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Gray and I left Gracie shorty after lunch. The drive to his parents’ house was short. I looked up at the monstrosity on the hill and prepared myself to enter. I kept my hand in Gray’s and stayed by his side. At Gracie’s, it was because I just wanted to be close to him. Here, it was out of fear. Gray’s family was starting to give me the creeps.
Gray and I entered through the rear door by the kitchen. A maid nodded at our arrival but didn’t greet us. I assumed she wasn’t allowed to speak unless spoken to first. Probably Mary Francis’s doing.
Gray’s hand held mine, leading me through the house and into his father’s study. The house resembled a well-kept museum. Every piece on display was perfect. I clenched my empty hand into a fist to keep me from trouble. Every vase we passed I wanted to poke with my finger until it toppled to the floor and shattered. This house was as different from Gracie’s as possible. There, I wanted to curl up on the couch and read a good book. Here, I wanted to apologize because my shoes touched the floor while I walked. I didn’t dare sit down on a sofa, let alone tuck my feet under me.
“Father,” Gray greeted Michael. I gave a little wave. This was Gray’s show. My plan was to fade into the background and watch. Gray sat in one of the chairs facing his father’s desk. I strolled over to the windows to look out at the golf course.
“What may I help you with? I’d thought you would be off enjoying your honeymoon,” Michael said.
“We will. There’s something we need to finish up first, though.” Gray hesitated as he broached the subject.
“Out with it, Gray.” Michael’s tone reminded me of a father about to discipline his son for coming home late.
“I’ll get straight to it, then. Are you purposefully sabotaging Uncle Frank’s hotel?”
Michael laughed in response. “Frank and I are friends, Gray. And colleagues.”
“You weren’t always,” Gray pointed out.
“That’s ancient history. We’ve been partners longer than it’s mattered.” Michael’s tone was sweet, helpful.
I didn’t believe a word.
“The timing is awfully convenient,” Gray said.
“Drop it, Gray. You’re searching for something that isn’t there.”
“Really?” Gray sat down in one of the chairs across from his father. “What would be better than two powerful families in Vegas?” Gray held up one finger.
All humor left Michael’s face. “You’ve made your choice, Gray.” His head nodded in my direction. “You’ve made it very clear you don’t want anything to do with our family business. I’ve respected that, but I will humor you for a moment. I have no desire to eliminate Frank and the Bianchis. Times aren’t what they used to be. There is no power play here.”
“What about Sal and Tony? Would they try to hurt Uncle Frank?”
“What would be the purpose?” Michael asked, clearly frustrated that Gray would pursue the conversation.
“More control? More money? Birthright? You want me to go on?” Gray asked.
“No. Here.” Michael picked up a pen and scribbled a note before handing it to Gray. “These are their addresses. Go see for yourself, they have no desire to hurt Frank.”
“Thanks,” Gray said. That saved us the effort of finding out their addresses.
I split my time between watching them and looking out the window. With the house resting on an incline the view was impressive, but one house in particular caught my attention. From my vantage point, I could see Gracie’s house completely. Even though she was blocks away, I had a clear view. Michael would be able to watch her every move. Every visitor would be known to him. I wondered if she ever felt the tickle of fear that she was being watched?
Gracie’s house sat perpendicular to Michael’s. I could see if anyone knocked on her front door or if she was sitting out back enjoying the weather. Michael could’ve been watching us the whole time we drank tea on the veranda. A shiver went through me. I turned my back on Gracie’s and watched the exchange between Gray and Michael again.
“You said sabotage? What’s been happening?” Michael asked.
Gray laid out the last few days of events that we’d been part of, plus the other things that Passion and Frank had mentioned. Michael’s face grew darker as Gray spoke. The light left his eyes leaving behind a cold menace. Michael picked up his phone and made a call, blatantly ignoring both Gray and me. He spoke quietly for a few moments and then replaced the receiver.
“A suite is being prepared for you at our hotel. You’ll be staying there until this is hashed out,” Michael said.
“Until what’s ‘hashed out’?” Gray asked.
“I won’t tolerate your being put in danger. You’ll move so I can keep you protected.”
“No, we won’t. We’re staying. I told you long ago, I don’t want anything to do with the family business. Got it? Nothing. That includes staying in your hotel.” Gray rose as he spoke. His voice deepened and his face hardened.
“Then you’ll both stay here.”
“No.”
“You’ll do as I say.” Michael rose, too, matching Gray in size and strength.
“I’m not a child.” I could see the years of previous arguments starting to bubble up through this one. Michael always trying to exert his will over Gray and Gray was always trying to blaze his own path. I decided to step in before they resorted to blows. I stepped in front of Gray and held my hands up. My right hand laid flat against his chest. My left hand stayed in the air over Michael’s desk.
“Wait. Let’s not go down this road.” I kept contact with Gray but turned to face Michael. “You said you wouldn’t tolerate us being in danger, right?”
“Yes. And, I mean it,” Michael said.
“Why would you think we were in danger? We’ve got nothing to do with the hotel.”
“You could’ve been injured when the pool flooded the workout facility,” Michael suggested.
“We weren’t,” I said. “Plus, no one knew we would be there. It wasn’t a target on us.”
“I won’t stand for taking a chance. It will get you killed. You need to be protected,” Michael said.
“From who? Who do we need to be protected from?” I asked.
“No one.” Michael exhaled quickly, regaining control of his emotions. “Regan, you don’t understand. I tried to warn you.”
“From who?” I asked again. This time more fiercely.
“From everyone. You can’t just walk through this life without making enemies. You must watch your back at all times.”
“We’re not in this life,” I said.
“Oh, you are. You may want to walk away, you may want to be on your own, but you will always be a part of this life.”
“Why? How?” I asked.
Michael laughed. “Because he’s my son. I’d always go after anyone who hurt him.” Michael nodded to me. “And now you, too. You both can be used as pawns.”
“Welcome to the family, huh?” Gray said. “After the show tonight, we’re out. I mean it. We’re not coming back.”
I patted Gray’s chest in comfort.
Gray took a deep breath before sitting back down. I took the seat next to him. We kept our hands locked together. The tension in the room subsided as each of us returned to our corners.
“Maybe we are looking at this the wrong way. Who would be against you and Frank?” I asked. “You said it yourself, you’ve been partners forever.”
For less than a second, Michael’s face spasmed. The look was so fleeting I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“No one,” Michael said.
“Really? In your line of work?” Sarcasm dripped from my question. Gray stifled a laugh by coughing into his fist.
“Contrary to popular opinion, Frank and I have worked hard to clean up the image of the families. Together, we weeded out the sadistic influence of the Milano family. Since then, we’ve had peace. No more wars, no more raids. Peace. So, no, there’s not another enemy.”
Michael spoke with passion and conviction. With an American flag hanging behind him, he could’ve been running for office. Even I wanted to believe him. Just a little. About as much as I wanted to believe a real politician.
I was done with the dog and pony show. I wanted out of this house. “Okey dokey, then.” I braced to stand up, but Michael started to speak again.
“Son, do you know why I can be sure it was not my enemy?” The use of the word ‘son’ stopped me in my tracks. Gone was the sleek politician, here was the man behind the image.
Gray hesitated before asking. “Why?”
“Your mother was pregnant with you during Milano’s reign. I made a promise to her that I would make our children’s lives safer. Safe enough she could take you to the park without a bodyguard. Safe enough you could walk down the street without looking over your shoulder. Safe enough you could walk away from this life if you chose. I kept that promise. Frank and I have been partners since then. We’ve worked together. We’ve been allies. This isn’t like before.”
“You changed your tune,” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“Twenty minutes ago, you were ready to keep us under lock and key. Now, you are telling us how safe you’ve made the streets. Which is it?”
“I’m sorry for the confusion. You are safe. Mostly. But even my power is limited. Watch yourselves.”