Chapter 22
Jaxon
“We’re going to corner Carmine today,” Alexander said almost far too casually for what was at stake. The phone call hadn’t been expected.
“Good morning to you too.” I walked inside from my perch on the back deck, leaving my lost angel alone. I’d remained in her bed all night long.
At least this time, Anastasia hadn’t attempted to leave.
With my coffee mug in my hand, I stood staring out the window, enjoying her interaction with Zorro.
Christ, the pup had made his way onto the bed maybe halfway through the night. He’d managed to curl up between us. His presence had awakened me and I’d enjoyed more than an hour of watching the two of them sleeping.
Her arm around him. His paw constantly touching her.
What was it I’d heard about dogs? If you wanted to attract women, you got a dog? A steak was definitely in Zorro’s future.
“What do you mean we?” I finally caught on that he wanted me with him at the meeting.
“I’ve thought about everything that’s happened and you’re right to be concerned. There is something brewing. Therefore, I think you should mention your guest.”
“What are you thinking?” I took a swallow of coffee, more relaxed than I’d been in a long time. Maybe it was her trust in providing her real name. How many times had I already whispered Anastasia, enjoying the way doing so tickled my tongue?
“I don’t know for certain yet, but Carmine is going to fill in a few blanks. Any leads on Anna?”
“Her name is Anastasia. She has a family and while she hasn’t admitted it, they are from Italy.”
“Well, then we might have an interesting conversation with Carmine. My guess is a war is brewing in Italy.”
There was always a battle brewing somewhere in the world. Not all crime syndicates were as engaged in the more modern use of business applications, preferring the old school of displays of violence to prove points or win territories.
“You arranged a meeting?”
He laughed. “No. However, he has the day off. No surgeries. We’re going to enjoy a drive and finally take a few minutes to see the inside of his house. I heard it was recently renovated. Meet me at one-thirty at Indulgence. We’ll go over the particulars and head out from there.”
“Will do.” I shoved the phone into my jeans pocket, smiling from seeing her face lighting up. She’d found one of Zorro’s balls, laughing as she tossed and he chased.
Seeing her in my backyard seemed far too normal.
It was picture perfect, much like I’d envisioned a long time before when as a young man I’d indulged in the thought of having a family of my own.
Just watching her made me realize she could be caught in the middle of the very war Alexander had mentioned.
With the danger escalating, discovering everything possible about her had become a necessity. I dialed Donatello’s number.
“Boss man.”
Sighing, my grip on the phone tightened. “We’re putting the squeeze on Carmine today. I need you to do a few things.”
“Sure thing.
“Have security placed on the ballet theater. I’ll be there for Anastasia’s performance. I need a check on the Barishnikoff family and if there’s been any Russian visitors so check the airports not only in New Orleans but also Baton Rouge and even Atlanta.”
“Jesus Christ, boss. That will take time.’
“We don’t have time. Get every computer tech on it. They should be able to find out about flights coming in from Moscow within minutes.”
“Anything else?”
“Check every single database we have and see what you can find on Anastasia Scavo.”
“Whew,” Donatello answered, albeit skeptically. “Do you want me to cross reference when she arrived at the American Ballet Theater as well?”
“Not a bad idea.”
“I was fucking kidding!”
“I need to know what I’m dealing with. The shit’s getting ready to come down. I can feel it and Alexander is certain of it. Make this a priority and call me when you have anything.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”
After the meeting with Carmine, my next stop would be a visit with Irina Novikov.
I took my coffee outside, leaning against the deck railing. Given the time of year, my garden was in bloom, not that I was the one who took care of the landscaping needs.
Especially the goddamn roses.
While I had furniture all over the backyard, most of which I’d never even sat in before, I chose to sit on the edge of the raised deck where there was no railing. When was the last time I’d bothered to spend time outside?
Business was always front and center and had been for decades.
I’d preferred it that way for a significant reason.
Not only because of my drive and ambition, but because it had been too damn painful otherwise.
I hadn’t even paid any attention over the last few years. I’d been going through the motions.
My God. What kind of life had I driven myself into living?
Anastasia didn’t notice me for a few minutes, enjoying her time. She’d ‘borrowed’ a pair of my gym shorts and a tee shirt, which looked far better on her than they ever could on my sweaty body.
Zorro caught the ball midair and she pumped her fist. “Woof. Woof. Woof!” Her exuberance was catching. She threw it one more time and when Zorro came rushing back again, I intervened, snatching the ball from her.
Jumping, she shrieked and almost fell onto the damp grass. When I caught her arm, she still teetered.
My laugh brought a growl from her luscious lips. “You scared me to death.”
“Don’t worry, my sweet ballerina. There are cameras everywhere, my security system topnotch. If any boogeymen would have found their way onto my property, I’d already know about it. Besides, I don’t think Zorro is going to allow anything to happen to you.”
“You don’t?” She threw the furry boy a quick look.
He still had the tennis ball in his mouth. “Nah. I have a feeling he’s more your dog than mine. How did that happen?”
“Because I’m a fabulous person.”
“Oh,” I gasped. “And I’m not. I see.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Jesus. The woman could make me smile.
Together, we walked back to the deck where we both sat down on the edge as I’d done before. Zorro was right by her side, placing the ball in her lap.
Anastasia didn’t mind at all, continuing to toss the ball while I returned to my coffee. “He’s an amazing boy.”
“Now, a guard dog. Who knew Zorro would be so versatile.”
She acted as if she was concentrating, almost monotonous in how she continued to throw the ball. “You have a beautiful home and yard. I love your roses. They’re my favorite flower.”
“Well, I wish I could say I had a hand in keeping them alive, but that’s not my forte.”
A few seconds ticked by, the light breeze creating a rustling sound.
“How do you stand it?” she asked, her voice filled with reverence.
“Stand what?”
She brushed hair behind her ear while looking at me. “You’re rich and evidently famous, but you need a tight security system and weapons. My guess is you have some kind of safe room. You’re always on edge and you look behind you everywhere you go.”
“That would be my brother with the panic room.” I tried to laugh off her concerns, but I could tell she was really bothered. “Because it’s necessary to be prepared.”
“Yeah, I do understand. Maybe that’s why I just grew tired of living in fear and being forced to stay behind locked doors.”
“You sound like my sister-in-law.”
“Which one?”
She had me laughing. “You’re right. All three of them. Emmeline as well. Sometimes I don’t think they fully embrace the world we live in. We do what we need to do to keep those we care about safe.”
“Somehow, I think Zorro can take care of himself.” She threw me another look that was quite challenging.
I placed the mug on the deck and lifted my gaze toward the roses.
“Talk to me, Jaxon. You have so much inside the big head of yours. Just like you promised not to hurt me, I will make that same promise to you.”
She was something else.
“When I was in college, I fell in love with this wild child of a girl. Her name was Rose. She walked into my economics class and had to sit near me. I was hooked and she wanted nothing to do with me. Not a damn thing. Now, as a Prince boy, I thought I was all that and several bags of chips. You’ve heard that expression. Right?”
She giggled in response. “I can see that about you.”
“Yeah, I was that arrogant prick. Maybe I still am. It took me two months before she agreed to have coffee with me. I pulled out the stops too and she hated me. She had no problem telling me how much. Another two months and I finally broke her down once again. Just before Christmas.”
“You do wear on people.” Anastasia nudged me with her elbow. “I mean grow on people.”
“Very funny.” The memories were as bittersweet as the ones she’d had. “After a much-improved date, we were inseparable. She even came and spent one summer with me here in New Orleans. We talked about getting married.”
She obviously noticed my face falling. “What happened?”
“The spring of our senior year. We walked everywhere together and one night, we were teasing each other and Rose darted out in the road just as a drunk driver rolled down the street exceeding the speed limit.” I took a deep breath and Anastasia grabbed my hand, squeezing my fingers.
“Hit her straight on. She died instantly.”
“My God. I’m so sorry.”
“I couldn’t believe it. She was laughing, blowing me kisses just a few minutes before and suddenly she was lying in a pool of blood. I just went nuts. I pulled the driver out of the car. I didn’t care who he was or what excuse he had. I beat the shit out of him.”
My sweet angel didn’t pull away, instead lifting my hand to her face, using the warmth of her skin to keep me from falling into despair.
“All I know is that I ended up in jail that night. Can you believe it? Of course the stupid kid was the police chief’s son. He was only sixteen years old. Got drunk and stole Daddy’s fancy SUV.”
“Jesus. What happened to him?”
“Not a goddamn thing. All our power and influence meant nothing in Connecticut. In fact, I was almost tossed out of the university. My father had to pull in several favors to keep me there. Not that I gave a shit. My Rose was gone. My life was over. If it hadn’t been for my older brother, I wouldn’t have graduated.
After that, I shut down and worked. That’s it. ”
“That’s why the tattoo?”
I held out my arm, nodding. “That’s why there are several of them.
Getting another piece of ink etched in my skin was my way of coping instead of drugs.
That and violence. I was the enforcer for the family for a little while.
Against my mother’s wishes. I volunteered any time there was an issue.
And I learned that caring about someone is a weakness I can’t handle. ”
Telling the story didn’t cause the reaction I’d believed. I ached, but not for Rose as much as for fear of losing an opportunity of being with Anastasia.
“Rose would want you to live,” Anastasia offered.
“She would. Just like that’s all you’ve ever wanted, to be freed from your confines. I know you can’t trust me enough yet to tell me your full story, but you need to understand. If you are who I think you are, whatever trouble found you in New York will find you again.”
“I’ve heard that before. I’m trying to find out what’s going on.”
“That’s fine, Anastasia, but I’m going to throw out a scenario.
I think you were brought to New Orleans on purpose, your invitation coerced and whether Irina is a friend or foe remains to be seen.
My guess is your father is one of the Five Families out of Italy.
As I’ve already mentioned to you, we are in an alliance with the Russo Cosa Nostra, a branch of what I believe is a member of the Five Families. ”
Her eyes sparked, indicating I was correct.
“Alliances are made and broken often in our world. I think you already know that. In fact, I have a feeling your father, while honoring your wish by allowing you to come to America, was also doing so in hopes of protecting you from a very dark history within the Cosa Nostra. Admirable, but he’s unable to keep you safe from this distance.
Just keep in mind that with these alliances, people are bought and sold all the time as merchandise. ”
“I’m not certain if I should take that as a threat.”
My laugh was likely too harsh. “Not at all. If there’s one thing about our family, it’s that we’re civilized. But… A marriage could keep you safe. That is of course if you’re who I think you are.”
“With you.”
“Well, yes. In truth it would.”
“I’m not ready to get married to anyone.”
“And that I can understand. But it’s something for you to think about.”
She took a deep breath and it was easy to tell she was fighting with herself, wanting to trust but finding little or no reason. I couldn’t blame her.
“Who is your father, Anastasia? Please confide in me.”
After a few seconds, she lowered her head.
“I can’t. I just… Please trust me that it’s better if you don’t know.”
Goddamn it. How the hell was I going to convince her to trust me?
I nodded and rose to my feet. “At some point, if you don’t talk to me, I might not be able to protect you, and trust me, Anastasia.” I turned to face her. “If anything happens to you, I won’t take it very well. Not very well at all.”
While I walked away, the ache in my heart continued to increase. What this woman had done to me. Hell, I’d barked at her like some asshole the night before. What the fuck was wrong with me?
“Are you coming to see me perform tonight?”
Her voice was hopeful, and of course I turned to face her. Her eyes filled with sadness from my story and a heavy weight of what she already knew she was facing. Dancing around the truth wouldn’t make the taste of the pill any less bitter. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
At that moment when her face lit up I realized there was nothing more I wanted on this earth than to please her.
Femme fatale or not.