Chapter Seventeen
H e wanted to hunt down her stepfather and kill him with his bare hands. The phone showed Keys, and King were still listening, so he said nothing except hold Tori.
“Obviously, you didn’t marry him.” Keys voice broke through the quiet of the room.
Her humorless laugh made him want to punch his friend through the phone.
“No shit, Sherlock. At first, I didn’t think I had any choice, but I knew I would not let that old fat fuck be my first. So, I decided to give my V-card to a guy of my choosing. If I had more time, I probably would’ve found a better candidate, but beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway, I had been talking to a guy for a couple of months, and he was sweet. I decided, why not let him be the one? I literally threw myself at him one afternoon, and like any red-blooded male, he happily obliged. Sadly, he didn’t know anything about getting a girl off first, second, or last. To his credit, he made sure I was ready before plowing through, though. And he was more than willing to do it again. Of course, I gave a hard pass on that.”
He wanted to get the little shit’s name and number so he could add him to the list of people he would beat the hell out of for hurting Tori.
“I’m assuming your stepfather was unaware of your escapade with this kid from your school. However, that doesn’t explain how you ended up not tied to the Rizzos and hiding in Chicago. Because, no matter how you put it, Vittoria, you are hiding. Your family has been looking for you for years. There’s no sign of a Vittoria Masseria. Only a woman named Tori Hardigan is working at Hoolihan’s and going to UIC for Sociology. You entered the doctorate program with a master’s under you at twenty. You're like a female Doogie Howser.” Keys finished speaking, making Tori groan.
Jeter tugged on her hair, mouthing Doogie Howser and tapping his temple.
“I’m not that smart. I worked really hard and had nothing else to do except study and take lots of classes. Even in high school, I took a lot of college classes so that when I graduated high school, which I did, even though asshat didn’t want me to, I had enough to enter as a junior.” God, she sounded like a pretentious bitch.
“Well, we definitely need a shrink in our neck of the woods. So, you snuck out in the dead of night and have been hiding in plain sight ever since? Girl, you realize you’re sitting in the middle of Mafia territory in Chicago, right?” another voice asked. His deep baritone rumbled so deep she shivered.
“Tori, meet King. He’s the president of the Royal MC. I was wondering the same thing, to be honest. Why did you choose Chicago, and how did you skip out without getting caught?” Jeter settled her onto the countertop but didn’t release her completely.
“I’d planned it out weeks in advance the night I left. As you said, I’m not stupid. I had money from birthdays and several Christmases that I’d been saving up, thinking I would need it when I went to school. I guess old Gino forgot I had that stash, thank god. Anyway, I had over sixty thousand dollars, plus my mom’s jewelry and my own, that I knew would be worth some cash. I packed some of the stuff I wanted to take each day, and nobody checked me when I left for school. So off I’d go to school, except I detoured to the bus station where I had rented a storage box. There, I stuffed it with my things. I also found my old identification with my name before Gino adopted me in my mom’s keepsake box. That made it easier when I turned eighteen to request a name change and bam, everything was legal. Gino was looking for me, not me, with my original last name. I then swapped to my mother’s maiden name to add another layer to my hidden identity. He thought I was dumber than a box of rocks. Honestly, I don’t think he ever looked at my report cards. It wouldn’t have occurred to him I’d have the wherewithal to know how to do anything other than be a wife or prostitute. His words, by the way.”
Jeter’s hands balled into fists next to her hips. His eyes flashed an angry green at her words. Softening her voice, she raised her hand, tracing his brow line. “Don’t be angry.”
“I’m so beyond anger, baby. If that bastard were here, I swear I’d rip his head off with my bare hands.” He closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck.
“Well, there’s that mystery solved. I kept having Vittoria and Tori coming up as one and the same. I was hoping she’d come clean with you. I didn’t want to do a deeper dive that would trigger any alarms in place for someone searching for her. However, I think your cover got blown, though. Whoever was aiming for you last night was definitely shooting at you, not our boy, Jeter.”
A keyboard clicking was the only sound for several moments. While his words sunk in, he watched her as she tried to think how anyone would’ve found her. Last night, she was the only one working. Since then, he’d found out that she worked at the bar for the past four years but had only been a bartender for the last two years. He didn’t think she took care of private parties like Rizzo and his gang arranged at Hoolihan’s.
“Last night had been the first time I’ve been close to anything like that. I mean, I’ve seen men I knew were part of one Family or another, but they always went to the back where Cian or one of his brothers took care of them. It was never a private party like last night. Honestly, I don’t think the Hoolihan’s would’ve accepted the reservation if they knew what was happening.” Tori had a pleading look on her face.
Jeter tipped his head to the side and gave her a nod. He believed her. Cian had charged in like a bull, ready to destroy anyone who stood in the way. He’d looked pissed on Tori’s behalf. That hadn’t been faked. He didn’t think.
“Jeter, what’s the plan, brother? When you coming home?” King’s question made Tori freeze. She didn’t appear to breathe. He didn’t like that. She seemed to hang on a knife-edge, waiting for his answer. Dammit, she needed to trust him.
“We’re going to see if we can’t get into her apartment and grab a few of her things, like her computer, which has her school stuff on it, and go from there. Taking a plane is too risky since we don’t know who to be on the lookout for. I don’t want to be thirty thousand feet in the air in a tin can with wings and there be some fucker hell-bent on taking Tori out. I don’t doubt my ability to keep her safe, but there are a lot of factors I can’t control in the air.” He leaned back and stared at her.
“That’s why you’re my road captain. The road captain’s duties go beyond simply being responsible for charting the course of the ride. You’re the backbone, the fearless leader who ensures safety, communication, and unity among your brothers. And now your woman. I knew I chose right with you, Cowboy. Figure out the ride, do your job, and know we got your back.”
“It’s a twenty-eight-hour ride, brother. I mapped it. If you drive halfway and we ride halfway, we could meet you in Colorado at Barr Lake State Park. You know we love us some mountain riding.”
“Hey, Duke. I didn’t know you got your ass out of bed before noon. I appreciate you guys offering to ride for me, but with me unable to scout the roads, I’m not willing to have all of you out there without me knowing what’s up ahead. I don’t know the forecast for each day and night, nor do I have details for where you can hole up in emergencies. We have chapters in cities along the route I can contact if I need help. I’d rather do that than put my brothers at risk.”
“Fuck, when he gets home, we’re going to have to kick his ass to remind him we’re not a bunch of pussies. It’s your fault, King. I swear, you’re looking soft. You used to walk into the clubhouse, and everyone quaked in fear. Now, they still quake, but they are silently laughing when they see you get riled up over your ole’ lady.”
Silence followed the sound of a thud and a grunt.
“Well, that was fun. I don’t think our VP will be talking for a little while. What a dumbass,” Keys muttered.
Jeter’s shoulders shook with laughter, but he didn’t make a sound. He held up his finger and walked out of the bathroom.
“DID JETER LEAVE YOU alone so he could go bust his gut somewhere out of the hearing of us?”
She slapped her hand over her mouth, looking around the room to see if there were cameras.
“Your silence is answer enough. Anyhoo, I think I have enough information to track down who might be behind the would-be shooter. I’d say killer, but I don’t think it was a shoot-to-kill. In fact, I’d bet my keyboard that the shot meant to send you running, and there would be some open arms waiting for you wherever you ran.”
“Wait a minute. You don’t think that shot was meant to kill me? That bullet whizzed right by Jeter’s head. If I hadn’t shoved him at that moment, it would’ve shot him in the head. Wait. No, that’s not right. My shove might have actually propelled him into the bullet. Oh god. Is it possible the shooter had only been shooting at the ground, and I inadvertently pushed Jeter into the trajectory? Therefore, it’s my fault he almost died?” She hopped off the sink to think and pace. Her mind tried to imagine how the shooter would’ve set up to make the shot.
“Have you tried to pull up cameras from the alley last night?” It would make sense if he could do it everywhere else.
“Of course, I tried. Whoever did that half-assed hit also ensured the surveillance video's angles cut off a half hour before and after the incident. Don’t worry, though. I have a program that is looking for certain details. If there’s a hit, I’ll find it.” He didn’t sound happy, but then again, she didn’t know his nuances.
“There’s no doubt in my mind if there’s a clue, you’ll find it,” she agreed.
“Someone went to great lengths to set that fake hit up. From what I can tell, it looks very much like a setup. The question is why, and then we’ll get a who. They thought you’d run back inside like a frightened girl who needed saving.”
“That’s nuts. Why would they do that? Alberto is dead. My family is dead to me, and vice versa. Who would gain from shooting at me?”
She looked at the doorway. Her eyes widened as Jeter stared at her. “Grigori was at the bar having a meeting he organized. He used the pretense of his daughter eloping with another man to get my brother there, which he knew would cause a war between the two families. You have ties to the Rizzo family. It’s not too far-fetched to think he knows who you are.”
“That’s crazy. H...haven’t they lived in the same city for like ever?” She looked at the phone like it would have all the answers.
Jeter shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes. “He wants my brother’s territory. If he could get the backing of one of New York’s big five, it’s possible he could overtake the Calderones. My brother’s organization is the largest in the city. Rizzo is a greedy fuck who doesn’t want to work for his riches. He’s always been that way, even when we were growing up. I remember he and Kendrick had been friends until they weren’t. My brother was always popular and excelled. I looked up to him as only a little brother does. Watching Grigori try to outdo Kendrick was comical. There’s one memory that almost makes me feel sorry for the fucker. His brother Alberto was at their last football game their senior year. Their family sat in front of ours. While my brother was the quarterback, Rizzo was on the bench. Alberto taunted Grigori about being the bench warmer while the next Boss led the team. He was so loud that everyone heard and laughed at Grigori. After that game, Grigori and my brother got into a knockdown, drag-out fight, and Kendrick beat the shit out of his best friend. After that night, none of the Rizzos ever returned to our house.”
“Alberto was a bully,” she said. “I’m sorry for pushing you.”
JETER FRAMED HER FACE in his hands. “You didn’t do shit, Vita Mia. Whoever it was, whether it was Rizzo or someone else who set the shooter up, they’re responsible. I believe everything happens for a reason. Those dumb fucks didn’t know you’d have me out there with you. Know what that means?”
He waited for her to shake her head or say no. Her hands gripped his arms, and she shook her head.
“It means I was destined to be there and stop you from falling into their clutches. It means you and I were meant to meet.”
“And this is when we hang up, so we don’t have to hear you have phone sex,” Keys said.
“We aren’t going to have phone sex, asshole.” Jeter rolled his eyes, smiling down at Tori.
“Of course not. You’re not on the phone across the city from one another. That would be ridiculous. However, if we stay on the phone and hear you having sex, it’s considered phone sex. I’d have to get my ole’ lady in here, and then I’d have to have sex. That would be dual phone sex. I’m not sure if that’s legal.”
Jeter heard the fucker tapping away on his keyboard, probably googling the legalities of said sexcapades. “I’ll let you guys know our plans once we get dressed and ready to roll out of here. She’s got security cameras at her place, but I’ll do some recon around the area before we try to enter her building.”
“I already logged into the cameras surrounding her block. When you’re ready to head that way, let me know. I’ll hop onto the server and follow you through the eye-in-the-sky cam. Also, your neighbor’s camera was dead last night, so it didn’t capture anything. However, she charged it overnight. It appears to work now. I’ll let you know if she gets any hits that yours doesn’t.”