Page 10 of Saving Mr. Norcross
Aldo Poletti sounded like an idiot. Vander never kept the same routine. He drove to work differently each day. He stopped at different shops.
Some might say he was paranoid. He said he was cautious and prepared. He’d made a lot of enemies in his lifetime—both in the military and out—so it paid to be careful.
It was part of the reason why he’d never wanted to fall in love. The person you loved, who you cared about most of all, was a weakness.
But Brynn was also his greatest strength.
His mind tried to turn toward her, but he focused on the job at hand.
“There he is,” Justin murmured.
Vander marked the guy easily. About five foot ten, a little overweight, shaggy, black hair. He wore linen trousers and aloose, white shirt with a swagger and an oily smile that said he thought he was better than everyone else. That he had the right to terrify and assault his former wife.
Justin pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’m texting Rhys to bring my van around.” He slipped the phone away. “You okay?”
Vander was really starting to hate that question. “Fine.”
“You seemed distracted. I’ve never seen you distracted.”
Vander shrugged a shoulder, keeping an eye on Poletti strolling down the hill toward them. A part of him wasn’t ready to share about Brynn’s pregnancy yet. “She got stabbed at work a few weeks back.”
Justin eyed him. “Ah.”
Vander flexed his jaw. He would never forget that phone call. Or the mad rush to the hospital. Seeing Brynn’s pale face, her shirt soaked in blood.
And he’d never, ever forget the helplessness. It wasn’t something he liked.
“Can’t be easy having a wife who’s got a dangerous job.”
“No. She’s fine now, but…” He trailed off.
“Every overprotective instinct you have is in overdrive.”
“Yes. She thinks I’m putting up a wall, holding back. That I don’t trust her. I know she’s a badass, but that doesn’t lessen the fucking fear.”
Poletti wasn’t far away now.
“You can’t control everything in life, Vander. You know that. You knew that in Ghost Ops. It’s what made you the best commander I’ve ever worked with. You trusted your team to do what needed to be done when things went to hell. You planned, then you trusted everyone to do their job, whatever we faced.”
“She’s my wife, not a soldier.”
“But you guys are a team, right?”
Poletti was only a few feet away. Vander focused on him.
But Justin’s words echoed in his head.
Poletti moved to walk past them, and Vander whipped a black, fabric bag over his head.
Justin grabbed the man’s arm, and there was a flurry of cursing in Italian. Justin landed a quick, controlled punch to Poletti’s solar plexus and the man sagged. Vander grabbed his legs, and Justin gripped his upper body.
A white van pulled up beside them, Rhys at the wheel. He jumped out and opened the side door.
Vander and Justin tossed Poletti inside, and Justin zip tied the guy’s wrists and ankles, then slammed the door closed.
Vander scanned around. There wasn’t a single person in sight.
“Thanks for the help.” Justin dusted off his hands. “So, are you guys and your wives free for lunch?”
