by Lisa Pietsch
The tension drained from her and she smiled. “Very pleasant.”
Vince cleared his throat.
Sarah nearly forgot he was standing beside her.
Angelo reached his right hand over the left one that still held Sarah’s and shook Vince's hand. “You must be Mr. Hennessee?”
“Major Hennessee.” There wasn't even the hint of a polite smile on Vince's face as he scowled at Angelo.
~~~
“Welcome to Genova.” Angelo opened the front door and ushered everyone into a very large, formal entryway. A huge round oak table sat in the middle of the spiral patterned marble floor.
Will let out a short sigh. “Angelo, I like your style.”
A magnificent bouquet of long-stemmed white roses virtually exploded from the top of an eighteen inch, black marble vase.
Oh, my God! This place is fantastic!
On each side of the entry hall rose a flight of stairs leading to an open hallway along the second story. Angelo led them up one of the stairways and began showing them to their rooms. He opened the first door on the right. “There are two beds in this room and a full bath.”
Jason and Chris claimed the room. As junior members of the team, they were accustomed to bunking together.
As the rest of the team walked down the hallway to the next room, Jason was heard gushing over his room. “A big screen and babes on the beach. I love this job!”
Angelo smiled and moved down the hallway, opening another door on the right. “Two beds and a full bath in here as well.”
Brian and Will set their bags inside the door. Although they were all CIA, military protocols were accepted and expected from everyone on the team.
“Meet downstairs in thirty minutes.” Vince spoke loud enough for Chris and Jason to hear him down the hall. Sarah noticed there was a bit more command in his voice than usual.
Is he still pissed about the punch? Get over it!
Sarah marveled at the view of the hall below as she and Vince continued to follow Angelo along the hall. Angelo opened the last door along the hall. “Major Hennessee, you will have this room. The bath is to the left.”
As Vince entered his room, Angelo took Sarah's hand and led her down a small hallway. “And you, cara…” Sarah walked into the most luxurious bedroom suite she'd ever seen.
~~~
Though the exterior of the house glowed with old world charm and history, the interior was rich and modern. The ornate tile floor showed a Moorish influence but was so well kept it looked as though it had been installed last week. The fireplace, framed in granite, had a hearth arranged with white pillar candles just waiting to be lit. Two large windows, covered in white gossamer and framed in green velvet, consumed the far wall. An antique writing desk faced one of the windows. A king sized bed done in green to match the curtains, with an ornately carved Italian Renaissance style headboard, lay against the east wall of the room. Just inside the room, a doorway led into a beautiful, white marble bathroom.
Sarah inhaled deeply as the sea breeze whispered through the windows and ruffled the delicate white curtains.
“Oh, Angelo! This is beautiful.”
Angelo turned to face Sarah and wrapped his arms around her. “I'll be sleeping in the room adjoining my office downstairs. Please feel free to visit anytime.” He kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear. “I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be with you. I've thought about you so much over the past months.”
This was exactly what Sarah needed to hear after the way things had gone with Vince but the timing was all wrong. She had work to do here. She couldn't afford to get emotionally involved with anyone right now.
He looked into her eyes and there was a hint of sadness in his. “You never even left me your number. Was it so bad?”
“No, Angelo, it was wonderful.” Sarah remembered how tender, generous and thorough Angelo had been as a lover and her body tingled, reminding her how much she enjoyed that night. “It was everything I needed at the time. Honestly, I didn't have a number to give. I was in training.”
A shadow crossed Angelo's face. “So I was an exercise?”
Don’t offend the man, Sarah. He’s rich, he’s a professional and so handsome.
“No! No, of course not.”
Well maybe.
She felt her cheeks warming.
How do I tap dance my way around the “rebound guy” conversation?
She tried to explain. “I thought it was just one night.”
“It was. It was meant to be just one night, but I couldn't stop thinking of you and wondering where you disappeared to.”
“I’m sorry. I would have enjoyed dinner with you. At least now you know it wasn’t personal.”
“Yes. I also know fate answered my prayers and brought us together again. I won't waste this opportunity like I did the last.”
Sarah took a deep breath.
His eyes were determined. He wasn't kidding and he wasn't just flirting.
Sarah saw he meant every word and it sent a warm wave through her to hear a man, any man, talk to her so honestly and passionately.
Chapter Eight
Sarah lay in the soft bed, surrounded by luxury. The gauzy curtains ebbed and flowed in the moonlight as the ocean waves lapped against the shore outside. Her mind wandered, as it always did, to Vince.
Why was he so hot one minute and cold the next? Which represented his true feelings? Then it came to her. It was easier for Vince to command her if she were hooked on him.
If he has an emotional hold on me then he can get me to do whatever he wants while continuing to stay loyal. Isn't that my MO? They know about my history with men. Surely, he's seen my psychological profile. I'm just being played again and it is all just part of the job description for him.
~~~
Sarah enjoyed the therapy of cutting vegetables for a salad. All the frustration she felt with Vince could be expressed without anyone being the wiser. She pounded away at a cucumber, creating perfect half-inch slices.
“Still pretty handy with a knife.”
She was so engrossed in her own thoughts that the sound of Vince's voice startled her and she dropped her knife onto the floor. Vince picked up the knife and handed it to her, handle first. A twinge of bitterness came through in her voice before she could check herself. “You sure you want to give me one of these?”
Vince looked at her with those soft brown eyes she so loved.
The eyes of a player.
“I trust you.”
“Maybe you shouldn't.”
He moved closer and touched her chin, turning her face to his. “I do.”
Sarah felt herself being drawn toward him. He had his own gravitational pull on her and she found it difficult to resist. His breath was warm on her cheek. His lips were so close.
Her head asked how she could be so angry with him, knowing he was just playing her, and still fall for it. But her heart felt his pull and overruled all logic.
Angelo started talking from down the hall. “Sarah, if Vincenzo doesn't have anything for you to do this afternoon…” He stopped when he saw Vince leaning against the refrigerator. “Ah, Vincenzo, if you have nothing planned for Sarah this afternoon, I thought I would take her for a ride along the coast.”
“Sarah's free to do whatever she likes until we get the call from Victor. Then she's on company time.”
So damned cool, like he doesn't even care that Angelo is interested in me.
Sarah wanted to see something from Vince, some kind of reaction. But he just walked out of the room without even changing the “I don't give a damn” expression on his face.
He was about to kiss me. He went from hot to cold in a split second. Is this all part of the act? Just to play me so I'll do his bidding? Two can play at that game. I'll make him feel it.
Chapter Nine
Vince watched Angelo.
So confident and sure of himself.
On paper, he was a great guy. Maybe even the kind of guy Vince co
uld hang out with and have a few drinks. Only one thing made Vince hate him. He'd been with Sarah. Vince made his best effort to remain civil while the guy showed him around his huge estate.
Pool, check.
Asshole.
Poolhouse. Soft chairs on the patio.
I hate this guy.
Stables converted to a garage holding one Ferrari, one Mercedes sedan and one Ducati motorcycle.
Dick.
Formal gardens, kitchen garden, olive groves. Check.
Big deal.
Gardener comes tomorrow, then not for a week.
Good.
Two domestics. Maid and cook. Both have secret clearances.
Pretentious prig.
“Here is the chapel where you may set up your equipment.”
“A chapel?”
Is he serious?
“Yes, it was built in the 1500's. The walls are three feet thick and solid brick.”
Vince ran his hand over the virtually indestructible wall as he walked through the solid oak door. “This isn't a chapel, it's a bunker.”
“Yes, it has survived many wars. I think you'll find it suitable. I've had electricity installed. Outlet clusters are there and there to minimize drilling.” He pointed to opposite sides of the chapel. “The fireplace has been bricked in and the chimney filled with concrete. Solid oak doors are at either end. It is completely secure.”
Vince looked up at the sweeping brick arches that held up the brick roof. “Yeah, this will work just fine.”
I've got to hand it to the guy. He has the security bases covered.
“Good. Let's go back to the house. I want to show you my office.”
Angelo led Vince back to the house and into a spacious, first floor office, complete with a four by six foot desk, fireplace, floor to ceiling shelves filled with leather bound books, and a sitting area in front of a large picture window. Two club chairs sat at angles to an antique globe. Angelo walked to the globe and lifted the top to reveal a fully stocked bar. “Discussions among men should always be punctuated with fine liquor. It is the only way to handle important matters. What would you like?”
You got class. I still don't like you.
“Is that Johnny Walker blue?”
Angelo grinned. “My choice as well.” He poured the amber liquor into two crystal glasses and handed one to Vince. “Please.” He motioned for Vince to sit in one of the chairs.
Gracious bastard. God, I hate this guy.
Angelo sat in the empty chair and smiled at Vince. “Let's be honest, shall we?”
Vince nodded. “Fewer stories to keep straight.”
“Are you and Sarah together?”
Vince shifted in his seat. “We work together. What made you ask that?”
“I've been studying people for thirty years, Vincenzo. You obviously don't like me. I've read your dossier. Your mother is Italian so an aversion to Italians is out of the question. My record is impeccable so the only possible reason for you to dislike me as you do is my brief but significant history with Sarah.”
Vince didn't break eye contact as he took a drink, savored it and swallowed. “I'd hardly call it significant. What's your point?”
“Obviously I would like to keep our relationship professional but my intentions lie elsewhere with Sarah.”
The hair on the back of Vince’s neck stood up. “And just what would those intentions be?”
Angelo smiled.
Cocky son of a bitch.
Vince didn't let Angelo speak. “If you're the professional your people make you out to be, I shouldn't have to tell you, as a vital member of my team, Sarah should be allowed to concentrate on the mission at hand rather than fending off advances by our host nation liaison.”
“She may not choose to fight them off.” Angelo smiled a wide toothy grin. “So you aren't together?”
Back off.
Vince took the last gulp of his drink and stood. “Thanks for the drink, but I need to get my team set up.”
Angelo sat back in his chair. “Prego, Vincenzo.”
~~~
Vince stomped out to the patio and looked at his team enjoying the breakfast Angelo's cook laid out for them. There was fresh squeezed orange juice, espresso and warm, freshly baked pastries.
Sarah appeared completely at home with an espresso in her hand and a smile on her face.
What a beautiful smile.
When her gaze met his, she set her cup down and replaced the smile with a sour look.
I miss that smile. Hey, if she's gonna hold a grudge because I saved her from one of the bad guys then maybe Angelo deserves her.
“Alright people, this isn't a Tuscan vacation. Let's get to work.”
Vince heard the clink of cups and glasses as his team scrambled behind him. He walked directly to the chapel and started talking. “Our host has graciously granted us the use of this chapel for our base of operations.”
“Holy shit, these walls are solid.” Jason was doing his job and checking all the walls for vulnerabilities. “This is a damned bunker!”
“Yeah, it'll do. Jason, you set up the armory. Brian, get some security working. Chris, get the communications uplink operational and check in with our handler at Sixth Fleet. Will, we're gonna need the maps and schematics set up and can you check on that shipment from Nikolai to see if it got in yet?”
“What can I do?” Sarah's voice came softly from behind him.
Vince didn't turn around. He didn't want the distraction of thinking about her. “Study that dossier on Victor, and, when Chris is done here, you two can practice your Russian.”
A mumble was all he heard in response. “Yes, sir.”
~~~
Sarah walked up to her room and pulled Victor's dossier out of her bag. She mumbled to herself over her frustration with Vince. “Study the dossier. Practice your Russian. He might as well have told me to go fuck myself.”
She dropped the dossier on the bed and changed into her bathing suit. “You want to treat me like an amateur, fine.” She grabbed the dossier and her tanning lotion before leaving the room.
When she arrived at the patio, she was still pissed. She mumbled to herself some more as she applied the tanning lotion. “You want to treat me like a bimbo, that's fine, pig.”
Sarah browsed through the dossier she could already recite word for word and then dropped it on the table.
“Is that how you study?” Sarah could make out Chris' dimples at ten yards. He was smiling as he asked the question.
Sarah put on a stern look. “No lip from you, Christopher. You know damned well I've already memorized the contents of that file.”
He chuckled and continued in Russian. “I know. I know.”
Sarah enjoyed their language games. They'd often switch between Russian, French or Spanish, sometimes all three, in the same conversation. Chris was so easy to talk to their language practice hardly seemed like work at all.
“Don't sweat the boss. He's just feeling a little pressure on this job. The Italians want details, the Agency wants to keep everything quiet and Vince is caught in the middle trying to negotiate between two intelligence agencies while running an operation. It just makes for high tension.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
They continued their conversation in Russian and talked about the weather, golf and whatever else came to mind until Angelo came outside and took a seat near Sarah.
“May I join you?” To Sarah's surprise, he spoke in Russian.
“Of course. I didn't know you spoke Russian.”
Angelo's smile lit up his face and the lines at the corners of his eyes punctuated his smile. “There are many things we don't know about each other. I'd like to change that.”
Chris stood. “I think I'll go check the satellite equipment and make sure Jason isn't surfing porn on my computer. Angelo, make sure she gets plenty of practice. Her Russian is coming along but it would do her good to practice with somebody else.”
Angelo nodded. “Ye
s, we'll practice Russian all afternoon.” He looked at Sarah. “Go get dressed. We’re going for a ride.”
“But I have to practice.”
“We will practice.” He switched easily to Russian. “Now go get dressed.”
Sarah was game for anything that removed her from Vince's orbit for a while. A drive with Angelo was just the ticket. She walked quickly to her room and put on shorts and a shirt over her bathing suit. When she returned downstairs, Angelo was waiting in the entryway with two helmets.
She took the helmet he offered. “A motorcycle ride?”
“Yes. It is a beautiful day for it. We can take a ride along the coast. I know a great place where we can have dinner.”
“Dinner? Well, maybe I should change.”
“No, cara. You would be beautiful in kitchen rags.” He grabbed her hand. “Let's go.” He led her outside to where his Ducati motorcycle waited.
This guy doesn't skimp on anything. Everything he does oozes class.
Sarah put on her helmet and climbed on the bike behind Angelo. She wrapped her arms around him, grateful for the fun distraction he provided at just the right time. If given time to stew alone, she'd have worked herself into a full-blown tizzy over how Vince was treating her. Now, she hadn't a care.
Chapter Ten
Sarah and Angelo returned from dinner happy and relaxed after a beautiful sunset ride. It was late when they joined the rest of the team out having drinks on the patio. Angelo excused himself after a few minutes to make some phone calls.
“Hey, pork chop, while Angelo’s out of earshot, I think it is time we talked about something important.”
Sarah was suddenly aware that all eyes were on her.
This must be serious.
“What is it, Will?”
Will leaned forward in his chair. “It’s no secret we're in a pretty risky business here. Something you need but the agency won't tell you about is a fallback plan.”
