Chapter 5
Chapter five
Gage
Handing off Aurelia went smoothly. Even if she threatened to send The Tigress after me, should anything happen to her maid. Nothing will.
The mafia princess is on her way to California, about as far from the East Coast as you can get.
She should be safe there, according to Katarina, but there’s always a plan B ready in case she needs it.
Her route to freedom is clear and well thought out, changing cars, identities, and anything else along the way.
Aurelia will bounce between HPG personnel and trusted routes. I have no doubt she’ll be just fine.
Don Farrelli is gonna be busy with the “cartel” for a few days, anyway. By the time he realizes they’re both gone, it’ll be too late. He’ll be annoyed at losing the money he was selling Aurelia for, but ultimately, he’s always considered her expendable. Asshole.
One day, perhaps someone will fill me in on what changed his attitude toward the girl.
Although there were rumors of his wife’s infidelities that ultimately led to her demise and the scorched earth between the Farrelli and Rossi famiglias, that theory doesn’t hold for Aurelia.
She’s a twin, and her brother is still very much the apple of their father’s eye.
The beauty passed out in the seat behind me lets out a low moan as we go over a particularly rough bump. Keeping one eye on the road ahead of me, I use my peripheral vision to flick between the rearview mirror so I can watch her sleep.
Don’t be a creep.
I can’t help it. There’s just something about Olive that’s drawing me to her like a moth to a flame. Undeniable.
A gentle buzzing starts in my ear, and I tap the earbud to answer the call.
“It’s Gage. Go ahead,” I say, knowing before hearing the voice that Vance is on the line.
“The package is safely through the first three checkpoints. All signs are go.” I’m glad to hear that, because truly, if something happens to Aurelia en route, I’m a dead man. No one can hide from The Tigress.
“Sounds good, boss.” We usually keep our conversations brief, especially during an op, so I know he’s waiting for my sign-off to hang up. But when I glance back at the woman behind me, I have one more question. “How long should the cocktail work?” I ask, hoping he’ll understand the code.
There’s static on his end of the line as Vance processes my concern.
Although I put in a call already to extract her mother, who is now safe at an unknown location, I didn’t quite update my boss on the fact I had taken the sweet little maid.
Especially not about her being sedated in the back of my car.
“It should last four to five hours, depending on the size of the package. Do you have something you need to tell me?” Vance sighs loudly, realizing that the op didn’t exactly go to plan. Sure, I went a bit off-script, but things come up during extractions.
Gotta think on your feet... or with your dick.
Olive lets out a breathy moan, her lips parting ever so delicately, and my cock pulses under my too-tight suit pants. God, I freaking hate monkey suits.
Realizing Vance is still on the line, I consider what he needs to know. Certainly not that I took my own prisoner, whom I’m not planning to release. “There was an innocent caught in the crossfire who was in grave danger, so I brought her with me.” Totally the truth.
“And why the sedation?”
Okay, I guess we’re leaving all our codes behind; it’s a good thing this line is secure.
“She was unnerved by the situation. There wasn’t enough time to calm her.” There. That’s pretty close. He doesn’t need to know my instincts are all fucked up when it comes to Olive. I nod, patting myself on the back for skirting around the issue so well.
“Will she need to be rehomed when she awakens?” Fuck, no. The only home for Olive is going to be mine.
“Negative.” I can’t even explain my rationale. I’ve never been so possessive over a woman before. “She’ll be fine at the fortress until her safety is assured.”
Vance lets out a chuckle, then hums “Another one bites the dust.” Yeah, there’s been a rash of HPG agents finding their soulmates lately, can’t say I’m sad to be next.
Now I need to make sure she feels the same way. I may be an outlaw, but I draw the line at keeping someone captive against their will. Olive shifts, her eyelids fluttering. It’s about time to get off the damn phone. Fortunately, my safe, hidden cabin is just ahead.
“I’ll keep you posted if I need anything. Halo Up, fucker.”
Vance grunts in acknowledgment, and then the line goes dead.
“W-where am I?” Olive’s sweet voice rasps behind me.
Home, sweet home.