Tesoro: Mayhem Makers

Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

DANTE

Moonlight glows through the window, its beams giving Kate an angelic appearance. She looks so comfortable, crawled up in the oversized chair, a blanket on her lap and a book in her hand. She’d fallen asleep about an hour ago, after Frankie made her eat a plate of pasta and drink a bottle of water.

“You know,” Frankie whispers. “In all the years I’ve known you, this is the first time I’ve seen you allow a woman to talk to you the way Doc did.”

Keeping my attention fixed on the woman in question, I lean to my left in order not to disturb her. “I can’t explain it. Watching her cut that shit out of Angelo, the authority in her voice…” I trailed off, the memory of it on repeat inside my brain.

“Any word on Chuy?” I shifted in my chair, keeping my voice low as I watched Kate’s chest rise and fall.

“Got another call from the hospital’s attorney. The police went by his last known address, found the stuff we planted, but he was nowhere to be found. If I were a betting man?—”

“Which you’re not,” I interrupt as Kate begins to stir.

“I’d say he met the same fate as Manny.”

“Keep watch until we have proof he no longer breathes.”

“Of course, but there is something else you should know.”

The slamming of Kate’s book against the floor puts an end to whatever news Frankie has to deliver, but not my ogling of her.

“What time is it?” Her voice deep with sleep as she looks around the room confused.

“Almost midnight,” I offer softly, leaning forward in my seat.

Kate jumps to her feet, stretching her arms over her head, the motion causes her shirt to raise exposing the skin at her tiny waist. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing countless naked women, but this sliver of skin has my mouth watering and my fingers aching to touch her.

I watch as she crosses the small space, laying the back of her hand across Angelo’s forehead. When her expression turns severe, I’m out of my chair and by her side.

“What is it?”

“He’s still feverish.”

“But you dug that bullet out.” Pointing at his chest. “The antibiotics, you said they would help.” Tapping my finger against the clear bag which was nearly empty.

“Hold on,” Kate places her hand against my chest, her beautiful eyes searching mine. She has such an incredible hold on me, a woman I barely know, yet yearn to know everything.

“I did take out the bullet, that isn’t the problem.”

“Then what is?” Laying my hand over hers, begging her with my eyes to heal him.

“Antibiotics aren't one size fits all, they are designed to fight a particular strand of bacteria. As I said earlier, if we were in a hospital setting, I would have sent a sample of the drainage to the lab where they would have exposed it to a myriad of antibiotics and found the one that works. I don’t have that luxury here, which is why I asked Frankie for several different antibiotics.”

Relief washed over me as her fingers rubbed gentle circles. I wanted this moment to last forever, yet I knew she had to release me in order to help Angelo.

Nodding, I take a step back, still holding her hand until the last possible second.

Turning from the room, I head down the hall to the kitchen where I found Frankie sitting at the wooden table in the corner.

“You look like a teenage boy who just saw your first pair of tits.”

I would never admit my demeanor was due to an inch of innocent skin, not the coveted globes hidden inside a bra.

“You said I needed to know something.” Hooking my hands on my hips, wiggling my toes inside of my boots.

“I’ve been keeping tabs on your interests like you asked me to.” Frankie points at the screen of the computer in front of him.

“Your cop friend, the one you hired to take care of that apartment building you purchased.”

“He’s not my friend, but what about him?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrow my eyes at him. His tone speaks volumes, whatever he has to tell me isn’t good.

“I caught him on camera talking with Kate a few days before we came to Dallas.”

“So? He works security at the hospital on the side, we knew that.” Dropping my arms to my side as I reach for an empty chair.

“Then you’re aware he lost his job as a cop nearly six months ago and is currently on suspension at the hospital pending an investigation.”

“What the fuck did he do?”

Frankie turns the computer toward me, “Best you see for yourself.”

Spinning the chair around and straddling it, I pull the computer toward me.

Tapping the spacebar, I click on the white arrow in the center of the screen. Fury builds inside my chest as I watched the security footage of Brady in the hospital, the locker room, and finally the parking garage where he met with several familiar individuals.

“I checked his finances.”

“Wh—” I begin, my question frozen as I search the screen. “Maron.” I swear, spearing my fingers into my hair and tugging at the strands as I watch Brady take money from Manny.

“Something else you should know.”

Snapping my gaze to Frankie, the beginning of a headache forming at my temples.

“He lives across the hall from Kate.”

“Wait, she lives in my apartment building?”

Frankie nods, pulling the computer toward him. “From what I’ve gathered, he has a bit of a crush on her.”

In the blink of an eye, I no longer care about the double cross Brady was playing on me. However, as Frankie slides the computer toward me the fury returns as I watch Kate flinch when Brady comes near her. I could see it in her eyes, a fear which set my blood to boil.

“Has he…touched her?” My voice fails me as I stare at Kate’s panicked expression.

“Not that I can find. Which honestly is the only reason he is still alive.” Snapping my attention to Frankie’s face. “Hey, any woman who is helping this Family like she is…” He trails off, dipping his eyes to the table.

Clearing his throat, Frankie leans back, pulling his phone from his pants pocket, laying it face down on the table. “There is one more thing.” Sliding the phone in my direction. “You had a call while I was out getting supplies.”

“Who?” Lifting the phone from the table, pressing my thumb to the indention, my heart skips a beat as the female voice filled the room.

“ Hey, baby, I miss you .”