The Crescendo (7 page)

‘Yeah, we all know that too well. And if your sister was young it would have been harder on her.'

‘Yes, I believe it was. You know the main reason I came to Perth is because Sal did. After my sister went missing, I just had a feeling it was because of Sal and that Natty was hurt or had been found out. I wasn't sure if it was Sal's dad, or whether Sal had been involved or not. So when he suddenly moved, I followed. I watched him for a whole year, between my sister's disappearance and his move to WA. I saw a man suffering as I was and I believed then that he truly loved my sister. At this stage I'd set up the WA agency and made a base so I could come and go and keep an eye on Sal, just in case Natty turned up. I half wondered if Sal moved because he feared his own father may have done something but I scratched that idea, as a few years later, that's when intel started to come in that Sal had finally moved into the family business. He wouldn't have done that if he suspected his father of interfering with his relationship.'

‘Right,' said Ryan as he tried to take all this in. ‘Did Sal ever have any children? Any other women?'

James shook his head. ‘No children that we know of and the women have never been anything serious. I almost felt sorry for the man. Watching him grieve the loss of my sister was weird, and it was nice to know I wasn't the only one struggling. Maybe it was having Natty tell me about him and confide in me that made me feel for the guy; well, for a bit, until he started up business. If our parents had known about her affections for Sal they would have taken her out of that operation in an instant. Sometimes I wonder if I had told them, maybe she'd still be alive today.'

Ryan squirmed in his seat. The secret he kept was like an anvil in his lower intestines. His tongue burned with the desire to spill the beans and tell James his sister was alive and well. But it was not his secret to tell.

‘When did your sister go missing?' James gave him the dates and Ryan did a quick calculation. It fitted in with Jaz's birthday, giving room for a few months that Tasha may not have realised she was pregnant or was deciding what to do. The more he learned of Tasha and Sal's involvement, the more it cemented the idea that Sal was, quite possibly, Jaz's real father.

The room closed in on him as this finally sunk in. The man he hated, had been trying to take down since the killing of his mate Chris, was the biological father of Jaz. It didn't sit right in his mind. But it explained Jaz's olive skin, the same as Salvatore's, and her hair. Ryan knew Jaz couldn't help who her father was and he was sure she'd feel rather upset about this news also. Who would be happy to find out you had a drug lord as a father? Especially one you'd been trying to take down.

Shit. What a mixed-up mess. Actually, it was all rather fucked up. Ryan's brain felt like it was going to explode like an overripe watermelon.

Especially as James was now talking him through the plan for his escape to his sister's wedding and who was in place to help.

For the first time in ages, Ryan felt like he was treading water and he feared that if he stopped he'd sink to the bottom like a bound body weighed with an anchor.

***

Somehow Ryan got through the next few days by focusing on the job at hand, which was being glued to Jamison's car and being where he was requested promptly. Jamison hadn't been anywhere new, just from his house to his warehouses and to meetings with clients and managers. He remained quiet and professional unless Jamison spoke to him and required an answer. Jamison was not one for idle chitchat. Friday night, when he dropped him back home, Jamison shook his hand.

‘Good job, Reece.'

‘Thank you, sir.'

He didn't mention his daughter, obviously not mixing work with private life.

After Jamison walked to his house, Ryan doubled over clutching his stomach.

‘You okay?' asked Jamison's bodyguard.

‘I'm not sure, Mr Randall,' said Ryan, taking some sharp breaths. ‘I may have got gastro from my sister. I'm not feeling well at all.'

Mr Randall, whose first name Ryan was yet to learn, screwed up his face and took a step back. ‘Will you be right for work tomorrow?'

Ryan shook his head. ‘I don't know. Can someone fill in, just in case?'

‘I'll get it sorted. Are you right to head home?' Mr Randall had inadvertently taken a few more steps back. To see the big man afraid was something new.

No one like a gastro bug. Not even a hard-hitting bodyguard.

‘I think so.' Ryan stood up and breathed heavily. ‘I'll make it.'

‘Right. Let me know how you get on, Mr Lancaster,' he said before he walked off to check the perimeter of Jamison's house, which was his usual routine.

Ryan got back to his flat and called Annaliese to give her the same gastro story.

‘I'm sorry, babe, I feel so sick. I've got it from both ends,' he said.

‘Aw, honey. Do you need me to come over and look after you?' she offered, but he could tell from her tone she wasn't that keen on the idea.

‘No. I don't want to ruin your night out. I'll be fine. My sister's gastro only lasted a day or two, so I should be good by Sunday. Maybe we can catch up then if I'm better. I don't want to give this to you, Annaliese.'

‘Are you sure?'

He could hear the relief in her voice. ‘Yeah. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know how I'm going. I've gotta go, next wave,' he said with a groan.

‘Bye baby, rest up,' her tone was sincere.

Now the plans were all played out. He just had to wait until tomorrow.

In the morning he rang Mr Randall and informed him he was no better.

‘You just stay there, Reece, and rest up. We've got Luke filling in for you today. Don't worry about a thing. Let me know Sunday if you'll be right for Monday.'

It was the first time Mr Randall had used his first name and, as for Luke, he wasn't sure who that was without a last name. ‘Thank you, Mr Randall. I appreciate it.'

Next he called Annaliese, told her he was still violently sick and then let her tell him about her night and her plans for the day. He took note of what she was doing, just to make sure their paths wouldn't cross.

Then he put on his usual disguise and went down to the yellow hatch. He drove around until he was certain he wasn't followed, and then made his way to one of the safe houses. It was a simple brick and tile house that had seen better days. He wasn't at this safe house for long; instead he went right through it, out the back door. The yard was compact with a tiny garden shed along the back fence. Ryan entered this, shut the door behind him before moving the panel that allowed him to walk into the backyard of the house opposite. On his way through the small unkempt garden, he removed the hidden key from under the rock by the back door and entered.

It was another three-by-two red brick house, but it served the agency's purpose. Ryan, out of habit, searched out the whole house before heading back to the main bedroom. Here, spread out on the double bed, he found the dark grey suit, black shirt and white tie for the wedding, change of clothes, money, sunglasses, a card for his sister that he needed to write in and his shoes. The bathroom was already kitted out with simple supplies, towels, toiletries. The other bathroom was filled with female supplies for the female agents. Each agency safe house was the same.

Ryan checked his watch. He had a few hours to himself and then he'd take all his stuff by taxi to his parents' place, where they were all getting ready together.

There was a lot of double-checking, backtracking, watching the rear-view mirrors, and even then Ryan still was taking a risk he'd be noticed, followed. But even if it seemed like overkill, he took every precaution. He found keeping his mind focused stopped it wandering to Jaz and the fact he'd see her soon. Did he tell her about Salvatore? Had she already figured it out? How was she coping with Pax's death?

Ryan grunted at his own mental weakness and pushed the questions aside. He couldn't waste time wondering. Right now he needed to write down all the intel he'd gathered in the last few days. Soon enough he'd see Jaz.

Chapter 8

‘Jaz you look absolutely beautiful,' said Tasha as she popped her head into her room. ‘You just need a smile. Come on, Pax wouldn't want you to wallow.'

Her mum was right. Yet her smile was still absent.

Jaz stood by her full-length mirror, her silver halter-neck dress catching the light from the window and reflecting like shiny chrome on a car. Jaz had kept her hair down and her jewellery to a simple elegant silver necklace and hoop earrings. Her eyes were made up in a dark smoky look, lots of black and silver, eyeliner and mascara. She liked them like that, it seemed to fit her sullen mood. It seemed weird to be going to a wedding, enjoying new beginnings and happiness, when she was still getting over Pax's death. His funeral wasn't until Wednesday.

Jaz didn't feel like going but she didn't want to disappoint Steph, and she also knew it might be her only chance to see Ryan. She had a gut feeling he'd chop off his right leg to make his sister's wedding.

‘Do you need a lift, honey?' asked her mum, entering her room and putting her hand on her shoulder.

‘No, I'm fine. Don't think I feel like drinking, but if I do I'll take a taxi home.'

Jaz leaned into her mum's shoulder and sighed like a vice had just pressed her lungs together.

‘I know, Jasmine. I miss him too.'

***

Jaz headed to Crawley and pulled up outside the Matilda Bay Restaurant, which was the site for the wedding and reception. She climbed out of her black Jeep Wrangler and locked it. She followed the little blackboard signs pointing the way to the wedding and felt a little out of place. She didn't really know Ryan's sister that well and, beside her future husband and Ryan's parents, Jaz wouldn't know anyone else at the wedding. She'd be the one standing awkwardly in the corner. For this reason she arrived just before Steph was due to appear so already people were down by the Swan River, where views of the city skyline, Kings Park and all the boats and yachts on the river made for a stunning backdrop. Instead of a red carpet aisle, Steph had a white one over the lawn, with white fold-out chairs at either side now occupied with guests. There were two large gumtrees either side of the aisle framing the river view and a few smaller trees at the back, which were filled with round white paper lanterns. All the white seemed to echo the white boats floating on the glassy water. Blue and white flower bouquets were tied to the chairs along the aisle, just enough blue to add some colour.

In the middle, waiting patiently, was Gazza, whose shaggy hair had been tamed and his dimples were like big craters with his nervous smile. He was chatting to his best man. Their soft grey suits, white shirts and blue ties were in keeping with the overall colours.

Jaz then remembered the blue dress Steph's friend and bridesmaid, Suze, had found when they'd gone shopping together. Suze, that would be another person Jaz almost knew.

She stepped closer to the crowd, her heels sinking into the lawn. She'd thought about flats, but she wanted something nice for when she saw Ryan. To be able to look into his eyes and see for herself if he was doing okay. Jaz was glad the crowd were all facing the river, but most kept looking back to see if Steph had arrived, and that's when she saw Ryan.

Her chest contracted and she almost gasped as her body was overcome with longing. His dark eyes met with hers across the sea of heads and he stood up suddenly. He looked amazing in his fitted suit, but it was his face she couldn't look away from. They must have stood watching each other for what seemed like ages before his mum reached up, slapping his arm and saying something that sent Ryan striding down the aisle towards her.

Jaz could only watch as he came closer. She was so in love with him it hurt. Dark mysterious eyes that displayed his soul; she would never tire of them.

‘Hey, Jaz. Was starting to think you weren't going to make it,' said Ryan, his voice husky and sexy. His eyes dropped down over her body, from the plunging V-line, fitted waist and split that opened up down the length of her left leg to her high silver heels, and then back up again.

She revelled in his appraisal and couldn't help but reach out to adjust his white tie, needing to touch. ‘Sorry, I didn't want to get here too early considering I don't know anyone.' She let go of his tie and flicked her lashes up towards him. Those dark eyes were swimming with emotions, with flicks of red and gold; she tried to decipher them. Did his shoulder still hurt? Was his mission going okay?

‘How are
you
going?' she asked as she breathed him in. Her mouth began to water at the thought of kissing his neck and drinking in his scent. It was sharp and sensual.

Ryan looked over her shoulder and then reached for her elbow. ‘Come, we've kept you a spot up with us.'

He led her past all the people down the middle of the aisle, which was a little nerve-racking as people gawked at her, wondering who she was. Music started up as they made the front row and Ryan's mum Kathy welcomed her. Gazza was too nervous to talk, he just shot her a wonky smile.

‘Glad you could make it, Jaz,' said Kathy, in a bright green mother-of-the-bride outfit that had maybe a little too much lacework on it.

Ryan sat on the empty seat on her right, sandwiching her in as if she was a part of their immediate family. Seeing as she was the only girl Ryan had ever brought home, maybe they thought she almost was. Even though Ryan had set them straight, saying they were just friends, but had any of them really believed that? Jaz glanced at Ryan and found he'd been watching her. Could he tell? Was it all over her face? She felt her face glowing with the smile that was instinctive whenever he was near.

The crowd started ‘oohing' and ‘ahhing' as Suze made her way down the aisle in the afternoon warmth. The air was fresh and saturated with Ryan. She was sure the gentle breeze was wafting his cologne purposely under her nose. Jaz turned to see Suze in a full-length soft blue strapless dress that fell in soft folds from under her breasts. Behind Suze came Steph, with her father Frank guiding her along. He wore a smile from ear to ear as he watched his daughter with pride.