Page 69 of Tony

The detective snapped his notebook shut, saying, “If you think of anything else, give us a call.” With that, they left, leaving the two girls surrounded by four large men.

“Tony,” Sherrie began. “I jus?—”

He threw his hand up, saying, “I don’t want to hear it.”

“But—”

Stalking toward her, he towered over her and growled, “Do you know how stupid it was for you to jump on a man his size? You should have called the police. You should have run into the bar. You should have?—”

Stamping her foot in anger, she poked her finger in his chest. “Don’t you dare lecture me! You go out all the time and rescue people. I do it one time and you get pissy.”

Tony looked down at the small finger being shaken at him.One snap and that man could have broken her hand. Or knocked her out. Or…

Sherrie, with her arm around Jennifer, continued her rant. “We saw a woman being dragged out of a building and we just acted on instinct.”

Looking up at her husband, Jennifer added, “Kind of like you did when you ran out here and saw us.”

Gabe walked over, pulling Jennifer from Sherrie’s hold. Kissing the top of her head, he sighed. “Babe, not happy. But all I want to do right now is get you home, let you soak in the tub and then hold you all night until my heart stops pounding in fear.”

Smiling up at him, she leaned into him. He turned and headed out of the alley with her tucked under his arm. The rest of the group then heard him say, “And then I’ll spank your ass red.”

Vinny and Jobe chuckled as they headed back into the bar, leaving Tony and Sherrie standing in the alley by themselves. She lifted her face to his, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. He stepped forward, enveloping her in his embrace once more, pressing her face into his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. Solid. Strong. They said nothing. The anger drained from him as he cradled her to his chest. Several minutes passed in silence as they both drew strength from each other. Together, stronger than apart.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” her small voice said.

His arms tightened. “I’m sorry I yelled,” he admitted. Taking his hand from the back of her head, he slid his fingers to her chin, lifting it up. Peering into her tear-filled eyes, remorse struck him. “I am sorry, baby. I’m proud that you jumped in to help someone. I just…I never want to feel that feeling I had when I came through the door and saw that fucker slamming you against a wall. All I could think of was choking the life out of him.”

“I know. I was scared too. We should have called for help, but honestly Tony? The adrenaline took over and we just jumped in.”They were silent again for a moment, then she asked, “Is that what it is for you? When you have a mission?”

“Yes,” he admitted, “but I’m trained. Trained to fight. Trained to kill. Trained to assess my enemy in an instant. You, my sweet, are not.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. Looking back up, she suddenly felt utterly exhausted. “Take me home?” she asked.

“No place else I’d rather be, sweetheart,” he said, tucking her in his embrace as they headed toward his truck. One hand slid down to her hips as they walked. “And I’m thinking that Gabe’s got the right idea,” he said, giving her ass a sharp pat.

21

Vinny and Gabe were in the main Alvarez area working on a new security system when BJ walked by, calling out to Vinny.

“Boss wants to see you. He’s in his office.”

Vinny immediately headed to Tony’s office, finding him at his desk with files spread in front of him. “You called for me, sir?”

Tony looked up at one of his most trusted friends. Vinny was smart, quick, intelligent, the best sharp-shooter he had ever seen, and Gabe’s backup medic. Vinny might joke and screw around during down time, but when the mission was in full swing, there was no one he trusted more to have his back than him.

“Business has been steady and we’ve got a good reputation in Richmond and now in Virginia as a whole. But I’ve got a new request from someone who needs us in another state. That kind of recognition has come from hard work and dedication and I’d like you to take it. This could take our company to a whole new level.”

Vinny’s interest was piqued and he waited to hear more about it.

“Got a request for a security detail to escort someone from Los Angeles to Richmond.” Before he could continue, he saw the flash of interest as well as concern in Vinny’s eyes. Gabe had gotten tangled up with a diva actress on an assignment before meeting Jennifer, and it had turned out to be a cock-up situation.

“Nope, not an actress. A musician,” Tony clarified.

“Just an escort detail?” Vinny asked, willing to take any mission assigned, but curiosity getting the better of him.

“Yes, they’ll have a concert in LA where you will meet them. You’ll escort them on their flight to Richmond.”

“Concert?” Vinny asked, not able to keep the idea of spending a couple of days with a female musician, preferably a beautiful rock star, out of his mind. “Who is it?”

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