“Atlas, we need another round of fries,” Margot, one of the diner waitresses said from the doorway of the employee room.
She was a cute little thing with big green eyes and dark brown hair pulled up in a ponytail that made him want to grab it as he kissed her senseless. She was innocent and sweet, too sweet for a man with his tastes and appetites. But damn he liked her smile.
“Sure thing, Margot.” He grinned at the woman. She blushed deeply and scurried off. Atlas chuckled. He didn’t bother putting out a fresh apron he simply tossed fries into the oil and started to cook them. He waited just long enough for them to be done, then he was out of here. Job done. At least in New York, because he was certain the two Irishmen he’d been surveilling were leaving for Chicago right now.
He’d been afraid for a second, he’d been made when he’d been dropping the trash out in the alley and he had used the opportunity to tag both men with trackers on their jackets, but neither man had said a word to him, or barely even looked at him.
He waited for the other fry cook to step in after he’d finish cooking a couple burgers and then Atlas paused one last time in the hallway leading to the back door. His team had chosen the diner because one of his targets, Jim O’Leary, kept coming backto it every morning for breakfast. Atlas had worked here for only a week, but it been fun. He had almost forgotten what fun was like.
Then with a sigh, he turned and pulled on his leather jacket and headed out the back door the same way his targets had. He dialed Asher on the way. It was a few hours past midnight, but he knew his friend would answer.
“Yeah?” Asher voice was quiet.
“Callahan and O’Leary are on the move. I tagged them but I wanted you know.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll follow them and head your way.” Atlas said, hanging up as he trotted faster toward his car at the end of the dark street. It was New Year’s Day and the smell of fireworks still lingered in the air as Atlas reached his vehicle. He paused, turning back toward the diner one last time.
Margot’s face flashed through his mind. He should have told her he was leaving.
Shit…he was going to go back and tell her goodbye.
He was twenty feet away from SUV when the world behind him went up in flames. He was thrown into the street, colliding with a parked car. Pain ricocheted through his entire body.
Hell...Callahan had somehow figured out he was being tailed. Atlas had no idea if they’d known it was him, or just figured out which car he’d been driving, but either way, the two Dubliners knew they were being followed, and they were going to be way more careful in their movements.
People rushed into the street, screaming as they saw his SUV turn into a deadly inferno. His cell phone lay a foot away from his hand, cracked and dead. He had to warn Asher he been made.
“Atlas?” Margot, the cute waitress from the diner was kneeling down by him. When had she gotten there?
“Don’t move, okay? You’re bleeding.”
Gingerly, he touched his temple and his fingers came away covered in blood. He felt fine though. Head wounds always bled more seriously than their injuries often were.
“Margot, I need to borrow your phone.”
She handed him her cell phone without question and he dialed Asher back.
“I’ve been made.”
Chapter Eighteen
Kara wanted to dance up the pathway to Angelo’s home the evening after the charity event and her impromptu swimming lessons. She and Angelo had spent the entire day in the bed of the penthouse of the hotel making love and sharing their dreams. It had been magical. As silly as that sounded. She felt…changed. Changed so deeply that she knew without a doubt she wanted to see if she and Angelo could have a future. She wanted to try; she wanted to put herself out there. To finally take a risk.
As they reached the top step of the three small steps leading up to his front door, Angelo pulled out his keys and unlocked it. They were still standing on his front doorstep as he leaned in close to her, stealing a kiss that made her giggle against his mouth. She tiptoed her fingers up his sweater to grasp it and pull him closer. She wanted to make the sweet moment linger as the heat in her body rose like a stoked fire.
I could spend the rest of my life just like this…
“Last night was amazing,” he said as he cupped her cheek in one hand and nuzzled her nose with his. “Thank you, Kara.”
“For what?” Kara asked as she closed her eyes, hoping for another kiss.
“For giving me your trust. I know what that meant to you.”
She opened her eyes again, studying his face. His eyes were so warm, soft and alluring as she stared back at him. He meant what he said. That was one of the many things she loved about him. His eyes never lied to her. He was an honest man. Agoodman. Wicked in bed. She hit the jackpot with him and she knew it.
“Angelo, I think I want to try…” she ventured.
