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“YES. NO QUESTION THAT it's Frank. You won't hear about it in the papers or on the radio. They'll keep it quiet as long as they can, but it's true.”
“Poor Suki.”
“Suki can take care of herself. I'm more worried about you.”
“Me?”
“Listen, and I'll explain the way these things play out. Someone killed a member of Capone's gang, and they'll retaliate. I don't want you anywhere near any of those men—and that includes your boyfriend, Rocco.”
“He's not my boyfriend. You know he's not.”
“He doesn't see it that way. When he called you, did he give any indication he knew about Frank's death?”
“No, not at all.”
“That should show you Rocco's two faces, if nothing else, because Capone's gang is well aware of what happened to Frank. He knew about it when he called you.”
“Oh.” She widened her eyes and shook her head. “He's quite an actor then, isn't he?”
“They all are, sweetheart. Don't let it make you feel foolish. They would've taken in anyone with your trusting nature.”
He had no idea how much better that made her feel. Or perhaps he did. She'd been kicking herself and feeling like a little fool ever since she'd accepted the pearls from Rocco. She'd let him turn her head by giving her something glamorous.
“We can't stay down here much longer. Your aunt will finish her treatment and wonder where you are.”
“I know.”
He cupped her chin and bent to kiss her. His lips were as tender as they'd been the night before and she leaned in, wanting more, wanting to be closer.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. She felt safe, warm, and loved within his embrace. She parted her lips, and he slipped his tongue between them, a slow, gentle, teasing movement, and she wanted more. She touched her tongue to his and they began a slow dance, a long, lingering kiss that left them both breathless.
When they finally pulled apart, they searched each other's eyes. Neither of them needed to say a word. They both smiled at each other at the same time.
Being with him felt so right.
“We'd better go.” He broke the shared silence.
“Yes,” she said, but she didn't want to go. “I wish we didn't have to.”
“Me, too.” A noise overhead had him looking over his shoulder. “I'll see you to the top of the stairs, then you should go meet your aunt.”
Bethany reached her hand out to his, and he enfolded it within his larger, stronger one.
They climbed the stairs together.
*****
ALL THE WAY BACK TO the hotel, Bethany thought about Suki.
Bethany had to see her. Suki had been good to Bethany, and now she'd lost the man she loved. Though Paul wanted her to stay away from everyone on the fourth floor, Suki was her friend. She should be there when Suki needed her. Besides, now that Suki's boyfriend was dead, she no longer had a connection to Al Capone. Frank had been her connection.
Once Bethany and her aunt reached their destination, Bethany told Aunt Margaret that she had to return a book she'd borrowed from the library. Then she headed back out again after promising her aunt she'd come right back to the hotel.
She dropped off the book, and then hurried back to the hotel and up to the fourth floor. This time, two men in dark suits and hats stood in the hallway as she walked up to Suki's door. Bethany knocked twice before Suki opened the door.
“Bethany.” Suki stood just inside, darting her gaze frantically up and down the hall. “Come in. Hurry.”
Bethany slipped through the door, and Suki closed and locked it.
“Is it true? Is Frank really dead?” Bethany asked, although from Suki's appearance, she knew it had to be true.
“Yes.” Suki's eyes were red from crying, and dark mascara stains marred the area beneath her eyes. “They shot him in the back. Rocco said he never saw it coming.”
“How?”
“It's better if you don't know any more than that. He was doing something the boss sent him to do. That's all I know. Even that was too much. The police questioned me, and so did Mr. Capone.” She glanced at Bethany, her eyes bright. “It's best just to be a pretty girl, the life of the party, arm candy that lights up a room, but not so bright that you notice things. See?”
Bethany nodded.
“You remember that.”
She gave a slight frown. She didn't ever want to be in the position Suki was in now.
“We had plans, Frank and me.” Suki's voice hitched. “He promised to take me to the opera. I've always wanted to see one, and he said he'd pick up the tickets once the job was done. Only, he never came back.”
“Oh, Suki. I'm so sorry.”
“Yeah.” Suki paced to the window and reached for her flask. “I'm sorry, too.”
She gulped from the flask, and Bethany wondered if it contained the same kind of rum Suki always drank. If so, she wondered how Suki could gulp it down like that.
“Opera is probably overrated anyway.” She turned to Bethany. “You want some?”
“No, thanks.”
“I don't know what I'm gonna do now. I've got to find myself a new sugar daddy, and soon.”
“I thought you loved Frank.”
“I did, but Frank's dead. What am I gonna to do now? A girl's gotta eat.”
“Don't you have any money?”
“Not enough to last. Frank took real good care of me, but I didn't want him to leave me holding the bag. So, I didn't get involved in his business.” She shrugged and wiped the mascara from beneath her eyes with a hanky embroidered with the letter F. She glanced at it, blinked twice, and threw it onto the dresser. “Come on. We'll go dancing at the club.”
“I don't know, Suki. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay out of sight? If the police or whoever killed Frank is, is watching you...”
“Let 'em watch. I just want to put on my glad rags, dance, and have a ball,” Suki said. “Life's too damn short.”
“I wish I could go dancing with you, but I've already promised Rocco I'd wait for him to call. He's taking me to dinner tonight.”
“Oh, in that case, you'd better wait by the phone. Never be someplace other than where Rocco tells you to be.”
Bethany frowned. “Why?”
“Oh you're so wet behind the ears.” Suki sighed. “You just do whatever Rocco tells you to do, and you'll be fine. He'll take good care of you. But never make him angry. Understand?”
Bethany nodded. “Yes.”
“Good girl.” Suki swept a red dress off the back of a chair and handed it to Bethany. “Here. Wear this tonight. Red is his favorite color, and you'll want to take his mind off things to keep him in a good mood. Whatever you do, keep him in a good mood.”
“Thank you.”
“Go on now. You better be in your room in case he calls to check on you.”
“Are you going to be all right?”
“You're sweet, but you don't need to worry about me, doll. I'm like a cat. Always land on my feet. Go on now.”
Bethany nodded and slipped out the door, closing it softly behind her. The men in the hallway studied her as she walked to the elevator, and she tried to act as if the only thing she'd come for was to visit and borrow a dress. She released a breath after the elevator closed.
Never again would she have to return to the fourth floor.
*****
THE PHONE RANG, AND Bethany picked it up. “Hello?”
“Pack your bags, doll. We're leaving town.”
“What?” Shocked, Bethany held on to the phone. She had expected Rocco to tell her about their dinner plans so she could beg off with a headache. Instead, he was leaving, and expected her to go with him. A chill ran up her spine. “When?”
“In about an hour.”
“Where are we going?”
“Just have your bags packed and ready.”
Click. He'd hung up. He hadn't even asked if she wanted to go. Hadn't waited for her to tell him yes or no. His voice had contained none of the patience or tolerance he'd displayed before. He'd given her a command and expected her to do exactly as he said. After what Suki had told her, that frightened her. She didn't want to make Rocco angry. So what should she do?
She paced across the room. Her leaving with him wasn't something she and Rocco had talked about. In fact, they hadn't talked much at all. Bethany stopped and looked out the window. Where was he going? He hadn't told her where.
She couldn't go with him. He had ordered her around as if he owned her, but she'd never agreed to this.
She didn't want to be anywhere around Rocco when he found out she wasn't going. He'd be angry. She barely knew him, but she knew that much about him, and she hadn't liked the glimpse she'd gotten into Suki's way of life. At first, it appeared to be fun and glamorous, but Paul was right. It was dangerous, and these men were very dangerous.
If only she hadn't run into Rocco the day she'd run from the theater. If only she'd run into Paul instead.
Reaching for the phone, she dialed his room and prayed he'd answer. He'd know what to do. He always knew what to do.
Unfortunately, the phone rang and rang and no one picked up.
Her aunt and uncle had just left to have dinner in the dining room. Bethany couldn't call Suki. So she continued to pace, and then called Paul again with no luck.
Before an hour passed, Rocco knocked on her door. She opened it wearing her nightgown and robe, planning to tell him she didn't feel well.
He stepped inside, closed the door, and took one look at her, and said, “What the hell is this?”
“I-I'm not feeling so well. It must've been the heat of the bath. My head's pounding.”
He furrowed his brow into a deep frown and glanced about the room, then loomed over her. “You haven't packed.”
“No, I've been lying down, trying to get rid of my headache.”
He scowled at her. “You were fine when you went to see Suki.”
“It came on after I was back in the room.”
“I don't have time for this.” He walked over to the corner, picked up her suitcase, and tossed it onto the bed. “Pack. Now.”
Widening her eyes, she backed away from him.
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
“No, no,” she whispered. “I'll pack.”
She started putting her things into the suitcase and reached for the red dress.
He saw the dress and grunted, as if he knew where it had come from. Well, of course he did. He knew she'd been to see Suki. Those men guarding the hallway were observant, and the red dress was hard to miss.
Trying to soften his mood she said, “I'd planned to wear this dress to dinner tonight. Suki said red is your favorite color.”
“You can change into that after we get there. Put that one on.” He pointed to her gold dress. “But hurry up. I ain't got all day.”
She took the dress into the bathroom and closed the door. Looking into the mirror, she saw how pale her face was. If only she'd been able to reach Paul. She pulled the dress over her head just before Rocco swung the door open and looked her up and down.
She reached for the stockings hanging by the sink to dry and walked past him to the suitcase, pretending to be interested in packing when all she wanted was to run away from him and this room and wherever he planned to take her.
“I'll need to leave a note for my aunt and uncle.”
“No note.”
She gulped and turned to face him.
“You can call them in a day or two.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. Then she went into the bathroom for her toiletries. When she was done, she closed the suitcase and looked at him.
“Your shoes.” He gestured toward them, and she walked over and slid them on.
Then he picked up the suitcase, put his arm around her waist, and headed for the door. Her heart raced when he first touched her and then swept her along beside him.
How would she get away? How could she get word to Paul and her aunt and uncle? Where was he taking her? What would happen to her when they got there?
Downstairs, they swept out of the elevator and out the doors towards a shiny black car waiting at the curb. Two other cars sat behind it.
As Bethany slid across the seat, she couldn't help but notice how different sliding into the back seat felt now. Rocco displayed none of the gentlemanly behavior he'd shown her before when he'd held her hand, acted as her protector, and rescued her from Mr. Rivalde.
Rocco went around to the other side, opened the door, and got in. He shoved a violin case over next to Bethany so that it sat on the floor between them.
Why wasn't the violin case in the trunk with the other suitcases? She looked at Rocco's hands and fingers. He didn't appear to have the hands of a violinist.
He flipped the latch on the case, opened it, and pulled out a large black gun.
Bethany's whole body stiffened, and she clutched the edge of the seat.
He glanced at her. “You thought I had a violin, didn't you?”
Too frightened to speak, she nodded.
“The rule in Hot Springs is that we have to lay down our guns. We always keep ‘em handy, though.” He grinned and opened his jacket pocket to reveal a holstered pistol.
She widened her eyes.
“It's a Colt nineteen-seventeen. Makes a lot of sweet music, but the big one stops 'em dancing cold.”
Speechless, she stared at him.
“You scared? You look like you've never seen a gun.”
She shook her head.
“This one's a Thompson Submachine Gun.” He laid it across his lap and casually touched the barrel. “You can touch it if you want. Here, put your hand on it.”
He reached for her hand and pulled it over to lay it on the gun. The cold hard metal beneath her fingertips made her want to jerk her hand away, but he kept his hand firm on hers. He moved her hand up and down. “Stroke it, like that. That's it, baby. Up and down.”
“What the hell are you doing back there, Rocco?” the driver growled from the front seat. “Pay attention. This ain't no pettin’ party.”
“Just showing her the gun.” Rocco released Bethany's hand, and she pulled it back onto her lap and pressed her other hand over it to stop it from shaking. “You remember your first time, Joey. Nothing like that cold, hard steel.”
“Yeah, well... you got plenty of time to show her whatever you got to show her on the drive. For now, keep your eyes sharp.”
Rocco said, “Sit back and relax, doll. We got a long drive ahead of us. Like I said, I'll take good care of you. I just wanted you to know that I got the muscle to do it.”
He was a dangerous man, and he'd brought her right into the middle of whatever was going on. She looked around at the other cars and noted that the other men also had taken out guns. Guns they'd kept hidden. Their expressions and movements had changed as well, sending a clear signal that they were armed and dangerous. Clearly they were no longer on vacation.
Paul's words about Rocco came back to Bethany. He'll keep other men away, but who will protect you from Rocco?
He'd seemed like a gentleman at first, with his good manners, his fancy suits, and his expensive lifestyle, but now she'd gotten a glimpse of the real Rocco, and what she'd seen had frightened her.
As the car rolled out of town, fear rolled through her veins. She'd never been more terrified in her life.