Nowhere to Run (Stephanie Carovella) (26 page)

Jase grimaced. He knew that what he was about to tell Gena would rock her to the core. “Gena, after Frank and I found about the sealed file, we started to wonder what other skeletons she might have in her closet.”

“And do you know what we found out about the friend you claim to know so well? The one, who you said wouldn’t hide anything from you?” Delucci brutally pressed on, interrupting Jase.

Gena was silent, unable to speak, her body rigid with shock. She tried to process the news about the sealed file, but found it difficult to believe. Savagely she mentally kicked herself. No, this wasn’t true. Stephanie
always
had been the secretive type. The fact she had a sealed file wasn’t as much a shock to her as the fact that she’d never mentioned it. Not once. Not to anyone.

“Digging a little deeper, we discovered this isn’t the first murder Stephanie Carovella has been entangled in.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Gena said, her head snapping at Frank’s claim, disbelief on her face.

“Gena, Stephanie witnessed the double murder of her parents when she was eight years old. The L.A.P.D found her two days later, covered in their blood, wandering the streets. Her parents were found butchered in their bedroom. They’d been tortured to death,” Jase blurted out.

Gena’s shock turned to horror and then an overwhelming sense of betrayal. Stephanie had never told her. The fact she’d kept something so dark and twisted as her parents murder from her, from anyone, stunned her.

“You didn’t know?” Delucci asked sympathetically, watching her emotions flash across her face.

Gena shook her head, closing her eyes. “My God no, she never told us. I’ve got to admit a sealed file is so very Stephanie. She’s never been afraid to stand up and kick the world in the ass. But this…” Her voice trailed off, as her sense of betrayal evaporated and quickly turned to sorrow for the anguish Stephanie must have gone through.

“Damn, she never told any of us,” she whispered.

“You don’t think Dominic knew?” Jase asked, arching an eyebrow in surprise.

“Stephanie’s a hard one to read. She never truly let’s anyone get close enough to know what she’s thinking or feeling. Just when you think you know her as well as you possibly can, she surprises you,” she said quietly, contemplating Jase’s question. “It’s possible he knew. He seemed to be the only one who was able to soothe her each time she had a nightmare,” she conceded.

Patting her pockets for her cigarettes, she scowled when she realized she’d left them inside. After everything she’d been told, she needed a cigarette more than ever. The way her life was going right now, quitting wasn’t going to be an option.

Taking a ragged breath, she still couldn’t believe Stephanie had kept her parents murder a secret. It was so monumental. It was
so
Stephanie. “Jesus Christ Jase, it explains so much about her. Ever since I’ve met her, I’ve wondered what made her tick. This explains why she chose to become a criminal reporter. It explains why she’s so driven. Sweet Jesus, no wonder she has nightmares.”

She eyed Delucci with suspicion. “You said her parents were tortured and murdered? Surely you don’t think her parents’ murder has anything to do with
these
murders?”

Delucci shook his head, his steely blue gaze meeting Gena’s worried one. “No Gena, I don’t. The murders happened 20 years ago. I’m more interested in what lies within the sealed file. We could try asking the Feds about it, but I get the feeling they won’t tell us much. I’d much prefer to ask Ms Carovella. The sealed file may not have anything to do with these murders, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

***

“Damn you, you had no right. You had no right to get Jake involved in all of this,” Stephanie spat at the man standing calmly in front of her.

“Someone needs to protect you,” he spat back in disgust. “God knows you seem determined to put yourself in the path of this crazed serial killer. You may be hell bent on getting yourself killed, but I love you too damn much, Stephanie, to sit around and just watch you self-destruct!”

She blinked at his words, softening her tone. “Damn you Jesse, you had no right to tell Jake to follow me.”

“Babe, we’re only trying to protect you,” Ben said quietly. He sat on the kitchen bar stool, watching Jesse and Stephanie’s stand-off.

Jesse leaned against the kitchen bench, watching with lazy amusement as she roughly pulled sterling silver roses out of a vase. “You’re going to ruin your flowers,” he drawled.

“No. I’m ruining your damn flowers,” she spat, tossing the dead roses into the bin and placing the remaining living flowers back into the vase.

“Sweetheart, do I really look like the type of guy who’s into flowers?” he teased.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, tossing a dead rose at him. “You know what I mean, Jess. Stop trying to change the subject. I’m not going to have Jake traipsing around, following me everywhere. Apart from the fact that his friend Rafe gives me a serious case of the heebie jeebies, it’s also an invasion of my privacy.”

Lifting up the vase, she strode into the dining room, leaning over and placing the vase back onto the centre of the kitchen table. Jesse followed her, watching her sleek movements, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Actually, sweetheart, I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m not your sweetheart,” she growled, glaring at him in annoyance. She hated playing mind games.

“Seriously, Stephanie, how am I supposed to know what you mean?” Jesse asked perplexed.

Stephanie put her hands on her hips defiantly. “Jesse, I know the flowers aren’t yours. They’re mine. You bought them for me. Stop mind-fucking me and answer my question. What the hell did you think you were doing bringing Jake into this? You’ve endangered him.”

“Stephanie, I didn’t buy you any flowers,” he said slowly, his body tensing with apprehension.

“Of course you did. The Sterling Silver roses are my favorite. You know that,” Stephanie said, annoyance sliding across her face.

“No Steph, I didn’t,” Jesse said grimly.

They both fell silent, looking at each before their eyes involuntarily turned towards the vase of the table.

“Ben?” Stephanie began.

Ben shook his head. “Babe, I wish I had, but it wasn’t me. There was no card?”

She shook her head. “No. I just woke up one morning and they were sitting on the kitchen table. I just thought…”

“You thought they were from me?” Jesse asked gently, moving to wrap his arms around her. He scowled when she took a step back, her gaze never wavering from the flowers.

Stephanie glanced from Ben to Jesse with a calmness she didn’t feel. “Jesse, if neither Ben nor yourself gave me the roses, then who left them on the kitchen table?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jase lifted his hand to knock on Jesse’s front door, surprised when it was jerked open and Ben stood gaping at them. Ignoring Jase and Delucci, Ben turned to Gena. “Thank God you’re here, Gena,” he said abruptly.

“Ben, we have a problem,” Gena interrupted.

Anger burned in his icy blue eyes as Ben nodded in agreement. His voice gritty with emotion, he shot back, “You’re not kidding me. Gena, he was here. That god damn psycho was in our house.” He grunted in satisfaction when Gena involuntarily gasped.

“What? Ben, are you sure? How do you know?” Gena asked, panic gripping her insides like a vice, and squeezing tightly.

Ben nodded his head jerkily. His face carved in stone, he turned to Jase. “The bastard left roses for Stephanie. He walked into this house and left her god damn roses just like she was his lover. Stephanie thought they were from Jesse,” he growled.

Gena arched an eyebrow at his last words. “Why am I not surprised? She certainly didn’t waste any time did she?” she muttered underneath her breath, not seeing the speculative look Delucci gave her.

White with growing worry, Jase ran a hand over his unshaven jaw. “Jesus, that’s exactly what happened with Angel,” he said hoarsely. One of his hands curled into a fist and he clenched it tightly before flexing his fingers. Pain washed over him, remembering the flowers Angel received.

“He sent Angel Monroe flowers?” Delucci asked quietly, watching Jase nod his head in affirmation.

“He sent her Gardenias. The bastard even knew her favorite flower.”

“He thinks he’s courting Stephanie,” Ben muttered, tearing his eyes from Gena to stare at the blonde-haired stranger standing beside her. “Who the hell are you?” He asked bluntly.

“Ben, this is Detective Franklin Delucci. He’s heading up Ana’s murder,” Gena said, touching Ben’s arm tenderly. Turning to Delucci, she nodded her head towards Ben. “Frank, I’d like you to meet Ben Reynolds. He is...,” She took a deep breath and started again. “He was Ana’s boyfriend.”

Wearily, she said to Ben, “Can we please come inside?”

He nodded, stepping aside. Walking down the hallway without another word, he didn’t look back to see if they were following him.

“Quite the charmer, isn’t he?” Jase murmured to Frank Delucci, who chuckled in agreement.

“Damn it Jase, what do you expect? He just lost the woman he loved,” Gena snapped, shooting them an angry look, before stalking after Ben.

“The woman he loves isn’t dead yet,” Jase said quietly to Delucci, as they followed Gena down the hallway.

Delucci arched an eyebrow at Jase, amusement lacing his voice. “Is there anyone who isn’t in love with Stephanie Carovella?”

Jase chuckled softly. “You’ll understand once you’ve met her.”

Gena stopped in her tracks at the sight of Jake Carlisle standing in the living room. She drank in the sight of the man who’d once been her lover. Dressed in jeans that molded to his thighs and a t-shirt emphasizing his broad shoulders, she couldn’t prevent the sigh falling from her lips.

Her heart started beating wildly when he looked up to smile at her with his trademark, wise-ass smile. Her lips automatically curved into a matching grin. Striding into the room, she headed straight for him, her face alight with pleasure.

“Jake Carlisle, well I’ll be damned. You’re a sight for sore eyes,” she exclaimed, her playful greeting hiding the rush of pain that had almost stopped her in her tracks.

“Gena, you’re still as gorgeous as ever,” Jake greeted her warmly, moving towards her and enveloping her into a tight hug. He lifted her off the ground, grinning when she squealed in delight.

Jase watched the scenario, smiling at the lighter side of Gena. It was a side she didn’t show often. His eyes scanned the living room, stopping on Jesse. Studying the frustration on his face, he asked, “Where’s Stephanie?”

“Well, that’s debatable. She told us she was going to lie down,” Jesse growled, exasperation written on his face.

“She’s not there?” Gena asked in concern. Her face flushed slightly, she stepped out of Jake’s lingering embrace. Darting her eyes around the room, she tried to ignore her pounding heart and Jake’s cocky grin.

No, it would seem not,” Jesse said, furiously shooting Jase and Rafe a filthy glare.

“Hell Jess, you can’t blame us. How the hell were Rafe and I to know she would climb out the fucking window?” Jake snapped, glaring back at his brother.

Turning his attention back to Gena, Jake rolled his eyes. “First she tried to brain Rafe and then she almost breaks my nose. Now she blatantly ignores the fact we’re trying to keep her safe.” He glared at Jesse. “What did you tell me, Jesse? Sure Jake, Stephanie will do exactly what you tell her. Sure Jake, protecting her will be a piece of cake. “

Snorting in disbelief, he added, “Being at war is safer compared to this shit, and it’s a hell of a lot easier than looking after your girlfriend.”

Ben chuckled at Jake’s frustrated expression. “First of all, she’s not Jesse’s girlfriend and secondly Jake, did you really expect any differently? This is Stephanie after all.”

Gena watched Jesse pace the room agitatedly. “Should we be worried?” she asked distractedly, unable to stop her gaze returning to Jake.

Jesse curled his lip up in disdain, snarling at her. “You have to ask, Gena? There’s some god damn psycho fixated on her and you’re asking if we need to worry? She’s disappeared. Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”

Ben walked over to Jesse, putting his hand on his shoulder in reassurance. “Stephanie will be fine. She has more lives than a cat and has always landed on her two feet. Besides, I think she’s just letting off steam.” Smiling at Gena, he explained, “She wasn’t very appreciative or happy about finding out she was being shadowed.”

“I’m going to take a guess that you’re talking about Jake and his silent friend over there?” Gena asked, jerking her head towards Jake and Rafe.

“Sorry, Gena. This is Rafael- Rafe. Rafe, meet the lovely Detective Evans. Gena, since we’re making introductions?” Jake said, looking at Jase and Delucci inquisitively.

Gena’s brow furrowed, her concern for Stephanie growing. Absentmindedly indicating to Jase and Delucci with a wave of her hand, she said, “Jake, this is Jase Devlin...Angel’s Jase.”

Waiting for them to shake hands, she continued her introductions. “And this is Detective Franklin Delucci. Frank’s heading up Ana’s murder.” Giving Delucci a dazzling smile, she said softly, “I don’t think you’ve met Jesse. He’s the one glowering from the couch. You met Ben at the door and next to him is Jake Carlisle.”

“Related?” Delucci asked Jesse, watching him scowl angrily.

“You think?” he snapped.

Gena rolled her eyes, giving Delucci another warm smile. “Jake and Jesse are brothers,” she explained, touching his arm.

Feeling Jake’s eyes on her, she lifted her own to meet his. She realized he was watching her interaction with Delucci, his own expression hooded. Dropping her hand from Delucci’s arm, she moved to sit down next to Jesse.

Delucci nodded politely to everyone. Smiling coolly at Ben, he asked quietly, “You mentioned Ms Carovella received flowers?”

“Are you sure they’re from him?” Gena asked, feeling the need to take control of the questioning. She didn’t want Delucci to get the idea he was in charge. This was still her investigation.