Chapter Twenty
(Cesare)
Afternoon eventually turned into evening. The sun had just set and Cesare reviewed case files as Sabrina dozed behind him, naked in bed as she should be. He wondered how long it had been since she’d had a day to simply rest.
It moved him in a way that was possessive and primal to see her in bed like this, splayed out naked in the sheets for his viewing pleasure as the evidence of his own arousal dried out in a shiny layer over her peachy soft skin.
She trusted him enough to sleep, trusted him to keep her safe, and to keep everything else away.
His tesoro was going to smell like him when she woke up. She was also going to be sore, so he needed to give her inexperienced pussy a break. This would have been much easier if she weren’t so wet and responsive.
He’d kept his dick out of her, but he had used her enough that she was going to need a break. He opened a calendar, inspected dates, and checked his schedule.
When he claimed Sabrina’s virginity, it would be in a proper bed with wine and real food, and time away from anything or anyone that would interrupt.
He again fought the impulse to just throw her on a helicopter, drag her in front of a priest, and be done with it.
Cesare returned back to the case file in his hands, only to be interrupted again by a message from Dante.
Dante: ETA 5 Minutes
Cesare: Dockside
Cesare sat up, careful not to disrupt his tesoro as he quietly left the office. She was already busy enough and would need her rest for the things he had in mind.
He walked through the Rescue’s main holding room, giving the feathered guests a suspicious glare for their sudden return to polite manners the moment Sabrina had returned that afternoon.
Cesare stepped out onto the back dock, mindful of a few holes in the aging planking, and took a moment to gaze out across the harbor as he waited for Dante to arrive.
The stars in the night sky reflected off the water, making both the sky above and ocean below look like an endless blanket of constellations.
Lights from Dante’s truck reflected off the side of the building as the younger Lombardi arrived, and a small wild rabbit went running from a thicket of nearby bushes into a small circle of trees to the left of the dock.
Dante walked down the drive, slowly approaching the dock. Cesare turned, giving him a wordless nod as he approached.
“What did you find out?” Cesare asked.
Dante came to a stop beside his brother, leaning against the handrail of the dock, appreciating the same view.
“I have more information about Tom Crawford’s supervisor when the baby went missing.
We know who she is now, but I can’t touch her.
Not as a personal investigator. You may be able to pursue legal avenues once you get all your ducks in a row, though.
Once that’s in play I could pull strings at the Bureau. ”
“Who is it?” Cesare asked, his brows furrowing.
Dante held up a photo on his phone, and Cesare let out a low whistle. “Huh.”
“Yep.” Dante nodded.
“That’s quite a promotion.” Cesare remarked wryly, gears turning in his mind as he turned back to look at the harbor.
“Yup.” Dante nodded. He pocketed the phone as a sly grin played across his mouth. “I met your girl today.”
Cesare grunted. “Thank you for dropping her off.”
“She seems nice. Good head on her shoulders if she’s running this.” Dante gestured to the building.
Cesare swallowed thickly, nodding. “Ma would have liked her.”
Dante eyed Cesare for a moment before nodding.
“Her friend doesn’t seem too bad either.”
Cesare scowled. “Don’t go there.”
“What?” Dante asked.
“You think two weeks is a long relationship. You are not fucking her best friend. We do not shit where we eat.”
Dante was quiet for a moment. “I can do longer than two weeks.” He grumbled.
“I’ll believe it when I see it, and Marie is not going to be the guinea pig.”
Dante frowned. “You’re a real fucker, you know that?”
Cesare shook his head. “I mean it. I’m playing for keeps with Sabrina. Don’t fuck it up.”
“I am not going to fuck this up.” Dante rumbled with a scowl.
Cesare eyed him for a moment before cursing. “You already did. Fucking dammit, Dante, can’t you keep your…”
“I don’t ask you where you put your dick, so keep your fucking…”
“Who the hell are you, and what are you doing on my dock?” A man with a booming smoker’s voice interrupted their argument. A blindingly bright military flashlight was suddenly shining in their eyes, and Cesare threw his hand up, momentarily startled.
Never in his adult life had anyone ever snuck up on Cesare. Who the hell was this? Cesare gave a warning look to Dante, who seemed to be experiencing the same level of incredulity. Nobody snuck up on a Lombardi, much less two of them.
“This is private property and you two drunk idiots are going to wake up the animals. Now get the hell out of here before we see how far I can shove this mag light up your fucking asses.” The man threatened.
Cesare opened his mouth to speak and swore he could taste the smell of fish coming off the man in front of them.
“Walter!” Sabrina exclaimed, flying out of the back door to the rescue and throwing her arms around... fisherman Santa?
Cesare fought the urge to pull the fish man off his tesoro and throw the offender into the harbor.
“Walter, this is Cesare and Dante. Cesare, Dante, this is my Uncle Walter. He’s been with the rescue since before I was born.”
Cesare stuck out a hand. “Forgive the arguing. This is my brother. We’re from Philly.”
Walter narrowed his eyes, grumbling as he moved forward, and put more pressure on Cesare’s grip than anyone had dared since high school. Cesare squeezed back as good as he got, and when Walter released his hand, Cesare could only hope the old man’s fingers were as numb as his own.
“You boys can go home now.” Walter nodded.
Sabrina bit her lip, looking at Walter sheepishly. “Cesare is actually going to stay the night to help with the feedings. He helped me pick up the seal pup last night.”
Walter looked from Sabrina’s blushing face and back to Cesare.
Walter looked at Cesare as if he was something the cat dragged in from a gutter and grunted. He was quiet another moment, looking from Sabrina to Cesare and over to Dante.
“Okay, you three. We’re all going to go inside, and I’m going to make a nice pot of coffee, and you’re going to explain everything.”
And that was how Cesare found himself sitting around a 70s era laminate table, being cross-examined by a man that looked like Kris Kringle and smelled like tobacco smoke and lobster.
◆◆◆
The coffee was hot and strong as Sabrina filled Walter in on Freckles’ rescue and the subsequent feeding shifts.
“Who helped on the first night?” Walter asked. “That’s every two hours.”
“Nobody.” Cesare scowled. “Which is why I’m here tonight.”
Walter gave him an unreadable look before turning to Sabrina. “We talked about this. If I’m out on the boat, you call the Science Center. You’re going to work yourself into an early grave if you keep this up.”
Sabrina gave Walter an almost wounded look as she sipped her coffee in response.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Walter shook his head, his gruff tone softening slightly.
“Cesare is helping tonight.” Sabrina answered defensively.
Walter looked between Sabrina and Cesare with a knowing expression, and Cesare watched as Sabrina blushed once more like a schoolgirl.
Walter grunted, turning to fix his gaze on Cesare.
“I held this one in the hospital when she was born.” He gruffed, gesturing toward Sabrina.
“Me and half the police force in town. You may have good intentions, or you may not. I don’t know.
But I don’t feel like twiddling my thumbs and waiting to find out. ”
“Walter!” Sabrina scowled. “I am a grown adult!”
“Yes, and he’s a grown man.” Walter nodded.
Cesare listened, forcing himself to stay relaxed in his chair, doing his best to be still. When Walter looked expectantly at Cesare, the Italian waited a moment, keenly aware of Dante’s amusement palpably emanating through the air.
“You’re right to be protective.” Cesare nodded. “Sabrina is worth protecting.”
Everyone at the table was silent.
“My family is traditional. Had I known there was someone I should talk to before inviting Sabrina out, I would have.” Cesare inclined his head towards Walter. “I apologize for the oversight and meant no disrespect. I would like to take her out again tomorrow evening. Is that okay with you, Walter?”
“She’s a grown woman; that’s up to her.” He answered gruffly.
“She says yes.” Sabrina interjected pointedly from the other side of Walter.
Cesare gave her an affectionate grin.
“You said you’re here for work. How long?” Walter asked.
“I’m not sure. However long it takes. I would expect a couple of weeks.”
Dante bit back a grin, and Cesare kicked him under the table.
“You were going to help Sabrina tonight?” Walter asked after a moment’s consideration.
“Yes.” Cesare answered simply.
“Good.” Walter nodded, looking at Sabrina. “You’re going to go home and sleep. In your own house. Cesare and I are going to take turns feeding our little pup tonight.”
Walter leaned forward, pouring coffee into Cesare’s mug with a smug expression. “We’ll have lots of time to get to know each other.” He answered grimly.
Dante leaned back in his chair, watching the exchange play out with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Well, I think that’s my cue to go.” He muttered, standing up from the table.
“Not so fast.” Walter grunted, turning to face Dante. “Are you the bub that’s been poking around Tom Crawford?”
Cesare went still. Dante straightened.
Sabrina frowned. “What do you want with Tommy? He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Walter continued to stare at Dante and Cesare, who both remained silent.
“Aye.” Walter nodded, answering Sabrina even as his eyes remained trained on Dante. “You can stay too, boy.”
“Walter.” Sabrina frowned.
“Go home, Sabrina.” Walter replied with a shake of his head. “You ran point last night. Let the boys take care of it tonight.” He spoke in a gentler tone.
Sabrina pursed her lips.
Cesare squeezed her hand. “You should go home. Sleep.” He agreed, running his eyes over her, giving her a soft smile. “We can see each other after your shift.”
Dante leaned back in his chair with a sardonic grin. “I can give you a ride home.”
Cesare stood immediately from the table, a scowl across his face as he held his hand out. “Keys.”
“You don’t want your professional chauffeur?” Dante needled as he dug into his pockets.
“I gave him the night off.” Cesare grumbled.
Walter looked over to Sabrina. “This guy doesn’t have his own car?”
Dante chuckled. “I don’t know, does the car belong to you or Monty?” Dante asked Cesare.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Cesare shrugged, refusing to be baited. “Now give me the keys.”
“Do you even remember how to drive?” Dante grinned.
“Dammelo the keys, numnuts.” Cesare scowled.
“You owe me one.” Dante grinned as he tossed Cesare a truck key.
Cesare caught the key and looked at Sabrina expectantly across the table.
Sabrina sighed before standing up with a muttered, “Fine.”
“Freckles will need feeding in an hour. I’ll be back before then.” Cesare said, nodding to Walter, who nodded back, continuing to silently scrutinize Cesare’s interactions.
Cesare couldn’t blame him. He’d do the same or worse if he were in the fisherman’s shoes.
Cesare had already done worse over cousins back home.
He looked back at Sabrina and had the sudden image of a little girl with Sabrina’s wild copper hair and Cesare’s bright blue eyes. Maybe she would have freckles too.
Worse.
If he were in Walter’s shoes, he’d do much, much worse.
Cesare and Sabrina both retreated to the office, and all of a sudden he couldn’t help feeling like he was sneaking into a high school girlfriend’s bedroom.
Sabrina bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Walter is just…”
Cesare cut her off by pulling her to him and pressing his lips against hers.
Sabrina returned the kiss, blinking when Cesare reluctantly pulled away. “Don’t apologize, tesoro. He is your uncle, yes?”
Sabrina nodded ruefully. “For all intents and purposes.”
Cesare nodded. “Then I expect nothing less. If the roles were reversed, I would be waiting for an excuse to break kneecaps.” He shrugged casually.
Sabrina narrowed her gaze. “What is it your family does for work, again?”
Cesare grinned. “We keep our women happy. It’s a full-time job. Now let’s get your things so I can take you home.”
They packed their respective belongings. When Sabrina picked up her brown leather overnight bag and made for the door, Cesare frowned and wordlessly held his hand out to her.
Sabrina looked from his brooding Italian features, to his outstretched hand, to her duffle bag, then back to his hand.
Biting her lip, she met his gaze and slowly handed him the duffle, watching the muscles of his hand and forearm flex as he easily slung it over his shoulder.
“For the record, I can carry the bag.” Sabrina raised a brow.
“You're more than capable of carrying the bag.” Cesare nodded. “But you're my woman. So when I am here, you don’t. Unless it's a pretty little purse, the only thing you hold is my hand.” He answered firmly.
“So many rules.” Sabrina tutted, even as she obeyed with a twinkle in her eye.