Ties That Bind (9 page)

“And Ashli?”

“Both suites are on a rotating pass code system that changes every two hours and overlaps the staff shift changes. There’s fingerprint scans on both the access elevators and the office doors. I’ve assigned a man to her door permanently plus three additional bodyguards that will travel with her.”

“The man assigned to her-”

“A non-issue. He’s a kid, really. Ex-military, no family, left a sizable inheritance so not motivated by money, and, as long as you treat him right, he’ll undoubtedly be your most loyal employee.”

“Can you get him in here?”

Mitch nodded and sank onto the edge of his desk as he made the call. When the kid arrived, with the most formal of stance, he couldn’t help but smile.

“Jimmie, this is Teddy.”

Teddy reached out his hand but Jimmie hesitated. “Don’t I know you?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve worked here for two years.”

Jimmie surveyed him, trying to put any memory with the face before him. “You are the kid who agreed our security was in shambles, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Still of that same opinion?”

“No, sir. Mitch has this place more secure than the White House.”

“I didn’t pay him to say that,” Mitch laughed. “Relax, Teddy. You’ve got the job already. He’s just making sure you aren’t going to sleep with his baby sister.”

Teddy’s face flushed a deep crimson. “No, sir. She’s, well, a bit forward for me. I’m a pretty simple guy.”

“And if that changes?”

Teddy stood straighter. “Then I’d be the first to step away. You gotta understand, Mr. Vinetti, I watched my brothers die on the battlefield beside me. There’s moments in your life when you try and fail and, well, others when you know ahead of time it’s a stupid situation to begin with. I watched twenty-two men die beside me because someone in charge sent us into a stupid situation. I don’t do stupid situations and, no offense, but getting involved with your sister would be a monumentally stupid situation.”

Jimmie sent a grin Mitch’s direction. “Yep, I like him.”

“Thought you might.”

“Do you drink, Teddy?”

“Not on duty.”

Jimmie laughed. “I’m not testing you. I was inviting you out for a drink. If Mitch doesn’t show his face in public soon people are going to think I’ve knocked him off. And
that
is a stupid situation I won’t get in.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jimmie
sipped his drink from the corner of the room, watching as Mitch went from table to table shaking hands. It had been this way since they pulled into the neighborhood- people calling him out by name and catching up as if they were old friends. He leaned forward to get Teddy’s attention.

“Is he from this neighborhood? Do you know?”

Teddy shook his head. “No, he’s a Brooklyn boy like me. He stayed here for a while though. It was being overtaken by some Russians. They’d turned the abandoned buildings into heroin dens or something. People were afraid to leave their homes and cops were getting shot every night. It was like a mini Detroit.”

“So, he shows up and everything’s clean somehow?  How does that work?”

“Clean is a relative term,” Mitch interrupted, sinking into a chair. “It’s safe.”

Jimmie poured him a drink from the bottle and clinked glasses. “Well, whatever you did it worked.”

“I just put pieces into play, nothing more. Bought some buildings, had them demolished or refurbed by union guys and then sold them back to the local bankers.”

“And the Russians?”

Mitch grinned. “Let’s just say we came to an understanding rather quickly and they moved on.”

“You still have businesses here?”

Mitch shrugged. “Money flows but nothing permanent, no. Why?”

“I tried to buy a few properties here recently. One of the reasons I chose this place tonight actually. Money didn’t motivate anyone.”

“Not surprising,” Teddy offered. “Mitch just got them cleaned up and the last couple of years your dramas have given you a rep for trouble.”

Jimmie glared at him. “Did you mean to say that out loud?”

Teddy looked from one man to the other. “No?” he asked uncertainly, causing both men to laugh.

Mitch waved to a nearby table. “Bobby, come here for a second, will you?”

“You having a good evening, Mr. Kerlin?”

“Yeah, I want you to meet someone. This is James Vinetti and he’s looking to do some investing on this side of town. You think you can help him out?”

“Sure. Any specific properties or just in general?”

“This one actually and the two nightclubs at the other end of the strip.”

“Well, this one is family owned and operated and has been since the 1910’s. It’s an institution. But I can guarantee you a table any time you like. The two nightclubs, though, that I can arrange. What are you looking at?”

“Two-thirds?”

Bobby stretched out his hand. “Done. I can have the contracts sent over tomorrow morning.”

“Don’t you want to know what I’m willing to pay?”

Bobby smiled. “Can’t imagine it’s something we will argue over, no. Night, gentlemen.” He tipped his hat to them, squeezed Mitch’s shoulder and then was gone.

Jimmie looked to Mitch. “What just happened here?”

“Seems like you just became a majority owner in a couple of nightclubs,” Teddy answered.

Jimmie ignored him, his eyes boring into Mitch’s.

“They are grateful it’s a clean place now, Jimmie. They don’t believe I’d steer them wrong.”

“And?”

“And,” Mitch drew out the word, hating to have to say the words, “they fear what could happen if they were left on their own again.”

Jimmie sat back, considering. Mitch was either lying or obfuscating the entire truth. But, Jimmie knew, it wasn’t really any of his business to begin with. He’d just made a deal that would bring Vinetti Industries millions of dollars in a completely legal revenue. Over a single shot of whiskey. He shook his head and then smiled. “You, Vincenzo, are turning into one complicated man.”

“Come on, let’s get Teddy back before he passes out.”

Jimmie nodded, taking Teddy’s other arm as they struggled to get him up and into the car. “He really is a good kid, you know it?”

“I think so.”

“Hope you’re right. It’s really going to suck if I have to kill him.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

He didn’t have the energy to even wave at the guards lounging outside the executive floor entrance, barely managing to enter the pass code to Ashli’s office correctly. He began pulling off his jacket as soon as he entered the suite, sinking onto the corner of her desk without preamble.

“Twelve deals in fourteen days,” she mused, rising from her chair and moving to help him loosen the knot in his tie. “When he cut you loose, you didn’t mess around, hm?”

“Just earning my keep,” he offered, taking the tie she offered him and stuffing it in his pocket.

Her fingers traced the dark circles under his eyes. “You look exhausted.” Broken, she wanted to say. Physically and mentally broken – Jimmie’s pace was already beginning to wear through Mitch’s calm facade. “Are you just getting in?”

“Chicago yesterday morning, Philly last night and I drove back this morning.”

“You drove?”

“Wasn’t a flight until this afternoon,” he explained. “Jimmie said we have plans tonight. Know anything about that?”

Her eyes twinkled. “The real answer or the one I’m supposed to give?”

He chuckled and brushed away a lock of her hair. “Troublesome that you may be, I’ve missed you, Ash.”

She might have considered it an opening to come on to him – if he hadn’t called her Ash. She hadn’t been called that in years – not since she and Jimmie’s relationship had become strained. She reached a tentative hand to him, asking for permission, and he touched her waist, pulling her into a hug.

“How are you faring?” he asked quietly in her ear.

She sent him a genuine smile when he released her. “Better than you it seems. You really do look like the walking dead.”

“Ever so kind,” he grumbled and moved to sink into her chair. He stretched lazily, stifling a yawn. “Tonight?”

“Birthday party for Sonny.”

Mitch glanced at his watch, his eyes narrowing bemusedly. “It’s not his birthday.”

“I thought you might catch that,” she laughed. “Have you seen the paper today?”

“No. I canceled the delivery to the Lexus.”

Ignoring the sarcasm, she reached behind her to grab the folded paper and dropped it into his lap. It took only seconds for his exhaustion to lift. “Feds hit Sonny?”

She nodded. “Last night. Had the casino closed for nearly six hours.”

“That must’ve pissed off the accountants,” he murmured, still reading the article.

“You didn’t know?” she asked, unable to hide her confusion. He was one of them – how could he not know?  But his facial features were easily deciphered in his exhaustion – he didn’t know and was worried.

“Sonny’s fine. Cursing like a sailor but fine. He’s coming in to meet with Jimmie and a few others at the hotel tonight. Strengthening security and all that.”

Mitch nodded. “Did they find anything?”

“Not according to the paper and Sonny wasn’t hauled in,” she shrugged.

He tossed the paper back onto her desk. “How are the bodyguards?”

“You mean the goons you’ve got following me everywhere?” she asked, wrinkling her brow. “Tiresome and annoying.”

“But?” he asked smiling.

“Good at their job,” she conceded. “I haven’t been able to shake them once.”

“Excellent news,” he nodded then closed his eyes, a smile still across his face. “You feel safe?”

She hesitated. “Yes.”

His eyes were open again in an instant, worried blue eyes focused on her. “Ash-”

She waved him off. “Stop being so damn perceptive, will you?  They’re fine. I just-”

“What?”

“I just feel safer with you,” she managed, knowing it would probably come off as a come on but meaning nothing of the sort.

He surveyed her a moment to decide if she was being truthful. Certain that she wasn’t trying to make another move on him, he let his eyes drift closed again. “That’s idiotic.”

She bristled, wanting to damn him to hell but then deciding against it. There was no point antagonizing him when they were getting along so well. She stepped away, busying herself straightening the conference room table a few feet away. She didn’t notice when he arrived behind her, didn’t hear him until his breath was on her neck. His arms slipped to either side of her, locking her in place between him and the table.

“I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I’m tired but that’s no excuse. My apologies.” She attempted to turn but his body locked her tighter against him, his hands closing in around her waist. “I only meant,” he whispered, “the father apart we are the safer we’ll both be.”

Her breath caught in her throat, realizing that he was being honest – brutally honest – with her. She couldn’t recall the last time someone had trusted her with the truth. And, of course, he was right. As friends, things were safe enough but anything closer could blow up in their faces. What did she want?  She wanted a life of her own. To do that, she needed Mitch at Jimmie’s side – not hers. Knowing his lips were so unbelievably close to her neck, she couldn’t imagine a higher price to pay.

“I’ve missed you, too.” She managed in a more even, polished tone. She hoped that was good enough for him. She knew he would understand that she intended to behave.

With a swift jerk, he had her turned around, his arm resting lightly around her shoulders. In the same instant, Jimmie burst into the room. His eyes focused on them, glinting dangerously and Ashli attempted to move away. Mitch’s arm dug into her shoulder, keeping her in place. She could feel his muscles tensing beside her, but his face retained its relaxed composure.

“Did you know,” he asked Jimmie, “that Ashli has not been able to shake her bodyguards in my absence?”

Jimmie was still on alert, his eyes drifting at the close familiarity of their position but he gave a single nod.

Mitch chuckled. Not a tension filled chuckled like she might could manage but a chuckle she remembered from when he was drinking – relaxed, calm, fearless. How could he be so stupid?  

“She’s not happy with me,” he grinned, “which should make you ecstatic.”

“Good men, I’d guess,” Jimmie nodded, relaxing as he walked toward them. “Mitch, have you seen this?” He held out a paper in his hand, no longer even bothering to glance Ashli’s direction.

“Yeah. You need me to take back security tonight?”

“No, no.” Jimmie shook his head. “I just want you at my side. Go get cleaned up and get some rest. You look like shit.”

“Can’t catch a break with you two, can I?”