The Promise

Chapter Twenty-Five The Promise

“You don’t leave your office all day,” Ben ordered as he drove me to work the next morning, telling me something we’d already gone over, him being bossy all the while I got ready for work. “I’ll be in the lobby at noon to take you to lunch. You don’t work late. I’ll be at the front door waitin’ for you at five. I’ll keep in touch with Stark. They don’t put the nails in the coffin, tomorrow we do the same thing.”

“Okay, Benny,” I replied, knowing he needed me to be docile and not give him lip, seeing as he’d woken up agitated. And giving me a hard, rough quickie hadn’t taken the edge off that. I knew that when he took his gun with him and put it in the glove compartment before we took off so he could get me to work.

“Nose down, you work. Don’t even look at Bierman if you don’t have to,” Ben went on like I didn’t speak.

“Okay, baby.”

Benny fell silent.

I looked his way.

“You doin’ okay?” I asked quietly.

He glanced at me, then back at the road before he muttered, “Woke up with a shit feeling.”

Fabulous.

“It’s gonna be okay,” I assured him, hoping I was right.

He didn’t respond quickly and when he did, he only said, “Yeah.” But I could tell he didn’t mean it.

I said no more. Just reached out and gave his thigh a squeeze. When I would have pulled away, he nabbed my hand, laced his fingers through mine, and held it to his thigh.

Finally, I had a good life and it would be selfish to wish for more, but it wouldn’t suck if I could ride to work every day with Benny Bianchi holding my hand.

Both of us were in our own heads the rest of the way, staying silent until Ben pulled up to the front of Wyler Pharmaceuticals. He let me go to put his truck into park.

I turned to him to see he was already turned to me.

He beat me to the punch when he said, “Love you, Frankie.”

I smiled at him, leaned his way, and touched my mouth to his before I pulled back half an inch and replied, “Love you back, Benny.”

His return smile didn’t reach his eyes so I lifted my hand and touched his face before I said, “See you at lunch.”

“Yeah.”

“Have fun with Gus.”

He shook his head, but the smile started leaking into his eyes when he replied, “Will do.”

“You gonna call Cal?” I asked, thinking spending time with Cal, who was back from his honeymoon, would be a good way to keep his mind off things.

“No. If he knows I’m here, he’ll wonder why this visit is extended and he’ll worry. We can tell him what went down after it’s done.”

I nodded, experiencing more awesomeness from Benny that he didn’t want to worry Cal, who was not the type of man to worry. He was the type of man to take action instead of worrying and Stark had this covered. New-daddy, new-husband Cal didn’t need to get involved.

“Later,” I said.

“Have a good day, baby,” Ben replied.

I gave him another smile, dropped my hand from his face, grabbed my computer bag, and exited his truck.

I waved at Benny before I entered the building and saw that he and his truck didn’t move, not even an inch to glide forward in preparation for leaving. I knew he wouldn’t go until I got inside.

My Benny.

I went inside and direct to the elevators, smiling at the receptionist on my way. At the elevators, I looked outside to see Benny’s truck sliding away.

The elevator binged I walked into it with three other people, though, I figured it was only me who took a deep breath before I did.

When I got to my floor, I did a recon through windows of offices as I walked to my own.

Clancy Barrow was not there, but then, he never was. He was often traveling, supposedly for business, but rumor had it he played a lot of golf and he had a strict business travel schedule to destinations where the best courses were.

Travis Berger was in his office.

So was Randy Bierman.

My boss wasn’t in and Heath wasn’t in. Heath didn’t put in his resignation on Friday and I wondered if he’d do it today. Even though he was a dick, I was hoping that Stark could sort everything so his resignation only lasted twenty-four hours. The company was about to experience some serious upheaval. We needed as much stability underpinning that as we could get. Heath may be a dick, but he was good at his job.

I got settled for the day, turning on my computer and checking voicemail. Not long after, I saw Lloyd get off the elevators, and not long after that, Heath strode in.

He looked right into my office and the expression on his face was one of a man who had just sucked a lemon.

I took this to mean he was going to resign.

Well, at least Sandy wouldn’t be thrown under the bus. That was one good thing.

I hoped for more to come.

Sandy did not follow Heath in two minutes later. The offices and desks filled up and Tandy got in before Sandy.

Seriously not good at this cloak-and-dagger shit, Tandy looked right to me and waved big, her face a mixture of freaked out and excited.

She didn’t go to her desk. She came straight to my door and cried with more excitement than her words needed, “Hey, Frankie! I hope you had a great weekend.”

I grinned at her. “I had a good weekend, babe.”

She widened her eyes at me. “Me too! Now, my turn to get the lattes. You wanna come with?”

I looked out my windows to the office, then back to her and said quietly, “Maybe we should stick close to our desks today, honey. Benny’s comin’ at noon, takin’ me to lunch. You can go with us and I’ll buy you a latte on the way back to work.”

“Oh, right, good idea,” she muttered, then brighter, “You’re on!”

Clearly, she was relieved about the Nightingale involvement too.

She bopped to her desk and minutes later I saw Sandy drag in.

She didn’t look near as good. She looked pale, drained, and beaten. She also didn’t look at anyone when she wended her way between the desks to get to hers. She certainly didn’t go to Heath’s door to give him an excited “good morning.”

Likely, Heath had ended it. And obviously, Sandy thought that what they had was more than what it was.

Poor Sandy.

After she sat at her desk, I started to get down to work, deciding to throw myself into it in an attempt to make the day go faster. I got two minutes into this failed endeavor when my phone rang.

The number that came up had a three-oh-three area code.

Denver.

I picked it up and greeted, “Frankie Concetti.”

“Babe. Eyes up. Left corner of your office over the windows,” a deep voice I knew said back.

My gaze went up and I saw nothing, so I screwed my eyes up to look harder and that’s when I saw a tiny red light.

“Smile. You’re on camera,” Luke Stark said in my ear.

Holy crap. How’d he get in to plant cameras? The facility was covered in security.

“They’re all over, Frankie,” Stark continued. “Stick to your floor. We got eyes on you and your crew. We also got eyes on Furlock. I got local talent at my back and they’re at the ready in case somethin’ goes down, which it won’t, so don’t let that freak you. These are just precautions.”

“Uh…okay,” I replied.

“The team went over what was on the drives. It’s good. Wheels are in motion. Bianchi called and reported your schedule for the day. Stick to it.”

“Tandy is comin’ with us to lunch,” I informed him.

“Good,” he replied. “Travis Berger’s assistant is about to schedule an urgent meeting for him tonight at six. We’ll call you after that’s done. You with me?”

I looked to my computer screen and mumbled, “Uh-huh.”

“Right. Be good,” he said as his good-bye, and I didn’t get the chance to say anything witty or sassy back because he’d disconnected.

I barely put my phone on my desk before I saw Heath, a white envelope in hand, walking out of his office, gaze to his shoes.

I looked to Sandy, who didn’t even glance his way. Then, I didn’t want to but I couldn’t stop myself, my eyes went quickly to Bierman’s office.

He was watching Heath, his expression smug.

Something about this made me feel suddenly elated.

If he was smug about Heath, he had no idea what was coming.

And that was awesome.

My gaze went back to Heath and I watched him look up. When he did, his eyes caught on something that made him stop dead.

I looked that way and saw Lloyd heading to my office.

He smiled at my assistant and said, “Good morning, Tandy,” as he passed right by her and came to my door, where he stopped. “Hey, Frankie. Good weekend?” he asked.

“Yeah, you?”

“Yes, Frankie. Thanks.” He tipped his head to the side. “You have a second to sit down with Travis and me?”

Travis and him. The big boss, my boss, and me?

This was a surprise and it took a lot to stop my eyes from going to the camera.

“Sure,” I replied, rolling back my chair and grabbing my cell.

“Nothing to worry about,” Lloyd said. “Travis and I just want to talk to you about your plans to move to Chicago.”

Here it was. They’d made their decision.

I hoped this was good news part two of the day, but whatever it was, it was an important question about my future that needed an answer and I was about to get it.

I nodded to Lloyd and he got out of my way so I could precede him.

“We’re meeting in Travis’s office,” he told me as he fell in step beside me.

“Lloyd,” Heath called, and Lloyd and I looked his way. “After you talk with Frankie, you got a minute?”

“Of course, Heath. It shouldn’t take long with Frankie,” Lloyd answered.

Heath nodded and, avoiding Sandy’s eyes, went back to his office.

I went with Lloyd to Travis’s office.

As I walked in, I saw that Travis Berger was a man who did not have to prove how busy and important he was. He was not on the phone, his computer, reading a file, or scribbling notes when we approached. He watched us, eyes on me, face blank. There was something about this that made me respect him more. He needed my time, and somehow, him watching me come into his office for an impromptu meeting communicated that this meeting was important, I was important, and he wanted me to have his attention.

Greetings were exchanged. A seat was offered. I took it. Lloyd seated himself in the chair beside me in front of Travis’s desk, then Travis asked, “Would you like Penny to get you some coffee?”

I hadn’t been to the pot yet today and could use a shot of joe, but I still shook my head no.

Travis leaned back, laced his fingers, and put them to his flat midriff. His eyes did not move to Lloyd. They remained on me.

Then he started talking.

“Lloyd has told me you have something happening in your life and that means you wish to move back to Chicago.”

I nodded and confirmed, “Yes.”

He studied me a moment and his voice was quieter when he said, “Our choice to hire you was excellent and we’ve in no way regretted it, even after your delay in starting with us.”

I did not think a reminder of that boded well.

He went on.

“Your supervisor respects you. The staff likes you. Your reps perform for you. However, even if it’s our policy to allow employees to work at home and do this regularly, it’s not our policy to allow employees to work from remote offices.”

Bad news.

Shit.

“Of course,” I said softly.

“I’ve seen your numbers myself, Frankie, and Lloyd speaks highly of you,” Travis went on. “We would be sorry to lose you. Is there any way your significant other would move to Indy?”

“He runs a family pizzeria. He’s the second generation. It’s been in operation for forty years.” When I saw the boredom seeping into Berger’s features as I told him stuff he didn’t give a shit about, I got to the point, “What I’m sayin’ is, no. The family business is important and I wouldn’t ask him to make that move.”

Berger nodded once before he stated, “At this juncture, I feel the need to point out that there’s a great deal of opportunity at Wyler, Frankie. Especially for excellent performers. Thirty-five percent of our executive and management staff is female. It’s obviously none of my concern, but in my position, it’s part of my job to retain talent, to keep a team that’s excelling intact, and sometimes to do that, I must take a position as advisor. In this position, I’d hate to see you waste those opportunities because your significant other doesn’t understand the importance of your career.”

I stared at him, then I glanced down at his hand and saw his wedding band. It was not wide and shiny.

Seeing it, I wondered, with all the times I came in before eight and he was already there, looking like he’d been there awhile, and the other times I left after six and he was still there, looking like he wasn’t even close to leaving, what his wife thought of him prioritizing his career over his “significant other.”

Then again, no doubt he made six figures, so maybe she made herself feel better about her husband not being around by going out and buying scads of shoes.

“I intend to spend the rest of my life with him,” I replied, even though that was none of his business. I added for good measure, “And I just got news my sister is having a baby. She’s in Chicago. My family is growing and my plan is to build my own family with Benny. I can’t be there for my sister or do that with Benny in Indy. At least, not easily.”

He looked confused for a moment, as if being there for my sister or being close to my “significant other” in order to build a life together was a foreign concept to him, and I suddenly felt bad for his unknown wife.

Then he stated, “Life isn’t easy, Frankie.”

“With respect, Travis, I’ve recovered from a gunshot wound. I know that. Because of that, among other things, I also know what’s important.”

He studied me and he did it for a while.

Then he looked to Lloyd and asked, “Lloyd, can you give us a minute?”

I looked Lloyd’s way and saw he didn’t want to give us a minute. He was protective of his staff. But this was the executive vice president. He had no choice.

He nodded and said, “Of course.”

He got out of his chair, then gave me an understanding look and a small smile before he left, closing the door behind him.

I looked back to Berger and he started speaking immediately.

“I respect your decision, Frankie.” But he said this like he didn’t respect it at all and I was suddenly wondering if I respected him. Sure, he was great at work, but life wasn’t work. Not even close. “If you find that the times we can allow you to work from Chicago are not enough and you need to leave us, this will be a blow, but a woman must do what a woman must do.”

I wasn’t super fond of his saying “a woman must do what a woman must do,” as if women were the only ones who made decisions like this, but I let that slide and simply kept my gaze to his.

Suddenly, his demeanor changed, and I didn’t like it but only because I couldn’t read it. He wasn’t normally a readable guy. But now he seemed impenetrable.

“Now that that talk is done and we’re here alone, is there something you need to tell me?”

I blinked, not understanding what I’d need to tell him. I mean, there was a lot I could tell him: Heath was being blackmailed; the CEO and his director of research and development were killing people and arranging for them to have life-altering accidents. But it wasn’t me who was going to share those morsels.

“Uh…” I began.

He leaned toward me, unlacing his fingers and putting one hand to his desk, his eyes never leaving mine.

“If there’s something crucial I need to know, obviously, Frankie, it being crucial, I need to know it.”

I felt my heart start beating hard and this was a strange sensation because I felt it in my throat.

That had happened to me once before.

When Daniel Hart turned his gun on me.

My phone in my hand rang and I jumped when it did.

Gratefully, to get away from Berger’s intense gaze, I looked down at it and saw the three-oh-three area code.

This told me Stark not only had cameras, he had microphones.

Yeesh, these guys were good.

“Frankie,” Travis called, and I looked to him. “You can call them back later.”

I wondered what Stark would advise, but I needed my job until I got another one (or until October when my lease ran out and I quit) so I didn’t take the call.

I had to wing it.

“Outside of the fact that I, as a businesswoman with career opportunities, will have to think long and hard of what my future will be with Wyler, I don’t have anything you need to know, Travis.”

My phone quit ringing.

He again studied me. This time it went on longer, like he was giving me the opportunity to make a different choice.

When I didn’t, he nodded. “All right, Frankie. Thank you for your time.”

“Thank you for yours, Travis,” I replied, standing.

He followed me with his eyes. “I hope you make the right decision.”

I knew what he thought the right decision was.

The problem was, he was wrong.

I just hoped his wife really liked shoes.

I smiled at him and got the hell out of there.

I saw Heath was in Lloyd’s office as I walked back to mine. After I saw this, I saw Tandy watching me as I was walking.

She didn’t wait her usual judicious amount of time. She walked in right behind me and closed the door.

“What was that all about?” she asked.

I looked to her as I sat down at my desk. “I requested a remote office in Chicago so I could move in with Benny. Travis denied my request.”

Her eyes got big, then her face shut down. “You’re leaving?”

I gentled my voice when I said, “Probably.”

That was when her face fell. “Oh, Frankie.”

I so totally like Tandy.

“I’m sorry, honey. But I’m in love. I have a new puppy. I have a dining room table to clear off and a kitchen to buy tile for and a life to start living.”

“I get you,” she said quietly. “But I’ll miss you.”

I grinned at her and replied, “Well, when I find a new job, my assistant better be cracking or I’ll be headhunting a new one.”

Her lips trembled, but they did this before they smiled.

“Sucks for me because I liked my boss before you, but he didn’t ever buy me a latte. Not even taking a turn,” she told me.

“I’ll make sure I get you a few cards so you can keep topped up.”

Her smile stayed in place, then she looked out the window and back to me. “You think Heath’s resigning?”

My brows went up. “You know about that?”

“Last night, Nightingale or a member of his team called all of us. Briefed us on everything. Told us the way things were going to go. Got our statements. It was cool. It felt good knowing it’s gonna be over soon.”

“I get you,” I agreed.

“Just sucks. It’s gonna be over, Bierman will stop spreading his dickishness wide so things will be good again, but you’ll be gone.”

Yeah. I’d miss Tandy.

“You’re the freaking bomb, Tandy,” I whispered.

“So are you, Frankie,” she whispered back.

We looked at each other as we both battled emotion that could come out in a variety of ways. Emotion that was about change and loss and relief.

Then we both got our shit together and she went back to her desk.

The minute her ass was in her chair, my phone rang.

It was the three-oh-three number.

I answered with, “Two calls from a commando today. That’s a record.”

There was laughter in Luke Stark’s deep, rough voice when he replied, “You did good, babe.”

“Approval noted,” I replied.

“And babe,” he started, “nothin’ in this world is more important than buildin’ a life with the man you love.”

My breath caught.

They did have microphones.

And commandos could be gushy.

Before I could call him on it, Stark disconnected.

Or maybe he disconnected because he knew I was going to give him shit.

Either way, I put my phone on my desk, got to work, and did it smiling.

***

At ten o’clock, my phone rang again.

It was Benny.

“Hey, honey,” I greeted.

“Status,” he replied, and I knew he was still agitated.

“Well, a while ago, Heath left Lloyd’s office looking like he’d been whipped. Lloyd looked pissed, but I think it’s because he knows I’m going to resign soon too so he’s going to be down two managers rather than one.”

I wasn’t done with my update, but Ben cut in.

“You’re gonna resign?”

I’d forgotten he wasn’t in the know since he didn’t have microphones, and things were so weird, I didn’t call him with the news and I should have.

“Got the news direct from Berger. No Chicago office,” I told him quietly.

“Fuck.”

“Job search.”

“Yeah.”

“It’ll be okay, Benny.”

“You know it will, Frankie.”

That made me feel better because he was right. I knew it would.

“Anything else?” he asked.

“Sandy, Heath’s secretary, has spent most the morning in the bathroom, the rest of it looking like she’s about to burst into tears, this being before she runs into the bathroom. Heath hasn’t opened his door and has had his back to the room since he gave Lloyd his resignation. Bierman is looking smug rather than dickish, which would be annoying if I didn’t know there’s a possibility he’ll be incarcerated by this evening. And Tandy is coming to lunch with us.”

“She is?” Ben asked.

“Yep,” I answered.

“Why?”

“Because I like her. I’m gonna lose her and that means I’m gonna miss her, so I want to spend time with her. And last, I want her to meet my man.”

“That’s acceptable.”

I rolled my eyes at my computer screen before I gave him my finale.

“I think Berger knows what’s going down.”

“Yeah. Stark called with his update. He didn’t tell me Berger didn’t give the go-ahead for a Chicago office, but he did tell me he pushed for somethin’ else.”

It was cool Stark left it to me to give Benny that news.

I didn’t share this with Benny.

I said, “I can’t be sure. I mean, Bierman is up in my shit so he could be badmouthing me and Heath, but other than that, there’s nothing else to tell him.”

“Glad to know Heath isn’t the douchebag we thought he was, but it’s too bad he got down to business. Stark told me they swept Bierman’s office and found his copies of the photos last night. Also told me they just got done sweepin’ his house and found a bunch of other shit, includin’ more copies of the photos. They got a lock on his other hiding places and no more photos. Sal got the shit the PI had. All of it will be destroyed. This means Sandy’s covered and he didn’t need to resign.”

That made me want to laugh.

I didn’t.

Instead, I gave in to my wonder.

“Man, these guys are good.”

“Totally could oust a government in a small South American country.”

That made me laugh.

Benny let me laugh for a while before he went about finishing things.

“Okay, if you got no more, I got no more. I’ll see you and Tandy in a coupla hours.”

“See you then, honey.”

“Later, cara.”

“Later, Benny.”

We disconnected.

I looked to Heath and saw his back to the room. I moved my eyes to Sandy and saw her blowing her nose.

Then I looked to my computer and wished I could get a latte.

***

My gaze went to the bottom right corner of my computer screen.

It was 4:43.

Seventeen minutes and I could get the fuck out of there.

Lunch with Benny and Tandy went great. Before we even got in his SUV that was idling at the curb outside the front doors, Tandy saw Ben through the windows and said, “God, Frankie. You showed me pictures and I got it, but now I get it.”

And I got that. One look at Benny, even through a car window, any girl would get it.

She got it more as Ben charmed her during lunch.

Tandy being Tandy charmed him right back.

Benny dropped us off and the last thing he said to me was a firm, “Five, babe.”

I nodded and I also did this firmly. No way I was working late that night. Not even by a minute.

The good news was that he didn’t seem agitated anymore, but he did seem on guard, which was understandable.

The afternoon dragged no matter how much I tried to throw myself into work. I just wanted that day done. I wanted to go home and wait with Benny until we heard the rest of it was done. And then I wanted to get on with a life filled with promise without anything fucking it up.

I took in a deep breath and considered shutting down early just so I could get out of there without delay.

This was when my phone rang.

It was Benny.

“Hey, honey. We’re in the home—”

“Do not leave your desk.”

My back went straight at his tone and my eyes went out my windows to Bierman’s office.

He wasn’t there.

“I’m ten minutes away,” Ben told me. “I’ll come in and get you at your office.”

“What’s happening?” I whispered.

“Stark’s team is there,” Ben replied immediately, and I felt my heart stutter. “But they’re occupied, seein’ as two thugs in ski masks just cornered Furlock in a bathroom on the third floor and are haulin’ his ass down the stairwell toward an SUV that’s waitin’ at the back utility entrance.”

“Oh my God,” I breathed and started doing a scan of the floor.

“Stark’s team has neutralized the driver,” Ben went on.

Heath at his desk.

“They’ve also called the cops who are en route,” Ben kept going.

Sandy at hers.

“But they don’t want you to move.”

Lloyd at his. Kathleen at hers. Jennie at hers.

“Keep an eye on your crew,” he finished.

The eye I was supposed to keep on my crew hit Tandy’s desk.

She wasn’t there.

My blood turned to ice.

“Tandy,” I whispered.

“What?” Ben asked.

“Tandy’s not at her desk.”

“Fuck,” he muttered. “Stark’s busy, but I’ll call. He’s got eyes everywhere. If somethin’ was goin’ down with her, he’d be on it. Stay at your desk.”

I looked again through the floor.

No Tandy anywhere.

“Benny—”

“Do not…leave…your desk, tesorina.”

I started deep-breathing. “Furlock is gonna be okay?”

“You think Stark would let anything happen to him?”

No.

I did not.

“I’m almost there, baby. Then we’re out of there and safe.”

I stared at Tandy’s empty desk, saying, “Okay.”

“Don’t move, Frankie.”

He so knew me because I so wanted to move, search for Tandy, make sure she was okay.

I visualized rooting myself to the chair, even as I itched to jump out of it, and said, “I won’t, Benny.”

“Keep it together, babe. Love you.”

“Love you too, honey.”

He disconnected.

I deep-breathed and went about shutting down for the night.

In this time, Tandy didn’t come back.

At the end of this time, my phone rang again.

It was Benny.

“Ben,” I whispered as greeting.

“Stay where you are. I’ll be there.”

He’d already told me that.

Why was he again telling me that?

“Benny—”

“Promise me you will not move, Frankie.”

Shit.

Something was going down.

And Stark was occupied.

They needed Benny.

“Ben—”

“Promise me.”

“Is it Tandy?”

“Promise me.”

“Benny!” I snapped.

“I need you to promise me.”

Oh God.

God!

“I promise, Benny.”

“Good, baby. Be there soon.”

“Be careful, Benny.”

“I will.”

“Be very careful, Benny.”

“I will, honey. Gotta go now.”

He sounded normal, if impatient. Almost businesslike.

Oh God.

“Love you,” I whispered.

“Love you too. See you soon.”

“Yeah.”

He disconnected.

I looked to Bierman’s empty office.

Then to Tandy’s empty desk.

Then I looked to my phone and called Sal.

He picked up in one ring. “We’re on it, amata.”

Oh God.

On what?

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Gotta go, Francesca,” he said as answer.

“Sal!” I snapped.

He disconnected.

I shot out of my chair.

Don’t move, Frankie.

Tandy sometimes went to the bathroom to freshen up before leaving work because she was going out to get a drink.

I knew that night she wasn’t going out to get a drink.

I couldn’t see her purse because she put it in a locked drawer. She wouldn’t leave for the day without telling me. Especially not early. But never.

I wanted to run to the bathroom and check it to see if Tandy was there.

I looked to Berger’s office to see him on the phone. He was far away, but he appeared business as usual and I wanted to run to his office and tell him what was happening. Get his big ass out of his executive chair and make him do something human for a change.

I didn’t.

I sat down in my chair, tipped my eyes to my phone, and willed it to ring.

Bierman had made a move on Furlock at Wyler.

Desperate.

What ends would desperate men stoop to?

Benny.

My Benny.

I heard police sirens outside, not one, many, but I didn’t look out my windows.

I stared at my phone, my brain chanting, call me, call me, call me.

The sirens got close and stayed close. The police were outside.

I clenched my teeth.

How did Benny do it, make a myriad of promises every day and then set about keeping them? Each one. Dozens of them. Small and large. Every day.

A promise kept.

And I could hardly contain myself from moving.

Promise me.

“God,” I whispered, my throat beginning to get scratchy. “Benny.”

I had to stay where I was. I had to keep this promise to Benny. I had to prove to him that when he needed me to do something important, I could do it. When he came back to me, I had to show him that it was okay that he put his faith in me and I kept myself safe for him.

I had to keep my promise.

On this thought, I felt the wave of shock penetrate my office and my head snapped up. Two police officers were walking into Berger’s office with a member of Wyler security. Four more officers were fanning out across the space looking like they were looking for something.

No Tandy.

No Benny.

I kept my seat.

People were moving, freaking, I could hear whispering. I felt eyes on me from other staff, but I kept my gaze on the officers.

And kept my seat.

My throat closed. My eyes stung. I watched Berger move swiftly out of his office with the two policemen and the security guard, and they went directly to the stairwell. Squawky voices could be heard on police radios and two of the officers fanning out made a move toward Bierman’s office.

I watched, my hand clenched around my phone.

And kept my seat.

I quit watching and looked toward the elevators. I locked my eyes there. I kept my grip on my phone.

And kept my seat.

An eternity slid by.

Then the elevators binged.

My chest tightened.

Benny walked out.

My chest loosened, but a tear dropped down my cheek.

He looked around, his eyes came to me, and he walked direct to me. Two police in Bierman’s office, two of them with Heath, Ben passed them as he made it to me, walking through my door, tall, handsome, healthy.

I still kept my seat.

“Tandy?” I asked, my voice scratchy.

“Downstairs with the police,” Benny replied, rounding my desk.

I still kept my seat, twisting my neck to keep my eyes on him.

He came to a stop at my side, cocked his head, his brows drawing, and he asked, “Baby?”

“I can’t move,” I whispered.

Tenderness softened his features before he whispered back, “Come to me, Frankie.”

That was when I could move.

I shot out of chair and into his arms.

They instantly closed strong and tight around me.

***

“They got to her roommate,” Benny told me much later.

That later was after he spoke for-fucking-ever with the police, then got me the fuck out of Wyler and took me home. When we got home, we walked our dog. Then I got into yoga pants and a tee and called to order pizza while Benny talked to Stark.

Finally, we stretched out on the couch, me on top of Benny, which was where we were now.

“The roommate called,” he went on. “Told Tandy they had her and that she had to go to her car in the parking garage. Nabbed her there, put her in their car, took off, and since I was in my SUV, Stark called me and set me on them.”

“How did Stark know where you could find them?”

“My question too,” Benny replied. “At the time, I thought either clairvoyance or he had helicopters.” I grinned at his quip and Ben kept talking, “But he knew where their base was so my guess is he predicted the route they’d take to it. A route that was on my route so Stark called me.”

“And you…what?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“I was bein’ tailed by Sal and his boys, probably because he was bein’ cautious ’cause he kinda likes you.” That got him another grin. “They came with me and we…” He paused before he finished, “Took care of business.”

“Is that all I want to know?” I asked, having been sequestered in my office while Ben talked to the police so I didn’t hear the full story.

“That’s all you want to know,” he confirmed.

“Was it clean?” I asked.

“Good Samaritans, seein’ a couple of women hustled into a warehouse and investigating,” Ben answered. “I called the cops beforehand so they knew we were there. No gunplay as Sal came in heavy and hot and scared the fuckin’ shit outta them. Figure the police are still scratchin’ their heads that Sal and his boys just happened to be there and were playin’ Good Samaritans. I figure by now they’ve cottoned on to who he is. But their guns, and mine, incidentally, somehow disappeared between there and gettin’ the women back to Wyler. So it’s all good.”

Sal was definitely invited to the engagement party.

“So it’s over,” I remarked, and his arms gave me a squeeze.

“It’s over,” he said softly. “And if Bierman and Barrow already didn’t buy jail time with the serious shit they were pullin’, this latest move would do it. Stark said they had plans in motion to take care of the whole crew who were amateur sleuthing, including women named Kathleen, Jennie, and Miranda. Barrow was picked up on a golf course in Florida. Stark also told me that Barrow kept his shit clean, probably so if anything went wrong, Bierman would take the fall. Nightingale tied him to it though, so he’s gonna be processed and sent back to Indiana to deal with his mess.”

“They seem kinda like private investigator superheroes,” I muttered, and it was Ben’s turn to grin at me. “What I don’t get is why Bierman targeted Lloyd, Heath, and me.”

“Stark had that answer too, babe, seein’ as Bierman and Barrow needed a team to toe the line. Not only were you, that douchebag, and your boss under fire, so was Berger and a number of other people. They were settin’ up to clear house. They already had replacements they’d secretly been interviewing.”

“Whoa,” I whispered.

“Yeah. They knew people were already asking questions, your boss for one and Berger another one. They knew they had to put their own team in place, or at least people who weren’t there before product launch who might ask questions, and they were gearin’ up for that.”

“Dickheads,” I muttered.

“Understatement,” Ben said through a grin.

It was while I was taking in Benny’s grin that a loud pounding came at the door.

Ben’s grin died and his eyes narrowed as he looked toward the door. “Jesus, that always the way the pizza delivery guy knocks?”

“No,” I answered, thinking this also wasn’t the time the pizza delivery guy would be delivering, considering if it was, he had superhuman speed.

Benny sat up, taking me with him and then taking us both to our feet. He left me standing by the couch and stalked to the door in a way that told me the pizza guy was going to get an earful.

I was about to collapse back on to the couch but didn’t when I heard the door open, Ben start to say, “Yo,” but was cut off when I heard Cal bark, “What the fuck, Benny?”

My mouth dropped open at his tone. I felt the heavy anger filling my place and I watched Cal stalk in from my entry, wondering if maybe I shouldn’t have given him the gate code. He stopped and turned to Benny, who sauntered in behind him.

“Let me guess. Sal called you,” Ben stated.

“Fuck yeah, he called me. Jesus, Benny. You went into an unknown situation with Sal as backup and me fifteen miles away, havin’ no clue serious shit was goin’ down?” Cal asked irately.

“As you can see, cugino, I’m breathing,” Benny replied.

“Jesus, fuck me,” Cal muttered as he turned to me. “And you. Shit’s goin’ down at work, you got family five miles away, nothin’?”

“Uh…Ben and Sal had it covered,” I replied.

Before Cal could say a word, there was another knock on the door. I looked to Ben, who was already on his way toward it, then back to Cal, who was scowling at me and ignoring Gus, who appeared to be attempting to climb up Cal’s jeans.

“You want a beer?” I asked.

Cal kept scowling at me.

I didn’t know if that meant yes or no and had no chance to make a guess before I heard Vi snap, “Joe! For goodness’ sake! You can’t go tearing into someone’s house at dinnertime.”

Then Vi stormed in with Angie cradled in an arm, Kate and Keira on her heels.

“Hey, Frankie,” Kate called on a smile.

“Hey, baby.” I smiled back as she didn’t ignore Gus when he waddle-galloped to her. She bent, picked him up, and gave him a cuddle.

“Yo, Frankie,” Keira greeted.

“Hey, honey,” I returned.

“I think we need more pizza,” Ben muttered, coming in after the girls.

“Cool! Pizza!” Keira cried, grabbing on to Angie but not getting very far. She got her little sister out of her mother’s arms only to have Joe stalk to her and pull her into his own.

He did this automatically, his attention still on Benny.

“Ben. Explanation,” he growled.

Benny was on his way to the kitchen and he stayed true to his path while saying, “I’m not explainin’ anything.” He opened the fridge and looked to Vi, then the girls. “Vi? Girls? Drink?”

“Diet Coke,” Kate ordered.

“Does Frankie have any of that diet Fanta Grape?” Keira asked.

“Is she Frankie?” Benny asked back to Keira, and I found myself smiling again.

“That for me,” Keira put in her order.

“Me too,” Vi called, moving toward a chair and taking a load off. She then looked up at me. “You got any games?”

“We’re not playin’ a fuckin’ game,” Cal bit out.

“We’re not havin’ an argument either,” Vi returned, twisting in her seat to look at her husband. “They’re fine. So now we’re havin’ pizza and family time.” Then she turned to me. “And I have to tell you about Virgin Gorda. Oh my God, Frankie. You have to take Benny there.”

“Fuck me,” Cal muttered and another knock came at the door.

Benny came out of the kitchen with cans of pop while Cal stalked to the door.

“We’ll have to eat pizza in waves,” I noted as he handed Vi her can.

“I’m on it,” he said. Giving cans to Kate and Keira, he headed to the door, hand to his back pocket probably to get out his wallet to pay the pizza guy.

“You guys want glasses?” I asked the girls, ready to head to the fridge to polish off Ben’s hosting skills.

They didn’t get answers in.

This was because I turned toward the entryway when I heard Sal exclaim, “Dear God, Cal, she’s a beauty!”

Two seconds later, Sal walked into my living room with Angie held up to his face, Cal prowling close to his back with an expression like thunder, and Benny joining the party last, looking part-resigned, part-annoyed, and part-like he was about to burst out laughing.

“Who’s a beautiful girl? Who’s a pretty baby?” Sal cooed, then cuddled Angie close to his chest, looking into the room. He spied Vi, Kate, and Keira and turned back to Cal. “You did good, figlio, a room filled with beauties.” He turned back. “Hello, girls,” he greeted Kate and Keira. “I’m Uncle Sal.”

“I’m Kate,” Kate told him.

“I know,” Sal told her.

“I’m Keira,” Keira told him.

“I know that too, bella,” Sal told her.

“You wanna give me my daughter back?” Cal butted into the conversation.

“No,” Sal answered.

“That wasn’t really a question,” Cal pointed out.

“Take this beauty from me, I’ll cut off your hand,” Sal shot back.

Cal looked to his boots before he repeated, “Fuck me.”

“Do I have to say, again, how I’d prefer you refrain from the f-word in front of my girls? All of them?” Vi snapped.

“Buddy, Angie doesn’t even understand what I’m sayin’,” Cal bit out.

“Let’s not let her understand that particular part of what you’re sayin’ until she’s about twenty-three,” Vi fired back.

“Yeah.” I heard Benny say at this point. “This is Benny Bianchi. Twenty minutes ago, we ordered a pizza to go to The Brendal. I need”—he looked through the room—“two more. Large.”

“I like pepperoni!” Keira shouted.

“Sausage!” Kate yelled.

“Don’t forget the peppers,” Sal put in.

That was when I flopped onto the couch and burst out laughing.

I felt Sal (and Angie) sit beside me. When I could see again through my laughter, I saw Cal sitting on the arm of Vi’s chair, his hand on the back of her neck, with his eyes on Kate and Keira, who were settling in, Keira close to my side, Kate on the arm of the couch next to Sal and Angie.

And I heard Benny saying, “One half pepperoni, half sausage. The other with everything.”

Keira leaned her weight into my side and whispered into my ear, “School’s gonna start soon and I think I have Joe where I want him on the Jasper Layne situation.”

I turned my head, looked into her beautiful face, and that was when it hit.

There I was. Safe. At home. With my man and my family.

A moment that was the beginning of the rest of my life.

It was full of promise.