Thanks so much Alex B. Goode and BLBLF for your encouraging words. Your reviews make my day! Aliqueen16, I'm sort of convinced you're a mind reader, ha. And what you don't predict, you make me second guess whether I like your idea better than my original one. :) Thanks so much for everything you write!
This chapter was getting way too long, so it's a two-parter. I have the second half almost complete, so fingers crossed I can post it later this week. Click on the "Follow" button to get updated when a new chapter is posted. :)
Chapter 5
Danny picked up his wine glass and tossed back a drink. Across the table, Erin gave him a disapproving look. Danny deliberately took a long gulp and met her eyes in silent challenge, daring her to say something. He wouldn't dare pick up his fork and eat without everyone seated at the table, but wine was fair game.
"Should I try calling them?" Erin asked. "Jaime and Eddie are never late."
Frank Reagan looked at his watch. "We'll give them another five minutes."
Sean opened his mouth to say something and Danny shot his son a look. Sean closed his mouth, but let out an impatient sigh, eyeing the food getting cold.
The sound of the front door had both his boys perking up hopefully. Jaime and Eddie came into the dining room, apologies for being late and not meeting anyone's eyes.
Danny's own eyes narrowed as the two of them pulled out their chairs and quickly sat, Eddie keeping her eyes down and Jaime's mouth a tight line.
Jaime cleared his throat. "Sorry we're late."
"Is everything alright?" Erin asked.
"Fine," Jaime said. "The food looks good. We should eat." He made the sign of the cross and bowed his head, waiting for the rest of the family.
Danny didn't bother bowing his head. He watched his younger brother. Jaime and Eddie exchanged a glance they didn't think anyone saw. Eddie reached up and rubbed a comforting hand on Jaime's back, before realizing the prayer was ending. She quickly made the sign of the cross, murmuring the words along with the family.
The table was silent as they filled their plates.
Frank's dark gaze moved from his son to his daughter-in-law. Danny knew Jaime and Eddie weren't fooling the PC anymore than they were fooling him.
"I heard you were first on the scene with the two undercovers who were injured," Frank broke the stiff silence.
Eddie looked up. "Yeah. Yeah, it was a pretty bad call," she said. "But it sounds like Renzulli's kid and his partner are going to be ok."
Frank nodded. "And how about you?" he asked. "That's not an easy call for any officer to respond to."
Eddie's smile was weak. "I'm ok."
Nicky leaned around her mom to see Eddie. "You had to respond to officers down? That's awful." Her brown eyes were compassionate before she turned back to the rest of the family. She addressed them in all her sixteen year old wisdom. "They should have someone else answer those calls. Cops shouldn't have to run in and see their own on the ground. How would you get past that?"
Frank's eyebrows lifted. "And who would you suggest go in to answer those calls for the cops? Because if an officer is down, it's because someone on the scene is armed and dangerous."
Nicky tossed her head. "Fine. Police answer the call. But don't send in someone from a family that already lost a cop."
At the subtle reference to Joe, silence fell again. Danny watched Jaime's grip tighten on his fork before he slammed it down with a clatter. "Sorry," he muttered, grabbing for his water glass.
Danny couldn't stop himself from looking over where Joe had sat for years. And the empty chair next to it where Katie should be. The familiar anger started churning in his gut. Katie should be sitting there right now. She should have been sitting there for the last four years. And she would be, if he hadn't messed up. Who knew what she had been living through for the last four years, what she was living through right now? And he could have saved her from that, kept her here with her family.
He shoved his chair back from the table. He couldn't wait until after dinner for a beer.
#
Kate sat on the front step of Jaime's building. A dark SUV pulled up in front of the building. She tensed, watching. When Carlos got out, she let out a breath, silently berating herself for being so jumpy. No one knew where she was besides Jaime and Carlos.
Carlos flashed her a smile as he came around the vehicle. Kate pushed herself up to standing, biting back the moan of pain that threatened from the movement. She forced herself not to put a hand against her broken ribs, not to show weakness.
Carlos' smile had given way to concern. He was at her side, a hand on her elbow. "You didn't have to wait outside for me."
Kate grimaced and tried to steady the breaths that wanted to come in short bursts from pain. "I needed some air," she said.
Carlos glanced up at the building. "Everything going ok staying with your brother?" he asked.
Kate let him open the passenger door for her, but shook off his attempt to help her into the truck. She made it in on her own, the pain making her dizzy until she settled back on the seat.
"It's fine," she said, rather than tell Carlos about the tension that was wrapped up in her reunion with Jaime.
Carlos got in and started the vehicle. "I didn't know you had a brother."
Kate slid her eyes toward him without moving her head. "Not something that came up when we were moving illegal guns."
She liked the way he didn't take offense at her sarcasm, the way one corner of his mouth quirked up. She forced herself to look away, focus on why this was a terrible idea to be going anywhere with Carlos and how she would make sure this never happened again.
Carlos didn't push her for more information. Instead he turned on his blinker and maneuvered through traffic. He let her get lost in her thoughts until he turned into a residential neighborhood in the Bronx. He pulled up to the curb and turned off the engine. Kate had her door open, but wasn't fast enough to get out before Carlos was there to help her. He closed the door for her and set a slow pace down the sidewalk past the single family homes.
He stayed by her side up the steps to a small porch, pausing before he opened the door.
"Brace yourself," he said with a wink.
He opened the door to chaos.
There were so many conversations going, they blended together into a dull roar. A football game added a layer, and a baby cried from somewhere, followed by at least three women's voices all sing songing soothing words. Overhead, child sized footsteps clattered, followed by a crash, giggles, and faster footsteps. And it was all wrapped up in the scent of something amazing coming from the kitchen.
Kate stepped through the door and immediately jumped back as three kids clattered down the stairs and nearly knocked her over.
She landed against Carlos, his hand on her lower back to steady her.
"Hey Uncle Carlos!" one of the kids called over his shoulder as the trio ran toward the back of the house.
"Uncle Carlos is here!" one of his partners in crime yelled to the house at large.
"Hey Carlos, it's good game today," called a man's voice from the direction of the television noise.
Kate felt Carlos' warmth behind her and realized she was still pressed back against him. She quickly stepped away to create some distance, but Carlos kept the hand on her lower back as he escorted her into the house.
"Is Joe here?" Carlos called to the group in the living room, all focused on the game on TV.
"He's getting the royal treatment from your mother," called one of the older men in the room, glancing up. He saw Kate standing with Carlos and did a double take. "Oh, you brought company," he said. He stood from his chair and crossed to Kate, hand outstretched.
"Kate, this is my dad, Anthony. Sargent Renzulli when we're at work," Carlos said with a smile.
Kate hadn't managed a smile for Carlos' dad and when she heard his name, she froze. "Renzulli," she said. She was an idiot. Of course Carlos hadn't been using his real name undercover.
She felt Carlos looking at her. She could feel his concern at her response. "Yeah, Carlos Gianni was just my cover. It's Renzulli."
Renzulli. Jaime and Joe's training officer. She was standing in front of the man who had worked with both her brothers.
He was looking at her curiously, but didn't say anything. Kate hiked her chin and took his offered hand in a quick handshake.
"Dad this is Kate."
Anthony said the right things, that it was nice to meet her, but Kate could tell he was trying to place her. She shifted uncomfortably and Carlos took the silent cue.
"We're going to go rescue Joe."
Kate hoped the sigh of relief that escaped unbidden when Sargent Renzulli went back to the couch escaped Carlos' notice.
Another two kids, younger than the first group, clamored past with shouts of hello to Carlos, then disappeared through the swinging kitchen door.
Carlos guided Kate into the kitchen. In spite of the open windows, it was hot and humid, the smells of Italian seasoning and sauces cloying in the close space.
"Hi Ma," Carlos said. A woman with the same smile as Carlos lifted her head from the pot she was stirring.
"There you are! I was starting to think you weren't going to make it!" she exclaimed, scolding in her tone tempered by the humor and love that was obvious.
She noticed Kate and nudged the woman next to her. "And you brought a guest."
"This is Kate." To Kate's relief, Carlos didn't offer any more information than that.
Kate didn't miss the concerned look of the woman next to Carlos' mother as she ran her eyes over Kate. Polite, uncomfortable smiles were on the faces of the other three women in the room.
Kate knew what they were seeing. They were in tasteful cardigans, wedding rings, and pastel colors. Her black t-shirt was a spare she kept in her backpack at the bar in case she spilled at work. Her jeans were ripped at the knees, and her boots were heavy and black. She fought the urge to pull down her hooded sweatshirt sleeve to cover the tattoo on her wrist. Her hair was caught back in a ponytail, showing off every piercing.
"Kate, this is my mom, Rosa, and my sisters, Sophia, Bella, and Lara. My aunts Gina and Gabby."
Kate stiffly nodded her hello to the group, their greetings reserved under the warmth. She saw a couple of them glance at Carlos' hand, still on her back, and she stepped away.
Carlos went to the fridge and grabbed a couple beers. "Is Joe out back?" he asked.
Rosa clucked her tongue. "Yes. Poor boy. He looked miserable trying to sit in a kitchen chair. He's out on the deck."
Carlos dropped a kiss on each of his sisters' heads on the way past and led the way outside.
The door closed behind them and Kate let out a breath, feeling as if the walk through the house had been a gauntlet.
Carlos gave her a wry twist of his mouth. "They all mean well," he said. "But they're preschool teachers, stay at home moms…Dive bars are a foreign concept."
Kate took the offered beer and rounded the corner of the house to find Joe in the shade on a lounge chair. She gingerly lowered herself into the lounger next to him.
Carlos set his beer by the third chair and dropped into it.
"It's about time you two got here," Joe said. "Your sisters have exactly five single girlfriends who would all be happy to take care of me until I'm back on my feet, and your aunts have three friends with single daughters and possibly a maid service that sounded like it's staffed by escorts."
Kate felt a smile form in spite of herself.
Joe took a swallow of beer and smiled at Kate. "Good to see you."
She didn't answer, but an uncomfortable lump of emotion wedged in her throat at the sight of Joe. She hadn't seen him since that night at the bar.
"So you're not really Joe Turner," she said, lifting an eyebrow instead of dredging up the terror of that night.
Joe gave her a smile. "Joe Hill, officer with the NYPD," he said. He held out a hand and sucked in a breath of pain at the movement.
Kate winced as her own ribs protested the movement of slowly reaching over for the offered handshake. They both leaned back in their chairs, the effort and pain of the movement more than unhealed injuries were ready for.
Joe turned his head over to look at Kate, growing serious. "You know you saved my life. Me and Carlos both."
Kate frowned and shifted uncomfortably. "Cops getting killed would make things messy," she said without looking at him.
Instead of taking offense, Joe surprised her by letting out a laugh. He lifted his beer in toast. "To not making things messy," he said.
Carlos lifted his beer and clinked it against Joe's bottle. He lifted his toast toward Kate and waited until she lifted her bottle. Carlos tapped his bottle against hers, then Joe did.
Kate took a sip of the cold drink, the September sun warm on her face, but not as warm as the two cops on either side of her who had brought her into their circle without question.
