by Baker, S. L.
I needed to come up with a strategy. I knew even though I had been walking the thin line between the Feds and the Mob, Victor and Luke. I was way over my head. So was Scarlett. I had to get the Feds involved, maybe there was a chance they could protect us. This was a Pandora’s Box. A sticky web of making the Feds believe I was playing by their rules, and convincing Joe he was getting the book, all while trying to protect Victor and my loved ones. Scarlett had set up a flip chart in the back of the Cady and was jotting down different scenarios, the odds of someone not getting hurt or dying in each one was not good. I wrestled with the decision if I should tell Victor about my visit with his father and the ominous warning given.
The Cady pulled up to the gates of Salvatore Disney Land, as few words were exchanged from what I could see from the window. Scarlett had her ear pressed against the glass, but it was soundproof. We drove right past the cottage, but stopped within a few hundred yards of Victor’s.
My door flung open, Pauley reached in, and grabbed my arm.
“This is the end of line for you. Walk home,” he said pointing in the direction of the cottage with that meaty finger of his.
Frankie stayed in the car.
I nodded, turned, and walked. Scarlett flipped them the double bird and stuck out her tongue. She mumbled, Fuckin’ mobsters, under breath. They were smart. It wouldn’t raise suspicion to Victor if his father’s security detail stopped at the house. Not a common occurrence, but not as suspicious if I was with them. They knew Victor’s security would be on the phone with him in a hot second. I was hoping that Nicole would still be out with Hawke, but my walk should give me enough time to come up with an alibi to explain the bruises and dried blood on my face.
Nicole was nowhere to be found when I got home. Neither was Cooper. I worried that he’d gotten fired when he discovered I was gone. I ran to my room and grabbed my cell. I had six missed calls from Victor, three voicemails from Cooper sounding pissed and frantic, and a text from Nicole telling me she was staying at Hawke’s for the night. I wanted to take a long hot bath. I hoped to wash away all that had happened the last few hours, and to try and figure out what I was going to tell Victor. I’d made a promise to him that night in Rhode Island that I wouldn’t keep things from him. I lifted my skirt, my ass was throbbing. There was a large bruise covering a large part of my left cheek. Scarlett shook her head and rubbed some lotion on it to sooth the pain. My cell phone chimed. The ringtone of ‘I get the feeling someone watching me’ told me it was Victor. Scarlett always giggled when she heard it.
“Hello.” I was panting and not just from running to get the phone.
“Hey. You okay you sound all out of breath?” He sounded pissed.
“Yeah, I was in the tub and had to run to get the phone.”
“Where have you been? I thought I was explicit that you were to stay close. I got a frenzied call from Cooper telling me you went to the cottage to get a few things and when he came to get you, there was no-one around and the door was half opened.” I caught a hint of that starkness in his voice when he’s worried and angry.
“I was at your father’s house.”
“What!”
“Not by choice. Two of his goons showed up and said that Nicole had been in an accident and that Hawke sent them to fetch me. I didn’t know they were your dad’s goons. I can’t tell whose goons are whose.”
My attempt at sarcasm was ignored.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a couple of bruises and a bloody nose,” I said, wincing as I touched my cheek. Scarlett was smearing concealer on my cheek to cover the bruise.
“I’m gonna kill that son of a bitch. Who hurt you?”
“It doesn’t matter, Victor.”
“It sure as hell does, Angelina. Tell me who the bastard is that laid hands on you,” He said, his voice was strained. He was on the edge of losing it.
“One of your dad’s goons, Frankie. I tried to Mace him and it mis-fired. He was pissed, so he slapped me.”
“That motherfuker’s dead. Why the hell didn’t you call me or text me?”
“I was in such a panic about Nicole, I left my phone in the charger.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes, Nicole and Hawke are spending the night together.”
“Not anymore. I don’t want you being alone.”
“No I’m fine.” Scarlett frowned at my blatant lie. She knew how badly I wanted Victor here.
“Angelina, I’m not arguing with you about this. Now is not the time to be stubborn. Understand me?”
Wow now I see where Victor gets that phrase from.
“Well I was just heading back to your house and I’m sure the goon squad will take good care of me.”
“Well they’ve done a shitty job so far. I have no idea why I even pay them if they can’t do a simple task like keeping you safe.”
“Okay…but it’s not their fault. I should have been more suspicious and remembered my phone, but I was in such a panic over Nicole. I’ve missed you so much, Victor,” I said.
“Me too, baby,” he said, his tone softened a bit, but it was still serious. “You need to stay there, lock the door until my “goons”, as you so affectionately call them, arrive. They will take to you to my house. It’s much safer with my staff and security measures.”
“The president would feel safe at your house, Victor. Are there any security gadgets you don’t own?” I quipped. But at that moment I was very grateful for every single piece of it.
“Hawke will be with you twenty four seven until I get back.”
“Nicole won’t be happy about that,” I said. “What about work? I can’t just blow it off.” I knew Victor had just rolled his eyes as he always does when I mention work.
“You have a new assistant for a few days. Maybe this will be a win/win and Hawk can finally kick the shit out of your prick boss.”
“Victor, Nelson is the last person we need to worry about at the moment. I can handle him just fine.”
“Just saying, baby…might be a silver lining somewhere in all of this bull shit.”
“Well that’s not it,” I snapped.
“I’ve wasted enough time talking about your idiot boss, I need to get my guys there. If you don’t see them arrive within five minutes call me back immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” I said. Scarlett saluted.
“Love you baby.”
“Love you too,” I said and the phone went dead.
The Goon squad descended on the cottage within four minutes and it was a good thing I had thrown on a pair of jeans and a t shirt because they just barged in the front door without warning. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t happy to see them.
“Miss Ellington, you must come with us immediately.”
“Sure. Just let me grab...”
“No, ma’am. Now!” I could tell by his tone that Cooper was livid with me. I felt bad knowing the ass chewing he must’ve have received from Victor.
I knew most of the guards that Victor employed were ex- military Special Forces.
Scarlett was swooning. She was in heaven, and couldn’t wait to find out about all the new weapons and technology, besides, men in uniform always made her hot. Poor guy he had no idea what he was in for…
‘Sometimes I get the feeling somebody’s watching me,’ started playing and I thought for a brief minute Cooper cracked a smile, but the jury’s still out on that one.
“Hey,” I said.
“Is the security team there?”
“Yes, they arrived a few minutes ago. So I’m all safe for the moment.”
“I couldn’t get in touch with Hawke. His phone must be off, which is unacceptable when he is head of my security detail.”
“Umm...Well if I know Nicole, they’re probably occupied at the moment and she shut his phone off. She hates to be interrupted in the heat of the moment.” My mind flashed to her in a Dominatrix outfit with Hawke restrained to the bed. Scarlett wanted pictures to post on Instagram.
“Well he needs a life too, Victor. I’m fine here with the goons,” I said.
“I wish you wouldn’t call them that, sweetheart. They are all ex- military special forces.”
“Ok sorry. Do I need to feed the goons? I mean special forces security guards?”
“No. Just stay in the house and do what they tell you. Can you do that for me, please?”
“Sure. I promise.”
“Good girl. I will be back as soon as I can. I love you.”
“I love you too, Victor.”
The goon squad ushered me in the house like I was some rock star trying to avoid being molested by thousands of screaming fans. It was unsettling that most of them had a gun strapped to their hip and some were on patrol with machine guns. Good luck trying to break into this fortress. I headed up to Victor’s room and drew a bath. As I stepped into the warm water, my mind drifted back to the first time we took a bath together and Victor cuffed my arms to the wall as he used the faucet nozzle to send me into an earth shaking orgasm. Scarlett had joined in and was floating above the tub blowing rings from her cigarette. I hopped out of the tub and wrapped myself in a towel. Scarlett was still blowing her smoke rings, she needed a moment.
I pulled back the cover to Victor’s bed and climbed in. This was the first time I’d ever slept without his muscular arms wrapped around me. I tossed and turned, and just couldn’t sleep. I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. I stopped cold when The Godfather part one was playing. Scarlett loved movie night and went to make popcorn. How ironic. It had been years since I’d watched it with Luke, hiding in his room in our tent made of blankets and sheets watching it when everyone else was asleep or not home. We’d pay Curran a dollar not to tattle on us and he never did. I knew I shouldn’t watch it. It was my future playing out in front of my eyes, but I couldn’t stop watching. It was just a movie, but I was living the real life version.
Chapter 10
After once again ditching Victor’s security detail, no easy task mind you, I rounded the corner of the station for my usual rendezvous with the Feds. I had my questions in hand for my next target and the covert little mic safely in position in between my boobs.
As I came around the corner, I was grabbed from behind. I felt the barrel of a gun pressing into my temple. I struggled and tried to scream, but a hand was firmly placed over my mouth. I regretted giving the goons the slip.
Vivian appeared from the shadows. Scarlett pulled the pin on the smoke bomb and had the red sniper bead smack dab between her eyes. For once I secretly wished the Feds would break the chain link down and surround Vivian and her thug, guns drawn, screaming, Drop the guns, hands in the air. Scarlett shook her head “no”, she had the situation under control. Besides, taking down gold digging bitches was her specialty. But Agent Parker’s words haunted me, If you get caught you’re on your own, the price to pay for freedom. I hoped that at least the Feds were listening in from some non-descript van around the corner. My eyes scanned the parking lot waiting for my goons to repel down from the roof top. Scarlett applied her favorite red lipstick just in case.
“You have no idea who you’re screwing with do you. I see how he looks at you,” she said, disdain dripping from her lips.
“Who?” I seethed garbled.
Vivian motioned for the thug to remove his hand. He complied, but tightened his grip around my chest.
“You scream and he puts a bullet in your head,” she sneered, her face inches from mine.
I nodded I understood. Fuck, I hate her. Scarlett was in position to grab her by the hair and slam her face into the payment. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.
“My husband. You little bitch. What, isn’t his son enough? Now you need to go after his father?”
“What? No, you’re crazy! I have no interest in your husband!” I shouted, my eyes ablaze.
She slapped me across the face.
Scarlett spit in her face.
“Don’t lie to me! I know that you had something to do with Gino disappearing. I gave you a warning when I ran you and that piece of shit car off the road. I’m not playing, darling, I will take you the fuck out.”
Scarlett was in full-throttle, bitch slapping mode. She wrote the instruction manual on taking people out.
“I will make sure those responsible for Gino’s death will suffer and I will enjoy every minute.” She ran her finger down my cheek.
Scar whipped out her Taser— that is it, the bitch is going to eat asphalt. The metal door to the garage opened and Vivian and her thug vanished. My back was against the building, my breathing rapid, and heart rate through the roof. Before I had a chance to calm down, my cell phone was blowing up.
Rendezvous point in 5
After deleting the message, I rounded the corner of the building, headed back down the narrow alley, and slipped through the opening in the fence. Both agents were waiting, ready to pounce.
“Who the hell was that?” Agent Parker snapped.
“Mommy Dearest,” I sneered.
Both Agents exchanged glances.
“Joe Salvatore’s wife, Vivian.”
Agent Davis flipped open his phone and punched in the number. He looked over his shoulder as he walked away.
Scarlett tiptoed up behind him putting her hand to hear to eavesdrop.
“Is there something you’re withholding, Miss Ellington?” Agent Parker warned.
“No,” I said.
Agent Davis returned and whispered into Agent Parker’s ear.
“She referenced Gino.”
“Yes.”
“Gino Moranno?” Agent Davis asked.
“I just knew him as Gino.”
“Knew him?”
“Yes I only met him a couple of times. But I never held a conversation with him. He is one of Joe Salvatore’s body guards.”
“Yes, and according to Mrs. Salvatore he is missing.”
“You are the Feds. I’m sure you already have all the answers, so why pepper me with all the questions.”
Scarlett had her arms folded and was tapping her foot. She was not amused.
“You must have glossy black and white photos of her splattered all over some wall at FBI Headquarters.”
No reply from either agents.
“She’s obviously delusional.” Scar took her finger and twirled next to her head to illustrate how nuts Vivian was.
“I have no idea what she’s talking about.”
“We take her threats seriously,” Agent Parker replied. “Did she run you off the road?”
“Yes.”
“Did you report it?” Agent Davis snapped.
“Yes. My car was totaled and the State police and EMT’s were on scene, but I had no clue who was driving at the time.”
Scarlett was pulling on my sleeve, she wanted to get going.
“Are we done here?” I asked. Vivian was the least of my worries. When I tell Victor about my encounter with her, she’s dead. I knew he would handle it. “I have the Mayor to extort,” I seethed.
The agents were not amused by my snarky comment.
“Miss Ellington, if you don’t want to take our agreement seriously, we can end this now and take you and Mr. Salvatore into custody.”
Scarlett flipped him the double bird.
“Jesus H. I’m doing everything you force me too! My apologies if my snide comments offend you, but I’m the one being put in harm’s way.”
“It’s what you agreed too,” Agent Davis snapped.
“Then let me do it,” I said, waving the incriminating questions they gave me to ask the Mayor. Turning, I scooted through the fence and ran down the narrow alley. I was sure by that point Ed, and the goons were looking for me to head to Mayor Sanders’ office.
“Hey, there you are,” Ed said walking out of the garage, Hawke was right behind him, looking very unhappy with me. “You
ready, he asked glancing toward the side of the building.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Ed climbed in between the wheel and I got in the passenger side with Hawke in the back.
“Umm is everything okay, Angelina?” Ed asked, nervously glancing at my ‘assistant’.
“Great!” I said forcing a smile. Scarlett gave him two thumbs up from the back seat. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know, it’s just that you have been acting weird lately,” he said shaking his head.
Hawke glared at Ed.
“Sorry, I guess I have. I’ve got a lot of personal stuff going on and then working for Nelson is always tenuous, to say the least.” I smiled hoping he would buy my story. I pretended to scratch where the mic was. I grinned imagining the Agents swearing at the feedback in their ear.
Scarlett high fived me.
Ed and I flashed our press badges as we pulled through the secure gate to the Mayor’s office. I had an appointment to interview him about a charitable event he held to boost his poll numbers which were in the tank. He was eager to have a reporter from Channel Six highlight him in the segment the station does to honor philanthropist in the local community.
We were greeted by a petite blonde with an infectious smile and high pitched voice. I grinned thinking that every word she said made my eavesdropper wince. Scarlett put a pair of ear plugs in.
“Welcome. I’m Melanie,” she said extending her hand to me.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied shaking her hand.
“Please follow me,” she said, her voice climbing another octave.
“Stay here,” I muttered to Hawke, who gave me a slight nod and leaned against the wall pulling out his cell phone.
The Mayor’s office was crisp and bright. Floor to ceiling windows allowing for a sniper’s view of the city he governed.
