Lethal Lullaby-Chapter 12

Beautiful Dreamer

After the meeting downstairs, Perry had pulled Salvatore aside. The older man's gray eyes swept him in a knowing glance. The lawyer was under tremendous strain, both from the events of the day and the worries of the future.

"What is on your mind?"

Perry's mouth settled into a grim line. "I need some-thing from you." The hitch in his voice betrayed his emotions.

Salvatore was quick to notice. Putting a hand on Perry's shoulder, he assured, "Ask, mio figlio and it is yours."

It isn't as easy as all that, Perry told him silently. This is hard for me. Not only because of my family and the very real threat of death, but because I hate like the dickens to be indebted to the mob. Even if the face of the family is a man I like and, yes, respect. Still, I have no other choice. No one else will protect them . . .

His decision made, Perry cleared his throat and asked, "Padre, if this plan goes south, Della and Katherine . . . well . . ."

Salvatore placed his other hand on Perry's shoulder and squeezed them. "They are part of my familia. They will be protected and loved because they are my own daughter and granddaughter. Mio solenne giuramento."

Perry clasped the older man's arms. "Gracie, Padre."

When Perry finally climbed the stairs and entered their bedroom, it was to find his beautiful wife asleep in the armchair, an open book on her lap. The lights cast strange wavering shadows over her features, giving them an intimate, almost tender cast of expression that captured his heart. Perry stood for a moment in the doorway, drinking in the view. His pulse quickened, his breath coming in short, quiet gasps, and a small lump formed in his throat.

This was his heart, his soul, his very reason for being. The time had come to bring her completely into the picture, and yet . . . How could he explain to her why he was doing this? Why he needed to make sure that she and Katnip were safe from the people who might harm them?

He quietly crossed the room. He slowly removed the book from Della's lap, then gently scooped her up in his arms.

She stirred slightly. "Mmm. My secret lover finally showed up." She tucked her head under his chin, sleepily nipped at the flesh she found there. "But don't tell my husband. He's very jealous."

Perry growled low and promptly dropped her on the bed. "Minx! Just for that I should go to sleep elsewhere tonight."

Della reached up and grabbed his hand, holding on tight. The thought of him leaving her for any reason was unacceptable.

"Perry." Her voice was deep, throaty and full of passion and invitation.

His mouth went dry. He couldn't help it. The heat blasting through every inch of him had everything to do with her. How she looked. How she smelled. How she stared up at him with pure, unadulterated, depthless love in her eyes. And hunger, for him. The memories of how he had felt around her since the day they collided outside the Brent building ripped through him in a flash. She had been in a hurry to make an interview, and he had been in a rush to conduct one. That feeling of being off-balance, breathless, confused—captivated—had taken him by surprise. He had become addicted to her smile, intoxicated by her laugh as every day had passed. And he had been so out of control with desire for her that concentrating on legal matters had taken every ounce of his self-control.

Perry joined her on the bed, pulling her into his arms. His kisses were soft, gentle, almost reverent. "I love you, Della."

Della looked into eyes that were a midnight blue, filled with love. She wanted to speak, but the tears and lump in her throat stopped her. Perry used his thumbs to wipe away her tears.

"Oh, Sweetheart, please don't cry," he said tenderly.

"Oh, Perry." Della wrapped herself around him, kissing him, running her hands over his body. "You're wearing too many clothes."

Perry chuckled and climbed off the bed. In very short order he had stripped and climbed back into bed, then helped Della out of her nightgown.

Soon everything was forgotten as the two lovers engaged in the ancient dance that all lovers know, ending in exhausted sleep in each other's arms.

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Della woke to a chill in the room and an empty bed. Quickly climbing out of bed and throwing on her robe, she crossed to the nursery.

Perry was in the rocking chair, Katherine in his arms eagerly sucking on her bottle while he regaled her with a story about how he had bested her uncle Hamilton in court.

Della folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the doorframe. "I see you're starting to train her to be a lawyer already."

Perry smiled down at the little girl. "Mommy doesn't think you should follow in Daddy's footsteps." He made funny faces at her. "No, she doesn't . . . No. But we know better, don't we, Katnip? What's that, you say? Kat got your tongue?" He grinned at her and she stared up at him as she drained the bottle. "You're going to grow up and take over Daddy's law office and then Mommy will see. Yes, she will, won't she?"

Della crossed the room, taking her child. "Of course, Mommy will see. But until Daddy learns to change your messy diaper, we'll put talk of you being a lawyer on hold."

Upon realizing his daughter had indeed made a rather smelly mess, he kissed his wife, winked at the offending culprit, and quickly fled the room.

Della finished changing Katherine's diaper, then kissed her bare tummy. The baby giggled, then burped before she reached up for her mother's nose.

"Who would have thought the country's greatest lawyer would be reduced to flight by a baby's messy diaper. Katnip, we can't ever let your uncles know about this. They'd never let Daddy live it down."

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By the time Della had dressed Katnip, handed her over to Mae, then dressing herself, Perry had already gone downstairs.

When she entered the dining room, everyone was enjoying a delightful breakfast buffet. Helping herself to eggs, bacon, toast and juice, she took a sit next to Perry. His eyes lingered on her briefly, then he smiled reassuringly and she nodded. The men were busy discussing how the day was going to proceed when a knock interrupted their conversation. Luca came in, followed by the renowned makeup artist, William Tuttle. He had helped Perry and Della with their transformation during their foray into the nightclub case, so Della had no doubt why he was here.

Perry stood and shook hands with the man. "Welcome Mr. Tuttle. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"No problem Mr. Mason. I have the time." He looked over at Della and a genuine, warm smile spread across his features. He took Della's hand, placing a kiss on the palm. "How lovely to see you again, Miss Street."

Della blushed a pretty pink. "You also, Mr. Tuttle. It's actually Mrs. Mason."

His eyes swept her in a glance, but his smile held. "Congratulations."

"Would you like some breakfast before we start?" Perry asked graciously.

"No, thank you." Tuttle dropped Della's hand and turned back to Perry. "I believe we had better get started."

Perry leaned down to give Della a kiss before he escorted Tuttle into one of the adjoining rooms. Della looked at Paul and winked, causing Paul to choke on his sip of coffee.

Salvatore, noting the little exchange, stared at Della. "Della, my dear, is there something going on that maybe Perry or I should know about?"

Della continued eating the eggs. "No, nothing. Your chef is excellent, by the way."

Salvatore chewed quietly, watching her deliberately stay nonchalant about the private exchange with Paul. Knowing how stubborn Della could be, he decided to drop the subject.

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In the other room, Perry was being transformed into Giovanni once again. His amazing blue eyes were now so deep a brown as to appear black. His normally wavy dark hair had been slicked down with generous amounts of pomade. The thin black mustache was in place and Tuttle was just applying the scar that ran down his left cheek.

Perry had been watching in the large mirror. It amazed him. Just a few simple changes and he was no longer Perry Mason. He remembered the first time he had donned this disguise. And he certainly remembered how Della had looked as Nicky. She was always beautiful, but when he had seen her in the red wig and slinky clothes, he had fallen in love with her all over again.

Now he was going into this on his own. The very real fear he felt for her and Katnip and Mae's safety gnawed at him. When normally he welcomed—often enlisted—her help on cases, this one was different. He needed her safe. Needed to know she was safe. Salvatore was a father to her, and Perry took that at face value. She had a difficult relationship with her parents, who were in Chicago. The relationship mattered to her, so it mattered to him. But beyond that, Perry himself trusted Salvatore. There was no good reason why he should, and he had heard lectures from Paul, Tragg, and particular, Hamilton on the evils of being associated with the mob. But wasn't that the point of trust? Above all else, he trusted Salvatore to keep his solemn oath to protect Della and his baby.

Getting dressed in the charcoal gray suit, with a lighter gray shirt and tie, he placed the fedora on his head to complete the transformation.

Tuttle smiled his approval. "You look wonderful Mr. Ma—er, Giovanni."

Perry shook the man's hand. "Thank you again, Mr. Tuttle. I'll arrange for you to be taken back to the studio."

Perry picked up a phone, calling the guard quarters and asking Luca to bring a car up for Tuttle.

Saying his goodbye, he went back into the dining room to confer with Salvatore.

When Mr. Tuttle stepped out the front door, Luca escorted him around the side of the house. They entered a large solarium to find Della admiring Salvatore's beautiful roses.

Della turned and flashed Tuttle a welcoming smile. Luca, sure all was well, retreated, giving them their privacy.

"Thank you for coming out here. I have a favor to ask, and I didn't want to be interrupted."

Tuttle gave a small laugh. "I take it Nicky is going to be making an appearance?"

Della returned the laugh and her eyes danced with mischief. "Well, not exactly. Why don't we sit and I'll explain my idea."