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“He already does. Your mother knew what would happen. She did what she could to protect you. It’s time to end the charade.”
Leaning forward, I gazed out the windshield at the sheriff’s office, a lump remaining in my throat. “I know you’re right. I’m just afraid it will change everything.”
“Yeah, it will, but that’s what needs to happen. What it won’t do is change the way I feel about you.”
He had no idea that his support meant the world to me. “I want my father and Giovanni taken down. I won’t stop until that happens. I don’t care what needs to be done. I also need to meet with Mark and Candy.” While it seemed everything was coming together, there were still too many unanswered questions, and the reason Giovanni had waited to enforce the contract he and my father had entered into was tops on the list. And how had he found the couple? Who had tipped him off?
Maverick’s presence was powerful, every room he entered into absorbed by his aura. But on this day, he acted as if he’d storm a castle wrestling a dragon. His need for revenge was evident, but as one man, he couldn’t take on an army.
But it seemed he didn’t care.
He was determined to protect me at all costs.
I’d told myself I’d never fall in love, but it was impossible not to around the hulking mass of a man.
He remained close, a formidable mass that no one dared mess with. I took comfort in his protective stance.
While a deputy tried to escort us to Gage’s office, Maverick was having none of it, taking long strides down a corridor, not bothering to knock before entering the room. Gage’s expression was unreadable but if he was perturbed at the forceful entrance, he certainly didn’t let on.
“Close the door behind you,” the sheriff stated, his tone gruffer than before.
Maverick took the letters and legal documents from my hand as well as the photographs that he’d printed from my camera, placing them on his desk. Gage didn’t bother looking down. The sheriff stared at me for a few seconds then looked away, rubbing his jaw. He glanced down only once without touching the items, which both annoyed and confused me.
“You better say something,” Maverick barked, his irritation worse than mine.
Gage continued to take his time before planting his hands on the desk, leaning over with his eyes pinned on me. “Amelie Rathbone. Well, it’s good to meet the real woman.”
“Do you think I wanted to hide behind a lie?” Was he accusing me of wrongdoing?
Maverick puffed up immediately, fisting both hands. They were friends, not enemies, yet the man who’d sworn to protect me wasn’t going to allow anyone to challenge my story. For that and so many other things I loved him, but adoration wouldn’t matter in the end if no one believed my story.
“Whoa,” Gage said as he threw out his hand. “Maybe I should start over.”
“Yeah, you better,” Maverick warned.
Gage gave him a harsh look then shook his head. “You have a true champion in this man, Amelie. I hope you know that.”
“I do.” I wasn’t certain what I was supposed to say at this point.
The sheriff took the time to glance at the documentation provided, his eyebrows lifting when he scanned the photographs. Then he sat down on his chair with a hard thud, shifting it back and forth. “I don’t know where to begin with this. I’ve been on the phone since you called.”
I sensed Maverick was ready to explode. He slammed his hands on Gage’s desk, leaning over and hissing. His thick beard was unable to hide his fury. “Don’t you dare give us any shit, Gage. This woman is in danger. One or both of those pigs are coming after her.”
“Take a breath, Maverick. This isn’t the type of situation I deal with every day,” Gage retorted.
“No. You just handle drunks in bars.”
I was shocked how they treated each other, more so when Gage grinned. “That’s included you a couple of times.” He lost his smile when he noticed Maverick wasn’t interested in playing along.
“The hostages from the mountain were mentioned in one of her mother’s letters,” Maverick told him.
Gage whistled.
“That adds another missing piece to this puzzle and also that you were right in that the marshals wanted to track Bruno down for several reasons.”
“The Wellses knew about the safe deposit box,” I half whispered.
“Maybe. Maybe not, but Giovanni managed to track them down.” Gage shook his head. “Here’s the deal, folks. I have a couple buddies who joined the FBI. One owed me a favor. I used it up on this one. I know sorry isn’t what helps you at this point but I really am. What you’ve been forced to deal with is horrific, Amelie. Your father is a very dangerous man but not nearly as much as Giovanni Butelli. Whether anyone wants to believe or admit it, the Cosa Nostra has ruled Chicago for decades. But the squeeze has recently been put on them during the last few years.”
