Part 1 (1/2)

Jacks Are Wild.

A Detective Jack Stratton Novel.

Christopher Greyson.

Because of who I am.

Ten Years Ago.

As she looked across the schoolyard at the sea of boys in identical black pants, white s.h.i.+rts, and black ties, Angelica spotted her little brother's curly mop-top of dark hair. She charged forward. Ilario was talking to a group of boys outside the cafeteria. Dodging and weaving, she rushed up and skidded to a stop. ”You told Paolo we're staying after school, right?” She grabbed his shoulders.

His eyes rolled; she couldn't tell if it was from embarra.s.sment or because she shook him. He pulled her hands off and walked a few feet away from the boys. ”Yeah, I told him. But I don't like this. Paolo's still freaked because of everything that's gone down.”

”I know. But you'll cover for me, right?”

”I'm worried he still has someone keeping an eye on us.” Ilario looked around nervously. ”You have to be back before the driver gets here to pick us up.”

Her big brown eyes lit up with excitement. ”I will.”

”Don't cut it close. You know how mad he gets.”

She leaned in and whispered, ”We're only going behind the parking lot. I just want to talk to him.” She pressed her elbows to her sides as she tried to contain her giddiness.

”Yeah, you want to talk to him.” Ilario puckered his lips. ”Talk to his mouth.”

She blushed and teasingly whacked him on the arm. He laughed.

Angelica kissed her brother on the cheek, flung her backpack across her shoulders, and took off down the hallway. Heading upstream like a salmon, she fought her way against the flow of kids who continued to pour out the door. Once she broke free, she sprinted across the parking lot. Her new, s.h.i.+ny-black shoes clicked on the asphalt as her shoulder-length black hair streamed behind her.

Every day, one of her father's drivers took her and her brother to and from school, but today was different. The ruse of staying after school gave her a little over an hour to spend with Anthony, and she didn't want to waste any time.

As she approached the rear parking lot of the private school, she stopped behind a tree, whipped off her backpack, looked down at her starched, white school uniform, and frowned. Men must make these. Using her fingers, she fanned out her hair and smoothed down her s.h.i.+rt, and then straightened up before she walked on.

There Anthony was. Suddenly she couldn't breathe. To Angelica, Anthony Marinetti was everything she'd ever hoped for in a boyfriend. He was tall, sweet, and most importantly to her-he loved art. They had been secretly dating for a while and Angelica had fallen for him.

A huge smile spread across his face when he saw her.

”Hey, Anthony.” She gave him an awkward little wave. They both knew they couldn't risk an open hug in the middle of the parking lot, but their bodies still moved together like magnets.

”Hi.”

They headed for the car. Besides sneaking off during school, they hadn't ever been alone. Anthony had never asked her why, at seventeen, she couldn't tell her parents she was dating, and she'd never explained. She didn't want to scare him away, which was why she'd never told him her real last name, either.

She smiled as she opened her door and hopped into the car.

Anthony frowned. ”I'm supposed to get the door for you.” His hands went up in mock exasperation as he smiled.

”That's old-fas.h.i.+oned.” She giggled and shut the car door.

Anthony started up the car and then drove them down the short gravel utility road in the back of the parking lot. It was a private spot where all the kids liked to hang out. He turned to her and a smile spread across his handsome face. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at him, and Angelica felt the color rise in her cheeks.

”I made you something.” She opened her backpack and took out two pieces of cardboard taped together. Lowering her head, she slid out the paper and held it out for him with both hands. It was a sketch of them sitting on a seawall with a lighthouse in the distance; Angelica's head was resting on his shoulder as they held hands.

”It's unbelievable.” His smile widened. ”Is this what you were doing during cla.s.s?”

”You saw me?” She swallowed hard.

He waved his hands and shook his head. ”Not what you were drawing, just that you were drawing something. I thought Mr. Gillespie was going to catch you.”

Angelica c.o.c.ked her head. ”Is that why you kept coughing? To distract him, so I wouldn't get in trouble?”

He smiled. Anthony ran his hand through his thick brown hair. ”You should enter the art contest at school.”

”I don't think so.”

”You know you can probably win.”

Angelica twisted a length of her hair as she looked down at the picture. ”You think I can win?”

”Are you kidding me?” The corner of his mouth turned up. ”You're so talented. There's a reason Mr. Bowman asked you to join the advanced art cla.s.s.”

Angelica looked down at her feet.

”Don't be embarra.s.sed about being talented.” Anthony squeezed her hand. ”You have a gift.”

She looked up and gazed into his deep brown eyes. He stroked the back of her hand once with his thumb and she melted. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed her. Tenderly, she kissed him back. As her hand started to relax, her fingers began to slip out. He gently tightened his grip and held on.

His kisses were even better than she'd imagined. The warmth of his lips sent a tingle through her body. He leaned in and she wrapped both arms around his neck.

Anthony spoke between his kisses. ”You-taste-like-cherry-lip-balm.”

She giggled.

Their kisses quickly grew in intensity until the car windows fogged up. As they made out, getting lost in each other, Angelica lost track of time. She looked at the windows. ”What time is it?”

”Not sure, but if the late bus has already left, I'll drive you home myself.”

”What?”

The sound of cars churning up gravel as they came down the little road caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. She tried to wipe away the dew, but the windows were so fogged up she couldn't see anything.

Anthony squeezed her shoulder. ”It's okay. It's probably just some other kids.”

She glanced at the clock and saw the time. ”Shoot.”

Both front doors ripped open. Two large men, one with a thick black leather jacket, dragged Anthony out while someone grabbed Angelica by the arm.

”Paolo!” Angelica's voice caught in her throat when she looked up to see her uncle's stern face. He was a barrel-shaped man with thick gray hair. His lips were always curled into a snarl, and his eyes were cold.