Kitchen Promises (Riverside Trilogy, #3) (The Riverside Trilogy) (19 page)

“Of course not, sweetie. Don’t worry. You’re safe with me.” I hugged her, letting her get close. It was a beautiful summer afternoon.

We rode through the water, watching the scenery and enjoying the day. Stella laughed and giggled every time the boat splashed up at her.

“Honey, I have to use the bathroom. You gotta come with me.” I grabbed her hand, but she pulled back.

“Mommy, I don’t want to. Can’t I stay? Please?” she pleaded with her eyes.

I hesitated, knowing she was often just as clumsy as I was. “Fine, I’ll be right back. Don’t move! You understand?”

“I won’t, mommy.”

I raced down the dock to where the bathrooms were.
Great, a line.
I shifted from foot to foot, impatiently waiting. I didn’t want to leave Stella up there too long.

I finally made it back, relived to see Stella sitting exactly where I left her. As I approached her, I noticed a man sitting next to her that wasn’t there before.

And then my breathing stopped.

Denny.

Denny was sitting right next to my child. And knowing Stella, she was blabbing away to him.
Shit.
I know we had the no talking to strangers talk a while ago.

How?
How the fuck was this possible?

I wanted to react. Scream. But I had to play it cool. There were too many people on here. If I created a scene, they’d all think I was the crazy one, when in reality, Denny was crazier than shit.

“Stella, come here,” I ordered, a foot behind her. She was facing the water, hardly noticing I had returned. “Stella,” I said firmer.

She finally turned around, almost annoyed that I had interrupted her. “I said come here.” My face was cold and demanding.

“But I’m looking out into the water, mommy. He—,” she pointed her finger toward Denny. “—said if I lean far over, I can see the fish!”

I bet he did, motherfucker.

“Stop, now. Get your ass over here!” I yelled louder. I barely recognized my own tone, but I was freaking out, and I was out of options at this point. I was afraid if I grabbed her, it’d make even a worse scene that I abused my child or something.

“Fine,” she grumbled. She hopped off the bench and over to me. I reached out to her and clenched her tightly against me. “What did I say about talking to strangers?” I asked through gritted teeth. I wanted to yell and scold her, but I refrained. I knew it would only scare her, and I couldn’t have her crying right now.

“Sorry, Mommy.” She lowered her head in defeat.

I pulled her chin back up, making her look at me. “It’s okay, sweetie. But you cannot talk to that man, you hear me?”

“Yes.”

Denny hadn’t turned around yet, but I knew he heard the whole thing. I reached for my cell in my pocket, except it wasn’t there. Then I remembered I put it in my purse before we loaded the boat—the purse that was now sitting under Stella’s seat.

Shit.

Trying not to panic, I slowly walked over to her seat and bent down, attempting to grab my purse. I reached for it and grabbed the handle, pulling it toward me, right before Denny turned around with a grin.

“Looking for this?” He held up my phone in his hands, smiling.

Fuck.

“Give it back. Now. It’s mine.”

“You really shouldn’t leave your phone unattended.” He smirked, latching his fingers around my phone.

“I want it back. Now,” I repeated firmly.

“Oh? And what are you going to do for it?”

“You fucking bastard.”

I heard Stella gasp next to me. Shit, she just heard me.

“Stella, I want you to go over there on that bench.” I pointed across the boat to where I could still watch her. “Do not move, you understand?”

She nodded and walked over, giving me enough space to talk to Denny. “How the hell are you here?”

“Oh, didn’t Drake tell you?” he asked amused. I wanted to punch him square in the face and wipe that grin right off his face.

“Why are you here?”

“We have unfinished business, sweetheart.”

“Don’t you fucking call me sweetheart, you sick bastard,” I spit back.

“Mm mm mm…I’d watch your language, pretty lady.” He shook his finger at me, scolding me as if I were a child. “The funny thing is, when you hire a man to do your dirty work, you should always check whose payroll he’s on first.”

I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. I didn’t want to know what Drake did to get rid of Denny. I didn’t want the details.

“What are you talking about?”

“Drake thought he could hire a hit man to get rid of me. Too bad that man was already being paid to take care of him.”

My eyes just about bulged out of my face. I gasped as I understood what he was saying. He was going to have Drake killed…

“Too bad you can’t call and warn him.” He wore a smug smile. I felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to vomit at just the sight of him, but now hearing everything, I was about to die.

-----<>-----

Drake

As soon as I hung up with Mr. Madden, I knew what I had to do. It wasn’t dirty work per se, but it was pay back for what he did for me.

I let Carla know I was leaving for the day and to hold all my calls. I was sweating as I walked out of the Riverside and found my driver. I told him my location, wiping my hands off on my dress pants.

I didn’t know why I was so nervous. I wasn’t doing anything illegal—immoral, probably, but illegal, no. He had asked me to get rid of a few girls of his. And by get rid of, he meant make sure they get to the airport and never come back. I got them fake passports so I could have them shipped overseas. I didn’t need to ask him who these girls were; I knew they were prostitutes on his payroll.

I went to the underground tunnel where he explained I was to meet him. He couldn’t be seen with them for legal reasons, and he knew no one would suspect me. I didn’t get myself involved in any of that shit. I was as clean as they came, typically.

“Right here,” I told my driver. “Pull over here.”

He parked, but kept the engine running. I waited for my signal before opening the door to meet Mr. Madden.

“I’ll be right back. Wait for me,” I ordered before opening my door.

I walked up the alleyway to where he told me to meet him. It was uncanny how dark and quiet it was. There were lights above me, but they were so dull I could barely see five feet in front of me.

Just then, my cell phone rang. “Fuck,” I mumbled to myself. I forgot to silence it before leaving. I was going to ignore it, but saw Molly’s name.

“Hello?” I said as quietly as I could without it being obvious that I was trying to whisper.

“Hello, Drake.” A man’s voice answered. I spun around, seeing if someone was behind me, but I was alone.

“Who is this?”

“I’ll be doing the talking, Drake. You understand me?”

“Where’s Molly? You better not be fucking with me, or so help me,” I threatened.

“Or what? You’ll have me killed?” He laughed. “Oh wait, you already did that. Too bad it didn’t work out for you.”

You have to be fucking shitting me. Anger boiled as I realized it was Denny. How the hell is that possible?

“I’m not going to ask you again? Where is Molly?”

“Calm yourself down. Molly and Stella are right here.” I could hear him smiling. Fuck, he has them both.

“Don’t you fucking touch them! I will kill you, you dirty bastard!”

“My, my, my…you and Molly sure have dirty, foul mouths.”

I forced a hand through my hair, sweating even more. Then I saw Mr. Madden walking toward me. And it finally clicked.

This was all a fucking set up.

-----<>-----

Molly

Denny flashed opened his jacket, revealing a gun. I tried not to scream, but the gasp that escaped my mouth was loud enough to be one.

“Shut your pretty fucking mouth, you hear me? Or I’ll order Drake dead right now.” I nodded vigorously as I covered my mouth with my hand. I glanced over my shoulder to where Stella was sitting oblivious. The boat smacking the water was so loud that no one could hear our conversation, giving Denny exactly what he wanted.

“And I won’t even put Stella in danger,” he mused. “But you gotta listen to me.”

“What do you want?”

“You do as I say and you both walk out of here safe and sound.”

“What about Drake? Why are you doing this?”

“Sorry, sweetheart, Drake is the target. That’s not going to change.”

“No, please. I’ll do anything. Just please don’t hurt him,” I pleaded.

“It’s too bad you didn’t listen to me before.”

“Why are you such a monster? Why are you doing this?” It was intimidating talking to Denny face to face versus through text messages, but his voice in my head was eerily similar to this real tone.

“You know, I spent years in prison because of you. I didn’t even do anything, you spoiled little brat. You cried to mommy and daddy, and said I did.”

“They caught you!” I whisper-yelled. “I was six!” I reminded him.

“You were always a fucking brat, you know that?” He reached in for his phone and began dialing.

I stepped toward him pleading, “No, please, don’t! I’ll do anything, I swear!” I reached for his hand, but he swatted me away.

“Don’t fucking touch. Or I
will
be forced to hurt you and Stella.” I cringed at the sound of her name. I was fucked. I had no choice but to let him make the call.

I looked around, searching for any staff. Too bad most of them hung out downstairs in the mini bar that was attached. No one would believe me, even if I caused a scene.

I surrendered and let him continue dialing. I felt sick as I heard him talk, ordering his hit. I lunged over the boat and through up viciously. I started sobbing uncontrollably, unable to stop myself.

A staff member finally came to my side, asking if I was all right. I was about to tell her to call for help when I saw Denny standing next to Stella from the other side of the boat.

“I’m fine, thank you,” I said. She handed me a tissue and continued walking. I walked over to Denny and grabbed Stella’s hand in mine, walking us as far away from him as I could.

“Mommy, are you okay?” Stella asked as I dragged her to the bathroom. Luckily, there wasn’t a line anymore, so we got right in. I pushed her in and locked it.

“Stella, stay in here. Do not come out until I tell you.” She nodded and I shut the door behind me, checking once to make sure it had locked. I was going to deal with him once and for all.

-----<>-----

Drake

“Mr. Stagliano, you made it,” Mr. Madden said as he reached me.

“What is this?” I demanded. “Why is Denny alive?”

“Ah, yes, about that.” He smirked. “Denny is a powerful man, more than most give him credit for. All was fine in the world, I got him a new identity, erased his old one, and then Molly showed back up. There was just too much to risk if she blabbed her fucking mouth, which she did. Denny stayed under the radar, so that you both thought he was gone for good.”

“We didn’t have anything on Denny. That’s a lie. He threatened her.”

“His name is a threat. What do you think being in prison for that many years does to a man? He needed a new life, a fresh start. I gave him that. Too bad you and Molly had to get involved.”

“We didn’t get involved!”

“Do you know what would happen to this whole underground establishment if authorities knew Denny McMillan was alive? And working with the mob? Well, see, I couldn’t have that happen.” He began walking circles around me, making my head rush as I tried to plead with him to understand me.

“I swear, Mr. Madden, Molly and I just want to be left alone. We didn’t tell anyone.”

“Man, I wish that was enough, Drake.” He pursed his lips. I knew he was messing with me, pretending to care but he really didn’t give a flying fuck. “I’ll know our secret is safe when you are gone. That’s the only way.” He shifted and grabbed the gun that was tucked in his pants.

“You have to be kidding me.”

He pointed with his gun. “Does this face look like it’s kidding, Drake? You forgot who you’re talking to.”

Before I could respond, a gun went off. For the millisecond before the pain reached me, I said goodbye to Molly. I knew this was it. I’d been shot before; there’d be no way I’d get a third chance at life.

-----<>-----

Molly

I marched back up to the dock where Denny was as if I had nothing to lose, when in reality, I had everything to lose. Something fierce came over me, but the moment I saw Denny I walked right up to him and slapped him as hard as I could across the face. Then, before he could react, I slapped him again the other way. My wedding ring left a nice mark against his cheek, too. Just as he was about to grab me, I reached for his gun. I
knew what having a gun out in the open like this would do. Hell, I’m pretty sure I had an audience now.