Not surprisingly, Vice Admiral Maddox followed her in.“I’m hoping three cases of beer is going to be enough.If it isn’t, we’ll find the youngest lieutenant and send him out for more.”
As the two men shoved cases of beer into the refrigerator, the vice admiral asked, “Did you hear about Ms.Nami?”
Evan stopped and looked at his mentor.“No.”
“She wasn’t in the house when they raided.They found her in her car at the airport in long-term parking…with her throat slit.”The vice admiral went on to say, “The whole car had been wiped clean.Real professional job.”
“Fuck.Somebody was afraid she was going to talk.”That was Evan’s take on the situation.
“None of the women in the house, and those who they collected living with sailors and SEALs, knew the name of the man in charge.Everyone just called him Big Daddy.They didn’t know the names of the bodyguards either, but thanks to Lieutenant Chaney’s pictures, they’ve identified several of them.Captain Dupree recognized one.He was a chief he’d court-martialed five years ago.”
“No, shit.A SEAL?”Evan was hoping he’d say no, but the answer was yes.
Deep voices from the front door echoed back to the kitchen.“Sounds like our boys are here.”
After boxes of pizza disappeared, and each junior officer drank one beer, Genevieve pointed to one of the other young men.He didn’t understand what she was asking.
“His tattoo,” she said just above a whisper.
He didn’t care.SEALs got lots of tattoos.Then he noticed that almost every one of them had a new tattoo.He squinted to try to see what it was.
Genevieve rolled her eyes.“Did a bunch of you get drunk and go out and get new tattoos?”
“We weren’t drunk, ma’am.”Lieutenant JG Kadel rolled up his sleeve to show off a colorful tattoo of a phoenix.Other men in the room followed, including Dylan.“Tattoo artists all over Coronado are booked into next month for these little babies.We picked out the design.”He high-fived Dylan.
Marta marched over and grabbed Dylan’s arm.“That is absolutely beautiful.I’ve never gotten a tattoo before, but I’d consider getting one of those.”
“You will do no such thing,” Vice Admiral Maddox scolded.Then he looked around the room, embarrassed.“Beautiful women like you and Genevieve do not need body art.”He looked to Evan for support.“Right?”
Evan grinned.“Genevieve has a tattoo.”
Marta grabbed Genevieve’s hand.“See?Don’t you think we need to get one of those?”
“No.My tattoo is very small and hurt like hell.”She smiled up at her friend.“But, I’d love to find a ring with a phoenix.”The two women dashed to the back of the house, likely to Genevieve’s office and her computer.
An hour later, after everyone said goodbye, Evan and Genevieve collapsed on the couch.Theircouch.They were taking care of Ian for one last night in their home.Saturday, he’d be Dylan’s responsibility.
“So, Evan, when are you going to marry me?”He loved Genevieve’s sassy voice.
He took out his phone and started checking flights.“How about tomorrow night?Las Vegas.”He showed her the flights.
She swatted his hand away and pressed Buy.
Epilogue #2
Big Daddy satin his club in downtown Los Angeles, sipping bourbon that was made before the girls working the floor were a twinkle in their daddy’s eye.This was his second favorite gentlemen’s club.He loved knowing that every man there had paid a million dollars to join and signed an ironclad nondisclosure agreement.He also had video of anyone he didn’t trust, and Big Daddy didn’t trust anyone.
One of his men came by and leaned in.“They found her.”
He waved the man off.Miss Nami had done an excellent job for several years, but she was getting a little too demanding, so he didn’t feel bad about having her killed.Although she didn’t know exactly who he was, she knew of several of his other operations.She’d trained at the Virginia Beach site and had screened girls for his D.C.club.
He took a deep drink and savored the burn all the way down.No problem.He’d be up and operational again within six months and nobody would ever suspect him.He’d already be gone to the East Coast.
The End.
