Unbroken (Fighting for Gisele #3) (4 page)

“It wouldn’t have made sense to tell a six-year-old, so I doubt anyone thought you knew about the diamond…until now.”

“My father can’t communicate to me from the grave, so the only way I could know is if he left the information in that safe deposit box.” Gisele shuddered. “It’s scary. I have to keep up this pretense, because the instant they know I have access to the diamond, my life is over.”

Micah’s gut twisted, because she was right. The mob would get the information out of her, using any method they could. And once she told them everything, they’d have to get rid of her. Otherwise, she posed a threat. She might point the finger at them, and they wouldn’t take that chance.

Micah didn’t linger on the possibilities, but knew they’d assume she’d told him. His life was at risk too, but he could handle himself. It was Gisele he was worried about, and he’d do anything required to protect her.

When they were back on the plane, Gisele leaned her head on Micah’s shoulder and fell asleep. He was glad she could get some rest, as the meeting the next morning would be taxing. She’d done so well in the face of adversity.

It was bad enough for her to find out that the family that had raised her was really the enemy. On top of that, she’d been thrust into a life-and-death situation, with no alternative but to see it through. Micah was with her, though, and he’d make damn sure that no harm came to her.

When the plane arrived at O’Hare, they grabbed their carryon bags and went straight to the hotel. The meeting wasn’t until later that morning, so they could get a couple of hours of sleep before seeing the attorney. Micah was out the instant his head hit the pillow, but he was alert just as quickly when the wake-up call came.

After showering and dressing, they ate a quick breakfast then took a taxi to the law office. Chicago was familiar turf for Gisele, but she didn’t comment. Clearly the meeting was the only thing on her mind. The law office was in a high rise, nestled among other buildings in downtown.

The receptionist greeted them and offered coffee, then escorted them to a conference room. It wasn’t long before the attorney appeared. “Good morning,” he said, shaking Gisele’s hand and then Micah’s. “I’m Winston Blake, and please call me Winston. I’m not one for formality. How was your flight?”

“It was smooth,” Gisele said. “But we didn’t get much sleep.”

“Yes, those redeye flights are rugged.” The attorney took a seat at the head of the table and shuffled some papers. He appeared to be in his early forties, dressed in an expensive suit, and was friendly enough.

“So you’re probably wondering how I knew your father?” Winston said.

“Among other things,” Gisele said.

The attorney took a deep breath. “We were friends. It was, what…fifteen years ago when he went to prison. I was only twenty-eight at the time, same as Andrew.”

Micah glanced at Gisele, admiring her composure.

“Andrew Shelton was an accountant for this firm. My father was an associate here before me, and I came here straight out of law school. But we’d known each other for a while, had common interests and such.”

“You must know that I was quite young when he died,” Gisele said. “I’d be most grateful for anything you can share.”

Winston looked at her, and it occurred to Micah that it must be odd to speak to Gisele after all this time. “Is there something in particular that you’d like to know?”

“How did my father get hooked up with the mob?” Gisele said. “I have trouble envisioning him as a criminal.”

“Your father was a good man, an honest man…or he had been.” Winston clasped his hands together. “He confided in me after the mob put pressure on him. We were the closest of friends.”

The room was quiet for a second, then Winston continued, “Your father was an expert in his field, and had abilities the mob required. To be blunt, they pressured him into their employ. If he didn’t handle their books, which meant setting them up so they would be beyond scrutiny, there would be dire consequences.”

“Such as?” Micah said.

“His family was threatened. Andrew was told in no uncertain terms that he would do as he was told or his wife and daughter would be killed.”

“My mother died in a car accident,” Gisele said in a soft voice.

“Yes, I’m aware of that. And after that tragic event, Andrew feared for your safety. He complied with their demands, and even refused to testify against them in court.”

“So he asked you to set up a trust for me?”

“He did, and he shared his concerns with me. At this point, you know that he left you a blue diamond, which could make you a wealthy woman.”

Gisele shifted in her seat. “I’m not sure I want to be.”

“I might feel the same way, in your position,” Winston said. “But the diamond exists nonetheless. It is secure for now.”

“Has the mob pressured you?”

“They haven’t, as they didn’t know of my friendship with Andrew. They assume the firm was hired to set up the trust, but that the whereabouts of the gem were not shared. I think that is a fair assumption.” Winston leaned forward. “And the firm in Vegas knows little. So the mob’s assumption is correct.”

“But if they discover Gisele has met with you, then that could put you at risk.”

“That’s possible. But if that was the case, you wouldn’t be here. We’re speaking because Andrew gave my contact information to Gisele privately, in a letter you found in your safe deposit box.” The attorney looked at Gisele. “Am I correct?”

Gisele nodded. “We don’t have much time. For now, my brother believes that I don’t know about the diamond.”

“I can provide you with a sealed envelope that contains the account number and password for the Swiss account, then I can connect you with the banker there.”

“Not just yet,” Gisele said. “What I don’t know, I can’t reveal.” She paused. “I’ll get the information from you when I’m ready to make a move.”

Micah looked at the attorney. “Why get involved in all this, when it puts you in personal danger?”

Winston didn’t hesitate. “Andrew Shelton was my friend. He asked for my assistance and I gave it. I would do so again.” He looked at Gisele. “It’s my hope that by doing so I can help assure your safety, your father’s greatest wish.”

Gisele’s eyes glistened with tears, but she didn’t break down. “One more question,” she said. “How did my father take the blue diamond away from the mob?”

“
That
he didn’t tell me,” Winston said. “I didn’t need to know, so he spared me the details.”

Gisele stood up, then the men did also. “Thank you for answering my questions,” she said. “I will be in touch again…soon.”

Winston saw them out, and they took the elevator back to the lobby. Micah wasn’t sure how to proceed, but he knew they had to be careful. The mob must continue to believe that Gisele didn’t know about the diamond.

Arrangements to take possession of the valuable item had to be made secretly, and they should move slowly, if purposefully. Any sudden changes or sign of panic on Gisele’s part would garner their attention. And that was what Micah didn’t want.

Gisele stopped on the busy sidewalk and looked up at Micah. “It was such a relief to talk to a friend of my father’s.” Then she wrinkled her brow. “I’m thinking that we have to take care of this matter quickly, a couple of weeks at best.”

“No more than that,” Micah said. “Your brother believes you’re telling the truth. But I don’t have confidence that the ruse will be effective for long.”

“I’ll have to move out of the complex, so I’m not under his watchful eye,” Gisele said. “He’s expected me to, and I have a realtor locating a place for me. I’ll inform him that I won’t be working for him anymore, as I’ll be setting up my own business.”

“Will he be suspicious?”

“He shouldn’t be. It’s all I’ve talked about for months.”

“I want you out of that complex as soon as you can manage it,” Micah said.

“And I
want
out.” Gisele put her arms around Micah’s waist. “This is going to work. Once I move out, we can go to Zurich and get the diamond.”

It sounded simple enough. There remained the issue of what they’d do with it once they got it. But…one thing at a time.

Chapter 4

Gisele was tired from the late flight, followed by the emotional encounter with her father’s friend, but she was too keyed up to sleep. Plus, they had a whole day to spend together in Chicago. “What would you like to do now?” Micah said.

“How about a stroll through the park?” Gisele said. “I need to chill out.”

They took a cab to Grant Park, a place Gisele was fond of. Growing up in the city, she’d been there many times, and she reflected on how different things had been for her then. The huge park along the waterfront was known as Chicago’s front yard.

Gisele looked out at the boats dotting the harbor under the bright sky overhead. “I used to come out here often to walk along the lake.” She squeezed Micah’s hand. “Have you been to Chicago before?”

“A few times, but I can’t say I got to know the city. I didn’t do the things most visitors do.”

Gisele took his hand to guide him toward the center of the park to Buckingham Fountain. The pink marble fountain had four seahorses spewing water, and the massive center was in a sort of wedding-cake shape, with a center jet that shot a spray many feet high.

They looked at it for a while then continued walking, and when they got hungry found a takeout place near the park. They sat on stools in the narrow snack bar eating Chicago-style hot dogs loaded with relish, tomatoes, onions, mustard, and a dill pickle spear down the center.

Micah looked around. “Where’s the ketchup?”

“You’re obviously not from Chicago,” Gisele said. “Ketchup is unacceptable.”

“Any reason for this aversion?”

Gisele shrugged. “Just is,” she said through a mouthful of steamy food. The hot dog had been simmered in water, and was cooked just right. “We say these dogs are
dragged through the garden
, because they have so much stuff on them.”

Micah took a huge bite of his.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it?” Gisele said. “I can’t get hot dogs like this in Vegas. They just aren’t the same.” She savored each mouthful, realizing there were some things she missed about Chicago.

“I’m going to need another one of these,” Micah said, holding his last bite between his fingers.

Gisele giggled. “I told you they were good.”

After lunch, they went to the Skydeck at Willis Tower. Despite the crowds, Gisele wanted to go up. They bypassed the exhibits and theater presentation and went straight to the Ledge. The glass boxes, over a thousand feet in the air, offered 360-degree views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.

On the 103rd floor, Gisele took Micah’s hand and stepped out into one of the glass boxes that extended out, four feet out from the skyscraper’s deck. It was like stepping into open space. With Chicago at her feet, Gisele gazed at the view. “It’s exhilarating, don’t you think?”

Micah squeezed her hand. “Very much.”

The unforgettable location was a venue for events, including weddings. Gisele had seen photos of brides in stunning white dresses, posed with the groom, inside one of the glass boxes hanging above the city. It had taken her breath away. But she didn’t mention that part to Micah.

Gisele glanced over at Micah, unable to deny how she felt about him. She wanted to touch the scruff along his jaw, and feel his tender lips against hers. Up so high, with a strong man like Micah beside her, Gisele felt like she could conquer the world.

When Micah put his arm around her, Gisele nestled close, and together they took their fill of the spectacular city sprawling below and the lake beyond. She could smell Micah’s cologne and feel his heat. She put her palm on his chest, and he turned to kiss her.

When Micah’s lips touched hers, Gisele was transported. It didn’t matter that there were so many people around. The sweet kiss made her weak, and she trembled against him. Then he pulled back and she looked into his deep brown eyes.

“It’s such a thrill up here,” Gisele said, in a seductive voice, making Micah smile. With his arm around her, he guided her back to the elevator.

Outside the tower, they caught a cab to a nearby rooftop bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. They chose a table on the patio with an unobstructed view of the water. Micah ordered a craft beer, and Gisele had a cocktail made with Campari and sweet vermouth. It tasted good, and she planned on having a second one.

While they drank, they nibbled on nuts and pretzels. Gisele was enjoying her time with Micah, and had nearly forgotten about the situation that awaited her, but not quite. She thought of her brother, and how good it felt to have so much distance between them. For a while longer, she was out of his reach.

Oddly enough, her Russian father was in the same city at that very moment. But Gisele had confined their sightseeing to close to the downtown area, making sure not to visit Yuri’s neighborhood. As if reading her mind, Micah said, “Where’s the house where you grew up?”

“I wouldn’t call it a house,” Gisele said. “It’s more like a mansion. It’s in a small patch of Lincoln Park among some other fairly ritzy places. But we won’t be visiting.”

“No, I didn’t think so.”

“It’s funny, when people speak of the Chicago mob they are referring to Al Capone. But that was the Italians, not a predecessor of Yuri’s crew,” Gisele said.

“Yes, I guess this was a rough-and-tumble town during the Prohibition era, when the Italian mob was thriving.”

“True, and they’re still around. The five Italian-American families still operate here. They call themselves the Outfit, but Yuri said there are only about fifty members,” Gisele said. “But they don’t get in the way of the Russians. I guess they have an agreement.”

Micah took a gulp of beer. “Have you been to that cocktail lounge called Green Mill?”

“Oh, sure,” Gisele said. “Yuri got a kick out of it. Mostly tourists go there now, to see the 1940s-style décor with the big wooden bar, and to pretend that they’re gangsters.”

Micah laughed.

“The place is a legend, though. It was reputed to be Al Capone’s favorite hangout,” Gisele said. “But now it’s mostly for poetry readings and listening to jazz.” She paused. “But Yuri used to take me there when I was a girl.”

“Did they allow minors?”

Gisele sipped her cocktail. “That didn’t matter to Yuri. He had sway in this town, you know. Of course, all I drank were Shirley Temples.”

Micah drained his beer and pushed the glass aside.

“When things settle down and get back to normal,” Gisele said, “do you know what I’m going to do?”

“I’d like to know,” Micah said.

Gisele fingered the fog on her glass. “Remember I told you that I wanted to start my own business?”

“Sure, I meant to ask you about that.”

“I’m going to open my own Pilates studio,” Gisele said. “I’ve always loved dance, and if you want to know a secret, I used to sneak out and go dancing, even when I was very young. But the truth is that I’m not very talented.”

“But if you like it…”

“Well, that’s why I’m passionate about Pilates. It was created for dancers, and I’ll be able to play a part in women’s fitness and flexibility,” Gisele said. “I know it’s not as impressive as…being a
heartthrob boxer
.” She grinned. “But it’s what I want to do.”

Micah reached for her hand. “Then you should do it.”

“If we had more time, I’d like to see a show at Second City.” Gisele glanced at her empty glass. Maybe one cocktail was enough, after all. “But that’s on Yuri’s turf, anyway…around Lincoln Park.”

“I’ll settle for dinner,” Micah said.

“I know the perfect place.”

The European-style beer hall on the west side of the Loop was known for their pork dishes, but the restaurant also prepared fish and vegetables. They had an extensive beer list, so while Micah drank a beer, Gisele had another cocktail.

Gisele had eaten there before and knew what to expect. As well as good food, the service was fast. She was anxious to get back to the hotel with Micah and enjoy the rest of the evening. The next day they’d have to return to an unknown future, so she wanted to make the most of their remaining hours together.

*****

After dinner, they took a cab back to their hotel. In the dim back seat, Gisele admired Micah’s muscled thighs outlined under the denim. Her eyes roamed over his body, and, noting the bulge under his pants, knowing he was ready for her turned her on.

Micah had his arm around her, and he fingered her hair, then let his hand drift along her neck. It sent delicious chills through Gisele’s body, and her core clenched. Leaned against him, she could feel Micah’s muscle, and longed to strip off his clothes for a better look.

Gisele barely noticed the luxury hotel as she glided through the lobby with her arm laced through Micah’s. Giddy with his masculinity, and craving his sexuality, she thought only of the intimacy of their room so she could have him.

The elevator was empty and Micah pulled her to him for a sensual, impatient kiss. Gisele’s panties were wet before the door opened to their floor, and her skin tingled with anticipation. Her excitement was magnified by the dangers temporarily held at bay. Already Gisele senses were sharpened, adrenaline flowing through her veins. Restraint was beyond her, as she wanted Micah to take her, to consume her.

In Micah’s strong arms, the rest of the world fell away. He would protect her, care for her. She felt small, feminine in his powerful embrace. Nothing could touch her; she was lost in the closeness, wrapped in the intimacy, wanting it to last.

The door clicked shut behind them, and Micah took her hand to lead her straight to the bedroom. His command of her and knowing his desire made Gisele weak. She was warm all over, her urge to have Micah overpowering.

Recessed ceiling lights illuminated the room in a soft glow. Outside the windows, tall downtown buildings shone with many offices brightly lit. It was almost as though someone across the way, looking out into the night, could see her with Micah in the privacy of the room.

The thought thrilled her that little bit more, a titillating edge to an erotic night. Being watched wasn’t a bad thing at all. The vision of Micah ravaging her escalated her arousal, and her nipples stiffened, pressing against the satin of her bra.

Micah dug his hands in her hair and Gisele looked into his beautiful brown eyes, forgetting to breathe. Her pulse throbbed in her temples under the heat of his stare. Then he grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head back, licking along her jaw then down her neck.

His hot mouth pressed to her collarbone, then he touched his soft lips to hers. Micah’s strong male scent drugged her; Gisele was his. Falling into the kiss, she parted her lips and Micah’s tongue probed into her mouth.

With one big arm coiled around her waist and a hand on the back of her head, Micah gave her a long, lip-bruising kiss. His tongue slashed next to hers, and he breathed into her, as though they were one. Gisele gasped softly, kissing back, and needing more.

Burning for Micah, she tangled her fingers through his short hair, feeling its silkiness. He buried his nose in her neck, growling softly, and Gisele could barely breathe. She reached for the hem of his shirt then pulled it off, revealing his sculpted chest.

Gisele placed her palms against his rounded shoulders and licked across his nipples. The fierce look in Micah’s eyes unraveled her. She watched as he undressed the rest of the way, baring his sexy body. Micah’s gorgeous cock sprang into view, and lust burst through her.

She shed her clothes under Micah’s gaze, and his eyes searched her nakedness, sending a delicious shudder through her body. Gisele’s breasts were swollen. Micah cupped them in his palms and sucked at her pained nipples.

Micah sucked at one, then the other, causing Gisele to arch her back in pleasure. His rough breathing added to the sensation. Lifting her heavy breasts, Micah dragged his tongue over her skin, adoring them. Then he licked down her belly, dropping to his knees to taste her pussy.

A soft whimper feathered out of Gisele when Micah’s lips pressed to her sensitive tissues. He lapped along her wet slit, tasting her juices. With his palm pressed against her inner thigh, he guided her to spread her legs wider. Then, with his hands on her ass, Micah licked and sucked at her sex, in full view of the windows.

The fleeting thought of prying eyes watching from across the way was tantalizing. Gisele’s nipples stiffened into tiny pebbles and her sex clenched. She scratched her fingernails over Micah’s scalp as he suckled at her pussy. Then he flicked his tongue over her clit, urging her toward ecstasy, and a jolt of pleasure shot through her.

Holding her upright, Micah ministered to her with his hot mouth. He swirled the tip of his tongue around her most sensitive spot and then nipped her possessively. With a cry of joy, Gisele shattered and Micah pressed his lips to her sex while an earth-shattering orgasm swept through her.

Gisele trembled, and Micah kissed her inner thighs then over her vulva. Then he stood up and pressed his delicious mouth to hers. With her flavor still on his lips, he dipped his tongue beside hers, tenderly kissing.

Reaching between their bodies, Gisele dragged her fingers over the velvet skin of Micah’s shaft. He groaned and leaned into her. Then he lifted Gisele off her feet and pressed her against the wall. There he grabbed her ass in one hand and slid his thick cock into her dripping pussy, shoving up into her.