Page 57 of Finding Elodie
“Just spit it out,” Paul barked.
“Right. The bad news is that he’s currently at sea. He was transferred to the Asaka Freedom.”
“Fuck. How long?”
“His contract is for six months. But I’ve got their port schedule, and there’s a good chance he’ll take shore leave when they get to their next port. From what I’ve been able to find out about our guy, he considers himself a ladies’ man and has a habit of visiting bars and whorehouses when he lands.”
“I want intel,” Paul said.
“And you’ll get it.”
“You go,” Paul said. “I need you on this, Andrew. You’re the only person who knows about this bitch. If my son finds out what happened, and that I let her get away, he’ll push to take over the family—and I’m not ready for that to happen. I need her dead.”
Even Paul realized he was becoming slightly irrational, maybe even obsessed with killing Elodie Winters…but he couldn’t stop now. It was a matter of pride. It didn’t seem as if Elodie had gone to the cops yet, at least no one had confronted him about anything, but if there was a chance she could, he needed to make sure it didn’t happen.
She couldn’t win. And right now, it felt as if she was winning. She was continually a few steps ahead of him, and Paul fucking hated it.
“I need you to take care of this personally. Go get this asshole. Find out what he knows about Elodie.”
“I can do that.”
“I don’t care what it takes. Any information is better than what we have now, which is nothing. Use another identity so no one can trace you back to the family. This is all under the radar, got it?”
“I’ll take care of it. And him,” Andrew said with a hungry gleam in his eye.
Paul knew his friend was bloodthirsty and enjoyed seeing others suffer; it was what had made him such a good soldier, and now capo. He controlled his soldiers with an iron fist and no one dared cross him. He’d find this Italian Don Juan and get any information he had about Elodie Winters out of him. If the man tried to keep quiet to protect the bitch, he’d be singing like a canary when Andrew got done with him.
One of the things that Paul liked most about Andrew was that he wasn’t afraid to torture their enemies for information. It showed his loyalty to the organization. To Paul.
Paul didn’t feel bad in the least that this Russo had narrowly escaped being killed by pirates, only to die by torture at Andrew’s hands. His only concern was finding the rock Elodie had crawled under. He wouldn’t let her get away. He was Paul fucking Columbus. She should’ve been more grateful to him for giving her a job. Shouldn’t have said no. Shouldn’t have run. But now that she had, she’d signed her own death warrant. He’d look weak if he didn’t take care of her.
Andrew nodded and left the room as silently as he’d entered, but Paul didn’t even notice. He was too lost in the visions of payback running through his head.
More and more often Paul found himself obsessing over things that hadn’t gone as he’d wanted. Replaying different outcomes in his mind. His sons had subtly indicated they were worried about his mental health, but Paul brushed away their concerns. His kids just wanted to be in charge. Especially Jerry. Paul knew they were calling him paranoid behind his back…but he’d show them. Once he took down Elodie, things would settle again. He didn’t like loose ends, and the chef was a huge one.
Paul’s impatience was reaching its peak, but knew he could count on his capo. Andrew would find Valentino and get the information they needed to find the bitch.
She might think she was safe. But no matter how much time passed, Elodie Winters would never be safe from him.
Chapter Eleven
“I’m going for a run.”
The words barely registered in Elodie’s brain. She squinted her eyes open and saw Scott hovering over her. He had on a tank top and a pair of running shorts. She frowned. “What time is it?” she asked sleepily.
He smiled and leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Early. Go back to sleep. I’ll be gone about an hour and a half or so.”
“You’re going to run for an hour and a half? Are you nuts?”
He chuckled. “I’m a SEAL,” he said as if that explained it. Then he turned and headed for the door. Before he got there, he turned again and came back to the side of the bed. He leaned over once more and put his hand on her cheek. “For the record…I like having you here in my bed. Thank you for last night.” Then he kissed her on the lips and was up and moving before she could respond.
Shifting on the mattress, Elodie smiled. She was delightfully sore in all the right places. But glancing at the old-fashioned clock radio on the table next to the bed turned her smile to a grimace. Four-thirty. It was way too early to get up, especially considering it was her day off. She’d sleep for a bit, then get up, shower, and make breakfast for Scott.
She actually looked forward to cooking for the first time in a long while. Breakfast wasn’t exactly haute cuisine, but she made a mean eggs benedict if she did say so herself.
Turning over, Elodie inhaled the scent of Scott, lingering on his pillow, and closed her eyes.
She woke up later groggy and disoriented. When she looked at the clock again, she saw it was nearly nine in the morning.
