Page 29

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

GRACE

D awn came swiftly, too swiftly. Normally, I objected to being awake so early unless I had a shoot. Even then, I wasn’t a fan but I did my job. Every noise in the night had roused me. Instead of bad dreams waking me, I’d spent most of my night blinking awake as though I had not slept at all.

I would have objected today as well, but it was Voodoo sliding to the edge of the bed that woke me this time. He turned his head, glancing at me over his shoulder. “You should go back to sleep if you can.”

Pushing up on my elbows, I shook my head. “I don’t know that I can.”

“You didn’t sleep much last night.” Twisting, he frowned at me.

“If you know that, then you didn’t either.” I meant it as a joke, but my yawn punched that out of it. “Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about…” He slid a hand toward me but a light knock on the door stilled him and he sighed. “It’s open,” he said even as he stood.

It was Lunchbox who stuck his head inside. “Food is up.” He glanced at me. “Morning, Gracie.”

“Morning,” I said, smothering another yawn. “Is there coffee?”

“There is, but if you want to go back to sleep…”

“She’s not,” Voodoo told him as he snagged a t-shirt and pulled it over his head. The muscles on his back rippled with each motion. “Mission anxiety.”

“Familiar.” Lunchbox shot me a look of sympathy. “Come on down then, I’ll fix you something too.”

The idea of food was utterly unpalatable, but I pushed the blankets back and slid out of the bed. I was already in a t-shirt, and I just needed to pull on shorts. The sun was up outside, and if it was as warm today as it had been the day before, I wouldn’t need much else.

Voodoo held the door for me, but closed it as I got there and stole my breath with a quick kiss. “Hmm,” he murmured against my lips. “Better than coffee.”

Heat scalded my cheeks. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

“No?” He looked thoughtful, then swooped in for another kiss. This time, he licked the seam of my lips apart to plunge inside and tease my tongue with his own. I forgot all about brushing teeth or even why morning breath wasn’t pleasant.

Voodoo tasted like a hint of peppermint, and then all him. The sensuous movement of his mouth against mine had me straining upward and my nipples going hard as I braced a hand against his chest.

When he dragged out my lower lip with his teeth, a shudder of pleasure danced through me. “Hmm. Tastes too good to be ignored.” Then he winked at me and opened the bedroom door again. “Breakfast?”

The teasing notes in his voice excited me. His kiss had also chased away the shadows. “It did taste good.” The man definitely deserved a compliment. “Though, I have to admit… not sure it quite tops coffee.” I darted out under his arm as I said the last.

His little growl was absolutely delightful. Once I was downstairs though some of my good mood evaporated. Bones and Lunchbox were in the kitchen, but there was no sign of Alphabet or of Goblin. Hopefully, he was getting some sleep.

Bones gave me a long look as I padded barefoot into the kitchen, then his gaze went past me and seemed to chill even further. Whatever his problem was at the moment, though, it didn’t seem to be with me. I followed my nose to the cup of straight up coffee.

No espresso.

Well, I wasn’t going to complain. Lunchbox had prepared a little feast and considering how piled up the guys’ plates were, I didn’t protest even though I just stuck to scrambled eggs and plain toast.

The mournful look on Lunchbox’s face almost made me laugh. Almost . Then his words from the night before wandered back through my head.

If Maurizio was stupid with me, he wouldn’t survive. Lunchbox had said it so matter-of-fact and no one contradicted him. I couldn’t help the little thrill that went through me at the blunt declaration.

Bloodthirsty? Maybe.

But after the past few weeks? There was also some real comfort in his words. Even more in the sentiment.

“We’ll be leaving within the hour,” Bones said. “It’s early, but we want to scout the location of the yacht as well as his villa. We need to get a look at his security and the number of people around him.”

It took me a minute to realize he was talking to me. “Is there a strict timetable? I’m sure Alphabet already knows.”

“Yes and no,” Lunchbox answered. “We know where we’ll be starting and what we need to know. Everything after that is TBD. We’ll keep you both in the loop.”

“However,” Bones said, “regardless of schedule, we won’t be back with Gallo until well after dark, unless he just decides to fall in our laps.”

“It’s worth mentioning that the last time I was around Maurizio, he preferred to entertain and play cards or even just drink and enjoy his pipes or cigars until well after one in the morning. Maybe it would be easier to take him in the afternoon? They are probably napping then to prepare for the evening.”

“Too many eyes,” Bones told me. “There are issues with acquiring a target after dark, but the risks and the chances for discovery often double if we do it in the light of day.”

I nodded then took another sip of my coffee. They were almost done with their food. When they started to rinse off their dishes, I said, “I can do the dishes if you want. My contribution.”

“You’re contributing just fine,” Voodoo told me, then dipped his head to drop a kiss on my lips. “If you can go back to sleep, do it. Tonight is going to be a long one.”

My stomach clenched. “He might have answers.”

“He might .” Bones emphasized that last word as Voodoo brushed a hand against my cheek.

“I know, don’t get my hopes up.” Message received.

“We’ll know what he knows, Grace,” Bones said. “You have my word on that. Nudge Alphabet and let’s go.” Then he pivoted and headed out. It didn’t take long for the chime of the door to signal his exit. The guys were all dressed in slacks or jeans, lightweight shirts, linen and everyone had sunglasses.

They looked like tourists. That was the point I guessed. Voodoo headed back upstairs.

“Hey,” Lunchbox squatted next to my chair. “You have your phone and our contacts.”

I patted the pocket of my shorts. “I do.”

“Good, it’ll work here too. If anything happens— anything and you need us back, call any of us. Even if we don’t answer, we’ll see the call and we’ll come.”

I blew out a breath and some of the tension wrapping me up tight eased. “So only call if there is a real emergency.”

“That would be the plan. If we get a call from you, we’re aborting the mission and coming straight back here.” He lifted his hand and paused until I nodded. Then he cupped my cheek. The light stroke of his thumb against my skin had my pulse racing.

“Be careful?” It was as much a question as it was a caution.

“We’ll be fine, Gracie. Look after Alphabet and Goblin.”

Some of my apprehension fled. “I can do that.”

“I know you can.” Then he pressed a kiss to my lips and held it there. A surge of rioting emotions flooded me. The kiss was both sweet and passionate. A promise and an assurance. When he leaned back, he gave me a long look then he rose and his gaze flicked to behind me. “Ready?”

“Yep,” Voodoo said. “Alphabet and Goblin will be down in a few.” Fresh alarm flooded me when he paused as the front door chimed signaling Lunchbox had left the house. I glanced up at him. We were—something and he’d just seen Lunchbox kiss me. “Don’t look so worried, Firecracker. I don’t mind if Lunchbox kisses you, as long as you don’t mind.”

“No?” Oh that came out a little warbly and feeble. I shook off the panic. “Take two, you don’t?”

“Nope. He tell you to call any of us if you need us or something goes wrong?”

“He did and he said you didn’t have to answer, if you saw the call, you’d drop everything and come back.” The fact that two of them were emphasizing the point worried me a little. “Is Alphabet okay?”

“Yes. But we’re keeping you in the loop, as promised. We don’t expect anything to go wrong but only a fool assumes nothing will happen.” The deadpan delivery only seemed to underscore the sentiment.

“Got it. Do I say good luck?”

“Good hunting.” Then with a caress to my cheek, he headed out. They left through the front door and the chime signaled his exit.

My heart was a fist in my chest. Glancing down at the food I hadn’t finished, I wrapped my hands around the coffee cup. They were going to find a way to kidnap Maurizio so he could answer my questions.

Had he done something to Amorette? I’d always thought of him as harmless. Pushy but harmless. Yet, we’d flown thousands of miles to pick him up and find the truth.

And I… I was really ready for them to do that. To find out what he knew.

But what if he didn’t know anything? What if Maurizio wasn’t involved? My stomach dropped and an icy heat spread over my skin. What then?

After downing the last of the coffee, I rose and carried my plate to the sink. There was a covered plate on a warmer. Food for Alphabet. I took care of the few dishes that were still there and scraped off the last of my eggs into the trash. Even the thought of eating them made me feel ill.

I took my time washing the dishes. Once they were done, I wasn’t sure what I would do next. Thankfully, the sound of claws clicking against the wood told me I was about to have company.

I was drying my hands on a dish towel when they arrived in the kitchen. I’d even found my smile when I turned around. What took some effort became genuine as Goblin trotted over to me eagerly, tail wagging and I got a good look at the very rumpled, hair askew Alphabet.

“You know they make combs,” I murmured and he gave me a grunt in response. “There’s also coffee.”

Not that I needed to tell him that, he was already making a beeline for the pot.

“Want me to let Goblin out?”

Another grunt.

And I thought I wasn’t a morning person.

“I got it. They left you food there, too. Going to take him out back. Maybe we can walk him later.”

Alphabet gave me a bleary look. I swore I could see the processing sign circling in front of him before he nodded.

“I’ll be back, c’mon, Goblin. You can eat after you pee.” The dog checked with Alphabet before he followed me. The yard wasn't that large. It was more of a terraced garden, but it had grass. Just meant we needed to clean up his crap.

The air was cool and the breeze came straight from the sea. The Mediterranean was visible over the roofs of the houses below. Our villa sat fairly high up. I could see the boats in the harbor. The sun had me shading my eyes, but I also tilted my face back to let the warmth hit me.

It was picture perfect and it seemed almost hollow to enjoy it considering why we were here. Goblin took care of his business swiftly. “Good boy,” I praised when he trotted back to me.

He led me back into the house and I glanced back at the ocean before following him. Alphabet was in the kitchen, right where I left him. Only now, he drank coffee and ate his food. The pot had been emptied but he’d started another.

Goblin’s food was also down and he made a beeline for it. When the coffee finished brewing, I filled a fresh cup for myself and then stared at Alphabet, waiting for him to wake up the rest of the way.

Because I really needed something to do or I was going to lose my mind.