MASON (Second Chance Novels Book 2) (12 page)

"So what do you want to do with this guy?" I ask.

"I think we should go for poetic. How can we screw with his car?"

"So many ways," I grin. "Most of them highly illegal. For example, I could easily make it explode in his driveway."

"Ha! That would be great, but maybe we go a tad more subtle," she grins, not at all offended by my suggestion. Seriously, she may actually be perfect. "Where will he be tonight?"

"Poker game with some buddies it looks like," I say. "No one else from the board will be there, though."

"One at a time is ok with me," she smiles. "What kind of car does he have? Something with an alarm?"

I grin because I understand her plan instantly, before she even explains. If my assumption is true, this will be so simple but so amusing. "Hand me that notebook," I request as I reach for a pen. I jot down several notes and show them to Dig as I complete them. By the third note she's laughing…almost giggling. I can't help but laugh with her.
 

"Let me change," I say. I shut my door and take a deep breath. I put my jeans and a decent shirt on, all while looking at her green dress on my bed. I think too much about that, and take too long pulling my socks on in order to think a moment longer. I sit with my elbows resting on my knees and think a few steps farther. One more deep breath and I return to Dig, stepping directly in front of her and I pull her to her feet.

"We are pissing off some very powerful people," I say seriously. "Hear me out. Stay here this week, please. We can both watch out for each other."

"Wow, you know how to bring down a room," she says in quiet surprise.
 

"Please? I'd feel better if you were here. And think about it this way. If you stay near your family, you could drag them into this."

She stares straight into my eyes. I can see those intelligent brown irises looking for the right answer in her head. I'm confident she'll agree with me, but I won't ever push. I keep her gaze as she works through her hesitations. I can't help but wonder what her thoughts are, but I simply wait patiently. Finally, she sighs and nods.

"This is not going to go over well with my family," she says. "They know better than to intervene, but I'm going to catch hell if they find out I'm staying with a single guy, but you're right. Keeping them out of this is the smart play, especially this week."

"It's settled then," I nod.
 

"Ok, let me get changed. Drive me home so I can pack?"

A half hour later, I'm sitting at Dig's dining table in her studio-style living space. Her apartment is rustic and comfortable. The decor fits her well. I sip some ice water as she packs an entire suitcase full of clothes of every variety.

"I'll be ready for wherever the investigations takes us this week," she says. She tucks a few dresses in a garment bag and rests them next to the suitcase. She looks around to see if she's forgotten anything, then disappears into the bathroom to gather her toiletries.
 

Her front door opens suddenly and my hand is at my ankle holster immediately. Based on the look of the intruder, this is obviously one of Dig's brothers. Shit, I'm glad I didn't shoot him. I brush off my shoe randomly to cover up the quick reach for my gun.
 

"Who are you?" he asks with a hard glare, looking around for Dig. I certainly appreciate his protective nature toward her. She comes out and smiles.
 

"Marco," she greets.

She walks to him and they kiss each other's cheeks in greeting. In Italian, he begins the inquiry. I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I can't help myself. I'm dying to know what he'll ask and how she'll respond. Sometimes being such a bastard is all too easy. I follow their rapid Italian without effort.

"
Who is this idiot and why is he in your place?
"

"
This idiot is my partner, Marco. Only that.
"
 

"
Why are you packing?
"

"
Why are you so nosey? I'm visiting a friend for the week. Mason is driving me.
"

Marco looks at her with narrow eyes, then back at me. He's not as tall as I am, but his steel glare is intimidating nonetheless. In spite of his radiating mistrust, I can't help but screw with both of them.
 

"
Non ti preoccupare Marco, lei è in buone mani
."

Both of them snap their heads in my direction. Dig gapes like a fish. "I'm in good hands?" she repeats in shock.

"Sorry. Didn't I mention I speak a little Italian?"

"A little?" Dig asked. "Your accent was perfect. Why didn't you tell me?"

"
Mi dispiace
," I apologize.
 

Her brother eyes me with more distrust.
 

"I really am sorry," I say. "I shouldn't have listened like that." I walk to her brother and offer to shake his hand. "Please forgive me. I'm Mason Pratt. Nice to meet you."

He shakes my hand, still glaring, then he turns to his sister in an attempt to brush me out of the conversation. "Sofia," he says. "Papà told me how bad your bruises were. You ok?"

She nods simply. "
Sono bene.
"

"When are you going to quit that job?" Marco asks, obviously ignoring me as he shows his concern for his little sister.
 

"Don't bother, Marco," she says with a soft smile. "Everything is fine. I know what I'm doing and Mason has my back. He's the best partner I've ever worked with."

Marco eyes me again, this time with a little less ice in his glare. "I'll be the first to kick his ass if he's not."

"Second, actually," Dig says with a pointed stare at both of us. "Now go tell Mamma and Papà I'll be back sometime next week."

Marco nods, eyes me again, and closes the door behind him.
 

Dig spins quickly and tosses her hands on her hips and looks at me incredulously through a surprised smile. "
Si parli Italiano
?" she nearly squeaks. "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

I shrug and grin. "You never asked."

"Jackass," she shakes her head. "You fucking speak Italian. Unbelievable. Ok, total shock aside, I think I'm ready to go."

I grin and set my water glass in the sink with a quiet clink.

"Thanks, by the way," she says. "You were good with my brother. I'm sure you wanted to glare right back, but I'm glad you didn't."

"I have too much respect for you and your family for that," I say simply.
 

She stops for a quick moment and looks at me. She nods and reaches for her suitcase.
 

"No way in hell," I tell her, striding past her and picking up all of her luggage. "Your ribs won't heal if you pull that shit."

She puts her hand in surrender with a "fine" before she leads me to my truck.
 

We ride quietly back to my apartment. By the time she's settled in my room, dinner time is creeping up. I offer to pick up some Mexican food while she scans our intel again. When I come back, she's in some cotton track pants and a lime green hoodie. Adorable.
 

"I speak Spanish, too," I say through a mouthful of pork tamale. "And Farsi and Russian."

"Well there you go," she says. "Now I know better than to talk about you in Russian while you're in the room. And I had plans for that this evening."

We grin at each other while we eat.
 

"How many brothers again?"

"One big brother and three younger. Marco's the oldest, then there's Veniccio, and Teo. Gianni is the baby of the family."

I smile along with her. I only have one sister, and she was lost to drugs years ago. Dig's family is something everyone should experience. If I were the jealous type, I'd envy her each one of those relationships.

"So…how's Shelby?" she asks. I try to read her, but she's got a poker face going on. If I had to guess, she's working hard at her nonchalance.
 

"She's good," I nod. "I took her out for a special night last week before our camping trip. I felt bad for how much I've been neglecting her. She deserves better treatment than that."

"Mason," Dig scolds with her brows furrowed. "You need to have a life, you know. Anytime you need a break from this, all you have to do is tell me."

"I know," I dismiss. "But I also know that the faster we get this done, the easier life will get for everyone, Shelby included. I say we keep hitting it hard until we knock it out."

Dig nods. "What about Second Chance? What's your schedule this week?"

"Not a problem," I smile widely. "I called Ledger on the way to get the food. I took the week off. Maybe we can wrap up most of our project while we can both work this full-time."

Dig smiles so naturally. "
Perfetto
."

Later that night we're in my truck outside the poker game. Charlie Tilman is about to enjoy the 'public safety' features of his own vehicle. Luckily, his car alarm is sensitive. Dig and I look at each other and grin.

I take the first note from Dig and walk to Tilman's car. I rest the note under his windshield wiper and give the car a harsh bump with my hip. The alarm sounds and the lights flash for only a moment before Tilman's at the front door with his key fob, clicking the car into its quiet state. That's when he notices the note. Watching from the my truck, I enjoy the confusion on his face as he reads,
 

Dear Director of Public Safety,
 

I feel so much safer knowing that a man in your position would never abuse his power. Thank you for making our city a better place.
 

Sincerely, an appreciative citizen.

Over the next half hour, Dig and I are in fits of laughter as he continues to find our notes. Again, this feels more like fun than work. I love the fact that he'll never call the police to investigate. None of these assholes wants attention drawn.
 

Dear Director,
 

Abuse of power is wrong. You must know this. Having parking tickets fixed, having cars illegally towed…you would never, right?
 

Sincerely, a curious citizen.

His confusion was replaced by a look of concern. Dig and I stifle more laughter. Any louder and he'll hear us from inside the truck. We have to wait longer between notes now that he's trying to watch from the window by stealth. That's almost as amusing as watching him read. Even more amusing is his attention span. He gives up far too easily.

Wait, Director,

That's right, now I remember. It
is
you who uses your office as a way to help the guilty or harass the innocent. That's disappointing, Director.
 

Sincerely, a frustrated citizen.

Hey, Director Charlie Tilman
 

 
of 6602 Colonial Drive

Do you feel safe tonight, Director of Safety? Being uncertain of your immediate future is frustrating, don't you think? Imagine Camille Foster's frustration when she got fucked with, too. You are not in danger, but only because I'm not the same kind of asshole you are. Tell the mayor that I say hi.

Sincerely, Mason

 
a motivated citizen.

"That ought to do it," I smile. Dig actually fist-bumps me. We also laugh when we see Simms pull up to the house. They both look around but don't see our well-concealed parking spot. The two of them talk heatedly while Tilman fists the last note tight in his grip.
 

"Let's celebrate," Dig says with a smile, still watching the two of them squirm. "Ice cream?"

"Absolutely not," I say emphatically. "Not when I still have some of your gelato in my freezer."

She smiles and pats the dashboard. "Mush," she tells my truck. I drive away with squealing tires, knowing they can't see me from this angle anyway. The sound of Dig's continuing laughter makes me smile wider.

Neither of us can control our smiles. Today has been very satisfying. Moving our investigation from stealth surveillance to actively poking this hornet's nest has offered more excitement than I've felt in a long time. Since none of our friends is in immediate danger this time around, toying with these fuckers is a blast. I can see from Dig's face that she's as energized as I am about this.
 

When we get back to my apartment I set our two bowls on the table and she raids the freezer before she sits with me and smiles. "Who's next?"

"Ok, little ass-kicker," I say in a parental tone. "Enough for one day. Let's sleep on it, let our subconscious stew for a while, then check all this again in the morning."

"Fine," she says. "But you can't blame a girl for wanting a little more action."

Damn. I can take that at least one other way.

The rest of our evening is pleasant. I excuse myself at one point to call Shelby from my cement slab which serves as my back patio. I sink into my old adirondack chair and try to give Shelby my full attention. My mind continues to drift through my day and the next potential target, though.
Jesus, Mason.