Deadly Conflicts (Hardy Brothers Security Book 21) (10 page)

“Um, yeah.” James shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. “I … um … am glad you like it.”

“I love it,” Louis said.

Pride and love swelled through Jake’s chest when he realized Louis wasn’t going to press James and Mandy about not telling him what happened during Avery’s birth. This was a family he desperately wanted to be a part of. “Will you give me your permission?”

Louis turned his eyes back to Jake. “I give you my permission, son.”

“Yay!” Mandy hopped up and down as she clapped her hands. “I can’t wait. What kind of ring are you going to get?”

Jake smiled at the effervescent blonde. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to need you to help me decide that.”

“Double yay!” Mandy was beyond giddy.

“Does this mean I’m out of the doghouse?” James asked hopefully.

“Not until your fingers fall off,” Mandy said, dodging his hands when he reached for her and hurrying to Jake so she could hug him. “Welcome to the family.”

J
ake picked
Mandy up at her house the next morning, making a face when he got out of his truck and realized Louis and James were waiting, too.

“I didn’t realize this was going to be a group outing,” Jake said, conflicted. “I … why are you guys going?”

“We’re not going,” James replied. “I have no inclination to go ring shopping with you and my wife. That sounds like a special kind of torture that only you can truly enjoy.”

Mandy and Jake made twin faces of disgust, causing Louis to chuckle.

“Then why are you here?” Jake asked.

“Because I didn’t want Mandy waiting alone in case … well, you know,” James replied, casting a furtive look in his father’s direction. He obviously didn’t want to discuss Mandy’s penchant for finding trouble in front of an audience. “I’m also trying to talk my father out of going to Peter’s house with me.”

Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “Peter? Why are you going over there?”

In addition to being Sophie Lane’s adopted father, Peter Marconi was also a high-ranking figure in the Detroit mafia scene. The Hardy family had a unique relationship with the man and went to him on certain cases when they were stuck looking for answers, but Jake was surprised James deemed Vince’s missing car as important enough to bother the man.

“He’s going to give me a list of chop shops,” James replied. “I wasn’t planning on going over there until Dad insisted he wanted to meet Peter. Now we’re going on a special outing, too.”

“Ha, ha,” Mandy intoned, wagging a finger in front of James’ nose. “That’s what you get for telling Jake I’m going to torture him.”

“I didn’t say you were going to torture him, wife,” James clarified, snagging Mandy’s finger and pressing a kiss to the tip. “I said ring shopping with you when you’re picking the perfect ring out for Ally sounded torturous. There’s a difference.”

“Not really,” Jake said.

“No one asked you,” James snapped. “Don’t make me regret loaning you my wife.”

Mandy made a face. “Loaning him your wife?”

“That came out wrong,” James said. “For the record, I would never loan you to anyone. You’re all mine and I’m thrilled that’s the way it’s going to be for the rest of our very long lives.”

“Smooth,” Mandy said, although she still appeared standoffish with her husband. “Maybe you should loan me out. You seem open to the suggestion.”

“Oh, man,” James groused, pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead. “Are you going to do this all day? I thought we made up last night. My fingers still hurt and I dreamed we were stuck on that banana boat when the shark attacked in the fourth
Jaws
movie. It was creepy, wife.”

“Banana boat?” Louis wrinkled his nose. “Son, you need to branch out on your viewing habits.”

“Don’t blame me,” James said. “Blame her.”

“Oh, I can’t blame her,” Louis countered. “She’s perfect.”

Mandy beamed at her father-in-law, reminding Jake they had a special relationship all their own. Since Mandy and Ally grew up together, Louis and Rose knew Mandy from when she was quite small. They loved her as much as they did their own children.

“I should’ve married you,” Mandy said, kissing Louis’ cheek. “You know how to treat me right.”

“Yes, and I’m sure Mom will love hearing that,” James said.

“Leave her alone,” Louis said, lightly slapping his son’s arm. “She has good taste.”

“She does,” James agreed, snagging Mandy by the back of the neck and pulling her so her body was flush against his. “I love you and don’t want to fight. I’ll make up for whatever bad thing I said when you get home tonight.”

“I’ll consider your offer and get back to you,” Mandy said, although she offered her cheek to James so he could kiss it. “I love you, too.”

“Have fun,” James said, swatting Mandy’s rear end as she skipped toward Jake’s truck. “Watch her.”

“I won’t let her out of my sight,” Jake said. “I promise to keep her safe.”

“You do that,” James said. “I would be lost without her.”

Jake grinned. “I know the feeling.”

“
S
O
, WHAT
can I do for you?”

The woman at the jewelry store was bubbly, bright, and excited when Jake and Mandy walked through the door. She immediately set Jake’s teeth on edge while Mandy happily moved forward.

“We’re looking for engagement rings,” Mandy replied. “We need something classic and beautiful.”

“Oh, how wonderful,” the woman cooed. “My name is Janet and I would love to help you and your fiancé.”

“He’s not my fiancé,” Mandy said. “He’s going to be my best friend’s fiancé.”

“Oh, that’s fun,” Janet said, moving down the counter and stopping in front of a large display case. “I’m guessing he needs a woman’s opinion to pick out the perfect ring.”

“I just want my Ally to have the ring she’s always wanted,” Jake said, licking his lips. His voice was low and he was clearly out of his element. “I’m not sure what her dream is.”

“Well, we have a lot of choices,” Janet said. “What kind of budget are we working with?”

Jake and Mandy exchanged a quick look.

“I’m honestly not sure,” Jake replied finally. “What are my options?”

“Well, that’s kind of a loaded question,” Janet answered. “It depends on the kind of ring you want to get your girlfriend. There are things like cut, clarity, and gold type to consider.”

“We want a princess cut with no side adornments and a platinum band,” Mandy said.

Jake had no idea what that meant, but Janet obviously did because her smarmy smile widened, if that was even possible.

“Okay, it sounds as if you have a good starting point,” she said, opening the door beneath the case and pulling out a display stand. “There are quite a few rings here to choose from.”

Jake’s eyes widened as he studied the twinkling gems. “Wow. I … which one should I choose?”

“It all depends on how much you want to spend,” Janet said. “She is going to be your wife, after all, so I’m thinking bigger is better.”

“Uh-huh.” Jake’s mouth went dry as Mandy shot the sales clerk a dark look.

“Don’t pressure him,” Mandy warned. “He’s already panicking. Jake, it’s okay. Ally is going to love anything you pick out. Any of these rings would be fine.”

Jake didn’t believe Mandy for a second. She was working overtime to soothe him, a job that was not supposed to belong to her today. “How much is that one?” Jake pointed to a mid-sized ring in the center of the display.

“Oh, that’s a nice choice,” Janet said, retrieving the ring. “With sizing, this one would cost sixteen thousand.”

Jake’s eyes widened to saucer-like proportions. “Seriously?”

“If that’s too much, we have other options.” Janet said the words, but her tone said otherwise as her enthusiasm waned.

“I didn’t say it was too much,” Jake argued. “It’s just … is this what she wants?” He turned to Mandy, a desperate look on his face.

For her part, Mandy was unsure of Jake’s financial situation. She knew James paid him well, but that didn’t mean he could afford to spend a small fortune on an engagement ring. She worried she could bankrupt him if she wasn’t careful.

“She’ll love whatever you pick out,” Mandy repeated, helplessness coursing through her. “She just wants to be with you, Jake.”

Jake hated the conflicted look clouding Mandy’s features. “Mandy, I’m not asking you to protect me and tell me what you think I want to hear. I’m asking you to point out the ring that will make all of Ally’s dreams come true.”

Mandy smiled, love for Jake bubbling up. He was so earnest and determined she couldn’t help but adore him. “Ally’s dreams are going to come true when she marries you,” Mandy said. “The ring is nice and it’s a symbol of your love, but you’re the thing that will make her dreams come true.”

“That’s very sweet,” Jake said. “Now stop pussyfooting around and lay it on me. I want Ally to have every single thing she’s ever wanted. That includes the right ring. Why do you think I brought you? I could let this one hoodwink me if I didn’t need your guidance.”

Janet made a face. “I hardly think I’m hoodwinking you.”

“Shut up, Janet,” Mandy ordered, locking gazes with Jake. “Here’s the thing, I don’t want to bankrupt you. I’m not sure how much you can afford.”

“I can afford whatever she wants,” Jake said. “Try me.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”

Mandy’s face split into a wide grin as she giggled. “Oh, you’re going to make Ally so happy,” she said, extending her finger toward the case and bypassing every ring on the display stand. “Show me that deco one in the corner.”

Janet’s eyes widened. “That is vintage.”

“You heard the man,” Mandy said. “Price isn’t a consideration.”

Jake smirked at the determined look on her face. “I knew it wasn’t going to be torturous shopping with you. James exaggerates.”

“You haven’t seen the price tag on that,” Mandy said. “You might want to hold back on your adoration.”

“Oh, no,” Jake said, shaking his head when he saw Mandy’s face light up as she got a closer gander at the ring. “I’m going to adore you forever.”

“I think we have a winner,” Mandy said, sighing as she held up the ring. “This looks exactly like the ring Ally showed me in a magazine when we were fourteen. I was dreaming of marrying James and she wanted … whoever the quarterback was on the football team that year.”

“Well, I guess we’ve made our decision,” Jake said, handing the ring to the clerk without even glancing at the price tag. “Ring her up.”

“
T
HANK
YOU
for seeing us on such short notice,” James said, shaking Peter’s hand as the man led him inside of his mammoth Grosse Pointe mansion an hour later. “I didn’t think a face-to-face meeting was in order, but my father was insistent on being introduced and seeing where Sophie grew up.”

“That’s fine,” Peter said, waving off James’ apology. “I wasn’t doing much anyway. I’ve enjoyed running through the names of some of the area chop shops. I should do it more often. I found a few I want to snuff out of existence.”

Louis’ eyes widened at Peter’s blasé attitude. “Wow. Will you kill them?”

“Dad!” James was alarmed. “He didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

“It’s fine,” Peter said, chuckling. “I find it refreshing. Your father is merely curious.”

“He’s something,” James muttered, taking a seat in the middle of Peter’s arboretum and smiling at the woman who poured him a mug of tea “Did you find anything?”

“We haven’t found the specific car, but that’s a pretty small circle and everyone who cuts cars knows everyone else,” Peter replied. “The rumor is that it was an inside job and people are just waiting to see where it will turn up.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me,” James said. “I can’t stand the jerkoff who owns the car and I’ve been wondering if he’s somehow involved.”

“Yes, Sophie gave me a brief rundown on him,” Peter said. “It sounds as if he’s a real … what’s that word Mandy uses all of the time?”

“Tool,” James supplied. “He is a real tool. He’s supposed to be getting us a list of his employees. We’ll run everyone and go from there. It’s just such an odd way to steal a car.”

“Yes, it doesn’t sound very professional,” Peter agreed, shifting his attention to Louis. “Tell me, Mr. Hardy, what do you think of your son’s business?”

“Call me Louis.”

“Then you must call me Peter,” the gentlemanly mobster said. “We’re almost family, after all. I’m sure eventually we will be family.”

Louis stilled. “Wait … are Grady and Sophie engaged, too?”

“Not yet,” James replied. “Soon, though. Grady has a ring. Sophie is the one stalling for a little time. I think she’s still wrapping her head around a few things. It won’t be long now.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to a big wedding,” Peter said. “I don’t care what Sophie wants at all.”

James chuckled. “Mandy is with Jake picking out a ring for Ally right now.”

Peter’s face lit up. “Really? That is delightful news.”

“You seem more excited for Ally to get engaged than Sophie,” Louis said. “How come?”

“Sophie and Ally are very different people,” Peter explained. “Sophie wants a home and to feel safe. She doesn’t necessarily want children … at least right now. Grady makes her feel safe and loved. He also has something of a wild side and she’s far too serious sometimes. She grounds him and he allows her the chance to cut loose. They’re a good match, but marriage doesn’t have to happen right away for them.

“Ally, on the other hand, is desperate to be a mother,” he continued. “She feels safe whenever she’s in close proximity to Jake. He’s calm and reticent while she’s bubbly and over-the-top. They are also a good fit, but Ally wants to be married because she’s ready to start a family. That is the difference.”

“I guess I never thought of that,” Louis said, rubbing his chin. “You know a lot about everyone in the family.”

“We’ve had occasion to work together on a few things,” Peter said evasively.

“Like Lance Pritchard trying to kill Emma and Mandy and steal the baby?”

James froze at his father’s question, his mouth working but no sound coming out.

“I did not have enough to do with that situation.” If Peter recognized James’ distress, he didn’t comment on it. “I should’ve put people in the house with Emma and Mandy that day. If I had … .”

“You can’t go back in time,” Louis said. “They’re both alive. The baby is thriving. I guess we should be happy about that.”

“I guess we should,” Peter conceded.

James finally found his voice. “Who told you?”

“I asked Jake about the change in the guesthouse and he reluctantly told me,” Louis answered. “Don’t give him a hard time. He was in a bad place and nervous. I used that to my advantage. I think the better question is: Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t trying to keep it from you, Dad,” James said, choosing his words carefully. “I just didn’t want Mandy smothered right away. She was having a hard time. Then, as time went on, I didn’t know how to tell you because I kept it a secret for so long.”

“I understand about wanting to protect Mandy,” Louis said. “I love her, too. You can’t shut everyone else out, though. Other people love her.”