Page 9 of Special Agent Joseph

“Do you really believe that? I mean, I truly hate knowing about the things he’s involved in. I’d never want anything to do with that world. But he reminded me recently that everything I ever had and still do comes from him. It makes me sick to think that’s true.”

“What about your parents?”

“They died when I was five, and Nonno took me in. When I asked him how they died, he said his son and wife had a boating accident. I never questioned it until a few weeks ago when Idiscovered his own activities. I Googled it then and found out the boat exploded under questioning circumstances. And that the police believed they’d been murdered by an opposing gang that since… unsurprisingly, have all disappeared.” Her rolling-eyes portrayed her opinion.

Megan ignored her insinuations and carefully thought about her words before answering. “Which makes you Nonno’s legal ward. Look, by law, every parent, or in this case guardian, is expected to provide for their offspring. Babies can’t choose in which fashion folks do that. Their role is to grow up the best way they can.”

“You believe that?”

“I truly do. Most likely, he has legal jurisdiction over you until you become an adult at eighteen. After that, it’s your choice as to how you want to live.”

“Or until I run away, and he can’t find me.”

“Right. So how did that work out for you last time?”

The dejected youngster lowered her head, her skinny body screaming defeat. Finally, she dropped her face in her hands, tears seeping through her long eyelashes. “I don’t know what to do. I hate him. But he’s my Nonno and before all this surfaced, I adored the man.”

“See… I don’t get it. You’re a smart girl. How were you unaware of his lifestyle?”

“Easy. The sneak had me living on a ranch in Montana with a governess and a staff of employees. He’d come home for visits all the time, but I never came to Vegas. Then Miss Stacy was killed by a fall off a horse, and the police sent me here to my grandfather. I know he tried to keep me from finding out about his business, and for all these years it worked. But the night I arrived, I overheard enough to find out about his lies. And to finally meet the man I never knew existed. I tried running away.I didn’t know what else to do.” She scoffed with disgust. “You know how well that turned out.”

Megan’s lips pursed to the side, and then she lifted her shoulders. “Yeah, sorry.” Her hand reached out to touch Lucia’s. “What doyouwant me to do?”

The girl whipped around to stare into Megan’s questioning gaze. Making up her mind, she spoke decisively. “I want you to be my bodyguard.”

***

After a very brief meeting with Vinnie Farina and Lucia, Megan still had questions. The man was the epitome of what she imagined a doting, older, Italian grandfather would be. He suited the part with his gray, good looks and short, stocky body. Even his accented, silken voice offering a ridiculous wage and basically whatever her conditions might be, kind of mesmerized.

“Megan, I hope you don’t mind if I call you by your first name.” His smile oozed charm yet made her skin crawl. “Since Lucia refuses to go back to the ranch, I just want to keep her happy here with me until she’s ready to return.”

Right, weirdo. Happy but captive.

“Lucia mia, show Miss Wells the house and especially your quarters where she’ll be spending the bulk of her time.”

He turned back to her. “Megan, we live very quietly, but with all the amenities anyone could hope to have. There’s the stables, the pool, a huge indoor and outdoor garden area, plus the tennis courts and a trainer on-call where lately my Lucia likes to take advantage of her skills. I’ll have a car and driver at your disposal whenever you wish. Your suite next to Lucia’s is large and very comfortable, but if it’s missing anything, you need only to ask.”

Megan hesitated, knowing she couldn’t agree without first talking to her superiors. “Sir, would it be okay if I take a day or so to consider your offer?”

“Of course. But Lucia has been very specific about wanting you and only…” As if deciding his words gave her too much bargaining power, he hesitated before improvising with, “feeling comfortable if you were to spend this time with her.” He turned to his granddaughter then, annoyed at seeing her sitting on the floor, rather than any of the comfortable chairs scattered around his office. “Will you leave us, Baby Girl?”

She rose, a sneer on her face from his nickname. “Fine. But remember, this has to be her decision. No funny stuff, Nonno.”

He pointed to the door, “Go.” His features blank, but the ice in his eyes told Megan he’d never have taken this kind of backtalk from anyone else.

Once the door closed behind her, he turned to Megan and smiled pleasantly. “Teenagers. What’s one to do? She refuses to return to Montana, so I want her to be happy here. Unfortunately, she’s threatened to run away again.”

He steepled his fingers, the showy ring on his right hand gleaming with diamonds to match those on his watch. “Let’s not play games, Megan. No doubt, you read newspapers and might have worries about living here with me. And I can’t blame you. But know this. If my granddaughter were to fall into the hands of my competitors, she would be in terrible danger. I can’t let that happen. Please, think about my proposition. I can promise you that we’ll keep you safe.”

Megan nodded and hid her smile. If he only knew that going undercover totally thrilled her, he wouldn’t have felt such a need to dangle the bait.

***

Driving away from the huge, gated complex half an hour later, Megan finally felt able to breathe properly for the first time since they’d forced her into the car. As much as she understood the danger, she really didn’t have a problem with it.

In fact, it excited her being so close to the man every cop would love to arrest. What worried her was Lucia. When the kid had shown her delicate side, Megan sensed the faith she had in her, and it weighed her down.

Lying to the girl didn’t sit well. Truth be told, if she took the job, her main goal would be to capture her grandfather, the man Lucia both hated and loved. And the squirmy sensation Megan experienced let her know it wasn’t something to take lightly.

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