Tony: Alvarez Security Series (26 page)

Shaking Tony’s hand, Ted said, “Now, now, Viv. Let the man breathe.”

Sherrie looked on in curiosity at the tall, handsome man in front of their table. His gray hair was neatly trimmed and his suit appeared expensive. The woman at his side was also tall, reed-thin, and elegantly dressed as well. She saw their eyes dart toward her and she shot a glance at Tony.

Tony introduced the couple to Sherrie. Vivian as she smiled down at Sherrie and said, “I see you’re just ready for dessert. We won’t keep you.” She stood awkwardly, as though she wanted to stay, but knew she should not.

Ted quickly placed his hand on his wife’s shoulder and said, “My dear, let’s move on. I’m sure they’d rather be alone—”

Vivian’s eyes frosted over, but as Sherrie realized…not with anger, but with grief.
This woman buried her daughter and her granddaughter. I’m sure seeing Tony brings painful memories to the forefront.

Sherrie reached her hand out and placed it on Vivian’s arm. “I’m so sorry for your loss,” she said sincerely. Vivian’s watery eyes lifted and found hers. “I recently lost my sister and while my grief is not like yours, I still sympathize.”

“Oh, I am sorry about your sister,” Vivian admitted.

It appeared that she wanted to say more, but the words never came. Ted wrapped his arm around his wife as they quickly said their goodbyes, leaving a frustrated Tony looking over the dwindling candlelight at a very reserved Sherrie.
Jesus, fuck,
he thought ruefully. He scraped his chair back, rising as he held out his hand. She placed hers in his gently and moved toward him.

Tucking her into his side, he escorted her to his truck. Neither speaking out of fear of what the other was thinking. By the time they entered her house, he could stand the silence no more.

“Baby, we gotta talk,” he growled, frustration pouring out in his words.

Her gaze shot up toward his, fearful of his tone. “Oh…okay.”

“I am so fuckin’ sorry about that. I haven’t seen them in a long time and well…that was awkward.

Her lips trembling, she approached him, placing her hands on his strong chest, feeling his heartbeat pounding against her fingertips. “Tony, it’s okay, really. You’ve shown me that I’m not a replacement for Marla, and you’ve been able to open yourself up to love again. Viv…has nothing to be open for.” Giving a little shrug, she admitted, “Grief, in some form or another, lasts forever.”

Looking down at the woman who taught him to love again, he cupped her face in his large hands, running his thumbs over her petal-soft cheeks. “I love you, baby.”

Smiling up at his warm eyes, she said, “I love you, too.”

“You’re being really understanding about tonight, but you gotta know that I was frustrated as hell. I wanted tonight to be just about us.”

Pulling him down, she touched her lips to his. Just as he was taking the kiss deeper, she moved away, a teasing grin on her face. Growling, he swatted her ass before scooping her up in his arms. Climbing the stairs, she pulled him back in for a kiss, this time letting him take it as deep as he wanted. And he wanted it deep.

Later, their breaths came in gasps as their erratic heartbeats pounded in an ancient rhythm from their lovemaking. Slowly as their bodies cooled, their breathing evened out and their hearts began to beat as one.

Tony lay with her in his arms, marveling at the strength of this woman. Strong and independent, but willing to give it all to him in the bedroom. She could have been pissy about Vivian but instead was kind and understanding.
I wanted to ask her to marry me. But she deserves wine and roses. She deserves to have the ring right there.

Looking down, he saw her face relaxed in slumber. He snagged the covers and pulled them over their cooling bodies, keeping her tucked closely to his side. Smiling, he drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

*

Hernando peered out
of his second-floor office window overlooking the laundry that was in full swing despite the late hour. With the extra teen labor he had been able to increase his business and now added two more hotels as his clients. Quentin indicated that he was very pleased with Hernando’s work.

His sharp eyes scanned the operation, checking to see that everyone was working. The two new girls were still learning and it showed—their actions were clumsy. The woman in charge of their training was not paying enough attention.

Opening the small window, he whistled and saw her stiffen before turning his way.
Yes, she knows what will happen.
Without another word, he shut the window and waited for her to appear at his door. She hurried in and started to shut the door.

“Leave it open,” he ordered. “It may serve as a deterrent for the others.” With a jerk of his head, he ordered, “Go out by the railing. You know what to do.”

Eyes wide with fright, she hesitantly made her way back to the railing that overlooked the facility. The two young teens looked up in fear, their gazes joined by the others. Placing her hands on the rail, she bent over as tears welled in the anxiety of the coming punishment.

Hernando looked at her ass, his crotch growing tighter as his dick swelled in anticipation. He loved the cruel dominance. The control. The power. The rush of adrenaline fed his cock as he pulled his belt out of his pants.

The woman’s trembling legs barely held her up but she knew not to move. With a swift downward swing, his belt slapped against her bottom. Four more in quick succession finished her punishment.

Ordering her inside of his office, he followed her, a cruel smile on his face as he unzipped his pants. Pulling out his erection, he placed his cock at her pussy entrance and slammed into her from behind, palming her blistered cheeks. As horny as he was, it did not take long to finish and tuck himself back into his trousers.

“Now get back to work and get those girls up to speed,” he growled at the crying woman. She pulled her pants back on hurrying to get out, trying to avert her eyes to those below. The ones she did glance at looked at her in sympathy, except for a few of the men who palmed their crotches. She knew what that meant. They would wait until after work and then demand her services.

She wanted out but knew there was no way. Hernando gave them a place to stay rent free, but the four dollars an hour she made only went so far. To get away meant she would have to live on the streets. Her chest heaving with frustration, she moved back over to the two teenage girls, showing them once again how to quickly bleach the towels before putting them in the large laundry equipment. Their fear had them speeding up the process.

Hernando watched with satisfaction as all of the workers processed the laundry quicker.
Nothing like fear to keep the workers in line.
Chuckling to himself, he moved back to his desk, turned out the light and headed to Quentin’s place.

*

Tony walked into
work the next morning, greeted by Doug.

“Sir, I’ve been watching the tunnel cameras. Not much happens other than there are some people that enter through one of the back buildings and go to Salazar’s office. We don’t have bugs in his office, so all I got is visual. You wanted to know if anyone seemed to make multiple trips and I’ve seen about six or seven. I gave those photos to Lily to process.”

Tony nodded, saying, “Thanks. Good job. Go home and get some sleep and I’ll have you on just one more night shift before you switch with Terrance.” Calling out to Lily, he asked for an update as soon as she could get one to him.

An hour later, she walked into his office with her reports. I ran the images that Doug gave me. Nothing interesting actually. A couple of them have police records but nothing recent. One appears to be coming and going several times, but he has his face hidden so I don’t have a good image to process. I’ll have Doug keep me posted on any newer ones.”

*

Sherrie was taking
a rare sick day to have a follow-up appointment with her doctor about her shoulder. When the doctor asked her if it was impeding her normal activities she choked out her answer, thinking about the activities of the previous evening. Her flaming face gave away her thoughts and her doctor laughed, saying that she was glad there was no hindrance.

Back at the house, she was cleaning to get ready for the party that weekend. Turning the music up loudly on the TV, she began to dance as she cleaned. Dressed in old, faded yoga pants and a sweatshirt that had seen better days, she vacuumed, dusted, scrubbed the kitchen and the bathrooms. All while listening to the oldies station. Hearing a familiar song, she stopped while mopping. It was a song her mother used to dance to before her father left.
She would twirl Charisse and me around in circles until we were dizzy.
Sighing at the memory, she walked over and changed the channel on her TV.

Before she had time to pick the mop up again, she heard Tony’s truck pull into the driveway. Glancing at her watch, she wondered why he was home in the middle of the morning. His footsteps pounded up the porch and through the door, quickly taking in the scene in front of him.

“What’s up, Tony?” she asked.

He stalked forward, a sexy grin on his face. “Babe, you cleaning this house, dancing around singing in these tight pants while shaking your gorgeous ass…I’ve been wanting to get back here for hours.” Reaching her, he pulled her close, capturing her lips in a possessive, wet kiss.

Dazed when she came up for air, she smiled dreamily at him. Then awareness of his words slowly dawned on her. As he started in for another kiss, she threw up her hand, halting his lips.

“Oh, no,” she warned, poking him in the chest. “I want to know how you knew what I was doing.”

He nodded toward her security camera in the hallway, near the door. “I have this place watched.”

“You…you have…what the hell are you talking about? Who’s watching?” she sputtered.

“A live feed goes into my place. We have a bank of videos of various residents who pay us to keep an eye on their property. I employ several people who monitor the video feeds. It’s only on the doors and windows, but I got a call from Vinny, who’s at the monitors, that every once in a while he could see you dancing by with a mop.”

“Tony, you didn’t ask my permission! What if I was prancing around naked?” she asked, suddenly horrified at what someone could have seen.

“Honey, with the business I’m in, I need to make sure our residence is monitored. Gabe and Jennifer as well as Matt and Lily have one too. Vinny and Jobe still live in their secure condo, so they don’t have direct feeds, but their places are secure as well.”

“That still doesn’t answer my naked question,” she declared, her foot tapping against the wooden floor.

The thought of her doing housework in the buff had his blood rushing to his dick and out of his head. Turning her way, he began to stalk toward her as she backed up. Her back hit the wall and he trapped her with both hands on either side of her head.

“Tony…” she warned.

“Babe, they are only aimed on the doors and windows. If you were dancing around naked, the only way you’d be seen by the cameras was if you were standing naked in front of the door or a window. And somehow I don’t believe you’d ever do that. Believe me, I’m the only one that will ever see you dancing naked in this house.” With that he leaned down, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss.