Chapter 4

NICCO

“What now, Alpha?” Vinnie asked.  He was watching me closely and I was pretty sure that he knew something was up.  I wasn’t acting normally.  My wolf was driving me crazy, and I was having a hard time thinking. 

“Can you get me more information on her?” I asked Vinnie.  He wasn’t that great with computers but some of the guys that worked for me were.  Vinnie nodded. 

“Sure.  Give me a minute.”  He selected someone from his contacts and spoke for a few minutes.  He got a text and checked it, confirming something and then disconnected. 

“Joey is working on getting more information, but he was able to access DMV records and found a license for a twenty-year-old woman named Hope Smith.  Photograph matches our girl.  He did a run on the address listed and pulled up a vacant lot in Provo, Utah.  No phone number listed. Joey didn’t find a lot of background information on her initially so he’s going to do a deep dive.  He did say that she has a minivan registered in her name.”  We both scanned the parking lot and I saw it parked on the edge of the lot.  Vinnie raised his eyebrow at me, and I nodded.  Nonchalantly he wandered over to it and took a pair of gloves out of his pocket before disappearing around the front of it.

I got in the back of the sedan and pulled out my laptop, pulling up the spreadsheet I had been working on for the last week.  I knew something was off with it but couldn’t figure it out.  I had resorted to going through it line by line, but it was tedious.  The document was fifteen hundred pages long. 

I had made it halfway through a page when Vinnie slid into the car and pulled off the pair of nitrile gloves that he had used.  I smiled, amused.  I was pretty sure she would never know that he searched her car, but he was still worried about leaving prints.

“Well?” I asked. 

“Pretty sure she’s living in that van,” he said.

“What makes you think that?” I asked sharply.  My wolf howled mournfully in my head, anguished that our mate didn’t have a home.

“A bed, a box of food, a box of clothes and all her important documents hidden in there.”  Vinnie stated it matter of fact but there was something in his voice.  I looked at him curiously.

“Is there more?” I asked.

He shook his head.  “Not really.” 

I could tell that he was holding something back from me and it irritated me.  “What else, Beta Vinnie?” I asked, pushing out my aura.  He flinched but I didn’t care.  He shouldn’t have tried to hide anything from me.

“It’s just that, Alpha.  There’s nothing more.  No photos, no mementos, nothing personal.  Just things she needs to survive.”

I shrugged.  “Maybe she just left in a hurry and didn’t have time to take anything with her.”

“Maybe,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced. 

“Maybe she’s not a sentimental person,” I said, becoming more irritated.  Vinnie wisely didn’t say anything else, just sat silently.  I sighed.

“I know you have a theory.  I want to hear it.”

Vinnie spoke hesitantly.  “I think she’s running from something,” he said.  “She travels light and doesn’t have anything personal in case anyone gets too close.”

“You said that there were some documents?”

“Hidden.  She pulled out a door panel and welded a little handle on it so she could access it easily.  It’s quite ingenious.  She has a GED and a bachelor’s degree.”

I raised my eyebrow.  “She’s only twenty and she has a college degree already?  What is her degree in?” I asked.

“Business,” he answered.

“Then what is she doing working as a mechanic?” I wondered out loud.  Vinnie didn’t answer me.  I tapped my teeth, thinking.  I was intrigued, wondering if there was more to this human that was inexplicably my mate.

HOPE

Jase acted all nervous about Nicco Gallo being in our shop.  Even Earl looked a little aghast, but I didn’t understand what the big deal was.  I wasn’t even sure what a Don was.

Jase kept trying to explain to me.  “It’s like a crime boss.  But a family one.  You know, like the Sopranos.”

“Who?” I asked.  Jase’s mouth dropped.  “You don’t know who the Sopranos are?”

I shook my head.  “I don’t really keep up with celebrities,” I admitted.  Jase shook his head. 

“No, it’s not a real family, it’s a TV show.  Tony Soprano?”

I looked at him in irritation.  “Saying it over and over doesn’t change a thing.  I have no idea who or what you are talking about.”

Earl waved at Jase.  “She doesn’t know.  Leave her alone.”  He looked at me, seriously. 

“Just know that Nicco Gallo is a dangerous man.  You need to keep your distance.”

I nodded.  “I have no interest in Nicco.”  The words stuck in my throat, and I realized that I didn’t really mean it.  Nicco irritated me, barging into my work and acting like he owned the place, but he was really sexy.  And he had a quality that intrigued me.  Almost like a lost little boy.  Just a tinge of it, something I barely caught.  But it was there.  And he smelled amazing.  I wondered if I could buy his cologne just to spray in my van.  It reminded me of the good days, the days before my dad died.  I felt drawn to Nicco, and I was almost sad that he had left when I asked him to.

I finished my work for the day and went out to my van.  I saw that there was an envelope tucked under my wiper blade.  I looked around, making sure that I wasn’t being watched by anyone, including Earl and Jase, and I pulled the envelope out, climbing into the driver’s seat.  I opened it, revealing a note.

Hope,

I am sorry that I scared you.  Since you won’t allow me to pay for your services, I hope you will allow me to treat you to a nice dinner.  I have taken the liberty of making reservations at Le Gavroche for 8:00pm.  Additionally, I have made an appointment at Poppy Boutique for you to pick out a dress for dinner.  They are expecting you at 6:45. I sincerely hope that I will see you there.

Nicco

I turned the note over and looked at the other side.  Other than my name, it was blank.  I put the note down and thought about it.

It sounded fun, almost like a fairy tale.  I haven’t had a lot of fun in my life since running away and this would be a very pleasant interlude.  I was a little bothered by Earl and Jase’s warning, but I didn’t pick up from Nicco that I was in any danger from him and I was usually pretty good at identifying threats.  It’s a skill you pick up when you’re homeless.

‘Why not?’ I decided.