Page 54 of Vinny

She looked on in confusion, first at the laughing trio in front of her, and back toward the man next to her, seeing his smile split his face. His beautiful smile.

“Oh, babe. You’re tough as nails and that’s no lie,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.She stood up to her old man for me. And for the agency.Moving his lips over hers, he felt her tremble and pulled back to see tears shining in her eyes.

“Annalissa,” Tony said, drawing her attention. “Don’t worry about your dad. Hell, if he let out that rumor then my business would probably triple!” Hearing a snort of laughter from behind him again, he smiled. “Your father has no threat to hold over us and so get that right out of your mind.”

She looked at him dubiously, but a small smile played at the corners of her mouth.

Vinny raised his fingers to her chin, gently turning her face toward his. Wanting to kiss the frown off of her face, he leaned in and said, “Baby, you standing up to him for yourself is amazing. You standing up to him for Tony’s company is wonderful. But you standing up to him for us? Fuckin’ hot!”

Then he pulled her the rest of the way in, capturing her lips in a kiss that told her just how hot he thought it was. Someone finally clearing their throat separated them.

“Hate to break this up, but I really need to ask you if there was anyone at the Hall that you saw today that you thought might be suspicious,” Tony asked, ignoring Vinny’s shit-eating grin.

Blushing furiously, she shook her head. “No, although I hate suspecting everyone. I feel like I’m second guessing everything that everyone is saying to me.” Looking at her watch suddenly, she jumped up. “Oh, I have to go. I’m playing a little impromptu concert at Jennifer’s elder care home in an hour.”

“I’ll take you, babe,” Vinny said.

“I’ll tag along too,” said Gabe. “Then I can ride home with my wife.”

The three of them left, leaving Tony and Jobe in the conference room. “What are you thinking, Captain?” Jobe asked.

Shaking his head, Tony said, “I’m thinking she’s got a lot of people in her life that are determined to keep her traveling. And that includes her own father.”

“Anything special you want?”

“We’ve got some more surveillance to do.” Turning toward Lily, who had walked into the room. “Add her father to the list of people I want you to dig into.”

“You got it, boss,” she replied.

18

The lively Irish tunes floated through the air as Annalissa’s fingers quickly plucked the strings of Easnadh. She sat in the front of a large room filled with elderly men and women, all entranced with the music. Some tapped their feet and others nodded their heads to the rhythms. At the end of her selections, she asked if there were any requests.

A few song titles were called out and she began playing one that she was familiar with. In the back of the room stood Gabe, Jennifer, and Vinny. Jennifer, a social worker for the city, helped run the elder-care center and loved seeing the smiles on the faces of those she cared for. Gabe, enjoying the music as well, was more interested in both the woman playing the harp and his brother’s reaction to her.

Vinny stood mesmerized, his eyes never leaving the dark-haired beauty weaving her musical magic. Jennifer looked over at Gabe, seeing where her husband’s attention lay. She then glanced at Vinny and understood theinterest. It was obvious that Vinny's heart was with Annalissa. She and Gabe shared a smile before turning back to the music.

Annalissa loved performing for this group. The chance to play for those who often do not have the opportunity to come to a concert hall, yet appreciate music, was humbling. At the end of the little recital, the elderly residents flocked to her, their praise and enthusiasm showing on their faces.

When the residents finally left the room for dinner, Annalissa packed Easnadh in her case as Jennifer walked over, hugging her new friend.

“That was amazing. You’re so talented and they really loved your performance,” she gushed.

“I loved playing for them”, Annalissa said. “I only wish I could do it more.”

“I’m envious of your talent. I am so not musical,” Jennifer bemoaned.

As the two women chatted, the twins stayed at the back of the room watching them. Gabe turned to Vinny, saying, “She’s pretty amazing, bro. So this is it? She’s it for you?”

Without taking his eyes off of her, Vinny nodded. “Yeah, Gabe. From the moment I first saw her looking like some goddamn fairy princess and heard her play, I think I fell in love. Then I saw how she was pushed and pulled by everyone around her and all I wanted to do was step in and protect her. Then when we were on the run,” he turned to look at Gabe, “Swear to God, she shocked the shit outta me. She held in there like a trooper, never giving up and never giving in.” Lookingback at the women, he watched as she threw her head back in laughter at something Jennifer said. “Damn, bro. I’m a goner.”

Gabe chuckled, slapping his twin on the back. “Well, I just got two things to say to you,” he said, gaining his brother’s attention. “One, thank God, because it’s about time you found someone worthy and she’s definitely it.”

“And the second thing?”

“You’d better take her to meet mom and dad, ‘cause when Jennifer tells them all about her, which will probably happen tonight, mom’ll skin you alive if you don’t let her check her out!”

Vinny laughed as he agreed, gaining the attention of the two women. Annalissa stared at the picture of male beauty standing at the back of the room. Gabe, leaning against the doorframe, his large arms crossed in front of his chest with one tree-trunk leg crossed in front of the other. His dark-blond hair neatly trimmed, eyes sparkling as they looked at his wife. And next to him, identical in most ways, Vinny. He stood with his jean-clad, muscular legs apart, his hands on his trim hips. His dark navy shirt that stretched deliciously across his chest and arms. And his face…square jaw with a hint of stubble that tickled when he went down on her. Perfect lips that teased and tormented hers. And the same sparkling eyes as Gabe’s…only his were staring right at her.

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