Chapter 11
Baby News
Wire
The day is busy with so much to do. I checked in with Remmi and Vic a couple of times, but mainly I checked out Maria’s story.
Vito did a good job of keeping his lover out of the picture except for one photo.
It showed a young woman with Vito. The photo was blurry, but the caption read, Vito Di Mille with a mystery woman.
I called the photographer who took the photo, only to find out he was murdered shortly after the photo was taken.
It seems that Vito doesn’t like having his picture taken without permission.
I hacked into the hospitals in England and found out where Franco was born. I traced day care centers across the country and found out Maria was honest about her timeline. When she first suspected that they were being watched, they started moving around.
Using satellite imagery, I’ve been able to pinpoint their location now.
It’s a motel. It looks clean, but it’s definitely not a place you’d want to stay in for long.
It’s also close to all access roads. That’s both an advantage and a problem.
It’ll make it easier to get to and make a quick escape, but if the enemy finds her before we get to her, they can have her gone in minutes.
Computer skills are my niche, and I’ve hacked into plenty of high-security companies and government sites.
When it comes to making sure my teammates are kept safe, I have no qualms about doing it.
Pissing off the mob has never been on my radar, but Falcon needs to know what we’re getting into.
If that means hacking into Vito’s email, then so be it.
Vito’s as dirty as they come. He doesn’t even do much to cover the payoffs to government officials and police.
Then again, with all the high-powered people in his country under his thumb, there’s no real threat of going to prison.
His businesses are spread across Asia and Europe.
The man is bad news, but the media make him look like a devoted husband and father and a financial mogul.
With all the shit I find, Vito should be rotting in a jail cell, but there’s not one connection to Maria or Franco.
I’m convinced that Vito isn’t even aware he has another child.
“Hey, do you have a second?”
I look up to find Kailyn standing in my office. “For you, always,” I reply, pushing back my chair, giving her my full attention. “What’s up?”
“Actually, it’s more of an invitation. Before you guys head off again, I wanted to have everyone over tonight,” Kailyn says. Something’s up. Her expression is strange.
“Is everything all right?” I ask. She’s family, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.
She laughs and answers, “Everything’s great! I just want our friends around us tonight. Can I count you in?”
“Have I ever let you down?”
“Nope. Never.”
“What can we bring?”
“Just yourselves. Does seven-ish work?”
“We’ll be there.”
Kailyn does a little wave as she leaves.
It’s not uncommon for her to have us all over, but something feels odd.
If there’s anything to discover, we’ll find out tonight.
Kailyn and the team go way back, and she knows we’ll do anything for her.
She was married to one of our best friends.
We all served together, and when he didn’t make it home, it devastated all of us, but most of all Kailyn.
They were high school sweethearts, planning a life together.
There was a lot of mixed emotion among the team when she and Phoenix got together. In the end, Phoenix is a brother, and we want him to be happy, and although Cory was the original man in her life, he’s not here anymore, and no one will take care of her better than Phoenix.
I check my phone to see if all is going well with Remmi. I see another text, this time a picture of Maya packing a box with the caption, Last one of the day.
I reply with a quick note that I’ll be leaving soon and that our plans for the evening have changed, and we’re going to meet up with Phoenix and Kailyn at their place. She sends a thumbs-up emoji. I no sooner send the text than Bull pops his head in.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Let me just back this up and take it with me. I’ll log in when I get home tonight and finish off what I started. I want to be ready to brief Falcon in the morning.”
“Find anything interesting yet?”
“There’s no mention of Maria or Franco in any internet correspondence with Vito. It’s like she was never part of his life,” I huff.
“Encrypted messages, maybe?” Bull asks.
I’ve already thought of that and am running a program tonight to scan for patterns and keywords that might connect the two. “That’s the plan for tonight.”
“I don’t think she’s lying. She’s in trouble,” Bull replies in a low tone. “She looks scared.”
“I agree, but Falcon is looking out for us. Being unprepared could get us killed,” I remind him.
“True,” he agrees.
I grab my backpack and walk out with Bull.
Falcon is still in his office. He’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
We joke that it’s because he lives on-site in an apartment he built, so he has no commute time, but we all know he takes his role as the leader of this team seriously.
He checks and double-checks everything. Every plan is scrutinized with a Plan B in place in case shit goes south.
Falcon said from the start that Bull, Rebel, Phoenix, Archer, and I are his priority.
This is because he doesn’t intend to lose another brother.
That was his vow from the start. Cory’s death affected us all, and Falcon held us all together and never let his own emotions show.
“Better not be late for Kailyn,” I tell Falcon as we walk past.
“I wouldn’t dare. The wrath of Kailyn is enough to bring a man to his knees,” Falcon kids, making us all chuckle.
“I’ll tell her you said that,” Bull banters back.
“You do, and you’ll be playing babysitter on the next mission,” Falcon warns. There’s nothing Bull hates more than being a bodyguard. Bull wants to be in the action. He’ll do whatever the team needs, but he grumbles like an old man from beginning to end until it’s over.
“Hell, no!” Bull says emphatically.
“See ya there.” I give Falcon a two-finger salute and head out with Bull by my side.
Remmi
Wire and Bull arrive to pick us up. They help Vic load his truck with boxes that need to be shipped out. Vic’s so sweet that he volunteered to drop off the boxes at UPS to make sure they arrive on schedule. He was a great help throughout the day, helping where he could, but always on guard.
My plan to go to the grocery store and stock up on ingredients for my best dish—veal scallopini with Parisian potatoes and asparagus—is put on hold when Wire texts to say we’re invited to Kailyn and Phoenix’s place.
“What’s the occasion?” I ask. Mom always says to never show up empty-handed, and it’s advice I’ve always followed.
Mina thinks it’s ridiculous that I still bring a little something with me when I drop in to see her.
It’s nothing fancy, but who doesn’t like flowers or dessert?
Since I’m not sure what Kailyn likes, I think flowers will do.
“Not sure. She didn’t say much, just that she wanted us all together,” Wire responds.
We have time to go home, shower the grime of the day away, and head back out.
Wire stops off at the floral shop, refusing to let me go in alone.
He’s a big guy and takes up most of the room in the small space.
I think he nearly scares the owner, Leah, a sweet older woman with gray hair that looks fabulous on her and bright blue eyes that are wide as can be when she sees Wire come in.
“Hi, Leah!” I say, drawing her attention to me. She looked shocked when I called her by name. I point to her name tag. “We’d like some flowers for a friend of ours. Something bright and cheerful.”
“We have so much to choose from. Fresh cut or an arrangement?” Leah asks, waving toward the cooler full of beautiful flowers in all shapes and colors. “I just finished making this one.” She points to an arrangement with beautiful greenery mixed with peonies, sunflowers, and lavender.
“It’s gorgeous,” I exclaim.
“And it smells heavenly, if you like lavender, that is,” Leah returns with a grin. “I can make one for you as well. It doesn’t take long, and you can choose whatever you like.”
“That one’s good, babe,” Wire says. “She likes lavender. She’s always burning lavender-scented candles. Phoenix buys them for her all the time.” He glances at his watch.
“You’re just trying to hurry me along,” I accuse, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Yup!” He doesn’t deny it. “If Kailyn said seven, she means seven. The only one who gets to be late is Gertie, and that’s because she moves more slowly and because one of us goes to get her and walks her over.
Also, Kailyn will put out a spread. She doesn’t skimp, but my brothers have an appetite, and if we’re late, all my favorites will be gone.
Especially Rebel. He eats enough for three men, and he never saves any of the sausage rolls. ”
I burst out laughing, not only because of the ridiculousness of worrying over sausage rolls, but because his expression is so serious.
“Don’t laugh, lovie.” Leah comes to his aid, “A man needs his nourishment.” She looks at Wire. “I’ll just box this one up quickly.” Leah picks up the vase and gets it ready for us. Wire insists on paying after a very stern glare in my direction.
“But—”
“When you’re with me, I pay,” is all he says, then proceeds to carry the flowers as he leads me back to the truck. He helps me in, then sets it on my lap.
“I have money. I do pretty well for myself,” I tell him once we’re back on the road. I don’t even mention that I’m the only child of wealthy parents. I could easily live off the money that’s in my trust fund today for the rest of my life.
“That’s good, babe. I’m happy you’re doing well, but this is the kind of man I am,” he answers.