Fourteen years ago he’d dismissed Fred as no more than a quiet, shy, guy with affection for younger boys, but despite the stories that circled, he dismissed him as harmless. Proof how wrong he’d been. Seemed as time passed Fred only grew more unstable. Someday soon Dario hoped to wrap his fingers around Fred’s neck and squeeze the living daylight out of him. Unfortunately, the bastard wasn’t worth the prison sentence if he’d killed him, so he’d have to release him before Fred breathed his last. “Touch my ass and I’ll break your hands and your face. Need I remind you that butt isn’t on a teenager anymore?” Change the subject and quick. “Your parents can thank me for ‘their’ granddaughter. What would you have done if I didn’t do you the honors?
“Your ass is the one that got away, and nothing gets away from me.” Fred scoffed. “As for the grandkid, well, there are other ways to get my seed into her, besides sex.” He scowled as if the mere thought of having an intercourse with a woman churned his stomach. “Cunning that she is, she weaseled her way out of it. Miscarried my ass, she never kept her appointment at insemination clinic.” Fred’s seething snapped a tight bend in Dario’s guts and restraining to punch the snake’s face became unbearable. “You think I don’t know Irena’s hiding at your place. She must return and continue her therapy. The amulet she obsessed over drove her to insanity.”
Damn Fred and his lies. Did he know the story behind the Gypsy amulet? Irena could deliver some deadly blows, every black belt person could, but she didn’t have a sense of a killer. How much had Fred known of her martial arts training? Dario laughed, but
there was no humor in it. “Some trinket drove her crazy? Come on, man. Do you hear what you’re saying? It’s you who sounds insane.”
“I only want what’s best for her.” Fred ran his long, bony fingers through his receding hairline. His faltering voice indicated he didn’t believe his own lies.
A door at the end of the hallway opened and two burly men in white t-shirts and tight jeans stepped inside, taking their place in front of Fred.
Fred’s arrogant chuckles echoed among the twelve feet high walls. “As you can see, your time’s up. Leave now before I lose the rest of my patience.”
Dario widened his stance, trying to recall what he’d learn in karate classes. Two against one, it didn’t take a genius to figure out the odds weren’t stacked in his favor. Had he kept up with his skills the burly guys wouldn’t stand a chance. “I see you called up your dogs. However, I’m afraid I can’t leave before I make sure your guests are not in danger.”
As on cue, Ana stormed down the stairs, her hand gripped Nicky’s arm. “Why is his hair wet? And where are the clothes he wore earlier?”
Fred turned his head slowly, his stern gaze fixed on the boy behind his mother. The boy shivered and gave a slight shake of his head. Poor thing got scared into submission. If anything had happened, Nicky would never tell.
“He reeked. I told him to take a shower. And I tossed his worn out, cheap knock-offs rags in the garbage. He’s got decent jeans and shirts now. No one will make fun of him in the schoolyard.” Fred leaned toward Nicky. “Isn’t that right, boy?”
Ana eyed the wet towel draped around Fred’s neck.
“Did you shower with him?”
“Please,” Fred’s face contorted. “Who do you take me for? I would never hurt a child.” Fred pressed his thin fingers to his narrow chest. His tone bordered with hurt at Ana’s insinuation. “There’s more than one shower in this house.”
Dario studied Fred’s slumped posture. No, he would never hurt a child, but he would coerce him into a disgusting act as a repayment of expensive things he’d gifted. Then he’d made the victim promise to keep their special game a top secret or he’d take the gifts away. Most pedophiles worked the same way and Fred was no different.
She tapped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest, a tell-tale sign she was thinking hard. “Nicky,” she called not breaking her eye contact with Fred, “get your stuff. We’re leaving.”
“But, Mom,” Nicky tugged Ana’s arm. “Fred didn’t do anything.”
“He did something, I’m sure.” Ana glared at Fred, then pulled out the keys from her jeans pocket. “The car’s parked at the hospital, you can collect it yourself.” She threw the pendant holding the key at Fred, but one of his dogs caught it in his hand.
She nudged Nicky toward the dark door. “Let’s go.
Nothing he gave you is worth this.”
Dario reached for the knob and opened the front door. Everything he knew about Ana had overturned. Irena had it right, Ana cared about her son. At the threshold, Fred’s voice stopped them.
“As I recall, the jeans you both are wearing were bought with my money. So are the rest of your clothes.” Ana turned and faced him. “I’ll send everything back.”
“You’re not leaving this house with a single thing gifted by me.”
She stood frozen for a few moments. Dario took a couple of steps closer to Fred, but his men pushed him back. He steadied his footing, ready to fight when Ana placed her hand on his forearm. “It’s fine, Dario. Fred can have it all back.”
She unbuckled the belt of her pants and slipped them down her hips and legs, then over her feet and tossed them in Fred’s direction, catching one of the bodyguards with the belt buckle. After she yanked the shirt over her head, she did the same, but the garment was light and landed at the foot of the table.
“I can live without your stupid stuff.” She pulled on Nicky’s shirt and pants. “Take them off. We don’t need Fred’s charity.”
“That bra is also my gift.” Fred cocked his head, a mocking grin on his face. “I did say you’re not to take anything with you, but I’m feeling generous today. Keep the panties.”
Ana’s mouth hung open. She took a step closer to Fred. “You wouldn’t.” She squared her shoulders and huffed. “Of course you would. Fine,” she sneered, unclasping the hooks at the back, then threw the bra on the floor. Her naked bosom bounced as the turned and directed her glare at the bodyguards. “Have a good look, boys.” She pointed her chin at Fred, then threw her heels at him one at the time. Too bad her aim was terrible, making the guards snicker when the shoes landed way off the desired target. “You want to take my teeth while you at it? You paid for them.”
Fred waved his hand. “Those you can keep, they are temporary crowns.”
“Jerk.” Dario removed his jacket and draped it over Ana’s shoulders. “I’m proud of her. She showed you she’s not going to stand for your bullshit.”
Ana marched out the front door, head held high and dragged her son behind her.
“Sure, Mr. Vitez the knight comes to the rescue. Know this, I always get the last laugh. This is far from over.”
“Later, Koschei.” Dario slammed the front door shut cutting off the last of Fred’s shaming words and empty threats, hoping the old nickname further infuriate Fred.
Ana, self-proclaimed queen of heels, stumbled barefoot over the interlocking in front of Fred’s house to Dario’s car. He pulled away from the curb. She sat in silence, her chest heaved, but at least she seemed to keep her temper at bay. “Can I borrow your phone? God, look at me. I left with nothing from that place.”
“You left in time, with your pride and dignity. Most importantly, you saved your son.” Dario handed her his cell from the cup holder and glanced in the rear- view mirror. Ana’s boy stared out the window and crossed his arms over his naked chest. Dario wished he had another jacket to give to the boy. Still, the youngster witnessed his mother’s humiliation and only he knew what else that monster could have done to him. With some elaborate twisting, Dario managed to pull his t-shirt over his shoulders and head, then handed it to Nicky. “Are you cold? I don’t have anything else to give you.”
The boy reached for the offered shirt and murmured his thanks. Dario returned his hand to the steering wheel and leaned closer to Ana, lowering his voice. “Don’t try to force Nicky into talking about this. He could start to confuse things and say something that didn’t really happen.”
She nodded, pressing the phone to her ear. “Hi, Tom. Can you come get Nicky? In about an hour. Yes, I understand it’s not your custody day, but I need some alone time. Err…really? You want me to come too? I…I don’t know…I have to think about it. Bye.”
She placed the phone back in the same cup holder and sank against the backrest. Blowing her breath out, she set the loose strands hanging over her forehead to flutter. “I’m so confused. What should I do now?”
Dario squeezed her hand. “Don’t sit home alone. I know Tom hasn’t got a single romantic bone in him, but his heart is in the right place. He can be militant, he’s breeding and training those watchdogs and they are vicious, but he would never hurt you or his son. And he’s overprotective of you both.”
Fred getting on Tom’s bad side and hurting his child and Ana might just aid in Dario and Irena’s case. Tom would go ballistic if he suspected any foul play with his son.