by Baker, S. L.
“Follow us,” Agent Parker ordered as he got out of the car and opened my door, grabbing my arm he pulled me toward the waiting van. The side door opened and I was pushed inside. Before I could scream, the door slid shut. Scarlett was liked a cage animal and began pacing, frantically banging on the door to let her out. I panicked for a moment that Victor and Hawke would storm the van to rescue me. Scarlett snatched a lighter from the driver of the van in case she needed to start a small fire. The van didn’t move.
There were other agents, three men and one woman, in the van. The interior was retro-fitted with high tech surveillance gear and computers. A stocky bald agent approach me.
“Miss Ellington, I’m Agent Mason.”
Scarlett’s eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open with the arsenal of Fed toys. She was modeling a pair of headphones pushing buttons on one of the computers with a shitty grin on her face.
“This necklace is dual purpose. Acts as both a listening device for us and a small camera that records live feed on our end,” Agent Mason replied handing me the gold necklace with a black onyx stone. I studied it carefully and spotted no trace of a camera or mic.
“Nice,” I said handing it back to Agent Mason. He placed it back in its box shoving it into his jacket pocket.
Agent Parker thrust a piece of paper in my face. Scar glanced up from pick pocketing Agent Mason. She had to get a closer look at that necklace. She made note to put one of those on her Christmas list.
“These are the questions you need to ask Joe Salvatore. Learn them so they seem natural. Don’t be nervous or act like you’re not confident. If he’s the slightest bit suspicious then you’re dead.”
“Great. Thanks for the reminder,” I snapped.
“You put yourself in this position as soon as you opened your legs for Victor Salvatore,” Agent Parker sneered.
Scar jolted up and threw her seat barley missing Agent Parker’s head.
“Screw you,” I snapped. “That was unnecessary.”
Agent Davis stood between us. “Miss Ellington. Learn the questions so they seem natural. Meet us at this address at seven-thirty sharp.”
“Fine. Can I leave?” I snapped fumbling with the sliding door.
“Yes.” Agent Parker opened the door.
I hopped out, and not looking back, darted for the SUV. I had Scarlett by the arm before she went back and throat punched that asshole Agent Parker. No-one disrespected her and lived to talk about it. She was fired up and pissed off.
I pulled onto the main road and headed home. A mile from the Masonic Bridge, I saw Hawke and Victor behind me. I exhaled and relaxed just a little. This plan had to work. If not, Scar better start planning my funeral. She shook off such crazy thoughts. She had this. She was strong and a badass. We had survived so far and if she had anything to say about it, the Feds and the Mob better watch their backs. Scarlett was too cocky for her own good sometimes and I needed to keep it together and follow Victor’s plan.
***
I took a deep breath as I parked and walked two blocks to where I suppose to meet the Feds. Victor and Hawke had been fully briefed on my encounter with the Feds and the plan stayed the same. I rounded the corner and headed onto the side street. The cold air bit into my face and Scarlett flipped me the bird, wishing she was surfing right now in California not lurking around the streets of Summit gearing up to meet the man who want me dead. I agreed. I wished I was any other place but here. I took a deep breath and headed toward the parked sedan. I looked around, making sure I wasn’t too obvious slipping into the car.
“Here’s the necklace,” Agent Davis said, handing me the little box.
I put it around my neck. “Do I need to turn activate it somehow?” I asked grabbing it.
“No we will activate it on our end. As soon as we see you about to enter the restaurant.”
“Where is Agent Jerk?” I asked. Scarlett pounded her fist in her hand remembering his crass comment in the van.
“In position ready to go. Did you rehearse the questions I gave you?”
“Yes,” I replied, crossing my fingers behind my back. I was pretty sure lying to the Feds will land you in the slammer, but Victor’s plan didn’t end in me dying.
“See you on the other end. I hope,” I said, climbing out of the car slamming the door. Scarlett had her ammo belt, bullet proof vest and four grenades. She was armed and ready.
My cell rang.
“You set?”
“Yes. But what is the diversion.”
“Don’t worry about that. No matter what, don’t deviate from the plan, understand?”
“Got it.”
“I love you, Angelina.”
“I love you too,” I said, “See you at the house. You promised me, Victor.”
“I know. I will see you there. Bye.”
***
Vito’s from the outside looked like a dive. Older décor with black shutters and weather beaten clapboards. A faded sign VITO’S in gold letters hung next to the black door. I took a deep breath and Scarlett put both sets of brass knuckles on and smiled. She loved a good ole fashion ass kicking. My focus was getting to the ladies room as fast as possible. I pulled on the handle and pulled open the heavy door. It was dimly lit. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone. The men sitting at the bar who looked like regulars stopped talking and watched my every move. Waiters in white shirts and black pants buzzed by. I froze.
I caught a glimpse of Joe Salvatore talking with two men. Scarlett kicked me in the ass and I kept going, trying to be as stealth as possible. I reached the door to the ladies room and had my hand on the door knob when Pauley emerged from the men’s’ room. He walked past me and I exhaled. Suddenly he stopped and turned back around.
“Hey. It’s you,” he yelled as I slammed the door in his face and locked it. My fingers were shaking as he pounded on the door, rattling the handle. I ran to the last stall and slammed it, my breathing rapid. I heard him kicking the door.
I whispered into the necklace. “Please help me.”
I heard a gunshot and the door shattered to pieces. Scarlett pulled out her gun and snapped in a fresh clip. I stood on the toilet seat squatting down. My heart was beating out of my chest and my breathing was rapid. Pauley was kicking in doors to the stalls. My door crashed opened slamming the side of the stall. I screamed as he grabbed me by the hair and dragged me across the tile floor of the bathroom. Scarlett was on his back punching and slapping him. I frantically looked around for anything I could use as a weapon. He let go of my hair and dragged me up from the floor. He pressed his gun to the side of my head, pulling me down the narrow hallway. A waiter made eye contact and then looked away and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Move it, bitch. Mr. Salvatore been waiting for you, sweetheart. He has got plans for you,” he sneered. We were less than fifty feet from the door that separated me from Joe Salvatore when the popping of automatic weapons, screaming, glass breaking, and bodies falling filled the air. I got splattered with blood as Pauley hit the ground. I turned and ran back toward the ladies room. The door was busted so I darted into the men’s room and locked the door.
I could still hear the barrage of gun fire. Scarlett was sulking in the corner, mad that we were hiding out instead of standing on the bar with her oozy taking care of these assholes for good. I was taking deep breaths trying to slow my breathing and prepare myself for the dead bodies littered throughout the restaurant that I would have to step over in order to escape. My mind was racing. This was the diversion. Shooting up a known Mob hangout. The gun fire stopped. The only sound was faint crying and moaning. I slowly opened the door and peered down the hall. It was clear. I bolted past several bodies, but didn’t dare look. I knew Pauley was dead and maybe if I was lucky, so was Joe Salvatore. I couldn’t look at their faces in case one was Victor’s or Hawke’s.
I busted through the door onto the street, running as fast as I could. My body was shaking and my emotions were still in shock. I reached my SUV and fumblin
g with my keys finally unlocked the door and slid in. I peeled out of the parking spot. Scarlett had her gun in her lap and was scanning the mirrors. I stopped at a red light. Grabbing my phone, I called Victor. It went straight to voicemail. Panic washed over me and I felt like I was suffocating. The light turned green and I didn’t notice the SUV behind me. I punched the gas and sped through the intersection. Blue lights reflected through my back windshield.
“Fuck.” Scarlett was trying to frantically rub the blood off my shirt and neck.
I relaxed when I rolled down the window and saw Agent Parker.
“What the Hell just happened?” I asked.
“I have the same questions for you. Why are you so important to Joe Salvatore, Miss Ellington?”
I took off the necklace and handed it to Agent Parker. “I want to go home and get dead mobster blood off of me,” I said.
“We’ll be in touch. This isn’t over. You failed to hold up your end of the contract. So you will be held accountable or we will consider you in default. I have been looking forward to arresting Victor Salvatore for a very long time. You’re hiding something from us. That’s obstruction and I can arrest you right here and now.”
“Then do it!” I screamed. “You won’t because you need me to get you Joe Salvatore. Goodnight,” I said putting up my window.
I was only focused on getting home and making sure Victor and Hawke were safe. The ten minute drive to Salvatore Disney Land felt like three hours.
I pressed re-dial on my phone each time it went into Victor’s voicemail.
I pulled up to the gate of Salvatore Disney Land and a goon waved me through. I motioned for him to approach me.
“Ma’am, is everything ok?” he asked.
“Mr. Wood, has Victor and Hawke returned?”
“No, ma’am, no yet.”
“Oh,” I said the panic evident in my tone.
I was hauling ass up the road to the house when my cell rang.
“Victor?”
“You okay, babe?”
“Thank God. I was frickin’ worried. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
“I turned it off. Your home?”
“Yes.”
“We will be there in ten,”
“What the fuck happened, Victor?”
“Not now. We will debrief when I get home.”
I walked through the front door, making a mad dash for the liquor cabinet. I pulled the top off the first bottle I saw and poured a shot. Scarlett was on her third by the time I threw back my second.
Chapter 22
I caught my reflection in the mirror hanging over the dresser. My face and neck were blood splattered. My shirt was crimson, I ran my fingers through my hair and felt caked on blood. I winced when I felt a gash on the back of my head. I climbed in the shower. The hot water caressing my body, washing away the blood and the terror of the last few hours. I got a taste of what my life had become. I was praying the water would wash it away knowing that Victor and Hawke caused the carnage at Vito’s tonight. The water ran over my head and I held onto the side of the shower and sobbed. The reality that people had died, were collateral damage because of the decisions I had made, nearly broke me.
The shower door opened and Victor pulled me into his arms. He just held me, stroking my hair. He picked me up, shut off the water, and climbed out of the shower with me clinging to his neck like a little girl who had a nightmare. This was a nightmare and I was the main actress. Gently, Victor wrapped me in a towel and carried me to bed. For the first time since I met Victor, my sweet spot was still in shock. She needed a few more shots and a big ass piece of cake. She was Scarlett’s new BFF.
Victor slid into the bed and wrapped me up in those big arms. I felt his heart racing through his chest. He kissed me and searched my eyes for any hint of what I was feeling.
“I was so scared something happened to you and Hawke.”
“I know. I was out of mind knowing you were in the middle of all that shit storm.”
“I really don’t know if I want the answer to this, Victor, but I need to know. Was it you and Hawke that shot up Vito’s?”
“No.” he said, his tone cold.
“Then who were they?”
No response.
“Victor.”
“The diversion. That’s all you need to know.”
“People died, Victor! They had nothing to do with any of this,” I snapped.
“The people at Vito’s know it’s a Mob hotspot. They accept the risk when they go. This isn’t the first time and won’t be the last something like this happens. The majority of the people in there tonight had some connection to organized crime. Like my father says, ‘It’s the cost of doing business’.”
“One of your father’s goons, Pauley, got killed. He was standing next to me with a gun to my head.”
“What the hell are you talking about? We had a plan. I told you not to deviate from it.”
“It wasn’t intentional, trust me. He came out of the men’s room just as I was going in the ladies room. I didn’t think he recognized me at first, but when I saw him turn back around, I knew. He broke through the door, grabbed me and was taking me to your father when they shot him. I locked myself into the men’s room until it was safe to get the hell out.”
“I can’t say I’m remorseful that Pauley got what he deserved. I’ve always hate that bastard.”
“Still, to get shot in cold blood, no-one deserves that.” I shuddered.
“Price he was willing to pay to be in the life.”
“You pass it off, Victor, like it’s no big deal.”
“It’s not to them. Guys in that life know eventually they will be killed. Either in a random gunfight or by the hand of the family. They accept it.”
“Will your father suspect you had something to do with what went down tonight?”
“Without a doubt.”
“What the hell, why would you do that? He’s already trying to kill us, why aggravate the situation.”
“To send him a message.”
“What message? That we’re insane?”
“I told you, as long as we have possession of that book we survive. So we have nothing to lose. I’m not going to spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulder and worrying about getting whacked by my father. He can go to Hell.”
“The FBI is pissed. Agent Parker threatened me, saying they will hold me to that contract and if I default, then we both go to jail. They heard Pauley say that Mr. Salvatore had been looking for me. The agents are suspicious. This sit down with your father needed to happen.”
“We bought some time. My attorney is finding a way around the contract. He’s looking into those two agents, to see if he can dig something up.”
“I’m not just worried about jail, but this meeting with your dad was my bargaining chip for the Feds to help find Luke.”
“They have no interest in finding Luke. They’re telling you what you want you want to hear. You’re being played by those assholes. I have associates looking for Luke. They are the best at what they do.”
I rolled on my side, my head was throbbing. I wasn’t sure if it was the shots, stress, or the combination of everything all shaken together in one big bitter tasting cocktail. Scarlett was by my side with an array of remedies, the only one I wanted was sleep. Victor pulled me close to his chest and we both drifted off to sleep.
***
Victor’s lips staking their claim on mine coaxed me awake. My sweet spot had made a full recovery, thanks to Scarlett and her secret elixir. His hand teased my clit. I drew in a sharp breath as my sweet spot slammed her accelerator to the floor and was wide open. I arched my back and Victor’s tongue wasted no time on my sweet spot. I let out a guttural growl as I came. Victor flipped me on my stomach, caressing and tormenting my ass. My sweet spot chugged two energy drinks, she was ready for round two and three. Hell, she nothing else to do today, so she was ready. My knees quivered as Victor’s tongue traced around the opening of my as
s. I squealed as his fingers thrust hard inside my ass and I felt a sharp slap. I squirmed for more. Both sensations together had me on the brink of sky diving without a parachute. Victor thrust his manliness inside my sweet spot, I orgasmed as she did a double back flip with a twist. I couldn’t move. My body was so relaxed and satiated.
“Good morning, my angel.”
“Wow. Nothing like great sex to erase all the stress and worry.”
“Absolutely,” he said kissing me. His tongue wrestled with mine. My sweet spot was winded, but she had a little juice left. My stomach was ready to rumble with my sweet spot if I wasn’t fed soon. Scarlett made waffles, and sipped a mimosa as we got going on round two.
Chapter 23
A big white box with a red bow smack dab on the top was on the bed later that afternoon with a hand written note:
I have a special night planned. Would you please join me, Ms. Ellington? Meet me in the foyer at 7:00 p.m.
I opened the box and pulled out a gorgeous, red dress adorned with rhinestones along the top and a pair of strappy black heels. Scarlett was holding up the dress and twirling around the bedroom squealing in delight.
Victor was waiting for me wearing a black suit with a red tie. He looked so hot! Scar whistled at him and batted her long lashes.
“You look so incredible, baby,” he said. Grabbing my face in those big hands, his lips devoured every inch of mine and his tongue did a tango with mine.
“Ready?”
“Absolutely. Where are we going?”
“Awe, it’s a secret. We need a night out after the stress we have been under.”
Scarlett hated secrets. She didn’t have a patient bone in her body and secrets meant she had to wait. She hated waiting! She stuck out her tongue at Victor and sat pouting.
“I can’t wait,” I said taking his hand.
We climbed into the Escalade and Hawke assumed his familiar spot behind the steering wheel. The heat had been ramped up a thousand degrees in each direction we turned, from the Mob, the Feds, and those I’d pissed off from all my snooping around. When we left Salvatore Disney Land it was usually in a caravan similar to what the president traveled in. So our potential enemies would be thrown off, not knowing which vehicle we were in. It was the price I was willing to pay to keep everyone whole and alive.
