In their own room, Izzy and Jerome made their escape. Below Dan and Finn would see to everything and soon enough the police would be wanting Jerome, so they took advantage.
As soon as he closed the door of his magnificent master bedroom they were kissing, stumbling, yanking their clothes free. When they made it to the bed he still had his pants on, open, and her dress was peeled from her chest but the skirt and heavy bustle were on.
Laughing they gave up and Jerome fell to the bed, Izzy jumping and landing on top. He drew her hair free from its pinnings and the dark silken curls flowed over his hands as they kissed.
"Sweetheart," he groaned and pulled her small weight up. She gasped as he settled her over his face and began to lick. She was hot and wet, and soon when his long licks became teasingly fast swipes, Izzy was grinding into him, gasping and begging. He began to suckle at her clit and she was screaming, shivering sweetly on him.
After long moments, she pulled back and scrambled to plant herself onto him, so hot and tight and ready to take his entire hard length. They groaned but did not keep still once he speared her, becoming a fast moving tangle of hands and lips. He raised himself onto his elbows to kiss her breasts and she began to grind her body, riding him like a horse.
Izzy's face was twisted in pleasure, her gasps hard and fast pants that matched his own and his heart swelled. Jerome knew he needed this freedom with his sweet wife and in that instant he made a decision to end the violence and struggled.
He grabbed her hips and dragged her across him, sucking the sweet rosy tips of her breasts with great force. Her breath broke and he felt her tighten just as he did.
The pleasure swirled and claimed them both with harsh shouts. She instinctively thrust and his seed spilled deep into her, both of them clutching the other with bruising grips.
When it ended they collapsed into bliss, rolling to their sides awkwardly with her bustle still attached. He laughed. "It figures that once you became my wife I would take you like an animalistic youth."
"It matters not. We have a lifetime to take each other however we wish, whenever we wish. Finally, you are my husband and it is almost over."
He raised himself on an elbow and kissed her softly. "Almost. I just need to have a word with Whittaker and he'll leave us alone."
"Why would he do that when he tried to kill you?"
"I have a plan, the fastest way to peace for us all, though it might mean a change in the plans we discussed."
"When did you decide this?" she stretched.
"When I realized I was making love to my wife for the first time and I wanted the whole world to disappear. When I realized I had to make swift action so our peaceful future could begins, just as it will for Kate and Rafe when McMasters hangs."
"So what is your plan, my love?" She kissed his shoulder.
"I think it's time to restart. No more guns, killing, any of it. I will simply show Whittaker the evidence from today and tell him I will turn it over to the police unless he leaves us alone."
"Will that work?"
"If not, between your money, mine, and Kate's we can buy him out five times over."
She laughed and there came a knock at the door. "Who is it?" Izzy called with a sigh, already drawing up to fix her dress.
"It's Finn. The police need Jerome. I'm sorry."
Jerome stood and helped her up. "You stay here and hold this," he handed her the lira and paystub. "A few more loose ends and we'll all be ready to leave."
She kissed him. "I hope so."
***
Whitaker's office was dark. It sat at the top of a large building that was a warehouse for the shipping company, much smaller than the New York office it was close to Beacon Hill.
Jerome had let the police cart off the men with no ID and none of the evidence Kate had pulled from them. Robert Finnegan intervened to hush things up but leave it open that if Whittaker didn't agree he would be arrested.
Spotted Horse and Dan Forth were off finding Jane Whittaker just in case as well, and it was Robert Finnegan who rode over with Jerome.
It was end of business three days past the wedding. They had seen Kate and Rafe off early that morning, heading for Chicago to catch the end of McMasters' trial and close that chapter in their lives.
Jerome had made an appointment and signed in as Robert briefed the two uniformed cops at the corner. He'd follow.
Jerome was shown into a dark-paneled office much like his own. Whittaker, a man of average height and spreading middle-aged girth that spoke of a lifetime of idleness of body was drawn, his skin as pale as his white hair, his blue eyes bloodshot.
"What is it you want, Williams?"
Jerome glanced at his pocket watch. He had two minutes before Robert would be in place outside the door, and he had to stall.
"I was wired this afternoon by a friend. Your daughter is safe and married, living in Washington D.C. now."
Whittaker grumbled. "You're only saying that."
Jerome sat in a chair and pulled Dan's cable out, laying it on the desk. "I'm sure you know I am married as well. There is no hope for a merger between us but there may be peace."
Whittaker read the missive and crumpled it into a ball. "Lies. My daughter would never do that. This is all an excuse so you could marry that Italian whore and take control of her company."
Jerome stood, towering over the other man. "If you call my wife a name like that again, there is no force on earth that will stop me from dismantling your company one brick and plank at a time until you are a broken insect I crush beneath my boot heel, is that understood?"
"It's the truth! She is a whore, trying to seduce her brother in law then running from him to you."
It was time; Robert was in place.
"Is that what you think? She escaped her brother in law's advances, kept her company going, and opened her own business in San Francisco. That woman is more brave and courageous and strong than any you've ever dreamed of. She still has control of her company, I had papers drawn up that I would never control it without her consent."
Whittaker turned red. "Lies!"
"Did you think it was me? That if you killed me perhaps you could woo my widow? Is that why you sent those two assassins to my wedding?"
"I did no such thing!"
Jerome pulled out the lira and paystub. "You were working with Franco Vercelli, weren't you? You sent them after us but we took passage to Europe. They followed us but didn't catch up until the wedding. Admit it!"
Whittaker narrowed his bloodshot eyes. "Vercelli wanted you dead but I paid them off. They were to kill your wife. You will marry Jane and follow through on our deal one way or another."
"You hired them to kill my wife!?!"
"Of course I did!" Whittaker shouted. "We had a deal! We had a deal and when you chose that Italian whore over my pure daughter you turned your back on it. It's only fair you should suffer!"
Jerome saw red and decided the offer was off the table. "Robert!" he yelled and the doors burst open.
"What is this!?!" Whittaker yelled even as Robert pulled irons out and clapped them on his wrists.
"You're under arrest," Robert said and hauled Whittaker to the window. He pulled out a whistle and blew it. When he finished searching the man's pockets the uniformed officers arrived.
"I'm going to summon Jane here. In one week you'll be facing the hangman for your crimes, and I will have the board turn over control of your company to Jane. She and her husband are broke, and I'll give her a fair price for control."
"No! You can't do this!" Whittaker struggled.
