Chapter 25 #2
“What’s happening?” I was about ready to jump out of my skin.
“Nothing. Traffic. I keep looking. They’re not following me.”
“Stay on the line with me. Just drive and I’ll be right here.”
“I’m sorry about your garage door.”
Gabriel jogged toward me. “What about the garage door?”
“They cut the power. I had no choice but to ram the door. I hope you’re not angry.”
Was she kidding me? “Baby. You did exactly as you were supposed to. Just drive. I’m right here on the steps of the courthouse. How’s little Bella?”
Her laugh was nervous. “Well, she definitely thinks this is an adventure. She wants to do it all over again. I had to tell her Mommy is pooped.”
“I bet you are. Where are you?”
“Turning on Flagler. There’s a lot of traffic. I need to concentrate. Oh, God.”
“Okay. I’ll let you go but you’re only a couple minutes out.”
“I’ll be fine. I guess you’re just going to need to trust me.” She was trying to make me feel better? Who was this woman? She certainly had more control over her emotions than I felt.
“Uh-huh. You better be.” I dropped my phone in my jacket, pulling out my sunglasses and continuing to scan the area.
Now that I’d put Worthington on notice, it was only a matter of time before everything came to a head.
He’d do everything in his power to discredit me.
That was fine. He had no idea what I had in store.
Especially since I’d only allowed him to see two of the pieces of paper indicating his guilt. He’d think he’d could easily get away with either discrediting me or arranging for a little accident.
I hated letting her go. I wanted to hear her voice. I craved having her in my arms.
And I needed to crush some goddamn skulls.
“And?” Gabriel asked impatiently.
“Almost here. She had the courage to stay calm and drive through the closed garage door.”
He looked at me as if I was nuts. “Okay. Whatever you say. Backup is on the way. Unfortunately, Chase can’t be with us. Another situation.”
“Let me guess. It involves Delgado.”
“He wasn’t at liberty to say.”
I continually scanned the road, noticing an SUV that had pulled up across the street. Just far enough away if I wasn’t paying attention I wouldn’t notice. “Do you see that black SUV?”
Gabriel followed my line of sight. “Just like the one over there. What do you want to do?”
“I want you to get in your car and find a place to park. As soon as she gets here, I’m heading to the safehouse. Are you armed? I’ve got an extra weapon in my car if you aren’t.”
He glanced around us and pulled back his jacket, showing me a holster just like mine. “Maybe there’s a lot we need to learn about each other.”
I laughed. “I guess so. This could get dicey, but I’m finished playing games. And Gabriel. I plan on hitting at least one warehouse tonight. Time to make a statement of my own.”
“Understood. Just be careful.”
“The time for being careful is also finished.” I checked my watch. “She should be here any moment.”
“You’ve fallen for this girl.”
The deep breath I took ached. “Yes, I have. So what?” Why deny it? I’d felt more electrified around her than I had with anyone in my life. She was everything I’d ever wanted.
“There’s one more thing you need to know. Do you remember the people versus Adam Abbott?”
A sudden chill was there, icy enough for me to taste. “What about it?” The case that had haunted me for years. The one where the murderer of Camille’s sister and niece had gotten off scot-free. Now living the high life while Camille continued suffering.
“In doing research, it would seem James Worthington might have been the reason the attorney made a critical error eliminating vital evidence.”
“Why?”
“I can’t prove it just yet, but it would appear by a couple pictures I discovered that she and Worthington were having an affair. There’s more.”
The anger had cooled off, something that brought out the worst in me. “What?”
“The perpetrator, Adam Abbott was also a supporter of Worthington’s election campaign. I honestly didn’t want to tell you prior to you talking with him. I didn’t know how you’d react.”
He’d been right not to share the news before I’d confronted Worthington. However, that didn’t mean I wasn’t pissed. “Do me a favor, buddy. Don’t ever keep anything like that from me again. Understood?”
Gabriel exhaled. “Loud and clear. Let me get my car. I won’t allow anything to happen to Valentina.”
“There’s a child in the vehicle. Whatever happens, neither she nor Valentina can be hurt.”
“Don’t worry. I’m a damn good shot. Taught by my father.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Range Rover rolling down the street.
One of my pet projects over the years, including having a hemi engine installed.
The baby could haul ass if necessary, the structure more like a tank.
I glanced from one SUV to the other, jogging down the remainder of the stairs toward the street.
Just as she pulled up, I moved to the driver’s door, throwing it open. “Hey there, girls.”
“Hudson.” Valentina’s look of relief was palpable.
“Crawl in the back with Bella. Stay low. I’m driving.” I had to remember Bella was in the back. Scaring her wouldn’t help the situation.
“They didn’t follow me,” she insisted.
“Because they didn’t need to.” As soon as she moved, I jumped inside. “Hey, pretty princess. How are you?”
“We’re on an adventure,” Bella said.
“Yes, we are.” I laughed and checked the rearview mirror.
“I missed you,” Valentina said as she placed her hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t know what to think. I just followed my instinct.”
“You have no idea how I missed you.” I squeezed her hand. “You did great.”
“Bruno warned me.” Her words were suddenly devoid of emotion.
“What?” I quickly glanced over my shoulder.
She sighed. “He called. He said he was sorry for doing something terrible. Then he warned me. He said the police officers were dead and I needed to get out of the house.”
What the fuck.
“They weren’t trying to unalive me, Hudson. They were trying to take me with them. I’m certain of it. They had ample time and opportunity.”
I twisted my hand on the steering wheel, another wave of anger creating a haze in front of my eyes. “Well. It would appear I need to have a little chat with your ex.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Corruption. This might be a little dicey, but we’ll be just fine.”
“Don’t worry. I trust you.”
Trust.
She slid down in her seat, cradling her daughter as I rolled away from the curb and toward the interstate.
The best way to get to Jupiter was taking the interstate, but instead of getting on it directly, the entrance ramp less than a mile away, I decided to roll the dice to see what we were dealing with.
It was best to lose the tail ahead of time.
“Who are they? The people following us?” she asked.
“No doubt people working with Delgado and Mr. Jones.”
“They aren’t going to stop. Are they?”
I glanced into the rearview mirror. “Trust me, babe. They’re going to stop. Why don’t you enjoy listening to something while I weave our way out of the city.”
A few seconds later, I noticed Gabriel’s car in the rearview mirror. I also noticed the two SUVs although they were trying to keep a distance.
As she started to listen to the recording, she laughed. “You are not bad being a tough guy. Maybe you’re in the wrong profession.”
“A little roughing up never hurt anyone.”
“Mmm… You can hear the fear in his voice.”
“Can you now?” I made a turn, keeping a close eye. And another. There was no doubt we were being followed.
“You just buried your career, Jimmy boy. And as far as that woman. That woman could run rings around you with her eyes closed and her arms tied behind her back. That woman is intelligent, articulate, incredibly kind, and extremely brave. As opposed to you, a man who decided to toss aside his morals for a chance at fame and glory. If you want to come at me with your bullshit and lies, that’s fine, but stay away from Valentina Sciascia.
She’s far too damn good for a worthless son of a bitch like you. I’ll see you in court.”
The sound of my voice, the angry tone and insistence in my voice caught me. I’d forgotten what I’d said to the son of a bitch.
Well, shit.
When the recording ended, she said nothing for a little while. “Is that the way you really feel?”
“What if I do?”
“Then I’d say I just might need to keep you around for a little longer.” She slipped the phone into my hand. Another electric connection. Another desire to keep her safe.
The SUVs were gaining on us. Now was the time to make a play. “You need to listen very carefully, my darling strong woman. I’m going to make a few fast turns. Lie down and stay that way.”
Phone in hand, I dialed Gabriel. “Hey. Follow my lead but try and get next to me so you can cut them off.”
“That I can handle. Although you might need to offer me a new paint job depending on how close I get.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
I continuously glanced into the rearview and side mirrors as I moved to a less busy area. The assholes were trying to make their move.
Gabriel obviously knew exactly what I had planned. His beautiful black Maserati rolled ahead of the two SUVs. With a single head nod, we put the plan into motion.
Maybe all our conversations over the years had made us sympatico in thinking. We both floored it, but I pushed ahead, waiting carefully and keeping a close eye on the other two drivers.
As expected, Gabriel managed to cut one off, narrowly avoiding an accident.
The other vehicle? Well, that was my baby. I swerved once, twice and the bastard was forced into a line of trash cans on the side of the street. The hard hit made him lose control and he rolled across the street, slamming into a tree.
I pulled into a parking lot, jerking to a halt. “Keep the doors locked and the keys are in the ignition. Roll if anyone heads in your direction.”
“What are you going to do?”
I grinned before jumping out. “Maybe something I should have done a long time ago.” She didn’t ask any other questions, but I heard the locks engage. And I’d seen the determined look in her eyes. The woman was a little fighter. God love her.
Even as I raced toward the SUV that had crashed, I smiled. I certainly loved her.
As I approached the SUV, one of the two was already climbing out. The door to the passenger side was crushed in. This wasn’t about killing the men who’d been sent but providing another message.
That didn’t mean I couldn’t utilize my other skills. I didn’t hesitate yanking the son of a bitch further into the street, issuing one brutal punch after another. When he tried to pull out his weapon, I was too quick for him, smashing him in the head with mine. He was down for the count.
Somehow, the second man managed to crawl out.
Pop! Pop!
Well, this had just gotten interesting.
Over the next several seconds, gunfire was exchanged.
I finally had the asshole by the throat and smashed him into the side of the SUV.
“It’s your lucky day, buddy. I’m going to leave you alive so you can take a message back to Delgado.
Tell him I am the judge and jury and he’s been found guilty as charged. ”
When he offered a toothy grin, I coldcocked him.
Just as I heard another shot.
Seconds later, I notice Gabriel walking toward me, a huge smile on his face. He slowly slipped his weapon back into his holster. I walked closer. “Are they dead?”
“Nah,” he said. “They won’t be running any marathons for a while, but they’ll live.
So you know, the police are on the way. The story is these motherfuckers tried to carjack me.
Why don’t you head out. You already have an escort waiting for you.
” He pointed down the street where two vehicles were approaching.
“Let me know the time tonight. I’ll be there. ”
“You got it and thank you.” I threw out my hand for a shake.
“Don’t mention it. Just a little justice served.”
“Amen. One last thing to do before I head out.”
Gabriel grinned. “What’s that?”
“I happen to have a can of spray paint in the Rover. I think the SUV needs a little touchup.”
“You are such an interesting man.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I sauntered back to the Rover, knocking on the window. After she unlocked the door, I grabbed the can and jogged back to the crashed SUV where I added much needed art.
Justice Served
Perfect.