Chapter 2 #2
Fear did crazy things to people. She ought to know. For the first time since becoming a Special Ops, she’d tasted that fear firsthand.
And it did not taste good.
TEDDY
At a half-past six in the morning, Teddy exited the taxi, took his bags from the driver, and walked into the high-rise condo in Alexandria, Virginia.
I’m home.
Energy pounded through him. He’d been back to the DC area only three times in the past four months to check on the family-owned restaurant and to spend a little time with his fam.
After entering the spacious lobby with its upscale furniture and pendant lighting, he made his way to the elevator.
Up he rode, then down the hall to his penthouse apartment.
He’d rented the two-bedroom condo months earlier when Luciano asked him to manage the renovation for Santini Ristorante.
The luxury condo building was mere blocks from the popular eatery.
After keying in his code, the lock clicked open. He entered, set down his bags, and glanced around.
Damn, it feels good to be here.
He needed to get to ALPHA BLACK OPS and update his team, but he wanted to swing by the restaurant first.
BING!
He unearthed his phone from his pocket and read the text from Greystone.
Welcome home! What’s your sched?
Just got back to condo. Need to update you and team. Time?
When you get here. Gabriel flying in from Milan. Lulu called a fam dinner at Carrera and Slash’s
Stopping by restaurant first
Despite the challenges the BLACK OPS team had been facing, his spirits were lifted simply because he was home.
Then, the darkness crept in. The lifeless faces of the Haqazzii terrorists he’d taken out filled his thoughts. They were the latest in a string of bodies he’d left in his wake. Shaking off the evil, he walked into his bedroom. There, he stripped down before heading into the bathroom.
His bloodied shoulder snagged his attention, but he wasn’t concerned. He was in much better shape than the apex predators in Pennsylvania.
He got to live another day.
He turned on the faucet before checking his three-day-old beard and mustache in the mirror.
Skipping the shave, he stepped into the shower and watched as the water circling the drain turned pink.
Sure, his shoulder stung, but he could handle the physical pain.
It was the emotional toll of killing that he struggled with.
While he told his brothers it was a job—like any other—it was not.
Being an assassin left scars on the inside. Scars that shredded his soul.
After showering, he toweled off. His wound had clotted, he’d skip getting stitches, just let it heal. He wished he could let his mind heal, but he couldn’t stop running through different scenarios, over again and again.
Past situations, future complications.
Ever since graduating college, he’d been watching his six, his brothers’ six, and cousin’s too.
You got this. Shake it off.
He dried his shoulder-length hair, pulled it into a man-bun, and dressed in a crisp black dress shirt and black pants. Pulling on Santini Original garments reminded him that there was “normal” to help balance the mayhem. He attached his front-facing holster at his waist, slid his Glock inside.
He spent more time with his gun than he did with a woman.
I gotta change things up.
Sydney Austin flashed in his mind… for, like, the thousandth time.
She’s not interested. Let it go.
But he could not. Not until he saw her, one more time.
He left his condo, rode down with a few neighbors.
In the underground garage, he climbed into his ALPHA-assigned SUV, drove to the family restaurant.
Once inside, he turned off the alarm, flicked on the lights, and breathed deep.
This was more his home than his condo. This was the result of total focus and effort. And he’d loved every damn minute of it.
Still love it here.
He checked the liquor supply. All good. He did a spot check on the silverware. Clean and orderly. He entered the kitchen. Spotless. The refrigerator was organized, everything labeled and dated.
For the first time in a long while, joy filled him.
As he made his way through the main dining room toward his office, the ladies’ room door opened, and Tara—his newly-promoted floor manager—came flying out wearing nothing but an extra-long T-shirt. Her sleepy face startled.
“Aiiiiieeeee!” She ran into the Manager’s office and slammed the door.
Teddy stood there in disbelief for a few seconds before he followed after her.
Knock-knock.
“Tara, what’s going on?” he asked through the closed door.
Seconds later, she opened it, wearing a long sweater over the shirt and a pair of shorts. “Mr. Tank. I mean, Mrs. Santini. Ohgod. Mr. Santini. Hello. Welcome back. When did you get home? Now, right? Yeah, now. You just got back into town.” Her shoulders sagged. “I can explain.”
Teddy chuckled. “Good to see you, Tara. How ‘bout a cup of coffee?”
“Sure, right, I can get you one immediately.”
She whizzed past him. Before following, he stood in the office doorway. A blanket and pillow were on the black leather sofa, an old suitcase stood open in the corner.
What the hell…
He walked into the kitchen as she fumbled to make a pot of coffee. He took the pot from her trembling hands. “Relax, okay. I’d hug you, but you’re not dressed—”
She threw herself on him, hugged him hard. “Please don’t fire me.”
“Let’s make something to eat, then we’ll talk.”
After he started brewing a pot of coffee, they made eggs and toast. With plates and mugs in hand, they left the kitchen, pulled up bar stools, sat side by side. The food tasted great. He savored the eggs, appreciated the robust, black coffee. Being home meant everything to him.
“Are you homeless?” he asked.
“I… um… no. I needed a place to crash for a coupla nights.”
Teddy checked the time. “Let me send a text—”
“I don’t want to keep you.”
“I got this.”
Tara sleeping at restaurant. Need to talk to her. Be in soon
Seconds later, his phone rang. He answered, put the phone to his ear.
“Hey,” Teddy said.
“Do you need me to swing by?” Greystone asked.
“I got this.”
“Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ohgod, I’m gonna get shit-canned,” Tara bleated.
“I’ll be there in an hour.” Teddy ended the call, took another mouthful of coffee, and swiveled toward his employee.
Tara had been the hostess at the Santini restaurant for years. Back when their cousin, Willie Boy, had run the restaurant into the ground, she had shown up for work day in and day out doing her best to keep things running smoothly. She was a hard worker, but more than that, she was loyal.
That counted for a lot.
“What’s going on?” Teddy asked.
“Money’s tight, so I took on a second job,” she said. “The promotion here helped… a lot… but I needed the extra cash now.” Her sheepish expression had him nodding. “Sorry.”
“Go on.”
“I met a guy here. I don’t date the customers, but he asked me out. We’ve gone out a few times and he told me I could make extra money talking to lonely guys.”
What the fuck.
“I connect with guys using my webcam,” Tara continued. “Mostly, we talk.”
She broke eye contact, ran her finger down the outside of the water glass and swiped away the condensation.
I’m not buying that.
She glanced over at him. “Sometimes I dance, or take special requests.” Her cheeks flamed red.
“I’m making good money, so I moved out of my efficiency.
My new apartment was supposed to be ready, but the landlord is painting and installing new carpet.
I just needed a place to crash for a few days.
” A prideful smile lit up her face. “It’s ready today and I’m moving in. ”
“So, you’re okay?”
She beamed at him. “Better than okay. Sorry about not letting you know, but you’ve been gone.”
“C’mon Tara, I’m a text away, or you could have told Greystone.”
“You’re right. I messed up. It won’t happen again.” After a pause, she said, “I’m not fired?”
“Hell, no.” He picked up his plate and mug.
Her grin lit up her face. “Thank you. I’ll clean up. Will I see you later?”
“I’ll swing by.”
“Are you headed out of town again?” she asked.
“No. I’m home.”
“Thanks for being so cool about everything. I’ll clear out this morning and be back before we open.”
“Congrats on your new home. If anything comes up, just talk to me, okay?”
She nodded.
He left, locking the front door behind him.
In his SUV, he slid on his shades, opened his sunroof, and let the brisk October air wash over him. As he headed west toward BLACK OPS’ Black Site, he couldn’t help but wonder what Tara was really doing for that bump in income.
Forty minutes later, he drove into the Black Site’s oversized hangar and made his way toward the entrance. Energy coursed through him. He could not wait to see the team, especially his brother, Greystone.
At just before ten in the morning, he stood in front of the scanner, the light flashed green, and he entered the secure building tucked into a wooded area of Great Falls, Virginia.
As he strode down the bland hallway, he paused in front of Dakota Luck’s office.
Dakota ran BLACK OPS, a top-secret arm of ALPHA.
Door open, but no Dakota, so he pushed on, stopping in front of the office Greystone shared with his fiancée Caroline. Neither were there.
Alone in the hallway, he called out, “Hey guys, anyone here?”
No response.
As Teddy headed toward the break room, Greystone came jogging around the corner. When he saw Teddy, a smile erupted on his face.
“Hey!” Greystone pulled him in for a hug and slapped him on the back. “Welcome home, fratello.”
Teddy grinned. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”
Caroline Austin appeared, her gaze jumping from Greystone to Teddy. She hurried over, hugged Teddy hard, then kissed his cheek. “Boy, have we missed you.”
Teddy adored his future sister-in-law. She was smart, fiercely loyal, and a perfect match for his beast of a brother.