"You've hurt her like no one ever has had a chance to before."

Jeremy put the rag down, fury ripping through him when he stood to face her brother. "I'm not a f.u.c.king criminal, regardless of what the FBI told her. She's choosing to walk away, not me. So how do you figure I I hurt hurt her her?"

"Because you let her fall for you without telling her the truth. Since you do do have a criminal record and can't level with her, she's never going to change her mind and stay even if she's hurting. That's why I need to know you won't come after her once this is over." have a criminal record and can't level with her, she's never going to change her mind and stay even if she's hurting. That's why I need to know you won't come after her once this is over."

Jeremy wondered if Vinny was guessing or reading his mind, because, h.e.l.l yes, he'd intended to go after her as soon as he could. Once he found out what Starface, Ziggy Gambino, and the FBI were after.

And once he determined it had nothing to do with the DeMitris as CeCe proclaimed. Because he believed her.

And he loved her. He just hadn't realized that until he watched her walk away. How could anyone expect him not to go after the woman he loved?

He'd take on the entire DeMitri organization to find CeCe and get her back.

Vinny sighed and shook his head. "You can't do this to her. She'll never settle down with someone she thinks is hiding anything from her and our father won't clear you as acceptable for her. If you really care about CeCe, you won't make me and my brothers ensure you stay away."

"Don't threaten me." Jeremy turned his back on Vinny to dismiss him and hoisted the base up on its side.

A plastic box smaller than a matchbook fell out and landed between his feet.

"That wasn't a threat, just notification," the attorney brother clarified.

Jeremy's phone rang. He ignored Vinny and pushed the base back down flat. Then he flipped the phone open and bent over to pick up the plastic case.

"Got some news," Blade reported before Jeremy could say h.e.l.lo.

Jeremy's heart skipped a beat at what he held in his hand-a plastic case covering what appeared to be a photo memory card.

"What?" he finally said to Blade and glanced at Vinny, whose eyes were locked on the plastic case in his hand.

"Starface is after a photo card with pictures and a video of a meeting between the heads of two major families. One out of Russia and one from Chicago."

"What was the meeting about?" Jeremy kept his voice down but Vinny was tuned in to every word.

"If my source isn't off the mark, and he's a good one, two powerful families are teaming up to wipe out the upper to middle operations in North America so they can split the continent."

"No way." Jeremy stared at the card in his hand. His heart started thumping at the realization of what this meant. "Thanks. I'll call you back." He flipped the phone shut and started for CeCe's house only to have Vinny step in his path.

"We don't have time to screw around," Jeremy said. "Go get CeCe. I think the FBI turned her loose as bait."

Vinny cursed and spun around, moving fast for a wide-body man.

Jeremy ran inside his house to the computer in his office and shoved the card into a slot. He punched up the keys and played fifteen seconds of the video. Enough to realize Blade's sources were dead on the mark.

The two families teaming up had the money and power to wipe out anyone who wouldn't immediately fall into line behind them.

The Chicago family was the one who had thrown Ziggy Gambino's operation to the feds. Ziggy would pay anything, and kill anyone, for this card that he could use to screw over the Chicago group.

Either way, the end result would be a mob war if the card went anywhere but to the FBI.

"Sunn!" Vinny yelled from the kitchen, then his feet pounded toward him.

Jeremy ejected the card and had it back in the plastic case in his pocket by the time he turned to CeCe's brother.

Vinny's natural deep olive skin tone had paled three shades lighter. He heaved a breath from running. "She's gone."

Jeremy's phone rang. CeCe's number popped up on the caller ID. He lifted his finger to his lips for Vinny to stay quiet then answered. "Sunn."

"Everything made sense when my tracker found out you were involved," Starface said. "Can't really blame Dorvan for not antic.i.p.ating you, but my new guy took the extra time to find out who had helped your girl here last night at her house. Now it all makes sense. Sam the Man was taking the card to you so who are you dealing with?"

Jeremy's whole body clenched at the reference to CeCe. He'd play along since Starface a.s.sumed he was involved. He slid into his criminal persona, hoping for his best performance yet since CeCe's life depended on it.

Seven.

"When have you ever gotten information for free?" Jeremy countered to Starface in a cool voice that said more than words. His hands clutching the cell phone were damp, though. He'd faced crazed killers in prison, whacked-out druggies in a bust, and terrorists with automatic weapons.

Nothing had ever scared him the way he feared for CeCe's life right now.

"Always a first time," Starface crooned, chuckling. "I've got something you want and you have my merchandise."

Jeremy had one choice. "Where do you want to meet?"

"Be in Buckhead by five, have your phone handy, and don't screw with me or you'll get her back in pieces." The phone line died with a sudden click.

"I'm calling the FBI." Vinny reached for his cell phone.

"Wait!"

Vinny closed the phone. "I'm listening."

Jeremy nodded, thankful Vinny understood they were both after the same thing. Getting CeCe back alive. "She's only in this spot because the FBI used her so I don't trust them not to put her in further danger."

"You got an idea?" Vinny's professional attorney veneer faded away, leaving the hardened eyes of a brother willing to do whatever it took to protect his sister.

That was nothing compared to what Jeremy would do. He nodded. "I'm going to make a swap with Starface for the card."

Vinny's eyes narrowed in thought for a moment before his shoulders settled with resignation. "My skills are in the courtroom, not in the field. I don't want to take any chances with CeCe's life. I'll call in backup," he said, clearly indicating his family in Ontario.

"No time. We have four hours. That's it. I am am trained in the field so we do this my way." Jeremy waited for an argument. trained in the field so we do this my way." Jeremy waited for an argument.

If he didn't know better he'd swear the new shift in Vinny's eyes was respect, and just maybe a little trust. That would be funny if not for the fact that what Jeremy had in mind was going to prove to CeCe he was as much a felon as Starface.

And if that animal touched her, Jeremy would kill Starface with his own hands.

Vinny spoke in his attorney voice again, as if advising a client. "You do realize if the FBI finds out you gave the memory card to Starface, you'll fry, and I can't help you."

"Already figured all of that out. All I need you to do is your part while I do mine." Jeremy expected Vinny to want to come with him, but her brother would only get in his way.

"Agreed."

[image]

JEREMY TAPPED HIS fingers on the steering wheel. He'd parked his Tahoe half an hour ago at the IHOP restaurant in the triangle made by the Peachtree Street and Roswell Road intersection. Most central spot he could think of in the tony Buckhead area. Five o'clock rush hour through the middle of Atlanta had settled in for the afternoon and nasty weather tripled the road rage factor for the packed interstates. fingers on the steering wheel. He'd parked his Tahoe half an hour ago at the IHOP restaurant in the triangle made by the Peachtree Street and Roswell Road intersection. Most central spot he could think of in the tony Buckhead area. Five o'clock rush hour through the middle of Atlanta had settled in for the afternoon and nasty weather tripled the road rage factor for the packed interstates.

Rain poured over his windshield and thunder rocked the heavens.

His cell phone rang. He answered, "Sunn."

"Ready to deal?" Starface chuckled.

"Where?" Jeremy ignored the chuckle. He believed in the old saying that "he who laughs last laughs best."

Starface gave him directions to a closed nightclub three miles away. Jeremy spun across the intersection at the entrance and cut through side streets. When he reached the nightclub, he drove around to the parking lot in the rear where empty beer cans floated in a low spot filling with water. The jersey jacket he pulled on had been made with fine aircraft cable running along the inside from the top to carry weight without pulling down on the material. He shoved his Walther P99 into the right-hand pocket reinforced with the cable to carry the barrel level without broadcasting the weapon's position.

Other than that, he always carried a knife in his boot. The habit was a holdover from being a teenager when staying alive counted more than worry over breaking the law.

Jeremy keyed up a text message on his cell phone ready to send to Vinny and slipped the phone carefully into his right front jeans pocket. He threw the keys under the seat and climbed out. Fat raindrops battered his face and lightning speared the dark skies.

Before he reached the back door of the out-of-business nightclub, Jeremy eased his hand into his left jacket pocket shielding a pair of pliers and the photo card. He slipped his right hand in his jeans pocket in a casual pose as if waiting for someone.

The back door opened on its own, as he'd expected.

Jeremy folded his left hand around the handles of the heavy pliers and gently closed the teeth snug, then withdrew his hand with the photo card pinned into view.

"Tell Starface I have the card." Jeremy waited for a response. They could shoot him, but anyone with half a brain wouldn't risk the chance that one simple squeeze could ruin the card or that he might not have the real one.

"I told him," a voice called out. The door yawned all the way open.

Jeremy entered, thankful the weather outside had turned the sky dark so that his eyes could adjust faster. Stale smoke and body odor ghosted through the air as he followed a rangy guy close to his height and build. Starface's backup was late forties and carried a 9mm Browning with the ease of man who rarely made a move without it.

When they reached the bar area, Jeremy called out, "Where is she?"

Across the dingy room, Starface stepped into view from around the corner. Smiling, he tugged on a rope attached to something out of view.

CeCe appeared at the end of the rope, which was tied around her waist. Sheet-white terrified and stumbling, she stopped next to Starface.

Fury roared through Jeremy but he couldn't get her out of here if he lost his focus. And he would get her out of here. He only wished he had one minute to tell her that he loved her.

He gently fingered the key on his cell phone in his pocket to text a message and prayed it went through.

"Okay, let's trade," Starface demanded, holding up the end of the rope to make his point.

"Send her over here then I'll hand your man the card."

"No. Put the card on the bar and I'll let her go."

Jeremy laughed as though he and Starface were cutting up with each other. "Like you really expect me to do that. You know my word is solid."

"It was in the pen, but I haven't seen you in a few years so..." Starface shrugged, indicating his lack of faith.

"You owe me," Jeremy threw out.

Starface frowned, twisting the birthmark into a hideous shape. "How you figure that?"

Jeremy couldn't look at CeCe when he said, "Sam the Man was going to the feds. If I hadn't cut him a better deal someone else would have and we wouldn't be standing here." He didn't have to see CeCe to know she understood what he'd said. He heard her sob at his admission of being involved.

Of all the things he'd endured, breaking her heart would be the hardest to live with.

"How'd you find out about all this?" Starface wanted to know.

"Ziggy covering his bases," Jeremy said, sticking with his story. He had to get her free now. "You're late delivering. He's got money out all over town looking for this card." Blade had come up with that little tidbit when Jeremy was on his way down to Buckhead.

Starface cursed something low and vile.

CeCe flinched back, drawing Jeremy's attention to her. She looked through him as if he were dead, which he had to be to her by now.

Time to move this along or things were going to get dicey. "We dealing or not?" Jeremy snapped.

The room tensed with all four of them waiting on someone to make a move. Starface finally untied CeCe and waved his arm toward Jeremy telling her to go.

CeCe couldn't decide if she wanted to cry with relief or out of rage. She was too terrified to do either at the moment with both her and Jeremy's life in danger.

This Starface guy would not let Jeremy just walk out of here.

She moved across the room on shaky legs, her eyes on the backup man pointing the second gun she'd faced in two days. She swallowed and turned her attention to Jeremy, who didn't look anything like the man she'd spent the last three weeks falling in love with.

Gone was the easygoing charmer.

Danger radiated from Jeremy, his rigid stance threatening anyone who twitched the wrong way and that look on his face more feral than anything she'd ever witnessed.

Regardless of how deep he was in this mess, she knew without a doubt in that moment that he could, and would, kill anyone in this room who hurt her.

That might be comforting if he was law enforcement, but not after admitting he was involved in this whole scheme. Had known Starface in the pen. She'd berated herself for hours over judging Jeremy by a double standard. If she could just stop time and tell him she was sorry, that she owed him as much of a chance to explain as he'd offered her.

But he'd just admitted his part in all this.

When she walked up to Jeremy, she searched for something to say. He gave a brief shake of his head, without looking at her. The deadly glint in his eyes remained focused on the threat at her back.

Jeremy took her by the arm and gently pulled her behind him. She glanced around at their potential escape route through the rear door. The narrow walkway went fifteen feet then took a hard right turn to the exit.

Did Jeremy intend to back them out of here?

"Get out of here," Jeremy said softly without turning around. He was talking to her.