Chapter 13
“Did you find out what her deal is?” Slate asked Monday morning, when they’d all gathered around their usual conference table in the building where they worked on the Naval base.
Mustang had dropped Elodie at the dock and had re-met Kai, the young guy she worked with, and was also introduced to Perry, one of the owners of the boat.
It had been weird to hear them calling her Melody, but he did his best to go with it.
She’d never be Melody to him, now that he knew her real name. She’d always be his El.
After seeing her off, he’d gone to the base and had a long talk with his commander.
He hadn’t wanted to tell the older man everything, knowing he’d be told to let the police handle it, so he was vague about Elodie’s issues, hinting that she had an ex who wasn’t happy she was dating again, and was given permission to take his lunches a bit later in the afternoon so he could pick her up after she was done working for the day.
Now he was sitting with his team, ready to tell them Elodie’s story. Mustang wasn’t surprised Slate had been the first to bring it up. He would’ve laughed at the predictability of his team, but he didn’t have it in him at the moment.
He’d been thinking about Elodie’s situation, and the more he ruminated over what she’d said, the more it rankled. She’d done nothing wrong, just had the misfortune to accept a job with an unscrupulous man. She’d left at the first hint of trouble, and yet she wasn’t out of the woods.
Did anyone escape the mob’s wrath? Mustang knew next to nothing about the criminal underworld, but he had connections who would know plenty. Who’d be able to find out everything there was to know about this Paul Columbus guy—including his weaknesses.
Mustang was a SEAL. The trident he’d earned was a symbol of honor and heritage.
He’d sworn to defend those who couldn’t defend themselves, and his loyalty to his country and team would always be beyond reproach.
He couldn’t exactly go around killing people who did things he didn’t approve of.
He’d never stoop to that level. But if protecting and defending Elodie and his team meant someone died, so be it.
He had a feeling Paul Columbus would never get his own hands dirty.
He’d send someone else to do his dirty work for him.
So even if he dispatched someone who came after Elodie, there would always be someone else waiting in the wings to try to accomplish what the one before him had failed to do.
Cutting off the head of the snake was the only true way to kill the enemy.
That’s how it was in war, and how it would be with the Columbus family.
Mustang had thought about the situation almost nonstop since Elodie had told him what happened.
He’d smiled and laughed and enjoyed spending time with her at the pineapple plantation, but his mind never stopped mulling over her problem.
Talking with his team would help make things clearer in his mind, Mustang knew that.
But he also was aware that he’d be opening them up to whatever danger might lurk in the darkness, gunning for his woman.
And yes, Elodie was his. He wasn’t going to fight it.
“Mustang?” Slate asked, interrupting his musings. “Are you gonna tell us or what?”
“Keep your pants on, Slate,” Midas complained. “Give him a second to think.”
Mustang smiled. He loved these guys. They were as close to brothers as he was going to get.
He’d actually thought about keeping Elodie’s story to himself, if only to protect these men.
But if they knew he’d done that, they’d kick his ass for sure.
They could take care of themselves without him playing protector.
Besides, he needed their input. They always brainstormed before a mission and played devil’s advocate with each other.
They looked at all sides of an issue before deciding on a plan, and that’s what he needed right now.
So he took a deep breath—and disclosed everything Elodie had told him the day before.
About the Columbus family, about the poison, how Paul Columbus had threatened to kill her, how she’d been followed and about the restaurant in Pittsburgh being threatened, how her friend had been killed in a drive-by shooting, and finally, how she’d ended up on the Asaka Express.
He didn’t leave anything out, and when he was done, the five men around him were silent for a long moment.
“The mob?” Pid finally said, breaking the silence. “The motherfucking mob? Damn, Mustang.”
“She’s alive…that must mean she’s doing something right,” Slate deadpanned.
Mustang wanted to be pissed at his friend for being so blunt, but he was also correct. “That’s kinda what I thought. It’s been months since she left New York, and other than the people following her in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, she hasn’t seen anything out of the ordinary.”
“You think the guy’s given up?” Aleck asked.
Mustang sighed. “I’d like to, but no. And while she might not have any proof, the cops in New York would probably jump at the chance to have her testify against the man, if only to bolster some other shit they have on him.”
“Yeah, the cops could use this as an excuse to look into him and his organization for other shit,” Midas said.
“But without evidence, there’s nothing they can really do about Elodie’s situation.
It would be her word against his. And I’m sure Columbus would buy off his other employees to disparage Elodie, maybe say she’s trying to blackmail him or something. ”
Mustang nodded. “And honestly? It seems as if this Paul guy might be a little insane. I mean, seriously…he wants to kill her because she told him no?”
“He could very well be mentally unstable,” Pid agreed. “Could’ve taken her refusal personally. What do you want me to look up?” he asked.
Mustang knew he was talking about electronic searches. Pid might not be as good as the legendary Tex, but he was irreplaceable on their team. “I don’t want to do anything that will ping on some mobster’s radar,” Mustang said.
Pid rolled his eyes. “As if I’d be that stupid.”
“Right. Then I’m thinking we need intel on the Columbus family as a whole. Elodie said Paul’s in charge, but who are his underbosses and does he have a consigliere?”
“What the hell’s a consigliere?” Jag asked.
“Basically an advisor. Usually a trusted friend and confidant. He’s the number three man in the hierarchy after the boss and underboss,” Midas said.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
“What? I watch a lot of movies,” Midas said in his defense.
“See if you can figure out who the capos are, the guys in charge of the soldiers. We need to know the family’s usual MO.
Are they into shit like sex trafficking and murder, or things like money laundering and blackmail?
Basically, anything that will tell us what we can expect when it comes to them trying to find Elodie,” Mustang said.
Slate leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table and pinned Mustang with a hard look.
“What is it about this chick that has you so…invested? You spent a few hours with her two months ago, pined for her ever since, and it seems pretty obvious by the shit-eating grin on your face and your desperation to slay all her dragons that you slept with her this weekend. Does she have a magic pussy or something?”
Mustang clenched his teeth and wanted to punch his friend, but he didn’t blame him—or any of the guys—for being skeptical. He opened his mouth to try to explain, but Midas jumped to Elodie’s defense.
“That was unnecessarily crude, and you know it, Slate. But as someone who was there when we met Elodie, I’ll tell you this…she’s special. And I saw for myself the connection she and Mustang had.”
“So since she saved your life, you decided she’s ‘the one’?” Slate asked. “I’m honestly not trying to be a dick here, I’m genuinely curious. She seemed nice enough when we met her, but we don’t know her well enough to have much more of an opinion.”
“No, that’s not why. Although I can’t deny I’m pretty damn grateful.
She makes me feel…calm. Content. But excited at the same time.
She has a positive attitude when life hasn’t given her any reason for one.
She’s brave. And hard working. And she’s blunt, like you, which I appreciate.
She says what she’s thinking and doesn’t play games.
She’s got a big heart and worries about other people probably more than she should, and she’s funny… ”
Mustang trailed off when he saw all five of his friends smirking. “What?”
“We get it, she’s the most amazing woman on the planet,” Aleck said.
“So…she’s it for you? After such a short time, you’re sure?” Jag asked.
“I can’t see into the future, but I sure as hell hope so,” Mustang said without hesitation.
“Here’s the thing, I’m thirty-six. I’ve dated my share of women.
And in my entire life, I’ve never felt the pull toward someone that I do with Elodie.
I’m not saying we’re running off to Vegas tomorrow, but yeah, I’m pretty sure she’s it for me.
It’s a feeling deep down inside me that I can’t explain. A…rightness that has no words.”
The room was silent for a moment, as if everyone was digesting his words.
“I want you guys to get to know her. To decide for yourself. I want you to like her, of course, but I want you to like her for who she is, not because she’s with me…if that makes sense,” Mustang said quietly.
“You know it’ll be hard for us to think anyone is good enough for you,” Jag said seriously.
“We’d follow you into the depths of hell if you asked. Hell, even if you didn’t ask,” Pid added. “And any woman who’s gonna be with you has to be pretty damn impressive.”
“All I ask is that you give her a chance. Don’t be a dick to her, she’s been under a lot of stress,” Mustang said, his voice a little harder.