Scarlett and the Feds (21 page)

I
caught my reflection in the mirror hanging over the dresser. My face and neck were blood splattered. My shirt was crimson, I ran my fingers through my hair and felt caked on blood. I winced when I felt a gash on the back of my head. I climbed in the shower. The hot water caressing my body, washing away the blood and the terror of the last few hours. I got a taste of what my life had become. I was praying the water would wash it away knowing that Victor and Hawke caused the carnage at Vito’s tonight. The water ran over my head and I held onto the side of the shower and sobbed. The reality that people had died, were collateral damage because of the decisions I had made, nearly broke me.

The shower door opened and Victor pulled me into his arms. He just held me, stroking my hair. He picked me up, shut off the water, and climbed out of the shower with me clinging to his neck like a little girl who had a nightmare. This was a nightmare and I was the main actress. Gently, Victor wrapped me in a towel and carried me to bed. For the first time since I met Victor, my sweet spot was still in shock. She needed a few more shots and a big ass piece of cake. She was Scarlett’s new BFF.

Victor slid into the bed and wrapped me up in those big arms. I felt his heart racing through his chest. He kissed me and searched my eyes for any hint of what I was feeling.

“I was so scared something happened to you and Hawke.”

“I know. I was out of mind knowing you were in the middle of all that shit storm.”

“I really don’t know if I want the answer to this, Victor, but I need to know. Was it you and Hawke that shot up Vito’s?”

“No.” he said, his tone cold.

“Then who were they?”

No response.

“Victor.”

“The diversion. That’s all you need to know.”

“People died, Victor! They had nothing to do with any of this,” I snapped.

“The people at Vito’s know it’s a Mob hotspot. They accept the risk when they go. This isn’t the first time and won’t be the last something like this happens. The majority of the people in there tonight had some connection to organized crime. Like my father says, ‘It’s the cost of doing business’.”

“One of your father’s goons, Pauley, got killed. He was standing next to me with a gun to my head.”

“What the hell are you talking about? We had a plan. I told you not to deviate from it.”

“It wasn’t intentional, trust me. He came out of the men’s room just as I was going in the ladies room. I didn’t think he recognized me at first, but when I saw him turn back around, I knew. He broke through the door, grabbed me and was taking me to your father when they shot him. I locked myself into the men’s room until it was safe to get the hell out.”

“I can’t say I’m remorseful that Pauley got what he deserved. I’ve always hate that bastard.”

“Still, to get shot in cold blood, no-one deserves that.” I shuddered.

“Price he was willing to pay to be in the life.”

“You pass it off, Victor, like it’s no big deal.”

“It’s not to them. Guys in that life know eventually they will be killed. Either in a random gunfight or by the hand of the family. They accept it.”

“Will your father suspect you had something to do with what went down tonight?”

“Without a doubt.”

“What the hell, why would you do that? He’s already trying to kill us, why aggravate the situation.”

“To send him a message.”

“What message? That we’re insane?”

“I told you, as long as we have possession of that book we survive. So we have nothing to lose. I’m not going to spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulder and worrying about getting whacked by my father. He can go to Hell.”

“The FBI is pissed. Agent Parker threatened me, saying they will hold me to that contract and if I default, then we both go to jail. They heard Pauley say that Mr. Salvatore had been looking for me. The agents are suspicious. This sit down with your father needed to happen.”

“We bought some time. My attorney is finding a way around the contract. He’s looking into those two agents, to see if he can dig something up.”

“I’m not just worried about jail, but this meeting with your dad was my bargaining chip for the Feds to help find Luke.”

“They have no interest in finding Luke. They’re telling you what you want you want to hear. You’re being played by those assholes. I have associates looking for Luke. They are the best at what they do.”

I rolled on my side, my head was throbbing. I wasn’t sure if it was the shots, stress, or the combination of everything all shaken together in one big bitter tasting cocktail. Scarlett was by my side with an array of remedies, the only one I wanted was sleep. Victor pulled me close to his chest and we both drifted off to sleep.

Victor’s lips staking their claim on mine coaxed me awake. My sweet spot had made a full recovery, thanks to Scarlett and her secret elixir. His hand teased my clit. I drew in a sharp breath as my sweet spot slammed her accelerator to the floor and was wide open. I arched my back and Victor’s tongue wasted no time on my sweet spot. I let out a guttural growl as I came. Victor flipped me on my stomach, caressing and tormenting my ass. My sweet spot chugged two energy drinks, she was ready for round two and three. Hell, she nothing else to do today, so she was ready. My knees quivered as Victor’s tongue traced around the opening of my ass. I squealed as his fingers thrust hard inside my ass and I felt a sharp slap. I squirmed for more. Both sensations together had me on the brink of sky diving without a parachute. Victor thrust his manliness inside my sweet spot, I orgasmed as she did a double back flip with a twist. I couldn’t move. My body was so relaxed and satiated.

“Good morning, my angel.”

“Wow. Nothing like great sex to erase all the stress and worry.” 

“Absolutely,” he said kissing me. His tongue wrestled with mine. My sweet spot was winded, but she had a little juice left. My stomach was ready to rumble with my sweet spot if I wasn’t fed soon. Scarlett made waffles, and sipped a mimosa as we got going on round two.

A
big white box with a red bow smack dab on the top was on the bed later that afternoon with a hand written note:

I have a special night planned. Would you please join me, Ms. Ellington? Meet me in the foyer at 7:00 p.m.

I opened the box and pulled out a gorgeous, red dress adorned with rhinestones along the top and a pair of strappy black heels. Scarlett was holding up the dress and twirling around the bedroom squealing in delight.

Victor was waiting for me wearing a black suit with a red tie. He looked so hot! Scar whistled at him and batted her long lashes.

“You look so incredible, baby,” he said. Grabbing my face in those big hands, his lips devoured every inch of mine and his tongue did a tango with mine.

“Ready?”

“Absolutely. Where are we going?”

“Awe, it’s a secret. We need a night out after the stress we have been under.”

Scarlett hated secrets. She didn’t have a patient bone in her body and secrets meant she had to wait. She hated waiting! She stuck out her tongue at Victor and sat pouting.

“I can’t wait,” I said taking his hand.

We climbed into the Escalade and Hawke assumed his familiar spot behind the steering wheel. The heat had been ramped up a thousand degrees in each direction we turned, from the Mob, the Feds, and those I’d pissed off from all my snooping around. When we left Salvatore Disney Land it was usually in a caravan similar to what the president traveled in. So our potential enemies would be thrown off, not knowing which vehicle we were in. It was the price I was willing to pay to keep everyone whole and alive.

We pulled up in front of a familiar looking building, and I smiled.

“Hey this is where we had our very first date.”

Victor smiled. “It is.”

“Okay, well what’s going on?”

“You’ll see, babe. Be patient.”

There, that word again that Scar hated, she kicked the door shut with her foot. She grumbled under breath how much she hated being patient. It was cruel and unusual punishment in her opinion, and should be abolished immediately. I hushed her and she cursed at me as she walked in the building in front of us. Victor grabbed my hand as we walked into the elevator. I smiled. My mind veered back to the first time I felt his touch at Salvatore Industries when I almost face planted in the elevator and he caught me. My sweet spot just erupted and the lava was heating up.

The doors opened and we were greeted by two waiters who led us to the small intimate table nestled under the stars. The lights from the city below us were beautiful and vibrant as they lit the backdrop to our romantic night. We’d been through so much since that first date. I knew in the depth of my heart and my core that I loved Victor Salvatore without hesitation. The waiter placed the white linen napkin in my lap and poured me a glass of wine. We ate a beautiful dinner of Lobster Capellini. When we finished, Victor reached across the table and grabbed both my hands.

“You are so beautiful, Angelina.”

“Thank you,” I replied blushing.

“You have made me the happiest man. Not until I met you did I even fathom that I could love another person as much as I love you and that scares the shit out of me. Losing you is more than I could even begin to wrap my mind around. I know without a doubt in my mind that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Scarlett whipped out her notebook and pen. This was good material for the romance novel she wanted to write. She eagerly looked at Victor to continue.

Victor rose from the table, walked over, and got on one knee.

“Angelina, would you do me the incredible honor of marrying me?” he said pulling out a small velvet box.

I opened it and there was a three carat diamond ring. Scarlett passed out cold like she was just sucker punched right in the face. I sat stunned, not able to take my eyes off the enormous ring picking up all the light from the city reflecting off in stunning brilliance.

“Yes I will marry you!” I squealed jumping in his arms. My lips ravaged his in carnal passion and lust. I was so beyond happy. I would spend the rest of my life with my Italian Adonis, the man I loved inexplicably to the very core of my existence. Our lives had been teetering on the edge of a cliff just waiting to be pushed over the edge to our deaths. But we had survived and grown stronger.

Tears of sheer joy streamed down my cheeks.

“I love you so much, Victor. I’d be so honored to be your wife.”

He picked me up in those strong arms and just held me, kissing my neck, cheeks and lips. I wanted to make passionate love right there on the roof top under the stars where we had our first date and where the man that I loved had just proposed. It made all the fear, terror, and drama of the last few months evaporate.

I couldn’t unbutton Victor’s belt and pants fast enough. I wanted him to take me on the table. Scarlett had re-grouped and was trying to get the ring off my finger to put on hers so she could see the light of the stars dance off the huge diamond. She gave Victor a huge, wet tongue filled kiss and then took three swigs of wine right from the bottle. She need a minute. Shit, she had a wedding to plan! She frantically started Googling wedding dress shops.

Victor slid my panties off and I stopped short of ripping off his shirt. He laid me back on the table and my orgasm was already building at record pace. I grabbed him around the neck trying to rip off his tie. 

I whispered, “I want you so fuckin’ bad.”

He kissed my neck and moved to my nipples, they were so ready for his lips to devour them. The anticipation of having his manliness inside me was on overload and just as he thrust into me, I came. I let out a primal scream that echoed for miles. It sound like wolves howling at the moon. We both collapsed in a hot mess of ecstasy and savored each other’s orgasm. It was by far the best night of my life. Our breathing was in synch together.

“Holy shit! That was epic, Angelina.”

“I don’t think I can move yet, Victor.”

He laughed and got up. I caught a glimpse of that incredible ass as he pulled up his pants. Victor grabbed my hands and gently pulled me to my feet.

The waiter re-appeared out of the shadows with dessert. Scarlett yanked out a smoke bomb. She wanted to create a diversion so she could kidnap the dessert. I stopped her before she pulled out the pin to the bomb. She flipped me the bird and was in hot pursuit of the waiter. A syringe of truth serum tightly grasped in her hand, just in case he wouldn’t hand over the Tiramisu without a fight.

I took a couple bites of dessert. I was too excited to eat. I yelped as Scarlett pinched me to make sure I wasn’t dreaming and then she swiped the rest of my cake. Kissing me on the cheek as she shoved a big ole piece in her mouth.

Victor threw his napkin on his plate.

“Ready, baby?”

“Absolutely.”

Victor put his arm around my waist as we headed toward the elevator. We were met by Hawke and Donovan, a new hire, when the door popped open. Each goon on each side of me and Victor and two more in the rear. We were surrounded by four of the most highly trained goons on the planet according to Victor. Hawke held open the large glass door and another goon stood guard by the waiting Escalade.

A sedan came barreling down the road and stopped as it approached us. The goons reached for weapons as we were engulfed in a hail of machine gun fire. Victor shielded my body. I screamed, Victor jolted back and hit the ground. He was shot. He was on top of me and I was screaming. Hawke and Donavan hit the ground, blood pooling around their bodies. Three goons ran into the street firing after the sedan as it sped off.

I was sobbing uncontrollably as I pushed Victor off of me. He had a faint pulse and so did Hawke. Donovan was dead. Joe Salvatore had sent a message. No one was safe and he would kill his own son to get that book. He would kill everybody I loved or had a connection with to get what he wanted, and when he did, then I was next. The only person on the planet that could save me was laying next me hanging onto his life, one breath at a time.