Page 49 of Tony

As he turned to head back into the house, a voice came from behind.

“Lot of activity goin’ on over here.”

Tony saw Bernard walking over from his yard. “Yes, sir. Sherrie had a little accident and our friends were just checking on her.”

Bernard’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “She okay? You all need anything?”

Tony smiled at the older man’s concern. “Nah, we’re good.” He started to move back toward the porch steps, then called to Bernard’s retreating back. “Bernard?” The older neighbor turned back around. “If you don’t mind, keep an eye on Sherrie’s place here. I don’t expect anything, but just in case.”

Bernard smiled and admitted, “Always do, son. I always do.”

Tony acknowledged with a nod and jogged back into the living room. Sherrie had slid sideways on the sofa, her pain medication finally taking effect. He picked her up carefully, carrying her up the stairs to her bed. Laying her down gently, he once again pulled the covers over her. Stepping back, he finally allowed the emotions of the past twelve hours to sink in.Too close. I was too fuckin’ close to losing her. That’s not happening,he vowed.Whether she was in the wrong place at the wrong time or someone specifically after her. Not happening.

* * *

The next day, Sherrie had had enough of lying around and was glad when Tony went to work, even if he had declared that he was coming home early. Running the tub full of bubbles, she sank into the warm, scented water and tried to take her mind off the past day’s events.

But the pull of her assault was too strong as she became pissed again.Focus, Sherrie. Focus. Was there anything that tied it to Valesquez?

No. The man didn’t mention Betina, or Valesquez, or anyone. Could I have just stumbled into the wrong place at the wrong time?

Determined to take her mind off her trauma, she popped in her ear buds and finally allowed the soft music to soothe her soul as the warm water soothed her body.

* * *

That morning, Tony asked Lily and BJ what they had found on Hernando Valesquez.

Lily’s face openly showed her defeat as BJ growled, “So far nothing. He runs an ethnic grocery store, a convenience store a few blocks away, and has three laundry businesses. He pays his taxes, none of his employees have ever filed a complaint, and his bank accounts look like they have the normal deposits that you would expect to find with his businesses.”

Lily continued, “The businesses are all very successful, but that doesn’t show criminal activity either.”

“Do you think that this might not be connected to him at all?” Vinny asked.

Tony sighed, the effects of two nights with little sleep starting to show. “I don’t know. I don’t want to assume that Sherrie has gotten herself unwittingly in the middle of something but, sure as hell don’t want to ignore her instincts.”

“We’ll keep after it, boss,” Lily vowed.

The meeting quickly ended after the assignments were handed out and Tony headed back to his office. He finished a few items that needed attention before driving back to Sherrie’s. She was determined to get through the day without pain medication and he wanted to make sure she was all right.

Letting himself into the house, he called out but received no answer.She must be asleep.Heading up the stairs, he found her in the bathtub, soaking in bubbles with headphones on. The memory of weeks earlier in the cabin when he saw her just like this washed over him. His dick jumped at the sight of her naked body, breasts peeking through the bubbles.

She opened her eyes and her smile lit his world.

Pulling the earbuds out, she softly called, “Hey, sweetie.”

He walked over and knelt by the tub. The bruising around her mouth was faint, but the idea of some man with his hands on her nearly choked him with anger. Tamping down the fury, he forced his voice to sound as normal as possible. “You ready to get out, baby? I’ll help you.”

Placing his hands under her carefully, he stood pulling her warm, wet, naked body from the tub. Trying to tell his aching cock to behave, he placed her gently on the floor being careful of her shoulder as he wrapped her in a huge towel.

She glanced down at his crotch before lifting her gaze back to his. “Got something for me, sailor?” she joked.

“Baby, don’t get any ideas. You’re not ready for anything strenuous and you know it,” he admonished.

Pouting, she whined, “Sweetie, I can just lay there and you can do whatever you want. I don’t have to do anything to hurt my shoulder. And Tony…” she purred as her hand reached out to press against his swollen cock. “It would take my mind off of things.”

“Sherrie…” he growled, but before he could object, she dropped the towel, presenting herself to him.

His breath caught in his chest, staring at her beauty. Her long, blonde hair was piled into a messy knot at the top of her head but, with a quick jerk on the clip, it tumbled down. Her breasts were full and the rosy nipples peeked between the blonde strands of hair.How can someone so short have such long legs?Her body was toned, with a perfect hourglass shape. His fingers clasped into a fist as he held onto his control by a thread.

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