Giving in to the urge, she pulled her phone out from her pocket—still no response. The rumble of the train echoed through the station. The mass of people on the platform surged toward the edge. With a screech of brakes, the train stopped and the doors slid open. Pushing through the crowd, she located a rare seat and sat down. She held her breath as an overpowering musk scent assailed her senses. What did the guy she sat next to do? Take a bath in his cologne. It was going to be a long journey.
Her phone buzzed and her heart leaped in her throat. When she saw it was from her girlfriend, Antonia, a little stab of disappointment replaced the hope that it was Carlos who contacted her.
Hey, we’re all meeting for dinner tonight at Fredrico’s. You in?
It had been a while since she’d met up with her friends. A girl’s night could be exactly what she needed.
Count me in. Time?
Awesome, does 6.00 work for you?
As general manager of Hotel Coquillage her work hours were pretty standard. It wasn’t a guarantee that anything could happen at any given time that could extend her hours. Her girlfriends knew that and didn’t mind if she wasn’t always on time.
Barring any crazy issues, I’ll be there. Order me a G&T.
Antonia responded with a thumbs up and kissy face emoji. A chuckle escaped Erin. This was just what she needed to put the events from the previous evening behind her.
The thought of Bryan somehow being able to break into her apartment while she was at work sent chills up her spine. It still freaked her out that he’d been standing outside of her building last night. His presence unexpected and, definitely, unwelcome.
Her mind turned to Carlos and wished he was close by. Such a stupid thought, there wasn’t anything he could do, but part of her wanted to unload all her issues on him. Being a SEAL his first instinct would be protect and guard those around him.
What would it hurt if she sent him another message? She had no idea where he was based or if he was even in the States. Maybe that was why he hadn’t responded to her text.
Before she thought about it for too much longer she opened the message thread and began typing.
Hey, I need some he…
She had no idea what to say. Maybe it would be best if she didn’t send him one after all. It would be safer for him not to be anywhere near her. With Bryan back in the picture, there was no telling if any of his other friends were also out. Or he might have tried to get himself in good with another mob family. With the information he had about the Moretti Mob’s drug connections, Bryan would be a valuable addition to any family.
Erin snorted quietly at that thought. Bryan had enough arrogance in him to think he could start his own drug running business. Yes, that was more like what he’d do, which made staying away from him even more imperative. If his plan was to start his own business he had to look the part, including a beautiful woman hanging off his arm. Nope, not the job she wanted at all. He could find some other bunny for that role.
The train screeched to a halt at her stop. She shoved the phone in her purse, determined to forget about Bryan and Carlos.
Chapter Two
Carlos’s head pounded and he regretted that last beer. What had they been thinking? He imagined his wasn’t the only sore head in the group. His mouth was as dry as sandpaper. He knew if he breathed on anyone, it would smell like he’d licked the bottom of an ashtray, and he didn’t even smoke. The days of drinking like he had in his early twenties were over.
He rolled over preparing to catch a few more z’s as his phone chimed with an incoming message.
Ignore it.
Tempting, but he couldn’t. It’d been bad enough last night when Robot called him a girl every time he went to pull the damn thing out of his pocket. Robot had assured him, and the rest of his team, that the Commander wouldn’t be contacting them with fresh orders. Carlos noticed his team lead hadn’t given the guys on the other team a hard time when they checked their phones. Then again, they were a separate team, and were all married.
Sitting up he reached across to grab his phone off his bedside table, his head swimming at the movement. His stomach did a couple of somersaults before it settled down. Keying in the passcode, he got comfortable and opened his message app.
His blood turned cold and the fog of his heavy night dissipated as he read the most recent message from Erin.
Hey, I need some he…
What the hell?
Carlos read the message from the previous evening. The one he’d been forced to ignore.
Hey there Carlos, My last message was a little harsh. It wasn’t meant to be. Next time you’re in New York call me. It was good to see you again.
Okay, so that message wasn’t ominous so why did he think the one from a few minutes ago was. Clearly it had been sent before she’d finished typing it. Maybe it was nothing at all. Yet he couldn’t ignore the little itch in the middle of his left palm, his warning sign something wasn’t right. Other guys had itches on the back of their neck or a feeling in their gut. Not one person made fun of the other person’s warning signs, because nine times out of ten, those signs saved each other’s lives.
There was only one way to find out if everything was okay with Erin, and that was to call her. He drummed his fingers on his thigh as he waited for the call to connect.
Hi, you’ve called Erin. I’m unable to take your call now, but leave me a message. Thanks.
No, he didn’t want to leave a message. What he wanted to do was call her to make sure she was okay.
Thumbing through his contacts he pulled up Ash’s number. His former SEAL team member lived in New York, plus he ran a security/PI firm. No doubt he had some computer program that would be able to determine if Erin was in trouble or not.
“Riley Ashford.”
“Ash, it’s Italy.”
“Hey, man, what’s up?”
He drummed his fingers on the sheets. “I need you to check up on something if you can.”
“Sure, what do you need?”
Carlos hadn’t let Ash know how he’d obtained the information they’d used to help free Maria from her family’s clutches. How hard it had been to think about seeing the people from his former life. The one he’d lived before he’d joined the Navy. He hadn’t seen any of the old gang, because Erin had said she could help him more than Rico could. He’d been torn in two by her offer. If he’d seen Rico again, it would’ve dredged up memories of the shitty things he’d done and the hole he’d fallen into as a teenager. But talking to Erin, seeing her again, brought back feelings he’d denied himself over the last sixteen years. In the end, seeing Erin was the lesser of the two evils. Or so he’d thought at the time.
“Are you able to tap into someone’s location using their cell phone?”
“I can,” Ash paused. “Why?”
“I got a message from a friend. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
“Why don’t you call her?”
“I did, and it went straight to voicemail.”
“What’s the issue? Maybe they were busy or out of cell service. There are still cell phone black holes in Manhattan.”
For a second, Carlos pondered whether making this call was the most sensible thing he’d done. All he wanted Ash to say was, sure, give me the number and I’ll get back to you.
Ash interrupted his thoughts. “I’m sensing there’s more you’re not telling me, Italy.”
Time to come clean. He could trust Ash with the information he was about to relay. He may have left the service, but the brotherhood code never died between team members.
“The information I got for you which helped bring down the Moretti mob was from a former girlfriend. I think she’s in trouble.”
“Why do you think that? Is she part of a mob family? Is she dangerous?” Ash fired off the questions in quick succession, his tone serious. Carlos could understand him asking if Erin was dangerous. The last thing Ash would want to do would be to put his girlfriend, Maria, in danger again. Put he
r back in the line of sight of the mob families of New York. He’d just gotten her away from all that danger. They both deserved to be able to live their lives without the specter of possible threats from the mob.
“Erin has no connection to any mob family. She’s about as dangerous a new born baby.”
“If she has no connection to any of the families still active in New York, how did she get the information she did? You don’t get that type of intel without having some sort of insider knowledge of the workings of the organization.”
Carlos couldn’t argue with Ash. Everything he said was correct. He and Erin had grown up in the same neighborhood. He was the one who’d gotten caught up with a mob family. He thought he’d kept it hidden from Erin when they’d been dating, perhaps he’d been wrong and she’d known what he’d done when he was younger.
Of course, things could’ve changed in the last sixteen years. He hadn’t questioned how she got the information, had just been grateful to have it in his hands. Plus, he knew the longer he was around Erin, the harder it would be to walk away. Seeing her again had him remembering everything they’d shared together. How she’d felt in his arms, her lips against his. The last thing he needed in his life was a walk down memory lane. Being alone was the best thing for him considering his career.
“Italy? Talk to me.”
“Look, I can’t guarantee she’s not involved with the mob, but my left palm is itching, and it only itches when something isn’t right. I’ve learned to trust this feeling over the years.”
“Fine.” Ash sighed heavily. “How about I put this in Tex’s hands. He has more ways of finding information than I do. If she’s integrated into a family, he’ll discover it.”
Carlos knew about Tex. The former SEAL had been instrumental in their takedown of the Moretti Mob. The guy had access to connections that even some of the top military personnel didn’t have. “I didn’t think it was necessary to bother Tex, but perhaps it would be for the best.”
“I’ll call him and get back to you. What are you going to do in the meantime?”
A plan of action began to form in his mind. “Talk to the Commander about getting some personal leave and take a trip to Manhattan.”
“You can bunk with us if you like,” Ash offered.
“Thanks, man. I’ll text you when I get there.”
“Later.”
Carlos disconnected and threw the covers back. He strode to his kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and a couple of aspirin. If he had a trip to make, he was going to make it without his head throbbing.
Carlos placed his bag in Ash’s spare room. He’d been able to get an early afternoon flight out of Virginia. His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten all day. Over the years, the face of Manhattan had changed, but one thing remained the same—you could always find a good pizza pie anywhere.
His jacket pocket vibrated, pulling it out. Tex’s name flashed on the screen. Strange, he didn’t have Tex’s number in his contacts. The guy wasn’t someone he had any reason to contact. Well, that is until now.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Italy, this is Tex.”
“Yeah, I saw your name pop up, which is, hmm, interesting.”
Tex chuckled, but didn’t respond to his comment. “I’ve got information on Erin Furlan. Ash said you wanted it.”
“Yeah, I’ve got a feeling something’s not right with her.”
“Good call. The last two years haven’t been the best for her. She got herself tangled up with a runner from the Moretti Mob, Bryan Tosconi.”
Carlos’s heart sank. He hadn’t wanted to believe Erin was involved with the family.
“Fuck. No wonder she was able to get that information.”
“Yeah, but the guy’s a real piece of work.”
He tensed at the disgusted tone in Tex’s voice. “What do you mean by that?”
“He talks more with his fists than his mouth.”
Carlos swore again. “Tell me he didn’t put her in the hospital?” He hadn’t wanted to think that Erin was being hurt, but everything started falling into place in his mind. The way she’d flinched when he’d touched her the last time he’d seen her. Her reluctance to talk to him when he questioned her. Not to mention the text telling him to let it go. Her actions were typical of a person who denied their boyfriend or husband was harming them.
“There are no hospital records, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Only anomaly I could find was six months ago, she took a week off work.”
“How is that unusual? She could’ve just been sick. Or gone away,” he commented.
“You’re right, but if she was sick, there would’ve been record of a doctor’s visit. There’s no record of her leaving the state. Her bank account wasn’t touched for the week. The guy has a violent background. I’m not one to jump to conclusions, but things don’t add up.”
Anger pulsed through Carlos. “Did the Feds put that fucker away?” The piece of scum needed to be off the streets and out of Erin’s life for good.
“They did,” Tex paused, and he braced himself for what the man was about to say next. “But he made bail the other day.”
“What? How is that possible? If Erin got the information from him, how come they didn’t throw the book at him?”
“Seems the guy’s got good lawyers. Plus, they couldn’t find any concrete evidence he was deeply involved in the organization’s business.”
“That’s fucking bullshit. Unless…”
“No, don’t go there, Italy. She’s not involved with any family.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Tex sighed. “Because she doesn’t live the life of a person who is heavily tangled up in the drug industry. She’s the General Manger of a Manhattan boutique hotel. She lives on the third story of a Brownstone. Not flashy. Takes public transport. Pays off her credit cards each month.”
He trusted what Tex was telling him to be the truth. Now he wanted to see Erin. He had to make sure for himself that she was okay. “Can you send me everything you’ve got, Tex?”
“It’s already on its way to you. By the way, she’s having dinner with her girlfriends at Fredrico’s tonight. They’re meeting up at six.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask how Tex knew that information, but figured it was best not to question his methods. Just take the information and run with it. “Right. Thanks for everything, Tex. I appreciate it.”
“Not a problem, man, I’m always here. You have my number now.”
Carlos chuckled. “Yes, I do.”
The line disconnected and Carlos checked his email to see that Tex had kept his word and emailed the report. He would study it later. Right now he needed to go see Erin. It could be the worst idea he had, but he didn’t care. If that scum Bryan was back on the streets, he would guard Erin and keep her safe, while trying to find a way to get Bryan put away for good.
Exhaustion bit at her heels. It had been a shit of a day. A computer software problem had all their reservations jumbled up tighter than a pair of stockings in a washing machine. The last thing she wanted to do was go to dinner, but she really needed a girl’s night.
She turned the light off and closed her office door. At the end of each day a sense of pride filled her with all she’d accomplished in the past four years. Hard work and determination had gotten her to the position of General Manager quicker than she ever imagined possible.
Before she left, she stopped at the registration desk. “If any issues crop up overnight, call me. No matter what the time.”
The clerk smiled. “Certainly, Erin. Hopefully, I won’t have to. Have a good night.”
“Thanks.” Secretly, Erin prayed her phone wouldn’t ring. After dinner she planned to go home and fall into bed. Between the stress of Bryan turning up in her life again, and today’s work drama, a solid eight hours of sleep sounded like an unreachable dream.
She skipped down the stairs, glad to be outside and absorbed everything that made New Yor
k, New York. The sounds of taxi drivers sitting on their horns, the aroma coming from the hotdog stand on the corner, the flow of people streaming out of the subway stations.
“Hello, Erin.”
Shocked at hearing Carlos’s voice, her foot slipped and she missed the bottom step. Instead of finding herself kissing the sidewalk, warm, strong arms closed around her. Without thinking, she laid her head on Carlos’s chest. She breathed deeply and the aroma of hotdogs was replaced with a tangy citrus smell that was intoxicating. She inhaled again.
He chuckled. “Did you just smell me?”
Erin came to her senses and pulled away from him. Surprise made way for embarrassment. “What are you doing here?”
If she thought her terseness would put him off, she was living in a fantasy world. Instead of putting distance between them, he grabbed her hand again.
“I got your text message and I was worried.”
“What text message?” Confusion colored her thoughts. She knew she’d sent him a text last night, but she hadn’t asked him to travel up to New York to see her. She expected him to call.
His hand went to his pocket and pulled out the phone, all the while he maintained his hold on her. Her skin sizzled from the connection, drawing her back to the first time they’d kissed when they’d been sixteen. At the time, she’d thought her reaction to his touches and kisses had been because he was her first boyfriend. A crush that had turned into juvenile love. Now she had to wonder.
After the first couple of dates with Bryan, her body had never flared to life like hers was doing right now. They were only holding hands for goodness sake.
“This message.” A phone was shoved under her nose.
“I didn’t send ...” She re-read the message and then it hit her. This was the message she’d started to send to him while on the subway and then she’d had second thoughts. “I, um, I didn’t mean to send it to you.”
“Right. Who were you sending it to.”
She could fabricate that she was sending it to a friend. Somehow she didn’t think he would buy it. “You.”
Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Guarding Erin (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 2