Alpha dogs, p.33
Alpha Dogs, page 33
part #6 of Witness Protection Series
“No,” she replied and shifted in her chair. “There’s nothing in there I need.”
He nodded and left the plane. Lindsey stared out the window a moment, eyed the open door, and then released her seatbelt. She stood and approached the cockpit.
“Daddy,” she announced firmly while folding her arms across her chest as she stood in the doorway. “Can we talk while Conner’s gone?”
“Sure, baby,” he announced and motioned for her to join him in the cockpit.
“No, I’d rather talk out here,” she insisted.
Dexter released his harness and left the cockpit. He approached her in the aisle and stared at her with concern. “What is it, baby? Is something wrong? Are you having second thoughts about Conner coming with us?”
“No,” she replied while drawing a deep breath. “I want to discuss this plan of yours.”
“My plan?”
“The one where you lock me away on your island like some wild animal,” she snapped.
“Lindsey, you’re not being locked away,” he insisted while smiling sympathetically. “It’s for your protection. No one will find you on my island. Cicco is still out there. We can’t risk him getting his hands on you. The island is the only safe place for you.”
“I know it seems that way,” she remarked and offered a sly smile, “but you forgot something very important.”
“What’s that?”
“Five hundred billion dollars,” she replied matter-of-factly. “With that kind of money, I can disappear forever. No one will ever find me.”
“The moment you attempt to access that money, Makar’s men will be on you,” Dexter informed her. “You need to let that go.”
Lindsey shook her head and sighed. “You never really see the bigger picture,” she remarked. “All you care about is controlling me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, please,” she scoffed while sneering at him. “Just give it a rest.”
Lindsey revealed a small gun in her hand and shot her father in the abdomen at close range. He clutched his bleeding midsection while staring at her in disbelief. He attempted to grab her. She leaped backward and avoided him as he collapsed to the aisle floor. Conner ran onto the plane and stared at the scene with a look of horror. Lindsey turned to Conner and smiled sweetly.
“Change of plans,” she announced. “We’re going to my father’s island without him. We’ll lay low a few weeks, get our hands on Makar’s billions, and disappear forever.” She smiled sweetly. “Are you in or out?”
Conner lifted his eyes from her dead father and met her gaze. He drew several deep breaths then relaxed. “Of course I’m with you,” he announced. “I love you.” He hesitated and again eyed her dead father. “But your father’s men will be on that island. We can’t take him with us. We’ll need to leave his body behind as well as that gun.”
Lindsey eyed the gun in her hand then her dead father. She met Conner’s gaze and nodded. “Of course, you’re right.” She tossed the gun out the doorway and offered a smile. “Let’s get him off the plane.”
Conner grabbed Lindsey’s father under the arms while she grabbed his ankles. “How are we going to get there? I can’t fly a plane,” he informed her.
“I can,” she insisted cheerfully. “I’ve been taking lessons. I thought I might need them one day.” She giggled. “Guess I was right.”
They carried her dead father down the few steps from the plane and left his body not far from the landing gear. Lindsey smiled at Conner and placed her arms affectionately around his neck. He seemed tense as she kissed him. She pulled back and smiled.
“Everything is going to be fine, Conner,” she insisted and gently touched his face. “We’ll have everything we’ve ever wanted.”
Conner nodded and managed a tiny smile. “Yes,” he replied and rubbed her shoulders. “The money will come in handy.”
He stepped away from her and the plane. Lindsey eyed him with a strange look then hesitated and looked behind her. Cicco and Dawg stood only a few feet behind her with a gun aimed at her.
She looked back at Conner and stared at him with horror. “You set me up?” Lindsey gasped.
Conner sneered and just about lunged at her. “Did you think I would forgive you for attempting to frame me in your husband’s death?” he demanded in anger. “You’re damned right I set you up. And by the way; it’s over between us!”
“Don’t worry, my dear,” Cicco announced cheerfully while grinning. “Your former boyfriend is being compensated extremely well for handing you over to me. See? Everyone wins.” He then reconsidered the comment. “Well, not so much you.”
Chapter Fifty-two
The gazebo beyond the garden in Sal’s backyard was covered with exotic flowers. Over two hundred guests sat in white, wooden folding chairs on either side of the aisle and awaited the wedding of the century. Sal’s daughter was finally getting married and just about anyone with any sort of connections was in attendance. The officiator, Othello, entered the gazebo and stood in the center with an electronic tablet in his hand. Othello was a large, robust man with wild, curly black hair. Despite his size and stature, he had an innocent sort of appeal. Beck, looking dashing in his black tuxedo, was joined by his best man, Ross. Ross Madrid was a distinguished looking man in his early fifties. Despite his age, the slightly graying man still maintained an impressive build. Definitely intimidating, Ross Madrid didn’t look friendly although he was considered harmless by many.
The three groomsmen, Gil, Monroe, and Kirk stood alongside Ross. The man standing at the portable keyboard played a romantic sonnet. As everyone looked back, Darth was the first to appear in the aisle with the wedding rings tied to his collar with a ribbon. He trotted excitedly and paused to greet a few of his favorite guests. Gil had to give a slight whistle to resume the dog’s focus. Darth dashed up the gazebo steps and greeted Othello with a happy whimper. Othello laughed and patted his head before another whistle sent him to Gil’s side. The bridesmaids were next down the aisle. They were two of Pinto’s friends from college and Jackie. All three wore revealing black dresses, which Jackie secretly tugged on every so often to cover her exposed cleavage.
The bridesmaids joined the men in the gazebo on the opposite side. Jackie looked into the crowd and saw Holden, who grinned his approval of the dress. Leeann Whitley, Pinto’s maid-of-honor, was the last to walk down the aisle. Lee was an attractive woman in her mid-twenties with wild, dark hair barely contained while pinned up with bobby pins and baby’s breath. She wore the same black dress as the other bridesmaids, and it looked just as flattering. As Ross’ wife made her way down the aisle, Jackie glanced from the groomsmen to the nearby patio roof. Zack sat casually reclined on the roof wearing his usual combat gear with his fully loaded AK-47 assault rifle set up on a sniper stand.
No one was talking Zack into wearing a suit much less getting into a tuxedo. For that reason, he was adamant about not having an active role in the wedding ceremony. The only time Jackie had ever seen Zack in formal wear was in a photo from her father’s wedding. All the men were dressed in their full dress, formal, white Navy uniforms, which he seemed willing to wear at the time. When the song changed to the wedding march, all two hundred guests rose and turned to see Pinto escorted down the aisle by her father. Sal was beaming with delight while holding his daughter’s hand to the crook of his arm. He looked dashing in his black tuxedo.
Pinto was breathtaking in her peach colored wedding dress with flowing train and sparkling tiara. The dress was sleeveless, which was perfect for a warm afternoon. The top was mostly lace, and the neckline plunged daringly low allowing her ample cleavage to showcase the dress. The dress was fitted through the waist then fell gently from her hips with lace and sheer mesh over top a more fitted, satin liner. Her cascading bouquet containing yellow, peach, and pink roses was large enough to conceal an Uzi comfortably. Pinto nixed the Uzi but agreed to a much smaller .22 caliber revolver. Jackie wanted to lend her the .357 Magnum she’d carried on her wedding day as her something borrowed, but Pinto was set on the much smaller weapon. To normal people attending a wedding, it would seem unheard of for the bride to be armed and a sniper on the roof, but this wasn’t any ordinary wedding.
Sal kissed his daughter on the cheek and enthusiastically shook Beck’s hand before turning his daughter over into his protective services. Beck walked Pinto up the gazebo steps and stopped in front of Othello. Sal took his seat in front alongside Mac, who looked stunning and particularly feminine for once. In the front row on the groom’s side, Holden sat with Bogart and his two dates. Monique sat on his right while Colleen sat on his left. Both teenage girls were out of place in dresses, but they were happy to be at the wedding and even more so as Bogart’s dates.
As the ceremony got underway, Beck and Pinto recited their vows and exchanged rings. It was the perfect day for an outdoor wedding. Under Zack’s watchful eye and riflescope, the wedding went off without incident. Othello pronounced them husband and wife, and the eager couple kissed more passionately than normally acceptable.
§
The reception took place on the patio and inside the grand ballroom where an orchestra played. A buffet-style feast took up three tables and there was an open bar, where most of the single men seemed to hang out. There was also a portable bar on the patio, allowing the reception to float between the indoor and outdoor venues. Jackie and Holden danced several slow songs together and attempted to keep it respectable while Bogart danced with each of his young dates on a rotating basis. The two girls were in their glory and perhaps a little too smitten with Jackie’s charming brother.
Gil’s ex-wife gladly came as his date, and they seemed a little cozy on the dance floor. Since the entire team was staying overnight at Sal’s mansion, Jackie was almost convinced Gil and his ex-wife would be having their own wedding night festivities. Kirk was becoming familiar with one of the bridesmaids, who was almost certainly warned about his commitment issues. She didn’t seem to care, not seeing past his muscles. Bogart had his eye on the second bridesmaid, but he’d committed the evening to his teenager friends and intended to stick with that plan. Holden kept Jackie close as they danced and held her hand to his chest. He scanned the elegant room and everyone having a good time.
“Well,” he announced with a sigh. “It would seem half the west coast mafia turned out for this little function.”
“Had you seen the guest list?” Jackie muttered close to his ear. “Frightening.”
“Seen it?” he teased. “I ran background checks on just about every name on the list. There are some heavy hitters here.” He then cast a look at Mac and Sal slow dancing and indicated the woman. “How did Mac get an invite? I thought she was Typhoid Mary.”
“She is,” Jackie replied and hid her smile. “Sal invited her as his plus one against the groom’s wishes. Sal thinks she deserves another chance.”
“For what? To turn on you and get the entire team killed?” Holden remarked.
“Beck shut it down loud and clear,” Jackie replied and nuzzled her husband’s neck. “She’s still ousted.”
“Does she know that?”
“I couldn’t say,” Jackie muttered near his ear. She pulled back, met his gaze, and smiled seductively while placing both arms around his neck. “What do you say we sneak off for a quickie behind the gazebo? It’s almost dark.”
Holden grinned his response. “I like the way your devious mind works.”
They were about to kiss when someone cleared his throat alongside them. They pulled away and looked at Monroe standing only a foot away.
“Okay, Holden,” Monroe announced. “She’s your wife, I get that, but I think you should let us poor dateless souls have a dance.”
Holden released Jackie and placed his hand on Monroe’s shoulder. “You know,” he announced, “I’m feeling just sorry enough to let you have that dance.”
Monroe collected Jackie in his arms and watched as Holden snickered and walked away. “I’m guessing you promised him a quickie during the reception,” he muttered then eyed Jackie as they danced. “You could have done so much better.”
She clung to his neck and smiled. “Oh, really?” she asked. “With you, perhaps?”
“I’m not such a bad catch,” he informed her.
“No, you’re a wonderful catch,” she replied and straightened his tie with one hand. “You’ll make some woman very happy one day.”
“Does ‘one day’ ever come along?” he teased.
“It did for me,” she replied and smiled. “When you least expect it and definitely don’t want it.”
“I always hoped ‘one day’ would be you,” he remarked in a gentle, serious tone.
Jackie stared into his eyes, gently touched his face, and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Our day passed,” she whispered while offering a tiny smile. “Trust me; there’s some rebellious, venomous woman worse than me just waiting for you to come along.”
Monroe’s eyes strayed to Mac as she danced with Sal and laughed at something he’d said. Jackie’s eyes suddenly widened, and she slapped Monroe gently on the face. He looked back at her with surprise.
“Don’t you even consider that thought,” she gasped just loud enough for him to hear. “I don’t know what happened between her and Zack, but you need to stay far away from that woman.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything, I swear,” he protested then frowned. “Well, maybe something freaky and wild, but definitely not in the way of a relationship.”
“Mac is off-limits,” Jackie insisted. “Don’t choose her over Zack. He’s liable to put you both in the ground.”
§
After being passed around on the dance floor to slow dance with her father’s team, minus Zack who seemed to have vanished, Jackie slipped outside for some cool air. Most of the party had ventured into the grand ballroom leaving the patio almost void of life. One couple must have had the same idea she did since she heard undeniable sounds of pleasure coming from behind the gazebo. She had to admit, she was curious, but she avoided sneaking a peek. The music could be heard almost as clearly on the patio as inside, making a romantic evening on the patio. Jackie leaned on the half wall and stared into the dimly lit garden.
“Do you have one more dance left in you?” Zack asked from nearby.
Jackie turned and saw Zack standing a few yards from her. To her surprise, he was dressed in his full dress white uniform made of certified Navy Twill. The uniform, minus the gloves and hat, consisted of a high stand-collared white tunic with shoulder boards, white trousers, and white shoes. Jackie stared at him a moment then grinned, pleased with what she saw.
“Wow,” she announced while looking him over. “Do I know you?”
Zack rolled his eyes and pulled her into his arms, forcing her to dance with him on the patio. Although he held her a little too close, she didn’t protest. She’d never danced with Zack before, and she wasn’t going to jinx it.
“I thought you took off,” Jackie remarked as he held her hand to his chest in the same affectionate manner as Holden had when they danced.
“It’s Beck’s wedding,” he informed her. “I’m obligated to stay until after the cake is cut.”
“Says who?”
“Says me,” he replied then shrugged while grinning. “I like wedding cake.”
Zack held Jackie tight against him almost as if he intended to smother her. It was that moment she realized something was wrong, but she couldn’t push the conversation.
“You asked who ‘she’ was,” he announced timidly. “She was an innocent, naive girl who thought she could handle my past. Mind you that was back when my past wasn’t even a shadow of what it is now.” He seemed to tense and fell silent a moment. “After you were born, I started thinking I could have what your father had. A life; a family; a kid named Scorpio--”
“Scorpio?” Jackie asked with surprise and nearly pulled back to see if he was serious. She knew it would end the conversation, so she decided against it.
“SEAL Team Scorpio,” he replied and held his breath. “In honor of an amazing group of men we lost on a single mission.” Zack sighed then snorted a soft laugh. “Me a father? And I thought she was the naïve one.” He sighed gently near her ear. “I would have done anything for her. Ultimately, I did. I let the government kill me off, so she’d think I was dead. It was the only way to protect her.”
Jackie considered not speaking, but she couldn’t help herself. “Have you ever thought about looking her up?” she asked gently.
“Yeah,” he replied softly and frowned. “I looked her up. She died the year after the government faked my death. Accidental death, they claimed.” He drew a deep breath. “It wasn’t an accident. Someone found her and killed her because of me; I’m almost positive of that. I sometimes visit her grave to remind myself not to invite any more innocent people into my life.” He buried his face into her hair and muttered under his breath. “I’d like to go away and never come back. I was well on my way to a life of solitude on the ocean before you made your dramatic reappearance into our lives.”
She pulled back and met his gaze with a stern look. “No, Zack,” she insisted. “No one here is better off without you in their lives.”
“Holden would be happy to get rid of me,” he informed her without hesitation.
“I assure you that only applies to our bedroom,” she remarked. “Not our lives.”
“I feel sorry for you, Jackie,” he announced and shook his head.
She stared at him with a bewildered look. “Sorry for me? Why?”
“Because you’re stupid enough to care about me,” he casually replied. “My past is a threat to everyone in the team and those they love. If I wasn’t such a selfish bastard, I’d leave for the sake of everyone I care about. I’ve thought about it, but I’m afraid to leave. I’m afraid something will happen to you, and it’ll be my fault for not being here to prevent it when that day comes.”
Jackie stared into his eyes. “I’m selfish too,” she boldly announced. “I don’t want you to leave. If you try; I will find you and bring you back. It’s that simple, Zack. You can’t escape me. You’re stuck with me.”
