Tony: Alvarez Security Series (15 page)

“Jesus, my men are as bad as you women,” he exclaimed.

“Humph,” she grumped, then heard him chuckling. “Oh, you’re just being mean.”

“Just joking with you, darlin’. I told everyone this morning that we were together and they were all real happy.” He could almost hear her grin through the phone and his heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.

“Well, besides turning into a jokester, did you have a reason to call?” she asked.

“Besides just wanting to hear your voice? Actually, I thought you could come to my place for dinner after work.”

“I’d love to,” she effused.

Giving her the address, he saw where another call was coming in. “Sorry to rush but it looks like Shane is trying to get ahold of me.” With a quick goodbye, he switched calls.

“Shane? What’s up?” he asked.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Shane said.

“Jesus, fuck. How quickly did the news hit the Richland Police?” he asked his detective friend.

“About a long as it took my wife to find out from Lily, and BJ’s wife.”

“Well, thanks, man. Surely you called for some other reason than to bust my chops?” he asked.

“You got time for Matt and I to have a conference with you and some of your men?” Shane asked.

Serious now, Tony said, “Always got time for you all. Come on over and I’ll gather everyone.”

*

Matt Dixon and
Shane Douglass, detectives with the Richland Police department and close friends with Tony and his group, sat around the conference table discussing their latest investigations.

“We’re working on a case of money laundering and have centered our investigation on Quentin Salazar. His name keeps cropping up but once again, like so many we try to investigate, they bury their illegal businesses so deep, our resources can’t reach them.”

Shane added, “He has also been mentioned with some sex clubs along the riverfront, but again nothing concrete. We’ve got a feeling that his hand is in much more, but we were wondering if Lily and BJ could do some digging for us. And…”

His pause had the others looking up. “We were wondering if perhaps, your team could put a few security cameras around his office. Unofficially, of course,” he said with a grin.

Tony said, “Got no problem with that, but nothing we get will be admissible in court.”

“We’re just looking for others in league with him, anything that gives us an idea where to look and what we’re looking for.”

Nodding, Tony agreed. “All right.”

The meeting continued as the group broke off into two teams. Matt went with Lily and BJ to talk about what they needed from their computer searches. Shane stayed with the others to discuss what cameras would be needed and where they could place them to get the most intel.

“He’s got an office in the same block of buildings that one of the clubs is in. He’s not been seen going into the club, but we know he’s just being a sneaky bastard.”

“We’ll get BJ to look at the floor plan of that old building and see what connections we can find,” Tony added.

“One other thing,” Shane interjected. “Talk on the street is that this club will start servicing men who are looking for children, especially teens or pre-teen virgins. We’ve got no proof yet, but that’s what one informer said.”

“Jesus, fuck,” Jobe bit out, shaking his head.

“We want these guys and we want them shut down.”

Standing, Tony shook Shane’s hand. “Whatever you need from us…you got.”

*

Hernando Valesquez moved
from the front of his prosperous grocery store to the back office. Walking in, he was pleased to see Juan waiting for him.

“What do you have for me?” he bit out.

“Betina is still with the foster family. Had some visitors, but nothing suspicious.”

“I want that little bitch watched. If she hadn’t run off and gotten picked up by the police, we wouldn’t be worried.”

“She’s not talking. Got too much to lose. She knows her mother will suffer if needed.”

“My little wife?” Hernando questioned with a laugh. “Easy bait for Betina.” Sobering, he ordered, “Keep me informed. I want no surprises.”

The tall, dark-haired man nodded and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Hernando sat down in his squeaky chair as he rubbed his temples.
Too much to lose, little Betina, if you can’t follow orders.
He knew the organization was much larger than himself, but he loved the power he wielded. Working his way up the chain, he was now a regional manager.
And not of his grocery store,
he thought with a smirk.
No, the store provides the perfect cover. Providing the only Hispanic grocery in the area, I am loved.
While he had never married Betina’s mother, she also helped with the cover. Meek, mild, and so pleased that such a successful man wanted to be with her, she was easy to manipulate.

He only had one boss and that was Quentin Salazar. He frowned for a moment, realizing that he had no idea if Quentin was the top of the chain or if were just one more in the chain, but right now he did not care. His duties as regional manager meant that he had to manage the recruiters, who in turn recruited almost all of the teens his organization needed. Free labor. Free sex. Smiling to himself, he thought of the women in his group as well.
Nothing like the fear in their eyes when on their knees sucking me off.
Hernando was careful to never use the minors for sex. Too risky. And he hated little, skinny bodies. He wanted a mature woman, the bigger the tits, the better.

Finding his dick swelling at the thought, he opened his office door and motioned to one of the workers in his store. He ignored the look in her eyes as he focused on her huge breasts discreetly covered. A few minutes later as he fucked her pendulous breasts freed from her shirt, the thought ran through his mind just as he moved to her mouth to unload…
I must be the luckiest man alive.

As the woman adjusted herself and then went back to his respectable business, his mind turned toward Betina. The smile left his face.
I’ve come too far for that little bitch to complicate matters.

T
ony headed to
his apartment after work to fix dinner in anticipation of Sherrie’s arrival. Walking in, he looked around for the first time in a long time. Really looked around. And realized how stark he had been living. Or existing.

Moving to his kitchen, he began to prepare the meal, knowing she would be arriving in a few minutes. By the time he had the potatoes baking, the steaks seasoned, and the vegetables sautéing, his doorbell rang.

Anxious to see her, he jogged over to throw open the door. His breath caught once again as he took her in. Blonde hair was sleeked back in a low ponytail. Neat, grey pinstriped pencil skirt paired with a pale pink blouse. Demure pumps that still gave off a
fuck me
vibe, although he was willing to admit that may have been because that was the only vibe he could think of.

Her smiling face gazed up at his, a touch of makeup highlighting her sparkling eyes, and her lips were gently glossed with something kissable.

God, I’m so fucked
, he thought as he stood, unwaveringly staring at her.

“Um, can I come in?” she asked, a questioning look on her face.

“Yes. Yes,” he grunted as he stepped back to discretely adjust his swelling dick. He saw her eyes dip to his crotch and then lift quickly back to his face, a blush creeping from her chest to her cheeks.

“Oh, fuck it,” he growled, no longer willing to hold back. Pulling her tightly to him, he crushed his mouth over hers. She opened quickly and he wasted no time in plunging his tongue into her depths. Minty. With a hint of something fruity as he licked her lip-gloss off.

Her tongue tangled with his, as she melted into his embrace. He was so much taller, she stood on her toes to reach her arms around his neck, then squealed as she felt herself lifted. Once again, she found herself plastered against the wall as he jerked her tight skirt up to her hips and rested her core on his knees.

Losing themselves in the kiss, they startled when the kitchen buzzer alarmed. Lowering her quickly, he took a ragged breath as he pulled her head back against his massive chest.

Hearing his strong heartbeat, she knew there was no place she would rather be.

Moving away, he snagged her hand and gently pulled her toward the kitchen. “Gotta get the steaks in, baby.” Giving her a quick lift, he perched her on a bar stool and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Sit here and keep me company.”

Smiling, she watched him place the steaks into the broiler, then pour a glass of wine placing it in front of her. As he finished the dinner, she glanced around. His apartment was spacious but…devoid. Devoid of any personality. The living area contained a large sectional sofa in a soft grey, with a black coffee table in front. It faced a large-screen TV, but she noticed there were no rugs, throw pillows, or any color in the room at all.

She moved off of the stool and wandered over to an end table where she saw a small, framed picture. Picking it up, she recognized Gabe, Vinny, and Jobe amongst the other soldiers in the snapshot.
No family pictures. No pictures of his wife or baby.
As her gaze continued roaming, she imagined this apartment looking the same as the day he moved in.

“Was this place furnished?” she asked, curious about his answer.

“Yeah, why?” he called from the kitchen.

“It just looks very…”

“Boring?” He glanced up from the stove to see her blush rising across her face again. Laughing, he added, “It’s okay babe. It is boring. Just never had any desire to do much with it since it’s just a place to eat and sleep.”

But it should be a place you live,
she thought sadly.
And he hasn’t really lived since his family died.

Lost in her musings, she did not hear him walk up behind her until his arms came across her body pulling her back close to his front. “Whatcha thinkin’?” he asked.

Twisting around so that she could study his face, she noticed his arms had not loosened their embrace. “It just doesn’t seem very homey.”

His gaze wandered around the room as he nodded. “Yeah, compared to your place, it’s kind of bare.” Giving a shrug, he continued, “But honestly, I haven’t had a
home
since I’ve been back. I just couldn’t see one without Marla and Sofia…” His eyes glazed over as he looked out of the window. Then he shook his head and smiled at her, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Do you want one?” she whispered, afraid of the answer.

He looked down at the woman in his arms. Strong. Independent. Kicked by life multiple times and yet came out on top. From foster homes to a quaint Victorian home, filled with…her. It suddenly hit him in the gut…
I want that. I want that with her.

Smiling honestly, he nodded. “Yeah, baby. I do want a home.” Seeing the smile light up her face, he kissed the top of her head. The kitchen stove timer went off again and they moved to get dinner on the table.

Conversation slowed as they ate in companionable silence, but as they neared the end of the meal he found his gaze wandering to her continually. He had memorized her face from the moment he saw her picture in his dossier last year, but was amazed at how beautiful she was. A few strands of straight blonde hair had escaped the ponytail and he watched her as she tucked them behind her ears. Every movement screamed
classy
and he wondered once again at how different she was from her sister.

Sherrie noticed his intense gaze and self-consciously brought her napkin to her mouth, wiping at the non-existent crumbs. His gaze never wavered. “Do I have something on my face?” she asked, wiping again.

Startled from his staring, he said simply, “Beauty.” At her questioning expression, he added, “You have beauty written all over your face.”

Her eyes sparkled as a giggle erupted from deep inside. “That almost sounds like a bad pick-up line, but honestly, I loved it,” she admitted.

He joined in laughter, shaking his head. “God, it did sound cheesy, didn’t it?” Sobering, he stood and walked to her side of the table reaching for her hand. “But it’s the truth, darlin’. You’re so goddamn beautiful that I can’t believe what a lucky fuck I am.”