Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Alex’s phone,” Mitch’s voice cut through the SUV’s speakers.
Kathleen glanced at Enzo. She knew he wasn’t pleased, but he’d just have to get over it. “Hey, Mitch, it’s Kathleen and Enzo. Do you have a minute?”
“Absolutely. We’ve been wondering how it’s going over there. Alex is just grabbing some pastries, but she’ll be back soon.”
Kathleen glanced at her watch. It was just after three her time, meaning it was closer to nine in NYC. “Are you at the office? Are your brothers around?” Kathleen didn’t bother to look at Enzo this time. She knew he didn’t want to do this at all, let alone talk to everyone, but too effing bad.
“Yeah, we’re all here. Do you want me to get them on the line?”
“Please.”
There was a click, and then all the voices chimed in saying hello. “What’s up?” Mitch asked. “What can we do for you?”
“First,” she started, “I want to apologize for how we ended the last call. It was rude.” She shot a frown at Enzo.
“Sorry,” he grumbled.
Someone snorted, Mitch probably. “I don’t blame you one bit, Enzo. Too many cooks and all that. You’re boots on the ground. Last thing you need is us quarterbacking you.”
“No offense taken,” Gage added.
Kathleen breathed a sigh of relief. She’s been worried they might be pissed. “We need some help.”
“Tell us what you need,” Logan said.
She looked at Enzo, who seemed reluctant but started talking. “We found out where the treasure is buried, but we’ve run into some complications. We need more information. Things just aren’t adding up.”
“Explain, Gage demanded.
Enzo continued. “The whole thing isn’t hanging together.
How did Brad hook up with Vitale? We’re guessing that he hooked up with Rocco and Bianca, most likely through Bianca, but why take it to Vitale?
What did they need him for? And why would Vitale bother to be involved in this?
” Enzo shook his head. “There’s just something off about the whole thing. ”
“You want us to dig around? See what we can find out?” Logan asked.
“I hate to ask. Vitale isn’t someone to mess with. You really don’t want him to know your name. I would do it, but my contacts have dried up at the moment,” he confessed.
“Why is that?” Gage asked.
Enzo hesitated. “Rocco Rinaldi is using all this to paint me as the enemy. It’s my fault Bianca is in this situation to begin with…
that type of bullshit. He’s always been jealous of me and felt I was a threat to his rightful place in the family.
This allows him to put me on the outside.
I haven’t reached out to the family, but I’m sure I’m dead to them.
I don’t want to draw any more attention to us than necessary. ”
Mitch hypothesized, “You think someone might want to make a name for themselves by taking you off the table?”
“The thought had occurred to me.”
Fear lanced through Kathleen. Enzo hadn’t mentioned that bit to her. She wanted to yell at him for it, but she understood. She was scared enough. Why add to it if he didn’t know for certain? Still, she wasn’t some wilting flower. She didn’t need to have information kept from her.
“We can poke around a bit,” Gage commented.
“Actually, we can ask Armand,” Logan added. “I would be willing to bet he will know the tea if there’s any to know on Vitale.”
“That would be great,” Enzo conceded.
“Also,” Kathleen piped up, “can you check on Carlotta’s story?”
Enzo sent her a quizzical glance.
“You think she’s not telling the whole story?” Mitch asked.
Kathleen paused. She wasn’t quite sure how to explain it.
“I just feel like if it were me, would I tell the whole world on a call, with a bunch of people I’ve never met in person, all about my personal business?
She was quick to put the blame on this Brad guy.
I’m not saying he’s not involved, but maybe it would be smart to just verify what she said. ”
“I like the way you think,” Gage commented. “We’ll go ahead and check her out.”
“On a different note,” Mitch cut in, “have you told your brother what’s been going on?”
Kathleen’s stomach sank. “No, why? Has he said something to you?”
“Ah, no. He’s still in Japan but my guys just reported in that his deal is coming to a close today, so he’ll be back in touch with the world.
I’m guessing you will be his first call.
Just want to know how you want to handle it so we’re all on the same page.
I don’t want to out you, if you’re not sharing with him. ”
The gratitude welling up within her was warm and almost overwhelming. Mitch and his brothers were good friends with Jamie. The fact that they were looking out for her made her tear up slightly.
“Thanks for that. I really appreciate it. I…” she glanced at Enzo.
“We,” she amended, “haven’t said anything because the situation is delicate and you know my brother, the first thing he’ll want to do is have you guys send an army for me, right before he insinuates himself into the middle of everything to try to control it all.
I, that is, we don’t think that’s the best course of action. ”
Enzo put his hand on Kathleen’s arm and squeezed. “She’s right,” he said. “Jamie will try to deal with Vitale, and I’m afraid he’ll offer himself up in exchange for Kathleen’s safety. I can’t let him do that.”
“You’re right on both counts,” Mitch agreed.
“That’s exactly what he’ll do. Frankly, we don’t currently have the manpower to send an army, and keeping your brother safe is our top priority.
I have a few ideas to keep him occupied.
You may have to answer his call, but if you want to stay vague and make him think everything is under control, we’ll back you. ”
“You guys are the best,” Kathleen gushed, and she meant it.
“We’ll start the research on all the players and get back to you ASAP,” Gage added. “Where are you headed?”
“Paris,” Enzo said. “The treasure is at the palace of Versailles.”
“Versailles? Did I just hear you say Versailles?” Alex’s voice cut across the call.
“Yes,” Kathleen said with a laugh. “We think it’s in the grounds there.”
“Do you need boots on the ground? I would be happy to meet you there. I have always wanted to…take a good look around Versailles.”
“They said it’s in the gardens, not the palace. Calm down,” Mitch directed.
Kathleen grinned at Enzo. She loved Alex’s enthusiasm. Alex would love any excuse to break into Versailles. “Give us a second,” she said and then hit mute. “What do you think? I think more boots on the ground couldn’t hurt at this point. It also might keep my brother at bay.”
Enzo frowned. “I don’t like it.”
“I know,” Kathleen responded. “But I think you’re going to have to live with it.” She unmuted the call before he could argue. “You know, a few people here for backup might be a good idea. Nothing crazy, but we might need the help.”
“Okay,” Logan cut in. “We’ll discuss it and come up with a plan. We’ll do the deep background on all the players and reach out in a few hours when we have a course of action and hopefully something to report.”
“Thanks, guys,” Kathleen said and ended the call. Turning to Enzo, she said, “What do you think?”
Enzo scratched the back of his neck. “I think I don’t like more people involved… But I guess we really don’t have a choice.” He squinted toward the windshield, and his expression hardened.
Kathleen’s heart rate went up. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“I think there’s an accident up ahead. Traffic is stopped.”
“Oh, do you think it’s a problem?” Her stomach knotted.
Enzo glanced in the rearview mirror. Then back out the windshield. “No, it’s fine. We’re not being followed. We should be okay. There are lots of trains to Paris.”
“Good,” she said, but she couldn’t relax. The slight bit of relief she’d been feeling knowing the Callahans were working with them had dissipated quickly. This was another stark reminder of just how much trouble they were actually in.
Enzo put his hand on hers. “Don’t worry, cara, we’re fine.” He offered her a quick smile. “I’m going to make a quick call since we’re stopped. I need to see how Danny is doing back at the house.”
She nodded, then turned to look out the window so he wouldn’t see the worry on her face.
She couldn’t take it if someone got hurt because of her.
That would be devastating. And they weren’t fine.
They had no idea what they were walking into, and they had no way of knowing who they could trust outside of a group of people thousands of miles away.
Her stomach clenched. She’d been here before, and it had taken years to get to safety. Nausea filled her. She didn’t want to go back to being terrified all the time, but here she was.
The question was… What was she going to do about it?