Page 14 of Vinny

And then he was filled with the realization…that he had never wanted to until now.This woman.And he felt a jolt to his heart. Smiling, he let sleep overtake him as well.

“It’s not there either. I looked real good. I looked everywhere. Don’t think she’s been there yet.” He hoped his explanation would appease who he was reporting to.

“I want to know what the hell happened. Where the goddamn plane went to and why the case wasn’t there. Do you understand me? I want to know where it is!”

“I’m just a handler. I ain’t got no special knowledge,” he protested.

“You find out what you can. I’ll look on this end. But listen and listen well—you had better get me some facts and damn quick.”

Protesting again, he said, “I didn’t sign up for this shit. I was just supposed to get it when it landed. That’s all I’ve ever done. That’s all I was told I’d be doing.”

“Well, the job description just changed. And you’d better accept the change and get me the information I need or we’re all dead!”

As usual, the line went silent leaving him to wonder how they were ever going to get out of this mess alive.

On the other end, the cell phone was tossed with an expletive.Think, think. Where the hell is she and where is that harp? What was the name of the goon she was with? Oh, yeah. Vincent Malloy from Alvarez Security.Not willing towait on the plebe from Dulles airport, they pulled up their laptop, clicking through a variety of screens. Finding the news from the airport, they learned of the plane’s detour.Work the problem. Where would they be?

Smiling at their cleverness, they continued to search…and plan.

6

The sun was peeking through the slit in the hotel’s room-darkening curtains when Vinny opened his eyes. The evening’s events flashed through his mind as he looked down at the woman sprawled across him. Her leg was across his and her arm was slung over his chest. Her head rested on his shoulder and just as he had not been able to remember sleeping with a woman, he knew he had never woken up with one. But as she stretched her lithe body over his, he realized what his brother had been talking about. When Gabe first met Jennifer, Vinny had been glad for him but not envious. Never envious.

But now? I could wake this way every morning with this woman and be happy.The knowledge that he felt this way about a woman that he had not had sex with made him chuckle.

Annalissa felt the deep rumble underneath her cheek and she opened her eyes to the most handsome man she had ever seen. And he was staring right at her. Her eyesflew wide open as she realized she was laying half across his body.

Jerking back, she rolled to the other side.

“Morning,” he said, his sexy, raspy voice growled, as he smiled at her.

“Good morning. I…um…seem to have…moved a bit…in the night,” she stammered, blushing furiously.

“No complaints here, babe,” he said, hoping she would not discover just how much he liked waking up to her. His morning wood was tenting his boxers and he would bet she had never experienced anything like morning sex. And since he never stayed with a woman overnight, he was used to taking care of it himself in the shower.Ugh, stop thinking about sex with her.Forcing his mind to other things, he nodded for her to head to the bathroom first.

While she was getting ready, he checked the harp case once again, making sure nothing had changed with the package. Thirty minutes later, a taxi was driving them back toward the airport to meet with Jack’s DEA contact. Since he would be flying in on a small, private plane to another airport, Vinny was going to rent a car just to meet the contact. Then when their business was finished, they would make their way back to the airport for a flight straight to Richmond.

Feeling Annalissa stiffen against him, he jerked his head over to her side of the taxi. The hotel where they had stayed last night was in their view. Police cars and police dogs were moving around the area. She started to ask him if they were there for them, but his quick head shake kept her quiet.

Her gaze landed on the taxi driver and she realized her almost blunder.

The taxi driver noticed their gazes focused out of the window. “Heard someone broke into one of the hotel’s rooms and the manager saw ‘em. Called the cops and caused a ruckus. The man that was there is missing and I reckon they're looking for him.”

It did not take long to circle by the airport, heading to the rental center.

Shit,Vinny thought, knowing that they were being sought after. He glanced to the side seeing Annalissa’s green eyes, huge with fright. He tried to offer her a smile, but the look on her face told him she was not buying it.

As the taxi pulled up to the rental car agency, Vinny prayed that whoever was looking for them would be watching the airport, assuming they would be joining the other displaced passengers from the previous day. The rental facility had no police around, so Vinny left Annalissa in the taxi as he went in to get a car. Using cash and one of his fake IDs, he was soon pulling around to the side in a small SUV. Paying the taxi driver in cash also, he quickly moved their items to the rental and took off.

Several minutes later he pulled into a nondescript shopping center and parked. Calling Tony on one of the secure cell phones he carried, he relayed their change in plans. “Get the message to Jack’s contact. We’ve got to come up with an alternate meeting location. They’re definitely after her.”

Listening to Vinny discuss the events calmly did nothelp the pounding of her heart.After me? For the drugs I didn’t even know about? Were they planted there on purpose or was Easnadh just the random case they picked?

The sound of him disconnecting the call jerked her out of her frantic musings. He turned to her, seeing the fear in her expression.

“We’re going to start driving. I’m going to take care of you, but we’ve got to hit the road and get out of here. Tony is setting up a new location for us to get the harp case to DEA, but for now…you and I are going to hit the road.”

Watching her lick her lips nervously, he wanted to lean over and lick them himself. Part them and take the kiss deeper then…nope. Not now.Sucking in a huge breath and letting it out slowly, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed on the highway towards HWY 70 E towards Missouri.

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