“And?”
“I tried to get her to go to a shelter. She didn’t want any part of that.”
“What did you do instead?”
“My dad had a vacant rental property, so I put her up there. Called in a favor from Ranger Messick, who’s been keeping an eye on her for me.”
“I’m glad she came to you, Tackle. Sounds like there’s more to it, though.”
“She isn’t the kind of person who likes being alone.”
“And she wants you for company.”
“You could say that.”
“What do you know about the husband?”
“I think he’s got connections.”
“Hey, Sharp, got a sec?”
Razor got out of his seat, walked over, and sat down across from Doc and me. Razor was renowned for storing a computer-like database of criminals in his head. The man was uncanny.
“What’s the husband’s name?” Doc asked me.
“Dan Caruso. He lives in Waltham now, but I remember hearing he was from Providence.”
Razor got up, grabbed his laptop, and came back. He sat with it closed, quiet for a few moments. “This guy about your age?” he asked.
“Affirmative.”
“If I remember right, and I always remember right, someone by that name has known ties to Anthony ‘Cadillac’ DeLuca, the current head of the Sabatino family.”
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.
“When she came to you, was it because of a recent incident?” Doc asked.
“Yeah. He’d knocked her around the night before. Black eye, bruises on her arms and torso.”
“Pattern of abuse?”
“Affirmative.”
Razor opened his laptop. “Did she file a police report?”
“Negative. Said he had local law enforcement in his pocket.”
“She was right about that,” muttered Razor, who was typing something on his computer.
“You may not know this, but my first wife was in an abusive relationship before she and I got married,” said Doc. “I’m going to caution you not to do what I did.”
“Meaning?”
“Do not get involved with this woman for the wrong reasons.”
“I’m trying hard not to get involved with her at all. She isn’t making it easy, though.”
“You did the right thing by trying to help her. Putting her up in your father’s rental got her out of immediate danger, but it’s time to move her somewhere else.”
“Where?”
Doc got up. “Give me a few minutes to see what I can come up with.”
“Tackle, you need to follow Doc’s lead on this,” said Razor. “The husband is bad news, not to mention he’s practically in your backyard.”
“Copy that.”
A few minutes later, Doc returned to the seat next to me. “I was able to reach Ranger. I’ve also engaged Diesel Jacks to jump in on this. I’ve instructed them to move Ms. Caruso somewhere safe. However, according to Messick, the only way she’d agree to it is if he told her you would be meeting her at the new location.”
“Where is the new location?”
“They should already be in California by the time we land.”
“And then what?”
“I know I told you to remove yourself from the situation, but before you do, you need to convince her it’s in her best interest to take the safe route we’re offering.”
“Roger that,” I muttered, knowing I had to do what Doc was asking.
“What else, Tackle? Spit it out.”
“I’m worried about whatever’s going on with Halo’s family.”
Doc nodded. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
“He’s downplaying whatever it is,” Doc said after we’d landed in California and he was finally able to reach Halo. “I’ll keep digging while you convince Ms. Caruso to go along with the plan we’ve made for her.”
Doc asked Diesel to pick me up at the airfield and transport me to the house he’d arranged for Nick to stay in. While I waited, I called Halo myself.
“Hey, Tackle. You back from Italy yet?”
“Affirmative. Just landed in sunny California. How are things there?”
“Under control. For now, anyway.”
“Anything I can do?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let me know if that changes?”
“Will do. When will you be back?”
“I have a couple other things to take care of. Maybe another day or two.”
“Copy that. Take care, man.”
“You too.” I ended the call, walked over to the airfield’s bar, and ordered a shot, a beer, and another shot, knowing I’d need that and a whole lot more to get through the next couple of days with Nick.
17
Sloane
I heard my brother say Tackle’s name when he answered his phone. As much as I wanted to ask about their conversation after the call ended, I couldn’t without Knox getting suspicious.
“I’ve been thinking about you saying you don’t really want to go back to Mom and Dad’s right now, but how long can you realistically stay here?” he asked.
“Bex will be gone another three weeks at least. Maybe longer.”
“Okay, well, that buys us some time to figure out what to do next.” When Knox sat beside me on the sofa and put his arm around me, I rested my head on his shoulder.
“Thanks for all you’re doing. I really appreciate it.”
He laughed and kissed my forehead. “I haven’t done much of anything yet, peanut.”
“Just having you here is huge, but if you have to leave, I’ll understand.” I said the words but prayed he wouldn’t have to.
“I’m not going anywhere. I told you that.” He patted the sofa’s cushion. “Except maybe to an apartment with more than one bedroom. I know you just said you could stay here another three weeks, but I’m thinking we start looking for another place tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to live with me, Knox.”
“Sure, I do. It’s not like I have anywhere else to live. We might as well share a place for the time being.”
I yawned. “You’re the best brother a girl could have.”
“Making up for lost time, peanut. Now, get to bed.”
I was so tired I didn’t have the energy to argue that it was only seven o’clock.
As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, unable to sleep when only minutes ago, I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I thought about the story my brother had told me about his time in Italy.
“I fell in love with her, Sloane,” he’d said. “I know it sounds crazy,
