by BSmith
“Goodnight, Leone.” Caleb smiled at him, making a mental note to check on him at some point tomorrow—and to let the triplets know about Victoria’s infidelity.
“I would rather have you buy me a drink,” Olivia said, turning on her stool to face Caleb.
“Sorry to disappoint you.” Caleb wasn’t, but he saw no sense in being rude. Yet, anyway.
“You know, I never understood anyone who thought once was enough.” The curl to Olivia’s lips turned as coy as the hooding of her eyes. “Especially when it was so good the first time.”
Caleb stared straight ahead at the racks of expensive bottles behind the bar. Everyone had a moment in which they had done something they regretted. A drunken one night stand was not an uncommon occurrence in a man’s life. Olivia had been his. Caleb had not been aware of her loyalty issues at the time, and Simone had just gotten married. Olivia had come onto him, he’d been plastered and that had been that. “That’s just the booze talking, Miss Terenzio.”
“I’m not drunk, yet.”
“I meant that night.” Caleb finally looked at her. Olivia wasn’t a dislikeable person. She had drive, determination, and a keen intellect. She had a hell of a temper, a foul mouth, and no liver. She was also sexy, even for a woman of her age, witty and carried a sarcastic sense of humor, but Caleb didn’t know what had ever made her so hard.
“Mm. Maybe. ”Olivia took her tall glass from the bartender, thanking him. She studied Caleb’s profile while she stirred her straw in her glass. Her mouth slowly curled. “Dare you to test your theory.”
Caleb slowly shook his head. He was certain that Olivia, Amadeo, or Kayla had killed Demetrius. That pissed him off, maybe more so than anyone else, because he had gotten to know her. “Miss Terenzio, I will thank you, but politely decline.”
“Well, at least tell me who the bitch is, so I can fight her for you.” Teasing amusement laced Olivia’s tone.
“There’s no one, Olivia,” Caleb lied, motioning Frank over to refill his glass. There was someone, but he didn’t have her. Yet.
Olivia lowered her glass and smiled. “It’s about time you said my name.”
Caleb opened his mouth, but movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention away. Simone was standing there, watching them. Watching him. She was without her detail. She had probably lost them, or intimidated them into getting lost. The thought made his mouth twitch in his effort not to grin. Even if he didn’t already feel like his soul was connected to hers, it would have been hard not to fall in love with Simone Terenzio.
“Well, well. Hello, Simone. Aren’t you out past curfew?” Olivia called out.
Simone snapped her gaze toward Olivia. It had been a long time—a very long time—since Simone felt her hair rise. Nothing was going on, but Olivia kept looking at Caleb like he belonged to her. And that was just pissing her right the fuck off.
The illogic of her sudden emotion wasn’t lost on Simone. She had no relationship with Caleb. She could not have a relationship with Caleb. She didn’t want a relationship with Caleb, she told herself sternly. But none of those thoughts lessened the utterly feminine, battle-ready tension in her form. She met Caleb’s gaze across the room, steely gray locked on that warm, amused blue. She loved his eyes. They reminded her of…
Without another thought, she stalked to the bar and deposited herself in the small space between Olivia and Caleb.
Caleb drew his hand over his mouth to hide the smile that broke free. He certainly wasn’t going to object. His only issue was his want to slide his arm around her waist and pull her closer. Tempering back his urges, he asked, “Can I get you a drink, Madame President?”
“My usual,” Simone answered automatically, regarding Olivia.
Olivia hated Simone Terenzio. As much as Olivia hated Simone’s brothers, though, she just might hate Simone more. She hated everything that Simone had been spoon fed because of whose side of the bloodline she was born; the side that had fucked everything up. “Caleb and I were having a conversation. Why don’t you run along and figure out how to pretend you have a fucking clue how to run his family.”
Olivia was a traitor to her own family, but even if that damning piece of information hadn’t been true, Simone knew she still would not have liked her. The condescending tone Olivia fed her, and the intimate way she said Caleb’s name, made Simone's fingers itch to kill someone. Hell, at this point, she would have even settled for punching that smug look right off Olivia’s makeup-heavy face. Simone’s spine straightened, and her eyes subtly narrowed. “Since I do run this family, I think it’s time you started getting used to taking orders. From me. Mr. Kincade and I have a more important matter to discuss, so you’re dismissed. But since I know times are tough for women your age, I can always call the Islands Brothel for you.”
It took every ounce of self-control Olivia had to not bash her glass across the stupid bitch’s head, and then slit her throat with the shards. They couldn’t afford another incident, though, not with Kayla watching their movements as closely as she was. And Simone wouldn’t be in power for long. “You’re lucky to have Caleb watching your back, Simone. Very lucky.” Olivia rose from her stool, meeting Caleb’s eyes over Simone’s shoulder. “Next time, Caleb.” Taking her drink in hand, she stalked off.
There would not be a next time, Caleb thought, but he didn’t need to say that. He nodded politely at Olivia, and once she was gone, looked down at Simone. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
The look that Olivia had given Caleb was tainting Simone’s victory. “You two looked cozy. I’m sorry if I interrupted.”
Caleb opened his mouth to correct her, but the words died before they were given a chance, because something slowly became apparent: Simone was jealous. Jealousy implied caring. It filled Caleb with no small sense of triumph—of relief, really—to know that Simone was jealous. He would have liked nothing more than for her to lay claim to him. Then, he could do the same. He intended to, the moment Vasco lifted the gag order, but until then, he swallowed back a flirty reply and changed the subject. “What happened to your security detail?”
“I sent them home.”
“I can’t protect you if you won’t let me.”
“One, it wasn’t you. Two, I’m safe right now.”
Caleb recalled her father’s crime scene. He reached out, touching her arm. “You might not be.”
Simone lowered her gaze to his hand. Slowly, she lifted her eyes back up to his. “I can handle myself, Caleb.”
“I know you can. But there’s never anything wrong with an extra set of eyes, so humor me.” He smiled faintly. “Besides, I’ve got to go away sometimes. Give you a chance to miss me.”
Simone bit back a grin. Caleb was flirting with her. “If by saying ‘you’ you somehow mean my brothers, then you’re absolutely correct. Otherwise, your logic is faulty.”
Caleb knew he had orders. Regardless, he leaned a little closer, humor staining his eyes, hiding his affection, “You wouldn’t miss me if I was gone?” He was leaving himself wide open, but he couldn't resist tempting her into one of those biting, put-you-in-your-place retorts she was good at handing out.
She would miss him, Simone realized as she watched him come a little closer. Her pulse sped up, just a hair, and her eyes, of their own accord, drew down to Caleb’s mouth. What would he do, she wondered, if she—
“Are you fucking kidding me? This is who I’ve gotten replaced by?” Victor demanded. He’d been across the room, flirting with some brunette when Simone walked in. At first, Victor had done his best to make sure Simone didn’t see him with some other woman. Then, he had noticed the way she was looking at Caleb, and that was fucking it. Victor rose unevenly to his feet, knocked over his own chair, steadied himself on a beam, and stalked towards them.
Simone’s eyes narrowed. Her fury grew with the accusing look that Victor had the audacity to throw at her. He had cheated on her, and now he had the fucking nerve to cause a scene. Simone whirled around, but Cal
eb very subtly touched the small of her back, stilling her as he stepped away from the bar and put himself between her and Victor. He ran his fingers over the lobe of his ear, activating the earpiece hidden inside. Coming back online would indicate to the nearby SVT officers that they needed to pay attention. “Victor, why don’t I call a car to come and get you?”
“Don’t I outrank you, Rent-A-Cop?” Victor shot Caleb a dirty look, and then dragged his eyes back to Simone. “What the hell are you doing here with him? Didn’t you get my phone calls, my emails…” His arms flailed as his voice rose in drunken anger. “…the fucking flowers?!”
Simone didn’t look at him. “Don’t make me regret leaving you alive, Victor,” she said before her mouth met the rim of her glass. She took a healthy swallow so that she didn’t turn around, pull Caleb’s gun, and shoot Victor right in his big fucking head. She couldn’t believe she’d thought she was in love with him, once upon a time. Whatever might have been left of that emotion was further tainted by her anger every time she had to interact with him.
Victor tried to push past Caleb, shoving a finger at Simone. “If you think you can just write me off like this, after everything I’ve done for you, you selfish cu—”
The final word exploded into a loud whine of pain as Caleb punched him; a hard line of knuckles, right into his mouth. Before Victor could clear his vision, Caleb grabbed two handfuls of Victor’s shirt, dragged him out the door, and threw him into the arms of the SVT Agent that was walking up to the bar. “Make sure Mr. Russo gets home.”
Victor held his jaw and glared at Caleb. “I’ll have your job for this!”
As diplomatically as possible, the SVT Agent ushered Victor firmly over to the car, putting him in the back seat.
Caleb sent Victor a hard, unmoving look, watching until the car pulled out of the small lot. He turned around to see Simone leaning against one of the beams. She looked at Caleb. “Thank you.”
The lines of Caleb’s face faintly softened, and he gave a short nod. “To be honest, Madame President, I’ve been looking for a reason to punch that clown since I met him.” He walked up to her. “I told you I wasn’t that friendly.”
Simone felt her body tense pleasantly as he drew closer. The nearness of his presence made the memory of his touch, soft and expressive against her back, flash vividly through her mind. And the scene had brought back another memory; of a time when Kyle had lost his temper and gotten into a bar fight on Lil’s behalf. Lil instigated it a little bit, because riling her husband’s temper in that manner led to the most amazing…
Keeping that less than innocent thought hidden, Simone smiled faintly. “Neither am I.” She simply looked at him for another heartbeat before she walked back inside.
It was the way that Simone looked at Caleb that kept him motionless and wanting. If things like this kept up between them, and if Vasco didn’t lift that gag order soon, Caleb was going to break orders. For a very good reason; she was asking for it. His gaze made a quick pass down the length of her as she took three steps in front of him, and then he was nothing but professional as he followed behind her.
Neither one of them noticed the small mosquito, hovering.
§
July 12, 2012 - 11:01 PM
Alcyone Island
Residential Complex
Victor stumbled out of the MP car when it came to a stop in front of his beach house. He flipped the SVT Agent off, just on principal and staggered down his short sidewalk, digging into his pocket for his keys.
He and Simone needed to put a stop to their whole divorce mess. Sure, he thought, he’d fucked up, gotten caught, but come on what Italian man didn’t cheat? Simone was overreacting, and she knew it. Victor loved her. He really did! He wasn’t sure he was go¬ing to at first, but when he’d gotten the offer to attach himself to a Terenzio in return for feeding Dominic and Olivia small bits of information on her movements, why the hell not? He loved the perks that came with being Simone’s husband. The arrangement had worked out all around. But now, just for one little silly affair, it was almost like he was fucking blacklisted, and that was unacceptable.
“Stupid women,” Victor mumbled to himself. He pushed open his front door, a hand flailing behind him to shut it as his opposite fumbled along the wall for a light switch. When he flicked it on, he jumped and gave a short, startled shout. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Dominic stepped forward, a raised gun in his hand. “You’ve outlived your usefulness, Victor.”
Victor’s eyes widened. He held up his hand. “Now, wait a minute, wait just a fucking minute. I can get her back. I can—”
Dominic pulled the trigger twice, putting two bullets in Victor’s temple. Another man came to stand next to him, Dominic’s bodyguard for the last ten years. He was the only man Dominic trusted. “Take him out to the car.” Dominic pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and punched in Kayla’s number. It was answered on the first ring.
“Yes?”
“It’s done.”
“Make sure they don’t find him.” Kayla ended the call and looked back up at her Trainer. “I’m ready, now.”
§
July 12, 2012 - 11:11 PM
Denver, CO
Penthouse of Tony DeMarco
“Jesus, I’m gonna die sometime. Can’t I just go how I want to?” Tony shot Gabriella a heatless glare as she pulled his pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and threw them out the window. Tony couldn’t help but shake his head at the stubborn look she gave him. “Guess not.”
He pulled his car into the parking garage, killed the engine, and released an exhausted sigh. He hadn’t slept in his own bed in two days. Rubbing a hand over his face, Tony picked up the bag of Chinese food and climbed out. Gabriella zipped underneath the collar of his shirt—her favorite place apparently—as he walked into his building.
“Welcome back, Mr. DeMarco.” Ricky, the front desk man and another poor soul that the Brotherhood controlled through mind manipulation, smiled in greeting.
“What’s the news, brother. Anything?” Tony stepped over to his mailbox, using his key.
“Naw. Nothing much ever happens around here. Mr. Medicci dropped off that package you wanted. ‘Bout it.”
Alarm bells exploded in Tony’s mind, but he didn’t miss a beat. “Great. When did he drop it off?”
“Two days ago.”
“Cool. Have a good night, Ricky.” Tony waved and got into the elevator. The moment he entered his apartment, he dropped everything and tore it apart. Gabriella helped. He scanned for every bug that he knew the Brotherhood used to spy on people. He verified the books on his shelf, dumped out the pens on his desk, searched underneath desks, chairs, rugs, corners, every item of clothing in his closet. He found nothing.
Two hours later, Tony leaned against the wall of his ransacked house, itching for a cigarette that Gabriella wouldn’t let him have. Medicci might have come just to snoop around and decided it would be too risky to leave a bug behind, but Tony wasn’t convinced of that yet. Caesar obviously suspected him. Considering who Caesar had been last lifetime, Tony wasn’t surprised.
Pushing off the wall, Tony went out onto his balcony to get some air. As soon as he stepped outside he noticed his plant in the corner. Aware that it was possible Caesar might be watching him from a distance, Tony went back inside the house for his watering can. When he returned, Tony bent down seemingly to water the plant but instead he searched the leaves. It didn’t take him long to find exactly what he was looking for. The tiny HI-MEN could have easily been a spider, but Tony knew better.
Smirking to himself, he walked back inside, setting the watering can on a table. “Stay put honey,” Tony said to Gabriella. “I’ll be right back.” Picking up his cell phone, Tony left his apartment and took the stairs to the roof. He quickly scanned the area, just to be on the safe side, then called his brother. “Alex, can you talk?”
“Sì. Go ahead.”
“We’ve got an issue. Dominic found
a file about Kayla on Lucien’s computer. And Caesar suspects I’m the leak. He put a bug on my balcony.”
“We knew it would only be a matter of time. But, he has no proof so he knows better than to act on speculation. Put Caesar on an assignment that will keep him busy for the next five months. Extremely busy.”
Tony nodded, even though his brother couldn’t see him. “I’ve got a few things in mind.”
“Good. Did you alert the triplets about the incident?”
“No, not yet.”
“Don’t. There’s no need.”
“I thought so, too. Kayla, apparently, held information back from Caesar. Marcello wrote her a letter, and she didn’t share it with him.”
