Electing Love (The Collins Brothers Book Three) Read online

  “Now?”

  “Yes. What drove you to say ‘this is my time’?”

  “I don’t know exactly.” He gazed further down the table and not at her. “Let me think about it and get back to you later?”

  “When later? I thought we came her to talk about whatever this is.”

  He met her gaze. “Tonight.”

  “Give me a good reason to wait.”

  “Let me make a few phone calls to find out any developments on a case.”

  “A phone call? You’re involved with the investigation of the Boroni family, then.”

  “How did you guess?”

  “It wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. Are you?”

  “Yeah.” He nodded and color came back to his face. “The election was part of it. I promise to explain everything.”

  She reached across the table and took his hands in hers. “Fair enough. I’m patient, but don’t think I run around seeking danger. I don’t do my own stunts.”

  He massaged her hands. “I need to know you trust me, and for now, we’re good.”

  The waiter brought the food and she dragged her hand away from him. She placed the napkin on her lap and smiled. “Best part of my life here right now is no more salad, or as I generally call it, chicken feed. This burger looks delicious.”

  “You’d be the prettiest person around no matter what you eat, Nicole. You shine because of your heart.”

  Her heart soared. No one had ever said anything like that before.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Gerard

  Gerard weaved through traffic as they left the Cape and headed toward Boston. Nicole checked her tablet. He had to tell her that he was helping Liam investigate the Boroni family. His phone rang again, and he declined the call with one swipe of his finger.

  She stared at him. “You’re going to have to answer that. It hasn’t stopped.”

  “I want us to be home and safe.”

  Again his phone reverberated in the air. Liam didn’t take no lightly. Gerard grabbed his phone to shut it off, but she grabbed his arm. “Answer it already. It has to be important.”

  “Okay.” She let his arm go and he hit accept. “Liam, hey.”

  “Thank goodness.” In a fast voice, his brother asked him, “Gerard, where are you?”

  “Nicole and I are heading back to my condo.”

  His stomach turned hard. They were in a standstill on the highway, with no end of traffic in sight.

  “Turn around. Get back to Hyannis, fast.” Liam’s voice was high.

  Gerard gripped the wheel. “With this traffic jam, we can’t go anywhere.”

  His brother’s voice cracked as he rushed through his words. “The Boroni family connected you to half the family getting arrested today. Another fourth of them will be in custody within the hour. There are a few unaccounted for. Don’t go home. Joseph realized you blocked some of his political friends from helping him.”

  He had to get Nicole to safety. He stared at the sign that the next exit was in two miles. They’d be stuck here for hours unless traffic cleared. “Okay, we’ll head back to Hyannis.”

  “Why?” Nicole’s eyes widened, and she stared at his phone.

  He nodded and mouthed, “One minute.”

  A buzz in his ear grew. His heart now raced, but he had to be calm. His ears burned as his brother called to someone else, “Wait. Harry was shot. He’s my brother’s tail.” Nicole stared at him. He couldn’t breathe. Liam said, “Put the tracker on. I’m sending my team now. Gerard, get out of there. Now.”

  “Okay, we’re heading back.” Nicole sat straighter as he gazed at the never-ending sea of cars. He put his blinker on and told his brother, “See you at the parents’ house.”

  He hung up and she crossed her arms.

  No cars moved behind them. The endless car lights were all stuck in the same spots. Gerard tightened his grip on the wheel anyhow. “Sebastian Boroni was Stella’s boyfriend that gave her drugs, Nicole.”

  “He was her drug dealer—so? I’m confused. What’s going on? Why are we discussing the Boroni family right now?”

  “We’re in danger.” He merged to the right, and weaved through two cars. Then they were stuck again. The exit was miles ahead still. “I’m in this election because my brother, Liam, is in the FBI working a case against the Boroni family. He believed a few politicians were warning the Boroni family and letting them get away with crimes. The reason I ran this cycle was to help him prevent anyone from spilling the FBI plans…”

  Her mouth dropped open. “That’s why you ran for Senate? To stop the Boronis?”

  He nodded. “I spent most of my life showing up at political events. I wanted to run eventually. This became my opportunity. My part was to stop political backroom deals.”

  The hair on the back of his head stood up and his body became alert. Something hit him in his gut and signaled “run.” He stared out the mirror, but didn’t see any threat. “We have to find a way out, now.”

  “This traffic isn’t going anywhere.”

  Cars honked behind him. He tried to understand what had changed in the distance. “Our tail was shot. I need you to get down in your seat. We’re in danger.”

  More cars honked and his ears buzzed with tires that squealed. He squeezed her hand and then sucked in his breath. “There is a something going on outside. I have to try to get us out, now.”

  The car horns grew louder. In the distance, a car sped in the breakdown lane, and the silver color twinkled in the afternoon sunlight. He prayed it was a police officer as his phone rang. She picked up the phone and handed it to him. “It’s Liam.”

  Ice raced down his spine. He stared in his mirror at the car as he answered his brother. Liam shouted, “Go, Gerard. Step on the pedal. Raul Boroni is in a car intending on shooting you.”

  The cars in front didn’t move. Gerard stared at the silver car in the breakdown lane that peeled toward them. He jerked the wheel, and forced his car into the lane.

  Nicole’s face went white. He said, “Put your head down.”

  Then he stepped on the gas and accelerated. The Aston Martin went from zero to sixty in four seconds.

  Cars beeped as his speed continued to grow.

  The black SUV sped up.

  “What’s happening?” Nicole shouted as she covered her head.

  “Take my phone,” he ordered, and then opened her closed palm to hand her the phone. “Talk to my brother. He’s on the line. I need to drive faster. You give me his instructions.”

  Her hands shook. “Okay.”

  He jerked the wheel to avoid a car that dodged in front, and Nicole screamed. He gripped the wheel with both hands to avoid debris. The car swerved.

  The noise of the people that honked increased as he peeled through the highway.

  “Liam’s en route now.” Nicole clicked speakerphone and lowered her head. “I don’t understand what’s happening. My father worked for Mr. Boroni when I was a girl. They are all dead now.”

  “Your father had evidence against the mafia.” He dodged a car that turned too far into the emergency lane. “I’d guess Stella did too.”

  “No one will believe her. She’s schizophrenic. She suffers from delusions and isn’t grounded in the real world.” A loud bang ricocheted near the car. Gerard gritted his teeth. Someone had taken a shot.

  Nicole screamed and covered her face. He clutched the wheel and pressed on the gas. His car was faster than any truck.

  Nicole hadn’t said anything.

  “What else is Liam saying to me?” He tried to sound in control. “We’re almost to the exit, Nicole.”

  A thud hit his car. Damn. “My car…”

  She reached out to touch his leg, and he sped up. She fumbled and almost dropped his phone. The engine roared. Then she repeated whatever his brother said: “At the exit, go through the police cars. They know you drive a blue Aston Martin.”

  The curve for the exit was blocked. No choice remained, and he plowed
through the orange and black wood markers. A crack caught his ears just as the sirens blared. “Stay down, Nicole.”

  He held his breath and closed his eyes as he plowed past police vehicles.

  No one shot at him, though the car behind him skidded. The police circled the truck.

  Gerard cruised to a halt a short distance away. He turned his car around and winced as the black SUV bulldozed into two police vehicles. Two others then rammed their cars into the truck from either side.

  Whoever was in the truck was caught.

  Nicole scooted closer to him as he stared at what had happened. The police grabbed a young man out of the wreckage and threw handcuffs around his wrists.

  A knock on the window caused his heart rate to pump as Nicole screamed. He twisted his neck, but then the tension in his body dissipated. Liam waved at them.

  Gerard unlocked the doors and then reached out to take Nicole’s hand in his. They were safe.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Nicole

  Nicole had never experienced anything so intense. Her muscles still trembled, and she’d lost the ability to breathe or think. She sat still. “Why did they shoot at us?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Hold me.”

  Gerard massaged her arm as he rolled her window down to speak to his brother. She stared at Gerard’s strong hands. He was pale. She’d tell him to calm down, but her mouth didn’t open.

  Gerard squeezed her hand, again, and at least he had warmth left in him. She ran her hand through her hair, unable to speak. Her teeth chattered, so she kept silent.

  “Liam,” Gerard said. “What’s going on? Who is he?”

  Liam leaned past her and spoke to Gerard. “Raul Boroni.”

  Gerard’s hand stayed in hers as he said, “Who’s Raul Boroni?”

  “Sixteen-year-old kid,” Liam answered. “His dad kept him away from the drug-trafficking charges, but the boy has a temper and a trigger finger. Joseph’s nephew.” Liam tilted his head to her and leaned in the window. “I don’t know how we’re going to tell our mom and dad about you two.”

  “Nicole and I are fine, though in shock. Why us?”

  “I am sorry,” Liam said. “Joseph made a connection and clearly had a plan I didn’t anticipate.”

  “Clearly.” The fog in her brain began to dissipate as Gerard said, “We’ll head back to Hyannis, preferably with a police escort.”

  His brother smiled. “That can be arranged.”

  She coughed and slinked back in her seat. Her voice worked now, so she joined the conversation: “You both need to fill me in on Stella and my father’s connection as well. No more ‘later today’ excuses.”

  She hiccupped and her face heated. She covered her mouth instantly, unsure why she sounded weaker.

  Gerard nodded at Liam. “I don’t like secrets. Do we need to stay here or can we head back to Hyannis now?”

  “Go.” His brother tapped on the car door as he stepped away. “Stay there and make sure the parents set the alarm system.”

  “We bought a house next to them.” She crossed her arms. Gerard raised his eyebrows. Then he let her hand go and rolled the window up. “You’re pale. Relax, Nicole. We’ll be safe. Tomorrow we’ll not get in this car.”

  “You’re white as a ghost still.” Her eyes misted. “And I don’t cry, though I’m so confused. Why us?”

  “It was me. I stopped the political backroom deals, and this was a teenager who heard I was the bad guy.”

  “I’m still in shock.”

  “Me too.”

  “Let’s go.”

  “We’ll have a glass of wine and I’ll show you my old bedroom tonight.” He kissed her hand. Color returned to his face. She coughed and tried to not cry, but her eyes watered. Gerard said, “Mom will tell you embarrassing stories and I’ll sit next to you. I’ve never done that with anyone else, Nicole. You can both torture me.”

  She stared out the window as the car picked up speed. Her cheeks were wet. “I’ve never cried, except on camera. I used to be good at hiding my emotions. I don’t know what’s wrong with me right now.”

  He offered his hand to her. “Don’t hide from me.”

  She wiped her face to stop the tears and didn’t take his hand. “We almost get shot. Start talking. We have the drive back.”

  His face went white. She had to know.

  The evening stars guided them back to the highway. Her face was now dry. Nicole’s stomach flared with hunger pains. She ran her hand through her hair. Yes, she was fine. “I’m waiting.”

  “It’s hard to know where to begin.”

  She crossed her legs. “So let’s talk about the Boroni family, the mafia, your campaign, and my sister. You can pick which one to start with.”

  He nodded as the cop that followed behind them came closer. “As you know, your sister had an uncontrollable crush that made me happy to join the Marines.” He undid his first button. “I didn’t know the Boroni family’s connection to your sister till you told me.”

  She nodded. “Is any Boroni still involved with Stella at the hospital?”

  “You’d have to check with the hospital, but I don’t think so.”

  “I’ll call.” Her blood went cold. Her sister better not have any visitors. She’d deal with that in one moment.

  “Nicole?”

  She shook her head. “The FBI having a case is not an excuse for today. How are you involved and what did the boy think?”

  “My brother was running an investigation on one of the biggest crime families in the Boston area. I wanted to help end any political machination the criminals might otherwise get.”

  “More.” She closed her eyes and listened to every syllable. “Something else happened that snapped this together for you.”

  “You’re right.” He smacked his lips together. “I had a client. Elderly man. They were going to kill him. I put him into protection and spoke to Liam. Liam explained how the case kept hitting political red tape. I had the means to put a damper on the Boronis getting any favors. It’s why I went into the race when I did and decided my time had come.”

  “The Collins had a mayor of Boston in the past.” She remembered Stella discussing the virtues of Gerard Collins. “I get you wanting to help.”

  “I had no idea anyone would target me with you. It’s dangerous.”

  “You can’t control everything, Gerard.”

  “Use my phone and call the hospital.” Gerard sucked in his lower lip. “Liam’s been following the Boroni family around, and he never mentioned any hospital visits.”

  Everything in her mind was a whirlwind. “Can we check in to a hotel tonight? I don’t want to stay with your mom and dad.”

  He scratched his chin. “When you’re done with the phone, I’ll clear it with the police.”

  She nodded and then handed him back his phone. “Wait till I’m done with my call.”

  She threw open her pocket book and rifled through it to get her phone. She went through pleasantries with the front desk and was connected again to Doctor Reyes. “Has my sister had any visitors?”

  “None other than the usual volunteers and charity groups that visit the hospital.”

  “Thank you.” She hung up. “No one is there.”

  “I’m calling the police now about the hotel for tonight.”

  She closed her eyes. At least his big secret wasn’t about himself and wasn’t that bad. Everything might have been far worse, and today’s chase was an isolated incident. Nothing else would happen.

  ***

  The sun shone in the window while Gerard slept soundly beside her. The bed creaked when Nicole stood, and then so did the wood floorboards.

  Last night she’d been too exhausted. She gingerly stepped to not wake him.

  She went toward the bathroom and stretched at the door, then saw her phone vibrating on the nightstand. She tiptoed back to it and read the caller ID. Her brow wrinkled. Roy had called an hour ago. Nicole glanced at the clock, which re
ad six a.m. California was three hours behind Boston. She walked into the bathroom to let Gerard sleep, and called back.

  The phone clicked.

  “Hello?” she asked as she closed the door behind her. “Roy, what do you want?”

  “Dollface,” he answered. “I’ll field the scandals if you sign on that movie contract I sent you.”

  She scratched the back of her head. “What scandal? What are you talking about?”

  “The sex tape.”

  She almost dropped the phone. What? “What tape?”

  “You and Philip, on that last movie,” Roy told her. “It’s graphic. So I’m assuming yes to naked scenes in upcoming movies. I’ll get us more money.”

  “No. Eww.” She couldn’t quite close her mouth. Gross. Philip fish-kissed on screen and had no talent. “I’d never touch that man.”

  “Nicole, are you in the bathroom?” Gerard’s voice reverberated through the door. She had to tell him.

  “In a minute,” she called out. Then to Roy, she finished, “I’m getting married. I never had sex with Philip and I’m not making another movie.” She straightened her back. “And don’t call me. I made my choice.”

  She ended her call. A charge of energy raced through her. She opened the door and saw Gerard with his mouth open. She tried to smile, but he asked, “What’s wrong?”

  She spun on her heels. “A horrible actor faked a sex tape with me.” As she paced, she shook her head and closed her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “You didn’t sleep with this man?” Gerard’s voice cracked.

  “Eww. No,” she answered fast, and stared into Gerard’s eyes. He couldn’t believe this. “Why would I touch Philip? I told you, you’re the first man in a long time to touch me.”

  “We’re not saints.” He sat up. “I’d have to forgive you if you made a tape in California, Nicole.”

  “No.” She’d not overreact, though the urge to break something shot through her. “Believe me. I didn’t touch hm. I don’t like answering anything twice.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She slumped onto the side of the bed and collapsed. “This is too much. Maybe you should go. I don’t want to ruin your political future, Gerard.”