Smecker didn't know where he was.
He remembered waiting a while until he left the room and he headed down the hallway.
He had been careful while trying to find a way out of Giovani's house, but he had gotten turned around at some point.
He had made it outside as he looked around for a safe place to hide and he smiled when he saw the yacht. He had gone down the stairs to the dock when he knelt down next to some crates and he looked up to see if anyone was on board the yacht.
He quickly headed for the yacht when he went up the gangplank then he went in the wheelhouse.
"Where the hell are the keys?" Paul asked as he scanned the room with his eyes.
"Looking for these?" was the last thing he heard when he felt bolts of electricity move through his body and he fell into darkness.
Smecker opened his eyes when he noticed he was in a room with soundproof, metal walls, a steel door and the cell he was in was made from bulletproof glass with airholes at the top. He saw the glass was framed in steel and a small door covered with a panel where someone could place things he would need or ask for or meals was to his left.
"Where the hell am I?" he whispered when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye and the wall opened up. He looked at the screen in the wall when the screen flickered on and he walked to the glass.
"Don't get too close to the glass. Unless you want to be shocked unconscious," a distorted voice said and the static on the screen made it hard to see who was talking.
"Who are you!?" Paul demanded, but the only sound coming from the speakers was white noise. "You can't keep me here!"
"Yes, we can."
"Bullshit! I haven't done a damn thing!"
"Please stop shouting or you will be shocked into unconsciousness."
Smecker frowned as he started pacing then he sighed, looked up at the ceiling and he shook his head.
"What do you want?" Paul asked.
"We do not want anything. We are just making sure you pay for what you have done."
"This is kidnapping."
"You may think so, but you should be grateful."
"For what?"
"For being where you are. If you were out there, certain people would find you and…."
"Yeah, I get it."
Smecker looked around the cell when he sat on the bed and he placed his hands on his knees.
"Just so you know, I'm not going to be here for long."
"If you are talking about the Saints. I assure you. They are not coming to rescue you."
"You don't know them like I do. They'll show up. And when they do, you are so fucked."
Smecker looked at the screen when the screen blinked off and the wall closed. Sighing, he went onto his back and he looked up at the ceiling, placing his hands behind his head.
Boston – the Yakavetta Estate
Giovani looked at the images of Smecker on his laptop when Giovani smiled and he pushed the power button to shut off the laptop.
"Sir?" made him look at the guard standing in the doorway and Giovani closed the laptop, took hold of the handle of the laptop and he stood up. "They're ready for you."
"Thank you," Giovani said with a nod. He held onto the handle of the laptop as he walked to the guard then he left the room and he looked straight ahead.
He had gone to the yacht after Interpol, Murphy, Connor and the others had left and he had seen Smecker on the dock. He knew where the taser was and he was surprised how easy it was to sneak up on Smecker after Smecker had gone on board the yacht.
He had contacted Eunice to tell her he had captured Smecker and she didn't seem upset when he told her what he had done.
Giovani came to a stop in front of two, oak doors as he stood straighter and he adjusted his tie. Two guards in black suits, white shirts, black ties, black leather belts and black, hard leather shoes and dark sunglasses stood on either side of the doors and he nodded at them. The guards opened the doors as he walked into the meeting room and the guards closed the doors behind him.
Sitting at the long table were the underbosses of the Yakavetta family. He barely nodded at them as they gave him a look as if they were trying to figure out who he was and he walked to the head of the long table. He placed the laptop on the table when he looked over at Dante, who gave him a nod, and Giovani placed the palms of his hands on the top of the table.
"Good morning," Giovani said with an air of confidence in his voice. "Most of you do not know who I am. So, I guess I have to introduce myself. I am Giovani Yakavetta. My father was Angelo Yakavetta."
"What the hell does that have to do with why we're here?" one of the underbosses asked.
"It's quite simple. As the last male member of the Yakavetta family, I am now in charge of your businesses…and your lives."
"Bullshit," one of the other underbosses said as he went to stand, but he sat down quickly after Dante pulled out a gun, fired a warning shot and Giovani smiled.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Giovani asked and the underbosses shook their heads. Giovani sat down as he looked at the underbosses, but a part of his mind wondered where Connor and Murphy were and he sent out a little prayer for their safety.
Safe Haven
The soft sea breeze moved through her hair as Eunice stood at the railing and she looked out at the water. She had her hands on the railing as she breathed in the salty air and she smiled. The door hissed opened as she heard someone walking closer and Sibeal stood next to her.
"Nice day," Sibeal said, looking at the clear sky.
"Yes," Eunice said with a nod.
They stood in silence as the wind moved through their hair then Eunice turned to lean against the railing.
"Do you think we did the right thing?" Eunice asked.
Sibeal looked at the water as he thought about the text Eunice had received from Giovani about finding Smecker and what he had done and Sibeal sighed.
"Aye, we did the right thing. True, he wanted t'help them, but it was only a matter of time before he got them killed," Sibeal said.
"They still might get killed," Eunice said.
"True, but it will be on their terms. Or they might decide t'quit an' go home."
"Are you talking about Ireland or Boston?"
"Don't really know. All I know is they're alive an' safe."
"For now."
"For now," he said with a nod and she looked at the door.
"They are amazing, aren't they?"
"Aye," Sibeal said with a smile and he folded his arms on the railing.
The captain's room
Angelina yawned as her eyes opened and she wiped the sleep out of her eyes. She rolled onto her back as she looked up at the ceiling and she sighed. She knew she had to get up, but after everything that had happened… Her confession about who and what her father was…. Confronting Smecker… It had shaken her to her core.
"Damn it, Dad," she whispered when a knock on the door made her sit up and she looked at the door. "Yes?"
"It's me," Romeo's voice said from behind the door and she smiled
"Hang on."
She quickly got out of bed when she smoothed down her hair and she placed her jeans on. She put on a white t-shirt when she opened the door and she was surprised to see him standing in the hallway with a tray in his hands.
"Thought you'd like some breakfast," he said with a shy smile.
"Thanks," she said, standing back so he come in. He headed for the small table when he placed the tray on the table and she walked to him. "Have you had breakfast?"
"Nope," he said, watching her sit down and he removed the lids from the plates. She looked at the food on the plates as he poured the coffee into the coffee mugs, but he was surprised when she placed her hands on top of his. "What?"
"Put that down."
A small shiver of fear moved through him as he placed the coffee pot on the tray and she stood, taking hold of his hands.
"I need you to be honest with me," Angelina said, softly.
"About what?"
"About how you feel about me."
"I told you. I don't care what your father did," he said, locking eyes with her. "I really don't care. You are not him. You are you. And I really like you."
She slowly nodded her head as he moved closer and he placed his forehead against hers.
"Now it's your turn. How do you feel about me?" he asked.
"I don't care that your family is a part of the Latino mafia. But I do care about what Smecker did to you and your parents. He robbed you of their love and support."
"I know."
"Then you have to know that I really like you, too."
He blinked the tears out of his eyes when he leaned in for a kiss and she slid her arms around his shoulders. They moved back a few seconds later as they smiled at each other and she used her thumbs to wipe the tears out of his eyes. He held the chair as she sat down then he sat down and they started eating their breakfast.
The infirmary
Angelica looked at the injured people lying on the hospital beds and she sighed.
Her mind replayed Eunice telling them about Giovani capturing Smecker, but the news didn't dissipate the anger Angelica felt burning in her chest.
"Yer father wouldn't want you t'be like this," made her turn around to see Murphy standing behind her and he walked closer. He slid his arms around her waist when he pulled her into a hug and she placed her head against his right shoulder.
"I can't help it. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for Smecker," she said in a soft voice.
"Like you meetin' me?"
She looked at him as she saw the pain and hurt in his eyes and she placed the palm of her right hand on his chest over his heart.
"Meeting you is one of the saving graces in all this," she said and he placed his left hand over hers.
"You wanna go fer a swim?"
His question made her softly laugh then she looked in the room and she sighed.
"I can't," she said.
Murphy looked in the room when he saw the nurses taking care of the people on the beds then he looked at her.
"Looks like you got a lot of help," he said and she smiled.
"Fine," she said with a pleased sigh. He moved back as she took hold of his right hand and they headed down the hallway. He wrapped their fingers together while they headed for the elevator and she looked at his profile. He looked young, but there was a maturity to his face. A hardness. She watched him turn his head and he arched his eyebrows up, smiling. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," he said then he shrugged his left shoulder. "Well, not fine. I don't really know how I feel."
"We took down the bad guys."
"But we let Yakavetta go. An' we did that because we sort of owe him."
"You mean because he has Smecker or because he was the one who convinced the right people to clear you, Connor and Romeo of all charges?"
"Both."
"I can see how that can be concerning. Not that I don't mind Yakavetta keeping Smecker under wraps."
"I mind," Murphy said as he pushed the button and the doors slid open. They walked in the elevator car as he pushed the button and the doors closed. They stood in silence and Angelica noticed he was still holding her hand. He looked down at their entwined fingers and he rubbed his thumb over her index finger. The doors opened as they walked out onto the dock and he led her to swimming pool. She suddenly realized neither of them had a bathing suit and he gave her a sly smile.
"Oh no!" she said as she started backing up and he gently grabbed onto her right arm.
"Come on, Sunlight. Live a little," he said and her eyebrows arched up.
"Sunlight?"
"That is yer call name."
"Whatever you say, Fluffy Bunny Hair," she said after she moved her arm back, reached up and she ruffled his hair. Snorting a breath of air, Murphy moved her closer when he leaned in for a kiss and she slid her fingers through his hair. They moved back as he locked eyes with her and she shyly smiled. "Damn."
"Aye," he said with a husky voice. She looked at him then at the swimming pool when she reached for his black t-shirt and he lifted his arms. She removed the t-shirt as she dropped the t-shirt onto the deck and he shivered while she moved her fingers along his chest. "Maybe we should take this inside."
"Now you're talking," she said, picking up the t-shirt and they headed for the lounge.
The gym
Connor walked in the gym while Angelique sparred with a man who was much taller than she was and Connor headed for the mat. He stood next to some of the other people watching them sparring and he held onto the white towel wrapped around his neck.
He knew she hated people watching her, but he also knew these were her people and she had to prove herself to them and to herself.
"But not t'me," Connor thought.
He watched her flip the man over her right shoulder as the man hit the mat with a loud thud and Connor saw some of the other people wince.
"Nothing is hidden on the mat."
The man stayed on his back for a few seconds while he panted and Angelique moved to stand over him.
"If this was a real fight, you would be dead!" she shouted at the man.
"Bullshit," the man said and Connor saw the fury in her eyes.
"She's not jokin'. You'd be dead," Connor said.
"How the fuck do you know?!"
"I know shit."
"Care to show him?" she asked with barely a smile.
"Be my pleasure.'
Connor dropped the white towel on the mat as he removed his sneakers and t-shirt and he noticed some of the women looking at his body. Shrugging, he walked to Angelique as she gave him a puzzled look and he grinned.
"You had to do that, didn't you?" she whispered.
"Aye," he whispered with a nod.
"Go get 'em, Tarzan."
Snorting a laugh, Connor walked to the man as the man got to his feet. Connor noticed the man was three inches taller than he was and outweighed him by twenty pounds.
"How th'hell did she flip him?" Connor thought while looking at her and Angelique pointed her hands toward his opponent. Sighing, Connor looked at the man as he nodded then he got into defense position.
"Whenever you're ready, Asshole," Connor said.
"I am gonna slam that pretty face into the fucking floor," the man said.
"Yeah! Show him who's boss, Ryan!" one of the other men said.
"Pound him!" one of the women said.
"Say your prayers," Ryan said and Connor arched an eyebrow.
"Say 'em every day," Connor said.
Ryan snorted through his nose as he got into defense position and he waited for Connor to make the first move. Connor scanned Ryan as he looked for an opening and Ryan sighed, rolling his eyes. With a low growl, Ryan swung at Connor as Connor ducked and he slammed his right fist into Ryan's stomach.
"Shit. That felt like I hit a brick wall," Connor thought, moving back and shaking out his right hand.
"Is that the best you got?" Ryan asked.
"Jus' getting' started," Connor said, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. Ryan went to kick Connor in the stomach, but Connor blocked the kick and Ryan moved back a few inches. Connor moved closer when he swung his left fist and his fist impacted with Ryan's nose. The crunching sound of Ryan's nose exploding filled the air as Ryan cupped his nose and Connor bounced on the balls of his fee. Blood rolled from Ryan's nose as he glared at Connor, lowered his hands and he charged at Connor.
Angelique watched Connor dodge out of the way when Ryan spun around and Connor got into defense position. He waved for Ryan to come at him as Ryan roared and he charged at Connor. Connor dropped to the mat as he swung his right leg and he kicked Ryan's legs out from under him. Ryan staggered forward when Connor leapt onto Ryan's back and Connor wrapped his legs around Ryan's waist then he wrapped his arms around Ryan's neck.
"Shit," Ryan said as he clawed at Connor's arms and Connor thought about how to push Ryan down onto the mat without breaking anything. He steered Ryan toward the punching bag when he slammed Ryan's forehead against the punching bag and Ryan staggered backward. Connor felt Ryan falling to his knees as Connor jumped off of him and Ryan fell to the mat with a loud thud.
Connor ignored the cheering and gasps as Connor looked at Angelique and she walked to him. She stood toe-to-toe with him as she looked up at him and she crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Where the hell did you learn how to do that?" she asked.
"Guess my file didn't mention me takin' martial arts lessons while I lived in Boston," Connor said with a grin.
"No, it doesn't. Just how good are you?"
"I almost got my black belt."
"What stopped you?"
"Broke my leg during a match."
"And you just gave up?"
"No. Murphy an' my mother talked me into quittin'," he said in a soft voice after he leaned closer to place the tip of his nose against the tip of her nose. She felt a blush moving over her cheeks as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down and she tried not to laugh.
"So, you were out of practice when I had to show you how to kick the punching bag?" she whispered, barely rubbing his nose with her nose.
"Aye."
She wanted to kiss him, but she knew she couldn't while the others were in the room and she sighed.
"Take him to the infirmary," she said as she looked at Ryan lying on the mat and two men helped Ryan to his feet. His nose was bleeding again and his lower lip was split. His left eye was starting to swell and Angelique notice Ryan's right wrist was bent in an odd angle. He moaned while the men helped him walk out of the room. The other people left the room while Angelique tilted her head to one side and Connor wondered what she was thinking.
"Sorry," Connor said, lowering his head.
"For what?" Angelique asked.
"Fer not tellin' you I knew martial arts."
"Well, it does mean I have to make up a special training program for you."
"Am I gonna be trainin' with jus' you?"
"Yep," she said, popping the "p".
"Are you gonna work my ass off an' bitch about everythin' I do wrong?"
"Yep."
"Are you gonna give me a kiss every time I do things right?"
"Yep."
Connor thought for a few seconds. Smiling, he went to flex the fingers of his right hand when a small pain arched across his right thumb and Angelique noticed his thumb was bent in an odd angle.
"Did you tuck your thumb in when you made a fist?" she asked, gently taking hold of his right hand.
"Aye," he said with a nod. He watched her lift his hand up to her lips when she kissed his knuckle and he lightly hissed in a breath of air.
"Guess I'm going to have to take you to the infirmary."
"Guess so."
She went up on her tiptoes as he leaned down to kiss her lips and she didn't seem to mind him pulling her against him. She let go of his right hand as she moved her hands down his arms and he cupped the back of her head in his left hand.
Moving back, she looked deeply into his eyes and she felt herself getting lost in the blue depth.
"Am I still an immature asshole?" he asked, pouting.
"Immature? No. Asshole? Well...," she said with a grin. She looked up at him when he smiled and he lightly brushed the hair from her face. "Want to know something?"
"Sure."
"Angelica was wrong. Getting close to you has been one of the best things to ever happen to me," she confessed and Connor felt his heart slamming in his chest.
"Fer me, too," Connor said. They stood in silence for a few seconds when he accidentally moved his right thumb and he winced. "Ow."
"Let's go get you patched up," she said with a smile.
"Does this mean I'm not allowed to train?"
"No," she said, elongating the "o". "It means you're going to have to do some leg training until your thumb heals."
"Damn," he said and she softly laughed, picked the white towel, his sneakers and his t-shirt off the mat. He slid his left arm around her shoulder as they headed for the doorway then they left the room.