For Luca (Chicago Syndicate Book 2) (12 page)

“Wade,” he answers gruffly.

“Hi, Detective Wade. It’s Fallon Michaels, I’m calling in regards to Alex Gentry’s investigation.”

He sighs deeply. “Still the same status, but I can’t close it because I have another case that could be tied to it.” He pauses, and I can hear the rustling of papers in the background. “Fallon, are you okay?”

Startled, I retort, “Yes.”

“Because I have to tell you. Your sudden interest in this case is peculiar. I’ve spoken to you twice in two weeks.”

“Well, I just want it to be closed so I won’t have to worry about it.” Shit! That came out wrong, so I hurriedly add, “It’s weird to have this hanging over my head.”

“Hmm.”

That sounds ominous. I bite my fingernail.

“I’ll call you, Fallon, when I have an update.” He dismisses me and hangs up.

Another case tied to it? Is that why Luca wants me to open up? Does he think that I know more about the police investigation? I tuck my hair behind both ears, resolute to stop my thoughts from continuously wandering to Luca.

I talk to my mother and make arrangements to visit my parents in Lake Forest this weekend. Then I call Jason and make dinner plans with him for next week. After my phone calls are out of the way, I decide it’s time I go to the hairdresser. I usually have my bangs trimmed every four weeks, but I haven’t had them cut in months, so I’ve been combing them back or pinning them to the side to keep the hair out of my eyes.

Now that I’ve gotten out of the apartment and started on my to-do list, I’m determined to move forward instead of continuing on with my current stagnant lifestyle.

CHAPTER 14

Fallon

Moving forward, which seemed impossible four months back when I first came home from the Syndicate’s house, is what I’ve been doing. Time has passed slowly, one day at a time, and Luca has finally started to pass from my mind. And although day by day the pain and emptiness of missing half of your heart does lessen, the love never disappears.

I’m actually working different temp jobs right now because I haven’t been hired full-time anywhere yet. I’m listed with an agency for administrative office work, and they usually have work for me in the area of The Loop several days a week. The tasks of the job itself are often tedious, but I’m more than happy to be working and meeting so many new people since I’m sent to different companies almost every week. And I’m always free to refuse a job, which I sometimes do on the days that I miss Luca most.

Occasionally, on random mornings, I wake up, and the ache is just as bad as when he took me home during the summer. Sometimes I succeed in not thinking about him, but then something small happens that reminds me of Luca.

I’m also attending a course,
Italian for Beginners
, every Tuesday night because I discovered that I want those Italian words to roll off my tongue. Maybe it’s a bit masochistic, but who cares? I’m broadening my horizons. I did pick up a lot of words and short, simple sentences while I dated Luca; he would translate for me anytime I asked.

And I’m still addicted to
Charmed
. I’ve watched every season and even watched season two again, the season that revolves around my favorite character, Cole.

My phone vibrates in my hand: no caller ID. I hate calls without caller ID. I usually let it go to voicemail, but I have to answer it because it could be one of the companies I’ve applied to.

I sweep the screen with my finger. “Fallon Michaels.”

“Michaels, it’s Kelli Ann Collopy.”

I halt mid-step, and the person behind me almost crashes against my back then mutters gruffly while passing me by. Wade contacted me several weeks ago confirming they were closing the case due to lack of evidence, so I have no idea why she would be calling me.

“We’re re-opening Alex Gentry’s case, and it looks like you’re going to be our number one suspect.”

I’m still standing, stunned, in the same position in the middle of sidewalk.

“How? Why is it being re-opened? And why isn’t Wade calling me?” Fear instantly floods my mind.

“Stop with your incessant questions!” Collopy yells, shocking me. “The point is, you need help, and I can give it to you. I can make all your troubles go away if you pay me thirty thousand by tomorrow.”

I’m now taking slow, unsteady steps forward. This is ridiculous. She calls me to blackmail me, but I can tell she’s nervous by the tremble in her voice. I’ve only met this woman once, but she came across as poised and controlled then. What should I do? Just when I thought this was all beginning to blow over, something from my past with Luca comes back to haunt me. Since I have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to do, I’m wondering whether or not I should contact him. Or was this what his money was for? I distinctly remember him telling me a few times that I would need that money, but I assumed that referred to the fact that I was unemployed. Taking a calming breath, I palm my head. I’m not just going to pay her off this easily.

“I don’t have that kind of money.”

“Then you better get it. You have twenty-four hours and don’t even think about getting help from DeMiliano. He won’t help you, you know. He just throws them away after he’s done,” she declares with bitterness dripping in her tone. “Twenty-four hours, and I’ll call you again to let you know where to transfer the money to.” The call ends.

I consider the fact that Luca knows Collopy intimately, and a pang of misplaced possessiveness hits me. Why did she mention him? How
do
these two know each other?

I keep moving forward with my phone pressed against my ear, staring at the sidewalk. I’m standing in front of the coffee shop window, and the initial shock from Collopy’s call is immediately overruled. Inside, sitting at
our
table, right by the window with an espresso, is Luca. 

He glances sideways, and when he looks directly at me, the entire world around me fades away. Why is he in our coffee shop? Has he been here often since we broke up? Is he here because this is where we first met? Our eyes lock, and I notice the small differences in his appearance. He’s stopped shaving because the sexiest beard covers his jaw. I’ve forgotten how Luca can pull off the rugged, yet clean, look perfectly. He’s not wearing a tie with his crisp navy suit and white dress shirt. His dark blue suit was my favorite, and I preferred him sans tie with the top buttons undone, just like he is right now. While I’ve been lost in his striking good looks, I’ve forgotten about the call. Again, I wonder what Luca’s doing here. There’s only one way to find out, so I step through the door and start toward his table. He’s clearly not excited to see me. A frown is embedded between his brows, but I trudge on and pass the other tables to stop in front of him.

“Luca.” I smile uncertainly because his hard gaze isn’t exactly inviting, but I sit down across from him anyway. It’s comforting to see him – especially after my disturbing conversation with Collopy – and I’m surprised at how badly I’m aching to touch him, to feel him, even after so much time apart. I breathe in his cologne and release a soft sigh when the distinguishable fragrance awakens memories that I thought were long forgotten.

He continues to frown as his eyes roam over me, and I can’t detect any emotions except maybe slight annoyance coupled with surprise. “Fallon.”

Desperate to end this awkwardness between us, I repeat the sentence I spoke at the beginning of the year when we met here. “Isn’t this a nice coincidence?” I wonder how he’s been doing and what he’s been up to.

A smirk crosses his face. “This time it
is
actually coincidental.”

“Really?” He hasn’t offered me a drink, and I’m sitting with my coat on and my purse still hanging over my shoulder.

“Yes.” He sighs and glances at the back of the shop then quickly back to me. “Sometimes I come here for an espresso.” He holds up his drink.

He’s obviously lying because he avoids my eyes, and I secretly hope that he comes here to somehow be closer to me. That’s the main reason why
I
still come here and always sit at this table.

He motions to my forehead. “You went to the hairdresser.”

I swipe my bangs to the side and smile, loving that he notices it because the last time I saw him – the morning after the XTC incident, which was two months ago – I did have a different hairstyle. My hair was combed back because my bangs were too long.

I pull a deep breath into my lungs to steady my voice and prepare to tell him about Collopy’s phone call. Whether coincidental or not, the fact that we’ve run into each other now, right after the blackmail call, is a sign to me that I need to tell him about it. She’s police, what else can I do?

“I need your help, Luca,” I utter the words that he told me I would months ago.

His lips thin in a straight line. “Are you in trouble?”

Wringing my hands together in my lap, I nod my head and decide to be completely forthcoming because I have nothing to lose anymore. “I’m sure you’re aware that there’s an investigation about Alex that involves me. A certain note was found in his safe.”

“Continue,” he orders in a formal tone and seems to be in a hurry, frequently stealing glances around the coffee shop.

“A detective just called to inform me they’re re-opening the case, which seems strange because the detective on the case told me a few weeks back it was closed. Her name is Collopy.”

His eyes widen, then darken with rage. “When?”

“Just now, right before I walked in here. She contacted me out of nowhere and attempted to blackmail me.” I lean forward against the table and lower my voice. “The investigation was closed by the detective on the case, Wade. Collopy was working with him. Out of nowhere, Collopy calls me, threatening me with new evidence that she’s found that will make me suspect number one. But she didn’t elaborate. She demanded thirty thousand dollars within twenty-four hours. She sounded very agitated and nervous, and I…I don’t know what to do. When I hung up, I saw you sitting here.”

The silence stretches between us, and the discussions of other patrons invade our conversation.

Luca also leans forward, trapping my legs between his and dropping his voice. “You know what pisses me the fuck off? How you ask for my help as a last resort while
I
have been the one protecting you every step of the way from day one.”

Stunned by the venom in his tone, I remain quiet because I do need his help. Angering him won’t benefit me, and I want to know what the hell is going on. I’m the one who’s still in the dark here.

While leaning back, he continues, “What else did she say?”

“She’s going to call back tomorrow.”

I can’t avert my gaze from his intense eyes as he holds mine. “This is the last time I’m going to ask you this, and I expect honesty now, Fallon, or else I can’t help you. Do you get that?”

“Yes,” I hurriedly answer.

“What did she say to you, verbatim?”

“She wants thirty-thousand dollars. She’ll contact me within twenty-four hours with instructions about where to transfer it.” I pause and keep our gaze locked. “She mentioned you. Luca, you also need to be honest. What’s going on here? Did Alex write the note, or did you, or someone else from the Syndicate? Or is she somehow involved? Has this got anything to do with me, or is she some psycho ex-lover of yours? I haven’t told you before now because I had no idea who wrote the note. And Wade gave me a false sense of security when he said the case was closed.”

Luca runs his fingers over his beard. “She wrote the note. I didn’t do anything with her while I was with you. She and I happened long before I met you.”

Well, my instinct was right. The moment she mentioned DeMiliano with spite, I knew she was the one behind this and not Luca or the Syndicate. “Did you know from the start about the note?”

“No. I found out about it two weeks later.”

“Was my unwillingness to divulge anything to you the reason why you’ve changed so much toward me?” His hand is resting on the table, and I’m dying to touch him.

“Partly. I meant it when I said that it gutted me when you cut me out of your life.”

I blow out a soft breath. “I was confused then. I’m still confused, but I’ve finally started living my life again.”

“You should’ve talked to me.” He gulps heavily, betraying that his cool composure is just a façade.

Even though we’re not sitting far from each other, the distance between us is greater than ever. Where we used to always be comfortable with one another, we’re both extremely ill at ease at the moment. “I realize that now, in hindsight. Can you help me?”

“Yes.” His stare holds a taunting ‘I told you I would’.

“How?” I hate that he’s still being vague.

“She won’t bother you anymore. I’ll take care of the note and her. Was that all?”

Is he trying to get rid of me? I nod my head.

“Good. If she calls you again, or if anything happens, you contact me immediately,
Capito
?” Understand?

This is an easy one. I already understood simple Italian words and phrases when we dated.
“Si.”
Yes.