Chapter 11

There wasan unspoken conversation going on around Teresa, and she didn’t like being left out. Then again, she didn’t work with these people, so how could she be included in it?

“Even if I wasn’t okay with it, you guys would go ahead and contact the DEA, wouldn’t you?” She broke the silence that had descended around the room.

Angelo shrugged. “Yeah, we would. We use every resource available to us. In this particular case, the DEA will probably be able to help.”

Something they’d said earlier, about Astrid Conway, niggled at her. What was that about?

Only one way to find out. “You mentioned the celebrity chef, Astrid Conway and how the cartel lost interest in her. What does that mean?”

Her journalistic interest was piqued. The chef had had a rapid rise to celebrity status, but she didn’t recall seeing anything about her being involved in the cartel. If memory served, Astrid had gotten engaged and was planning her wedding.

“There was a situation about nine months ago where Astrid saw something she shouldn’t have and came under the close eye of the cartel.” Angelo met her gaze.

She liked how he did that, as though she were important to him. After the kiss they’d shared, Teresa liked to think they were, but now wasn’t the time to think about how his lips felt on hers.

“They did an about-face and decided she wasn’t a priority anymore, so they made it known she was to be left alone. Except, a member of the cartel wasn’t happy about that and went rogue. He kidnapped her and probably would’ve killed her if someone hadn’t come along and eliminated him.”

There were many holes in that story, but that was probably because he couldn’t give her all the details. “Do you know who killed the person who’d kidnapped Astrid?”

“No. But we suspect it was someone within the cartel sent to eliminate the rogue member,” Ox said.

“And you don’t find that weird?” she asked, unable to stop herself from staying in journalist mode.

“Damn sure we did, but all that mattered to us, and Growler, was that Astrid was safe and back with us,” Ox said. “Cass monitored the dark web, and the word was that they’d turned their interest to something else.”

“What was that?” Teresa pressed. Why couldn’t she let it go? They clearly had, and that should be all that mattered.

“We don’t know,” Angelo said. “It was never disclosed and so far, still hasn’t been mentioned. At least not to any players on the dark web. Whatever it is, Ramirez is keeping it close to his chest.”

Mystery after mystery, and at the center of it, was the cartel.

“Nothing I uncovered suggested there was a prize the cartel was chasing,” she mused, tapping her chin.

Had she missed something?

Teresa recalled the information she’d discovered during her investigations and came up blank.

“I’m sure, when Ramirez wants everyone to know, he will filter it out to whoever he wants the information to reach,” Cass murmured as she tapped away at the computer.

Silence fell around the room, each appearing to be lost in their own thoughts.

Angelo stood near Teresa, a welcome presence, although she wouldn’t let him know.

She took the time to work through everything that’d been said during the meeting, cataloguing things away, like she often did before going on assignment.

The biggest question that no one seemed able to answer was why Ramirez had announced that Astrid Conway wasn’t to be eliminated because that was what she assumed the cartel had intended, particularly if a rogue member had kidnapped her.

Clearly, he hadn’t been happy with the instructions. However, while it may not be relevant to what was happening with Teresa, it was something that couldn’t be ignored.

A wave of despair washed over her. The last twenty-four hours had seemed like a week. So much had happened, and yet nothing had, at the same time.

“I just want to go home,” she muttered under her breath. Being surrounded by her things would provide her with some sort of peace.

Although would it?

Her place had been violated. It wasn’t the safe haven it had always been. She’d forgotten that for a moment.

“You know you can’t go home, Tre,” Angelo said softly.

“Cass, why don’t you and I go to the conference room—we can make our calls there. It will be easier,” Ox said.

“Sure.”

They left the room quickly, leaving Teresa and Angelo alone.

She should’ve felt bad about kicking Ox out of his office, but she didn’t. In fact, she was grateful they’d been given some privacy because, as much as Teresa had thought her home wasn’t a safe place, she didn’t want Angelo to tell her she couldn’t go there.

Teresa took two steps away from him. Being close messed with her thinking processes. The high school girl she’d once been wanted to throw herself at him. Have his arms wrap around her and hold her close. The sensible, more mature part of her recognized that wasn’t a good idea, and if she wanted to be rational about things, she needed to put some space between her and her high school crush.

“What do you mean, I can’t go home? It should be safe now that you’ve gotten rid of the listening devices.” Even as she said the words, Teresa couldn’t deny how silly that sounded.

If whoever had been listening to her knew the bugs were gone, they’d have ample opportunity to replace them. However, she wasn’t going to say it out loud and put it out in the universe.

“What about the person who tried to get in last night?” Angelo crossed his arms over his broad chest, his shirt pulling tight around his biceps. “What if they come back? What will you do?”

“I don’t think they’d be dumb enough to try it again. Especially not since Phillip tried to stop him. Oh my God, Phillip.” Guilt raced through her that she’d been so caught up in her world she’d forgotten about how her neighbor had gotten hurt trying to protect her. “I don’t even know if he’s still in the hospital. How could I have forgotten about him? What he did for me. I need to see if he’s home. I need to make sure he’s okay.” She headed for the door, not caring that she was going to be leaving Angelo behind.

She’d almost reached the door when a hand on her arm halted her progress.

“Stop, Tre.”

Her heart pounded and the rush of adrenaline simmered down a little at Angelo’s command. “What? I need to go, Angelo.”

“Phillips is fine. I saw him this morning when Growler and I went back to your place.”

Was Angelo telling the truth, or was he just saying what he would keep her from rushing back to her place?

Teresa squashed the thought almost as soon as it formed.

There was no way he’d lie to her.

“You saw him, and he’s really okay?” she asked.

“I did. He said he had a bit of headache, but he looked fine. He was asking to see you.” Angelo’s lips pinched together, as if saying that last bit was the worst thing he ever had to say.

She didn’t allow her thoughts to head down the road that maybe Angelo was jealous of Phillip.

That would be too fanciful, even for her.

“I should go visit him. I need to make sure he’s okay.” Although Teresa didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. Didn’t want him to think that she’d changed her mind and was interested in him.

Bitchy much?

Her emotions were swaying so much she was making herself seasick.

“If it means that much to you, I’ll take you to see him,” Angelo huffed out.

“You will?”

Why should she be surprised at Angelo’s words?

He was that type of person. It might’ve been years since she’d had any interaction with him, but when he’d been in high school, he’d always had an innate sense of kindness.

After all, he could’ve just walked away when her books had skidded across the floor and stopped at his feet. Angelo hadn’t. He’d helped, and he’d been nice to her after the incident.

Although the idea obviously still pained him, as the sour look on his face hadn’t disappeared. “Yes. And while we’re there, you can pack up everything you need because you’ll be staying with me.”

Just like that—annoyance at his high-handed comment came barreling through Teresa, and she pulled away from his hold. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” She didn’t bother to keep the anger out of her voice.

The corners of his mouth lifted, and arrogant Angelo was on display. “You heard me. And we discussed how staying at your place wasn’t a good idea. I thought you understood that.”

“Yes, we discussed it, but I never agreed with you. And I’m not agreeing now.”

He sighed. “Tre, you know you don’t want to stay there. You can’t tell me the thought that your apartment is no longer a safe and calming space for you hasn’t crossed your mind.”

The fact he was right pained her more than she wanted to admit. “Can we just go, please?”

Never before had Teresa wanted to just curl up in a corner and bury herself in a bundle of blankets. This situation was so very different from anything she’d ever found herself in the middle of.

“We can go, but this discussion isn’t over.” Angelo reached and opened the door.

“Whatever,” she mumbled as she walked out of the room and down toward the exit.

Chatter reached her ears.

Great, more people she’d have to be pleasant in front of. Although if they were just clients, all Teresa had to do was smile politely and continue out the door.

“Tre, we need to grab your purse,” Angelo said.

“Right, yes.” She headed to where she’d stowed her handbag in the bottom drawer of Angelo’s desk. Teresa halted.

Astrid Conway was cuddling up to Growler. The handsome man was looking down at her as if the sun and moon rose out of her.

A stab of jealousy pierced her like an acupuncturist’s needle. Before she’d redirected her focus to her career, she’d wanted to find love. To have a man look at her as if she created the world.

Reality had set in when date after date with guys that seemed like the perfect man always came up short. Even the short relationships Teresa had had in the past hadn’t made her feel the way she’d wanted.

“Angel!” Astrid hugged him, and Teresa fought the urge to scratch her eyes out.

There was no way Astrid was even remotely interested in Angelo, not after the way she’d clung to her fiancé.

“Hey, Astrid. Did you bring us some of your delicious food?” Angelo returned the hug, but he kept his eyes firmly on her.

What did that mean?

Teresa already figured that Angelo wouldn’t encroach on another man’s woman.

Astrid made her way back to Growler. “No, but the next best thing. We want you all to come over for dinner tonight. I’ve got some recipes I want to try out, and who better than to test them on than you guys?” She laughed.

“Ahh, so we’re your lab rats, huh?” Angelo quipped before looking at Teresa yet again. “Do you have your life insurance updated?”

A growl came from Astrid’s fiancé. “Watch it, Angel.”

Angelo laughed at his co-worker. “Astrid knows I’m teasing. She still won’t give me her recipe for her tomato sauce. I swear it’s better than my mom’s, but if you tell her I said that, I’m going to deny it.”

Laughter erupted again around the small area, and Teresa smiled. They all liked and respected each other. It was nice, but it made her feel even more like an outsider.

“A girl has to have some secrets. And you know, you’re being rude by not introducing me to your friend.” Astrid’s eyebrows rose in query.

“Forgive me.” Angelo tagged Teresa’s hand.

His warmth enveloped her, and she had to stop herself from sinking into his side. Teresa had to remember she was still mad at him for thinking he could tell her where she could stay.

“Astrid Conway, meet Teresa Carter, investigative journalist and someone I knew back in high school.”

“Astrid, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve caught your show a couple of times. I have to admit your food looks delicious, and I’m totally okay being a lab rat.” The jealousy she’d experienced at seeing the woman in Angelo’s arms had passed. Teresa had watched the famous chef’s show, and her mouth had watered on many occasions. However, she’d made an assumption she’d been invited as well. “That is, if I’m included.”

“Of course, you’re included. Angel?” The chef directed her attention to the man at Teresa’s side. “Make sure Teresa comes.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Angelo’s voice deepened, and the sound tingled down Teresa’s spine. “Before we can do that, we’ve got places to be. What time do we need to get there?”

“Any time after six is fine.”

“Great.” Angelo squeezed her hand. “Come on, Tre. Let’s get going. We don’t want to be late, otherwise everyone will eat all the good stuff.”

“Not a chance,” Astrid said.

A few minutes later, they were in Angelo’s car, heading toward her place.

Tiny butterfly nerves fluttered to life in her belly.

What was she going to find when she got home?

Would her place look the same?

Feel the same?

Or would it be different?

Sadly, Teresa suspected it would feel different. As much as she didn’t want to agree with Angelo’s demand, she would.

She didn’t want to stay another minute in her place. She was adult enough to swallow her pride and let him know that she’d changed her mind. Whether he would tease her about it remained to be seen. Somehow, she didn’t think he would—at least she hoped he wouldn’t.

“I’ll pack a bag when we get to my place,” she said quietly.

“I’m glad,” Angelo said. He gave her thigh a squeeze before returning his hand to the steering wheel.

“I hate it though,” Teresa said. “I hate knowing they’ve got the better of me. That they’re making me leave my home. But mostly, I hate that I’m being hunted for trying to do the right thing. For attempting to make the world a safer place.”

“I hear you. More than you know. There’s nothing more frustrating than believing you’re doing the right thing. The very thing you’re sent to do and coming back to backlash because you stepped a little outside the boundary of what you were required to do. Even if it made things a little safer for those you were going to walk away from.”

There was a lot to unpack from Angelo’s little tirade.

Had he been forced off his SEAL team? Was that the reason he’d left the Navy?

Teresa wasn’t about to ask, in case it was a touchy subject for him. He had every right to feel that way.

“We can’t give up though, can we?” she asked. “We can’t let them get the better of us. I’ll give them this round, but I’m not going to stop. No matter how dangerous it is. I know I can’t bring down the whole cartel, but if I can stop one avenue of their business, slow them down a little for the authorities to do their job, then I will.”

Angelo’s fingers flexed around the steering wheel. Clearly, he didn’t like what she’d said, but she meant every word.

Teresa might not have the protection of the organization she’d once worked for, but somehow, some way, she’d continue to expose them. Perhaps she could leak stories under a pen name. Go to one of those internet cafes to upload the story. It was hard to trace it back to her if she used a place that lots of people used.

Or maybe she could ask Cass.

“Whatever’s going through your mind, I want you to shut it down now. You’re not alone anymore. You have Alliez at your back. We’ll find a way to get what you know to the right people. All the while keeping you safe.”

Teresa opened her mouth to argue. Yes, she had Alliez at her back, but if Angelo thought going to the DEA or FBI was going to help them, he was very much mistaken.

There were probably many agents who could be trusted, in divisions like drug enforcement, but there was always someone on the take. Chances were, when they heard about it from another agent, they’d do anything to bury the investigation until it was forgotten about.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you, Tre,” he said softly, stopping her from voicing her argument. “I wouldn’t like that at all.”