Sex, Lies & Diamonds Read online

  “Remember?”

  I nodded with a sarcastic smile.

  “Andromeda who was saved by Perseus and immediately fell in love with her and promptly killed Cetus with the head of Medusa? Whether you believe this or not, Leo. There’s not one word you’ve ever said that’s gone unnoticed by me. I hear everything. I see everything. Every little thing you do—I’m watching. I can’t help it. I’m mesmerized by you. I know sometimes I act like I’m not listening, but all I’m doing is thinking of you. All I do is think of us.”

  My heart stuttered. Taking her face into my hands I kissed her, not caring whether I ruined her lipstick or not. I kissed her as if I’d never tasted her before—as if we hadn’t made love in the shower just hours ago. I brushed my fingers across her flushed cheek. “You are the breath of my soul, cher. I don’t even know who I was before I met you. You walked into my crazy world and then you became it.”

  She tugged on my long hair, her eyes sparkling. I swallowed the familiar lump in my throat—the one that told me I was the luckiest sonofabitch on the face of the earth to have her.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the steward standing in the shadows.

  “I don’t mean to interrupt,” he nearly whispered. “The chef was wondering if you were ready for dinner.”

  I looked to Polly, who touched her necklace once again. She didn’t have to say a word. We understood each other even in our silence. Brushing my lips behind her ear, I whispered in Greek. “S’agapò.”

  4

  POLLY

  The sway of the Andromeda against the current was formidable and it woke me from my deepest of sleeps—a post all night Leo-sex-a-thon. Turned on by the fact I was naked under the red ball gown he’d picked for me, I was wearing nothing but my diamonds faster than he’d anticipated last night. It proved to be a sleepless, lovemaking marathon. Today I was tired, sore and completely satisfied. The problem was, the seas weren’t cooperating with my desire to sleep in.

  Sitting up in the master bed, I felt the cold space beside me and knew Leo was gone. On the nightstand was the book I’d given him and my new necklace. It was even more beautiful in the light of day. I threw on a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt, tossing my hair into a messy bun. Tripping on the polar bear rug once again, I turned and cursed. “Paulie, for the love of all the Greek gods, why can’t we put you in another room?”

  Padding down the narrow hallway that led to the galley, I kept a watchful eye for any of the deck crew or the stewards. The Andromeda was eerily quiet.

  I stole into the galley and found the chef who offered to make me breakfast. Still full from our gourmet dinner last night, I waved him off. “Thank you, but your dinner was so amazing, I don’t think I can handle anything until later today. I will take some juice.”

  “Right away, Mrs. X.,” he replied. “I’ll get one of the girls on it now and have her bring it to you on the deck.”

  “It’s rough today, no?”

  He nodded.

  “I was making sure it wasn’t just me.”

  I walked to the bridge, knowing I’d find Leo with Captain Steve. He liked to have a hand in chartering our course whenever we set sail. I always teased him that with his dark shoulder-length hair, he looked more like a pirate than the owner of the Andromeda. Captain Steve laughed at my observation, but would never admit it in front of Leo.

  Opening the door to the bridge, I let myself in and found them in deep conversation, their arms crossed, both their brows knitted with concern.

  “The weather is getting bad, huh?” I asked, shutting the door behind me.

  “Good morning, Mrs. X.”

  “Captain Steve, for the last time, please call me, Polly.”

  Leo turned to me. His usually tan face was pale with concern and I felt a knot form in my stomach. “What is it?”

  Leo turned and approached me, taking me by the shoulders. With a sharp intake of breath, he began. “It’s Oscar.”

  Oscar was the only living person Leo considered family. The caretaker of Jackson House back in New Orleans, he was nearly ninety-four and in the twilight of his life. Leo had known him since the day he was born. He was a permanent fixture at Jackson House. Oscar had grown up there just as Leo had. Now he oversaw the comings and goings of those who kept it in pristine condition. He’d also been the guardian of his grandson after his daughter died, but as he’d grown older in the past couple of years, Hank had been legally adopted by his daughter’s best friend and her husband. Deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before Oscar would be gone. I was afraid from the look on Leo’s face that today was that day.

  “Oh no.” It was all I could manage.

  I watched Leo swallow hard. His eyes glistened with emotion. “Nick called on the satellite phone this morning. Balivino and his two sons came to Jackson House. They ransacked the master bedroom and blew the safe.”

  I gasped. “What?” Nick Daniels was Leo’s former boss at the FBI office in Quantico. He was one of the few people who knew we were still alive. The fact that he’d risked contacting us on the satellite phone meant it was urgent. “What could they possibly want?”

  Leo dropped his head to his chest and took an audible gasp, trying to hold in his emotions. “The motherfuckers beat the hell out of Oscar. They thought he knew something.”

  “Oh no.” I leaned in to look Leo in the face. “Is Oscar alive?”

  Leo brought his gaze back to me. I’d never seen my husband cry before, but tears were spilling from his eyes faster than he could wipe them away. “He’s on life support. He’s barely alive. I have to get to New Orleans, cher. I have to go to him.”

  I traded glances between Captain Steve and Leo, then pulled my grieving husband into me for a hug of reassurance. “Of course. Whatever you want to do, I’ll do.”

  “Sir.” Captain Steve’s voice was quiet but commanding. He never said much, but when he did, everyone listened. “I cannot stress enough that I think this is a very bad idea.”

  Leo pulled away from my embrace and replied, but didn’t turn to look the captain in the face. “I’m fully aware of the consequences, but I can’t let Oscar die.”

  “Sir, it could simply be a tactic to draw you out.”

  Leo took my hands in his and squeezed them hard. He looked me squarely in face, his eyes black with fury. “I’m certain that’s exactly what it is. But I don’t care. I’m not a coward. Oscar is family and when family is in trouble I will always show up. How quickly can you get us to the nearest port where we can catch a plane?”

  Captain Steve shrugged. “We’re a day from the Italian coastline. Another day to the eastern side. Your best bet is to fly from Rome back to the states.”

  Leo dropped my hands and turned to Captain Steve. “Get us to Sicily. I’ll arrange for a helicopter to take us from there to Rome. We can fly direct from Rome back to the States. I’ll make the call myself.”

  Leo walked away, shutting the door to the bridge, leaving the captain and me behind. I rocked on my heels, shoving my hands behind my back. “I’m sorry, Captain. He’s clearly upset.”

  Captain Steve nodded. “I think you’re making a big mistake, Mrs. X. It’s a shakedown. They want something. Something they clearly didn’t find. Now they’re going to go after anyone and everyone associated with you, thinking it will bring you out.”

  I shook my head. “Bring us out? To the rest of the world we’re dead.”

  “Look. I don’t know the mob, but I know evil. They think you’re alive.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Captain Steve stared into the open water. “Because they didn’t kill the old man. It would’ve been easy to kill him. They didn’t. Why?”

  “Because they want Leo to come home.”

  Steve nodded, but stared straight ahead.

  “Thanks Captain. For everything.”

  “I’ll get you to where you need to be as quickly as possible, but I’m not in favor of this trip. Not at all.”

  I star
ted to leave and then stopped in my tracks. “Captain, what did you call it again?”

  “A shakedown. They could go after anyone and everyone associated with you.”

  My head began to spin.

  “Where’s the sat phone?” I asked.

  “Dr. X has it with him.”

  Rushing off the bridge, the chief steward met me with my juice and I waved her off. “Where’s Leo?”

  “He’s on the sundeck using the phone.”

  Rushing up the stairs, I hurried to him with two things on my mind: Ron and Mitch.

  “Yes,” he said pacing back and forth. “Yes I understand, I just want him out of there and as soon as possible. I don’t care what it costs or whose arm you have to twist or pay under the table, just make it happen and call me back.”

  Leo pressed the satellite phone with his index finger and turned in heated frustration. “Shit!” He fisted his hair and bent over in anger. He growled, letting out a guttural shout of frustration. “What if Oscar dies? It would be my fault.”

  “Leo, sweetheart.” I rubbed his back and stared into his glassy eyes. “Whatever happens, it’s not your fault.”

  He hung his hands on his hips and stared into me, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into this fucked up family.”

  I bristled. “You didn’t drag me into anything.”

  “I promise I’ll make this right. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make it right.”

  “There’s nothing to make right. Balivino and his thug sons need to go to jail. Maybe now that they’ve done this to Oscar, they can all be put away.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. Maybe.”

  “Leo,” I began. “Captain Steve said something that’s got me worried. I need to use the sat phone. I want to call Ron and Mitch.”

  Leo raised his brow and nodded. “You know we have to keep the calls to a minimum. Especially now.”

  “What if Steve is right? What if Balivino and his sons know we’re alive? What if they think we’re alive and beat Oscar to try and draw us out?”

  Leo paced but didn’t look at me.

  “They know Ron and Mitch are in Big Fork,” I said, speaking of my two fathers. The two men who took me in and raised me after I was put into witness protection and sent to Montana. “You know yourself they’ve had people watch them on and off. At the very least, I need to warn them.”

  Leo bit his lip and nodded. “Give them a call. But you’ve got to keep it short.”

  I nodded, taking the satellite phone from his hand. Dialing the number, it had been nine months since I’d last spoken to either of them, although I sent anonymous postcards from various ports of call. Never with a message, just a heart. It was my way of saying I was okay and in love. This wasn’t a phone call either of them would be expecting.

  The line rang twice and then I heard his voice. So soft and raspy, I almost couldn’t believe it was him.

  “Ron? Is that you?”

  The satellite phone had a delay and an odd ring to the sound of the voice carried over the line. It was almost as if you were speaking into a well. Still, it was the best option we had.

  “Biscuit?”

  “Yes!” I cried out hearing my nickname for the first time in months. “Oh my gosh, it’s so wonderful to hear your voice!”

  “What’s wrong?” Ron sounded tired, his speech haggard and strained.

  “I think I should be asking that question of you. Are you sick?”

  “I have a cold. Now dammit, answer my question. Why are you calling?”

  I could never get anything past Ron. More cowboy than man, he was a rancher by trade and had been with Mitch, a large animal vet, for thirty years. They were one of the most stable couples I’d ever known. He was rugged, loving, caring, and didn’t take shit off of me or anyone else for that matter. “I’m calling because I’m worried about you.”

  “Why? Did Mitch get in touch with you?”

  I was immediately taken aback. “No. Why would Mitch try to call me? Is something wrong?”

  “No,” Ron groused. “He’s just a busy-body as usual and I worried he might try to call when he knows he’s not supposed to. So why are you worried?”

  “I can’t talk long. I think the Balivinos are looking for us. Oscar’s been attacked. I just want you and Mitch to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. You know, be prepared if someone tries to do anything—funny.”

  “You mean if one of those goons tries to off us to get to you?”

  Ron had a way of cutting to the chase. It always cut to the heart of me at the same time.

  “I didn’t want to say that.”

  “But that’s what you meant,” he replied.

  “Just keep your gun loaded and nearby.”

  “What in God’s great name would make you think I don’t always keep the gun loaded and within arm’s reach?”

  “Good. And if anything weird happens, I want you to call this number. The number I’m calling you from now.”

  “Weird?”

  “Yes.”

  “Darlin’, Mitch is weird every damn day. You’re gonna need to be a little more specific.”

  A smiled curled across my lips. I loved that Ron could make me happy even in the most stressful of situations. It was his gift and it truly made him an angel in my life. “If you see a goon or one of them bothers you, call me.”

  “I understand. You keep your gun handy too.”

  “I will. I promise. I have to go. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Biscuit.”

  “Hug Mitch for me.”

  “Stay safe.”

  I hung up and hugged the phone tightly to my chest. Just the sound of Ron’s voice comforted me in ways nothing else could. He was the one man who’d brought me back from the brink of destruction as a teenager after my parents were killed. He had a way of calming me that I couldn’t explain. I knew why Leo was so hell-bent on leaving for New Orleans. If anything ever happened to Ron or Mitch, I would come unraveled.

  Hurrying below, I rushed into the master bedroom to find Leo and tripped over the head of Paulie—the polar bear rug that had once graced the floor of the master bathroom in Jackson House—falling flat on my face. Rolling over, I took a moment to collect myself, gripping the bear’s fur in my hands. I stared into his glass eye and remembered the story Leo once told me of his grandfather having his way with a group of escorts on the rug long after his Yaya had passed away. I immediately stood at the thought.

  “Leo!” I shouted, running from the room. “Leo!”

  He rushed in wild-eyed. “What is it?”

  Taking him by the hand, I walked him into the master bedroom and pointed to the floor. “That’s how they know.”

  Leo shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

  “Paulie. The Rug. You once told me your grandfather’s friends arranged for prostitutes on the bear skin rug for his birthday—after your grandmother passed away. If his friends arranged it, then they knew about Paulie. If they were in the master suite at Jackson House when they tried to open the safe, they saw he was gone. Leo…they know you’re still alive. They know we’re still alive.”

  5

  LEO

  I stared out the window. The lights of my New Orleans punched holes in the darkness below. I’d dreamed of coming home for months, but not like this. At my side, Polly dozed against my shoulder. Sleep hadn’t been as kind to me in our fifty-two-hour trip home from the yacht. We’d docked in Sicily, taken a helicopter to Rome and a flight into JFK. From there, another chopper into Teterboro where I hired a private Gulfstream from New Jersey home to New Orleans. Coming home was going to stir up enough trouble. There was no reason to announce our arrival by pulling my own plane from the hangar where it had sat dormant for nearly two years.

  I brushed the blonde tendrils from Polly’s eyes, placing a kiss on her warm forehead. “Wake up, cher. We’re almost home.”

  Polly roused from a deep sleep, rubbing her eyes and stretching like a cat, showing
off her tanned and toned belly. I couldn’t help but caress it with my open palm. She winced with a giggle, ticklish to her very core. Just seeing her smile gave me strength—strength I was going to need in the coming days.

  She rubbed the stubble on my face with care. Her cool and delicate touch caused me to sigh in helpless anticipation. I didn’t want to face what was waiting for me on the ground.

  “Did you sleep at all?” she asked, her eyes cloudy with concern.

  I didn’t reply, but shook my head no, taking her hand in mine to kiss it.

  “Have you spoken to Nick?”

  “After we took off from Teterboro he called. Oscar’s on life support. They’ve moved him and the rest of the plan has been set into motion. Colt is meeting us.”

  “Colt?”

  I pursed my lips and nodded. Colt Daniels was Nick’s son and a US Marshal—our marshal. I’d also called in an old friend. I didn’t know how Polly would react, but Nick could only do so much from his desk and he’d approved my request. We needed an active agent we could trust.

  The captain announced we’d been cleared to land and to buckle up. Inserting the shiny tab into the gold buckle, I tightened Polly’s belt and pulled her into my body with a squeeze.

  “Everything’s going to be okay, Leo. We’ll get through this just like last time.”

  I nodded into her head but didn’t speak. It was more complicated this time. I was an outcast with the Marcello crime family and although I was still sworn to omertà—the Italian code of silence—I didn’t know how long I would be able to keep my vow. I’d never denied working for the mob while I was with the FBI, but it was a tradeoff. I worked with the bad guys in order to help the good ones. My father never knew—my grandfather Kostas was too smart not to know. I’d confessed to him on his deathbed that indeed, I was an agent. With tears in his eyes he grabbed me by the back of the neck and made me swear to uphold omertà. He knew I wasn’t a killer. I never would be. Neither was he. He was a bootlegger. It was my father who’d gotten the family into extortion and money laundering. It was a business I wanted no part of. A business I took no part in. When he died I did my best to distance myself from the Marcello family as much as possible. I’d hoped that faking my death could be the end of it, but here I was, right back where I started.