Page 21 of Vinny

Panic set in as she realized they intended to kidnap her. The hand on her mouth was too tight…keeping her from screaming…and breathing. Her feet stumbled as the assailant tried to pull her along causing him to shift her upwards in his arms, giving her the opportunity she needed. Biting as hard as she could on the finger that had slipped into her mouth was her only defense.

He yelled as he dropped her on the pavement. “Bitch!” he bit out. His partner raced back around the other side of the car towards her.

“Vinny!” she screamed as loudly as she could, scrambling up to her feet. A blur flew past her and she heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Continuing to move away from the car, she managed to get to her feet before turning around. Vinny had raced past her, landing a punch to the first man, breaking his nose from look of the blood that was spurting out, before whirling around and grabbing the second man around the neck. Squeezing tightly as he held the man, he growled, “Who sent you?” and with another jerk, added, “And I’d better like your answer.”

“Don’t…don’t know…” the man choked out.

“Wrong answer, asshole,” he bit out, fury pulsating through his veins. He had already been coming to seewhat was taking her so long when he heard her scream.Goddammit, I should never have let her out of my sight.

“Just…got…text…who to…,” the man tried to speak. Vinny let up slightly on his hold allowing the man to gasp out, “who to follow and get.”

Vinny reached in the man’s pocket pulling out his cell phone, quickly looking through the texts. There it was.

Follow blk SUV, lic TX6590319, get girl, text when accmpl

With a growl, he dropped the man to the pavement and pulled out plastic handcuffs, easily dispatching him as well. Stalking over to their car he grabbed the keys and popped the hood.

Annalissa had moved over to the gas station, leaning against the bricks. She watched as Vinny disabled both men and then cut hoses on the inside of their car. As he walked around, he bent low pulling out a knife from his boot, slicing all four tires. His chest heaved with adrenaline. Then he turned and speared her with his gaze, lifting one muscular arm.

That was all the invitation she needed. Flying across the pavement, she jumped into his arms, choking back a sob.

He enveloped her in his embrace, holding her fiercely, willing his rage to dissipate. His body shook as much as hers. This was different. This was no mission gone wrong. This was personal. All because of the beautiful woman crying in his arms.

Pressing her body as close to him as he could with one hand holding her head against his neck and theother arm wrapped around her waist, he cradled her. Making shushing sounds he comforted her, assuring her that they were fine.

“Baby, we gotta go. The gas station owner is an old man, but he’ll be coming around to see what’s going on soon. I’ve got their phone and we need to get somewhere so I can let Tony know what’s happening.”

She nodded against his neck and lifted her face. He set her down carefully, whispering, “Hold on to me like we’re lovers who just fuc…um…have been making out back here, in case he’s looking.” She gave him a curious look but did exactly what he asked. Wrapping her arm around his waist, she smiled brilliantly at him, giggling appropriately as they walked to the SUV.

Within another minute, they were back on the highway. Calling Tony, he looked at the clock. Tony had him on speaker instantly, having assembled their group back at the agency, knowing that at any time Vinny might need them.

Vinny quickly explained what had happened, hearing cursing in the background. The group began to quickly work the problem and plan the next step of the mission.

Giving Lily the phone number of the cell phone he had taken, she and BJ began working on tracing the phone and the calls to and from it.

Jobe said, “There’s no way this could be random at this point. A few people at each airport just randomly sending drugs in luggage aren’t going to have the resources to do this kind of reconnaissance. Gotta be bigger and it’s gotta be aimed at Ms. O’Brian. Someoneknows exactly who has the drugs and is now actively searching for you two.”

Vinny agreed, asking, “Anything suspicious on that list of people who had access to the harp case before it left LA?”

Gabe answered, “Still working on it brother. By the time we added the stage crew to the ones that were in her inner circle, there were a lot of hands involved. But we’re on it, bro.”

“How’s she holding up?” Tony asked. “I got the feeling that she isn’t made of very strong stuff.”

Vinny glanced to the passenger side, seeing her pale face with slight bruises forming on her lips from the assailant's hands. Dark circles were under her red-rimmed eyes, but she was still beautiful to him.And her fuckin’ chin was lifted.“She’s shaken, but okay,” he answered.

She jerked her head toward him, knowing he was referring to her, a small smile turning up the corners of her mouth.

“She’s a lot tougher than she looks,” he added.

“You want me to see if I can get a private pilot to meet you at some airstrip and get you here quicker?”

“Nah. It’s already getting late today and I want to stop soon to get some food in her and we’ll rest for the night. We can get through to Kentucky in several more hours and will stop at Louisville. Find us a place to stay and rent a room. I’ll get there and rent one too, but we’ll stay in your room as added protection.”

“What about tomorrow?” Tony asked.

“Yeah, see what airstrip is close to Louisville and we’ll meet someone tomorrow.”

As they ended the strategy call, Vinny tossed his cell into the cup holder between the two front seats and took her hand again.

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