A Taste of Liberty: Task Force 125 Book 2 (13 page)

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

They both smiled in agreement and drank.

“Are you staying in a hotel?  I'll have Carlo pick up your things.”

Thank goodness Jason and I set up that hotel room with my luggage today.

“Who is Carlo?”

“He's the houseman.  He does a bit of gardening and takes care of, well, whatever or whoever needs taking care of.”

“I see.”  The domestic picture was beginning to clear up for Sarah.  She pulled the hotel key out of her purse and handed it to Carolina. 
“Room Two-Twenty-Five.
  The address is on the key.  Thank you.”

Carolina waved toward the French doors and they opened. 

Sarah watched the man who walked toward Carolina.  His scuffed boots made hardly a sound as he crossed the patio.  He wore a dark blue tee shirt
and faded jeans.  The tee shirt was tight and showed off muscles that were worked hard.  His hair was dark brown and
spikey
, and he had a few days growth around his jaw line.  He took the term ruggedly handsome to new heights.  When he reached Carolina, he bent to kiss her on the lips.

Carolina pulled away after a long minute and grinned.  “
Tesoro
, this is Sarah.  She'll be staying with us for a while.”

He looked Sarah over. 
“
Incantato
,
signorina
.”

Sarah’s breath caught in her
throat  when
she looked in his eyes.  They were the most mesmerizing light blue she'd ever seen.  His tan only made them more spellbinding. 

How beautiful!

Carolina handed him Sarah's room key. 
“Room Two-Twenty-Five.
  Will you be a dear and get her things?”

“
Si
.”
  He whispered.  “I'll put them in the room next to yours.”

Sarah watched as he walked back into the house.  Apparently, his butt had been worked quite a bit because it looked fantastic in those jeans.

Carolina's voice interrupted Sarah's wholly unwholesome thoughts.  “He's exquisite, isn't he?”

Sarah turned back toward Carolina.  “Yes, very handsome.”

Carolina took a drink of her wine.  “He likes you.  Your room connects to mine.”  She licked her lips as she leaned back on one elbow.  “You should join us tonight.”

They definitely didn't put this in the list of job benefits.  It could be an interesting distraction.

Carolina looked through the French doors Carlo had left open.  “Oh, it looks like your beefcake is leaving already.”  She stood.  “Shall we go say goodbye?”

Sarah's stomach sank at the words.  The last thing she wanted to do right now was work.  The scent of roses wafted on the breeze and the waves washing over the beach whispered in the night.  She longed to be with Vince.  Instead, she followed Carolina into the villa where they found Vince and Victor shaking hands. 

Victor glanced over at the two women and smiled like a cat about to eat two canaries.  “Well, Carolina?”

“Carlo is getting her things.”  She wore a sly grin as she glanced at Sarah.  “She'll be staying in the room adjoining mine.”

Victor sighed. 
“
Mmm
.
  Perfect.”  He took Carolina's hand and spoke to Sarah.  “We'll be upstairs.  Join us when you’re done.”  He and Carolina made it to the first step before he turned around, almost as an afterthought.  “Vince, it was a pleasure doing business with you.”  He gave Carolina’s ass a quick slap, she giggled and they walked quickly upstairs.

Sarah and Vince watched as Victor escorted Carolina up the stairs.  When they reached the landing, Vince turned and nodded toward the front door.

Sarah followed him as he stepped out into the warm night.

Vince awkwardly shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down at his shoes.  “Will you be alright?”

She leaned in, took a deep breath of his aftershave and exhaled slowly as she looked into his eyes.  Those soft, velvety brown eyes that always made her yearn for him.  “I'll be fine.  Apparently, he prefers coke to women.”

Vince shook his head.  “What a stupid, stupid man.”

Vince reached out and ran his hand along her
jawline
and into her hair.  He pulled her swiftly into a kiss, and she gave herself up to him. 

Oh, God.  This is all I want.  I don't give a damn if we end up poor as paupers.  I just want you.

When Vince finally pulled away, Sarah shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.  The night was warm but she still felt a chill.

Vince's face was stern.  “You do everything you have to do to fit in.  None of that changes who you are.”

Can this guy be for real?

“I've been doing this for a long time, Sarah.  It's too dangerous to have moral reservations in this line of work.  Do whatever you have to do.  Just stay alive.”

Sarah smiled and looked into his soft brown eyes one more time.  “That, I can do.”

The night seemed colder without him pressed against her.  She took a deep breath and rubbed her arms as she watched him walk to the sleek, black
Maserati
.

He gave her one last glance as he buckled his seat belt.  “If you call, I’ll come running.”

Sarah nodded.  “I’m counting on it.”

The
Spyder
purred out of the circular driveway and then he was gone.  

Sarah took a deep breath, mustered her nerve and walked back into the house.  She looked up to see Carlo coming down the stairs.

He spoke with only a slight accent.  “May I show you to your room?”

Sarah met him at the bottom of the stairs.  “Yes, please.”

Sarah followed a few paces behind him, admiring the view. 

Damn.  That's just nice to look at.

Much as she wanted Vince, she couldn't ignore the fact that this guy was put together nicely.  After all, it was her job to notice.

Carlo led her into a small but attractive room with a single bed.  Sarah was slightly relieved and allowed a light sigh to escape her lips.

Not likely to be any action here. 

Carlo turned to look at her.  “Are you tired?”

“Yes, a little.
  Where is the bathroom?”

Carlo opened the door beside the dresser to reveal an en suite bath.  A large double vanity to the left ran the width of the room.  To Sarah's right was a large walk in shower encased in clear glass.  There was a door at the opposite end of the bathroom.

“Carolina’s room?”

“Yes.  I'll let you freshen up and relax.”  Carlo walked through the bathroom door to Carolina's room and closed it behind him.

~~~

Vince walked into the villa and grabbed a bottle of Scotch and a glass on his way through to the patio. 

Angelo walked outside as Vince took a seat in the dark and tossed a full glass of Scotch down his throat. 

“Where is Sarah?”

“She's with the Ukrainian.”  Vince poured himself another drink.

“You are an idiot.”  Angelo spat the words at him.

Vince looked up at Angelo, eyes narrowed to slits.  “Excuse me?”

Angelo let rip with a force Vince hadn't yet seen from the normally quiet man.  His voice deepened as he roared at Vince.  “The way you use her makes me sick.”  He spread his hands like a man who just didn’t understand.  “That woman is a beautiful gem who should be adored and you treat her as though she is just another weapon you can toss at those bastards when the ammunition runs out.”  He stood his ground and glared at Vince.  

Vince gulped his second drink, slammed the glass onto the nearby table and stood toe to toe with Angelo.  “Look, pal, you may be good at what you do, but we know what we're doing here so just butt out.”

Angelo squared his shoulders and seemed ready for a fight.  “Do you?  Do you know what you are doing,
Vincenzo
?”

More than anything, Vince wanted to smash in Angelo’s face for telling him off the same way he’d been telling himself off.  Going a few rounds with a guy who could take a beating was just what his
fragged
nerves needed.  “Yeah, I do!”

Make a move.  Just make a move.

Angelo shook his head and stretched his arms to emphasize the question.  “Why do you fight this war?  You are not a child anymore.  You don't fight for the sake of fighting.  Do you remember why you started fighting in the first place?”

Vince tried to get control of his anger but all he could do was drown it with Scotch.  He hated that he'd left Sarah with the Ukrainian.  He hated that he was the one putting her in harm's way.  He hated himself and all he wanted to do was kill someone right now.  Anyone would do.  He growled at the other man who loved Sarah, as much out of anger as to stake his claim.  “I don't want to talk to you, Angelo.”

Angelo leaned closer to Vince’s face and snarled back.  “Nor I you, but know this
-
if she returns safely, I intend to do everything in my power to
protect her, treasure her and treat her the way she deserves to be treated.  I haven't forgotten why I spent nearly thirty years of my life fighting.  I fight for love.  I fight for the dream of love, the dream of being able to keep those I love safe.”

“Whoa, whoa!
  What the hell is going on out here?”  Will shoved his way between Vince and Angelo and gently pushed his hand against Vince's chest to back him up.  “I heard you two all the way upstairs.” 

Vince sat down and poured another drink.  “I know we're guests here but if that guy doesn't back off, I'll punch him dead in the face.”

Angelo shot Vince a dirty look.  “You better hope she comes back safely.”  He stormed back into the house.

Will pulled up a chair near Vince.  “You gonna drink that all by yourself?”

Vince didn't look up from his glass.  “That's the plan.”

Will shook his head.  “You're finished.”

Vince drank the amber liquid in his glass and picked up the bottle. 
“Nope.
 
Got half a bottle left.”

“That's not what I'm talking about, man.”

“What is it about you guys that
makes
you think I want to talk?”

“You planted Sarah with the Ukrainian, didn't you?”

“Yep.”
  Vince threw back another glass of Scotch.

“Look, I don't want to get all Doctor Phil on you, man, but it ain't in you to do this anymore.  You've lost your edge, and we both know why.”  Will stood and picked up what was left of the bottle of Scotch.  “You don't need this.  You need to get your head on so we can bring Sarah back and wrap this up.” 

Will headed back into the house and left Vince alone with nothing but the guilt that haunted him.  He had a bad feeling about this operation, and his heart didn't want to hear what his gut was saying.

Sarah woke early and surveyed her surroundings.  The room was small but comfortable.  A large window overlooked an enclosed garden area.  From what she saw, there were walls on three sides of the property that tapered down to nothing as they met the beach.  Within the walls were all the amenities one could want.  There was a large patio, about ten yards long, leading to the full sized pool and then fifty yards from the pool to the beach.  The swimming pool, cascading ponds and the corolla of tropical plants surrounding the main house made it appear to be more of a spa than a fortress.  The stone wall surrounding the property stood nine feet high and was topped by three strands of what were probably electrified wires.  Several armed guards with machine guns patrolled the grounds. 

The sooner we riddle this joint with bullets, the sooner I can go home.  

Sarah turned on some music in case Victor had any listening devices in the room.  She was so accustomed to wearing the tiny, inserted earpiece she often had to put a finger to her ear to be sure it was still there.

“Chris, are you listening?”

“Good morning, sunshine. 
Everything alright behind the iron curtain?”

“Yeah, just fine.
  I have a comfortable bed and a nice view.  The only problem is there are three gorgeous women already lounging by the pool.  Getting close to Victor won't be easy in this stable of talent.”

“Trust me, Sarah.  None of those women can hold a candle to you.”

“How do you know?”

“Would you believe satellite TV?  When you go down there, I'll be able to see you blink.”

“No way!”

“You gotta love technology.  It takes voyeurism to a whole new level.”

“Damn.”

“Now wear something skanky for Big Daddy.  Have a good day, babe.  I'll be here if you need me.”

“You too, Chris.”

She showered and dressed.  The other women wore revealing bathing suits so she chose her white thong bikini to show off her assets.  She had the
other women as well as Victor’s attraction to cocaine to compete with so she steeled herself for a dynamite performance.