“Those bastards. Listen, don’t say another word. I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you.”
“I thought I told you to stay put.”
Ava whirled around. It was the redheaded guard. His blue eyes blazed.
“I don’t take orders from you and since you’re not going to shoot me, I suggest you buzz off and leave me be.”
“I ought to—”
“You ought to do your job and find out who killed my friend instead of harassing me because of who I used to be married to.”
Biting her lip in an effort to keep from slapping the man, she packed the rest of her items and went into the bathroom for one final check. She found her hairbrush and took a few moments to brush some of the tangles from her hair. It was a mess. Half curled and half straight. She brushed it straight as best as she could before moving back into the bedroom. The man was still standing there. Ava ignored him, zipping up her suitcase and retrieving her cellphone and purse before making her way back to the living room with her things.
She didn’t bother stopping. Instead Ava rolled her suitcase straight to the front door. Dominic and the other guard were already standing there. Taking a seat, she waited to be told that they were back at port. It came sooner than she expected.
“I just got the call that we’re docking. They want us to escort these two down,” the blond told her counterpart.
“Let’s go then. The sooner we can get these two off our hands the better. Let’s hope MDPD has better luck with them than we did.”
The men motioned with their guns towards the door. Ava grabbed the knob and turned. They didn’t have to tell her twice. She was ready to get away from both of them. Opening the door, Ava grabbed for her luggage, but Dominic was holding it for her. With a shrug she set off down the hallway towards the elevator. She pressed the button and held it. Finally the doors opened and she and Dominic entered the elevator, their “captors” right behind, guns pointed.
They were silent as the elevator took them down to the first floor. As soon as the doors opened, Ava was out. She headed through the ballroom and out the way she’d entered the ship just yesterday. When she made it to the dock, the confusion that greeted her was enough to make her head spin. Police cars were everywhere. There were news vans set up behind barriers. What had she just walked into? Ava started down the ramp when her arm was grabbed.
“Oh no you don’t. You’re heading downtown with us.”
She turned around, but before she could say anything she heard a familiar voice.
“I suggest you unhand her or the Coast Guard is going to be hit with the biggest lawsuit you’ve ever seen and by the time I’m done with you, you will be lucky if you can find work as a garbage man.”
Ava faced forward. “Angelo, how did you get here so fast?”
Her brother-in-law gifted her with a small smile. Next to him stood a white-haired older gentleman. He clutched a briefcase and a sheaf of papers in his hand.
“I don’t know who the hell you are, but I suggest you get out of our way. We have a job to do.”
With a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, Angelo took a step forward and wrenched the blond man’s hand from around Ava’s arm. The guard pointed his gun at Angelo, but he didn’t flinch. Instead he motioned for the man standing behind him. The sheaf of papers passed to his hand and he held them up in front of the guard’s face.
“These are legal documents signed by Judge Ritts. They state that you have no authority to detain or question Ms. Hill and any attempt to do so will result in the right of Ms. Hill to sue you for violating her rights. If you have any further questions, my attorney Hayes Milford will be happy to explain things to you, but Ms. Hill and I are leaving. Come on, Ava.”
Angelo thrust the papers at the guard and grabbed for Ava’s hand. She evaded his touch by turning back to collect her belongings from Dominic. His green eyes watched her. She had no clue what he was thinking, but she could feel the reluctance as he relinquished her things.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
He nodded and she turned away.
“Ava, wait.”
She half turned to face Dominic. Though Angelo was waiting on the dock, she knew he was watching.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I meant what I said. All of it. Think about it.”
She nodded, not sure what to say before she turned and walked down the ramp that lead to the dock. Angelo took her luggage and motioned for her to follow him. A black limo was parked less than ten feet away.
As they approached, a chauffeur exited and popped the trunk, loading her luggage. Ava gritted her teeth at the feel of Angelo’s hand on the small of her back as he opened the back door for her. Before she entered the limo, she took one last look back towards the boat. Dominic was being lead handcuffed down to a police car. She sighed and climbed into the limo. It wasn’t her problem. But somehow saying that didn’t make her feel any better.
Chapter Sixteen
As the limousine started to move, Ava tried her best to ignore the eerie silence inside the car. She could feel Angelo’s gaze on her, hot and heavy, even without looking at him.
“You want to tell me what you were doing with Joseph’s bastard?”
Ava turned and looked at her former brother-in-law. A scowl marred his features. She could see the faintest tick moving in his jaw.
“Excuse me?”
“Dominic. What was he doing on that boat with you?”
Ava folded her arms. “The more important question is how did you get here so damn fast with papers signed by a judge? I called you less than thirty minutes ago.”
Angelo gave her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I have contacts in many places. When you called me I was having dinner with Judge Ritts and my attorney. The judge kindly offered to use his influence as a personal favor to me. As soon as all the Is had been dotted and all the Ts crossed, I came straight here to you. The last thing I expected was to find you with that bastard.”
“I appreciate you keeping me from having to go downtown, but that doesn’t give you the right to question me. I’m not one of your lackeys, Angelo.”
His hand slid and caressed her thigh. “Ava. Ava. Why do you always have to be so combative with me? Why can’t things just be easy between us?”
“Because you don’t understand boundaries, Angelo.”
Ava gritted her teeth in an effort to fight down her rising ire as he continued softly rubbing her leg.
“And what boundaries would those be, Ava?”
“I was your brother’s wife. I am the mother of your niece. That entitles me to a certain level of respect. A level above what you would show the other women you deal with.”
“Haven’t I always treated you like the high-class girl you are?”
“No. You haven’t and I don’t appreciate it.”
Angelo’s brows drew together. “Cut the crap and tell me the truth.”
Ava tried to school her expression. “Well since we’re being so upfront and honest, no, I don’t appreciate you questioning me about him.”
“Well I don’t appreciate the way he was looking at you.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“I’m very sane. And I know what I saw. He had your luggage and he was staring at you like a boy who’s just had his first taste of pussy.”
Ava slapped Angelo hard across the face. “I think you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to.”
The muscle in her neck was forming into a tight ball. If she’d had a gun, she would’ve likely shot Angelo. What was his problem? She didn’t have time for this.
“I like it rough, Ava. Don’t start something you’re not willing to finish.”
“Bastard.”
“No, that would be Sambarino. What happened between you two? Why was he even there in the first place?”
“He was invited. I had no clue he would be there. If I did I would not have gone.”
“You’re still dodging my question.”