by Baker, S. L.
“Miss Ellington. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, clasping my hand between both of his.
I caught a glimpse of Scarlett checking his browsing history for porn. I shot her the evil eye and she sighed, threw her hands up, and went looking for the break room in hopes of scoring cake. Hell the way this day has been going, she’d settled for half a stale donut.
The Mayor had a full head of salt and pepper hair, he looked every bit the part of a politician. That gleam in his eye, the in your face white teeth, and the over the top groveling all politicians have perfected. They are were trained to spin and avoid the real issues.
Ed was setting up all his gear for the interview. Because of his earlier suspicion, I needed to get rid of him long enough to incriminate the Mayor for the Feds. I started to rub my eyes until they began tearing up.
“Crap. My allergies are killing me. My eyes won’t stop itching. Can you do me a huge favor, Ed? Run to the van to get my eye drops from my purse?” I said, smiling my best Southern belle smile, just hoping he was too intimidated by my ‘assistant’ Hawke in the receptionist’s office to ask him to go.
Scarlett batted her lashes at him.
“Sure,” Ed replied, disappearing out of the Mayor’s office.
I gently closed the door behind him. I went over and got the mic from Ed’s duffle bag.
“Mr. Mayor, let’s get you fitted with the mic,” I said unbuttoning his jacket. I could feel his breath on my neck and his breathing intensified.
“There you go, sir. Ready to go.”
The Mayor cleared his throat. “Thank you,” he said shifting in his chair.
“Let’s do a trial run while my cameraman is gone.” I sat down facing the Mayor.
“My first question is, how long have you been in politics?”
He smiled. “Twenty years.”
“Wow, that’s a long time to hold office.”
“It is.”
“But not all as Mayor?”
“No, in different roles throughout the years.”
“As you climbed the ranks in power did it get easier?”
“Did what get easier?” he asked looking confused.
“Taking bribes to award lucrative city contracts to the Mob.”
“What?” His tone was a cocktail of shock and self-preservation. “I don’t know where you got you information from, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really? So this document I have showing deposits in the amount of two hundred thousand dollars for your election runs over the last few years from Tri- Cities Construction who’s owned by Joe Salvatore, is what?”
Ed burst into the room and stopped cold as he looked at the Mayor who looked like he was ready to grab me by the throat and choke the life out of me. Scarlett told him to get in line that list was long.
“Just in time, Ed. Could you start rolling and I will ask the Mayor my question again? This time on camera.”
Ed handed me my purse and took his stance behind the camera.
My eyes fixated on the Mayor’s who looked like he was on the verge of a stroke.
“All set, Ed?”
“Yes were rolling.”
“Great. Mr. Mayor let me repeat the question I just asked you. I’m sure your constituents would be curious of your answer. Mr. Mayor could you explain the deposits of—”
“Enough. Shut that camera off and get out of my office.”
Ed froze looking at me.
“Can you give the Mayor and me a few minutes to re-group? I think his nerves are getting to him.”
Without a word Ed left.
I went over and turned the camera on.
“What the hell are you doing? This was supposed to be an interview about my charity work.”
“Right to show what a great asset to the city you are and how you help the community. Yet costing the taxpayers millions by awarding the city’s most lucrative contracts to the mob to ensure you get elected. Help me understand how that helps the community,” I said.
The Mayor sat silent. He froze when he saw the red light on the camera, showing it was recording the entire time.
“Oops I must have accidently turned the camera on when my cameraman ran to the car. I think I have plenty for my story tonight. The most riveting ones are those that leave unanswered questions and plant that seed of doubt in people’s minds, they don’t really want to believe it, but they do.”
Beads of sweat formed on the Mayor’s forehead and his eyes were launching missiles in my direction. He didn’t utter a word.
I sighed. “Okay, I’m not out to ruin your career. I just want a juicy story to help me move up the reporter ladder. But I like you, so I will make a deal. I will shut the camera off, let you delete the tape, if you answer a couple questions.”
“Why?” he asked his tone barely audible.
“Because, Mr. Mayor, you are a small piece to my puzzle. It won’t be complete without all its pieces. I will keep your name out of it.” I took a page from Nelson’s playbook looking around the room, leaning in close I whispered, “Look I’m doing research on a bigger story. It’s very secretive, but you can come out on either the winning side or losing side depending on if you help me. Your answers will just be between us. I promise. I crossed my heart with my left hand and crossed my fingers behind my back with my right.
“Fine,” he seethed. “The answer to your first question is yes I used favoritism to award contracts.”
“Did you have knowledge that Joe Salvatore, who has ties to the Mob, owned those companies?”
“Yes.”
“Were you compensated above the two hundred grand to your campaign?”
“No. I’m done. No more questions,” he said, pushing his chair back. He grabbed Ed’s camera and was trying to figure out how to delete the footage. I opened the door to the Mayor’s office and found Ed sitting in a chair across from the receptionist who was rudely telling someone to send her an email. I motioned for him to come back in. Ed rose, and the receptionist glared as Ed scurried by.
“I’m sorry, I tried to run the camera while you were out.”
Ed shot me an annoyed look, like I knew better.
“The Mayor has kindly asked me to delete the footage. How do I do that?”
“Push this yellow button and when prompted, say yes.”
“Got it, like this?” I said.
“Yeah, but stop messing with my camera.”
“Sorry, did I delete the footage?”
Ed scrolled through the camera memory. “Yeah it’s gone.” He moved the camera closer to the Mayor, who sat fuming.
“Unfortunately, the Mayor is not feeling well so he had re-scheduled our interview for next week.”
Ed packed his gear and headed out the door, Hawke still waited for me. I turned. “Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and good luck to you.”
His eyes met mine and there was no doubt that if he had a gun he would have shot me dead. Scarlett agreed, wiping a small tear at the thought.
Ed didn’t speak on the way back to the station. I could tell he was bothered by what was going on, and my erratic behavior, but my list of those people I needed to keep safe was long enough. There was no room for Ed.
***
Nelson was on a high of caffeine and more caffeine and was off the chain when I got back. He was relentless about the interview with Joe Salvatore. I was seriously considering letting him try, knowing full well it would land him a one way trip to the hog farm never to be seen or heard from again. But I needed him alive. His source was the only one keeping myself and Victor out of prison.
Chapter 11
Scarlett was modeling her new bikini in the mirror as she turned to the window flipping off Mother Nature as it poured outside. A trip to warm California for a few days was just what we both needed. Victor had clients he had to meet and there was no way he was letting me out of his sight again and after my abduction by his father’s thugs the last time he left for California.
Nic peeked her hea
d in my room. “Hey girl, you packed?”
“Almost, sugar. Will you be okay all by yourself?” I said, winking. I knew that Hawke would be there every minute. I’d convinced Victor to have another goon accompany us on the trip, so Cooper and Donovan drew the short straws. I hoped Cooper forgave me for the colossal ass chewing he got for allowing me to be taken under his watch.
“I’m so jealous, bitch,” she said frowning. “You basking on the warm beaches of Malibu and me stuck in the wet, dank, dreary Jersey suburbs.” She swatted my butt as she turned and walked out the door.
Scarlett dragged her wet suit out of the closet and tried to smush it, unsuccessfully, into my suitcase.
The alarm on the front door chimed and I heard Nicole squeal. Both alerted me that Hawke was here to drive me to the Salvatore airstrip. Victor was at the office and meeting us there.
Hawke grabbed both my bags and headed out the front door. Nic hugged me.
“Have fun!” she said.
“You too.”
“Don’t you worry about that,” she said licking her lips.
“You’re bad!” I said, rolling my eyes.
“You have no idea sugah!” she smirked.
Scarlett whipped out the record book to remind Nicole that she still held that record.
“Ready, ma’am?” Hawke asked standing just inside the door.
“Ma’am. How come you don’t call me ‘ma’am’?” Nicole smirked folding her arms tapping her foot.
Hawke shot her we’ll talk about that later look and was out the door.
“She’s a handful isn’t she?”
Hawke grinned as if to say, oh you have no idea.
But I could tell just by the mention of Nicole’s name that he was hooked, and there was no turning back. A copycat Escalade was parked on the tarmac. The rain had slowed down, but Scarlett whipped out her umbrella and smiled her shitty ass grin. I snickered when I saw her umbrella’s pattern was hot naked guys. Twirling it behind her, she skipped onto the plane.
“Hi, gorgeous,” Victor said kissing me.
My sweet spot jumped to attention and saluted. I hope this is a fast trip to California. Victor put his hand around my waist and pulled me close, holding the umbrella with his free hand. Cooper was right behind us. I gave Hawke a little wave goodbye, looking over my shoulder.
Scarlett was lounging in her seat eating grapes; she had already popped the cork on the bottle of champagne. I shot her the evil eye. Champagne was over kill for a flight to California.
Cooper disappeared into the cabin with the pilot and co-pilot who I’d never seen. Hell, for all I know Cooper could be flying the plane.
Victor pulled me into his lap and began kissing me. His tongue marking its territory, my sweet spot was revving faster than the jet’s engine. He put his hand inside my thigh and began massaging my inner thigh, then disappeared under my skirt. My sweet spot was at fifty thousand feet and climbing. Scarlett strapped on the parachute, she knew this orgasm might blow out the windows. Victor slid his finger in my sweet spot and pulled my breasts out of my blouse and began nibbling each one. I kissed his neck and staked my claim on his lips. I undid his belt and slid down his pants. His manliness was ready. Yanking off my panties with one swipe of his hand, I straddled him. We both groaned when he thrust his manliness in my sweet spot. Scarlett was reviewing the safety manual, too engrossed in the directions on how to open the safety hatch. My orgasm was so intense I thought the oxygen masks would hit us in the head at any second. We orgasmed simultaneously, and I swear for a second I though the jet lurched downward. I sat in Victor’s arms panting, my heart racing. Neither of us spoke. The sound of Scarlett popping the cork of another bottle of bubbly snapped me out of my sex coma.
“Holy hell, Victor. That was…”
“Yes, it was, baby. Damn, I love you, Angelina,” he said stroking my hair.
“I love you too.” I unwrapped from legs from Victor’s and pulled my panties back on and sank into my seat.
“How about a drink, babe?” Victor asked holding up a wine glass.
“I would love one, thank you.”
Victor poured two glasses of my favorite red wine. Handing me one, he sat back in his seat.
I looked out the window and all I saw was blue with flecks of white streaking across the sky. It was beautiful, peaceful. I closed my eyes and I was on Topsail Beach in North Carolina building a sand castle with my dad. My mom sat, soaking up the sun, smiling, relaxing, and watching her family play in the sand. That had been our last beach trip. I opened my eyes and Victor was staring at me.
“Were did you go, Angelina?”
“What do you mean?”
“You drifted off for a second, but your face told a story of its own.”
“I was remembering the last time I went to the beach with my parents before they died.”
Victor grabbed my hand. “What beach did you go to?”
“My parents loved this beach in Eastern North Carolina called Topsail. It was their favorite spot and they both dreamed of owning a summer house there some-day.”
“Let’s go, together soon,” Victor said, his eyes scanning mine for a response.
I was stunned for a brief moment. It had been years since I had been back there.
“I never really ever thought about returning. I don’t know if it would be too painful or if it would be healing.”
“I understand. But I would love to learn more about your past and where you grew up,” Victor said.
“Okay… Why?” I was confused about his sudden desire to delve into my past.
“I don’t know, I’m already so deeply in love with you and nothing will change that. But I feel like if I understood the experience you had growing up that is would bring us to a deeper level.”
“I assumed you already knew everything about me, Mr. Salvatore,” I quipped.
Scarlett popped a thermometer in Victor’s mouth to make sure he was feeling ok and then finger printed him to make sure he really was Victor. This was a vulnerable side I’d never seen before except when he’d spoken about his mother.
“Ok, let’s plan a trip to North Carolina and I will show you my childhood before I moved to Yankee land, also known as Rhode Island.”
Victor laughed.
“Since we’re talking about childhoods, where did you vacation as a kid?” I asked.
Victor stiffened up and the corners of his mouth turned down.
“Florida and Italy. My mother loved both, but particularly Florida. She hated the cold weather.”
“I can relate to that,” I said shivering. Scarlett flipped me the bird again for moving her to Jersey.
“My mother would have just adored you, Angelina.” Regret and longing filled his eyes. “I hate the fact that she never got the chance.”
“She might in the near future, if your father has anything to say about it.”
“As long as I’m breathing, nothing will ever happen to you. Trust me when I tell you that.”
“I know, Victor.” I cradled his face in my hands and kissed him. He smiled and grabbed my hand.
The door to the cockpit opened and Cooper emerged to tell us we were landing soon. Scarlett slid inside cockpit just before the door shut. She wanted to talk with the pilot about doing some aerial maneuvers and if the plane had any missiles. She had a list of potential targets depending on how many we had onboard. Target number one Joe Salvatore house. Problem solved. But I knew that taking out Joe Salvatore wouldn’t end this. His successor and every person documented in that book would still make it their mission to eliminate the mob’s biggest threat—me.
***
I was very excited about this trip to California. I had never traveled much, and to date had only been to five states. North Carolina— Rhode Island— New Jersey— Massachusetts— and New York. Scarlett drew a line through California on the map and was just as excited as I was. I had no idea what to expect. I had an idea of what I thought California was, but it was all based off of mov
ies and TV.
The plane landed on a small secluded air strip designed for those that wanted to go come and go in stealth mode. Scar had her binoculars trying to look in the windows of other planes to see if she could spot any celebrities. A dark gray Escalade was waiting for us on the airstrip. I smiled thinking how Victor had been slightly reckless choosing a dark gray and deviating from black. Maybe this was the laid back west coast version of Victor. I chuckled out loud.
“You want to share what’s so funny?”
“Just how handsome you are,” I said, not sharing.
He smiled and helped me in the Escalade. Cooper slid in the driver seat.
“So tell me about the house. The suspense is killing me.” Scarlett was pretty close to flipping out. She hated having to be patient it was so not her thing…
“It’s not as big as the house in Summit. It more modest…similar to the cottage, secure, but beach frontage.”
“It’s on the beach!” I said, my voice almost a squeal.
Victor laughed. “Yes,” he said with a big grin.
“I do have a small, very secluded cottage in the heart of wine country that I just purchased a year ago. This will be only my second visit there. No-one knows I even bought it. This is where we will spend most of the week. But I want to check on my other property and let us enjoy the beach for a few days and that property is closer to my meetings.”
“Works for me,” I said.
The drive to the beach house was beautiful. I fell instantly in love with California. It was everything I imagined and then some. The landscape was diverse and satisfied everyone’s desire.
Cooper turned down a dirt road lined with enormous trees and lush landscapes the houses screamed luxury and money. My eyes were wide like a child’s first visit to Disney. Scarlett was drooling and panting. I was worried for a brief second that she might faint.
“These houses are huge and opulent.”
“Yes they are,” he said unfazed by it all.
“Are any of your neighbors celebrities?”
