Redemption (Crossing Lines Book 2)

  Redemption

  (Crossing Lines 2)

  Barbara Winkes

  Copyright © 2022 by Barbara Winkes

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales are purely coincidental.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover art by May Dawney Designs

  For D.

  Chapter One

  It’s nothing short of a miracle that Kendall isn’t behind bars, and that we’re both still alive. I haven’t given myself much time to process the recent events. I’m grateful we’re here, able to pick up the pieces, or at least, some of them.

  It’s a bright summer day when I watch her lay the bouquet of long-stemmed roses on her parents’ grave. She brought a smaller arrangement for her uncle as well. His is still overflowing.

  I stay at a respectful distance. Kendall was able to leave the hospital this morning, and she asked to do this first. I am not in a hurry to get back to the mountain of paperwork, just as I’m sure she’s not looking forward to never-ending meetings with lawyers and investigators.

  But freedom doesn’t come without a price.

  Wearing jeans and a sweater, her hair in a ponytail, Kendall looks a lot more relaxed than when I first saw her, in church at her mother’s funeral, pledging to fulfill Angela Mancini’s dying wish to find out who killed her husband, Kendall’s father. She was wearing a black dress back then, high heels, grief and vulnerability combined with a dangerous attitude. None of this is completely gone. She seems more serene, despite the recent challenges, and the ones that lie ahead.

  Perhaps clarity makes all the difference. She’ll have it soon, regarding her future, which will have an impact on my future either way. Clarity is a good thing.

  I finally approach her. The doctors might have declared her well enough to go home, but she still needs to rest, not that I’ll have much of an influence. A gunshot wound isn’t something to mess with.

  “Ready to go home?” I ask, and she straightens.

  “Don’t worry, Agent Johnson. I’m in no mood to run away.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Let’s go.”

  * * * *

  There’s not much I can do other than drop her off at home. I’ll have to go back to work, and she has to meet with some people now. It’s all related—after the capture of Jimmy Bruno, her father’s former right-hand man, and the death of Tony Bianco, there’s a lot to sort out, on her side, on mine. There’s no point in obsessing over anything else.

  Kendall is unusually quiet during the drive.

  “Are you in pain?”

  She shrugs. “The state hasn’t taken all my money yet, so I can still afford some good drugs.”

  I must have hesitated for a moment because she chuckles. “All legally prescribed, don’t worry. I have no intention of screwing this up.”

  “You saved my life. It’s not going to be so bad.”

  “That’s what you keep telling me, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

  This is just small talk, I know. She’s not the type to wait and see. Kendall has her lawyers at the ready, and they are already at work ironing out the best deal possible for her.

  Now Tony Bianco won’t be able to testify, but I never trusted in him to tell a sliver of the truth. Jimmy Bruno—he will try to save his hide any way. It’s not up to me to worry about Kendall. I have a job to do.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” I say, when we arrive at the building that houses her condo.

  “You will.”

  She smiles, leaning in, and for a moment, I worry she might kiss me in front of the two agents that followed us in the other vehicle. For an even shorter moment, I don’t care. What is wrong with me? It’s obvious I’m dealing with the near-death experience in a very different way. I’m not even the one who got shot.

  “Have a good day, Robyn.”

  It still feels strange to have her say my name in this soft, intimate tone, stirring up memories of a time we both must forget about. Easier said than done.

  “You too. Take it easy.”

  Somehow, everything I say seems to be amusing to her. I turn away, feeling righteously irritated. Against all odds and reason, still, intrigued.

  If she has a long day ahead of her, mine will be even longer.

  I have a few minutes to get another coffee before meeting with my boss and the prosecutor. My partner Hampton McKay is present as well as a couple of other agents. I notice that his tie is a bit crooked—he hasn’t gotten a lot of sleep in the past weeks either.

  I went undercover with the Mancinis, targeting head of the family Kendall Mancini with a two-fold strategy. One was to collect evidence for any crimes along the way, the other to find out more about the infamous raid that killed her father before she would declare a vendetta on a rival family, the Biancos. Both avenues were meant to convince her to cooperate, help bring down the more violent Biancos, and avoid an all-out war.

  It got complicated, and not just because I got a lot closer to her than I imagined.

  Regardless, we succeeded on those objectives, solved the murder of Alphonso Mancini and brought Kendall to the table. Tony’s son Frank is in custody. There will be some more loose ends to tie up, but we made great strides in curtailing organized crime in the city.

  If there’s something the other people in the room still don’t know, it’s for the best. For all of us.

  “So that will be it?” Hampton asks, incredulous. “She gets away with it all, doing no time?”

  Ryan Farmer from Financial Crimes gives him a shrug. “My thoughts exactly, but you know her lawyers will go for that. I’m not happy with it either.”

  “We’re not there yet,” the AUSA informs us. “She destroyed government property, made an attempt to escape custody after a cooperation agreement.”

  She did that in order to save me. I don’t, can’t say it out loud, because even in my head it sounds ambiguous. Getting rid of Tony Bianco and the most relevant competitor mattered to Kendall, no doubt about it. What good did it really do for her when she was already in negotiations with the authorities? She could have stayed in her condo, leaving that ankle bracelet intact.

  She didn’t owe me anything…and vice versa.

  “You’re with us, Agent Johnson?” the SAC, Rachel Carr, asks, startling me out of my musings.

  “Yes. Of course. I think it’s reasonable…She will admit to everything we already have on paper, pay fines, and we get most of the Bianco clan. I think it’s a win-win.”

  “I’m not sure I’d call it that, but it’s something we can work with,” the AUSA agrees, to my surprise. “Thanks to your work, Agent Johnson, we have a solid argument to make. Ms. Mancini knows that this time, there will be no second chances. I know you were hoping for more,” he addresses Farmer, “but this is a good outcome. Those fines won’t be pocket change.”

  Agent Farmer doesn’t look too convinced, but she nods.

  Everyone’s mostly happy. There’s no need for me to still feel restless and antsy, is there?

  Chapter Two

  I’m surprised the FBI lets me visit my parents’ grave this morning. Perhaps that’s their attempt to mellow me up a bit more, even when I’ve shown my soft side by saving one of their agents.

  Was it my smartest decision? One could argue, but having Robyn alive and at the negotiating table serves everyone. That’s all the motivation I can admit to because everything else is fantasy and innuendo. I never told the investigators that she crossed a line, for several reasons. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to keep it as a last resort bargaining chip. Then again, I’m not even sure how much it would be worth. That, and I like the idea that there’s something between us only we share, well, we and the rest of my family, but they have other things to think about right now.

  Soon after I’m back home, I call in my lawyer, MacKenzie Winter and one of her associates, a woman named Ainsley Dunne. I have coffee and pastries delivered from a nearby coffee shop, because I think I’ve earned it, after bullets flying and having to deal with numbers that might hurt even more.

  I have my housekeeper arrange everything in the living area by the window, move a couple of tables around. Comfort is key. For me, at this moment, anyway. Winter and Dunne are just lucky.

  When the two arrive, we shake hands, then MacKenzie hugs me, a rare display of affection. When she first started to work for my family, the name Winter wasn’t yet on the letterhead. We go way back, and I trust that she’ll help me sort out the recent chaos.

  “I’m so glad you’re back home, Kendall,” she says.

  “Me too. We can finally get back to work. Sit, tell me how bad the damage is.”

  I’m not sure how to interpret her expression.

  “Come on, it can’t be that bad, right? I know Robyn got them some insights, but that was only the first layer.”

  “And we’ll deal with that,” MacKenzie says. “I’m confident that you won’t have to do jail time.”

  “That’s the least I expected. I gave them everything they asked for, and then some. How confident are you?”

  “I don’t think it’s an issue. You saved the life of one of their agents. We can lean on that.”

  “Okay. What else?”

  She exchanges a loo
k with Dunne, and then says, “The judge that granted bail the last time? She won’t be happy that you took off the moment you saw an opportunity.”

  “To save that agent, remember? I’ve got a hole in my shoulder to prove my goodwill.”

  “I know. You’ll probably deal with an audit though, and some fines coming your way. On top of the back pay.”

  I straighten, and wince. “I expected that, too. It was part of the original deal. Robyn helped me find out who killed my father. I guess there is a price to that.”

  “Luca called me yesterday.”

  “Interesting that he calls you, and not me. I haven’t seen him much at the hospital either. What did he say?”

  “He wants to come by soon, discuss the future of the Mancini Group…and the rest of the business.” I can tell she’s uncomfortable, which makes me wonder if my cousin is going to be more of a problem than the FBI or the IRS.

  “Claudia came by before I had to deal with Bianco. She made some similar noises. Am I looking at a hostile takeover?” I try to sell it as a joke, but it doesn’t quite come across as such.

  MacKenzie frowns, while Ainsley Dunne keeps her gaze fixed on her notebook. It’s unnerving.

  “They are worried, “MacKenzie says. “After losing your parents, and Lorenzo…”

  Yes, Luca and Claudia have lost their father too, but that wasn’t my fault. I fail to see what this has to do with the business.

  “We are all still grieving. That doesn’t mean there’s any need for changes. I’m not going to prison. I’ll still run the company.”

  “I tried to alleviate their worries, tell them that at this point, it’s the best bet for the company and the family if you cooperate. No one will be poor.”

  “That’s what I understood. But they aren’t convinced? Look, I’m the one with the bargaining chips. They have the same liabilities and more. They should be happy I’m taking some heat off of them.”

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell them.”

  “Try harder. I’m not retiring from any part of the business. Let them come in and fine me. I’ll pay and get on with life.”

  MacKenzie nods, looking thoughtful.

  “Can you do that? I need my family to have my back right now.” It was bad enough to realize that Jimmy Bruno who had been around my family for two decades, was not who we thought he was.

  For a few seconds, there’s a laden silence between us, before MacKenzie says, “Luca has called some of our investors for dinner tonight. I think you should be there for it.”

  This might not mean what I think it does, but I’m still glad I’m sitting when she delivers the news.

  “All right. Thanks for the update. I’ll definitely be there. I guess I should clear it with the FBI.”

  “You should,” she agrees.

  Spending time in a hospital bed has not been in my favor, but they’d make a mistake counting me out yet. I’m ready to take back my place.

  * * * *

  The doctors have advised me to rest, but who has time for that? The meeting with the prosecutors will be early tomorrow. Before that, I have to salvage what’s left of my authority. In recent weeks, news about the company might have been vague and confusing for investors: My uncle was murdered. I got shot. There have been rumors about my cousins playing a bigger role now that Jimmy is out. I’ll have to set everyone straight.

  No pain, no gain…but I’m definitely in pain as I’m struggling to zip up my dress. Damn Luca. While I’m barely out of the hospital, he’s taking investors to Catania, the family restaurant, to remind everyone of my great-grandparents’ humble beginnings. It’s smart. I think it will remind them of what could be lost, even more than if they met at the headquarters of the Mancini group, or one of our Adria restaurants. Our investors believe in tradition. Some of them have old-fashioned, not to say bigoted views.

  I have never held back who I am. Not everyone can deal with that. I wonder if Luca is planning to make some changes in his personal life, now that his father who threatened to disown him, isn’t here any longer. Not my business. I understand everyone wanting to do these things at a pace they’re comfortable with.

  What’s going down at Catania, is my business, and I’m not going to let anyone take that away.

  * * * *

  The first part is easy. When I walk inside Catania, the first reaction is stunned silence, then my fabulous employees stop what they are doing to clap. This is not exactly what I expected, but it sets the tone nicely. I stop by some tables to greet regulars, some friends of my parents.

  “Kendall, I’m so glad you’re well,” Maria Romano says, taking my hand. “We’ve been worried about you.” I remember she and her husband sent a get-well card. I didn’t get a card from Luca or Claudia, come to think of it. Some missed calls, encouraging words in voicemails.

  We have everything under control.

  We’ll see about that.

  In the area at the back of the restaurant, partly hidden from the normal business, Luca is offering a feast for the investors. It’s like a scene from a Scorsese movie…including the surprise guests.

  When I walk up to the table, my heels clicking on the tiled floor, conversations at the table come to a halt. The guests, mostly men, regard me with expressions ranging from friendly curious to openly hostile. Some of them, I saw the last time at my mother’s funeral. I know who’s who, and who are the ones that thought Dad would be better off forcing me to marry Jimmy Bruno, so a man could take the reins. For the life of me, I don’t know why so many people have the idea men are better at stabilizing things. There’s not a lot of proof out there in the world. Regardless, my father did no such thing, and since I’m the heir, they’ll still have to deal with me.

  Karma.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” I say. “I’m happy to see you all. Please, enjoy your meal. We have a lot to talk about tonight.”

  Luca, who looked like he saw a ghost for a moment, jumps to his feet.

  “Kendall! Come on, let me get you a chair. Should you even be up?”

  “I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth though sitting down sounds good to me. “Let’s take a moment while everyone is busy.”

  “Of course. We’ll be right back,” he tells the guests. “Like my cousin says, enjoy. Can I get you anything? Water?” he addresses me.

  “I haven’t had dinner yet, and you can get me some water with my Chianti.”

  Luca frowns. “Aren’t you still on pain medication?”

  “I’m not going to argue with you on this. It’s still my restaurant…or did I miss anything important while I was in the hospital?”

  His face reddens. Not a good sign.

  “You should be home, recovering. Things are under control.”

  “You and Claudia keep telling me. If everything’s fine, why meet with the investors?”

  “Are you kidding me? You got shot, you’re cooperating with the FBI—”

  “To find my father’s murderer and get the Biancos off our backs, remember?”

  “Yeah, well, I know that, but people get nervous. We need to keep the business together, right? Especially now that Dad is gone too. We have to consolidate.”

  “I agree, but you haven’t seen me trying to go after your share, and Lorenzo’s.”

  He sighs. “That’s not what’s happening.”

  “Then explain it to me. I have time.”

  “I just wanted to reassure them that everything’s stable, and that we are not looking at any more arrests. That’s still the case, right?”

  “No one’s going to get arrested.”

  “You spent a night in a holding cell, remember?” He holds up a hand, anticipating the angry retort. “Come on, Kendall, you have to admit you made some serious mistakes. You got involved with an undercover agent, and you underestimated the danger Bruno presented.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

  “Is this you getting back at me for making you tell your father the truth? You decided you’d let Jimmy blackmail you. You helped him.”

  It’s complicated.

  “This is not about a grudge,” Luca insists. “If anything, I’m glad my father and I could have that conversation before his death. Mama is all right with it. I’m trying to save what I can of my business, and by proxy, yours. A thank you would suffice.”