The Bounty Hunters: The Marino Bros.: Box Set (65 page)

“Whoa, that good?” she laughed and took her first bite.

“Delicious, and so will you be in about ten minutes.”

Bella almost spit out her food. But, she hurried.

*     *     *

The day passed
all too quickly for Bella. They’d gone hiking again, this time venturing even deeper into the foothills of the Smokies. She loved the mountains, but missed Florida too.

Blaze loved spending this time with Bella, and the more he got to know her, the more he yearned to spend the rest of his life getting to know her. She loved nature, but like him, she was a book worm, and movie buff. She liked to dance, loved the same music he did, and loved cars just about as much as he did. He asked her if she wanted to be back in Florida, and was thrilled with her answer.

Although she had no family there, she had made good friends, and missed her job. She liked the medical profession because she liked to be of service, and felt useful.

She also loved the beach and the water. He did too. His apartment had a great ocean view, and he even had his own boat. He promised to teach her how to sail.

“That would be fantastic! I’ve always wanted to learn.”

“I can picture you at the helm,” he whispered in her ear before kissing her.

When they returned to the cabin, they watched a movie. It was
On the Waterfront
starring Marlon Brando and he held Bella as she got emotional when Brando’s character Terry Malloy faces off against the corrupt union bosses and tries to win back the love of Edie Doyle. He loved when she became so engrossed in the film, biting her nails at parts, and holding his hand. It was one of his favorites, too.

When it was getting near dinner time, he decided to once again treat her to one of his culinary delights. He taught her how to make shrimp parmesan, and spaghetti diablo. He prepared a lot figuring when his brothers arrived they might be hungry.

As night fell and they finished cleaning the kitchen, Blaze received a text from Andreas. He reported the plane just landed and they’d be at the cabin in about an hour and a half. Bella’s face paled. He saw her expression change, and he felt the same. Silently, he took her hand and led her to the bedroom. He made love to his woman one more time.

*     *     *

Bella and Blaze
finished dressing and just had time to put on a pot of coffee when the doorbell chimed. Bella looked towards the door, while Blaze watched her reaction.

“It’s going to be okay,” he encouraged and gave her hand a little squeeze before he went to answer the door.

Bella felt rooted to the spot. Her insides were quivering in fear and anticipation of what this meeting would accomplish. She put out five cups on a tray and carried it to the table. The cups rattled as she walked revealing her nervousness. Blaze gave her one last look, smiled, nodded encouragingly and then opened the door. Bella quickly set the tray down before she dropped it.

Bella’s first glimpse of the Marinos was three very tall, incredibly handsome men entering the room. Only one of them was smiling. The room suddenly felt smaller, and she had to grip the back of a chair for support. Each of the brother’s hugged Blaze as they passed through the door.

The one smiling spoke first. “Well, hello.” He approached her. “I’m Nikko.” He gave her his hand.

“It’s . . . nice to meet you.”

“I don’t bite,” he whispered when she quickly slipped her hand out of his. She gave him a smile at his attempt at a joke. Bella knew from her conversations Nikko was the youngest of the four brothers, the one just engaged and recovering from a recent bullet wound.

“I’m Gio,” Gio called over Nikko’s shoulder and then pushed his way around his brother to introduce himself. He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t showing any sign of disdain either. “Sorry if I come off grumpy tonight. I’m a bit jet lagged,” he admitted and instead of shaking her hand he pulled her in for a quick hug and then he released her.

Bella finally found her courage to speak then. “Oh, that’s quite all right. I understand you’ve had several flights today. Thank you for coming, all of you,” she included Andreas who was still standing by the door. “You didn’t have to help me, but here you all are. I’m very grateful.”

Andreas watched the slip of a girl in the white dress. He remembered her from the bail hearing. He knew she was twenty-five. She looked younger standing there in that white dress. She looked a bit like Monica, his cousin’s wife, and he could see how nervous and frightened she was. Again, his instinct, like in the courtroom, told him that she wasn’t the mastermind in this thing. His brother was right. He glanced at Blaze who was watching him, waiting for acknowledgment, a sign of approval. Blaze had told him he was in love with the girl. First Nikko, now a month later Blaze.

Andreas couldn’t fault his brothers. They had fallen for beautiful woman, yet polar opposites in so far as he could tell. But this quiet reserved one did suit Blaze. He sensed a lot about a person from first impressions. Ronnie had impressed him with her pride and strength, and this one with her demure nature.

He gave Blaze a quick nod, and was glad to see his brother smile. Andreas then turned his attention to Bella. “Welcome to the family, Bella. And as for thanking us, there is no need with family.”

His words shocked not only Bella, but two other pairs of startling blue eyes whipped from Andreas to Blaze to her. Then both Nikko, and the tired one, Gio, were asking questions.

Blaze shrugged his shoulders at the barrage of questions. It seemed Andreas had not filled his brothers in on everything.

“What? The family?”

“How? When?”

“What’s going on?”

Andreas smiled at Bella, then gave his two clueless brothers one of his infamous scowls. “Oh, did I forget to mention, not only is Bella innocent and needs our help, but Blaze loves her? Yep, he’s taken a page out of your book, Nikko.”

“No way?” Nikko gasped. He looked at Bella then Blaze. “Well, shit. Who would have thunk that? Congrats man. Maybe you’ll loosen up and not be such a stick in the mud.” He approached his brother and gave him a punch in the arm. To Bella it looked like a pretty hard one. Blaze just gave Nikko a dirty look and shirked him off.

“Don’t start with me Nikko, I mean it.” Nikko didn’t relent. His grin was like the cat that caught the canary. He kept bumping his brother’s arm and wiggling his eye brows at him as if they were still in high school.

Bella started to smile. Seeing them like this, she got a sense of what she’d missed being an only child. It must’ve been great. She hoped to have several children. She needed to mention that at some point to Blaze if all went well.

“Well, I’m happy for you, Blaze.” Gio put in from the sofa. He’d already ensconced himself there with his booted feet up on the coffee table. “You too, Bella. Hey, that coffee smells real good,” he added, stifling a yawn.

“It sure does,” Blaze spoke up maneuvering around Nikko, and came over to Bella’s side. “Let’s have some. I also made shrimp parmesan and spaghetti diablo. There’s plenty in the fridge.”

“Oh hell yeah. Now we’re talking,” Nikko chimed in and went directly to the kitchen, but nearly tripped when Gio in the guise of stretching put his foot out. “Hey moron, I was gonna get you a plate because you’re so tired, but now you can get it yourself.”

“Aw, Nikko, help a brother out. Please, I’m so tired.” Gio was pouting.

“Enough.” The room got quiet at Andreas’s single word. It was strange how they all jumped when he said how high. He was clearly the patriarch of the family. “Nikko, get some for everyone. Gio get your ass at the table and drink some coffee. We’ve got a lot to discuss. Sorry, Bella,” he included her. “We’ll have plenty of time later to get to know you, but I want to get everything settled tonight. And don’t worry about those two,” he indicated Nikko and Gio with a quick flick of his index finger in each of their directions. “They know when to be serious.”

“Yes, sorry,” Gio grinned sheepishly slipping between her and Andreas to grab a seat. “We mustn’t be making a good first impression.” He began to pour himself a cup.

“Oh but you are,” Bella couldn’t help revealing. “It makes me wish I had brothers and sisters of my own.”

“But you do,” Nikko put in, carrying plates and forks out and putting them on the table. He turned and went back into the kitchen without saying another word to presumably warm up the food.

When Bella looked at his retreating back and then Blaze in confusion, Blaze informed her proudly, “You’ve got them. They’re your brothers now too, Bella.”

“You sure you want in, Bella?” Andreas asked, taking a seat and taking one of the settings.

“I do,” she whispered. “I most certainly do.”

He nodded his approval and gave her his first smile. “Good. Now let’s talk.”

Parting Ways

T
he Marinos went
over the entire plan, consumed all the leftovers, and two more pots of coffee. Then much to Bella’s shock and dismay, Andreas announced it was time for her to leave.

“What? Why? I thought the tidbit of news wasn’t going to be dropped until tomorrow afternoon by your friend in the Tampa PD?” She was referring to Nikko’s friend who was going to plant the seed that she was with Blaze at a cabin in Pigeon Forge and was running with her. Blaze was not arguing, and that worried her.

Andreas explained. “Well, that’s when we would like them to find out, but we can’t count out they know already. We don’t know what kind of intelligence they have. Blaze used his credit card to book this cabin for two more nights, so it may go down sooner, and the quicker we get you out of here, the safer you’ll be. We have our girl in the Pigeon Forge PD coming tomorrow morning, bright and early. She’ll be the decoy for the day. We’ll be watching, we’ll have some of their people inside, and outside even though these goons often like to hit at night. But just in case it’s tonight, Nikko and I will provide back up here. And you’re going with Gio now. He needs the sleep anyhow, and Nikko and I will sleep up in the loft here and take turns scouting tonight.”

“But Blaze?”

“Sorry baby. I’ve got to stay.” Blaze got up and pulled Bella to him. He hated leaving her, or rather her having to leave, but knew she’d be safer away from here. She’d be safer in Gio’s capable hands.

“But where am I going?” she asked, looking around in confusion.

Gio piped in. “We rented a condo under a dummy name we use so we can’t be tracked right here on the property, we won’t be far. Bella, I know you’re upset and all, but this is the right way to do it. Why don’t you go pack a little bag, and take fifteen minutes,” he indicated to Blaze to take her in the room. “I’m kind of tired,” he added.

“Okay, s-sure,” she stammered as Blaze took her hand and led her into their room.

As soon as the door closed, she turned in Blaze’s arms and clung to him. “You’ll wear your vest?”

“Yes, yes, I promise.” Blaze held Bella tight; he kissed the top of her head. He could feel her heart pounding through her chest. “We will be in radio contact all day, I’ll be fine,” he added.

“I’ll miss you.” He could feel her body shaking. She was crying softly.

“Don’t cry, baby. Please don’t cry.” He pulled her apart from him, and took her face in his hands and kissed her eyes, her mouth. “Nothing’s gonna happen. I promise.”

Her eyes searched his face, hoping beyond hope his spoken assurances would become reality. She wiped her tears away and spoke from her heart. “Blaze, I love you. I really, really do. And I want you to know you are all I’ve ever wanted, and you’re all I have.”

“Oh Bella, baby. I love you, doll. This nightmare is going to be over soon. Very soon.” Again he pulled her to him, cherishing this woman who taught him how to love again. He, who vowed never to give his heart away again, couldn’t imagine not having her in his life. But Bella, with the green eyes, had pierced him, and he was glad he knew now what real love was.

The Waiting

B
ella was incredibly
nervous. Gio was already awake when she got up. He slept out on the sofa and she had taken one of the bedrooms. The condominium they rented had two bedrooms and two pullout sofas. He’d not slept in one of the bedrooms because he wanted to be available if she called out. He made her take the room that did not have a balcony and only a small window. It made access to her less likely if the hit men knew where they were staying.