Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series (3 page)

“But James,” she pleaded, turning to the man standing behind her. “I’m not safe. You know I have someone after me.”

The beleaguered manager looked up at the wall of testosterone that had approached, swallowing several times.

“Is there a problem?” Tony clipped.

Her eyes narrowing, she bit out, “Yes. I want to be escorted up to my hotel suite and I want Gabe to do it. It’s in my contract for me to have access to him and if I need to, I’ll call my lawyer.”

The men looked with disgust at the woman standing in front of them. Tony, not moved by threats, loomed over the statuesque woman but focused his comments to the manager. “You will find that Alvarez Security has fulfilled their obligations to the letter. If you feel unsafe, then you need to call the police and discuss it with them.” With that, the men turned and walked away from the steaming woman.

“I can’t believe you’d just walk away. You know who I am. I can break your little security business you know. One word from me and no one will want you.”

At that, the men laughed out loud, their mirth angering her further. “Fine, the next time your dick gets lonely for me, don’t come calling,” she called out loudly gaining the attention of several bystanders.

With a quick scan, Gabe assured himself that there were no press nearby, but with cellphone cameras everywhere he forced himself to stay as calm as possible while stalking back over to her. Leaning down, so that only she could hear, he whispered, “Banging you was the biggest mistake I’ve made in a long time. You were a convenient fuck and we both knew it at the time. And truthfully, not a good fuck at that. But hear me now and hear me well—I don’t take to threats. My dick doesn’t come at your beck and call. And if you don’t turn and walk away, then you’ll get a public scene that’ll not be good for your career. You get me?”

With one last pull on her arm, her manager managed to drag her across the room to the doors. Gabe stood there for a moment, trying to gain control of his anger.
I shoulda’ never fucked her.
It had seemed so easy at the time and they had only been together three times.
Never shoulda’ done it the first time and sure as shit, never shoulda’ gone back.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he looked up to see Vinny standing there, concern on his face. “You okay, bro? Forget her.”

“Yeah, well your dick didn’t just get the agency in trouble.”

“No trouble,” came Tony’s response. “Our contract was for escorting and providing security while at the events only. What you do or don’t do on your time is your business.” With that, Tony, Jobe, and the others headed out.

“You coming?” Vinny asked when Gabe made no move to follow them.

“Nah, you go on out. I’m going to check in on something in the kitchen.” He turned and walked back into the kitchen, which was in full swing of the evening clean-up. His eyes landed on Jim, but before he could walk over to him he was intercepted by Carlos.

“She’s fine.”

Gabe eyed the man. “Who is she?”

“What’s it to you? With that tux and that actress on your arm, what do you care about the girl in the alley? Not exactly your type, is she?”

Not used to being questioned, Gabe moved in another step. “Just want to know her story.”

Carlos stared at the large man in front of him, seeing the questions in his eyes. He was good at reading people and had to admit to himself, this man gave off a trustworthy vibe. Nodding slowly, he jerked his head to the side before turning and moving toward the kitchen doors again.

Gabe followed him out then waited, not so patiently, while Carlos lit a cigarette and took a long pull on it.

“She comes some evenings and gets bread and food that hasn’t been used. Occasionally, I’ll slip in something special, but mostly she just comes for the bread. The manager knows and approves so I give her what she needs.” With that he smiled, looking over at the alley.

“Bet you’d give it to her whether the manager approved or not,” Gabe observed.

“Yeah,” Carlos said, taking another long drag. “She usually takes more when her old junker truck is working, but like tonight,” he shrugged, “she comes on foot if she has too.”

“What does she do with the bread?” Gabe asked, intrigued now more than ever.

“Don’t know. Don’t ask. But I got a feeling it isn’t for her.” At Gabe’s raised eyebrow, Carlos continued. “Jim’s followed her a couple of times when she was on foot and said that she gives some of it away to homeless people on the way.”

At that, Gabe reared back. “What the fuck?” The thought of the tiny woman moving among the streets at night, offering something to unknown people, floored him. “Is she crazy? Does she have any idea how dangerous that is?”

With one last drag on his cigarette, Carlos dropped it and crushed the butt under the heel of his boot. “Got a feeling that little one knows what she’s doing. And as long as she comes here looking for handouts, I’ll give ’em to her.” Turning, he walked back into the kitchen, leaving Gabe standing in the dark alley.

Pulling up the collar of his tux, he walked toward the parking garage and his new truck, thoughts of the pixie swirling through his mind.
Pixie?
He suddenly remembered a story his mother used to read when he and Vinny were young, about a pixie fairy flying out of the woods to help a boy who had been captured by a witch. While he couldn’t recall the details of the story, he vividly remembered the pictures. And the woman from the alley with her blonde curls blowing wildly around her perfect face and her slightly protruding ears, she looked exactly like the drawing in the book.

Walking into his apartment, he tossed his keys on the table in the entrance hall. Pulling off his tux as he headed through the bedroom and into the luxury bathroom, he turned on the shower. A few minutes later he walked back through the large apartment to the refrigerator, snagging a water bottle. Taking a long drink, his mind continued to play the meeting with the mysterious woman over and over. And once again, his dick was coming to attention.

What the fuck am I doing?
It was a chance encounter. A one-time meeting. That’s all.
Trying to force the thoughts of her out of his mind should have been easy. His Special Forces training had him prepared to clear his thoughts in an instant to re-focus on the mission at hand. Unfortunately, his mind was not prepared to let her go. As though
she
had become his mission.

*

Jennifer’s arms were
aching by the time she made it to the first floor of her building. An older man was standing by the back door as she turned into the alley.

“Miss Jennifer, I was afraid somethin’ had happened,” he exclaimed as he hustled to her aid.

“Oh, the stupid truck wouldn’t start and I had to walk. I didn’t get as much,” she explained as she handed the box to the older man. “It’s the best I could do, Henry.”

He bestowed her with a benevolent look, smiling as he took the box from her arms. “Lordy girl, this box is heavy.” Hesitating for just a moment, he looked at her beautiful but tired face. “But it’s appreciated.”

Gifted with her smile, he just shook his head. “Go on up. Ross is waitin’ for you.”

With that incentive, she took the stairs two at a time, all the way to the third floor. Walking down the well-lit hall, she ignored the peeling paint and worn tiles. Getting to her apartment, she tapped out the special knock on the old wooden door and heard the sound of several locks being unlatched. Throwing open the door, she was almost knocked over with a bear hug from Ross.

“I missed you,” he effused.

Laughing she replied, “I wasn’t gone that long, you know.”

“I know, but I can’t go to sleep until you get home.”

Lifting one eyebrow, she asked, “Well, are you ready to head to bed now?”

“Oh yeah.” He grabbed her hand and led her toward the back of the small apartment. Hopping into the bed, he grinned as he turned toward her.

She walked over, love shining in her blue eyes, and grabbed the covers to pull them up. Tucking him in, she whispered, “I love you, Ross.”

“I love you too, sis,” came the reply. “Tell me a story.”

Piling up on the bed with him, it only took a few minutes for her to regale him with tales of dragons, little boys being rescued, beautiful fairies and tonight she couldn’t help but add in giants. In a few minutes, he fell asleep and she gently stood from the bed, careful not to wake him.

Kissing the top of his blond head, she left his bedroom making sure the night-light was on. He may be eight years old, but Ross still liked having some light at night.

Walking back into the kitchen, she ran a glass full of tap-water. Taking a large drink, her mind wandered back to the man she encountered in the alley.
Arrogant giant,
thinking of him standing there in his immaculate tuxedo.
Well, gorgeous, Greek god-like arrogant giant
, she admitted to herself. He was huge and even though most men seemed large to her five foot, two inches petite frame…he was larger than most by far. His muscles were hidden beneath the expensive fabric, but she had no doubt that they were there if his square jaw and thick neck were anything to go by.

A warm feeling began to curl in her stomach and descend as she imagined what it would be like to be held by him. Then the image of the woman who was a dead ringer for Alicia Morgenstern came to mind.
Arghhh…she called me alley trash!
What a bitch.
Glancing down at her apparel, she paused. Jeans that she had had for years and were worn at the knees and seat. A jacket that had been given to her for the purpose of staying warm on the nights she went to pick up bread, but it too had seen better days. The image of the woman in her sky-high heels, black evening dress with a slit up to her thigh showing off impossibly long legs, and her boobs.
Good Lord, those things looked like they needed their own zip code.

Sighing, she walked around the bar toward the tiny bathroom and stripped as she ran the water into the tub. It was an extra small tub, but it was a feature of the apartment that she loved. Turning, she looked into the mirror. Long, tangled blonde curls hung down her back. Pulling it up on her head, she noticed her slightly pointy ears giving her the elfish look she always hated. Clear skin, blue eyes. Glancing down, she knew she had curves that were generally hidden under large clothes, but nowhere near the monster curves of the woman clinging to the giant.

Forcing herself to put him out of her mind, she took a quick bath and then climbed into bed. She normally fell asleep thinking of all of the things that needed to be done the next day, but tonight was different. This night, a handsome giant filled her dreams.

T
he morning sun
peeked through the old blinds and pretty pink curtains in Jennifer’s bedroom as her radio alarm began blasting country music. Slamming her hand on the snooze button, she needed the extra ten minutes. Ross had other plans.

“Jennybenny,” he yelled from the bathroom. “You gotta get up.”

Weren’t kids supposed to want to sleep late?
Maybe the alarm is wrong.
Sitting up in bed, she pushed her sleep tousled curls out of her face and looked at the clock. Nope, it was six o’clock. Time to begin their well-ordered morning.

Ross was dressed and out of the bathroom by the time she made it in there. Her morning routine was simple; quick shower, moisturizer and mascara, and she hopped in her slacks and blouse. Sliding on her basic two-inch pumps she remembered the sky-high heels of the lady from last night.
That woman had to be almost six feet tall without the heels. And I bet those shoes cost more than my month’s salary!
Those thoughts had her quickly thinking of the mystery man from last night. As tall as that woman had been, he had been taller.
No wonder he looked like a giant.
That thought was followed by the realization of what she must have looked like.

Grimacing, she moved to the kitchen where Ross was eating his cereal with the TV on. The local anchorman was talking about the huge gala event last evening to celebrate the completion of a movie filmed in Richland. Recognizing the name of the hotel as the one she was at last night, she turned to see the screen just as glamorous Alicia Morgenstern was alighting from a limo, her arm on…the giant in the tux.

She could not stop the desire to see him once again as she walked closer to the old, small TV.
Yep, he was just as gorgeous as her memory recalled.
Seeing Alicia turn and latch onto his arm had Jennifer clicking the TV off.
So out of my league
. A giggle erupted from her as she realized that the famous movie star had called her alley trash.
Wow, I was insulted by someone famous,
she thought wryly.

Glancing at the clock, she was glad Ross had gotten up on time since she could not seem to get her act together this morning.

“Got your homework, sweetie?”

“Yeah. Oh and you need to sign this,” he said as he pushed a piece of paper across the counter toward her.

Looking down at the school form, she saw a description of an upcoming field trip and a place for the parent/guardian to sign. Her fingers rested on the word as her mind slid back to just a year ago when her mom would have been excited to have signed the form.