Page 38 of Escape You

He pursed his lips, then glanced behind him toward the hospital. His eyes watered, and he blinked the tears away. “Why did you come here, Mia?”

“What do you care? This manic plan your grandfather conjured—how are you going along with it? How was I so wrong about you?” I shoved him away, and he let me go. I hated to see him mad at me like this, but I couldn’t forget he was a Rossi. I couldn’t forget that his return to Jersey put me and my crew on the chopping block.

“Get in the car, Mia. I’ll escort you home. Tomorrow you will hold your end of the bargain. We will have our wedding and a wedding night.”

He opened the door to the car and waited until I climbed in to slam it shut. In two strides, he reached his Harley and hopped on. With his gaze on me, his chest expanded with every breath he took as red splashes covered his neck. When the bike rumbled to life, Vic turned on the ignition and drove out of the parking lot.

“Tell me about the files on the phone. There’s no fucking way I’m marrying Chase tomorrow.”

12

What Gets Me Off

Tyler

“How can you not know?” I asked in a tone laced with bitterness and anger.

Jesus, Mia was driving me insane. I’d about lost it yesterday when we received notice that she had escaped Rossi’s penthouse to go to the hospital. Of course, I’d thought the worst. I thought she’d gone there to terminate her pregnancy. I had no right to tell her what to do, but I still deserved to know.

“We’re lucky our contact was able to give us a heads-up that Mia was spotted in the parking lot. It’s a hospital, Tyler. Snooping around patient files takes time and skill. Give him some time.” Mavell spoke into the speakerphone, pacing the carpeted floor in his office.

He didn’t give a shit if Mia was telling the truth about going to the hospital to see one of her guys or to get rid of our baby. All he cared about was that Mia was back at the penthouse and that the Rossi operation was still a go. The wedding was still on.

Getting the Big 5 to come out of hiding hinged on Mia marrying Rossi’s grandson. I glanced at my wet hair in the bathroom mirror. A part of me, no all of me, wanted to marry Mia and have a real go at starting a family with her. But not like this, not as part of an FBI scheme or Rossi’s insane plan to take over the Jersey crews to gain favor with the Big 5.

How soon before he took over Mia’s crew and the rest? Would he do it as soon as we signed the marriage certificate, or would he wait until Mia got pregnant?

I rubbed the side of my face. “I just want to know if she’s still pregnant?”

“Like I said before, I’m working on that. How does she look?”

“The same.”

And that was really my problem with this whole situation. Mia had had plenty of time to tell me she was carrying my child, but she’d chosen not to because she didn’t trust me. Not that she would have a reason to believe in my good intentions. I’d lied to her since the day we met. What if I told her I wasn’t Rossi’s grandson? Would she turn me in? Or would she finally believe that we both wanted the same thing?

“Don’t let this baby situation cloud your mind tonight. Stay on task, Tyler. We need faces to go with the names we have.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Where are we on getting Rossi’s files from Mia?”

“I’m working on it.” I strode to the walk-in closet where my tuxedo suit had been laid out for me. Bringing my mobile closer to my lips, I assured Mavell I would be a good team player tonight, marry Mia, and get them the information they needed. I ended the call and tossed the phone on the vanity dresser.

Clifton and Mavell had their own agendas for tonight. But all I wanted from Mia was her trust. I wanted her to tell me about the baby. I wanted us to have this baby. I wanted her.

I donned the suit, combed my hair, and sat at the edge of the bed. The room had already been decorated with fresh flowers and tea light candles. A buffet table with empty serving platters and a champagne bucket had been set up out on the terrace. No doubt the caterer was waiting outside my door to come in and lay out the feast and drinks for tonight. At least Rossi had thought to give Mia and me privacy. I doubted he’d done it for us.

Hours later, one of Rossi’s men came to collect me. As much as he said he’d been waiting a long time to spend time with his only grandson, Rossi didn’t trust me or care what happened to me, for that matter. I pitied the real Chase Rossi.

Rossi met me at the bottom of the steps to introduce me to more family members. I made mental note of every face and every name. A debrief with Clifton and his team was already scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. The affair for tonight was more intimate. Rossi’s faction had not been invited. The somber vibe in the penthouse told me everyone here had some kind of affluence as well as the ability to give Rossi what he wanted: a seat at the big table.

I ambled out to the terrace, where a bar had been set up to one side. The thick cement railing had been layered with floral arrangements and tiny lights as if this was a real wedding. Two factions united through marriage.

“There’s the lucky groom?” A heavyset man in his early fifties with a drink in hand joined me by the bar. I recognized him from the many photos the FBI had me sort through in preparation for the Rossi assignment. Back then, my only mandate had been to observe and get to know the families, collect faces, names, favors.

“Mr. Gallo. I’m glad you were able to make it.”

“We’re all excited to see what happens next.” His greedy gaze darted upstairs. “My boy, maybe after it’s all said and done, you’d be amiable to sharing. Hey?” He chortled at his own joke, though we both knew he wasn’t kidding.

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