CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

As soon as a now-dressed Hammer and Amelia entered their living room, they weren't surprised to see that Charles was with Mick. But what did surprise Amelia was that Hannibal was with them too.

"JoJo!" she said with nothing but joy in her voice as she and her son ran to each other and embraced. "I thought you were in Philly."

"I was," said JoJo. "But Dad ordered Big Daddy to bring me home."

Amelia, Mick, and Hammer laughed. Charles looked at JoJo like he was crazy. "He ordered me?"

"You know what I mean, Uncle Charles. He told, I mean he asked you to bring me home."

"That's more like it."

"But why?" asked Amelia, looking from Hammer to Charles.

"He said you needed your son home with you," said Charles.

Amelia melted again as she looked at Hammer. And Mick and Charles both saw that her look had changed. It was no longer that why did I marry this fool look, to a more lovingly look who I married look. And Mick shook his head. They'd had mind-blowing sex that caused them to make up again. But for how long this time?

Amelia knew that look on Mick's face, too. He thought it was just a sex thing again. But he didn't know what monumental sacrifice Hammer had made for her and JoJo. But he and Charles both would see in time that it was different. Because right now, after all Hammer had put her through down through the years with his major neglect, they didn't want to hear it either. Seeing would be believing for them.

It became a relaxing morning as they all sat down and talked. Then Hammer's chef and his staff prepared and served them breakfast in the dining hall. After breakfast, JoJo was excused to the game room where he was anxious to get online with his gaming buddies.

Then the Gabrinis phoned in on a conference call that included casino mogul Reno Gabrini, powerful mob boss Sal Gabrini, and business mogul and family enforcer Tommy Gabrini, all three offering their services. They were good, as the Gabrinis knew they would be, but the Sinatras appreciated the offer.

And then, as the conversation continued, Ozzie walked in and sat at the table with Hammer and Mick, and Charles and Amelia. But seeing all of that power at one table, and hearing all of that power over the conference call, made Ozzie feel weird. Like he was walking in on a mob convention or some high-stakes gangster strategy session. It made him smile. He'd come a long way to be in this kind of inner circle.

After the conference call ended, they got down to business.

"What you got?" Hammer asked his trusted best friend and bodyguard and all-around right-hand-man. "Any connection to Kucinich and Reiner beyond the fact that they were both senators?"

"Nothing between the two men stood out. But plenty between their two wives."

"We're listening," said Charles.

"Stanley Kucinich's wife and Darby Reiner's wife Sheila were college roommates."

"Get the fuck out of Dodge," said Charles, surprised. "That's what I call a connection." The only person who wasn't surprised was Mick. His men had already uncovered that much.

"But get this," said Ozzie. "They recently became partners in an import/export business."

"Where they could freely ship human cargo from port to port?" asked Hammer.

Ozzie nodded. "Exactly. Beth might have been telling the truth about that human trafficking ring."

"And what?" asked Amelia. "The wives of both senators were acting as shields for their husbands' illegal activities?"

"That's what we can surmise," said Ozzie. "Yes, ma'am."

"Or the ringleader themselves," said Charles.

Ozzie pointed at Charles. "That too," he said.

But Amelia was standing up. "I need to talk to Darby Reiner's widow. If she's that involved like it seems she is, then she'll know why he targeted me. Why he ended up at my house."

"Be careful," said Hammer. "She doesn't know she's a widow yet."

And it was only then did Amelia realize that Mick's men had taken Reiner's body from her house and they'd heard nothing since. "Why isn't his disappearance in the news yet?" she asked.

"That's the odd part," said Ozzie. "His wife or widow or whatever you want to call her hasn't reported him missing. Nobody has. It's like they know they weren't legit, and they don't want any heat around their illegitimacy."

"Where does she live?" Amelia asked.

"In Potomac."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."

"Not so fast, Pam Grier," said Charles. "Mick and Hammer can take it from here."

"You must be joking? There is no question I'm going."

They all looked at Hammer.

"No question whatsoever," added a very sincere-looking Amelia.

"She can take care of herself," Hammer said. "She goes."

Amelia smiled. That was the Hammer she loved. "I'll get dressed," she said. Then she stopped in her tracks. "What about JoJo?"

Charles frowned. "What do you mean what about JoJo? What do you think I'm here for? To go on wild goose chases with y'all? I'm here to stay here with JoJo."

Amelia smiled. "Thanks, Big Daddy," she said, and then she hurried upstairs.

Mick looked at Hammer. "That woman's fire. You haven't tamed her yet?"

Hammer looked at Mick. "Have you tamed yours?"

"My wife knows not to cross that line. You let Millie fly right over it."

"Don't listen to Mick's lying ass," said Charles. "Roz got him wrapped around her finger too."

But as Hammer turned to leave, Charles stopped him. "She might be fire like Mick said, but you'd better be a water hose and control that fire if it gets too dangerous."

Hammer looked at Charles, and at Mick. How in the world did Amelia keep her sanity with those two domineering men hovering over her like she was a newborn baby. Especially Mick, he thought.

But Mick didn't give a shit what Hammer or anybody else thought. His only reason for being there was to look out for Amelia's best interest. Not anybody else's. Amelia's.

Hammer knew it too. "Yes, sir," he said to Charles.