Alessia (The Casella Cousins Book 4) Read online

  Rafe said, “Let me assess this before we do anything.”

  Three of them waited silently as Rafe did his Captain thing. In just a minute or so, Rafe said, “We can’t wait for the fire department to get here and the vehicle looks stable. The two kids inside are unconscious. And that engine could blow at any minute.”

  Gideon nodded. “Tell us what to do.”

  “You and Anabelle try the passenger side door. Derek, do you have any training?”

  “I’m an EMT. I’ve worked on crashes before.”

  “You and I will help the boy.”

  When the driver’s side wouldn’t open, Derek picked up a rock, said, “Stand back,” as he broke the glass in the back seat. Avoiding the shards, he climbed inside and undid the front lock. Rafe yanked the front door open. “The bag went off.” He picked up a piece of the glass and punctured it. Once deflated, he poked his head in and studied the driver, then began to pull him out, but he couldn’t.

  “We’ll need to wait until the other side is emptied so Gid can assist. Gid, make sure you bring back a knife.”

  The passenger side wasn’t stuck so Gideon unsnapped the girl’s seatbelt, then eased her from the car. He was sorry they didn’t have the neck brace, but time was of the essence. He and Anabelle carried her to a safe space. Rushing back to the car, Gideon knelt on the front seat. Here, the sweet but toxic scent of gasoline was even stronger than outside. Derek waited to see what he could do from there.

  Gideon cut the seatbelt on the boy with a pocket knife. He tried to push the steering wheel adjustment lever but that was also stuck. Derek said, “I’ll try to pull the seat back. Hold him in place so he doesn’t jerk around.”

  Thankfully, the lever worked. Rafe bent over and slid his arms around the boy. Gideon helped by pushing from his side, as gently as possible. It seemed an eternity to get the boy out, and both guys were sweating.

  With sirens in the background, Derek got out of the car to help Rafe. “I can’t carry him away from the car. He’s a huge guy.”

  Derek slipped his arms under the boy’s torso, Rafe picked up his feet and they walked far enough from the imminent threat of the engine exploding.

  A grating noise rent the air.

  The car shifted.

  The roof came down.

  Right on top of Gideon.

  * * *

  At that very minute, a fire truck screeched to a halt and right behind it, a medical rig swerved over to the curb. Zach Malvaso leaped out of Truck Eleven, followed by his crew. The firehouse had been part of the restructure of the fire department and had added two firefighters combined with a medical truck.

  The sound of both motors was a loud, constant hum. Both men conferred. Rafe explained the situation, and about the need to move the victims because of the fear of the compromised gas tank and ended with, “Gideon got inside to help, and the roof caved in before he could get out.”

  Zach motioned to his crew. “Manchester and Giancarlo, douse the gas tank with foam. Coretta, hop onto the trunk. You’re in charge of the roof. Collins bring the Jaws of Life. You and I will rip back the metal.”

  Lucy Coretta whipped off her air tank and turnout coat. Collins and Jasmine Lowden, the rookie, boosted her up to the trunk and Lowden handed her the Jaws of Life. The sudden noise of the generator filled the air, joining that came a teeth-hurting grate of metal hitting metal. When the cut was done, Lucy jumped down to make room for Collins and Malvaso to pull back the roof. Muscles bulged and grunts came until the thing was off. They hopped to the ground.

  Captain Grady O’Connor, who was newly assigned to the medical rig, hoisted himself up onto the trunk. “I need a collar.” Paramedic Lisa Beth Duncan handed one to him. O’Connor wrapped the spongy material around Gideon’s neck, then tried to pull him out. “He’s stuck. Guys, you have to get him free.”

  Manchester cleared out the debris inside and O’Connor yelled, “He’s loose now.” Again, he placed his hands under Gideon’s arms and drew him up. The exertion caused O’Connor’s face to redden and his breathing speed up. The crew eased Gideon onto a backboard. Then O’Connor and Duncan carried him to the medical rig.

  The cap said, “Get him to Memorial, Grady.”

  “Yes, sir.” O’Connor’s tone was wry as he and Zach were the same rank. They slid the backboard into the cab of the truck and O’Connor hopped in with him while Duncan got behind the wheel, turned on a blaring siren and the vehicle sped away.

  In total, the rescue took ten minutes.

  * * *

  It was Alessia’s turn to sit with Gideon in his room at Memorial Hospital on the outskirts of Hidden Cove. Gideon had been here for hours and now, he slept and she sighed.

  The scene at dinner had been a nightmare. And so out of the blue. The kids had panicked. Mikey and Mattie clung to her, their sturdy frames taut. And Pete had stayed by her side. Mama and Judd had taken care of Gideon’s kids, who were crying. Kate tended to Tommy.

  They’d all watched, frightened to death as first Rafe, Anabelle, Derek and Gideon, rescued the two teens from the car. Later, they’d learned about the compromised gas tank so they had to act quickly. And with so much bravery, it filled Alessia with pride.

  Tonight, Cory, Cara and Carina visited Gid for a half-hour, then Kate took them home. Derek had come to the hospital, too. He’d known exactly what to do in that emergency and she wondered why.

  Gideon stirred. “Arrgh.”

  She leaned over. “How do you feel, buddy?”

  “My back hurts.”

  “I’m sure it does. They came in to give you more medicine, but you were asleep. I’ll press for the nurse.”

  The male nurse hurried right in and gave him a shot.

  The staff here took good care of America’s Finest and Bravest.

  After he left, she took Gideon’s hand. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

  “Yeah, really bad timing.” His words were a bit slurred.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m up for a sergeant promotion.”

  He’d told Alessia that the decision had been postponed because the department was going through some reorganization like the fire department.

  “They said earlier this month they’d name the person after Thanksgiving. Won’t be me now I’m hurt…” He sighed heavily. “Gonna be laid up.”

  “Oh, Gideon, I know how much you wanted the promotion.”

  “I did. And to head the new Major Incidents task force. Probably won’t even be able to be on it.”

  “Can’t they hold a spot for you?”

  “Yeah, maybe. Not sure, though.”

  “Try to put it out of your mind now. And rest.”

  Rafe appeared at the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but Mama’s going home after she says goodbye. Seth and I are staying with you all night, Gid. You should leave, too, Ali.”

  “Okay.” She stood, leaned over, and kissed her brother’s forehead. “Just recover, Gid. Then you can iron things out.”

  Easier said than done, though. She knew how important Gideon’s job was to him.

  When she reached the waiting area, her gaze landed on Derek. He sat over in the corner, looking down at his phone. When she reached him, he glanced up. “Hey, you’re back.”

  She dropped down into the chair next to him.

  “How’s Gideon?”

  “He’s awake. In pain. He’s pissed about his promotion.”

  “Promotion?”

  “Yeah, he’s been up for one for months and the brass decided to announce after Thanksgiving. He wanted to head a special task force. Now he can’t.”

  “The doctor in emergency said he’d suffered several pulled muscles and some bruising. Those things heal.”

  “I know. But he’ll be out of work for a couple of weeks.”

  He took her hand but there wasn’t much he could say.

  “Derek. You knew exactly what to do in the field. Why?”

  “I’m an EMT. I don’t use the training much, bu
t I renew it every year.”

  “Ah. Was that the job you quit to go back to college?”

  “One of them.”

  Mama and Judd approached them. “We’re going home to help out Kate.”

  “I’ll come too and get my kids.”

  “No hurry, dear.”

  When they left, Derek stood and held out his hand. “I’ll drive you home.”

  He’d parked close but she shivered in her light coat as the temperature had dropped quickly when darkness fell. Once inside the car, she sighed. He asked, “Need a hug?”

  “I guess I do.”

  He drew her to him, as best he could over the gear shaft. She buried her face in his chest. He smelled of cold and some sweat from the rescue and that unique scent that was him. He put his hand on her neck and kissed the top of her head.

  He whispered, “Let’s just stay this way for a little while, honey.”

  And suddenly Alessia knew that this man had come to mean something to her, something heady, and exciting, but tender, too.

  Chapter 6

  * * *

  The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Derek headed out to meet Jane. The brisk November wind swirled around him, making him more aware of where he was going. But he pushed the regret aside. He was passing an alley near his apartment when somebody stepped out, grabbed him by the arm, pulled him inside the long, dark side street. His heart beating fast, Derek yanked himself away and put his arms up, boxing style.

  The guy stepped back and held up both hands, palms out. “I’m not here for a fight.”

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I could have you arrested for unlawful detention.”

  “You’re free to go. But first…” He shined a light from presumably his phone up near his chin and Derek got a look at his face.

  “You’re Ronan Casella, Alessia’s cousin.”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s the cloak and dagger for?”

  “I thought you might disappear before I had a chance to talk to you.”

  “Disappear?”

  “I know who you are.”

  “Let’s move out to the street so I can see you better.”

  “Fine by me.”

  In what was left of the daylight, Derek studied the guy. Tall and fit, he had searing green eyes, a darker color from Hayley’s and Finn’s. And his hair was graying. “How’d you come by it?”

  “I watched you and Ali together in the back of the church. And Hayley said something about her new beau. And after talking to you, I ran a background check.”

  “Are you a cop, Ronan?”

  “No.” Derek had to give him something. “So, I’m sort of dating Ali. What’s it to you?”

  “Nothing, if you’d turned up in the background check. But Derek Davidson doesn’t exist.”

  “Sure, he does. You’re lookin’ at him.”

  “I got a picture of you from the wedding. We ran facial recognition. I know you’re Special Agent Derek Drake with the FBI.”

  “You got me mixed up with somebody else.”

  “Look, if there’s a good reason why you assumed another identity, I want to know. If you don’t explain that, I’ll tell Ali everything, then alert the college.”

  And screw up the whole operation.

  “All right, I’m not Derek Davidson.”

  “I’ll ask you—why all the cloak and dagger?”

  “I can’t tell you any more than name, rank, and serial number if I had one.”

  “Why should I believe you? Trust you?”

  “Because I’ve become more than fond of your cousin. I’m hoping she’ll forgive the deceit when this is all over.”

  “When what’s all over?”

  “I said I can’t explain.”

  “How long before you can?”

  “I don’t know. I’m five months into it. I hope, soon.”

  Ronan shook his head and some dark hair fell onto his forehead. “That’s not good enough.”

  “No? What I’m doing is life or death for other people.”

  “Again, why should I believe that?”

  “Please, Ronan. I’m one of the good guys. Don’t blow my cover.”

  Ronan watched him thoughtfully. “Tell you what. Talk to your powers-that-be. Meet me tomorrow at that little diner there,” he pointed across the street “at ten o’clock. I won’t do anything beforehand.”

  Then without saying more, he circled Derek and strode away.

  It didn’t hit Derek that Ronan Casella had been MIA for twenty years and recently reentered Alessia’s life. Who knew what he did in those years? Was it possible he himself was a human trafficker? Shit, shit, shit. He was going to have to tell Grant about Casella’s threats.

  * * *

  “Wow, I haven’t done this in ages.” Alessia pulled the laces through the holes of her old ice skates on a bench in the rink.

  Next to her, Kate snorted. “Better you than me.” She patted her stomach. “No ice skating for us.”

  It was cold today, but they sat in an enclosed area with benches near the ice. The twins and Tomaso were already out there with their friends from first grade. Child laughter and shouts indicated that the school ice-skating party was in full swing.

  Alessia stood and wobbled slightly. She’d been good at this in high school and in her twenties. But she hadn’t done much to have fun the last four years. “I’m off.”

  “Good luck.”

  She remembered how to dig her toe into the ice and push off. Seconds later she was gliding along.

  Mikey called out, “Hey, Mom, you’re skating.”

  “I am.”

  Mattie zoomed over. But he came a bit too fast and he toppled her onto the ice with him on top of her. “Mom, I’m sorry.”

  “No problem, buddy.”

  She was trying to think of a graceful way to get up when someone plucked her son off her and stood him on his feet.

  “Thanks, Mr. Baron.”

  A man towered over her and extended his hand. He tugged her up, then said to Mattie, “Be more careful the next time, sport.”

  “I will.” Mattie’s smile was big and broad. He loved this teacher when he had him last year.

  He focused on Alessia. “Mr. Baron sounds too formal for you, Mrs. Benatti. I’m Adam.”

  “Alessia.”

  His chocolatey eyes smiled at her and sandy-colored hair peeked out from his cap. “I appreciate you volunteering to chaperone. Want to skate a bit with me?”

  “Sure.”

  She stole a couple of glances at the boys’ teacher. He was a few inches taller than her five-eight and very fit. As they glided along, she noted that he was attractive. Not as good-looking as Derek, but Mr. Baron was hard to miss. They chatted about ice skating and other small talk and when they lapped past Kate, she waved. Another two laps and they stopped in front of her sister-in-law. “This is Kate, Tommy’s mother.”

  “Hi, there.”

  “Nice to see you again. No skating, I presume.”

  “Not safe enough.”

  “Would you two like some hot chocolate?”

  They both nodded. When he skated off, and Alessia plopped down, Kate said, “Speaking of hot chocolate, that’s the color of Mr. Baron’s eyes.”

  “Yeah. I noticed.”

  “That’s something new.”

  “Why?”

  “There was a time when you would never have noticed. Looks like your relationship with Derek has opened you up to more possibilities.”

  She stared at Kate, then said, “After Gideon’s accident, I admitted I felt more than friendship for him.”

  “Yeah, honey, it was pretty obvious at the wedding and Thanksgiving. Does he feel the same?”

  “He cares about me, but he isn’t ready to get serious.”

  “He certainly acts like he’s ready. But if he’s not, maybe you should flirt a little with that attractive hunk of man heading over with the drinks that match his eyes.”

  “Huh. Maybe.” But Alessia j
ust didn’t have it in her to flirt with other guys.

  * * *

  They headed to the diner together and Grant fumed. The wind mussed his gray hair and his eyes were flaming. “This fucking ticks me off, Drake. I told you repeatedly to stay away from her.”

  “I know. You were right. However, we have to deal with the situation at hand.”

  “I have the research on him. He’s clean. So, we can tell him what we’re doing.”

  “I suppose that’s good news.”

  When they entered the diner, the chatter of patrons, the rattle of dishes filled the air. Ronan sat in the back booth. His brows rose when he saw Grant. When they took seats, Derek said, “Ronan, this is my colleague, Grant Wilson. He’s my handler.”

  Ronan nodded to Grant.

  “So,” Derek began. “Grant says we vetted you.”

  “Ha. I’ve been vetted by law enforcement before.”

  “Yeah, you come up clean.”

  “And?”

  “I’m going to read you in on this because we don’t have an alternative.” Grant’s tone was reluctant. Stern. “I’m not happy about it, Casella, but it’s a necessary risk now that you’ve made yourself a problem for us.”

  Ronan’s gaze turned hot. “I’m not happy about my cousin being duped.”

  “Derek is a topnotch undercover agent with the FBI. He recently joined a task force which includes police, social services and the FBI.”

  “What for?”

  “We suspect there’s a covert human trafficking ring at City College and may extend to other institutions. Derek’s job is to locate the victims and ferret out who in the administration is facilitating the abductions.”

  Ronan didn’t show shock. But his jaw pulsed. Derek guessed this was something he’d never even considered. Why would he? “If it’s this important, why tell me?”

  “Because we don’t think you’re involved in the ring.”

  “Christ. Of course, I’m not. So, what the fuck is he doing fooling around with my cousin?”

  “I’ve objected all along about his closeness with Alessia. He didn’t listen.”