Reunited(20)
She nodded and grabbed her jacket. They drove holding hands, not talking, to a small Italian place that someone in the Falcone family owned. She joked with Brett about being related to half of Columbus. Seemed like all the central Ohio Italians were bound by blood in one way or another. But the Falcones were never a mafia family, Brett maintained, despite the rumors.
Kathryn remembered those rumors. Those rumors that had nearly cost Brett his life. And hers.
Twenty years earlier
She hadn’t laughed so much in ages. Turned out they both loved chocolate—the richer, thicker, and darker the better.
Kathryn followed Brett outside the door of the ice cream shop.
He turned and drew near and she gasped as he brushed his lips and tongue over the corner of her lips.
“A little chocolate,” he said, smiling.
Anyone could have seen them. The ice cream shop was a popular hangout. No one from school had been there today, true, but still. She couldn’t believe he’d done such a thing.
What would Michelle think?
Well, if Brett didn’t care what Michelle thought, why should she? She wouldn’t go out of her way to kiss him, but if he kissed her? Why fight it?
She wanted to kiss him. Had never imagined such an intimate feeling as his lips on hers. Couldn’t wait to start kissing him more. To kiss other men more. She’d be the kissing bandit!
“Let’s walk behind the mall, in the alley,” Brett said.
“Why?”
“So I can hold your hand, kiss you.”
“Why do you want to hold my hand and kiss me?” She had to know.
“Because I want to. It feels nice. Doesn’t it feel nice to you?”
“But Michelle—”
“Michelle’s not here.”
“You’re not breaking up with her, are you?”
“I haven’t really thought about it. We’re not married. I’m not being unfaithful.”
“I think you are. I think you and she have an understanding.”
“Maybe she has an understanding. I don’t.”
“She thinks she’s marrying you, remember?”
“I might. I might not. Right now, I don’t want to think about Michelle. I want to walk with you in the alley. I want to hold your hand. I want to put my arms around you and kiss you.”
“Wow.” Her word came out in a breathy rasp. The Italian Stallion a romantic?
He took her hand and tugged her along. “Come on.”
They walked behind the mini mall into the back alley that was deserted, and a little scary. But no fear seized her. Brett was big and strong and would protect her.
He held her hand, and then, when she least expected it, pushed her against the back of the store building and crushed his mouth to hers.
Her lips tingled, her heart raced. The kiss consumed her, became her. Nothing existed in the world except her and Brett and the mating of their mouths.
Until the stark chill of a blade slid against the warm flesh of her neck.
“Nice piece of ass, Falcone. Care to share?”
The voice slithered over Kathryn like snake venom. Two muscled thugs pulled Brett from her while the third pressed the cool steel into her flesh.
“What the hell do you guys want?” Brett demanded.
“The same as always, Falcone. You know what we’re after.”
“And I’ve told you before. You’ve got the wrong Falcone. I’m Julian Falcone’s son. You’re looking for Brad Falcone, Angelo Falcone’s son. No relation.”
“Bullshit.”
“No lie.”
He glanced at Kathryn. She swallowed audibly.
“At least let her go.”
“Not a chance.”
“She’s a Zurakowsky. No relation to the Family, honest.”
Kathryn closed her eyes and prayed. What a time for him to bring up her Polish name. But if it worked, so help her, she’d give thanks the rest of her days for being the brunt of Pollock jokes.
“We have a message for your old man,” the man holding the knife to Kathryn said.
“His old man is home in bed,” she said, shaking. “He’s a construction worker, for God’s sake. A construction worker on disability.”
One of them punched Brett in the stomach. He doubled over with an oof.
Kathryn cringed but held still, ever aware of the blade still scraping against her neck.
“Let her go, man,” Brett huffed. “Please.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” Kathryn said through clenched teeth.
“It’s not worth it, Kath.” His voice was raspy, breathless.
“I’m not leaving you!” The exclamation stretched her vocal cords and the blade pressed farther into her skin.
“You harm a hair on her head and I’ll see all of you dead,” Brett seethed.
Kathryn’s heart pounded, her stomach churned. Yet a little bit of joy surged through her at Brett’s protection.
“You give your old man our message, Falcone.”
“Fine. I’ll give it to him. But I swear to God you’ve got the wrong man.”
“Give him this.” The thug to Brett’s right clocked him in the jaw. Not a pop, like she’d heard in movies. The punch hit Brett’s face with a dull thud.