Page 121 of Highball and Chain

She stilled as if considering the possibility and shook her head. “There’s always a chance, but I highly doubt it. Jack’s known most of them since high school.”

“Good.” I turned my head and rolled my eyes. “Jack’s never going to let me live that down is he?”

“Probably not.” She frowned. “Especially since I dropped Tara with a right hook and used her limp body as a human shield while another of Jack’s poker buddies tasered the man in the kitchen.”

“So much for my man card.” I shook my head “You’re five foot of nothing. How in the hell did you manage to hold her up? She’s nearly six feet tall.”

“I run a lot, spend hours in the gym, and am working on my blue belt in Krav Maga.”

Color me impressed, somewhat frightened, and slightly turned on. “Israeli Defense Force training? Remind me to never piss you off.”

We beat the security team back to the house which gave Shanna time to settle the cat in an upstairs bedroom while I filled a shallow plastic basin with sand from Maggie’s son, Ryan’s, sandbox.

Marco met me in the hall. “Where the hell have you been, and what’s with the dirt?”

“It’s a litter box.”

“You found Mr. Boogerre?” His eyes lit up. “Where is it? I love cats.”

“Of course you do.” I lowered my voice. “Before you get distracted by yet another pussy, I need you to focus. We took down two of Carter’s guys and brought back—”

“You what?” The color drained from his face.

“I’ll explain on the way. Follow me.” I turned and headed for Shanna’s room. “One of my employees was either working for the mayor or the Abruzzos. I intend to find out which and what exactly she was doing for them.”

Marco swallowed hard. “And then what?”

“Then I either have her arrested or scare her into hiding.”

He sighed. “Thank Christ.”

I didn’t need to read minds to know he’d assumed the worst. “Pops was right. I’m soft.”

Marco clamped a hand on my shoulder. “No, Bro, you’re a decent human being. Where is the turncoat?”

“Security is bringing her here any minute.” Apart from family dinners and the holidays, I’d never bothered to spend much time with Marco after I’d left home. I’d certainly never gone out of my way to hang out with him. Now that I’d gotten to know him as a person, I regretted my decision to avoid my brothers.

As long as we’re still breathing, it’s never too late to make amends.

He took the makeshift litter box from me. “Go downstairs and meet them. I’ll help Shanna with her pussy…cat.”

“Uh uh.” I shook my head. “Thanks.”

I met the head of security in the hall outside the laundry room. I wished I could say my knowing exactly where he’d taken her was a coincidence, but I couldn’t. In Sicily, my father used the basement on the rare occasions he brought an enemy to our home. Here, he used the laundry.

“Want me to stay?” The large man folded his arms.

“No.” I stiffened my spine. “Keep an eye on the exterior cameras in case there’s any blow back.”

He nodded and marched away.

One day, very soon, Shanna and I will live a life without the need of bodyguards, security cameras, and guns.

I pushed the door open.

Tara sat in a metal chair with her wrist cuffed to a metal ring in the wall. She took one look at me and burst into tears.

Careful to stay out of kicking range, I crouched to her eye level. “I’m not going to hurt you, but I need some answers.”

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