Chapter Twenty-Two – Kian
Kian
The second I saw Cadie sitting on the steps with some guy, I let out what felt like the first full breath since I had found out she was missing. I was guessing it was Michael next to her, but why were they both just sitting there holding hands like old friends? The guy had kidnapped her. Or had he?
“That’s Michael Bellucci,” Lionel said as he slowed. I opened the door and practically jumped out of a moving car.
When I saw Cadie holding Michael’s hand, I frowned. She slowly stood and held up her hands. “It’s okay, he’s not going to do anything.”
She was right; Michael sat there, not moving an inch. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Lionel, Mick, and Lucas with their guns pulled and pointed toward Michael and Cadie.
“Stand up, Michael,” Lionel said. “Hands on your head, turn around, and slowly walk toward my voice.”
Michael did exactly what he was told to do. Once he was in custody, I rushed over and pulled Cadie into my arms. I knew I was holding her too tightly, but I didn’t care .
“Can’t breathe,” she whispered.
I pushed her back at arm’s length and looked her over. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me. I promise.”
My hands moved over her body, checking for myself. “Why were you sitting on the porch holding his hand?”
“I figured no one would shoot him that way.”
I laughed. “My God, Cadie. Did you honestly think they wouldn’t have their guns drawn?”
“Well, I was kind of hoping they wouldn’t. I’m so sorry about all of this.”
I kissed her forehead and whispered, “You don’t owe me an apology. I was so scared.”
She took my hands in hers. “I’m okay. I am a bit concerned that Michael was able to slip by the FBI. He’s not exactly a smart criminal. Just ask him, and he’ll agree with me.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Lionel putting Michael into the back of one of the black SUVs. “I don’t even want to look at him right now because I’m afraid I’ll kill him.”
She chuckled. “I told him he would need to be more worried about you than the FBI.”
I let out a long breath. “You’re right. He does need to worry about me. All I could think about was when I got here how I was going to kill him with my two hands.”
“And I love you for that.”
Cadie’s eyes widened when she realized what she had said. I acted as if I hadn’t caught it, and she let out a small, relieved breath.
“How in the hell did you get him to come to the cabin?”
“Well,” she started as she looked toward the vehicle where Michael was sitting. “It was all by mistake. Michael was staying close by in a rented cabin, and he noticed no one was staying at this one. He thought we could stay here and leave for Boston tomorrow.”
“Boston?”
Cadie nodded. “He had orders from his father to take me back to him.”
I closed my eyes and sent a prayer of thanks that their plan was foiled.
“How did he know you were here?”
She drew in a long breath and exhaled. “Is Mark here?”
“He’s on his way back right now. I think Lionel told him we had a location on you.”
“Did the FBI agent see us approach the cabin?”
“No, he was pulled off surveillance the other day for another mission, or whatever the hell they call it. They thought it would be okay since we weren’t staying here.”
“That explains why no one saw Michael snooping around the cabin. Thank God, Mark had the silent alarm put in, though.”
“Yeah, he’s getting a damn good Christmas present this year.”
She chuckled. “Let’s get out of here.”
I wrapped my arm around her and held her close as we walked toward where Lucas stood. “May we drive back with you?”
“Sure thing,” he said as he opened the back door, and we both crawled into the SUV.
Mark arrived shortly after we got back to my parents’ house. Michael was sitting in the living room, with Lucas and Lionel flanking both sides of him. Cadie had asked them to take the cuffs off, and they agreed after she promised them Michael wasn’t going to run.
Michael had told Mark and Lucas about how he had known Cadie was in Moose Village and how his father had threatened to hurt Melanie if he didn’t get Cadie back to Boston. He told them about how he had never wanted to be part of his father’s darker world but had been pulled into it anyway. When Lucas asked if Michael would be willing to testify against his father, he looked at Cadie.
“If he does this, what about the murder?”
Lucas leaned back in his chair. “He killed someone, Cadie.”
“Yes, but his father threatened his sister and mother if Michael didn’t fall into line.”
Mark turned to Lucas. “If he was coerced into the killing, we might be able to work with that.”
“What do you want in return?” Lucas asked.
“I’d really like to not go to jail and not be killed by someone my father hires. For my mom and sister to also be safe. And Melanie, I’d like for her to be safe as well. She didn’t ask for any of this.”
“Does he have her now?” Mark asked.
“He has eyes on her and can grab her at any moment.”
Lucas looked at Lionel. “Get her information from Michael, then put a tail on her.”
“Not to be that guy,” Michael said. “But I was able to get around you guys, and I’m not even close to being good at this. How can I be sure she’ll be safe?”
“The first thing we need to ask,” Cadie said. “Does she know you’re involved with your father’s mob business? ”
He nodded. “I told her what was happening when I left. She wasn’t happy, but she was more scared for me and you. I told her to keep going on like nothing was happening. I know my father has someone following her around, but when I spoke to her this morning, she was at work.”
Cadie smiled. “That was sweet of her to be worried about me.”
I stood. “Does no one else think this is all just fucked up? This guy killed someone, he kidnapped Cadie, and now we’re worried about how his girlfriend feels?”
Mark walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. “I know you’re upset, Kian.”
“Upset? I’m more than upset, Mark. I want to wrap my hands around his neck and choke him.”
Michael held up his hands. “I’m not arguing with you on that. I’d want to kill me too if the roles were reversed.”
It was Lucas who spoke next. “Kian, the bigger picture here is Michael’s father. If we can get Michael to testify on the crimes his father has done, we can put him and others in jail. The man has killed hundreds, if not thousands, of people. He’s worked with arms dealers in other countries, and who knows what else he has his hands in that the FBI doesn’t know about. If it means putting Michael in protective custody and giving him a new life, then it’s worth it.”
“And he gets off scot-free from killing someone and whatever crimes he has orchestrated?”
“To get a bigger, more dangerous criminal off the streets, yes. You know this is how it works, Kian. You just don’t like it this time because it’s personal.”
I pushed my hand through my hair and sighed. “And what about Cadie? How do we keep her safe? Just because Michael is turning sides, does that mean his father will still be able to come after her?”
“This is all I’ve been thinking about!” Cadie stated.
Lucas spoke. “We’ll keep someone here in Moose Village with her. We don’t have to stay so hidden, which will make it easier, as long as Cadie doesn’t mind having a bodyguard for a while.”
She smiled. “I don’t mind.”
Nodding, I said, “Good. Okay.”
Lucas stood. “Michael, can you call Melanie? We’ll want to get her into protective custody immediately.”
Cadie took my hand, and we left the room, leaving the FBI agents to figure out the next move. Mark followed us.
I leaned against the counter. “How do you deal with this all the time?”
Mark laughed. “CIA doesn’t deal with this kind of stuff, at least the department I work in doesn’t. I’m more of the go-and-save-the-day kind of agent.”
I raised my brow. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”
He slapped me on the side of my arm. “I’m glad everything is working out for the best, and you’re back safe, Cadie.”
She smiled. “Me too. Now what?”
Mark glanced over his shoulder and then back to us. “They’ll keep at least one agent here with you until the trial ends. Don’t expect it to be over quickly, though. It could take some time to get Bellucci convicted.”
“How will this work? Will they just follow me around all the time?” Cadie asked.
“They’ll try not to make it look obvious, but yeah. You’ll have an agent with you pretty much at all times. ”
“I think we should look for a house and not stay at the cabin,” I said as I looked from my brother to Cadie.
“That’s probably a good idea. You could just stay here,” Mark stated.
“No, I don’t want Mom and Dad to learn about this.”
Mark nodded. “I agree.”
“But all of my furniture I bought. I’ve barely used it,” Cadie complained.
I shrugged. “We’ll just move it to a new place. I mean, that’s if you want to move in together.”
A wide smile grew across her beautiful face. “I would love that.”
Turning to look straight at Mark, Cadie asked, “Wait, does this mean I can contact my family now?”
He smiled. “Yes. I would try to keep it simple though. Don’t tell them too much, like where you are…just yet.”
She exhaled. “Okay. But I can call them?”
Nodding, Mark replied, “Yes, you can.”
Spinning to look at me, a wide smile broke out onto her face as tears started to form in her eyes. I had to fight the urge to pull her to me and kiss her.
Mark clapped his hands. “Now that everything is settled, I need to leave and get back to my team.”
Facing my brother, I held out my hand. We shook, and I pulled him to me. “Be careful, Mark.”
He hugged me for just a second longer than usual. “I will, big brother.”
When we stepped apart, Cadie hugged Mark. “Thank you for everything. Please stay safe, okay?”
“I will.” He kissed her on the forehead and then flashed us a brilliant smile. “I’m going to go let Lucas know I’m leaving. Kiss Macy and the kids for me? ”
“Will do.”
My brother turned and walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room. Cadie put her hand on my arm and squeezed it. “He’s going to be okay.”
I let out a breath. “I hope so. A part of me wishes I didn’t know what he really did for a living.”
“I can totally understand that. But he’ll be safe. I, um…I should get to the bakery.”
Spinning around, I looked at her. “What? Cadie, you’ve been through so much this morning. Besides, it’s after three and closed.”
“I know, but we have so much baking to do. And honestly, Kian, I feel happy when I’m at the bakery. Calm.”
“Well,” I said as I drew her to me. “Who am I to stand in the way of your happiness.”
She smiled up at me. “I guess this means we need to go house hunting?”
I laughed. “I guess so. Talk about a major milestone in our relationship!”
Her nose wrinkled in the most adorable way. “Are we up for it?”
Cupping her face in my hands, I smiled. “I know I’m up for it.”
“Me too! But first, I need to call my parents and brother. Then, I’ve got some baking I need to do!”