CPOV
"Lucy, come on we're going to be late" I shouted up the stairs, practically falling over the dogs who thought I was shouting them to go out. Sorry boys later.
Why it's so important to speak to her friend on the phone now when she will see her soon, I don't know.
Hearing her shoes clacking on the stairs, I finally made my way towards the door but stopped short when I saw Lucy.
"Luciana Grey, what the hell are you wearing."
"Swear jar Dad and I'm wearing my uniform that I wear everyday to school."
"But it's, too short."
"It's the same size it was when Mum bought it for me, it's not my fault I've grown. What do you want me to do, stay tiny forever?"
"That would be perfectly fine by me, don't you have another skirt."
"Yes, I have five in total but they're all the same" She said grabbing her bag.
I thought Lucy had grown taller when we were in Caccamo but not like this.
"Come on Dad, I'm going to be late" and I'm going to shoot anyone that looks at her.
Ana had to leave early this morning as she has a large cake order that needed to be finished, so it's my job to take Lucy today. I have a lot on my mind at the moment and I can do without my daughter flashing even the minute bit of skin.
"Dad if you're that bothered about my skirts you could either go and buy me some new ones in a bigger size or I could change schools, one where I could wear what I want."
I can just imagine it, ripped jeans and cropped tops for school, over my dead body.
"I will speak to your mother about getting more school skirts."
"Shame, I wouldn't mind moving schools" she said quietly
"Luciana is someone giving you trouble at school."
"I'm fine Dad, just the usual high school bulls…crap."
"Nice save but if someone is bothering you."
"Dad, it's nothing. Just jealous girls who like to cause trouble because a boy talks to me and not her."
I looked over to Lucy when we stopped at a light.
"What boy."
"Dad stop" she laughed. "He's a friend, he doesn't even like me that way but he hates this girl and because we're friends, she's jealous and likes to send snide remarks my way about the rumours surrounding my family."
"I think I might need a visit into this school" I said as we pulled up at the school gates.
"Dad, I ignore the people who don't matter. I have my friends and I'm not going to stop being friends with Kai just because Libby doesn't like it. Besides, I have my two guards I cannot get away from if anyone starts anything."
I thought she was talking about Tyler and Eric but I smiled when she pointed to my nephews, Jac and Daniel.
"Ok baby girl but if this girl bothers you, you know what to do."
"Yeah, kick the shit out of her. Love you Dad" she kissed my cheek before I could say anything, leaving my car with her guards in tow.
"Lucy" I called after her. Her mother will kill me if Lucy gets expelled.
"Love you Dad" she repeated, blowing me a kiss before she headed into school with Gabriella and Nicole.
"She's definitely a Grey."
…
"What has you on the hard stuff at this time of the morning" Elliot asked as I knocked my glass of bourbon back.
"Two words. Teenage daughter. I must have been cursed for all my misdeeds to have a daughter with my personality and her mother's looks."
"Thank god I only have boys, I don't think I could have handled a girl. Well not so much having a daughter being a problem, just everyone around her."
"Tell me about it."
"Is Lucy ok, is someone giving her shit" he asked me.
"Apart from her leaving for school with her skirt too short, Lucy said it's girls she has problems with, not the boys."
"My boys haven't said anything and they see Lucy a lot."
"Yeah they were there when I dropped her off."
I pulled my phone from my pocket, feeling it vibrate with a message.
Going to be a bit late for meeting Dad, I may have some news – Luca
Ok, you alright – Dad
Yeah fine, might have a lead, will have to do more digging though. I will explain more when I arrive – Luca
Ok, stay safe – Dad
"Problems" Ethan asked me as he walked up with Jason.
"Luca's going to be late, said he might have a lead on something."
"I wondered where he was, I saw Theo and Matteo pulling up."
"Luca and Alex headed over to Oregon last night, they had a meeting set up for a new client this morning" Elliot said.
Luca left after dinner last night, not wanting to drive down first thing this morning. Even though he's only 19, he is focused on making this business work and with Alex by his side, they make a good team.
"Ok what do we have from Dalton" I asked when we were all in my office.
"No sign of Ricardo but we found the address. It was occupied by a couple of young women, moved in a few months ago. Lorenzo checked them out, neither had any connection we could find with Garcia. Both attend the college nearby" John said.
"Who owns the property" Theo asked.
"One, Selma Lopez or she did until she died a few years ago. Let out through a letting agent now although the payments go to an account in Mexico owned by her elder brother" Jason said, pulling some papers from a file, copies of the building deed in her name and also the rental agreement for the women who live there now including payment details. "Selma Lopez owned the building for over 25 years, has one daughter."
"If she had a daughter, why is she not getting the money then. Wouldn't the building go to her."
"Apparently they were estranged, haven't seen each other for years."
"Is there any link between Javier Garcia and Selma Lopez. I mean how old would this Selma Lopez have been anyway" Elliot asked.
"A year younger that Javier. They attended the same high school, were high school sweethearts until they broke up when he left for college, apparently couldn't keep it in his pants. He wasn't originally from the area, came as a young teenager. They didn't see each other for years until he moved back and then as I have been told, were like teenagers again." Jason told us, cringing.
"How the fuck did you find out about them being high school sweethearts" I laughed.
"It's amazing how lonely some people are and will talk the hind leg off a donkey if you give them some attention. Coffee shop a couple of doors down, the woman who ran it had all the gossip. I suffered through three hours of everything from her bunions, dodgy hip before I could get it onto the topic I wanted and then she wouldn't shut up. It didn't help when I had guys pissing themselves laughing in the corner."
Never mind, them laughing it was me leading the way now. Jason was not one for small talk, would get up and leave so he had obviously suffered for our cause.
"Maybe that's why they ended up in Dalton. He had roots there and a home set up. What happened to the original Mrs Garcia" Elliot asked.
"Passed when he was a teenager, sent Ricardo off the rails a bit. Typical mommy's boy."
"We don't know any of them around here" Luca said as he and Alex joined our meeting.
"Any of what" I asked him.
"Mommy's boys."
I looked him over to check he was fine but I earned myself an eye roll and a smile.
"Good meeting" I asked.
"Yeah great job, lots of money coming our way from it. Alex and I have been over to Newport in Oregon. A guy over there owns a car parts business, shipping them through the docks."
"Parts on tap, might take a look" Matteo teased.
"Don't even think about it, you rob that place and our hand is shown. Business and the name Grey will go down the pan" Luca told this twin.
"Ok, I get the picture. Speaking of car parts or the cars itself, Mum's car is due in next week."
"Cool" Theo smiled.
"Hold on, what new car for your mother" I asked, hearing this for the first time.
"We have got Mum an Audi R8 Spyder, a white one. We hoped to have it for Mother's Day but unfortunately there was a delay."
"Your mother is going to kill you all" I laughed, knowing how she is about extravagant gifts.
"Well technically she did ask for one. Even though Mum said she was only kidding, we ordered one anyway" Matteo told us.
I smiled, turning back to my youngest son.
"What's this lead, you couldn't tell me about in a text" I asked Luca.
"Ok the guy who we went to see needed 24-hour security, protect his business. He was showing me around the lot, to the water's edge where his shipments come in. It's on the river, just off Quina Bay so it's pretty secluded. There is road access which is how we got there but he prefers his shipments to come by water as the roads are pretty narrow for a truck to get down. About half a mile from his lot is another. Smaller derelict building, practically abandoned, well it was up until a few months ago. He said a guy and his son used to run shipments out of there every week until it just stopped, like they had disappeared. That was fifteen years ago. They did keep pretty much to themselves although his father had a run in with this kid one day who had been snooping around his lot. That's why he called us in because he found some guys trying to break into the warehouse not long after activity along the river picked up again. While we were there, there was a lot of noise coming from this place, arguing going on. I moved to get a closer look as I asked our guy to go inside. This is what I took."
He handed me his phone, showing me photos of some crates being off loaded from a small boat.
"I couldn't get close enough without being seen, not wanting to get into a firefight with just the two of us there."
"You both did good" I said before I continued to flick through the photos until I stopped at one, turning it around to the table.
"I know that face" Elliot said.
"Yes, Ramirez he was Javier Garcia's right hand-man when he was in business. What is he doing in the middle of nowhere" I asked.
"I'd like to know" Theo said. "I'm looking forward to meeting the man who tried to shoot my Dad, hopefully he can lead us."
"You will get your chance Theo" I told him, we all would once the coward had stopped running and had been found.
"I pulled up a photo of Garcia to show the guy who was hiring us, he said he had not seen him. We just told him that he's responsible for a number of break-ins, and if he sees him around his property or next door to call us."
I nodded to Luca. The best help is free help, especially if they think that they're helping themselves when in fact they're making our job easier.
"I spoke to Lorenzo to check out who in fact owned the property, he said he will look into it and get back to me" Alex told us.
I pulled my phone out, calling Lorenzo. I knew if he was at work, he might not be able to pick up but he would call me back. This time he picked up first ring.
"Hey boss, one min."
It was like dealing with Sam all over again.
"You better not be pissing while you're talking to me" I said, hearing water splashing in the background.
"No" he laughed. "Didn't you know the precinct has a lovely garden with a fountain in, dedicated to our former great Commissioner, Tosser" he mumbled at the end as I laughed.
"I don't think the Commissioner before that would have gotten a rock, never mind a garden. What have you got for me" I asked.
"Ok, the warehouse is owned in the name of Selma Lopez."
"There's that name again."
"Yep, I know. She does get around. I have put her name in the system for any other property she's listed as owning but those two were the only ones that came up. I'll keep looking though, see, what else I can dig up" he said.
As I disconnected the call, Luca had pulled one of the maps out of a drawer.
"This is where the job is, this is the reason we were asked to do security" I looked to the two properties, not that far apart..
"Friday night" Alex said as I looked up to him.
"Yeah, that's what the guy who hired us said. Whoever is working that building has a delivery every Friday evening. He doesn't know what they're delivering, just that a boat comes, off loads whatever they're carrying and then leaves again."
"Looks like we're busy Friday" I said to the room. "Don't make any plans. Can you get us in" I asked Luca, thinking working from his jobs side would be easier than walking straight onto the property.
"Yes, our first night is friday. Alex and I said we would do the first shift, have some of our guys with us, make sure everything is running properly before we put a permanent team in place. He has cameras though so we will need Barney on that, especially if our guys are running around."
"Um, Dad are you not taking Mum out on Friday night" Theo said.
"Shit" our first evening in ages out on our own and I need to cancel it. "I'll talk to your Mum" I sighed.
"Dad what are we going to do on Friday, are we observing or going in all guns blazing" Matteo asked me and by the smirk on his face, I know he is hoping for the latter.
"Observe this time, see who appears, who's working with them. I want to know how big this operation has become but….. if I don't like what I see, no matter who's in charge of it, I will shut it down."
"I'll get everything set up, get a crew together for Friday" Jason said.
"Ok, get Barney on this, nothing goes ahead unless he can manipulate the cameras. I'm out for a bit, have to go and see my wife about some skirts" I said when the meeting was over.
"Ok Dad, do we need to worry" Theo teased.
"No, seems your sister has had a growth spurt and the boys have noticed."
That got their attention as they all had the same look on their faces as me. No one touches or looks at their sister.
I left the club, heading over to the bakery and pulled up in the car park behind. Walking into the kitchen, it was busy as always so I spent a few minutes stroking Milo's head who was stood on his hind legs against the gate, all to get his ear scratched.
"Hey sweetheart, this is a nice surprise are you hungry" Ana asked once she had kissed my lips.
"Do I only come and see you when I'm hungry. Don't answer that, I would love some lunch."
"Lunch would be at Palermo, dessert is here."
"Can I have you for dessert" I said, wrapping my arms around her waist.
"Christian behave, we're surrounded by people. You can enjoy your dessert this evening if you get back from the club early enough."
"I look forward to it Princess."
I washed my hands, making sure they were clean before I followed Ana out into the store. Being busy when the customers saw me coming out, they obviously thought someone else had come to serve so I was asked for cannoli, biscotti, you name it.
"I'm just the hungry husband, I came to get fed not feed you. Well apart from you little miss, what would you like" I said to a little girl in her fathers arms who now had a beaming smile on her face.
"Lady please" she said, pointing to the gingerbread ladies.
I put one into a bag for her and she was happily on her way to the table, chewing on the head.
"It's ok, my treat" I told the man who was with her, before helping myself to my lunch.
The bakery had grown to include a lot more dishes than when Ana first opened. Cartocci is one of my favourite and usually ends up with world war three at dinner if there is not enough to go around. My dessert today consisted of Cartocci, ricotta cheesecake and a cup of black coffee.
"No, cannoli today" Ana asked, taking a seat at my side.
"I will save my appetite for them, for after dinner."
"You're going to have a sugar rush" she laughed. "How's work?"
"Luca's fine" I knew what she was asking. "Excited about his new job."
"I'm glad, I'm sure I will hear about it at dinner."
"Ok before I forget, Lucy needs new school skirts."
"Ok, you can pick them up from the store on fourth. Just tell them the school and her size and they will know which she needs."
"Ana" I said, choking on my coffee, while my wife laughed at me.
"I will get them, don't worry. She's getting tall, will be bigger than me before she stops" Ana told me.
"I know. So, our meeting tomorrow, we have a lot to discuss" I told Ana, looking forward to our wednesday morning in bed.
"I look forward to it."
I spent some time with Ana before we headed back into the kitchen where I needed to speak to her about Friday.
"Friday" I said but Ana knew what was coming, she knew me so well.
"I'm going out to dinner by myself."
"Fuck no, sorry princess."
I told Ana the basics about our meeting this morning, about Luca's information. As always, Ana was completely on board for us to go down there. She picked my hand up, kissing the ring she had placed there, smiling.
"You can let me know more tomorrow morning, well after we're both sated" she said, raising her eyebrow. I will ravage her tomorrow. A day of meetings with my wife's body, perfect.
Unfortunately, or should I say fortunately our meeting had to be postponed.
"Christian" Ana said waking me.
"If you want it, just hop on. My cock will be hard in seconds" I told Ana, laying on my back as I felt my cock harden, especially hearing my wife giggle.
When she hadn't moved, I opened one eye, seeing Ana fully dressed.
"Princess the idea of our Wednesday meeting is to stay in bed, and having no clothes on is essential."
"Christian as delicious as that sounds, our family is about to welcome a new addition. Gemma's in labour."
"Really" I smiled.
"Yes, little Maxey is about to become a Daddy and is having a panic attack by the way Kate described him when he called her before. I have to go to the surgery, give Kate back up if needed and check the little one over when she makes her entrance. Rain check on our meeting."
"Of course Ana, give me a few minutes and I will be with you. Try and calm Granddad down" I laughed, knowing John was probably flapping more than Max.
Ana drove us over to the surgery, while I called Theo to make sure he can pick Lucy up this evening. I know from my own children how long labour can take, so we could all be in for a long wait.
Making our way into the waiting room, which was full of patients visiting the doctor today, we walked toward the birthing suite. Ana kissed me before she disappeared behind the door as I walked over to John and Gemma's father who were both pacing the floor.
"You will have both worn a groove in the floor by the time baby has arrived" I laughed as they turned to me.
"Wait until it's one of your kids in there" John told me, trying to control his excitement.
"Watching Ana in pain was enough thank you. I'm too young to be a Granddad and If I am it better not be my baby girl."
"Yeah, I thought that once but as long as my little girl is happy then that is all that matters, that and the fact that she didn't meet Max until she was 23 and I had run out of excuses on why she couldn't date by then" Gemma's father told us.
It was early afternoon when we heard the cry that we had all been wanting to hear. The room was overflowing with our family, all waiting for the new arrival. Max came out about fifteen minutes later holding a little pink bundle in his arms. He had obviously been talking to her but stopped, seeing us all there before he showed us his baby girl. They had been worried that the cancer he had as a child would've affected his chance to be a father but with a lot of tests and the procedures Ana had done not just now but with Max when he was a child, thankfully that was not the case.
"Everyone I would like you to meet Autumn Rose Flynn."
I don't think I have ever seen my nephew so happy before and he deserved to be. He's part of the family business but on the outside. He's actually a lawyer, great informant to have when some law is changed and has represented members of our family when needed.
I watched John hold his granddaughter before wrapping my arms around my wife who had come out to see us.
"I don't remember you being this small" John told Max.
"That's because he wasn't. Max was nearly nine pounds, Autumn is just over six, aren't you baby girl" Rhian said, touching her granddaughter face.
Nick, Gemma's father had gone to see her while we were still with Max.
"Is she definitely ok to go home Ana" Max asks her, as he watched my mother have her hold.
"She's perfect Max, Kate will keep an eye on them both now for the next couple of days and then I will take over. I will add Autumn to my patient list as long as that is ok with you both."
"I couldn't think of a better doctor" Max told her, pulling my wife in for a hug. "Thank you, for everything."
"I just helped along the way. You and your parents are the ones who did the hard work."
Max took Autumn back to her mother who was hungry by the way she was sucking on her daddy's finger. We were just about to head home when Theo arrived with Lucy who had her hold too. Max and Gemma were staying with Rhian and John for a few days to get that bit of extra support before they took her home. Gemma's mother hadn't been around for a long time so she was not informed or invited to join the new family.
….
"Anything" I said through the radio as we all stayed in our places.
We had driven up to Newport earlier in the day, my girls thankfully staying in and having a slumber party with Oriella and Lucy's friends. It was hard to spot my guys as we were in all black with ski masks on our faces, best way to blend in as the evening sun started to set.
"Boss, small boat, just coming up to the bend. It should be in view in a moment" Charlie said from his position.
Quina Bay was a large body of water but where our guys were positioned, we had a pretty good view of who was coming up and down the river that flowed from the Bay.
"Got it, everyone eyes open and armed" I said as it came into view. It looked like a small fishing vessel but if I had to date it, it would be as old as the hills around us and ready to fall apart.
We watched them pull up to the docks and get off the boat. I was with Theo and Elliot on the property that Luca and Alex has been hired to protect. They would have extra protection tonight, although they wouldn't know about it. As they started to unload, Theo clicked away on his camera, while also taking photos on his phone to send to Lorenzo. Matteo would be doing the same on the other side of their property.
"Car just pulling in" Ethan said.
We could hear the talking as soon as the car door was open, the shouting from them to hurry up and unload.
"Ramirez again" Elliot said.
"Yeah, I see him. Who's with him."
"Not sure, a woman just got out of the car."
"You know what, I bet everything that I have, it was Ramirez who had something to do with Micali's mother being hurt. Keep shooting son I want to know who else comes" I told Theo who stopped taking photos to look at me.
As we watched, this woman who ever she was, was not exactly staying quiet by Ramirez side. The men certainly moved faster when she shouted.
"I wonder what they're carrying" Jason said, as they struggled with some larger boxes off the boat.
"Not sure but I can guarantee that if Ramirez is back with Garcia, there won't be any fish or innocent car parts in those boxes."
"Look heavy as well" Jason said.
"I agree, weapons maybe."
We observed these boxes being put into the warehouse before they were locked away. They obviously didn't care for leaving them behind but then again, they probably thought no one would find them out here.
"Their pulling out" Ethan told us "One guard left behind."
"Ok, sit tight everyone, give them some space. Charlie, Gregg make your way over to us and keep a look out on the road."
"Right, on our way" I heard Gregg say before the radio went quiet.
"Dad what are we doing" Theo asked me.
"I want to know what the security system is like on this place, get this guard out of there if it's safe and then have a look around."
"You're not leaving it then."
"No, if it's not safe to go in then we will back off and come back but those boxes looked heavy. If there are guns in there then you can guarantee that they will be aiming our way at some point. I'd rather get rid of them before they're moved. Little fire or explosion, depending on what we find in there. Luca can call it in. He's here officially after all, guard can get caught in the blast. Guns, would probably survive but it will get the cops here and they can do our job for us and remove them."
Alex was manning the monitors in the car parts warehouse at the moment while Luca was patrolling outside. Barney created a loop so it would show the area we were in was unoccupied apart from Luca's patrol. The rest of the cameras away from our area were recording as normal. Everything would be back to normal before Luca and Alex leave in the morning.
"I sent the photo of the woman and the others over to Lorenzo. He said, he's on a night shift so he will look into them" Theo told me.
We waited until Charlie and Gregg were in position before moving in. The guard was an easy target, his neck snapped when he was having a piss outside. Going inside there were only two cameras on a very crude set up. It didn't even have anything to record what was going on outside, more so the guard didn't have to walk around. They had definitely not expected someone to find them here.
The boxes as we suspected were full of guns. They had everything they could ever need to arm a small army. A lot more here that those that arrived today.
"Dad, they have some candles, although I don't think they will be making a bang" Theo said, pointing to a box as I walked over to him. They looked like they had been here for a long time, and being left under a leaky roof, had obviously been forgotten.
"Any more explosives" I asked around as boxes were opened.
"Nothing, guns, ammo and a few silencers but no explosives" Theo said, coming from a small office, which he said was empty.
"OK, let's light this place up then. Move a couple of those candles over to beside the door in the box, they might not make a bang but it would give the cops and fire brigade an idea that something dodgy had been going on here."
We all moved around the area, staying away from where Luca was walking around.
Son, we're going to light this up. Act surprised when you hear a bang – Dad
Don't worry, I will collect my Oscar later – Luca
I laughed, reading his message before I put my phone back into my pocket. Theo told me that they had a couple of canisters at the back, which Matteo refused to go near. I don't blame him, I like my kids in one piece.
Alex, take the camera loop off. We need the blast to appear on the tape – Christian
Okay, what blast – Alex
Fourth of July is about to come early – Christian
Alright, loop is off. If anyone comes here now, they will be seen – Alex
We all moved over to the other side of the lot, our cars moved over here now.
"Charlie, any sign of trouble over there" I said, over the radio.
"No, all clear, Gregg has moved down to the main road."
"Nothing here" Gregg said.
We all got into the car as the fire was started, Luca would be soon doing his rounds and as the explosion ripped through the air behind me, I smacked Jason's outstretched hand.
"You do know he will know it would have been us, don't you?"
"Of course, the more I knock him back the more he will try and start again. Eventually he will have nothing else to start with. Girls protection is heightened though and I want another guard on Oriella as well, she has been under the radar so far but for how long. She might not be a Grey but she will be one day, I have no doubt of that."
I pulled my phone from my pocket, making sure Luca was ok.
"Son, you ok" I asked, when he answered.
"Yeah, didn't need to act. It was that loud, scared the shit out of me. Cops and fire brigade are on their way, we called it in. I hope you're out of the way."
"We're on our way back to Seattle. If you have any trouble with the cops, I will have to get Max."
"Dad, we will be fine, besides you can't pull Max away. He has Gemma and Autumn to worry about."
"Ok, call us when you leave in the morning."
"Will do Dad, see you later."
I put my phone in my pocket, closing my eyes. With the amount my brain needs to focus on at the moment, I'm surprised my head doesn't explode. Garcia, now Ramirez as well as this woman. Who else has he brought back on board as I have no doubt that Ricardo is at the centre of this. I will be keeping an eye on the movements of everyone who was associated with him before and hopefully Lorenzo can identify those who we saw tonight. I was ready for home though, climb into bed next to my wife's naked body, push inside my princess.
My family are the reason I do what I do every day, keeping them safe is paramount. Anyone who threatens them or our life will be left in the dirt because I won't hesitate to kill anyone who gets in my way.
Until next time.
Take care.
Caroline.