20. Expect the Unexpected
20
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
SIMONE
A t six-twenty that evening, Simone and Luciano entered Carole Jean’s restaurant.
“I’m meeting Jerod De Clerq,” she said to the ma?tre d’. “Six-thirty reservation.”
“Yes, ma’am, I can bring you right in.” The ma?tre d’ tipped his head to Luciano. “Good to see you, Mr. Santini. May I seat the lady first, then escort you to the elevator?”
“I got this,” Luciano replied.
“You’ll need the elevator code,” the ma?tre d’ said.
“Jericho texted it to me.” Luciano regarded Simone. “I’ll see you shortly.” He kissed one cheek, then the other before taking off toward the elevator.
“Ma’am.” As the ma?tre d’ escorted Simone, she soaked up the décor. Soft-glowing chandeliers set the romantic tone. Charcoal-colored walls complemented the light black table cloths. Servers dressed in black flitted silently around the large room attending to their diners. Each table boasted a small vase with a bouquet of freshly-cut, short-stemmed roses, a vibrant display of beauty in the popular, Michelin-starred restaurant.
Simone spotted Jerod sitting beside a brunette, their backs to her. As the ma?tre d’ pulled to a stop at their table, Jerod’s gaze jumped to her. With an exuberant smile, he stood, offered her a warm hug.
After Simone sat, the ma?tre d’ handed her a menu. “We have just received our third Michelin star.” He beamed. “We’re celebrating with a complimentary glass of champagne. May we bring them to you?”
Yeses all around. With a slight bow, the attendant wished them, “Bon appétit,” and left.
“It’s good to meet you,” Becca said. “Jerod said he’s stoked you’re friends again.”
Simone smiled. “Same.”
“I’m a little nervous,” Becca confessed. “He said you didn’t like his last girlfriend and he broke up with her.”
“Jerod. Not helpful,” Simone scolded.
He laughed. “I love you, Becca, and I didn’t end things because Simone didn’t like her.”
After they looked at their menus, the friendly banter continued. Their server brought their bubbly, mentioned the specials, and took their orders. After she left, they toasted, and sipped the chilled champagne.
“I hate to talk shop, but I promise it’ll only be for a few minutes,” Jerod said.
“Perfect timing.” Becca glanced around the room. “Be right back.”
After Becca left, Jerod said, “Someone in my department has a reliable source who said Frederica’s death wasn’t from a gas leak explosion,” Jerod leaned across the table toward Simone. “It was The BM.”
Simone wasn’t surprised word had gotten out. People talked, especially about someone who’d harmed so many. Years earlier, when The Bomb Maker decimated government buildings in four metropolitan cities, he’d claimed responsibility for his heinous crimes, then taunted law enforcement. But after her failed mission, he’d done the opposite, by going silent for years.
She shook her head. “No, Frederica left law enforcement,” she lied.
“Red, it’s me you’re talking to,” Jerod pushed back. “Look, I wanted you to know the truth, but I don’t want to ruin our fun vibe.”
Too late.
Her heart ached at the mention of Frederica, the festive mood squelched. But he had started the conversation, so she’d follow the white rabbit and see where it led.
“Did your agent verify the source?”
“I don’t have details, but I did assign a team to follow up. If you have any interest in joining, I’d hire you like that.” He snapped his fingers.
The server returned with their appetizers, and Simone opted to change the subject. Now wasn’t the right time—or the right place—to discuss the case.
“We’ll talk,” she said as Becca returned to the table. “Becca, are you thinking of relocating here?”
Becca beamed at Jerod. “We’ve been talking about living together. I’m starting a new job and can work remotely. The company is based in Manhattan and I’d need to spend a week every quarter at their headquarters. It’s a quick train ride from DC.”
“Sounds perfect,” Simone said. “Jerod you must be excited for Becca to move here.”
He blew her a kiss. “I’d marry her tomorrow if she was ready.”
“Let’s live together and see how that goes,” Becca said.
“How does Peter feel about you and Becca?” Simone asked.
A flash of surprise darkened Jerod’s eyes. “I’m sure he’d be thrilled.”
“Have you met Peter?” Simone asked Becca.
“No, I haven’t,” Becca replied. “Is he a friend of yours, honey?”
“Just a work friend.”
Simone held his gaze.
Jerod’s pink cheeks turned a deep red, the color spreading to his nose. He drained the water from the crystal glass before eying Becca.
If he was going to poke the bear, she’d poke it right back. While she might have backed down then, she was not backing down now.
LUCIANO
Luciano glanced from Jericho’s laptop—where he’d been eyeing the faces of the men—to Sin, then Carrera before finally settling on Teddy.
“This really pisses me off,” Jericho said. “How the hell are we going to stop them?”
“Their passports are legit,” Teddy said.
“Their aliases are good,” Carrera said. “They’re getting in completely undetected. Not a single stop by Customs.”
“When seven known terrorists enter my country pretending to be upstanding US citizens, I get angry,” Jericho said.
“These men are no the No-Fly list,” Sin said. “They should’ve been stopped.”
“They’re barely disguising themselves,” Carrera said.
“Simone has been following up on every lead, no matter how small, but it’s been frustrating as hell,” Luciano said.
“She’s upstairs having dinner with friends,” Teddy bit out. “She’s not work?—”
“Chiudi la bocca, Theodore,” Luciano growled. “Non una parola in più.”
“No fighting,” Jericho barked. “I’m assuming that wasn’t nice.”
“Luciano told Teddy to shut his mouth,” Carrera translated.
“Help her, Teddy,” Luciano said, the bite gone from his voice. “We’ve got nothing solid. Find these monsters.”
“Yeah, it’s like chasing the wind,” Teddy said. “I can’t find any of them.”
“They land at Dulles and they disappear,” Sin added.
“We know they’re working for The Bomb Maker,” Luciano said, “or they’ve got some kind of partnership with him.”
The conversation continued while Luciano’s frustration grew. The men’s faces plastered on the laptop were the latest in the growing number of internationally-wanted men who were entering the country without anyone giving them a second glance.
“I’ve asked a few trusted people about The Bomb Maker,” Sin said. “No one knows much. He works alone?—”
The elevator doors opened and Jericho’s younger sister Georgia rolled out a food cart. Luciano closed Jericho’s laptop.
One by one, Georgia set down their entrees, but her gaze kept jumping to Teddy. “Can I get anyone anything?”
Luciano regarded his brother who appeared unaware that a pretty woman was checking him out. Teddy pushed out of his chair, raked his hands through his long hair, and began pacing.
“Is he okay?” Georgia asked.
“No,” Carrera replied. “He’s insane.”
The group laughed, but Georgia was too busy staring at Teddy to pay them any attention. She pushed the empty cart out of the way, topped off their water goblets, said goodbye to Teddy, and left.
“Teddy, she’s cute, don’t you think?” Luciano asked.
Teddy stopped pacing, stared at him. “Who, Georgia? Yeah, she’s super-hot. I have an idea. I need photos of everyone on the No-Fly list.”
Carrera got busy on his laptop. Seconds later, he said, “I sent it over.”
“I’ll scrub this against the men we think got in,” Teddy said.
“A lot of them are stopping at Heathrow,” Luciano said. “They might use the same passport or they could be swapping out their first one for a different one.”
“It’s a fucked-up world,” Jericho said.
“And we’re in the center of it,” Sin added.
“After you scrub that list, send me the ones you know are here,” Luciano said.
Teddy nodded before he dug into his steak. After chewing and swallowing, he guzzled his beer, then glanced at each of them. “Aren’t you eating? I’m starving.”
The men raised their wine glasses. “Let’s get it done,” Luciano said.
Thirty-minutes later, the meeting had ended, their meals finished. Luciano shook everyone’s hand, except Teddy who pulled him in for a bro-hug.
“I love you, Lulu,” Teddy said. “Sorry about earlier. I like Simone. She’s cool. Foxy too.”
“Teddy—”
“Relax, I’m not gonna say how I met her.”
“How did you meet her?” Jericho asked.
“Lulu had his face between her legs, and I interrupted.”
A chorus of laughter echoed through the wine cellar.
Luciano bit back a smile. “Teddy, why can’t you be discreet?”
Teddy chuckled. “It’s funny. It’s not like they’ve never had sex before.”
Georgia appeared with several desserts on a rolling cart.
“Talk to her,” Luciano urged.
“I clam up around pretty women,” Teddy whispered.
“You don’t have to talk,” Jericho said. “My sister will.”
“Will what?” Georgia asked.
“Teddy wants to say hey,” Luciano said, then tossed his brother a nod toward Jericho’s sister.
Georgia beamed. “I’ve got a few minutes.”
Luciano folded two hundred-dollar bills, offered them to Georgia. “I know you’re the GM, but you took good care of us tonight.”
Georgia accepted the money, kissed his cheek. “You’re sweet. Thank you.”
After taking the elevator, Luciano spoke with the ma?tre d’. As the attendant escorted him to Simone’s table, he glanced around the room until he found his target.
Simone was sitting across from a brunette and a man with military-short blond hair. As he approached the table, Simone glanced over. Their connection was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. A jolt of energy shot through him and the desire to touch her took hold. He hadn’t felt such an overwhelming need to protect someone in a long time, but he felt it now.
He thanked the ma?tre d’, who’d pulled out his chair.
Simone rose, pressed her lips to his cheek and kissed him. “Perfect timing. We just ordered coffee.” He kissed her other cheek before turning to face the couple.
“This is my friend, Jerod, and his girlfriend Becca,” Simone said. “This is Luciano.”
Jerod rose, shook Luciano’s hand. “Red didn’t mention anyone joining us.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Luciano said.
“Of course not.” Becca gestured to the chair. “Are you hungry?”
“I had a working dinner.” Luciano seated Simone before easing down next to her.
The server hurried over. “Sir, welcome. Can I bring you a menu?” She topped off Simone’s coffee.
“Espresso,” Luciano said.
“Did we decide on a dessert?” the server asked the others.
“The chocolate mousse cake sounds amazing,” Becca said. “Jerod, share?”
“Two forks,” Jerod said to the server.
After she left, Simone said, “Becca’s moving to the area from Atlanta.”
As Becca chatted about her decision, Luciano glanced at Jerod. He looked vaguely familiar, but Luciano had never met him and couldn’t place where he’d seen him.
When Becca finished talking, Jerod said, “How do you two know each other?”
“We met at a party,” Simone said.
“You look familiar,” Luciano said.
Jerod fiddled with his utensils. “I work in the federal space. You?”
“I run Santini International.”
Becca grinned. “Wait, no way. I love your chianti and have a subscription to your Once-a-Month Club.”
“What’s that?” Jerod asked.
“I receive a surprise gift every month. One month it was a Santini Original cashmere scarf. The next, a bottle of Santini Whiskey, the next a man’s sweater. You benefitted from that. I gave you the sweater for your birthday.”
“Grazie,” Luciano said. “That’s a very popular club.”
Jerod pulled out his phone. “Excuse me, I’ve got to make a quick call.” He strode toward the front of the restaurant.
“He’s always working,” Becca said.
“Where does he work?” Luciano asked.
“ATF,” Becca answered. “He’s very dedicated to his group.”
“Have you been dating long?” Simone asked.
“A year, then he moved, and it’s been long distance ever since.” Becca rolled her eyes. “That put a strain on things, but I’m hoping we get back on track once I move here.”
“When are you looking to do that?” Simone asked.
“Right after Thanksgiving, which is crazy.” Becca pulled out her phone. “I won’t know anyone here but Jerod. Can we exchange numbers?”
“Absolutely.” Simone rattled off her number and Becca shot her a text.
Jerod returned. “Becca, I’m sorry, but I have a work thing. We need to leave.”
“But my dessert,” Becca protested.
“I asked our server to wrap it.” Jerod smiled at Simone. “Thanks for joining us. I’m sorry I have to bolt. I took care of the bill, but please stay and enjoy your coffee.” He extended his hand to Luciano. “I’ll have to try your whiskey.”
Luciano stood and shook Jerod’s hand.
Simone hugged Becca. “I’m glad we met.” Then, she hugged Jerod. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“So, you’re giving her a thumbs-up?” Jerod asked.
“Two thumbs-up,” Simone replied.
The server appeared with a small bag and a demitasse for Luciano. “Thank you for dining with us.”
Jerod took the bag, ushered Becca toward the door. After setting Luciano’s espresso on the table, the waiter left.
“How was your dinner meeting?” Simone asked.
“Productive. Did you like Carole Jean’s?”
“The food is delicious,” she replied. “Jerod bolted pretty fast.”
“What’s his story?”
“He’s with ATF. He was an agent, now he runs a department there.”
Luciano sipped the strong coffee. “Do you think he’s having an affair with Hirzog?”
“I asked how Peter felt about Becca.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “That had to get a reaction.”
“He turned super red.” She sighed. “Maybe they are, but how do they go from having an affair to being involved in a terror plot?”
“I still think we need to follow the white rabbit.”
“Hirzog,” she murmured as the server returned.
“Can I get you anything else?”
“We’re good, thanks,” Luciano replied.
“I hope everything was to your satisfaction,”
“It was perfect.” Simone thanked her. After she left, Simone said, “We should go.”
“What’s the rush?”
“I want to attach the tracker,” she whispered.
He chuffed out a laugh. “You’re as driven as I am.”
“No, Mr. Santini, no one is that driven.”
They exited the restaurant, and she shivered from the chill. He removed his suit jacket, placed it over her shoulders. “Do you want to wait inside while I get the car?”
“I’ll stay with you.” She entwined her fingers through his. “Why don’t you valet park?”
“Not safe.”
After tucking her into the SUV, he leaned in, and kissed her. As they stared into each other’s eyes, hope started to take root. One more kiss before he closed the door, got behind the wheel.
He drove out, wrapped his hand around her thigh, and glanced over. Her gaze met his.
“Love,” she murmured.
“Love,” he replied.
After a beat, he asked. “Did that just happen?”
She shot him an adorable smile. “It’s just a word.”
“It’s the word,” he murmured. After a pause, he asked, “Should I talk shop or wait?”
She caressed his hand. “Tell me.”
“Teddy’s going to scrub the No-Fly list. That’ll help us figure out who got in so we can stop everyone else.”
“That’s good,” she replied. “Jerod told me Frederica’s death wasn’t an accident. He said that a reliable source told one of his agents it was The Bomb Maker.”
“What did he think?”
“Becca returned to the table, so we stopped talking about it.”
He turned into a DC neighborhood, cut the headlights, and called Teddy.
“Yo, baby,” Teddy answered.
“I’m attaching the tracker to Newburg’s car. Where should I park?”
“Pass his house on the right, turn left at the corner,” Teddy said. “There’s a house for sale on the right. It’s vacant. Park there.”
“How ‘bout I place the tracker and you drive around the block?” Simone asked.
“I’m not leaving you,” Luciano said to her.
“Hey, Simone,” Teddy said.
“Hi, Teddy.”
“Newburg parks in his garage,” Teddy continued. “He’s home. His girlfriend is there. She parked in the driveway. I’ll override the garage door opener, so you can open the garage enough to get inside, then attach the tracker.”
“Grazie, fratello,” Luciano said before ending the call.
As instructed, he parked in front of the vacant house, handed Simone a ski mask and black gloves before pulling on his own.
“We’ll jog down the middle of the street,” he said. “Do you want to open the garage door or attach the tracker?”
“I’ll attach the tracker,” she replied. “What should I do if they come out while we’re there?”
“Get out of the garage if you can and we’ll hide around the side of his house.”
“And if they enter the garage from the house?”
“You’re screwed,” he said and flashed her a smile.
She laughed.
“Get out. If you can’t, hide in the garage.”
With their simple plan in place, they exited the vehicle. Simone started jogging down the middle of the street and he pulled up alongside her.
This wasn’t normal. It wasn’t how most people began a healthy relationship, but he wouldn’t change a thing.
This was their story, no matter how extreme.
As he approached Newburg’s cozy, two-story home, he slowed. One car sat in the driveway. The front porch light was on, as were two lights on the first floor and one upstairs. He pulled the tracker, handed it to Simone. As he lifted the door, it squeaked on its hinges.
“Fuck,” he murmured.
Simone knelt, then vanished inside while he held the garage door in place.
The front door opened, Newburg’s voice filtered into the night. “Honey, I wish you’d stay.”
“You snore and I can’t sleep,” said a woman. “Plus, I’ve gotta get up at four.”
Simone hurried out. He lowered the garage door, clasped her hand, and they bolted into the shadows, but the crunch of dry leaves on the side lawn stopped them.
His heart beat slow and steady in his chest.
“Did you hear that?” asked the girlfriend.
“Hear what?” Newburg asked.
“Like an animal running through the grass or something,” she said.
“Maybe you heard a deer,” Newburg replied.
“Crouch,” Luciano whispered.
Together, they turned toward the backyard and squatted.
If Newburg or his girlfriend approached the side of the house, they’d run. No way could Newburg catch them. As they hid in the shadows and waited, a surge of excitement powered through him.
Newbury’s girlfriend started her car, turned on the headlights, and drove away. Newburg coughed, the thick phlegm catching in his throat. After he spit, he shut his front door. Luciano waited to be sure he’d gone inside.
“Let’s go,” she whispered.
Still holding hands, they took off toward his car, parked around the corner. Once there, they jumped into the vehicle, but neither removed their mask. He started the car and drove out in silence. On the main road, he turned on the headlights. She pulled of her mask, he pulled off his.
“That was fun,” she said.
“Were you nervous?”
“Not at all,” she replied.
She’s the one.
In the dark car, they regarded each other. “I love you, Simone.”
She smiled. “I love you too.”
SIMONE
Simone was buzzing with excitement. She loved working with Luciano. His energy was contagious, his confidence radiated off him. When she’d heard the voices, her heart started galloping in her chest, but knowing Luciano was on the other side of the garage door kept her calm. Working with him was exhilarating. She hadn’t felt this alive in a long, long time.
Rather than obsess over every little thing that might go wrong with the case, she forced herself to stay on point. One small win at a time. She hoped Newburg would lead them to something relevant because she had nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Luciano drove to Simone’s, parked in the driveway, and got out. As she exited the SUV, they made their way up the walkway.
“I don’t need an invitation,” he said. “I’m staying.”
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
As she fished out her keys, Luciano said, “Simone.” The sternness of his voice had her following his gaze.
A large piece of white paper had been taped to her front door. On it, the word:
BOOM!
He grasped her hand, ushered her into his vehicle. She felt numb, then angry and overcome with dread. Luciano drove around the corner and pulled over.
“What about my things?” she asked. The second those words were out there, she wanted to retract them. “Never mind.”
Luciano made a call.
“How’d it go?” Teddy answered.
“No problem,” Luciano replied. “You did good.”
“We all set?”
“No,” Luciano replied. “There’s a sign on Simone’s front door. Boom. The place needs to be swept. Hawk has a robot for explosives. Simone, can you wait until tomorrow?—”
“Of course, but I don’t want Teddy putting himself at risk.”
“Thank you, Simone,” Teddy said. “My brother doesn’t care about me.”
Luciano chuckled. The calmness in his voice, paired with his relaxed expression, settled her down. He had this magical ability to insulate her from the reality of the situation. She couldn’t enter her home. Everything she owned might be lost if the house exploded?—
I lost my ALPHA team. I lost Fred. I might lose my home.
Stop. Breathe.
She inhaled a slow, lung-filled breath. And another.
“Teddy, do whatever you need to do to ensure your safety,” she said. “Should I be there?”
“I got this. You need to find The Bomb Maker, though I kinda think he found you first.”
“Fuck,” she bit out.
Teddy was right. He had found her.
“Do you have security cameras?” Luciano asked her.
“I have one out front and one out back,” she replied as she clicked on the security app on her phone. “Same with my neighbors next door and across the street.” She opened the app, scrolled. “I got a hit.” She showed Luciano the short video.
“Someone dressed in black,” Luciano said.
“Forward it to me,” Teddy said.
Simone did.
“Teddy—” Luciano said. “I texted Hawk.”
“I’m on it.”
“Use a body cam and let us know when the robot goes in.” Luciano hung up and drove away.
The Bomb Maker is taunting me.
That simple sign taped to her front door had rendered her homeless without a thing in the world but the clothing on her back—which was from Luciano—plus a few items in her essentials bag.
He clasped her hand. “I got you.”
Those three words reminded her that she wasn’t alone. She was leaving, but she wasn’t running scared. Not this time. “I’m okay.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you, Simone. Nothing .” The power in his voice had her kissing his cheek.
“I can stay with my brother?—”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight. You’ll be safe in my home.”
She grew silent as she thought about everything that had happened over the past month. She went over every conversation she’d had with every single person.
“Maybe you’re right,” she said, as he sped toward home. “Maybe Peter Hirzog isn’t the good guy I think he is.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not thinking clearly.”
“Let’s get you home and we’ll think this through… together.”
In the dark car, he squeezed her hand. His power seeped into her bones and filled her with hope.
“Do you get scared?” she asked.
“No,” he replied. “I’ve looked into the eyes of the devil himself.”
She shuddered. “What did you see?”
“Hell,” he replied. “I saw hell.”
“How are we going to win?”
“By letting the devil think he has all the power.”
“Doesn’t he?”
“No,” Luciano replied, a sinister smile filling his face. “I do.”
Silence accompanied them the rest of the way, Simone reviewing every aspect of the case in her mind. She remembered the anonymous texts. The death threats she’d so brashly dismissed.
Once past the gates, he drove into his underground garage. Up the elevator they went and into the kitchen. There, he offered her an array of beverages. She picked his whisky. After pouring two glasses, they sat at the island. He opened his laptop. She tossed back a mouthful, then another. The subtle flavors ignited her taste buds. Warmth filled her belly.
“This is robust, yet delicate. So many tastes.”
“What did you experience?”
“Chocolate, then espresso. After I swallowed, it tasted creamy and a little sweet, like honey or vanilla.”
His smile soothed her. “That’s exactly what you should have tasted.”
She peered into his eyes for a beat. You gotta tell him.
“I haven’t been completely up front with you.”
His eyebrow arched, ever so slightly.
“I’m pretty independent and take a lot of pride in that. It was hard for me to open up to my therapist, but I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t burden my family or friends with what I was going through because I couldn’t talk about the mission. When I worked for Colton, my focus was on mergers, acquisitions, and helping him grow his business. As a watcher, I worked alone.”
“Simone, what do you want to tell me?”
She showed him the two text messages she’d received.
If you take that case, you’re a dead woman.
I warned you not to take the job. Now, I have to kill you. I will win. I always do. Mass destruction and chaos will be mine.
His expression didn’t change, except when he stared into her eyes. To her surprise, his were filled with love. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
“I shouldn’t have dismissed them.”
“This is The Bomb Maker.”
She shuddered in a breath. “I’ve been in denial.”
“Let’s geolocate the burner phone.” He guided her to his office, logged into his computer. He was able to narrow the location to Northwest DC, but nothing closer.
Teddy called and Luciano put the call on speaker. “Go.”
“Hawk is with me,” Teddy said.
“Hawk, thanks for doing this,” Luciano said.
“Hey, Luciano. Simone, no worries, okay?”
“Thank you,” she replied.
“Hawk sent a robot around to clear the exterior,” Teddy said. “We found nothing. From what we can tell—the house hasn’t been breached. No entry points were disturbed.”
“Good news,” Simone said.
“How many spare keys are out there?” Teddy continued.
“My brother has one.”
“What about a cleaning service?”
“No.”
“Any hidden outside?”
“No. Just the one with Gary.”
“Okay, so we’re going to clear the interior,” Teddy said. “Lulu, I sent you a link for live feed.”
Luciano clicked on the link and Simone’s house came into view.
“Since we cleared the exterior, we were able to remove the hinges, so we didn’t blow your door,” Teddy continued. “We checked ducts that opened to the outside, like the dryer. All clear.”
“You’re very thorough,” Simone said.
Teddy chuffed out a laugh. “Yeah, well, we got no room for error.”
She and Luciano watched as Hawk piloted a robot that walked on two legs. “Mr. Metal has cameras for eyeballs,” Teddy explained. “We’re showing you live feed on the front-facing camera, but there’re back-facing cams too.”
Hawk guided the robot into the foyer.
“I’m looking for an obvious package or stacks of dynamite,” Hawk said as he piloted the robot into the living room. “But I’ve also gotta confirm nothing has been hidden. Again, I’m not sure how the bomber would do that since he never breached your home.”
“Sounds like a power move,” Luciano said.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Hawk agreed.
Everyone grew silent as Hawk maneuvered the robot from room to room, opening every cupboard, every closet. As the minutes ticked by, Simone was overcome with gratitude for their commitment to her safety.
In her bedroom, Teddy asked, “Anything disturbed?”
Through the eyes of the robot, Simone viewed her bedroom. “Nothing.”
“Mr. Metal has been programmed to detect subtle changes in a room,” Hawk explained. “If an explosive was set to blow, the computer could sense it.”
Two hours later, Hawk and Teddy finished their extensive search.
“The asshole who did this might be watching,” Teddy said. “You know, getting his rocks off from all the attention. I’ve got two of my guys combing the neighborhood for him.”
“Teddy, Hawk, thank you,” she said. “Do you bill me or do I pay you now?”
“Hawk, I got you,” Luciano said.
“No charge,” Hawk pushed back. “You’re ALPHA, so you’re family.”
Tears pricked Simone’s eyes, but she shoved down the emotion. “Thank you so much for having my back.”
“We’re gonna shut things down, then I gotta tell your neighbors everything’s okay,” Teddy said “A bunch of ‘em have been watching this shit go down.”
“Did you see anything on my surveillance cams?” Simone asked.
“Just the man in black,” Teddy said. “I’ll let you know if that changes.”
The picture went dark and Simone released a long exhale. “What a relief.”
“This is good,” Luciano said. “The Bomb Maker’s creating chaos, something he thrives on. Think about the mass bombings on those government buildings.”
“That sent the whole country into panic.”
“Anytime, he gets attention for something bomb-related, he feels empowered. We need to draw him out, let him think he’s winning. Then, once we know who it is, we take him out.”
“Sounds simple,” she said, “but we don’t have anything to go on.”
“We will,” he said. “Everything takes longer than we’d like, but we’ll get there.”
Simone regarded Luciano. He was the pillar of strength. He wasn’t worried, he felt no fear. He stayed in control, he stayed focused, and he got the situation addressed and resolved in a matter of hours.
She dropped a light kiss on his lips. “Thank you for treating me with respect, despite my idiotic denial. I should have told you about the threat texts. Thank you for handling this and for insisting that I stay safe. I’m so used to keeping things bottled up, handling things on my own.” She kissed him again. “I’m so indebted to Z for the assignment.”
His smile sent a streak of energy powering through her. “Me too, babe, but please, Simone, no more secrets. We’re a team.”
He logged into a tracker site and clicked over to several active trackers, marking Cary Newburg as CN. “Anytime he goes anywhere, I’ll get notified.”
Her gaze dropped to the list of people he was tracking, then she circled back to the one he’d labeled SR. “Am I SR?”
“Yes.”
“Were you planning on removing the tracker from my vehicle?”
“I’d turned off the alerts, but based on what happened tonight, I’m reactivating it.”
“And I thought the damn chip in my neck was intrusive.”
“I had no idea who you were or why you were following me,” he said. “I had to protect myself.”
“I get it.”
“You’re not angry?”
“At you? Hell, no.” She stood, shot him a little smile. “I’m not completely stupid.”
He pushed out of his desk chair. “Time to sleep. We can get your clothes tomorrow.”
“Five years ago, I moved into this mansion for protection from The Bomb Maker. And here I am, hiding behind the iron gates all over again.”
“You’re not hiding. You’re staying alive. He found you. He knows you’re hunting him. I have no idea how he knows, but he does.” He ran the back of his hand over her cheek, dipped down and kissed her. “I need to know you’re safe. I can’t protect you unless you’re with me?—”
“Like twenty-four seven? That’s crazy.” Then, she realized what he’d been through, what he was still dealing with, and would always struggle with. “I’m sorry. I would love to stay here with you.”
“We’ll get whatever you need tomorrow. Maybe you’d consider some new clothes. A woman as stunning as you?—”
She pulled him into her arms, kissed him. “I love you. I don’t know what you’re doing with someone like me.”
“The same thing you’re doing with someone like me?—”
“You’re very wealthy, extremely successful?—”
“I’m surrounded by brilliant people who are very loyal. And now I can add you to my inner circle.”
“You’re so humble,” she whispered. “I’m not wealthy. I haven’t amassed the power you have.”
“You’re successful, you’re driven, you have smarts and intelligence. You’re well liked. You follow the rules a little too closely for me—” He winked— “but we can work on that.”
She laughed.
“We’ve both experienced great loss,” he continued. “We understand the fragility of life. We have family we love and friends who’ve become family. And I have a weakness for leggy brunettes named Simone.”
She nuzzled close. “Let’s go upstairs.”
As they ascended the sweeping staircase, she put her arm on his back and caressed him. “You do so much for everyone. All the time. When was the last time someone did something—anything—for you?”
At the top of the stairs, he stopped. “Elsa has always been there for me. She’s been my one constant.”
“Tonight, let me do something for you.”
He continued toward his bedroom at the end of the long hallway. She didn’t move. After a few steps, he turned around, spread his arms out, and continued walking backwards. “You have ten bedrooms to choose from.”
“I choose you,” she said. “But I’m going to massage you.”
He stopped walking. “You don’t have to, caro.”
“What does caro mean?”
“Dear one.”
“I love that.” After a second, she asked, “Wouldn’t you like to be pampered?”
“Of course,” he replied.
“Then, I’m going to take good, good care of my man.”