Page 33 of Starting Our Chance

18 Loretta

Sitting at the coffeeshop table, I examined the scratches and scars that had been inflicted on the wooden surface. There was a lot of minor damage, but still, the thing held strong and fulfilled its purpose.

Great. Now I’m getting all philosophical about a damned table. But it was a good metaphor to focus on. Deep breathing and calming thoughts were all that I needed right now. So, I did everything I could think of, and if that meant getting all mushy over a table, then so be it.

Felicity had said that her and Samantha would be there by eight in the morning. And true to her word, Samantha walked through the door right before the clock struck eight. She stood there, just staring at me, and although it was utterly futile, I wished Felicity had been the one to show up first.

I lifted my hand and gave her a little wave. That one movement set her off. Samantha’s chin jerked into the air; those heavyset arms of hers crossed. I took a hard look at her. Although her small bump was starting to show through her clothes, Samanta was toning up. The weight she had spent her whole life fighting to keep off was lessening. Well, good for her. I thought that was encouraging, and wanted to desperately reach out and envelop her in a hug.

Instead, I scooted out of my seat and took a few steps in her direction. “Hi, Sammy.”

She moved past me and went to the counter to order a decaf cappuccino.

Fuck this.I walked right up into her personal bubble and said to her back, “Good choice, this place has some of the best drinks around.”

“I know that, Stupid,” Samantha snapped. “I wasn’t the one to move away to find something better when what we have here is a good choice.”

Sucking in a breath, I chewed the inside of my cheek. Thankfully, before anything else could be said, Felicity breezed through the doors.

Dropping a purse on the table next to mine, I hear her mutter, “Well, shit. So much for beating her here.”

Giving up on connecting with Samantha for the moment, I wandered back to my own green tea and sat down next to Felicity’s purse. In just a few short minutes, both women were seated beside me with their own drinks. They sat there in expectant silence, and at least one brow was cocked in question.

“So, what the fuck are we doing here?” Sammy demanded.

“Samantha, I told you,” Felicity replied. “Nikki is gone. Her business burnt down. And Lore needs our support to deal with everything.”

“Fine.” Samantha met my gaze and stated, “For the record, I’m here for Nikki and because Felicity asked me to come. I couldn’t care less that you are in trouble.”

“Noted,” I muttered. Then I began to launch into everything. I explained to Samantha how I had landed a dream job as an accountant. I was putting in long hours, and my lifestyle was finally everything I had hoped it would be. I explained that I had met a nice guy, and I’d thought everything was falling into place . . . until he started getting interested in my work. During one really hot date, he asked me for my access code by making it into a game over shots. We were at a club and without thinking, I had given it to him. While I was explaining this part—a part that no one else knew—I felt the weight of Sammy’s eye roll. Hurrying over my words, I explained that I had had a lot to drink, but when I went to the ladies room, I had discovered my key card was missing. Right then and there, I had called the police and reported the theft. They notified my HR department and said that that I wasn’t going to be in any trouble. Little did they know, I thought as I looked at Felicity’s enthralled face and Sammy’s bored expression.

I continued to explain that when I woke up the next morning, my key card had been used by my supposed boyfriend to steal six million dollars from Mr. Brando Oscolti. I shrugged at the girls before finishing the tale with, “So, I was found innocent in the investigation, and by the law I was exonerated. But as far as my old boss is concerned, I have access to the money through my old boyfriend, and I came out here to lay low until Mr. Oscolti gives up the chase.”

I stopped talking and lifted my hands palm up. I wasn’t sure if the gesture was supplication or affirmation. But I blurted into the silence around me, “I won’t run and hide anymore. I will stay and fight this thing. There has to be a way to prove I’m innocent. I was the fall guy. Since I never touched the money, it has to be somewhere, right?” I looked at Felicity, who nodded encouragingly. “And I need to find it before anyone gets hurt.”

“Nikki’s office going up in flames was just the start, I’m afraid,” Felicity said.

Although it was true, I didn’t want to hear it. Cringing, I dared to peep over at Samantha, whose face was carefully blank. I bit my lip hard. The next words out of my mouth could be the best thing I had to say or they could be the worst. “Sammy, I’m so sorry for the way I treated you in the past. I understand if you want nothing to do with me, but I’m not running from these fools. I’m going to fight this.”

Jumping to my aid, Felicity said, “I’m going to help her, Sammy, and we can’t do this without you.”

“Since Nikki is MIA, we need to clean this mess up,” Sammy surprisingly agreed, although I realized the emphasis was on helping Nikki. “And part of that is not getting your ass killed. Why they didn’t just capture you and torture the money out of you is beyond me. Isn’t that how it works, Felicity?”

Yep, Samantha was still pissed at me. And as I had known, it was going to take more than a mere apology to mend our bridge. But as Felicity had reminded me just that morning, including her was a starting place. But when Sammy’s words registered, my stomach, however, bottomed out. Terror filled my blood and kicked in my fight or flight response.

“No, Samantha.” Felicity reached over and smacked her sister-in-law. “Most head haunchos don’t operate that way. One reason is because information from torture is rarely effective. And these men want their money. There are more efficient ways to get it.”

“What are you saying?” I looked into Felicity’s dark eyes; there was something she was holding back.

“I called home last night, right before Duke came over to grill me.” I nodded, aware of what Duke had done that night, and Felicity continued, “Anyhow, the phone call, which I did not fill you in about yet, was to my father. He knows your boss. Brando Oscalti is a mobster and his company—the one you worked for—is just a business front. Therefore, you aren’t just dealing with white collared businessmen, you’re dealing with an underworld situation.”

“That’s the last straw; I’m not hiding anymore.” I stood up and slapped my hand against the table top. “I am going to make my old boss believe that he suspected the wrong girl. The only thing I did wrong was fall for some stupid ass man who used me.”

“I’m very glad to hear that. I was sure you’d faint from fear when I told you.” Felicity took a sip of her espresso before continuing, “The good news is that the bastard who stole from Oscalti is sloppy. My father has already assigned one of his seconds to the problem.”

Hope flickered through me. It was good to have powerful friends. Before I could ask Felicity what that meant, however, two policemen entered the café and walked straight up to me. “Loretta Forman, we need to bring you in for questioning pertaining to the fire.”

“Don’t tell them anything,” I heard Felicity call out over the roar filling my ears. “They can’t talk to you without a lawyer.”

I had only passed out once before, and it was during a grueling workout following an even worse dance practice. But these black spots that danced before my eyes, accompanied by the hurricane level roar in my mind were sure precursors to the inevitable.

There were hands on my back, steadying me. My feet tripped over each other, and I stumbled. One of the cops—someone I faintly recognized him from school—offered me an arm along with a reassuring smile. Together, we managed to walk the short distance to his car where they put me in the back. To my credit, I neither puked nor fainted.

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