Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
TONY
I raised my gun, aligning the sights with the head of the figure printed on the paper target one hundred yards in front of me.
Marco would probably bitch at me for not aiming at center mass, but I was in a head-shot mood.
I took a breath and relaxed my body, focusing all my attention on the target.
The sounds around me were already muffled by the earplugs I used to guard against the gunshots.
With my focus narrowed, I let out a breath and pulled the trigger.
A grin of satisfaction spread across my face: right between the eyes. Just let that motherfucker come anywhere near Greg. He’d be knocking on the gates of hell before he knew what happened.
Someone tapped my shoulder, and I glanced over to find Marco standing there with a disapproving scowl. “You’re supposed to aim for center mass,” came his muffled admonition.
I rolled my eyes. Pulling out one of my earplugs, I pointed at the target. “I did that already. Fourteen times.” I pushed the button to bring the target back.
When it finally stopped, I pulled it off its clip and handed it to my brother.
“There.” I picked up a clean target, attached it, and sent it back out a hundred yards.
I popped out my empty clip and snapped a new one into place: fifteen new bullets, ready to go.
Now I wanted to do only head shots just to piss him off.
He wasn’t going to tell me how to deal with Greg’s stalker. It was my job to protect him.
“Tony.”
That one word, so filled with concern, stopped my spiral.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Even though Marco was three years younger than me, he had seen things during his time as a Navy SEAL that I never had and hopefully never would.
That and losing his first fiancé to suicide gave him a perspective I would never have. My shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”
He took my gun from me and set it on the shelf beneath the target partition.
Then he pulled me into a fierce hug. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight, afraid I would fly apart.
“I’m so scared, Marco. What if I can’t protect him?
I just found him, and now someone is trying to take him away from me. ”
“We’re not going to let that happen,” my brother said quietly. “We’re going to find this guy and put him away.”
I stepped back from him. “How? He hasn’t done anything that could get him arrested, except for trying to break into Greg’s apartment. That’ll get him a slap on the wrist at best, if we can even prove it was him.”
“It sounds like you’re pretty sure it’s a man,” Marco said.
I nodded. “It’s more likely to be a man anyway, but I keep thinking about that guy in Central Park. You know he hit Greg with the frisbee on purpose. And he practically disappeared as soon as I showed up.”
He nodded in agreement. “Michael will keep working on it until he finds something. He’s like a dog with a bone.”
“Who’s like a dog with a bone?” Michael asked from the doorway.
“You,” Marco said. “I told Tony you’re going to find Greg’s stalker.”
“Of course I am,” he replied. “Do you doubt my skills?”
I shook my head. “No, little brother. It’s just that we have so little to go on. My intuition doesn’t count for jack as far as evidence goes.”
“Not to worry. I’ve worked with less information and still found what we were looking for.”
“Cocky little shit,” Marco muttered.
“Uh-huh,” Michael shot back. “I found your man all the way over in Syria.”
A tender smile curved Marco’s lips. “Yeah, you did. You did good.”
Andrea, our resident sniper, poked her head around the corner. “We’re just about out of time, Sarge.”
Marco checked his smartwatch. “Damn. Time flies. All right, get everyone packed up.”
“You got it.” She gave him a goofy salute and left to tell the rest of the team to wrap up.
I checked to make sure my gun’s safety was on and tucked it into my shoulder holster.
I then took my suit jacket off the hook on the wall and slipped it on.
My stomach rumbled, and I looked at the time.
Well past lunchtime. “Let’s stop somewhere and get lunch with the team.
Poor Pedro will be getting a baptism by fire. ”
Marco shrugged. “He was an Army flight medic. I doubt he scares easily.”
“True.”
I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket and saw I had a message from Greg.
Is it okay if we leave a day earlier for my sister’s graduation? My brother might be coming, and it would be nice to spend some time with both of them.
Sorry it took me so long to reply. We went to the gun range after the interview. Leaving a day early is fine with me. Have you booked a hotel yet?
I have not. I’ll do that today. What time should I get to your place tonight?
Does six work for you?
Sounds good to me. I’ll see you then.
Can’t wait.
I smirked at my brothers. “I’m going to go home straight from the restaurant. I have a hot date with a cute blond, and I want to clean my apartment. I think I’ll make him dinner.”
“Lucky guy,” Marco said. “It’s been a while since I’ve had your bolognese sauce.”
I shook my head. “I won’t have time to make that today. That takes hours. I’ll make it another time, and you and Liam can come over.”
He smiled. “I’d like that. I’m sure Liam would too.”
“Time to go, Sarge,” Andrea called from the back of the room.
Liam came over and took Marco’s arm. “I packed up your equipment.”
Marco kissed his fiancé. “Thanks, baby.”
As we were leaving the building, Marco said, “Maybe you should ask Greg to stay at your place for the weekend. That way, you’ll feel better about his safety.”
“Good idea,” I replied, already pulling out my phone. “I want him to move in with me, but I don’t think he’s ready for that.” I unlocked my phone and opened the messaging app.
How do you feel about spending the weekend at my place?
There was a long pause during which the little text bubbles bounced and stopped several times. Finally, his answer appeared.
I’m guessing you’d feel better having me at your place.
While that’s true, it’s still your choice. I’m not going to force you to do something you don’t want to do.
I know that. You’ve always been respectful of my boundaries. Given the events of last night, I’m inclined to take you up on your offer.
A wave of relief swept over me. I glanced over at Marco. “He said yes.”
That’s great. I’m making dinner. I thought we’d have a nice, quiet evening at home.
That sounds wonderful. I’ll see you at six.
Liam looked at my phone. “You two are so stinking cute.”
Marco snickered, and I scoffed. “I’m almost forty. I am not cute.”
Michael came up on my other side. “Face it, bro. You’re adorable.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up.”
Lunch was raucous and fun. Fortunately, the place we chose didn’t seem to mind a bunch of rowdy former military members. Marco, as always, made sure nothing got too out of hand.
As we were wrapping up and waiting for the check, Hunter came over to my end of the table. “Hey, boss, you got a minute?”
“Sure.” I glanced at Marco, who’d been sitting next to me. I handed him the company credit card so he could take care of the check when it came. He got up and moved a few seats down. “Have a seat,” I said to Hunter.
“So,” he began, “I was talking to Andrea, and she said she has a friend who might be interested in the sniper position on my team. She separated from the Army about a year ago and hasn’t really found a job that fits her.”
I smiled. “If Andrea’s recommending her, she must be good. Have her send you her résumé. We’ll go from there.”
He grinned. “Thanks, boss.” He pursed his lips. “Just one other thing. If you need my help with this stalker situation, let me know. We were lucky to get rid of Charlie’s stalker so easily. I know it’s not always like that.”
Hunter’s boyfriend, Charlie, had an ex-boyfriend who stalked him and followed him to New York from Chicago. As usual, Michael’s superior computer skills got us the information we needed to make the guy run away with his tail between his legs.
I knew Hunter had a protective streak a mile wide. But then again, didn’t we all? “Thanks. I appreciate it. I’ll definitely let you know if I need your help.”
Once the check was paid, I headed back to my apartment, stopping by the local market to get the ingredients for alfredo sauce.
Some other day, I’d have time to make the bolognese.
I cleaned my apartment and was getting the sauce started when the intercom buzzed.
I hurried to answer it. “Mr. D’Angelo, Greg Hayden is here to see you. ”
I hit the button to reply. “Send him up.”
I waited at the door for Greg, more eager to see him than anyone else I’d ever dated.
My heart did a happy dance when I opened the door and saw him carrying an overnight bag and his laptop case.
I kissed him deeply and drew him into my apartment.
“You can put your bags in my room. I’m just getting dinner started. ”
“Okay,” he replied. “I’ll put these away and come help.”
I was surprised at how well we worked together in the kitchen. But then again, Greg had been taking care of himself for a long time. He looked at the ingredients I had out and said, “I’ve never made alfredo sauce. Will you show me how? Then I can make it for you someday.”
I smiled and kissed his cheek, turning away so he wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes. How silly was it that something that simple could make a man my age cry?
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I replied hoarsely, turning back to face him. “It’s just that no one’s ever wanted to take care of me. They always expected me to take care of them.”
Greg put his arms around me and kissed me. “We take care of each other, okay?”
I held him close as warmth suffused my body. I was falling in love with this man. “Okay.”