A Taste of Liberty: Task Force 125 Book 2 (7 page)

Brian was resting in the seat across the aisle from Sarah and perked up at the mention of SEALs.  “Yeah, that ain't
no
frat party.  Those G.I.S. guys are hard core.”  

~~~

As the team began their final approach to Christopher Columbus airport in Genoa, Vince made a phone call from the cabin of the jet.  He spoke in Italian, and Sarah found herself drifting into happier thoughts as she listened to the lilt and roll of his voice speaking the language so fluently.

He sounded almost happy to hear from me when I called him in
Pridnestrovie
.  He brought me that necklace.  He kissed me. 

Sarah snapped out of her daydream with a bump as they landed.  She heard a helicopter overhead but didn't think anything of it.

Vince stood, walked to the door of the aircraft and looked at Sarah as he opened it.  “Let's see what Sarah's Dark Angel looks like.”

And there you are again, the world's biggest asshole.

The rest of the team filed out of the aircraft.  Sarah was the last to step out. 

The helicopter set down about a hundred yards from their plane.  A man dressed completely in black stepped out.  There he was, the Dark Angel.  Sarah had forgotten how handsome he was.  He wore black cargo pants, a black tee shirt and a black leather jacket. 

What is it about all of the men in my new life?  They are always in black.

Sarah had to admit, black certainly suited Angelo.  He wore dark sunglasses and a Bluetooth earpiece.  After the night they'd spent together in Las Vegas, meeting at a high-end nightclub and drinking champagne, it was odd for her to see him wired for the sort of work she'd never expected of him.  In fact, in light of Vince's recent behavior, Angelo looked downright
hot  She
smiled a sly grin as Angelo walked straight toward her, seemingly oblivious to the rest of the team standing with her.

Chapter Seven

He took both her hands in his.  “So, this is the business that took you away from me?  A showgirl or business woman I would have believed, but never a spy!”  Angelo chuckled and kissed Sarah on both cheeks.  “This is a pleasant surprise,
cara
.”

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.

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.

Vince watched Angelo. 

So confident and sure of himself.
 

On paper, he was a great guy.  Maybe even the kind of guy Vince could 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?”