Page 51 of Undefeated Love
“Where is she?” Walking quickly to the other end of the house, he stepped into Aleta’s bedroom to grab his boots.
The dark-eyed, rich latte-skinned woman lay naked on the seafoam green sheets.
Alex only gave her a quick glance. His cock didn’t even stir. “Sorry, Top, I need to put you on hold for a minute.”
He muted his phone and picked up his boots, inching his way out of her bedroom. “Aleta, I owe you an apology. I’m sorry, but I can’t do this. Not now. Maybe never.”
She leaned up on one elbow in a seductive pose. “I wondered if I was your rebound fuck after your breakup with JJ.” She gave him her seductive smile.
“No,” he snapped out. Rather than give her the entire story, he decided to let her believe whatever she wanted to believe. “Yes.” Part of it was true. He hadn’t kissed another woman since JJ the night of the premiere, so technically, Aleta was the next woman. “I’m sorry.” Alex dashed out her bedroom door and was on the street before he took the phone off mute.
“Okay, I’m back. I just had to get out of a…a…situation.” There was no way in hell he was going to share with Top where he’d been. “Where is she?”
He didn’t bother to put on his boots as he jumped into the company SUV barefoot and shot off down the street.
“Italy. She’s in Tuscany, outside Florence.” Top’s excitement was contagious. “And before you ask, she looks good. Healthy. She might even have put on a little weight. She’d lost quite a bit during her TBI recovery.”
“I know. I was there.” He’d been with her the entire time. She had so much difficulty keeping food down that he’d silently celebrate when she didn’t throw up after the smallest meal.
As soon as he parked the car in the company garage, he ran to his penthouse to pack while trying to get to Italy as fast as he could. He was able to catch a flight on the executive jet service the company used to London–Heathrow. From there, he had to fly commercially to Rome and catch what he thought of as a puddle jumper to Florence. Physically and emotionally exhausted after being up all day then flying for sixteen hours, Alex was met by Top Cooper and his translator as soon as he exited the final airport.
“You look like shit, so I won’t ask about your flights.” Top gave him a hearty man hug. “The Marine Corps taught me how to fall asleep anywhere. Did you miss that class?”
“I couldn’t get my brain to shut down,” Alex admitted. “I’ve waited ten months for this and now, I have no idea what the fuck I am going to say to her.”
“We go. I must move the car.” The man beside Top wore a pastel purple button-down shirt that had probably started the morning pressed but at midafternoon, it was looking lived in. His charcoal pants coordinated well with his light gray herringbone suit jacket.
“Alex, I want you to meet our guide and interpreter, Sergio Zetticci.” Top gestured to the man on his right. “Sergio is also a private investigator. He’s the one who actually found Katlin.”
Alex extended his hand and thanked the man.
“We go now.”
Alex stood outside the tiny airport and looked down at the miniature car. He’d only been to Europe while stopping to refuel on the way back from the Middle East. He’d never traveled that continent, so he was completely surprised by the minuscule size of the vehicles.
“I’ll just go into the terminal and rent a bigger car.” Surely, they had something larger. He scanned the busy street and didn’t see what he considered a normal car anywhere in sight.
The translator spoke to someone in a uniform at the airport door before returning to where Alex and Top stood.
“Sorry, no car for hire.” The translator smiled and patted his vehicle. “You fit. We get back to Tuscany, I get bigger car. I borrow one from my sister’s cousin.”
Top and Alex looked questioningly at each other. “Sister’s cousin?” Alex whispered to the old Marine.
“It’s probably a translation thing. His English isn’t as good as promised, but his detective skills are spot on. He tracked her down and emailed me pictures.” Top smiled hugely. “It’s her. She’s here.” The retired Marine who was nearly as big as Alex glanced at the car. “Come on. I’ll be nice and give you the front seat.”
Once outside the busy city, they drove past rolling hills dotted with scattered farms. Large fields filled with growing grasses lay next to neat rows of grapevines. Towns filled with centuries-old yellow homes seemed to climb up the hillsides on top of each other.
Sergio finally stopped in front of a white fourteenth-century hotel. He immediately hopped out and went to the back of the car to grab Alex’s duffel bag. He was all smiles as he carried it into the marble decorated lobby. The recessed ceiling was inlaid with panels of Italian marble in a variety of colors ranging from white and gray to gold and browns.
“This is good place to stay.” He set Alex’s duffel on the floor and gestured for him to approach the black marble counter.
“No need to check in.” Top picked up Alex’s duffel. “I’ve already checked you in. You’re in the room next to me.” He reached into his pocket and handed Alex an old-fashioned door key. Turning to Sergio, he waved with his free hand. “Thank you. We’ll call you when we need you.”
“Excellent.” Sergio waved goodbye and headed out the front door.
“Should we have kept him or something?” Alex asked as he grabbed his duffel bag from Top.
“We pay him a fuck of a lot of money. We don’t need him right now.” Top pointed to a door. “This one is yours. I’m right next door. They are connected inside. Get settled. Take a shower. You have time for a nap before Katlin gets home from school.”
