The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (87 page)

“Gio, I don’t know, I don’t know,” her breathing was erratic, and she was about to enter full blown panic mode. He’d seen this before.

He pulled her to him. “Lisa, when are you going to trust me? I promise you.”

“I just don’t know,” she cried into his shoulder.

“Know it. The pieces of the puzzle are there. We just have to put them all together.”

It took her a few minutes to gain control of herself. She felt like Albert had in her another one of his nooses, and he kept tightening it further and further until she couldn’t breathe.

“Slow breaths, baby,” he encouraged as he heard her jagged breathing begin to return to normal.

Lisa sat at the table suddenly fatigued. “Coffee?” he indicated the pot still half full on the counter.

She shook her head in the negative.

He went into the living room to get their cups, and refilled his after placing hers in the sink. Then he sat across from her. “Lisa. Tomorrow your attorney will be here. My attorney, and Nikko. We have the van, and we have six weeks. We will figure this out.”

Her face looked pained as she spoke, “Oh, I hope so, Gio. I hope so. It’s the waiting, the not knowing, and the uncertainty. I feel like I’m going to break.”

“I’m here with you now, and you can lean on me. One day at a time.” She sighed and just a bit of the tension left her.

“Why don’t you head up?” he indicated upstairs with the tilt of his chin. “Lie down, try to relax. I’ve got a few reports I’m waiting on and a bit more research I want to do, and then I’ll be up.” He glanced at the clock. He had the report coming in from the tech who was tracking the cell phone calls, and was curious to see who Albert called today. One of those calls might be a lead. From the news report, and Albert’s sudden speaking to the reporters, the man was panicking if he wanted to rope him into this mess. He also needed the lawyers to do their part and get access to his emails. They might get a lead there too. His mind was working overtime on all that needed to be done.

Lisa just nodded, and got up, and even though she was emotionally drained she knew she wouldn’t sleep. Her mind was trying to stay one step ahead of Albert, trying to figure out what his next move might be. She felt she was failing miserably. She climbed the stairs and absent mindedly rubbed her neck.

*     *     *

Gio once again
went through all his mail, and at precisely midnight he received another report from the tech, Tiny, following the phone records. Again Connie’s name appeared twice. Once at five-thirty, and the conversation lasted 23 minutes. Then a second call at eight-forty five, and the call lasted 4 minutes. She was definitely a lead in his mind. It was just a hunch, but his hunches had often hit pay dirt. He was going to find this Connie Wheeler while Nikko tailed Albert. He liked having a plan, and with that in mind, he decided to head up to bed.

He climbed the stairs and paused outside of Lisa’s closed door. The light was still on, he could see from the tell-tale streak of yellow coming from under the door, and although he was tempted to knock, go in, and offer some words of encouragement, he decided against it. They needed to take it slow. Or slower at least. He walked into his parents’ room, stripped and climbed into bed. He needed to resist her, at least for a while, and focus on what he needed to do. He didn’t want any regrets later on. Again.

The Next Steps

T
he next morning
both Lisa and Gio awoke at the same time, and emerged from their respective rooms simultaneously. Gio had already showered and dressed, and Lisa was headed into the hallway bathroom.

“Morning,” he greeted her. “Sleep okay?” he asked, letting her pass.

Her answer was a shrug. “Was okay.”

“I’ll get coffee up, and start on breakfast. I’ll fill you in on the report from the phone tech when you get downstairs, and we can figure out our next steps.”

“Okay,” she sighed as she closed the door to the bathroom. Lisa turned towards the mirror, and her normally luminous green eyes were dull and lifeless. She had dark circles under her eyes from yet another sleepless night. But, Gio was right. They had to focus on the case, and Johnny. She hoped her attorney had good news in that realm. Maybe Albert announcing that he wasn’t Johnny’s father might make the lifting of the court order that much easier. God, let that be so. I need to hold my son, she prayed.

She turned the shower on. She needed to wake up her foggy brain so she could think clearly. Climbing in, the heat of the spray helped some, although the worry was still there. Always would be until this dark cloud was lifted. Albert’s cold black eyes on television when he looked directly into the camera kept coming back to her. She knew that look. He was up to something. He always was. But it was as if he had been staring directly at her.

Out of the shower, Lisa wrapped a towel around herself and quickly crossed the hall to go back to her room and dress. Her phone was beeping indicating she had a notification. She checked her messages and there were three. One from each of her sisters, and one from her mother.
Her mother?
She checked that one first.

Mom:
Is it true? Johnny is Gio’s.

God, she had a lot of explaining to do. The morning news must have replayed the interview, or one of her mother’s friends had called and told her what Albert had said. She’d call her mother later.

Bridget’s text was more hopeful. She told her sister, she supported her, and that she would be behind her and Johnny no matter what. She also typed the word Gio at the end of her text followed by a question mark.

Mary’s text was more explosive.

Mary:
What an ass! I’m sure you have seen or heard what Albert said on the news. I’m here for you. School called, and they said I could claim Johnny tomorrow when camp lets out as I’m listed as next of kin. Good news. Johnny will be with me. Call me.

She hit dial.

“Hey,” her sister answered the phone. “Great news. I just got another call from the school. They of course heard the news. Albert’s attorney faxed over papers, saying that Mr. Rasmussen was no longer financially responsible for paying Johnny’s tuition. The attorney also said that in light of the circumstances surrounding his parentage, the court order would be lifted. Camp is paid in full. But, I’m going to get him today. Mark is working, but as soon as I get the kids ready, I’m taking them with me. I’m getting him.”

“Really? Oh my God. I want to hold my son,” Lisa cried. The emotion came to the surface.

“Sister, he’ll be in your arms in a few hours. I know you have your attorneys coming in, so I’ll be ready to leave in about an hour and I’m sure Johnny won’t mind missing the last day of camp. I should have him to you by noon, or one o’clock at the latest.”

“Oh yes, please, bring me my son,” Lisa cried, but this time they were happy tears. She ached to have her son in her arms. It would make these next weeks bearable.

“Okay, love. Let me go. These kids are a mess. But, I’ll stuff them into the car, and get on the road. Love you.”

“Love you too, Mary.” She hung up. It was not quite nine and she hurried to finish getting dressed. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Gio.

*     *     *

Lisa ran downstairs
and looked a million times better than he had seen her twenty minutes ago. She was out of breath and looked excited. “Johnny is coming home. I mean here. The restraining order is being lifted. Mary is on her way to get him.”

“Really?” Her excitement and the news made him drop the spatula he was wielding, and he grabbed her and lifted her up in the air, putting her down after he swung her completely around. Her body slid down his, and again, he was a moth in the flames, his body reacting to her excitement, and fresh scent.

“Yes,” she whispered as her body responded to every nuance of his chest on the way down. She stepped back shakily when Gio released her to give him the space he wanted.

“Great news, babe. When do you think she will have him here?”

“No later than one,” she said.

“Fabulous. I can’t wait for Nikko to meet him. Excellent!” He slapped his massive thigh and grinned at her, that wicked grin that never failed to get a reaction out of her. She bit her lip.

At the sight of Lisa biting her lip, Gio had to turn to relieve the pressure. He was already semi aroused by his own stupid actions, but when she bit that bottom lip on the side like that, well, it was just one of those things. Picking up the spatula he dropped, he rinsed it in the sink as he asked, “Breakfast?”

“Yes, please. What can I do?” she asked too excited to sit down.

“Coffee is ready. Hook me up. I’ve got toast on the table. I just need to finish up the eggs.”

Lisa turned and saw the table already set, and a mound of buttered toast. She grabbed two cups and got the creamer from the refrigerator.

Maybe things were turning around. Just maybe.

*     *     *

By the time
her attorney was set to arrive, Lisa was a nervous wreck. Everyone coming around the same time added to her anxiety. She was a bit relieved when her attorney arrived anxious to get started and went to the door to greet him. Alex Rodriguez was a fabulous lawyer, and she was lucky to have met him five years ago at a charity event in downtown Manhattan. Then, when they had spoken he had mentioned Rosedale, and since she was from the area as well, they had struck up a conversation. He had gone to law school with Blaze and had grown up just six blocks away. Small world.

Seeing the strain between her and her husband that evening, he had slipped her his card. She’d thanked him, and had actually called him years ago when she renegotiated with her father-in-law. She had told him everything, well, most of it. All, except the abuse. That, and her shame, had kept that information close to the vest, although she supposed he suspected it. He had looked over the documents and pronounced everything was in order, and it would all hold up in court. She’d thanked him, and asked if he would also handle her divorce, albeit still in the future. He’d agreed. But she needed his services earlier than she planned. Albert, she knew, was behind this attempted murder. Alex had been her first call even before she was formally arrested.

He was at the police station, the next day even before she was brought in. She was held overnight, and her hearing the following day had not gone well. They sent her back to lock up when the judge left abruptly and ordered her assistant to reschedule the hearing. Because it was the Fourth of July weekend, she spent a week in jail. Luckily, her sister had taken Johnny to his already scheduled summer camp, and then Lisa made the decision to finally call Gio.

Outside, she greeted Alex, and he was smiling as he got out of his silver sedan. Another man was getting out of the front seat of the car, and he was dressed equally impeccably in a designer suit. Then from the backseat she saw yet another person, but she recognized him as one of Alex’s assistants.

Lisa heard Gio approach behind her as Alex released her. Alex’s smile disappeared, as he reached around her to take Gio’s hand. She glanced up quickly and saw the flash of jealousy in Gio’s eyes. He wasn’t smiling either.