by Baker, S. L.
“Mr. Hawke, does Nicole know about the wreck?” I asked.
“No.” He shook his head.
“Good. Let me tell her.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“What happened?” Victor asked, the cold serious side emerging as it did when he was stressed or angry.
“I was about ten minutes from the station and this black SUV ran me off the road.”
“Did you see what the driver looked like?”
“No, the windows were tinted, too dark to tell. Do you think it was intentional?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes,” he said. “I have my suspicions. It will be dealt with, Angelina.”
“But it may have just been some asshole pissed with road rage.”
“No. This was a warning. If they wanted you dead, then you would be. This is intimidation, it’s what my father does well.”
“No shit,” I mumbled under my breath.
“What?” Victor asked, already immersed in his thoughts.
“Nothing, babe,” I said, rubbing his arm.
He patted my hip.
“Well I guess the only good thing is that now I have no choice but to buy a new car,” I said trying to lighten the mood.
“True. We will go Humvee or tank shopping tomorrow.”
Scarlett was so excited she almost peed herself.
I playfully swatted his arm. “Ha! Very funny. I was thinking about getting one of those Fiat’s, they’re so adorable.”
I saw Hawke glance at me in the rear view. Scarlett stuck her tongue out at me.
“That’s not happening,” Victor said, not amused. “You think I’m kidding about the tank, don’t you?”
“I was hoping. Cause I can’t drive or afford a tank,” I said.
“Hawke will teach you and cost is not an issue.” “Yeah. No tanks or Humvees, Victor. Not really something I can drive to work in. Jesus H! I forgot to call the station and tell them about the wreck. Nelson is going to be pissed. This was my first day back at my old job.”
“Don’t remind me. Hawke took care of it.”
“Thanks.” I pulled out my phone and shot Nelson a quick text:
Sorry I didn’t make it in today. Some asshole ran me off the road and I totaled my car. Will be in at eight tomorrow.
Nelson sent a reply almost instantaneously:
K. Great lead story for tomorrow news: Road rage almost claims one of our own.
I rolled my eyes.
I’m fine btw.
Good. C U in the a.m. Wear something HOT!
Scarlett was trying to wrestle the phone out of my hand. She so had a come-back for that. I chucked it in my purse instead. She sat and pouted. ‘Kill joy’ she mumbled.
Chapter 7
Security at Salvatore Disney Land had been ramped up to the point that it would be easier to break into Fort Knox. The accident had launched Victor’s over protectiveness into to hyper drive.
My libido slapped me clear across the face. Scarlett switched the light to green and Victor kissed me, then his lips moved to my neck, devouring every inch. He moved to my nipples, they were erect and awaiting the anticipation of his lips sucking and savoring them. It was almost too much to bear. Victor took his index finger and teased my clit as he moved farther south to my stomach. I arched my back and spread open my legs as his tongue did the salsa on my clit. My breathing was labored and Scarlett stood ready with towel in hand in case I started drooling. His finger moved in and out of my sweet spot at a rapid pace and his tongue was relentless. My orgasm arrived so fast and hard it could have been compared to an earthquake registering over five on the Richter scale.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said kissing me.
“Morning. Wow, what a great way to start my day,” I said still basking in my orgasm not sure if my body could move yet.
“Indeed,” he said kissing my stomach.
My libido was ready for round two. I climbed in the shower with him. I took the soap and lathered his strong shoulders and worked my way down his back until I reached that spectacular ass. I ran my finger down his crack teasing the opening to his ass. I reached around and grabbed his manliness with my free hand and it was ready and eager. I squeezed and played with his balls and felt his body tense up. He groaned and I stroked his manliness with my soapy hand. His lips were on mine and my sweet spot melted.
Scarlett was wiping the fog off the shower door and trying to peek in.
Victor grabbed me around the waste and growled as he came all over my stomach. He stood with his hands against the shower letting his heart rate return to normal.
I rinsed off, climbed out of the shower, and Victor wrapped me in a towel.
“Hawke will pick you up at work and we will go car shopping. You just need to decide what color Humvee you want,” he said smiling slyly.
“How about no,” I said, swatting his ass.
Scarlett had a look on her face like she just sucked a lemon. What’s wrong with a Humvee, she thought. There’s plenty of room for all my gadgets and small weapons stash.
“How about a small SUV?” I said, batting my lashes at him.
“I’ll think it about it.”
“Victor, the choice is mine. I’m paying for it with the money my mother left me.” I was serious. He wasn’t buying me a car.
“Absolutely not, Angelina,” he said and it was a stand-off.
Scarlett was standing behind Victor showing me a red Ferrari. If he was paying, why the hell not?
“Victor, this is important to me. I’m not comfortable with you buying me a car. It’s not a matter that you can, it’s a matter that I want to do this on my own. It’s not your responsibility to buy me a car.”
Victor looked pissed and hurt. “Angelina, it’s not about responsibility it’s about love and taking care of the ones you love. I was raised by a mother who believed that men had certain obligations and roles. One is taking care of the woman you love so she will take care of you. My mother was old school Italian and believed in traditional roles. Woman are to be loved, idolized, protected and cared for, they are your whole life. My mother and grandmother would crawl out of their grave and slap me if it was any other way. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone else. This is very important to me.” His eyes searched mine for any response.
I was speechless. It was one of the rare glimpses I got into Victor’s mother and I was moved every time he spoke her name. I could see the love and respect he had for her in his eyes. I often forgot that a twelve year age difference existed between us. Victor’s values and core beliefs were vastly different than most men my age. It was refreshing and sometimes overwhelming.
Scarlett was scanning the web for exotic cars. If I agreed and allowed Victor to pay, we were splurging and getting sporty and fun, especially if I vetoed the Humvee.
I kissed him and then hugged him.
“I love you more than I’ve loved anyone else in my life, Victor. You are my world.”
He responded with deep, long, wet kisses.
Scarlett hated all the mushy stuff. She wanted to get back to picking out a car. She rolled her eyes and made a gesture like she wanted to vomit, threw her hands up and walked away mumbling under her breath.
Victor pushed me back onto the bed and pushed open my legs. His tongue began its tango on my clit and I grabbed the head board and arched my back. His tongue relentless, my breathing slowed as my orgasm was close. Victor thrust his finger in my ass and I groaned as my orgasm arrived fast and hard.
Victor kissed me and laid on the bed next to me. His eyes focused on mine like a sniper on its target.
“Thank you...”
“My pleasure,” he said tracing the outline of my face with his finger. “God I love you, Angelina.”
“I love you too.”
Victor’s cell phone rang and he stole one more kiss and answered it.
***
The elevator doors were closing when an arm shot through, causing them to spring back op
en. Nelson stepped into the elevator grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the elevator. His sense of urgency and panic as he hurried me to his office caused several sets of curious eyes to peer around from their cubicles.
“Holy shit! I need to talk to you right now!” he said.
He shut the door to his office behind him and pulled his blinds. Nelson was in full blown crisis mode he was pacing back and forth his nervous energy off the charts.
“Do you know who you’re fuckin’?” he blurted out.
“Excuse me!” I snapped.
“Your boyfriend, do you know who his family is?” he asked his eyes full of anticipation and panic all rolled into one.
I didn’t respond right away.
“Well,” he said on the verge of an aneurism if I didn’t answer.
“How do you know who Victor’s family is?” I snapped.
“My source.”
“Which one? You have several!”
“The only important one at this moment, is the one that gave me the file.” His toned hushed and he looked around the room making sure the coast was clear.
“Yes. I know who Victor’s father is,” I said.
Nelson’s eyes got wide like a star struck fan. “Have you met him?” The hope just oozed out of every nook and cranny.
“Yes!”
Scarlett swore he did a back flip. I didn’t see it, but it wouldn’t have shocked me.
“Holy fuck, Angelina, can you get me a sit down exclusive with him? That would be the pinnacle of my career. I’d be definite for the Murdock, the only reporter to ever interview Joe Salvatore.” Excitement was plastered all over his face.
“I doubt you’d live to the end of the interview. He will never agree it.”
He looked like I had just kicked him in the balls. Scarlett shined a pen light into his pupils to see if she could find out the devious plan he was cooking up, but his eyes gave nothing away. She was considering water boarding for a brief second, but I shook my head “No”.
‘Kill joy,’ she mumbled under her breathe and went to pout in the corner.
“This is your first day back, I could just as easily send you back to covering flower shows and weddings. Understood?”
“Yes,” I seethed.
“If you won’t set me up an interview with Joe Salvatore then I want you to wear a wire and do a covert interview.”
That was it! Scarlett left the room looking for the supplies she needed to water board his ass. I might not stop her this time.
“Jesus H, Nelson! I just told you he will kill anyone that poses a threat to him and reporters fall into that category, so you want me to risk my life again for you?” I was steaming mad, but needed access to his source for the Feds.
He just smiled a devious grin, rubbing his hands together hanging on every breath I took waiting for the answer he wanted so desperately.
“You’re a total asshole you know that right? But fine I’ll do it.”
He hugged me so tight I could feel my ribs on the verge of breaking in two.
“I’m so happy to have you back. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
I pushed away from him and forced a weak smile. Scarlett appeared with a bucket and garden hose, reluctantly, I waved her off. She stuck her tongue at me and sulked off.
“I’m going to my old office. Is it still empty?”
“Yup. No-one has been in there since you abandoned me. I was hoping you’d come to your senses and come back,” he said, throwing me the keys to the door and my old desk.
I prayed that the flash drive with all the names and damming information was still securely hidden in my desk. I sighed as I shut the door behind me after I left Nelson’s office. I always felt like I needed to take a shower after my encounters with him.
Scarlett put her hand on my forehead to check to see if I had a fever or had just plain lost my frickin’ mind agreeing to set up a meeting with Joe Salvatore and wear a wire. My plan was to hold Nelson off as long as I could, hopefully pacifying him with some other dirt, or as he so affectionately calls them, pinnacles of his career. Scarlett and I both knew the next time I saw Joe Salvatore I’d be dead.
I was teetering on an apocalyptic tightrope. One slip and the people I loved would die.
My office was untouched from the last time I was there. It reminded me of going back to my childhood bedroom at Aunt Ella’s house, how it looked the same as the day I left for college.
I took out the small gold key hidden in the black hole of my purse, and unlocked the top drawer of my desk. I felt to the middle corner and my fingers brushed against the small flash drive taped securely in place. I kissed it and cradled it in my palm. This was my bargaining chip with the Feds if I could give them the people on this list, then hopefully it would distract them from Victor.
I fired up my own laptop to save the contents from the flash drive to my own computer. I wanted to back up the contents in case the unthinkable happened and the flash drive got destroyed. Scarlett was standing guard at the door in case Nelson decided he needed another homecoming hug. She gave me the all clear sign. I grabbed my cell phone, and snapped two pictures on the computer screen from the files… just enough to make them want more. Then I found the number and hit send, dialing Agent Parker’s number.
“Hello?”
“Agent Parker, this is Angelina Ellington. We need to meet.”
“When?”
“As soon as possible, some place discreet.”
“Meet me under the Masonic Bridge in an hour.”
“I’ll be there,” I said.
The goon squad would be lurking outside the station keeping an eye on me, so the only way I could leave was in a station vehicle.
I knocked on Nelson’s door, as I opened it.
His back was to me and he was looking out the large window behind his desk that gave him a bird’s eye view of the city.
“Hey, Nelson, I have one last story I need to finish that I was in the middle of. I’m running out for an hour.”
“Fine,” he said turning around to face me, wiping his eyes.
I swear he was crying, but I wasn’t going down that road of crazy with him. Scarlett chucked s box of tissues as him as we left.
I got that feeling like I was kicked in the gut every time I had to lie to someone. It went against how I was raised and I knew my parents would be upset for all the white lies I’d told, but it was the only way I could protect those that I loved.
In the elevator ride to the fleet garage, I flashbacked to when I was seven and my mom asked me if I had finished my math homework. I hadn’t, but my favorite show was coming on and I really wanted to watch it. So I’d said, “Yes, ma’am.”
Later that night, when I’d thought my parents were asleep, I got up to do my homework. But my mom was still up and saw my light on in my room.
“Angelina, what are you doing up?”
“My math homework,” I whispered tears streaming down my cheeks. “I fibbed to you, Mommy because I wanted to watch my show. I’m sorry.” I felt so guilty at the look in her eyes. They were full of disappointment.
“I see. Well then I guess we won’t be watching any TV for three days, and I’m going to ask Ms. Devaney to give you some extra math to work on.” She’d shut my light off and left my room.
I’d felt so awful that I had disappointed her that I promised I’d never lie again, but this was a matter of life and death. I hoped she would understand.
***
The door to the elevator springing open snapped me out of my flashback and I headed to the Fleet garage. I pushed open the large gray door.
“Hey, Jeff, where you at? It’s Angelina. I’m hoping to get a vehicle.”
“Be right there,” he replied from the back office.
Jeff appeared with a set of car keys to one of the station cars and a clipboard.
“How long will you need it for?” he asked.
“Not sure. Maybe an hour to an hour and a half.”
He
handed me the keys and I signed the form taking responsibility for the vehicle.
I inserted the address into the GPS, Scarlett was not amused at the meeting place the Feds choose. I wasn’t so thrilled either to be meeting under a bridge. It seemed more fitting for a rendezvous with the Mob to whack someone, and ditch the body in the river than the Feds.
I looked around to see if I could catch a glimpse of the goons, but they were experts in hiding. Scarlett was convinced that the goons were descendants of Chameleons. I had to agree with her on that one.
A black Sedan was waiting for me when I arrived. Both agents got out and flanked my vehicle. Agent Parker was opening my door and Agent Davis was on the passenger side doing recon on the car, making sure I was alone.
They put me in the back seat of the Sedan just behind Agent Parker.
“So I wanted to meet you and give you...”
Agent Davis turned around putting his hand up to stop me.
“Not here,” he said.
Agent Parker took off to an undisclosed location. I was waiting for someone to throw a black bag over my head. But Scarlett had some scissors to cut out eye holes if she had to.
Neither Agent spoke as we drove.
“Look, I can’t be gone from work too long,” I said.
No reply.
I was beginning to think that this was not my best path to choose and was trying to figure out my options when we pulled into a parking lot of a non-descript building. Agent Parker opened my door and whisked me through a black metal door, down a hallway, and into a small room. Scarlett hated small rooms with just a wood table and three chairs. So did I.
“Ok, Ms. Ellington, you have our undivided attention,” Agent Parker said his eyes intense.
“I’m in possession of a flash drive that contains the names of powerful people who have ties to the Mob, the list I told you about,” I said my gazed scanning between both agents for some hint of a reaction.
Scarlett was ready to burst, she had to know how they did that. She put on her lab coat and fired up the MRI.