Текст книги "A Few Broken Rules"
Автор книги: Kate Kane
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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 14 страниц)
Chapter 11
Jess ended the call with her mother and looked at her travelling companion. “I think I might have surprised her a bit.”
Gabe smiled. “I hope she’s okay with me inviting myself for the weekend. With my folks out of the country, I didn’t have any place else to go. Besides, we’re leaving for Europe on Monday any way.”
Jess sat back in her seat. “You’d have to know my Mom. She’s okay with it. Her exact words were …” she made air quotes “… ‘the more the merrier’ and she meant it. But, that was before I told her whom I’m bringing. She might be a little star struck when we get there.”
Gabe laughed. “But you’re going to be a star now.”
“Yeah, but she gave birth to me, so, I’m just Jess to her. You’re GABE GREER, star of TV, movies and Broadway, winner of Grammys, Emmys People’s Choice awards,” she waived her arm in the air, “and the list goes on.”
He laughed again and Jess laughed with him. She had met Gabe several months ago when he had been the guest star on Lawlessness, a TV forensic crime show. Jess had played his girlfriend, who was killed in a car accident in the first scene of the show. They’d had maybe five scenes together between the accident scene and the flashback scenes. They had just clicked and when Gabe had gotten the script for Harts in Time, he’d called the producers and suggested they audition the practically unknown Jessica Lane to be his co-star. He’d even done the audition with her. She had nailed the audition and had won the role. Jess and Gabe had been in rehearsals for the last month and would start principal shooting in Europe the week after Thanksgiving. Both Jess and Gabe were playing twins in the movie, each the love interest of the other. There were still ongoing negotiations to film the two sequels concurrently with the first movie. It didn’t interfere with Jess’s schedule, but Gabe hadn’t planned to be out of the country quite as long as concurrently filming three movies might take. Regardless it was the role or is it roles of a lifetime for each of them, but especially for Jess. Gabe didn’t have any acting gigs on his plate that would interfere with staying in Europe for the nearly twelve months that filming all three would take, but he did owe his label a new album.
“By the way, the Parkers have a holiday tradition that we serve dinner to the needy. Last year for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we served at a homeless shelter, but this year Mom has us serving Thanksgiving at a nursing home where one of her friends does volunteer work. I’m sure you could get out of it, after all, you are a guest.”
Gabe smiled his movie star smile, “Not on your life. If they’ll have me, I’ll be right there with you.” He’d heard a lot about Jess’s family in the last few weeks and was looking forward to meeting them. “Tell me again who’s going to be there.”
Jess began counting on her fingers. “Well, Mom, my brothers Jake and Jams, I mean Jamie, and Ben. Then there are the Bellinis. Ben’s parents and his brothers Tony, Pauli, and Joey. His uncles Sal and Vinnie Luciano. Vinnie’s wife and at least one of his daughters. My Nana Evie could come and there’s the possibility that Jake’s girlfriend and her daughter could be there.
“Wow, what is that almost 20 people? I’m an only child. It’s always been just my folks and me. This will be like the movie holidays.”
Jess laughed and shook her head. “You have no idea.”
She knew there was going to be some drama and wondered if she should warn her friend about the documents she carried in her purse and the conversation that she was going to have with Ben and her Mother. She and Gabe had grown up in two completely different worlds. He’d grown up in Hollywood. His mother was a renowned makeup artist and his father was a director of photography. Between them, his parents had at least a dozen Emmys and Oscars.
“So anyway, we’ll have dinner later in the day. Then sometime Friday we’ll drive to St. Louis because Jamie’s football team is playing in the state championship game Friday evening.”
“Your whole family is like the ideal TV family. I can’t wait.”
She looked at him. “Gabe, there are some things I should tell you about my ideal TV family.”
“Sounds serious. Tell me everything.” He said, leaning toward her.
“My Mother keeps finding dead bodies, so who knows what the weekend might bring. Ben’s family is rumored to be connected.” She put her finger alongside her nose and bent it. “His uncles, the Luciano brothers, gave my Mother a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar car for her birthday. My Mother is 12 years older than her husband, Ben. And she’s pregnant.”
Gabe nodded. “The pregnant part I knew from the video going viral last month. Remember you announced it to the whole world via the paparazzi while you were trying to get yourself shot as I recall. No biggie. All families have skeletons. Wait until you meet my parents.”
The steward served breakfast and they relaxed as they ate. Afterward, they ran some lines together. In no time at all, they’d landed at the Johnson County Executive airport. Gabe had made arrangements and a rental car was waiting.
Jess gave Gabe directions and played tour guide as they drove to Ben’s house. She had decided not to talk to Gabe about the bomb she was going to drop when she got home. The truth was, while she’d played several scenarios through her head, she still hadn’t decided what she was going to say or when she was going to say it. A couple of months ago, Ben had accused her of trying to direct everyone’s lives. He had no idea how much work went into being a director.
As they pulled into the driveway, Jess said, “Leave the bags. Depending on how full the house is, we may have to go to the Parker House.”
Gabe looked askance at her.
“It’s what we call the house that Mom had before she married, and moved in with, Ben. If Ben’s brothers Pauli and Joey are here, there won’t be enough bedrooms for all of us. It might be better to have the other house to ourselves anyway.”
She entered the code to open the garage door and guided Gabe through the garage and into the house, calling, “Hey? We’re here. Anybody home?” as they entered.
Lane and Ben met her in the hallway. Lane and Jess hugged.
“Mom, Ben, this is Gabe Greer. Gabe, this is my Mom, Lane and her husband, Ben.”
Ben and Gabe shook hands.
Lane stepped forward and gave Gabe a hug. “It’s nice to meet you Gabe.”
“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Bellini. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Please, call me Lane.” She looked at Jess. “Where are you bags? Surely y’all don’t think you’re staying at a hotel.”
“No, I just didn’t know how full the house might be and thought we might end up at Parker House.” Jess replied.
Ben laughed. “First come, first to get a room. The Bellini boys can stay at Parker House.” He looked at Gabe. “I’ll help you bring your things in.”
Lane watched as Ben and Gabe went out to the garage. At six feet two inches tall, Gabe was a couple of inches shorter than Ben, but his smile was every bit as bright as what Lane called the mega-watt Bellini smile. Gabe had dark hair and bright blue eyes and had an air of an Irish bad boy about him. Lane understood why half the world was in love with him.
Jess and Lane walked to the hearth room. “God, Mom. You look great.” Jess said as she patted her Mother’s baby bump.
“Now. You should have seen me this morning. Suddenly, none of my jeans fit and I was a teary-eyed mess of hormones. Ben’s solution was a Black American Express card with my name on it. I hoped you and I might be able to stop at the mall this afternoon before the insanity hits there. But, you might not want to leave Gabe.”
They were sitting on the sofa together as Ben and Gabe came in to join them.
Jess laughed. “Gabe loves to shop, but I think he’d be okay hanging with Ben. By the way,” she looked at Ben. “What are you doing home today? Don’t you have a big trial starting Monday that you should be preparing for?” She looked at Gabe. “Ben’s the best criminal defense attorney in the metro.”
“I do, but there’s something else going on that takes priority right now.”
Before Ben could continue, Jess looked at her Mother. “You found another body.” It was a statement not a question.
Ben shook his head, “It wasn’t your Mom this time. Jamie’s football coach was killed at school yesterday. Jamie found his body.”
Jess looked at Ben in disbelief. “Where is he? Is he okay?” Jamie might be a foot taller and out-weigh her by at least a hundred pounds, but he was still her baby brother and that made him hers to protect.
Ben held up his hands. “Hold on tiger. He’s with Tanner. Someone seems to have it out for the football team. On Monday, Jamie’s friend Justin, you know he’s the quarterback, was poisoned. He has a peanut allergy and someone made sure he got a big dose. Luckily, Jamie found him and we got him to the hospital in time. Then on Tuesday, Jamie found Coach Ferguson in his office with his head bashed in. Much to Jamie’s annoyance, he hasn’t been alone since.”
Jess shook her head and looked at Gabe. “What did I tell you? We’re a whole family of murder magnets.”
With what was going on with Jamie, there was no time like the present to drop her bomb, and just at that moment, she decided to spring it on Ben. Alone. She looked at Ben and quickly jerked her head toward the hall. She got up and hugged her Mother. “I’m going to stop in the little girl’s room.”
“Gabe, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, but as Jess pointed out, I do have a trial starting Monday. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you in my wife’s capable hands.” Ben said as he stood, bending to kiss the top of Lane’s head before he left the room.
Jess was waiting for Ben in his office and he closed the door as he entered.
“Okay, let me have it.” He was sure that Jess was going to blame him for what was going on with Jamie.
“Tell me again how you just happened to meet my Mother the day you came to pick up her donations for the church’s garage sale.”
It wasn’t what he expected to hear from her and he shook his head. “Jess, you know the story.” His voice giving away just how tired he was.
She narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, I know the story. Then maybe you can explain to me how you can be the father of my baby brother.”
“Jess, you know the Bambino just calls me Dad.”
She took the papers from her purse and slapped them on his desk. “No, what I know is that this is a paternity test and you are Jamie’s father.” She said as she pushed the paper toward him.
Ben sank into the chair behind his desk. What the hell is she talking about? He picked up the papers she’d put on his desk. There in black and white it said there was a 99.99997% chance that he was Jamie’s father.
She took out her wallet and slapped a picture, of her Mother from 18 years ago, on his desk. “Does she look familiar? Or have there been so many that they all just blend together?”
Ben looked at the photo and shook his head. Lane had blonde hair cut in a short pixie style. Oh, dear God. What had Lane told him about her mentor from work saying that her long hair was too sexy for the office, and that she’d cut it all off?
No, they hadn’t all blended together, not by a long shot. Eighteen years ago, he had been a college student at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He’d been nineteen and had used a fake ID to go with friends to one of the casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He’d met, danced with, and seduced a woman. They’d had a night of amazing sex and the next morning, he’d gotten up and dressed while she was still sleeping. He went to the gift shop to buy aspirin and breakfast and when he’d come back to the room, he’d found it empty. He had waited, until checkout time, thinking that maybe she’d had the same idea he’d had. However, she never returned. He hadn’t gotten her number and had spent much of his free time for the next several days in an unsuccessful attempt to find Angie Valle. He shook his head. How the hell had he not seen this?
“God, Jess, let me explain.”
She held up her hand and shook her head. “Believe it or not, I don’t want to know. But my Mother and brother deserve to know.” She turned, walked out of his office, pulling the door closed behind her.
Chapter 12
Ben sat at his desk still holding the paternity papers. He was a father. How the hell had Jess figured this out? He picked up his cell phone and sent her a text. “Just give me 5.”
There was a knock on his office door and Lane stuck her head in. “It’s after lunch time. I thought we could take Gabe to Papa’s and maybe we could stop at the mall this afternoon before it gets too crazy. Would you like to join us or are you too busy?”
God how had he not known that this beautiful woman, the love of his life, was the same woman who had disappeared without a trace 18 years ago? Angie, she’d told him her name was Angie Valle. How had he not put this together before? He hadn’t wasted just the three years since they met in Kansas, he’d wasted 18 years going through that stable of women looking for one that could help him forget that night. He shook his head as he stood and walked toward her.
“I really need to work.” He took her in his arms. “I love you.” He said as he kissed her. He held her tightly. “I’ve always loved you.”
“I love you. Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
“Want to? Yes, but I can’t. I have some work to do and I want to talk to Tanner again. You go and have fun. If Gabe doesn’t want to go shopping, drop him here before you go.” As he bent and kissed her again, he saw Jess in the hallway.
“Mom, I have a legal question for Ben. Can you give me a few minutes?”
Lane looked from her husband to her daughter. Secret legal questions? “Sure. I’ll go entertain Gabe.”
Jess stepped into the office and closed the door. As she set the alarm on her phone, she said, “Okay, you have five minutes.” She was frowning and had her arms crossed across her chest.
“Just let me tell you this. We met in a bar in one of the casinos in Council Bluffs. We spent the night together in the hotel and the next morning I left the room to get breakfast and some aspirin because I was sure she’d need it. When I came back, she was gone. No note. Nothing. Just gone. I waited until checkout time, thinking she’d come back. I spent days looking for her. She had told me her name was Angie Valle. Now that I know it was a made up name, I understand why there was no trace of her.”
Jess shook her head. “I told you I didn’t need to know. You need to talk to Mom. And the two of you need to figure out how to tell Jams that his whole life has been a lie.”
“I’ll handle all of that. I just have one question for you. How did you figure this out?”
Geesh, what was it he’d always told us? “Pay attention?”
“Well Ben, I did what you’ve always told me. I paid attention. He has your eyes. I figured it out last month because of Joey. I knew I’d seen those eyes somewhere and then it hit me. Joey’s eyes were my brother’s eyes, and yours. I took your toothbrushes and sent them in for DNA testing. I’ve been sitting on this this for weeks, but it’s not the kind of conversation you have over the phone.” She let out an exasperated sigh, “Mom and Gabe are waiting. I need to go.” She turned and walked out of his office pulling the door closed behind her once again.
Ben stood looking out the window, staring at the lake behind the house. How on earth was he going to have this conversation with Lane? Why had she left him that morning all of those years ago? The reason she didn’t drink tequila made sense now. What was the name of that song? Tequila makes her clothes fall off. Tequila shots had certainly done the trick 18 years ago. He shook his head. Jamie is my son. Maybe they’d both felt it on some level, it would explain why he’d always felt close to Jamie and why he’d called him Bambino from the first time they met.
He was building the question tree in his head. It was something he’d learned in law school. You build a tree with the questions you planned to ask a witness. Each question could solicit one of two answers and you kept building the tree, asking questions until you got the answer you wanted. He had the in-disputable evidence sitting on his desk.
Maybe he should just show her the paternity report and tell Lane. He would definitely be gentler than Jess had been. He had a few hours to figure it out, but they needed to have the conversation and sooner rather than later. He was still staring out at the lake when his cell phone rang.
“Bellini.”
“Dad?”
“Yeah, Bambino. What’s up?”
“Mr. Tanner and I are going to take a break for lunch and I thought I should check in. Is Jess home yet?”
Ben laughed. “Your timing’s perfect. Yes, Jess is home and she brought Gabe Greer with her. They’ve gone with your Mom for lunch at Papa’s. They left about five minutes ago. You can probably join them, if you want to.”
“Why didn’t you didn’t go?”
“The Garcia trial starts on Monday and I have some prep work I need to finish. By the way, be warned, we told Jess what’s going on with the football team.”
Jamie heaved a heavy sigh. “Great. How worked up is she?”
“Not as much as I expected.” Then again, she had other things on her mind.
“Okay, I guess I’d better have Mr. Tanner take me to Papa’s.”
“Probably a good idea, Bambino. Tell Tanner to call me after lunch.”
Ben still needed to talk to Tony’s bookie. He knew that Tony used Freddy, whose brother Enzo was the bartender at Papa’s restaurant. He knew that while Enzo wasn’t actually making book in the bar, he did carry information and cash back and forth for Freddy. Ben needed to talk to Freddy, and the best way to do it was through Enzo. Hell, I just as well join my family for lunch. He walked to the bedroom and opened the safe in his closet. He placed the paternity report in it and closed the door. He dialed Lane’s cell number as he walked through the house. Damn. His SUV was still at the office where Uncle Sal had taken it yesterday afternoon. If Lane had driven the Escalade, he’d have to drive the Jag. As he opened the door into the garage, he saw that Lane’s Escalade was sitting in its bay. Gabe must have driven. He took the key from the hook and pushed the button to open the door.
Chapter 13
Gabe followed directions and parked as directed. He looked for signage saying “Papa’s” but all he saw was “Bellini’s.” He turned and looked in the back seat, at Jess, who had let her mother take the front seat.
“Good thing you were in the vehicle. When you said we were going to Papa’s, I thought it was the name of the restaurant. I might still be driving around the parking lot looking for it if you hadn’t told me where to park.”
Lane reached for her door handle. “No, I’ll get that.” Gabe said as he got out and hurried around the SUV. He opened both the front and back passenger doors at the same time. Lane wasn’t sure what she had expected from this famous child of Hollywood, but this polite well-mannered young man was a pleasant surprise.
They walked into Papa’s and Dante Bellini met them at the door.
“Bella, Bella, bellisima.” He said as he reached out and held first Jess and then Lane, kissing each of them on both cheeks. “To what do we owe the pleasure of seeing you two days in a row?” He asked as he tucked Lane’s hand in the crook of his left arm.
“Papa, may I introduce Jess’s friend Gabe Greer? Gabe, this is Ben’s father, Dante Bellini.”
Dante Bellini was about the same height as Gabe’s six foot two inches.
“Il Sig. Bellini. Ho il piacere di incontrarvi.” Gabe said as he shook hands with the older man.
“Sono onorato di essere nel mio ristorante. Let me show you to your table.”
Jess looked at Gabe. Who knew he spoke Italian? “Always full of surprises, aren’t you Greer?” Jess whispered as she took Gabe’s arm. “We’re going to the Board Room. It’s a private dining room for the family and their guests.”
“Well, we are going to be in Italy for months. I thought I should bone up on the language before we go.” He answered her.
Of course, Jess was fluent in Italian, but it wasn’t something she wanted the Bellini and Luciano families to know. By speaking Italian to Papa, Gabe had just announced that there could be no private conversations in front of him, and she wanted to wring his neck for it. She’d been listening in on private Bellini-Luciano conversations for 2 years now because the family, except Joey, had no idea she understood what they were saying.
They were quickly seated at a table in the back corner. Olive oil was seasoned with herbs and warm bread was placed on the table as water glasses were filled.
Gabe was used to VIP treatment. Yet he knew this wasn’t for him and he had to say, this was better than the star treatment he usually got at every restaurant in L.A. The waiter asked Gabe if he’d like wine with lunch, and Gabe looked at Jess.
“Hey, they know I’m under age and that Mom’s pregnant. Just know if you say yes it’ll be some of the best wine you’ve ever tasted.”
Lane’s cell phone rang. She picked it up and stepped away from the table. “Ben?”
“Hey, Red. The Bambino just called, and I think he’s going to join you for lunch. As it turns out, I need to talk to Enzo, so I’m leaving the house now. I’ll see you in a few minutes. I love you.” Then, she was listening to dead air.
Lane turned to walk back to the table as the doors opened and Jamie and Roy Tanner entered the Board Room. She looked at the waiter and smiled. “My husband’s on his way too, so I guess we’re going to need a bigger table.”
The waiter smiled back. “It’s no trouble, Mrs. Bellini.” He looked at Gabe. “Your wine decision has just been made for you. Mr. Bellini’s table always gets his reserve.”
The waiter motioned them toward a table already set for eight. Jess hugged her brother and made introductions. “Gabe, this is my younger brother Jamie and this is Ben’s investigator, Roy Tanner.” She motioned toward Gabe. “This is Gabe Greer.” The two men shook hands with Gabe and they all sat at the new table.
The waiter quickly returned with fresh olive oil and bread, quickly followed by someone else who was filling water glasses.
“I just talked to Dad; he said he was working on prep for the Garcia trial and that he wouldn’t join us.”
Lane smiled. “I know, but apparently he needs to talk with Enzo and so he’s on his way.” She looked at Tanner. She knew that he, no doubt, knew about whatever Ben needed to discuss with the Bellini’s bartender. “So what have you two been up to today?”
“We talked to the detective in charge of the case this morning; and then we talked to Justin. Mr. Tanner wanted to see if he remembered anything.” Jamie reported excitedly.
Ben walked into the Board Room and after giving Lane a kiss on her cheek, he sat down. The waiter brought a bottle of wine to the table, poured for Ben and waited for Ben’s nod before filling Gabe’s glass. He neither poured for Tanner nor asked if he wanted any. Lane looked at the waiter, a bit confused.
“Mr. Tanner doesn’t drink during the work day, Mrs. Bellini.” The waiter explained.
Gabe looked at Jamie. “So, I hear we’ll be watching you play in the state championship on Friday. What position do you play?”
“I’m a tight end.” Jamie replied.
Conversation continued throughout lunch. The men talking sports; Lane and Jess talking about shopping. Gabe had decided to go back to the house with Ben and Jamie while Lane and Jess exercised Lane’s new Black Amex card.
Lane looked at Gabe. “Gabe, about tomorrow, I don’t know if Jess mentioned it, but we volunteer to serve lunch someplace on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tomorrow, we’re serving at a nursing home where my friend Kay volunteers. You’re welcome to join us, or you can stay home if you’d rather. I’m sure you won’t be alone.”
Gabe smiled. “I’d love to tag along if you’re sure it’s no problem.”
“I spoke to Kay after Jess called this morning and gave her a heads up that we might have two celebrities with us.” She reached over and patted Jess’s hand. “Kay checked with the activity director who said it would be fine.”
Gabe flashed the dimpled smile he was famous for around the world. “I’m an only child and I’m really looking forward to having a big family holiday. Thanks for letting me crash your party.”
