Alessia (Casella Cousins #4) - Kathryn Shay Page 0,28
feet onto the floor, directly in front of her. “No, Alessia, I’m not. That was my cover.”
“Oh, dear God in heaven.”
“I’m incredibly sorry. But don’t you see? We can start over. Know each other as who we really are.”
“You already know who I am.”
“I realize that, but things can be different—”
His explanation halted when she lifted her hand and slapped him across his face. “Get out of my house.” She raised her voice a notch. “And don’t you dare call me again. I’m horrified that you’d think I’d succumb to a man who’d lied to me in every single interaction.”
“Alessia, honey, I’m one of the good guys.”
“No, Derek. Billy was one of the good guys. You can’t hold a candle to him. Now leave.”
Hurt suffused his face. But he said, arrogantly, “What if I don’t?”
“Gideon’s down at my Mom’s house, helping her babysit my kids and Rafe’s. I’ll call him. He’s a police officer and can get you out of here.” He stayed where he was. “I’ll do it too, Derek. I mean it. I never want to be with you again.”
* * *
Leather coat back on—he’d discarded it because he thought he’d be staying—Derek left Alessia’s house through the front door, which she’d unknowingly left unlocked. He’d been scoping out her house, and today, saw all three kids leave with her mother.
Billy was one of the good guys. You can’t hold a candle to him. She’d insulted him in the worst way she could.
Still stinging from that, he’d gotten halfway down the driveway and stopped when someone else came up it. “Hello, Gideon.”
“No pleasantries. I’m pissed as hell at you for hurting my little sister.”
“There were extenuating circumstances.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Sit in my car with me and I’ll tell you. As a police officer, you’ll get it.”
Her brother’s expression was wary. “Don’t bet on it, but I’ll hear you out.”
Once inside his real car, a sporty-model sedan, he said bluntly, “I’m an FBI agent.”
Gideon’s face blanked.
“I enrolled at City College as a student to ferret out the people involved in a human trafficking ring.”
“Did you? Get them?”
“Yes. We saved four already-captured kids. And prevented a lot more.”
The police officer in him surfaced. “Tell me how.”
Twenty minutes later, Derek finished. Gideon had nodded and asked questions. “You know, I do get it. I’ve been asked to be on a task force and some of the work will involve undercover operations. But Derek, why the hell did you drag my sister into it? You endangered her.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“What then?”
“I couldn’t resist her.”
“Jesus, Davidson or whoever you are, you’re trained to resist interrogation by terrorists.”
“Not by someone like her.”
Gideon shook his head. “I don’t buy it. You could have left her alone.”
“I know. I’m only stating the facts.”
He glanced toward the house. “How did Ali take it when you told her?”
“She slapped me—hard—and kicked me out.”
“That’s the Casella in her.”
“And you? Are you going to punch me in the face?”
“No. I’m going to talk to Ali, to my family. See what they say.”
Derek cocked his head. “You’re not the hothead I thought you were.”
“I’m mellowing. I hurt my back during that car crash we all were in together and I’m still recuperating. Some other things have happened, to make me more…never mind. I’m going inside.”
He reached for the door handle.
“Know, Gideon, that I’m in love with her.”
“I’m glad to hear that, at least. I’ll be in touch.” With that he slid out of the car.
Derek started the engine, pulled out of the driveway and…where would he go? He had no close friends because of the way he’d lived his life. Grant was pissed as hell at him, still, and had given him furlough.
He glanced at the house. He thought Alessia would take him back. Now, depression threatened. For the first time in his adult life, he didn’t know what to do.
* * *
Early the next morning, the Casella girls walked the track at the Hidden Cove Y, which they did frequently in the winter. Carmella hadn’t joined them, but Kate, even at eight months pregnant, came along. All wore different colored sweat suits.
“Thanks for slowing down for me,” she said patting her stomach which popped out in the tight knit. “I know we used to walk faster.”
Julianne squeezed her hand. “No problem.”
Alessia said, “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Any particular reason?” Kate asked.
“Did anybody talk to Gideon in the last few days?”
“Briefly,” Kate answered. “When he helped Mama with our kids, that delightful day she took them.” She sighed. “Ah, morning sex.”
Julianne frowned. “Didn’t the doctor