Maggie Lee (Book 11): The Hitwoman Hires a Manny Read online

  I wasn’t sure he’d believe me about the secret ninjas anyway.

  A long silence stretched uncomfortably between us. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, trying to figure out how to change the topic of conversation.

  "Your friend is okay?" he asked finally.

  I nodded.

  "You're not going to say anything about it?" Frustration made his voice even deeper than usual.

  I shrugged. Still avoiding his gaze. "What is it you want me to say?"

  "An explanation would be nice."

  I remembered Armani telling me that Ms. Whitehat had forbidden her to talk about what had happened. I wondered if Jack had gotten the same instruction. "I'm sorry you got dragged into that."

  "Nobody dragged me into anything. I'm the one that followed you up there. I'm just asking for an explanation as to what the hell happened." He pushed himself away from the wall and towered over me, as though he thought I'd be intimidated enough to actually give the answer he was searching for.

  "I'm not sure I even know," I muttered. That was the truth. Armani had been kidnapped, I'd tried to rescue her from the O'Hara crime family, but it had been Ms. Whitehat’s black-clad ninjas that had ultimately saved the day.

  He put his hands on his hips, and leaned closer, dark eyes glittering as he searched my face. "They scared you into silence too, didn't they?" I wasn't sure if I heard accusation or pity in his voice.

  Deciding that the safest thing I could do was remain silent, I lifted a shoulder and stared down at the ground.

  "Miss Lee?" Another man's voice interrupted the conversation from behind Jack.

  I looked toward its source, desperate to extricate myself from the conversation with Jack. The reporter didn't want to be interrupted. He stepped closer to me, to block my view of the other man.

  "Everything okay?" the other man asked, a forced note of cheerfulness in his tone, as he stepped around Jack so that I could see him.

  Angel Delveccio, tall, dark and brawny was watching me with concern.

  We’d first met at the mental health facility where my mother and his cousin reside. He’d been kind enough to use his bulging biceps to change my flat tire. We’d sort of hit it off, but then I found out that he's the nephew of my favorite mobster.

  As seemed to usually be the case, the former sailor was wearing a Navy shirt.

  I wondered whether that was his way of declaring an identity separate from that of his crime-loving family.

  "She's fine, buddy," Jack growled.

  Looking from Jack's frustrated face, to the concern on Angel’s, my gut flip-flopped nervously. The last thing I needed was for these two men to get into a fight over me. It couldn't end well.

  While Jack had the life-hardened edges of a crime reporter, I was pretty sure he was no match for Angel, who I'd seen toss a car tire like it was a frisbee.

  Needing to diffuse the situation, I struggled to come up with a smile for Angel. "I'm fine."

  Angel looked from me to Jack, and back to me, as though deciding whether or not to believe me.

  "Then I apologize for interrupting," Angel said smoothly. "If you do decide you need me, I'll be in there." He moved past us into the cafeteria.

  Before Jack could start asking me again about the fiasco in Pennsylvania, I went on the offensive. "Why did you want to meet? You said it had something to do with my family."

  Jack stared at me, assessing. Then he shook his head, his mouth a flat grim line. "Now's not the time." He turned to walk away.

  "What do you mean now's not the time?" I called after him.

  He didn't answer, just waved a hand, and kept walking.

  I watched him disappear from sight, wondering what kind of game he was playing. The fact that he was jerking me around made me angry. I had enough to contend with, without his games. Not the least of which was explaining to Katie what had just happened, and dealing with Angel.

  I took a couple of deep steadying breaths, threw my shoulders back, and marched back into the cafeteria, head held high, determined to fool Katie into thinking everything was okay.

  Delveccio’s gaze was sharp as it settled on my face.

  "Sorry about that," I said breezily, settling back into my seat beside Katie. "It's been a crazy day." I hated the wide-eyed, worried gaze of my niece. She had enough problems, I didn't need to add to them. I kissed the top of her head. "Trust me, if you'd spent time with Aunt Loretta, you'd be stressed out too."

  "Did she make you play dress-up?" Katie asked innocently. "Mommy didn't like it when she made her play dress-up."

  I ruffled her hair. "Something like that."

  She nodded as though she understood, returning her concentration to eating her ice cream cone.

  I marveled at the resilience of children.

  I met Delveccio’s gaze over the table. I wanted to assure him that I was okay, that I wasn't losing it, that he had no reason to worry about my stability. If a mobster thought someone was mentally unstable they might want to get rid of them.

  "Your sister?" he asked.

  "Excuse me?"

  "What she said before," he jerked his head in the direction of Katie, "she reminded you of your sister?"

  Dumbfounded by his perception, I nodded.

  He glanced affectionately at Dominic, who'd fallen asleep in his wheelchair, his head hanging. "He does the same thing sometimes," Delveccio said sadly. "Sounds just like his mother at the same age."

  My eyes welled with tears again, but this time it wasn't pain causing them, it was gratitude that someone understood.

  "There's no shame in loving deeply." The mobster reached out and rested a hand on his grandson's shoulder.

  "How’s everyone doing?" Angel asked from behind me.

  I blinked away my tears while his uncle answered.

  "We've had ice cream," Delveccio said lightly. "How bad could the day be?"

  Grabbing a chair with one hand, Angel slid it over and placed it at the end of the table. Settling himself into it, he dug into a fruit salad.

  I wasn't sure whether I appreciated his willpower to pass up a sweet snack, or if I disliked him for it.

  "How’s little guy doing?" Angel asked.

  "Doctor says his recovery is nothing less than a miracle," the mobster said proudly. "He's a tough kid."

  Angel's gaze slid from Dominic to Katie. "And what about you, Little Miss?"

  Katie couldn't answer because she'd just shoved the remainder of her ice cream cone into her mouth, so she gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

  I picked up a napkin from the pile in the center of the table, and wiped her chin, which was covered with chocolate. "Thanks so much for getting her out of the room for a while, Mr. D." I stood up, eager to get away from Angel, even though he hadn't even looked at me. Being around him made me feel as nervous as I had when I’d attended my first junior high dance. "We should get back."

  "But – –" Katie began to protest.

  "You have PT in 15 minutes," I told her firmly. Suddenly I realized I didn't see a second wheelchair. "How'd you get down here?"

  "I walked halfway, and Mr. D carried me the rest of the way," Katie replied matter-of-factly.

  I looked to the lifelong criminal for confirmation.

  He nodded. "She's getting stronger every day."

  "I can carry her for you," Angel offered, putting down his virtuous fruit, and getting to his feet.

  "I can do it."

  My tone must've been sharper than I intended, because both Katie and Angel looked worried.

  "She's my responsibility,” I explained. Softening my tone, I added, "But thanks for the offer."

  Angel sat back down, his expression unreadable.

  I wondered if I’d offended the macho man by telling him I didn't need his brute strength.

  "It's a pretty long walk," Delveccio warned.

  "I can handle it." To prove my point, I scooped Katie up out of the chair, snuggling her to me. "Ready, baby girl?"

  "Ready." She
waved to the two men. "See you later."

  I walked away, clutching her to me. I felt strong at the beginning of the trip back to her room, but by the end, my arms ached, and I sort of wished I'd taken Angel up on his offer, but when I got back to the room and found Jack leaning against the wall opposite the door, I was glad I hadn't.

  Jack and Vinny, the bodyguard, silently faced off against each other, looking like two mountain rams ready to lock horns.

  Like Angel, I was pretty sure that steroid-pumped Vinny could crush Jack like a beer can, but the reporter’s safety wasn’t my main concern. Katie was.

  “Excuse me,” I said loudly, making sure I had Vinny’s attention.

  Sure he hates me, but I knew he wouldn’t cross his boss and make a move against me, especially when Katie was involved. I held his gaze while I walked between the two men and carried my niece into her room.

  Putting her down on the bed, I said, “I’m going to leave when they come to take you to PT.”

  She nodded her understanding. “Two more days, right?”

  “You bet.” I smiled, ignoring the terror that clawed on my chest at the idea that in two days I’d be bringing her home to the B&B. “Aunt Leslie will have dinner with you tonight.”

  Katie clapped her hands. “Yay! She always brings me a cookie, but,” she leaned closer to confide, “she won’t give it to me if Aunt Susan is here.”

  I bit back a smile. Some things never changed. Leslie had been the one to sneak us kids cookies when I was Katie’s age, while Susan was the ‘mean’ aunt who’d made us eat our vegetables.

  The orderly, a slight young woman who didn’t look strong enough to do her job, walked in, pushing a wheelchair. “Ready, kiddo?”

  “You bet!” Katie jumped off the bed, forgetting that she still wasn’t strong enough to do that kind of thing.

  Before I could reach her, she crumpled to the ground in a heap.

  “I’m okay,” she called cheerfully, as I sucked in a worried gasp. Brushing her hair off her face, she smiled at me. “Whoops.”

  “Whoops indeed.” Bending, I helped her up and into the wheelchair, exchanging a look with the orderly.

  “Fearless,” the orderly said, shaking her head.

  I kissed the top of Katie’s cheek. “No more jumping, young lady.”

  “Bye,” Katie called as the woman wheeled her away. “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” I replied, but they were already gone.

  What I didn’t love, was the thought of the two men waiting outside the room.

  Chapter Two

  Jack was nowhere to be seen, and Vinny, was studying his cell phone carefully when I emerged from Katie’s room. The bodyguard didn’t even look up to glower at me as I left.

  As I walked out of the hospital, I couldn't help but wonder where Jack had gone to. For someone who'd gone to the trouble of tracking me down at my new job at The Corset, it seemed strange that he’d disappear without talking about whatever was bothering him.

  He said it had to do with my family. That pretty much meant that it couldn't be anything good.

  Strolling across the parking lot, I wasn't surprised to spot him leaning against my car.

  When I was within earshot, I mocked, "I thought I was rid of you."

  He didn't look amused. "We need to talk."

  I stood beside my car, put my hands on my hips, and said, "So talk."

  He shook his head. "Not here."

  I turned my head from side to side, looking to see if there were any eavesdroppers. I didn't see any.

  "Let me buy you a cup of coffee." He flashed a half smile with the offer.

  I considered it for a moment, wondering how often the handsome, charming man used his wiles to get his way with women. I didn't want to be one of his statistics. I shook my head.

  "Please, Maggie. I haven't eaten, or had a cup of coffee all day, and I'm coming down with a nasty headache."

  I felt a surge of sympathy for a fellow caffeine-addict. "You know the Royal Diner?"

  He nodded. "Best pickles in town."

  I, myself, am an olives girl, but I feel a kinship with pickle people. "Five minutes."

  "Thanks." He hurried off toward his car.

  I got into mine, wondering if this was the best idea. On the surface, it didn't make a lot of sense for me to be involved with a crime reporter. After all, I could be the subject of one of his stories. On the other hand, if I avoided him too much, it could make him suspicious.

  He was waiting for me under the awning of the diner’s entrance when I got there. "Thanks again," he murmured, opening the door for me so I could enter the restaurant.

  We got a booth in the back and settled in for what I knew wouldn't be a pleasant chat.

  "Your niece looks good," he said as we waited for the waitress to come take our order.

  "She's doing much better."

  Neither one of us looked at the menus in front of us.

  "You know what you want?" Jack asked. When I nodded, he waved the waitress over and indicated I should order first.

  "BLT on Rye toast, mayo on the side, and a cup of coffee."

  The waitress scribbled down my order and looked to Jack expectantly. "And for you, honey?"

  "Can I have a cheeseburger with fries and onion rings?"

  "And to drink?"

  "A vanilla shake." He flashed his best smile at her. "Does the burger come with a pickle?"

  "For you, it comes with two." She winked at him.

  "I sure do appreciate that."

  With a little more swing in her step than necessary, she sashayed away.

  "Gee," I drawled dryly. "You must really like their pickles."

  He chuckled, and then grew serious. "Did you lose your job at the insurance company?"

  I sat back a little in my seat, surprised by the question. "Of course not. I quit so that I could have a more flexible schedule when Katie comes home."

  "And when will that be?"

  "In a couple of days." My stomach clenched at the thought.

  "So I guess you don't have much time."

  "Time for what?"

  He folded his hands in front of him on the table, and seemed to choose his words carefully. "Not sure how to say this…" He trailed off as the waitress returned to the table to deliver his milkshake and a small bowl filled with pickles.

  "There you go," she trilled.

  Jack gave her a tight smile. "Thanks."

  She spun away, and hurried back to her duties.

  Jack considered the bounty in front of him I got the distinct impression that he was no longer starving. Something was bothering him, and it had to do with me. I felt myself losing my own appetite.

  I swallowed down the dread that clogged my throat, and asked quietly, "What's going on, Jack?"

  Instead of answering me, he pushed his drink halfway across the table. "Have you ever tried their shakes? They’re terrific.”

  "I'll take your word for it." I stared at him, willing him to share whatever was on his mind.

  He twisted in his seat, turning this way and that, making sure no one could overhear him. Finally, he leaned forward and said in a low voice, "What do you know about Arnold Rivalgi?”

  I stared at him blankly. "Is that a person, place, or thing?"

  His gaze narrowed slightly. "You really don't know?"

  I shook my head.

  He sat back in his chair as though he had to absorb that information. He unwrapped his straw, and stuck it in the creamy white beverage, before he spoke again. “Arnold Rivalgi was a small-time hood. I covered his trial when I first started my career."

  "That's nice?" Really not knowing what else to say.

  Jack shook his head. “Rivalgi was a nasty piece of work. He may have been small time, but he was one evil son-of-a-bitch."

  "I still don't understand what this has to do with me."

  Before he could explain, the waitress arrived, delivering his heaping plate of food, and my sandwich. "You haven't eaten your pi
ckles," she pouted prettily.

  "Saving the best for last," he answered easily.