The rest of the night was a blast. We walked in the cool night air to the cafe and then sat around and laughed and joked until about eleven. Andy and Ty said they would drive Candace home.
“I had a really good time,” she said just before she got into their car.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Do you need a ride to work tomorrow?” I asked. “I don’t imagine your alternators been fixed since we’ve tied you up all evening.”
“Thanks, but no. I’ve got the day off. I’ll get someone to help me with it.”
“Momma kept me and Ty busy all afternoon or we would have fixed it for you. Tomorrow we go back on twelve hour shifts at the base so it’ll be Wednesday before either one of us gets a spare minute.”
“What are we doing tomorrow?” Ryan asked.
“Shopping, of course. We’ve got window treatments to buy, groceries, and-”
“I have a great idea,” Ryan interrupted. “I’m basically shopped-out, but I am mechanically inclined. Why doesn’t Candace help you shop and you two can leave me up to my elbows in grease and parts.”
Candace looked at me and smiled, “I’m game.”
“Sounds good to me, too.”
We waved goodbye and wearily walked inside and locked the door. I had no thumbtacks, but the second bedroom was windowless and we decided we were both too pooped to be of any trouble for each other tonight so sharing the bed was viable.
I changed into my shorts and tank, and Ryan slipped into a pair of shorts and we crawled into bed.
“Leese.”
“Yeah,” I yawned.
“I like the house.”
“Me, too,” I whispered back.
“Can I hold you? I’m starting to get a thing for sleeping this way.”
“Would you give me a few minutes to fall asleep? Last night I couldn’t-I mean being awake is harder for me because I know it’s you.”
“You don’t like knowing it’s me?”
“The problem is that I do like it, but I just can’t let myself cross that line.”
He leaned against me and kissed my ear, “Goodnight.”
It wasn’t long into my dream state when I felt the comfort my tired body craved. It was a very good night.
Chapter Thirteen
Micah pulled up to the small office he once regularly visited, but it had been six months since the last time he was here. That was when he accepted a file on a beautiful young woman who was to be his next target. In a matter of weeks, she changed everything he ever knew about himself. He threw everything away for her, only to have her throw away all he offered. It was as if he became the target because she absolutely blew him away.
The annulment had been finalized. His attorney informed him the judge would not accept the abandonment issue, but he was able to get the annulment by claiming she abandoned Micah because he had forced her into the marriage and put her under duress. Micah didn’t like the sound of any of that. He didn’t force it on her, but his parents insisted he take the steps to annul the marriage so his assets would be safe.
The problem was he didn’t care about his assets anymore. He already planned what he was going to do with his millions and it would leave him nearly broke, but, in his mind, it was a gamble worth taking.
He walked inside, nodded at the young woman who sat at the desk and walk to the door behind her. There was no need to be announced. He had been called so he was expected.
D’Angelo was ready as soon as Micah came through the door.
Two files were on the table in front of him so Micah expected this would be a double homicide. He took his seat and waited for D’Angelo to speak to him.
“I’m sorry to hear what happened to you, Micah. Women are far more treacherous than men give them credit. I’d use them for making hits, but I haven’t found one I can trust,” he finished with a little mirth to his voice.
Micah didn’t respond.
“I am hoping you plan on returning to what you do best. You aren’t going to bother with this girl anymore-am I right?”
“I haven’t decided exactly what I’m going to do at this point. I’m still planning on facing her over her…” he paused and took a breath, “decision.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, because-”
“You aren’t me.” Micah knew it was borderline insubordination to speak that way to D’Angelo. He watched the anger flush the man’s skin, but then he seemed to cool.
“As I was saying, the only thing facing her will do is to put you in jeopardy of killing her and the man she ran away with. That would be a waste of
“I won’t kill
“Women change their minds like their clothes, Micah. But I didn’t call you here to discuss your foolish waste of time pursuing a tramp.”
Micah’s eyes flashed with a fire that momentarily worried his commander. That was who D’Angelo was in all reality to Micah. He commanded; Micah obeyed.
“I want you to rejoin the family…”
Micah started to speak, but D’Angelo silenced him with a simple movement of his hand as he slid a folder down to him.
“Take a look.”
Taking a look was very dangerous in this business. A look at something could create obligations you couldn’t simply turn away from. He steeled himself as he opened the folder. It only took a second for his blood to boil under his skin, “You’d be crazy to think I’d take this assignment.”
“No, Micah, I wouldn’t ask you to kill David. But someone is going to-if you don’t intervene. I’ve been holding that file for months and the family is starting to get annoyed with my hesitation. I’ve told them he can be trusted. I told them he only did what he did to help
Micah gave what sounded like a low laugh. It was true. D’Angelo didn’t like someone who didn’t follow orders exactly as given. He also didn’t like having orders questioned. David tended to get under D’Angelo’s skin, and if it hadn’t been for the rest of the family being so valuable, he would have disposed of David a long time ago. Not that David wasn’t an excellent hit man, his methods and accuracy rivaled Micah’s, but he had a stubborn, insubordinate streak that pissed off people in high places.
“…but, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have value. I want you and David to help me with a new member we’re bringing into the family. I think this will go a long way in reinstating his loyalty.”
“Who’s the target?” Micah knew it would be someone big, if it was going to ‘impress’ the family.
The second folder slid down the table into Micah’s waiting grip. He opened the folder and the picture that met his gaze was of a middle-aged Hispanic man. He was ready to scan quickly over the document, but the first thing he noted about the man stopped him. He was a diplomat to the U.S. from Bogota.
“Government leaders aren’t usually our concern.”
“No, but this one has crushed the supply of a certain product provided by a group willing to be an exclusive supplier to us at a very tempting price.”
“Drugs, D’Angelo? My personal family has stayed out of the drug market. You know how my parents have felt about it since the influx from the seventies.”
“True, but this new supplier will add billions to our revenue and open a whole new venue in our family. We’re getting stale, Micah. Other families are edging into our territory and they are out pacing us. We either make a move and re-dominate, or we fade.” D’Angelo leaned forward as his eyes narrowed, “I’m not going to let that happen.”
“So this job is as much for you as it is for David. You have a personal interest in seeing this group come in
