Ten Brides for Ten Hot Guys

by Donna Fasano

  “She’s with me at the house; her and the little puppy, Peewee.”

  After Angelina admitted this, there was silence at his end of the line. She pictured him reigning in his temper.

  His voice hardened. “Are you still at the house alone?”

  “Not really. Rosario, our housekeeper, is back home now.”

  Softening his tone, Joe answered. “That’s good. I just hope you know what you’re doing?”

  “So far, so good! Joe, she’s a great kid and she needed a friend.”

  “Well she found the best, Angelina. Oh-oh! Gotta go! I’ll call you soon.”

  “Ciao, Joe.”

  From the minute they’d hung up, a strange kind of loneliness had seeped in, invading her heart. At least, she’d suspected that the yearning, sickly feeling was loneliness. Never having felt this way before gave her nothing to measure it by.

  I wish he’d get out of my head! She was sick of stumbling over him every time she let her mind wander. She needed to let it go... let him go.

  Now faced with the decision as to whether she should chance him hanging up on her again, she dithered, watching her hand slowly reach for the phone.

  Leaving it up to fate, she punched the button, only to hear his answering service ask her to leave a message. Instead, she hung up. Guess that’s my answer.

  Chapter 38

  Disgusting night noises of spitting, groaning and hurling kept Tee fearful and awake. In the background, sirens and brakes squealing, drunken arguments and yelling evoked nauseating memories of other nights she’d hoped to forget. Regrettably, life had a way of spinning in a-hundred-and-eighty-degree twists every so often, and here she was again on the streets of hell.

  She fetched a piece of folded cardboard to have something between her and the filthy ground, decorated with used needles, condom wrappers and other unspeakable soiled garbage.

  Then she wrapped a discarded, dirty grey torn blanket, with ragged edges and most likely crawling creatures, around her skinny shoulders. Tugging her skater tuke down over her forehead, she covered most of her face. Lastly, she bent over her tote and draped her arms over her raised knees, wanting to give the impression to anyone checking her out there was no problem here. Patiently, she waited for the right moment.

  Little by little, she shuffled herself and her gear closer to where the thieving bastard lay with his arms clutching his ragged backpack. It was frayed and held together in a few places with safety pins and duct tape. But it sheltered what she wanted and so her eyes never left it. She slumped down against the damp cement and successfully faded into the background.

  To most, it was a squalid, smelly concrete underpass, but for others less fortunate, it was a sleeping place. She knew that as long as she kept her head down and didn’t show her face, the thieving bastard would ignore her.

  Her plan was solid. Hang in next to the loser and wait for him to take a hit. She knew he would; invariably there was no choice. He needed it more than he’d needed the last one.

  This cock-eyed notion she had of capturing the lost treasure and returning it to Angelina was a sucker play, but she guessed it didn’t matter. She cared diddlysquat about what happened to her. The important thing in Tee’s life right now was Angelina, her first true friend. And proving to her that the young girl she’d helped was worth every bit of the energy and trust she’d invested. It was the only way she knew of saying—you were right. I’m a good person. Thank you.

  Like dust mites floating in a shaft of sunlight, random thoughts drifted around in her conscience. Trying to beat back the fear and stay awake, she purposefully allowed her mind to wander.

  I miss Angie and Ray. What is it about Coralee that seems so familiar? Where’s Joe, and how come everyone pussyfoots around when his name comes up? Dean must have a girlfriend…

  Her head started to drop and she shook herself awake. Smarten Up! Concentrate.

  Dragging her attention back to the matter at hand, Tee watched sneakily. She could see by the amount of drugs the dude injected, he was trippin’ big time. He must have scored with one of the coins. It was only a matter of time before he would be in la-la land, the way he was using. Hopefully, then she could get close enough to wrest the prize out of his grasp.

  Eyelids at half-mast, arms shielding her upper body, knees clenched, she schemed. First, wait till he’s totally out. Next, watch to be sure everyone else nearby is too far-gone to care. Then carefully, gently, take the bag. And finally, run like freakin’ hell.

  Easy! No sweat!

  Then why are you crying?

  Chapter 39

  Joe was sick and tired of avoiding Angelina. And, he was sick of Lee giving him The Look. And he was tired of hiding from his family. Worst of all, he was fed up with kicking his own ass. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t get her out of his thoughts, and dammit… he had tried.

  Once he’d discovered that his worst fears about her gambling were utter nonsense, there appeared to be nothing stopping them from being together. Except—of course— he wasn’t interested in commitment, no matter who the chick was. Even Angelina! No way–no how!

  He’d held out for over a week, with just a few phone calls between them that he’d replayed continuously in his mind. Hell, the only real news he’d received was secondhand, passed on by Lee. Seemed even nice ol' Lee was losing patience, as the last question he’d asked had gotten him a terse reply.

  “Angelina’s stopped asking about you. The rest of us don’t bring up your name because we hate seeing her unhappy. Considering the fact you don’t want to get seriously involved with any woman, I’m thinking it’s best you stay away and leave her alone.”

  “You’re saying I can’t be her friend? Is that what you’re telling me?” Joe picked a fight and felt foolish the minute the words left his mouth.

  “What I’m telling you is to either shit or get off the pot. You can’t have things both ways, man. Either you’re straight up with her from the beginning and lay it on the line—friends only—and then act accordingly. Or don’t come around. That’s what I’m saying.”

  “I hear you. Hell, the whole office heard you. What is it about this girl? Everyone, including you, shields her like you’re Acting Bodyguards for the First Lady.”

  Lee gave him a look like he’d do with an ornery child. And it pissed him off. He bristled but listened.

  “You don’t really know her at all, Joe. She’s special. At first, I liked her because she was a victim who’d handled a nightmare with class, not like some of the others we’ve helped in the past. She sincerely cared more about her employees than she did about herself. Plus, Coralee is nuts about her. Now that I’ve spent more time with her, I find she’s incredibly smart, amazingly compassionate and has a sense of wit and style, which astounds me. Meanness is absolutely foreign to her nature. Her office staff—they adore her, and would do practically anything for her. People who elicit such a huge amount of affection are rare and need to be protected.”

  “Wait a minute, now you’re saying I’m out to hurt her?”

  “Not intentionally, no. What I’m saying is she isn’t one of your usual girl-friends. You can’t dally with her.”

  Joe bit down on his rising anger. “Angel’s not a child, Lee. She has a mind of her own.”

  “Not with this kind of thing, and don’t mess with me here. She’s astonishingly shy with men. You probably noticed it yourself.”

  Joe thought back to the beautiful woman standing in front of him in her driveway, dressed in a turquoise T-shirt and jeans, holding his flowers, her eyes guarded. As per her custom, she’d welcomed him with a kiss, and shyness had radiated like waves from her trembling body.

  Lee continued. “Some of the things Coralee told me about her—which are private and I won’t breach her confidence—led me to believe she hasn’t dated very many men. She’s way out of your league, Bro.”

  Joe’s interest ramped up in an instant. Thinking he’d get the scoop, he moved closer and used the old charming smil
e.

  “I’m not talking, pal.” Lee shot him down.

  “She’s a grown woman, Lee. One who, by the way, has put me in my place a few memorable times and doesn’t strike me as being weak at all.”

  “You’re right, she isn’t weak. That wasn’t what I was trying to say. She’s vulnerable, which is a whole different scenario.”

  “Okay, I promise. If I stop by the office, it’ll be strictly a friendly visit. Besides, to tell the truth, I’ve felt like a worm ignoring everyone there. Also, I wanted to check up on young Tee and see how she’s doing.”

  “Tee? She’s the hardest working, cheekiest kid I’ve ever met. She’s Angelina’s biggest fan, and has managed to charm all the rest of us.”

  “Has she told anyone her real name yet?”

  “Nope. Angelina has made everyone promise to leave it alone, and not mess with the girl. Figures she’ll tell us in her own good time.”

  “What does Coralee think, now that she’s out of the hospital and she’s met her? I guess she’s not back to work yet, but I’d put money on it, she’s been to the office.”

  “She won’t stay away, can’t is more like it. She’s been to the office already bugging everyone to let her ‘do’ something. Angelina’s standing firm, and won’t allow her to get back to work until her recuperation is up. She’s only welcome to visit. It’s been an uphill battle, let me tell you. When my doll sets her mind on a certain course, nothing can budge her.”

  “Should make for an interesting future for you two,” Joe chuckled.

  “Since she’s set her mind on me, I’m pretty sure I won’t have to worry she’ll start looking anywhere else. Suits me just fine.”

  “I’d be keen on getting to know her better. I like what I’ve seen so far, and you two will make a great pair. I might come around to the office soon. Indifference doesn’t suit me, Lee. Honestly, I’d like to help.”

  “If you say so, Joe. Ruthlessness doesn’t suit you either. So take care. It’s all I ask.”

  Chapter 40

  “What do you mean, where’re the coins?” The frozen horror on Ray’s face was sufficient for Angelina to clue into the fact that he didn’t have the Crown Royal bags either, and he’d been her last hope.

  After the initial excitement of the find, everyone had quietened down, and it was decided they’d finish off the day’s work and hold a celebration later.

  Leaving the bags of coins in an unlocked file cabinet drawer in her office, Angelina had taken for it granted they would be safe. Retrospectively, she was wrong—disturbingly, shockingly wrong. The purple velvet bags had disappeared… vanished. Devastatingly worse was the fact that Tee was gone too. They’d looked, but couldn’t find her anywhere. And her backpack was missing also, the one she kept with her always.

  At once, Ray organized a meeting with his son Dean, Angelina and Lee, who arrived subsequently just in time to be briefed on the ironic story. Angelina’s newly-finished office, the only room with privacy as the door had been installed early that morning, was the most sensible place to convene.

  Ray started the discussion. “I’ve questioned alla my guys and none saw the bags. In fact, none were even in this room today. Besides, they’ve all worked with me for years and I’d trust every one of them.” The quiet in the room felt uncomfortable.

  Cutting to the chase, Dean said, “Angelina, you can’t believe Tee would take the money. She just wouldn’t.”

  Lee interrupted. “If the amount in those bags was for real, then the coins will be worth a fortune on the streets, and we all have to admit that’s familiar territory for her.”

  Angelina wordlessly shook her head. Dean looked towards his father respectfully and waited.

  “No way,” Ray interrupted, flinging his hands in the air in a typical Italian way. He challenged Lee to argue further by the cocky stance he adapted, portraying a paternal shielding role. “If she’da wanted the money, why’d she show it to us to begin with? Why didn’t she just hide it and keep it? I say—no way!”

  Nodding, looking from face to face, Angelina confirmed his opinion was mutual. No hesitating, no discussion, Tee’s innocence and loyalty to them was as unequivocal as theirs to her. But where was she now? And where was the loot?

  A rhythmic knocking had everyone turning hopeful faces to the doorway. Joe entered, his face full of smiles that soon fled after he noticed the roomful of worried expressions. He raised his eyebrows. Then with snake-like speed, he moved to squat in front of Angelina and gripped her hands.

  “Why is she crying? Lee, what’s going on? Ray, do you mind getting her some water? Angel— baby—what happened? Is it your family?”

  Seeing him was too much for Angelina. She choked up and couldn’t talk. It was his fault for being so nice to her. Adroitly, Lee filled him in on the day’s happenings.

  Deep inside, Angelina couldn’t believe Tee had left without a word to her, or anyone else for that matter. The sassy teen had become important to them and everyone was feeling betrayed by her lack of courtesy. A call to Rosario elicited the fact that Peewee was fast asleep in his fancy new basket. Tee would never leave without her pet. So Angelina knew she’d be back, but in the meantime where was she?

  Joe patted her hands, stood next to her chair and restored her faith in him by his reaction. “I don’t believe it! From what Lee’s been sharing, the kid works like a dog and was well treated here. And for someone like Tee, that’s huge.”

  Angelina slumped, loosening the stressed pose. Her hands, which had been grasping and pulling at each other, rested. After twisting like a wild thing in her chest, her heart calmed, while nerves she never knew existed stopped pounding at the back of her head.

  To have Joe support Tee was tantamount to finding another bag of gold. Better! Because money she hadn’t worked for didn’t have any real meaning for her, but Joe’s defense, well… that meant everything.

  Having him express so clearly what everyone else thought opened a flood of speculations, discussion and decision-making. First, they all agreed that calling in the police would only be done as a last resort.

  Plans transpired and in no time three vehicles were traversing their chosen routes, focusing on finding a cocksure, spiky-haired female adolescent—street-savvy, but in probable danger.

  Surprisingly, Joe maneuvered Angelina into his truck with typical male arrogance, and they were soon on their way. Even though the evening was balmy, twinges of apprehension kept Angelina scrunched up in her seat and leaning forward. Her hands were still getting a workout.

  “Angel, I promise to drive real careful tonight. No accidents! You can relax.”

  Not that dazed, she answered. “I’m no angel, Joe. Call me Angelina, please.

  “Sorry, I guess it’s how I think of you.”

  “Yes, well, my dad used to call me his Angel during the times he wanted me to obey. Sorry, but now it grates.”

  “Got it. I’ll try and remember. Just know, when I call you Angel, it’s a form of affection and not a means of exploitation.”

  “You’re right. I’m way too sensitive. To change the subject, Joe, I can’t believe how many homeless there are here in the city. I guess I never realized what a problem we have.”

  “Many folks choose to stay on the streets, Angelina. They like their lives in the open—especially in the warm months. Others, unfortunately, have no choice.”

  “That’s what Tee said. She also told me that the first night she was in Victoria, she slept under a culvert not far from Milestones on Wharf Street. I remember it because she explained that she could see through the restaurant’s lighted, wraparound windows. She’d watched all the people in the booths eating and enjoying themselves, wishing she was one of them. I had intended on taking her to eat there, as soon as my grandmother returns.”

  Swinging his old truck around, maneuvering an illegal u-turn, Joe headed in the direction of one of the city’s most popular nightspots. “I know the place. Hold on.” He reached over to throw his arm in front of h
er in case the acceleration caught her unawares.

  Appreciating his thoughtfulness, she righted herself and continued. “She told me it made her feel so sad to see all those families having fun, while she was surrounded by misery and zombies worn out by drugs or alcohol.”

  “The poor kid! I hate to imagine anyone living in those circumstances, especially a youngster like her.”

  “She was terrified, and desperately afraid. I remember her telling me how she’d narrowly missed getting mugged. Because she was new, some of the livelier—I think she called them—posers suspected she had money in her backpack, and were determined to take it away from her. But she’s a quick thinker, and talked her way out of the mess, gave over the last ten dollars she had, and was able to slink away before they decided she was lying. It’s hard for me to believe she’d go back there, but since I can’t think of anywhere else, it’s worth a try.”

  Searching out her window, Angelina zoomed in on the sidewalks full of happy travelers and wandering couples. Serenity was the norm for those folks. Whereas her heart was tripping overtime, and the sickness nestled in the bottom of her stomach undulated, clambering to come up. She swallowed, taking deep breaths.

  Through a haze of tears, she observed the brightly-lit store windows, highlighting sale signs and selections of artfully arrayed merchandise. It all reminded her that prosperity didn’t stop for anyone or anything.

  Joe turned into the lane by the restaurant and parked in the lot below. He hesitated and then reached for Angelina’s agitated hands. Tenderly he brought them to his lips and kissed each palm, rubbing the backs with his thumbs, caressing them smoothly.

  “Sweetheart, don’t look like that. We’ll find her if she’s here, and if not, we’ll keep looking.”

  Trusting, she placed her worried face over their clasped hands, and her long pony-tailed locks floated freely over his lap.