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I pick up the report that was faxed over and skim. I see mentions of a known crime family and ambush. It lists the surviving family members and associates. I immediately know I am not going to speak to the family of the dead mob bosses. They are going to clam up faster than some shellfish in ice, but then I see the name, Catriona Scott, daughter of the slain lawyer of Salvatore DeSantis, and I know she is my best shot. That is where I will start.
“Do you have a game plan?” My boss asks, lighting his cigar.
“Yes, Boss.” He nods and takes a puff.
“Excellent. The bureau gives no fucks about some slain mob bosses, but, it happened on federal land and was witnessed my dozens. We have to deal with it. Not to mention, it seems to be a countrywide incident. I put the extension files in there as well.”
“Got it.”
“This will be your only assignment. Follow it where it goes.”
“You got it.” I gather everything and stand anxious to get started. Before I walk out the door he calls me once again.
“Oh and Callum, be safe. This is dangerous and these people are monsters.” No shit.
I need to head over to the crime scene, stand in the spot where it happened. Visualize the event, place the bodies in my mind in their positions, but first, for some reason, I go to the Scott’s house first. Pulling up, I see the newspapers littered on the lawn and initially, my radar rises. Immediately I wonder if she is dead in there or just shuttered in. Frozen by the events that have changed her life. I unlock the car, poised to get out and check when she comes out the front door, dressed in all black, face full of anguish and pain, but those aren’t the emotions that stop me from speaking to her. It is the rage. The blood red vengeance etched into every frown line, every stiff movement, every clearly present thought flying through her mind. So instead of saying anything to her, I watch. I lean back in my car and watch her.
For weeks, I watch and do nothing else. Follow her around like a lost puppy. A diseased, brainwashed lackey who can’t stop looking at his one bright light, no matter how dim it is. I follow her everywhere, noting her every move. Making mental notes of how she licks her lips. The sway of her hips and how light she is on her feet. Then one night, I follow her to a house, my body rigid and tight thinking she is meeting someone, someone who is not me but has all the things that can make her pain go away. My hand goes to my gun, ready to do god knows what. But then she walks out, a giant body over her shoulder and throws it in her trunk. And that is what started the dance we have been doing. The day I realized I was so gone for her; I would watch her commit a crime and do nothing. Yeah. Totally upholding the law here.
Finally, I met with her, talked to her. Heard the sweet lull of her voice, mixed with anxiety, lust from the moment she saw me and angst. So much angst from the revenge she thinks she has to seek and the life she really wants. I see her. I see the heart of her. Even with all she is hiding, she is open for me, left naked and vulnerable. Without protection or life. I intend to give her all of it.
The buzzing in my pocket clears the flashback. Pulling it out, I hesitate, seeing unknown on the screen. I am debating whether to put a trace on the call when something tells me to answer it. “Debrieze.” Before she says anything I know it is her. I can feel her through the phone, hear the rhythm of her breathing. Memorized from the brief phone calls she grants me with. Never long enough.
“Stay away from Aurora,” she orders, her voice, silky but strong.
“I wouldn’t need to bother her if you would come to me.”
“Callum…” She sighs like I am exasperating her, but really she is aching for me.
“I know, Angel. Let’s be done with this. Where are you?” Thank fuck I pressed the button to wirelessly hijack her phone as soon as I realized it was her. I know she is not going to tell me, but I can wish right.
“Around.”
“Are you almost finished?” She gives a sarcastic chuckle.
“I wish.” I can hear how tired she is, and it is pissing me off. She shouldn't be running her body and mind into the ground. She should be pampered and taken care of. Loved and cherished. “I have to go, Callum. Just stay away from Aurora. She has her own shit to deal with. Don’t make my shit her shit. I am asking you.”
“This was the outcome, I wanted baby. To hear from you. I promise your friend is safe from me. Give me something though, Angel. Anything.” Silence follows my request and I begin to fear she is going to once again hang up, but then she shocks me.
“The lead I wanted to speak to has disappeared. Seems I get another sleepless night at home. Goodbye, Callum.” She hangs up with such finality that if I didn’t know she just gave me the biggest fucking nugget of my life, I would be beside myself.
Hanging up, I make a call first. “Did it work?” I ask my tech guy on the other end.
“Yes. We are in. You should be getting everything within the hour. Now, when her phone rings or a message comes through, it will ring on your phone as well.” Thank fuck.
“Excellent. The money has been transferred.” Hanging up, I pull my tie from my neck and hop in my car. I make the twenty-minute drive in ten, happy as hell it is dark out and my day is done.
I pull up to her house and of course all the lights are out, and her car is nowhere in sight. I know from experience that means nothing, but, I still have a moment of panic worrying she lied to me. I don’t bother knocking. She told me she was going to be here on purpose. She dropped that nugget, giving me this night, and I am going to take it.
I am going to take a lot more than that, but we will start with this.
FIVE
CATRIONA
I am losingmy fucking mind. That is the only explanation for telling him I am going to be home and for leaving the door unlocked. It has to be what is wrong with me. I mean why else am I sitting in my house, in nothing but a t-shirt and panties, freshly showered, waiting for the man, the only man who can make me feel, want, and regret, to come here and make me forget?
I was supposed to be following Romeo DeSantis to L.A., but here I am, pussy wet and nipples hard thinking about Callum walking through the door. I mean shit, I can only have this one night, but you know what, I am going to enjoy the hell out of it.
