Scarlett and the Feds (5 page)

M
y thoughts were consumed with crafting the right words I wanted to say to Nelson. I didn’t want my old position back, but needed it, as leverage with the Feds. They wanted that file and the secrets it held. Maybe if they were consumed with chasing down the contents of the file then it would divert them from Victor. I adjusted the hem of my short black skirt. I opted for just shy of hoochie mama this morning to put Nelson’s salivary glands in hyper drive and to get his attention. I would have to grovel, but hopefully not too much.

Scarlett gave me the nod of approval and pushed the neck line of my shirt down even lower, and spritzed some perfume behind each ear lobe.

A flash of black in the rear view mirror got my attention. A black SUV was approaching fast. I pushed the gas pedal of my Honda and she bucked in protest. I patted the wheel and whispered under my breath, “Come on, I need you!”

Before I even gained MPH, the black SUV was on my bumper. Scarlett kept looking over her shoulder and at the speedometer. She hopped in my lap and pounded the accelerator, it was close to 70 mph and the speed limit was 55. The SUV pulled out in the passing lane and hovered next to me. The window was completely blacked out, so catching a glimpse of this asshole was not an option. The SUV swerved into the Honda and clipped the front end, causing me to lose control.

As I came to, I realized I must have spun into the ditch and landed on the roof. I was suspended upside down held in place by my seat belt. My mind flashed to the night my parents died and I was dangling helpless, waiting for someone to find me.

Scarlett was ok, just a gash on her forehead and mad as hell. My eyes scanned the car for my cell phone. It was in my purse which had been propelled into the back seat. I fumbled with my seat belt and couldn’t reach it. Scarlett was frantically trying to unbuckle me. My neck ached and my left leg throbbed, but other than that I was ok. But the Honda was totaled. I got a lump in my throat. I knew my old friend who had been through so much with me was gone. I stroked the side of the door and mourned her loss. Scarlett on the other hand had given up on the seat belt and was jotting down her top picks for the Honda’s replacement. I sighed; annoyed that she was on Victor’s side sometimes. He would be thrilled that I had to buy a new car.

I heard voices yelling and the car was surrounded. I held my breath. Not knowing if help had arrived or if whoever had run me off the road was back to see if I was ok or they need to finish me off. My gut told me this was not a case of road rage. This was intentional and I was the target. The door to the Honda creaked and groaned as it opened.

“Are you ok?”

“I think so. But I’m trapped.”

The cherub faced fire fighter sliced my seat belt with a knife and pulled me out. I was swarmed by EMT’s and cops. I looked for Scarlett and she was sitting in the driver’s seat of the patrol car. I winced when the EMT pressed on my leg, and feared that she’d turn the sirens on full blast.

“My boyfriend, can you call him?” I asked the EMT. “His name is Victor, the number is in my cell phone.”

He nodded, walked over to the Honda, and spoke to two state troopers inspecting my car. I closed my eyes when I saw how mangled my Honda was. I felt like I was going to puke. Scar was nowhere to be found and then I saw her on top of the fire truck modeling one of the fireman jackets like it was a fur from Saks. She was smiling as she looked in the side mirror when she put the fire helmet on with the number 16, her favorite number. I shook my head annoyed that she was amusing herself and I was lying on a stretcher. The EMT returned with my phone and told me that my boyfriend was en-route with an ETA of ten minutes.

“She is going to the hospital for further evaluation,” the stocky EMT said, and the female EMT took my blood pressure again. They hoisted the stretcher up and lifted me into the ambulance.

“What hospital?” one of the troopers asked.

“Mercy.” I heard the stocky EMT reply as he shut the door to the ambulance.

Scarlett darted through the door just before it shut. She was wearing one of those plastic firefighter pins they give to little kids. The other EMT was still taking my vitals and shined the light to check my pupils. Scarlett was rifling through the ambulance hoping to find something useful, you never know when you might need something like valium or morphine.

“I’m fine,” I said. I don’t need to go to the hospital.”

“It’s protocol, when a vehicle has sustained as much damaged as yours has. Could be internal injuries,” the EMT replied.

“Okay.” I sighed.

I closed my eyes and my thoughts drifted back to my last trip in the ambulance. I could smell the mixture of gas, smoke, mangled metal, and death. It was a smell that never leaves you. It had taken the firefighters thirty minutes to get me out of the van. I’d drifted in and out of consciousness. The yelling and frantic chaos of people running back and forth. The screaming of the two mothers of the teenage boys in the car that hit us. Both killed instantly. I’d seen the body of one of the boys lying on the pavement covered with a white sheet. The EMT had kept talking to me and telling me to hang on. My eyes would close and he would gently shake my arm. “Sweetheart, stay with us. Open your eyes.”

I hadn’t wanted to open my eyes. I’d wanted to wake up and have it all be just a bad dream. It had never happened.

I felt Scarlett dab the tears that were flowing down my cheeks as the ambulance door flew open. Before the stocky EMT even grabbed the bottom of the stretcher, I could hear Victor’s voice. He rushed to my side, and the EMT shot him an annoyed look.

“Are you ok?” he said grabbing my hand.

“I’ll be fine. Just some scrapes and bruises.”

Victor looked at the EMT’s for validation that I was going to be okay.

“We transported her in for evaluation,” the stocky EMT who was in charge replied.

We pulled into the ER bay and the two EMT’s unloaded me from the ambulance, pushing Victor out of way as they wheeled me into the ER. A nurse blocked Victor. He wasn’t going any further.

I heard him curse at her, “Son of a Bitch.”

Scarlett stayed with Victor. She hated hospitals as much as I did. The next few hours were a series of x-rays, cat scans and MRI’s.  The doctor determined that I had suffered a severe bruise to my leg and some cuts on my arm and head. I would be fine in a few days. I needed rest, but could go home.

Victor helped me into the Escalade like he had when we first met. One hand on my arm the other on my ass as I climbed in the back. I snuggled next to him, his arm resting on my hip.

“Mr. Hawke, does Nicole know about the wreck?” I asked.

“No.” He shook his head.

“Good. Let me tell her.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.

“What happened?” Victor asked, the cold serious side emerging as it did when he was stressed or angry.

“I was about ten minutes from the station and this black SUV ran me off the road.”

“Did you see what the driver looked like?”

“No, the windows were tinted, too dark to tell. Do you think it was intentional?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” he said. “I have my suspicions. It will be dealt with, Angelina.”

“But it may have just been some asshole pissed with road rage.”

“No. This was a warning. If they wanted you dead, then you would be. This is intimidation, it’s what my father does well.”

“No shit,” I mumbled under my breath.

“What?” Victor asked, already immersed in his thoughts.

“Nothing, babe,” I said, rubbing his arm.

He patted my hip.

“Well I guess the only good thing is that now I have no choice but to buy a new car,” I said trying to lighten the mood.

“True. We will go Humvee or tank shopping tomorrow.” 

Scarlett was so excited she almost peed herself.

I playfully swatted his arm. “Ha! Very funny. I was thinking about getting one of those Fiat’s, they’re so adorable.”

I saw Hawke glance at me in the rear view. Scarlett stuck her tongue out at me.

“That’s not happening,” Victor said, not amused. “You think I’m kidding about the tank, don’t you?”

“I was hoping. Cause I can’t drive or afford a tank,” I said.

“Hawke will teach you and cost is not an issue.” “Yeah. No tanks or Humvees, Victor. Not really something I can drive to work in. Jesus H! I forgot to call the station and tell them about the wreck. Nelson is going to be pissed. This was my first day back at my old job.”

“Don’t remind me. Hawke took care of it.”

“Thanks.” I pulled out my phone and shot Nelson a quick text:

Sorry I didn’t make it in today. Some asshole ran me off the road and I totaled my car. Will be in at eight tomorrow.

Nelson sent a reply almost instantaneously:

K. Great lead story for tomorrow news: Road rage almost claims one of our own.

I rolled my eyes.

I’m fine btw.

Good. C U in the a.m. Wear something HOT!

Scarlett was trying to wrestle the phone out of my hand. She so had a come-back for that. I chucked it in my purse instead. She sat and pouted.
‘Kill joy’
she mumbled.

S
ecurity at Salvatore Disney Land had been ramped up to the point that it would be easier to break into Fort Knox. The accident had launched Victor’s over protectiveness into to hyper drive.

My libido slapped me clear across the face. Scarlett switched the light to green and Victor kissed me, then his lips moved to my neck, devouring every inch. He moved to my nipples, they were erect and awaiting the anticipation of his lips sucking and savoring them. It was almost too much to bear. Victor took his index finger and teased my clit as he moved farther south to my stomach. I arched my back and spread open my legs as his tongue did the salsa on my clit. My breathing was labored and Scarlett stood ready with towel in hand in case I started drooling. His finger moved in and out of my sweet spot at a rapid pace and his tongue was relentless. My orgasm arrived so fast and hard it could have been compared to an earthquake registering over five on the Richter scale.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said kissing me.

“Morning. Wow, what a great way to start my day,” I said still basking in my orgasm not sure if my body could move yet.

“Indeed,” he said kissing my stomach.

My libido was ready for round two. I climbed in the shower with him. I took the soap and lathered his strong shoulders and worked my way down his back until I reached that spectacular ass. I ran my finger down his crack teasing the opening to his ass. I reached around and grabbed his manliness with my free hand and it was ready and eager. I squeezed and played with his balls and felt his body tense up. He groaned and I stroked his manliness with my soapy hand. His lips were on mine and my sweet spot melted.

Scarlett was wiping the fog off the shower door and trying to peek in.

Victor grabbed me around the waste and growled as he came all over my stomach. He stood with his hands against the shower letting his heart rate return to normal.

I rinsed off, climbed out of the shower, and Victor wrapped me in a towel.

“Hawke will pick you up at work and we will go car shopping. You just need to decide what color Humvee you want,” he said smiling slyly.

“How about
no
,” I said, swatting his ass.

Scarlett had a look on her face like she just sucked a lemon.
What’s wrong with a Humvee,
she thought.
There’s plenty of room for all my gadgets and small weapons stash.

“How about a small SUV?” I said, batting my lashes at him.

“I’ll think it about it.”

“Victor, the choice is mine. I’m paying for it with the money my mother left me.” I was serious. He wasn’t buying me a car.

“Absolutely not, Angelina,” he said and it was a stand-off.

Scarlett was standing behind Victor showing me a red Ferrari. If he was paying, why the hell not?

“Victor, this is important to me. I’m not comfortable with you buying me a car. It’s not a matter that you can, it’s a matter that I want to do this on my own. It’s not your responsibility to buy me a car.”

Victor looked pissed and hurt. “Angelina, it’s not about responsibility it’s about love and taking care of the ones you love. I was raised by a mother who believed that men had certain obligations and roles. One is taking care of the woman you love so she will take care of you. My mother was old school Italian and believed in traditional roles. Woman are to be loved, idolized, protected and cared for, they are your whole life. My mother and grandmother would crawl out of their grave and slap me if it was any other way. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone else. This is very important to me.” His eyes searched mine for any response.

I was speechless. It was one of the rare glimpses I got into Victor’s mother and I was moved every time he spoke her name. I could see the love and respect he had for her in his eyes. I often forgot that a twelve year age difference existed between us. Victor’s values and core beliefs were vastly different than most men my age. It was refreshing and sometimes overwhelming.

Scarlett was scanning the web for exotic cars. If I agreed and allowed Victor to pay, we were splurging and getting sporty and fun, especially if I vetoed the Humvee. 

I kissed him and then hugged him.

“I love you more than I’ve loved anyone else in my life, Victor. You are my world.” 

He responded with deep, long, wet kisses.

Scarlett hated all the mushy stuff. She wanted to get back to picking out a car. She rolled her eyes and made a gesture like she wanted to vomit, threw her hands up and walked away mumbling under her breath.

Victor pushed me back onto the bed and pushed open my legs. His tongue began its tango on my clit and I grabbed the head board and arched my back. His tongue relentless, my breathing slowed as my orgasm was close. Victor thrust his finger in my ass and I groaned as my orgasm arrived fast and hard.

Victor kissed me and laid on the bed next to me. His eyes focused on mine like a sniper on its target.

“Thank you...”

“My pleasure,” he said tracing the outline of my face with his finger. “God I love you, Angelina.”

“I love you too.”

Victor’s cell phone rang and he stole one more kiss and answered it.