Vinny: Alvarez Security Series

by Maryann Jordan

  As the meal was finished, she looked at Tony with renewed determination on her face. “All right. I’m ready.”

  The others recognized her steely resolve and nodded as they pushed the empty plates to the side. Jennifer and Sherrie quietly cleaned up the table, but both stayed close wanting to hear what their new friend had to say. Tony and Gabe grinned, knowing their wives were nosy.

  She looked at the list of people that had been around her harp and asked, “What do you need from me?”

  “We have the list, but I’d like you to just talk about each one. Who they are. What they do. What your impressions of them are. Even what you know about them. Just talk and we’ll listen and take notes. You may say something without even realizing it that we find useful.”

  Glancing to the side to see Vinny’s concerned expression, she squeezed his hand. “I’ve got this, Vinny. I’m okay.” Seeing his reassuring smile, she began.

  The first name on the list was Todd Levine. “Todd’s my manager. My father hired him a year ago to chart out my career. He was supposed to take the shy harpist and turn me into a public figure.” Seeing the incredulous looks from around the table, she shrugged. “I know it sounds ridiculous. Most symphonic musicians are very anonymous. But sometimes a principle player is supposed to be the show-stopper. That was supposed to be me. So Todd took me in hand, hired a make-up artist and stylist to design for me and to travel with me. He schedules press releases and photo shoots.”

  She looked down at the file with Todd’s name on it. “I hate it,” she confessed. Looking up quickly, she said, “Not him. I don’t hate him. Well, I don’t exactly like him either, but I don’t hate him. I just don’t like being on show. I love playing the harp in front of an audience, but not the forced status that is shoved down my throat.”

  “Tell us what you don’t like about him,” Gabe prodded as Vinny moved his hand again to rub her shoulders.

  Screwing her face up in concentration, she said with a half-hearted shrug, “He just doesn’t listen.” Looking around, she realized that for the first time, she did not hate talking about herself. This seemed like she was talking to friends…not the press judging her every word.

  “I know I’m an introvert. I’m shy. That doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with me that needs to be fixed. I’m not some poor little girl that needs someone to lead me around. It’s just very hard for me to stick up for myself when someone is determined to overrun me. Todd has a job and he’s determined to do it. What I want doesn’t matter to him.”

  They had been joined by Lily and BJ, who were busily typing in searches as she talked. The others were jotting down notes, but Vinny just kept his hand on her shoulder, listening as he took in what she said. Smiling up at him, she looked at the next name on the list.

  “Okay, Gordon Fisher is my agent. He does the actual booking of the concerts. He works with Todd, but he’s actually the one who makes the arrangements with various symphonies or shows. He makes the arrangements as to which cities I will play in and then has his staff make the arrangements.”

  “So Gordon is the one who actually decides if you will play in LA or New York or wherever?”

  “Yes,” she said slowly, understanding the implication. “But that doesn’t make sense. He represents other musicians and bands. Believe me, if he wanted to move drugs, he’d have lots of better opportunities than me. I don’t travel much and certainly don’t tour. I’m located here with the Richland Symphony and just travel as a feature musician for certain venues.

  “Next is Sharon Turner and Parker Williams, my makeup artist and stylist.” Stifling a giggle, she said, “Parker is my one true friend on the trips. He’s funny and nice. He actually listens and keeps Sharon in check.”

  “How so?”

  “She wants to do makeup for movie sets and I know she wishes that I would travel more. She used to apply the makeup with a heavy hand, making me feel like a drag queen, but Parker is the main stylist, so he pulls her back. She’s fun to talk to and understands that I don’t like crowds. She and Gordon seem to get along really well, but I don’t know about Todd. I think he irritates her too.”

  “And Parker?” Gabe prodded again.

  “He knows how I want to look and he works with that. He listens to what I like to wear and the colors that I like. Sometimes I think that if he wasn’t on a trip with me, I’d lose my mind. I definitely know it’s not him because he really likes me.”

  “You can’t make that assumption, babe,” Vinny warned, only to be greeted with a frustrated look from her.

  “I can’t just suspect everyone I work with. That’s not right!” she huffed, crossing her arms in front of her.

  Wanting to keep Vinny from bearing her wrath, Tony jumped in. “Annalissa, right now, you can’t trust anyone you know. Anyone could have had motives that you don’t know about.”

  She held his gaze a moment before leaning over the table, resting her head in her hands.

  Sherrie brought a bottle of cold water over to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “I know this is hard, honey.”

  Annalissa looked up gratefully, giving a small smile. Looking down at the files again, she recognized others from the stage set up. “These people don’t travel with me. They’re hired by the concert halls for each city’s symphonic orchestras. They would have no idea of who I am or where I go. Someone would be responsible for bringing my harp to me after the concert is over. I don’t carry it with me. After the final bow, I exit the stage and Easnadh is left there on her stand. Once the curtain goes down, the person in charge would make sure she was cased and brought to my room.”

  “Could someone slip in unnoticed in all the confusion of a full orchestra and stage hands moving about?”

  Scrunching her face in thought, she answered, “I suppose. They all have name badges that they wear around their necks, but…I guess anyone can make up a badge.”

  The others grinned at her innocence, knowing that each of them had used fake badges, licenses, and identifications on multiple occasions. Tony turned to Lily, saying, “Check the stage crews for the last year of concerts for Annalissa and see if there are any crossovers.”

  Turning back to the file in front of her, she flipped the page and stared at a picture of her father. Looking up sharply, she asked, “Why is this here?”

  Tony, his gaze steady on hers, said, “We have to look at everyone.”

  She sat still, no longer feeling Vinny’s touch even though he was still caressing her shoulder. My father. He’s no drug dealer…just…Suddenly feeling very vulnerable, she stood up saying, “I’m sorry. I’ve given you all I can today.”

  Vinny jumped up with her, pulling her in for a hug. “Babe, you did really good. Let me take you home.”

  She leaned back, her eyes flashing. “Home? What home, Vinny? My home has been broken into and trashed. Right now I don’t even have a home.”

  He looked down at the dark circles under her eyes and the trembling of her chin telling him she was holding on by a thread. Fuck, I should never have let this go so far. Calmly he said, “I know and I’m sorry. Let me take you back to my place so you can rest or practice if you would like.”

  Jennifer moved over, knowing that the group would want to continue to work and process all that Annalissa had told them, saying gently, “Hey, why don’t you, me, and Sherrie go out for a little while for some girl time.”

  Annalissa looked over at the faces of the two women she was fast considering as friends. “I think I’d like that,” she admitted.

  Vinny leaned down and kissed her…on the lips…a simple kiss but one that spoke volumes to those who knew him. He had claimed her. The big man had fallen. As the three women left the room, the others sat in silence.

  The twins shared a look and Gabe gave a nod of approval as a grin spread across his face. The others sat back down, smiles on their faces as well. Lily beamed at Vinny, saying, “I knew it would hit you one day and I kept saying that I wanted to be around when it
did. Who knew that you’d fall for such a quiet, talented sweetheart?”

  Vinny, actually blushing, agreed saying, “Yeah, I guess my behavior before meeting Annalissa wasn’t so good.” Shaking his head, he continued, “When I was getting to know her as we were running through the woods and hiding out in trees—well, let’s just say that I was falling for her but didn’t think there was any way in the world I deserved someone like her.”

  “Oh yes you do,” Lily effused. “You just needed to find the right one.” She looked around the table at the men she worked with and cared for, her eyes stopping on Jobe. “Now, we just need to find someone for you.”

  Jobe smiled, but she noticed it did not reach his eyes. Shaking his head, he said, “Nah. Had it once but threw it away. Don’t think that’ll come again.”

  “You don’t know that,” Lily said. “Look at BJ here. He found his love four years after they’d broken up. If it happened to him, it could happen to you.” She caught the looks between the former brothers-in-arms, recognizing a story. One that she did not know. And one that would only be shared when Jobe was ready.

  The group went back to studying the files as Vinny filled them in on Annalissa’s father, remembering what all she had told him on their trip.

  “This just doesn’t make any sense,” Gabe groused. “She doesn’t travel that much and so she can’t be someone’s main source of smuggling.”

  “I’m sure that someone she knows is using her,” Vinny bit out, as they sifted through the suspects. “But which one?”

  “Don’t know yet, but we’ll just keep working the problem,” Tony replied. “Jack’s DEA contact said that there were no fingerprints on the bags of drugs, the case, or the harp.”

  “I think it’s been done before and would have worked this time if we hadn’t had to miss our flight,” Vinny said. “So you’re right. We keep looking and in the meantime, I intend to keep her watched.”

  Tony grinned. “Already got a rotation set up to be with her.”

  Nodding, Vinny settled back. Now to convince Annalissa to stay with him. Not only for her safety…but for as long as she would have him.

  Chapter 14

  The next day, Annalissa caught a cab to her teacher’s studio after Vinny left for work. Walking up the steps of the old brownstone with her harp case in her hand, she knocked on the door. As it opened, she saw the look of surprise on his face. As he threw his arms out wide, she rushed into them, feeling the comfort he offered.

  “Oh, my dear, what a time you’ve had. Come in, come in and tell me all about it.”

  She picked up her case and followed him down the hall to his studio in the back.

  “Mrs. Baxter, some tea for us, if you please,” he called out to his housekeeper. By the time they had settled into chairs, she was already bustling in with a tray of steaming tea and a platter of cookies.

  Placing it on the table in front of them, she hurried over to give Annalissa a hug. Pulling her into her bosomy embrace, she effused, “Oh dearie, you gave poor Mr. Feinstein such a fright.” Making herself right at home with her employer, she settled her girth on the settee and poured the tea.

  Annalissa had to laugh; Mr. Feinstein and his housekeeper had been together for so long they seemed more like an old married couple, even though they had never been interested in each other that way.

  The next hour passed with her regaling them with tales of her trip. She told in great detail the plight of the man having the heart attack and how Vinny saved him. She followed that with the harrowing landing in Kansas City and once again how Vinny took charge. “I just couldn’t fly again so soon,” she lied, feeling horrible at the necessity of keeping the truth hidden. “So Vinny suggested that we book Easnadh on the next flight and we drove instead.”

  “But why not just keep Easnadh with you?” Maurice asked, his brow furrowed.

  Remembering her practiced explanation, she said, “It would be too crowded in our little rental car. And it was much safer for us to ship it and have one of the Alvarez Security men pick it up at the Richland Airport.”

  “So it came directly to Richland and not through Dulles?” he asked.

  “Yes, we could get a direct flight from Kansas City to Richland for it.”

  He nodded thoughtfully, while Mrs. Baxter’s head bobbed enthusiastically.

  “It sounds like you not only had an adventure, but perhaps had some fun as well?” she said, desperately wanting more gossip.

  “Yes,” Annalissa grinned. “I did have fun since I never get to travel by land and Mr. Malloy was perfect company.”

  As they finished their tea, Mrs. Baxter hustled the dishes away after giving Annalissa a kiss and another hug.

  Annalissa opened her case and removed her harp. “I thought instead of just practicing at home to relax, I’d come over and practice with you.”

  Smiling, the older man nodded as he moved to his instruments in the corner of the studio. Choosing another Celtic harp, they sat and played companionably for another hour. The music filled the room, allowing her to finally and completely relax. With a few of his windows opened, the tones drifted outside.

  Jobe sat in his SUV, the windows down, listening to the music. He had already called in her location to Vinny since it was his time to follow her. Not a hard duty, he thought as he allowed the music to settle over him. I can see what she has done to Vinny. Her music is bewitching. And for a man like him…he smiled thinking of his friend. Leaning his head back, he maintained his vigilance while his mind rolled to what Lily had said earlier.

  They’ve all found it…the forever kind of love. His friends Shane and Annie, Lily and Matt, BJ and Suzanne. And now his brothers-in-arms, Gabe and Jennifer, Tony and Sherrie, and now Vinny. The last of the professed bachelors was fully, completely in love with Annalissa.

  Sucking in a huge sigh as the haunting melody floated out to him. I had it. And I goddamn threw it away. Thought I was being noble. God, what a prick. Giving himself a shake, he forced his mind back to the case and off of the past.

  As Annalissa came out of Maurice’s house, she was walking down the steps when suddenly Jobe loomed before her. Taking the harp case from her hands, he nodded toward his vehicle.

  “Did Vinny send you to spy on me?”

  “No ma’am,” he replied with a wink. “You have the protection of Alvarez Security. One of us will be with you when you aren’t with Vinny.”

  “Oh,” she said, a concerned look on her face. “I don’t mean to be a problem,” she admitted.

  He placed her harp in the back of the SUV before rounding to her side to open the door. “No problem. It wouldn’t matter if we were working on your case or not. You’re one of us now. We protect our own,” he said simply.

  As she settled in for the ride back to Vinny’s, she smiled. Belonging. Friends. Just what I’ve been looking for.

  *

  That evening, she slipped easily into the pool, holding on to Vinny’s hands as he led her around, and kicked her legs.

  “Feel how the movement of your legs propels you along?” he asked, trying to keep his eyes off of her ass as it wiggled just above the waterline.

  “Yes, but that’s only my bottom half. What am I supposed to do with my arms?”

  “You don’t want to keep holding my hands?” he joked.

  “I’d love to but I don’t think that will help me swim on my own,” she sputtered trying to keep her head above the water.

  Moving back to the shallow end, he let go as she stood on the bottom of the pool. “Okay, let’s work on the arm movement.” He spent the next fifteen minutes teaching her how to circle her arms in a paddling motion. After she was comfortable with that, he supported her with his hands on her tummy as she kicked while moving her arms.

  “You promise not to let go?” she asked as they moved toward deeper water.

  “I promise, baby. I’ll never let you go.”

  Once again, she wondered if there was a double meaning in his words. After several minutes
of working to get the rhythm correct, he pulled her in close to his body. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, luxuriating in the feel of floating in the water holding on to him.

  With her breasts pressed tightly to his chest and her core firmly nestled against his throbbing cock, he kissed her as they continued to move through the water. Her back finally landed against the side of the pool and he pressed even closer. The kiss became desperate. Needy. Just like his desire for her.

  “Princess,” he growled. “We’ve gotta get upstairs. I fuckin’ want to take you here and now, but I’m not about to chance someone coming in.”

  Panting into his mouth, she nodded. “I need you now,” she cried.

  With an easy lift, he set her on the side of the pool and pulled himself out effortlessly. Reaching down, he plucked her up, carrying her in his arms. Bending as they rounded the side, he grabbed their towels as he carried her to the elevator. Once inside, he continued the kiss that had been interrupted in the pool. As the elevator doors opened, he set her down and grabbed her hand as they quickly walked to his apartment.

  Another man came out of a door, his eyes noticeably appreciating the view. Vinny looked down, seeing Annalissa’s nipples clearly poking through the worn bathing suit material. Throwing a towel around her chilled body, he growled at the neighbor who quickly paled at the sight of the large, muscular, and obviously pissed-off man.

  Giggling, she felt herself gently pushed inside his apartment as Vinny kicked the door closed behind them.

  “I can’t believe I let you walk around in that bathing suit on our way up here,” he exploded. “I must be crazy.”

  “Vinny, really?” she asked, tapping her foot on the floor. “Are you telling me that you’ve never been at a pool party or beach with other women in skimpy bikinis?”

  He stopped and looked at her, his eyes still flashing irritation.

  “Well?” she prodded. “You’ve never ogled a woman in a bathing suit? You’ve never been with another woman at a pool who was wearing a lot less than this old one-piece?”