Navy Seal's Innocent Italian (3 page)

New York City…

Jake Travers had just turned onto the highway, after having spent a pleasant evening with several guys from his military unit. They had thrown him a surprise retirement party, brought in dancing girls, and the liquor had flowed like water.

Jake himself, had spent most of the night watching the antics of his fellow soldiers, having no interest in partaking of the feminine offerings so blatantly displayed by the girls in attendance.  He was still pondering those decisions, when his cell phone rang through the speakers of his helmet.

“Yeah?” Jake answered his cell phone, having pulled his bike over to the side of the highway upon hearing it ring for the fifth time. Sitting the helmet he’d just removed on the bike between his legs, he then shut the engine off on his custom Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycle.

“Travers, how ya doin’?” came the voice of Shawn Marshall.

“Shawn, not bad. What’s up? You still kickin’ it in Denver?”

“Yeah. Just waiting on you to take me up on that offer. I heard you were out.”

Jake nodded his head, putting the kickstand down on the bike and pulling his right leg over the seat, “I got out a few days ago. I’ve been thinking about calling you.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve never been to Colorado and thought maybe I’d drive out and take a look around.” Jake didn’t add that he also was seriously considering joining the team of former military personnel who worked at MJI Securities. That went without saying.

For men like Jake Travers, being released from active duty wasn’t something to look forward to. Jake was an only child having grown up in the State of New York’s foster care system, and with no family to call his own, the military had filled that void.

Jake had enlisted two days after turning eighteen and had served his country faithfully for the last ten years. He’d gone into the Navy, and then on to become a Navy Seal. He’d met Shawn and Seth while serving overseas, and after completing over twenty missions with one or both of them, they were the closest thing to family he had.

Jake Travers had earned himself the nickname “Pretty Boy” from his fellow marines, his rugged good looks guaranteed to turn every female head when he walked into the room.  Before enlisting, his hair had been worn longer, just brushing the collar of his favorite t-shirts, and always looking like it needed combed.

His dark blue eyes were often filled with mirth and a twinkle designed to gain him the attention of any available skirt in the area. He had dated a myriad of women during the last ten years, usually the type that hung out around the military posts, looking for a quick thrill and no commitment.

Since deciding not to re-up, Jake had taken a good hard look at his future and didn’t like what he saw. For the last two months, he’d been laying the groundwork to settle down. His goals were to get settled in Colorado, find an attractive woman who was looking for more than just a quick tumble between the sheets, and have a couple of kids.

Thanks to some well-heeded advice from men like Trent Coldwell, Jake had taken his military earnings and invested them wisely. The market had been kind to him and he was now sitting on a sizable amount of money, making it unnecessary for him to work unless he wanted to. 

At the age of twenty-eight, he wasn’t necessarily old, but he wanted to have kids before he was too old to enjoy them.  He was also tired of living alone, and the thought of coming home to the same woman each night was a pleasant thought, rather than a nightmare to be avoided at all costs.

Shawn’s voice brought him back from his thoughts, “…anyway, I was hoping you could check things out before you headed this way.”

Shaking his head, he made a face and then said, “Sorry, I didn’t catch all of that. Run it by me one more time.”

Shawn complied, “We’ve had a problem out here. An old nemesis kidnapped Trent and Brianna’s baby from the hospital.”

Whoa!
What?!
How could anyone do that!

Shawn continued before Jake could react, “Seth managed to recover the child, but the man who took her left the country. I just got word that
he’s back and his jet landed at JFK thirty minutes ago.  We don’t know what else this man is capable of, or if he’s still intent on revenge. Trent wants eyes on him in case he decides to do something else.”

Jake shook his head.
You had to be either stupid, or crazy to cross a man like Trent Coldwell.
“Who took the baby?”

“Marco Bresi.”

“Do we know why?” Jake asked, knowing there must be a story behind such a foolhardy act.

“Long story short – Marco’s daughter and Trent were an item. Something happened and Trent broke it off. She committed suicide several weeks later and was also found to be pregnant.”

“Wasn’t his daughter some famous fashion model?” Jake asked, trying to recall news that had happened over three years prior

“Serena Bresi. And yes, she was a well-paid, high fashion model. News of her suicide and the pregnancy never came out. Marco wields some pretty impressive power in that part of the world. Anyway, he blames Trent for her death and that of the baby. Stealing Trent’s baby was an act of revenge on his part. “

“But the baby’s okay?” Jake asked, wondering how anyone could possibly try to use an infant for revenge.

“Yeah. She was returned within a day. Trent wants this man to pay for upsetting his wife.”

“Pay? How?” Jake queried, knowing that while he’d certainly killed a few terrorists and insurgents overseas, he would have to draw the line at cold-blooded murder.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Up until now, Marco has only tried to hurt him financially, and has lost every time. I’m hoping that maybe Marco will be willing to actually listen to Trent this time and come to realize that his daughter wasn’t the angel he seems to think she was. I’ve known Trent for years, and I saw him with Serena on many occasions. He was in love with that girl. If he broke it off, there had to have been a good reason.”

“You don’t know what it is?” Jake wondered aloud.

“No one does. I don’t even think Trent’s wife knows the entire story. Anyway, I’m going to send a picture of Marco to your phone. Think you can locate him and keep me apprised of his comings and goings for a bit?”

Jake nodded his head, “Sure thing.
Any idea where he’d hole up in the city?”

“Yeah. Diamante Global has their North American offices in New York
City. According to my info, the top floor of the building is Marco’s personal residence while he’s in town. I’ll send you the address.”

“Great. I’ll let you know once I’ve located him.”

“So, does this mean I can count you as coming on board the team?” Shawn asked a smile in his voice.

“Looks like it.” Jake waited for Shawn to reply, hoping he hadn’t overstepped his bounds by assuming the job offer was still on the table.

“Nice! Seth will be happy to hear that, and so will Chance. Now that both of them have met ‘the one’ they’ll be wanting to spend less time in the field, and more time at home. Welcome aboard.”

“Thanks. Send me that picture and address. I’ll contact you when I have more information.”

Jake located the posh office building, noticing that the entire ground level floor was a wide-open foyer, complete with security guard.
No arriving unannounced here!
  He parked his bike across the street, seeing a barista on the corner and headed there to wait. From this vantage point, he had a full view of the front of the building.

He didn’t have to wait long. A limousine arrived fifteen minutes later, pulling up to the front door and Jake watched Marco escort a young woman from the back of the car. Narrowing his eyes, he watched as she smiled at both Marco and the driver. She was young enough to be his daughter, but he couldn’t remember there being any mention of a second Bresi daughter.
I thought Marco only had one daughter?

He turned
to more fully observe the young woman, appreciating her lithe figure and the vibrant energy that reached to him across the street. He watched as the driver removed a large instrument from the other side of the vehicle, and how she lovingly ran her hand over the front of the case, when it was brought to her.
God that was sexy!
He wasn’t close enough to see her eyes or facial expression clearly, but just watching her stroke the instrument had his body hardening.

Pushing his libido aside, he refocused on the opposite side of the street. He’d been without female companionship for almost three
months, and now wasn’t the time for his body to start acting up!

From this distance, Jake couldn’t see exactly what sort of instrument it was, but it was definitely bigger than a guitar. H
e’d worked and saved for two summers to purchase his very own guitar while in high school, and it had become his constant companion and a source of entertainment on long flights across the Atlantic.

He watched his target interact with the young woman, wondering again what her relationship was to Marco. He watched the duo enter the building, expecting to see the limo drive off, but it just sat there.
As they disappeared from sight, he was shocked at the visceral response he’d just had to some unknown woman. 
That should make things interesting!

Glancing at his watch, he realized it was dinnertime. He finished his coffee and a few minutes later
decided the limo was waiting for them to return. Marco exited the building with the young woman in tow half an hour later. Sauntering towards his bike, he watched the limo pull away from the curb and then followed at a discreet distance.

When the limo stopped in front of a well-known restaurant, Jake parked his bike and followed the pair inside. The establishment was busy, but not too busy to accommodate another diner. Luckily, Jake was seated at a table very near Marco’
s, and able to hear most of their conversation.

He ignored the brunette waitress who flirted with him shamelessly when she took his drink and his dinner order, instead, wanting her to move along quickly so he could find something that would let him get closer to Marco and his beautiful companion.

“So, I have a meeting at Mt. Sinai Children’s tomorrow at 10 o’clock. I was wondering if I could borrow your driver.”

Jake listened to her soft melodic voice and wanted her to keep talking. There was just a hint of huskiness in her tone. He had gotten his first close up glimpse of her as he was seated, and the image was still burned into his brain.

Jake had a thing for blondes. Always had. Probably always would. As he had passed their table, she had looked up at him, and the emerald green of her eyes had caught and held his attention. She had the traditional Italian features, with a lightly tanned complexion that was smooth and healthy looking.

Her eyes were framed by dark lashes, and her mouth was – kissable. The bottom lip full and begging to be kissed. The long honey strands of her hair had been left down and brushed till they shone. He’d only gotten a quick glimpse of her figure, but what he saw ensured he’d be paying attention in the future.

She appeared petite and very lithe, but her breasts strained against the blouse she wore and he figured they would be a little more than a handful. He’d guessed she was around 5’6” from his earlier observation of her with Marco, and as he was seated. He wondered how old she was.

Hearing her soft laughter, he tore his thoughts from her person, and once again focused on the conversation.

“…I thought we could head to Colorado
the day after tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want to check out the west coast facilities first?” Marco was asking his companion.

“Mr. Bresi, I really don’t think so. Going to Mt. Sinai tomorrow is simply to assure myself I’m making the right decision. I don’t want to be confined to the strictures placed upon the medical community in this country.

“My research has shown that music can help kids with certain disabilities in ways no one’s even thought of before. I think the university environment will be much more suited to my future plans.”

“Very well. I just want to make good on my promise to your father. Now, I
have several meetings to attend to in the morning. I will send the driver back for you and you shall have him at your disposal the remainder of the day.” Marco smiled at the waitress as she returned to take their orders.

“Thank you. I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally be in America.”
Alex gave the waitress her order and then handed back her menu. “Thank you,” she murmured, trying not to notice the fact that the waitress was paying more attention to the dinner guest sitting around the corner, than she was to them. Alex resisted the urge to turn around and look.
I wonder if it’s that hot guy that came in right behind us? He was absolutely yummy looking!

“Keep that enthusiasm.
Your father asked me for some additional assistance at our last meeting. I assume he didn’t say anything to you.”

Alex cringed inside, knowing what Marco was about to say, didn’t make it go away. She shook her head, waiting to hear her future decided for her yet again.

Marco gave her a sympathetic look before he said, “Your father has asked that I help find you a suitable husband before I go back to Italy. He was very adamant about it being a father’s responsibility. He basically gave me that responsibility and made me promise to do what I could.”

Alex brought her attention back to Marco and the conversation. Marco was talking about finding her a husband.
“Yes, well about that…I do want to get married… eventually. He’s been stuck on this subject since my betrothed and I split. He mentioned something about that to me, but I only went along with my father’s suggestions so that he’d let me come to the states. There’s really no need for you to act like a matchmaker on my account.”

Jake couldn’t hear Marco’s response because his very attentive waitress chose that exact moment to bother him again.

“All finished?” she inquired, bending at the waist to retrieve his plate and giving him an eye-full of cleavage.
Had she undone a few buttons since last visiting his table? He’d have remembered seeing those.

“Yes. Could
you please bring me the check?” he asked her politely, looking at her eyes and refusing to let them wander down to her considerable assets.

“Are you sure I couldn’t interest you in some dessert?” she licked her lips as she finished speaking.

Her flirting was so over the top, Jake had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing at her. “No, I really just need the check.”

She pouted for a moment, and then smiled at h
im, lowering her eyelids to half-mast, “What if what was being offered wasn’t on the menu?” She scooted a few inches closer so that she was barely brushing the table with her thighs. “Do you know what I mean?” she added with a wink.

Jake couldn’t continue his mirth any longer, laughing he said, “I do know what you mean, unfortunately, I can’t.”

The waitress stood back up, backing off slightly, “Can’t or won’t?” 

Jake sobered and looked her in the eye, “Can’t. I got injured overseas…”

Her reaction was not what he’d been going for at all. The waitress made a sound of distress and wrapped her arms around his head, smashing his cheek into her right breast as she hugged him, “Oh, you poor, poor man. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Jake extricated himself from her arms, pushing his chair back slightly to ensure a safe escape route if needed, “No, really. I just need the check.”

Before she could molest him again, the maître de arrived, “Melissa, is there a problem here?”

Melissa straightened up, “Oh, no sir. This poor man was injured while fighting overseas
. We were just talking for a moment.”

The maître de gave Jake a look of sympathy, “Well. Now that you’ve finished your conversation, why don’t you see about your other
customers? I’ll personally take care of ringing this gentleman out. Run along now.” He made a shooing motion, and after giving her a thorough look over, he suggested baldly, “Why don’t you make a stop by the ladies room first and fix your appearance. I do believe you might have lost a button or two and we can’t have our guests being offended by our attire, now can we?”

Melissa narrowed her eyes and paused
to consider protesting, but after meeting the maître de’s stare for a few seconds, her shoulders dropped and she walked away.

“I apologize for her behavior.”

Jake stood from the table and slapped the man on the back, “Don’t worry about it. I was just about to make my escape when you walked up.” Glancing to his left, he realized his quarry had escaped during the Melissa episode. Paying his tab, he headed for his bike and a hotel. Tomorrow would be soon enough to make himself personally acquainted with the young woman.