alex’s voice caught just a bit.
“I can do whatever I want,” Carter responded. You’ll learn that soon enough.
Avery closed the passenger side door. “Let’s just go.”
Watching them drive away, Carter realized he had a lot to figure out. He was a man of many talents, but this wasn’t going to be easy. How was he going to destroy a woman and steal her from her fiancé at the same time?
CHAPTER 6
Sean kept his distance watching Rudio emerge from his boat at the Carr Yacht Club docks. Rudio didn’t have a boat registered anywhere under his name, so Sean had to hope following him 24/7 would lead him to the boat Haley had described.
There was one problem. The boat didn’t have the insignia Haley described and that was going to make it hard to get a warrant and have the CSI team scour the place for blood. All he saw was the name El Cubano. A little redundant.
He gave the surveillance team the thumbs up and headed for the dock when his cell phone rang. He looked at the ID. Bad timing, but he couldn’t say no.
“What’s up, Haley?”
“When are you coming over here again?”
She flirted with him nonstop only to go dead cold on him in a second. He knew he was being played, but wasn’t putting up much of a fight.
“You remember something?”
“I just wanted to know what was going on.”
“Haley, I told you I can’t tell you everything.”
“It’s my case! You can’t keep things from me.”
“I’m going to hang up now. I’m in the middle of something.”
“What,” she asked. “What is it?”
“I’ll be at your house in a half hour.” He hung up on her. That would keep her occupied for a while.
Staying on the dock at the edge of the boat, Sean waited for Rudio to come outside. He searched the boat and was hopeful his eyes were telling him the paint was fresh. That was enough for a warrant.
“Get a good look, Detective?” Rudio leaned over the edge of the boat.
“Nice boat. Looks like you’ve had a new paint job.”
Rudio’s hands were tucked firmly in the pockets of his white silk pants, smiling down at Sean wide enough to reveal all the gold teeth in his mouth. As Humongo came up behind him, practically blocking out the sun, Sean found the stereotypes boring.
“I hated to see you leave so soon last week, Detective. Who was that young lady, by the way?”
“You know damn well who that was.”
“Maybe if you rub her the right way, she’ll buy you one of these.”
“It is a nice boat,” Sean said. “You and your boyfriend there taking it out for a sail?”
Humongo made a growling noise, but Rudio put his hand up to silence him. “You don’t amuse me anymore, cop.”
“You two ladies have a good day.” Sean turned to leave.
“You too, Junior.”
Sean didn’t turn around. He wasn’t surprised Rudio knew who he was. He probably had a connection in the department. How else could someone have gotten away with killing Jason Seitz? He wasn’t stupid, but he wasn’t smart. Not smart enough to know that every boat had to register a photo with the dock and Sean was betting his life the picture on file for El Cubano hadn’t been altered yet.
