Permanent Lines (21 page)

“Jesus, K!” I practically shit my pants when I opened my eyes and saw Kayla sitting
on the coffee table in front of us, with a huge bouquet of flowers in hand.

She giggled slightly and bit her lip. “Sorry, I didn’t want to just wake you.”

“So you decided to be an effing creeper and watch us sleep instead?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I just got here and was checking to see if you were sleeping.”

By this time, Amelia’s eyes started to flutter open. She almost rolled off the couch
when she peered over her shoulder and saw Kayla sitting there. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed,
holding her hand to her chest.

“Sorry, we had a creeper,” I told her, giving Kayla a dirty look.

“I was just seeing if you guys were sleeping! Geez.” She stood and went to the kitchen
to put the flowers in water.

“Sorry,” I whispered to Amelia before kissing her forehead and sliding up and off
the couch.

Miles was in his usual spot near the windows, looking out at the city, completely
ignoring the people around him. It was kind of weird, but whatever. It was a tense
situation.

“Miles,” I greeted him as I walked by to join Kayla in the kitchen.

“Evening,” was all he said in response.

I couldn’t tell how he perceived me or the whole situation. I didn’t know if he actually
cared or if he was just doing everything because I was best friends with Kayla. I
guess I shouldn’t really care either way; he was doing a fucking huge thing for me
and that’s the only way I should see it. I appreciated what he was doing a whole lot,
so hopefully he at least understood that.

“I’m really sorry to hear about your dad,” Kayla told Amelia sympathetically once
the three of us were standing around the center island in the kitchen.

“Thank you.”

“I brought these.” Kayla shrugged, jerking her head towards the flowers.

I had to snort inwardly when I recognized that Kayla was to Amelia what I was to Miles—the
relationship was still fresh and unfamiliar and slightly awkward.

“You really didn’t have to,” Amelia replied, looking at them, “but they’re really
pretty,” she added. “Thank you.”

Again, I had to lightly chuckle to myself, remembering the day Amelia and I spent
together. She didn’t really care for flowers; she’d told me that they didn’t serve
much of a purpose to her because they were only temporary—you were only able to enjoy
them for a few days before they died. She acted appreciative anyway.

“Nothing like a cactus,” I whispered in her ear before kissing the side of her head.

She only smiled in response, not wanting Kayla to hear us.

Miles joined us soon after, lightly hugging Amelia. I heard, “my condolences about
your father,” before he stepped back. I was pretty impressed with the gesture and
by Amelia’s expression, so was she.

“Thanks, Miles,” she said softly.

“Pardon my lack of healing time, but if you don’t mind, I think we should discuss
our next plan of action.” He jumped right into business as usual.

“Miles!” Kayla reprimanded from the other side of the counter, not happy, but Amelia
cut her off.

“No! I agree,” Amelia said, her voice stronger and more confident that I expected.
“I want this over quicker than anyone. Let’s get it figured out.”

Kayla looked at me, concerned, but I shrugged my shoulders, remembering the anger
that consumed Amelia after I told her about her dad’s death. She wanted Antonio dead
and I had a feeling that she wouldn’t be able to heal her wounds until that happened.

“So, I think Joey Antonacci may be a good person to get in touch with,” Miles started
once we were all seated in the living room. “I’m not sure we can do this any other
way.”

“Do what?” Kayla asked, confused. Though it’d never been spoken, the game plan had
already been established. Apparently, Kayla wasn’t on the same wavelength as the rest
of us.

We all kind of looked at each other before Miles answered her.

“We have to bring down the ring, sweetheart.”

Her eyes spread open and her mouth dropped. “You … you guys,” she gulped, “are planning
on killing … all of them? I know we just can’t call the police on them, but what about
the FBI? There has to be some part of the government or something that could help.”

Amelia and I stayed silent. We didn’t really know how it was going to happen yet,
but when it all was finished, yes, all of them would be lying lifeless on the ground.

Miles chewed his lip for a moment, contemplating his answer. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,
but it’s the only option. Yeah, the FBI has a division that specializes in organized
crime, but it could take years of investigation before anything happened.”

“We don’t have that time, K,” I added in a low, caring voice.

Her stare went blank and moved to the floor. I don’t think she was fully prepared
for this news. Hell, neither was I. I knew I wasn’t the most normal individual, but
come on, taking down a mob? Normal people just didn’t do that shit. But when you sat
down and thought about the logistics, there wasn’t any other way. You couldn’t just
call the police on the mob, and killing one wouldn’t do anything, there would just
be another one that would step up to the plate. There would be no end until they were
all gone. It was a tough pill to swallow, but nothing was too farfetched or out of
reach when it came to keeping my girl alive. No matter what I had to do, I was doing
it, even if I was over my head … there wasn’t another option.

Kayla drew a heavy breath in before exhaling and looking up. “Okay,” she said, but
didn’t sound enthused.

“Darling, the mafia doesn’t stop,” Miles told her.

“Unless they don’t exist,” Kayla finished quietly.

We all nodded in unison.

“Yes, baby doll.” He rubbed her thigh for comfort.

She took another deep breath. “I’m in.” She rubbed her hands on her thighs, placing
her hand on Miles’ when she reached it. “If it keeps you two safe,” she looked at
Amelia and me, “I’m in.”

We both grinned slightly in response. Part of me was a wreck that Kayla was involved,
but the selfish part of me was so glad that she was on board.

“Thank you,” I mouthed over Amelia’s shoulder.

She still looked a little lost and overwhelmed, but she nodded her head regardless.

“So we have to figure out a way to get in touch with Joey,” Miles started back in,
giving Kayla a reassuring smile.

“I know his cell number and where he lives,” Amelia announced, but Miles shook his
head.

“No, he’s tracked just as much as you were. Stewart said over and over to me, ‘never
underestimate how they watch every member.’ It can’t be by phone and it has to be
in a neutral location where nothing would look suspicious.”

We were all silent for a minute, thinking.

“He watches the studio on Sundays during family dinner. No one but him is there.”

“Why doesn’t he attend dinner?” Miles asked.

“He always opted out, even before Antonio took over,” Amelia told Miles. “He hates
his family.”

“And this was okay with them?” I was surprised, knowing how up each other’s asses
Italian families were, especially ones involved in the mob.

“Yeah, but at the same time, Joey was always the black sheep. He was just accepted
that way, but he was smart so they kept him around, and they needed someone to watch
the studio when they were all gone anyway.”

Miles rubbed his chin, intrigued.

“Isn’t the studio loaded with cameras though? The psycho has to have every inch covered,”
I asked.

A mischievous grin appeared on Amelia’s face. “Joey handles the security—he’s the
smart one, remember? No one else had the patience to figure it out.”

“The rest just wanted to be blood oozing motherfuckers!” I blurted out, my blood already
starting to boil.

Everyone was silent at my burst of honesty.

“Sorry,” I said. “I just fucking hate them.”

“But yeah, Joey gave me the password,” Amelia continued, ignoring my moment of testosterone
anger. “I can get in.”

Miles licked his lips, impressed. He liked this new fact.

“The day that Merrick came in, I deleted the footage right away. I could totally do
it this time too … if we had someone go in there.”

There was silence again as we all looked back and forth amongst each other.

“I think it should be someone that looks artsy, not suspicious,” Kayla pointed out.

“Agreed,” Miles said. “The less suspicion the better.”

“I could do it,” Kayla volunteered. “I could dress …”

“No way!” Miles and I both said at the same time.

Kayla dropped her shoulders and looked at us, annoyed. “Why not? We can’t let anyone
else know about this and no one knows me …” she started to argue.

“But if it does get back to Antonio and the others, your identity would be revealed,”
I explained.

“Putting you in danger,” Amelia added. “I can’t do that to you, too.”

“It won’t,” she continued with her plea. “I’ll totally dress the part. We’ll wipe
the cameras after … Really guys, I can do this.”

We all looked at Miles, who was already rubbing his face, decidedly
not
okay with this idea.

“Please, babe,” she begged. “Please let me do this.”

He shook his head, looking down. “I—” he exhaled.

I knew what he was feeling. I knew what it felt like to have your love in possible
danger, throwing her to the wolves. I got it, and I would never do it to Amelia.

“Kayla,” I interrupted, “we can’t put you in that danger, love.”

She stood, pissed. “I’m not an idiot. I can do this. Stop treating me like some baby
that can’t handle herself. Let’s remember where I came from, the shitty life I was
brought up in. This was my life—I dealt with assholes on a daily basis. Let me help,
Goddammit. I want to help.”

I itched my forehead. She certainly had a point. I was guilty for forgetting where
she was from. Her dad, like mine, died young, and her mom was a fucking gold digging
bitch. She lived in the shittiest neighborhoods of Las Vegas in big houses but with
shady, gambling addicts. Drugs, money, and other illegal things were inside her home
on a daily basis. This
was
Kayla’s life for a very long time. In all honesty, she probably had more experience
with gambling criminals than the rest of us did.

“I’m sorry,” I was first to tell her. “Sometimes I forget, but that’s not a bad thing.”

She nodded her head. “It isn’t a bad thing, and by damn, I know that and I’m incredibly
grateful, but I’m not some dumb rich girl. I can handle my own.”

We all looked at Miles again; he was the final say. As much as I didn’t want Kayla
doing this, she was a very viable option.

He took a deep breath. “I really don’t want to agree to this,” he said to Kayla while
slowly shaking his head, obviously not okay with it at all.

“I know,” she said softly to him, “but please trust that I can do it.”

“It’s not you that I don’t trust, sweetheart,” he admitted. “I don’t know this Joseph
man, so I’m going on what I’ve been told. I can’t be positive that he won’t stay silent
or repeat anything to his family.”

“I can assure you he won’t,” Amelia put in. “Joey and I were always talking about
a way out.”

“I understand that, but would he be willing to contribute to killing off his entire
family?” Miles added.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he volunteered to do it himself.”

“Geez,” I hissed. “Really?”

“He hates them,” Amelia said matter-of-factly. “He hates what they do and is ashamed
to have their last name. We’ve talked a million times about what we’d do if we could
get away with it. This would be his opportunity.”

Miles’ elbows were on his knees, his head in his hands. We all could see he was struggling
with the idea. Kayla sat beside him, her arms wrapped around his waist, whispering
something into his ears. He peered up to her, staring into her eyes. Kayla rested
her forehead against his before he kissed her nose gently.

“Okay,” Miles caved, still looking at Kayla and nodding his head slightly. “But if
this doesn’t work, we’re out. Completely out. We’re on the next flight to some foreign
island.”

Kayla’s face immediately brightened, full of excitement, holding her arms tighter
around his waist and kissing him long and hard until he was wearing a big, goofy grin.

I didn’t know why it meant so much to Kayla, doing this, but I was more than touched
that she wanted to do it for Amelia and me. I looked at Amelia, smiling as I rubbed
her leg with my hand. Deep down I knew we were both scared shitless, but we were fucking
ecstatic, too. We were getting closer.

“I love you,” Kayla said lowly to Miles.

He cupped her face with his hands before replying it back. At times I wondered about
their relationship, but when I saw them together like this, I understood—they brought
out the best in each other. Kayla loosened him up, taking away the businessman façade,
while he made her feel special, gave her the support and nourishment that she never
had growing up. They completed one another, just like Amelia and I did. That fucking
Tom Cruise was right.

“Before we finalize anything, we need to make sure that Kayla is not only covered
from head to toe with mics, but that every detail is worked out down to the shoes
she’s going to wear,” Miles pointed out.

I nodded my head in complete agreement. “Absolutely,” I concurred. “Micah is a genius
with electronics and anything pertaining to undercover shit.”

Miles’ look went skeptical again.

“He knows everything,” I confirmed, “and I would trust him with my life.”

“All right,” he said. “He can work alongside Stewart with those details. Let’s have
him over tomorrow evening and we can go through everything. Sunday will be here before
we know it, and everything needs to be concrete by then.”

I nodded my head before he and Kayla stood.

“Hey, Miles,” Amelia called out before he turned to leave.