Double Identity (23 page)

“Your mother and I thought we were safe, that we’d beaten him at his own game, that we could live the happy-ever-after life I’d been promising Elizabeth that we’d share.”

His eyes looked dark and empty.

“The last time I saw Elizabeth she was smiling at me, waving her hand, laughing and calling out for me to meet her out front—and then she was gone…an explosion…a wall of flames…”

Tears flowed freely down his face. “I tried to get her out. I ran to the car and I put my arms in the fire and I tried…” His eyes pleaded with her to understand. “I tried, Sophia. I tried.”

“I know, Dad.” She stood up and wrapped her arms around him, offering whatever comfort she could.

Sheriff Dalton shifted uncomfortably. One of the federal marshals coughed. Cain placed a comforting hand on Sophie’s shoulder as she embraced her father.

When Sophie stepped back, her father looked into her face.

“You were the only thing I had left of your mother and I needed to protect you at all costs. I no longer trusted the witness protection program. If my father’s people found us once, they could find us again. So I took matters into my own hands.”

“You ran?” Sophie asked.

“No. I went to see my father.”

Sophie gasped. From the sudden tension in the room, it was obvious this new turn of events impacted the other occupants of the room as well.

“Making a deal with Vincent Gimmelli was the only chance I had to keep you alive. With your mother gone, I may as well have been a dead man anyway. I arranged a private meeting with him.”

“What happened? Why didn’t he kill you? What was the deal?”

“You were the deal.”

Sophie raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

“I knew the enormity of your grandfather’s vanity and I played on it. He didn’t want to leave this world without an heir. He wanted to be nothing more than a footnote in history. He longed for immortality. And the only way he could achieve that would be to leave a bloodline behind.

“I told him about his only granddaughter…the only bloodline of his that he would ever have. I told him I intended to raise her as an artist…a desire he had once had for himself but had been unable to fulfill…and I promised to send him pictures and updates as you grew. And, of course, I promised to destroy the evidence I had against him.”

“So he let you go? Just like that?”

Dominic grimaced. “No. It wasn’t quite that easy. I didn’t walk away. I crawled—with several broken bones. He had to save face, after all.”

“If you made a deal with your father, why did you continue to run?” Cain asked.

“Because I couldn’t trust my daughter’s life to the word of a mobster—no matter who he was. I made sure I kept my word. I sent letters. Updates. But never from anyplace we’d ever lived. Never from anywhere he’d be able to find us. Just kept enough of my word so he would keep his.” Dominic stared at Cain until Cain, seeming to be satisfied with the answer, nodded. “Besides, even if my father kept his word, I didn’t want others in his organization who craved power to be able to use us as leverage against him. So I ran…and I hid….” He turned and looked at Sophie. “And I tried to give you the best life I could, princess. I’m sorry, Sophia. Can you ever forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Dad. You did the best you could. But I don’t understand. What happened? Why did you have to run away from me? Why now?”

“My father died.”

Sophie blinked hard.

“Not only did that mean our protection was gone but now we’d be a target…or at least I would. I was still the only son, the heir to the empire, and there were several cousins in line that wanted me out of the way. Because of the low profile I’d kept over the years, I didn’t think they knew about you. I believed you’d be safer if I got as far away from you as possible. So I ran.”

Cain perched on the edge of the bed beside Sophie. “Why did you come to Promise, Mr. Gimmelli? And why didn’t you tell Sophie you were here?”

“To protect her. I wasn’t sure they knew she existed and I didn’t want anyone that was tailing me to make the connection. After the attempted hit-and-run in town and the effort to force the two of you off the road at the cemetery, I knew she was in danger. I couldn’t come forward and protect her at the same time. So I watched from a distance and intervened when I could.”

“That was you drag racing up there on the mountain?” Sheriff Dalton asked.

“Yes. They were trying to force Cain and Sophie over the edge. I had no choice.”

“All those times I thought someone was following me…was it you, Dad?”

“Yes…and no…” Dominic chuckled for the first time since he had begun his story. “Truthfully, Sophie, you had more people watching you than bees buzzing around honey. Cain and his sister Holly were your home team.” Dominic gestured at the other men in the room. “Sheriff Dalton and the feds hung back in the shadows.”

The men grinned.

“The bad guys followed in the distance tap-dancing around the law…and I followed the bad guys.”

The tension in the room eased as they all seemed to contemplate the ridiculousness of the situation.

“Well, it’s over now.” Sophie sighed.

A shadow crossed Dominic’s face.

As if on cue, one of the marshals’ cell phone rang. He answered it, murmured a few words and slid the phone back in his pocket.

“The medical arrangements have been finalized, Mr. Gimmelli. It’s time to go.”

“Go?” Sophie’s eyes darted from Agent Broward to her father and back again. “What’s he talking about, Dad?”

“Sophie, I’ve agreed to testify. I’ve turned the evidence over to the U.S. Marshals’ office and they’ve agreed to place us into protective custody. We’re going to give the witness protection program another try.”

“What? We?” Her eyes flew to Cain and she wondered if the sudden panic that seized her heart and threatened to close her lungs was evident in her eyes. She knew from the shocked expression on his face that he was experiencing similar feelings.

“Dad, I’m not going anywhere. Promise is my home. I have friends here. I have a job….”

“You don’t have a choice, Sophie.”

“What?” She began pacing the room. “Of course I have a choice. I don’t know anything more about the Gimmelli family than what you just told all of us. I can’t testify against anyone. There’s no reason for me to have to hide.”

“Unfortunately, Ms. Gimmelli, there is,” Agent Dickerson said. “Your father is in a key position to bring down the entire Maryland organized crime connection, which, in turn, is a major arm of one of the New York crime families. His life is in grave danger. And we can’t take the chance that you could be used as a pawn to influence his testimony. We’re taking you into protective custody.”

Sophie stopped dead in her tracks. Her stomach plummeted to the floor and her legs wobbled.

No. Please, Lord, no. Don’t give me my heart’s desire only to turn around and take it all away.

“What if I refuse to go?” The hoarseness in her throat made the words come out in a painful, harsh rush.

“I’m sorry.” Agent Broward took a step toward her. “You’re a material witness. You don’t have a choice.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

“How long?” The words were nothing more than a whisper.

“At least for the duration of the trial. A year. Maybe two.”

The room started to spin and Sophie stretched out a hand to keep herself from falling.

Instantly, Cain appeared at her side, the strength of his arm supporting her, the warmth of his body cradling her. She felt his lips press against the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry, Sophia.” Her father stood in front of her, wringing his hands, barely able to look her in the eye. “I know what this is costing you.”

“Do you, Dad?” The words came out harsher than she’d intended but her emotions were spinning wildly out of control. For the first time in her life she had established roots. She’d built a home complete with a church community, a best friend, a job…and Cain. Now it was being ripped away and there was nothing she could do about it. Could anybody really understand?

Cain looked at the men in the room and asked, “Can Sophie and I have a minute alone?”

“We have a van waiting downstairs,” Agent Dickerson said.

“I understand. Just a minute…please.”

The marshals glanced at each other and Broward nodded. “Okay, Sheriff Dalton and my partner will take Mr. Gimmelli downstairs. I’ll step outside and wait for Ms. Gimmelli.” He glanced at his watch. “Five minutes. No more.”

Cain nodded and drew Sophie closer as the men exited the room.

“I can’t believe this is happening.” She looked up into his eyes. She felt like an iron fist clenched her heart. “I don’t even get to say good-bye to Holly or your mom.”

“I’ll explain it all to them.”

“Then explain it all to me.” She pulled out of his embrace and paced angrily around the room. “Explain why I have to pay the price for my father’s mistakes. I love him with all my heart. And I’m so grateful he’s alive. But I don’t want to leave Promise. I don’t want to leave…” She left the word
you
unspoken as she stopped and faced him.

Cain’s expression held regret and resignation. “I don’t want you to leave either, Sophie.” He stepped closer and gently brushed a tattered strand of hair off her face. “I realize now that something special was happening between us. Something beautiful. Something promising.”

Sophie swallowed the lump forming in her throat and nodded.

“None of this will last forever. Just until the trial ends.”

“But you heard the marshal. It will be a year. Maybe two.” Sophie shook her head. “That’s a lifetime.”

Cain pulled her into his arms. “No, Soph. It’s a year…or two…for a chance at a lifetime. And that’s worth the wait—at least it is for me.”

Her throat closed and she choked back a sob. “You’d wait for me?”

He lowered his head and pressed his lips as gently as possible against her swollen ones. Then he pulled her into his arms and she could hear his heart beating beneath her ear, his words rumbling in his chest.

“God put you in my path, Sophie. I was lost in the past—consumed with guilt and grief and mistrust—and He plopped you right down in front of me and said, ‘Here. I’ve chosen someone to teach you to forgive…to teach you to move on…to teach you to trust people again. Her name is Sophie…treat her right.’”

Sophie chuckled in spite of herself.

After a moment, she raised her eyes to his. “What if I can’t come back?” she whispered. “What if something goes wrong and I have to enter the witness protection program permanently?”

“God put us together, Sophie. Let’s trust Him to find a way to make it work.”

A rap on the door interrupted them. Agent Broward stuck his head inside. “It’s time to go.”

Sophie turned in the doorway and took one long last look at Cain—the lopsided grin that made her pulse race—the thick wave of chestnut hair that fell across his forehead—the deep brown eyes that spoke to her without words.

“It’s going to be okay, Soph.”

And for the first time she didn’t want to throttle him as he spoke those lame, empty words. She wanted to cling to them and hold them close to her heart. She wanted to carry them with her on this next step of her journey. She wanted to believe that with God all things were possible. She offered a silent prayer and, without looking back because it would hurt too much, she closed the hospital door behind her.

TWENTY

Nineteen Months Later

T
he autumn air was crisp, cool, hinting at the winter months soon to descend on Promise. The leaves on the trees were a majestic canvas of reds, golds and green. Cain stretched his back and wallowed in the warmth of the late afternoon sun. He’d been pulling weeds, planting mums and laying fresh mulch all along the brick path leading up to the porch steps.

The sound of a car speeding up the dirt road caught his attention and he cupped his hand over his eyes as he watched it approach.

The red convertible, top down and spewing dust everywhere, slammed to a stop just a few feet away from him.

He grinned. “Your timing’s perfect. I just finished two hours of weeding.”

Holly grinned from her position in the driver’s seat. “I’m not stupid. Mom told me what time you left. I gave you just enough time to do all the heavy stuff and then thought I’d drive out here and play hero by offering to help.”

“Figures.” Cain chuckled, picked up his shovel and empty mulch wrappers and crossed over to the shed. When he returned, Holly was sitting on the top step of the porch. Cain joined her.

“The place looks nice,” she said.

“Thanks.”

“I still can’t believe you bought this place.”

Cain lifted an eyebrow. “This conversation again?”

“No. I get it. Sophie’s father wanted to sell the property after the fire. You bought it and rebuilt. Just in case. I get it.”

Cain scowled at his sister. “But?”

“It’s been nineteen months since Sophie left. And according to the newspapers the trials ended seven months ago. That’s a long time without any word, Cain.”

“You know she can’t contact me.”

“I know she’s not
supposed
to contact you. But there are ways—sneaky ways, but ways. An unsigned postcard. An anonymous phone call. Something. Anything.”

Cain stood and brushed his hands against the legs of his jeans. “I’m not having this conversation with you again. You’re like a broken record, Holly, and I’ve had my fill.” He turned and crossed the porch to the front door. “If you want some apple cider, you’re welcome to come in. There’s a fresh batch in the fridge. If you want to sit on the porch, enjoy my garden and rest for a while before driving back to town you’re welcome. But if you’ve driven out here to rehash this same old conversation, then leave.”

Holly stood, her hands stuck in the back pocket of her jeans, and faced him. “You never gave up on her. All this time and you still keep thinking she’s coming back.”

“Holly.” Anger laced each syllable of her name.

She pulled her hands out of her pockets and held them up defensively. “No, you don’t understand. I’m not criticizing you, Cain. Honestly, I’m not. I’m telling you how cool I think it is, really. Especially now that…”