Vinny: Alvarez Security Series (3 page)

Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he settled back.
It’ll be fine for a musician. In fact, I’ll probably fit right in with the crew.

Several hours later, he jogged to the line of taxis outside of the LA airport. Rattling off the name of the concert hall, he hopped into the back. The concert had already started, but that would be all right. He was there on a job, not to listen to some chick sing.
That was just going to be a bonus!

The taxi driver pulled up to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, then looked at Vinny in the rear-view mirror. “You say you needed to go to the backstage door?”

Vinny replied in the affirmative, but leaned over looking at the large hall with the sign
Los Angeles Philharmonic
. “Are you sure this is the right place?”

The driver nodded, saying, “Oh yeah, man. LA’s finest orchestra.”

Vinny chuckled at Tony letting him think he was escorting some young, female rocker.
You got me, Captain,
he thought. Knowing that he would be working with an older lady, he knew he would have to charm her a bit to get past his outer appearance.
No worries. I got this.

Paying the taxi driver, he pulled his bag out of the back and jogged up to the door, passing security once he showed his identification. The hall’s security guard showed him where he could stow his bag and then pointed him in the direction of the backstage area. Moving through the people milling around, he heard the sounds of the orchestra growing louder as he approached. The guard had radioed ahead and he saw a man coming toward him, dressed in a tuxedo. Looking at his own casual attire…
Shit.

He walked over to shake the man’s hand.

“Mr. Malloy?”

“Yes, sir. Vinny,” he replied.

The man nodded, then added, “Good to have you on board. I’m her agent, Gordon Fisher. If you’ll follow me, you’ll be able to watch the last part of the concert from the wings and then we’ll head back to Ms. O’Brian’s room afterward.”

Vinny followed the young man and as they moved into the wings, he could see the large orchestra on the stage. The women all in long, black dresses and the men in tuxedos. Glancing out toward the audience, he saw that the house was full.

The orchestra was playing and Vinny shifted uncomfortably in his stance. It had been a long time since he had listened to anything without a strong heavy beat and the harmonious sounds reminded him of times better left forgotten. The orchestra built to a climax and then fell silent as the soloist continued to play. The harp. The melodious chords filtered through the concert hall and resonated deep within Vinny’s chest. His eyes sought out the woman in the center of the stage with the harp gently resting on her shoulder. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze took her in.

Long, thick, dark hair that curled down her back. A porcelain, heart-shaped face, eyes closed as though in prayer as her fingers nimbly moved quickly across the strings. Her slim body encased in a sky blue evening gown, setting her apart from the others dressed in all black.

The tones moved through him as no other music had in years—not forcing him to remember a time of sand and death, but taking him to a place of respite and peace. Entranced, he watched her face in quiet repose as her fingers connected to his soul. The last time he allowed his being to be carried away by the enchantment of the music…
Nope, not going there.
Shaking himself out of his reverie, he tore his eyes away from the beautiful harpist and gazed across the rest of the orchestra wondering who he would be escorting back to Richland.

Gordon touched his arm and Vinny followed the man to a hall backstage. Multiple doors opened into the hall, but they headed to one near the far end. “They’re on the last song. After they take their bows, the orchestra will release and I will have Ms. O’Brian’s manager bring her straight back here.”

The agent left the room, leaving Vinny in the small space looking around. A small settee was against one wall, with a chair facing the mirror on the other. A garment bag hung on a hook on the wall and a cosmetic travel bag sat on the floor nearby. Hearing voices coming down the hall, he straightened, awaiting to meet his mission.

*

Annalissa O’Brian was
being pushed along with the crowd as usual. She hated being bounced around and wished for the umpteenth time that she were taller…or bigger.
Then I’d push back
, she thought. Todd Levine, her manager, on one side and Gordon Fisher, her agent, on the other. Both talking to her at the same time, trying to move her through the crowd toward her room.

Finally bursting through the door, she was propelled forward.

“You were fabulous, darling,” Todd was saying. “I told you this concert would take you places.”

“Todd, I don’t care about going pla—” she tried to interject.

“Of course you do,” Gordon interrupted. “Todd, we need to talk tomorrow to see what we can get set up next.”

“I’m thinking a trip to Chicago, then possibly Dallas. See what you can get worked up.”

“Annalissa, what a show. Honey, you look marvelous and your playing? Oh my God, I absolutely cried,” came the voice of her hair stylist, Parker, behind her.

Sharon barged into the room, grabbing the cosmetic bag. “I knew your makeup would hold up under those hot lights. I’m telling you, I know my shit.”

“Gordon, I want you to check on the Hall in New York. See what they have next year,” Todd’s voice cut over the cacophony of others.

“Sirs, are you ready to allow any of the VIPs to have entrance to Ms. O’Brian?”

The room grew small and Annalissa could feel the noose tightening around her neck. Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the sounds, but could feel her breath coming in spurts. Everyone was speaking at once and she could feel the panic rising.
Please, not now. Don’t let me fall apart now.
She had suffered from panic attacks for years, but only in unfamiliar crowds—never on the stage. Her father considered it a sign of weakness and she had tried to hide them for years.

Numerous hands came forward, all connected to voices clawing for her attention. Until one clear voice in the crowd spoke out.

“Quiet!” came the bark from…her eyes widened as she looked to see who had managed to shut everyone up. Her gaze landed on him. She had no idea who he was, but he looked like a god. Tall, muscular, with the bottom of a Celtic tattoo showing below the arm of his t-shirt. The only man in the room not dressed for a symphony concert and yet the only man in the room that appeared to be completely at ease with himself.

Blinking back the tears as they threatened to fall, she watched as the crowd parted instantly for him as he stalked over. Stopping directly in front of her, she leaned her head way back to hold his gaze. He bent down to whisper, “Breathe, darlin’.”

Gasping in air, she realized that she had indeed been holding her breath. He took her hand in his much larger one, bringing it to his lips. A barely there kiss was placed on the back of her fingers and then he said, “Ms. O’Brian? It’s my honor to meet you. I’m Vincent. Vinny Malloy. And I’ll be your security escort back to Richland.”

The room had grown strangely quiet, but before chaos could once again ensue, Vinny’s voice carried out. “I’ve just met Ms. O’Brian, but it’s obvious to me that she’s exhausted. As of this moment, she’s under my care and my protection. I and I alone will determine who may be let in to see her and when we will leave.”

Annalissa’s eyes darted around quickly, awaiting the uproar that was sure to follow. Todd’s mouth hung open while Gordon’s face grew red and his eyes narrowed. But she noticed he did not argue with the large man still holding her hand.
Still holding my hand?
Pulling her fingers out of his soft grip, she immediately felt regret at the loss of his touch.

Suddenly remembering the reason her father wanted to hire a security escort, she glanced around quickly, “Where’s Easnadh?”

Todd immediately answered, “The stage crew is bringing it here.”

Visible relaxing, she turned her eyes once more to the man still standing a few inches away from her, a questioning look in his eyes.

*

Vinny had watched
with curiosity as the group pushed through the door, all talking at once. Then stunned, he stared at the exquisite woman they were crowded around. The harpist. The Celtic beauty whose playing had him entranced just thirty minutes earlier.

Well played, Tony. No wonder you kept this one a secret,
he thought, his eyes never leaving the woman. Expecting a diva personality, he was again stunned when she appeared to be completely overrun by the noise and confusion of her entourage. He watched her eyes, once again tightly closed, but this time as though trying to push out the uproar around her, then saw the tell-tale signs of her chin slightly wiggling, as she fought to keep from crying.

Before he knew what he was doing, he barked out, “Quiet!” and walked over to her. Her eyes flew open as they found his and they were…green. They drew him in as he reached to kiss her fingers. The same delicate fingers that played the most amazing music.

After almost falling apart, he watched as she suddenly came to life and with the only forcefulness he had seen from her, she questioned the whereabouts of someone named Easnadh. Hearing the response, he assumed that was the name of her harp.

She had pulled her hand away from his and he immediately missed her touch.
Of course, the last thing she probably wants is someone holding her fingers in a grip that could crush them.

He had no idea why her father had requested an escort from Alvarez Agency and while he would have fulfilled his mission to the letter, from the moment she looked up at him with trust in her eyes, he knew he would do anything and everything to ease her trip back. And if that included keeping her own entourage at bay, then he had no problem doing just that.

The noise in the room stayed subdued for just a moment and then people began to talk again. Vinny noticed that Todd and Gordon moved closer to each other and began to speak in low tones. The man who had raved about Annalissa’s hair smiled at him and then gently pulled her over to the chair in front of the mirror.

Vinny could hear the young man talking to her in low, soothing tones as he carefully took all the pins out of her hair and began brushing it.

“Ms. O’Brian,” Vinny addressed her, watching as her gaze darted up to his in the mirror. “Do you want to meet anyone tonight?”

“I…um…,” she faltered as she looked over to Todd and Gordon. “I’m not sure what they’ve agreed to.”

Already taking a dislike to her agent and manager, he turned to them. “Gentleman, does Ms. O’Brian have a contractual obligation after the concert?”

Todd stiffened at the tone. “No, not in her contract. But it’s considered—”

“Then I suggest we allow Ms. O’Brian to get her things and then I’ll escort her to the hotel.”

Just then a noise sounded from the door and a man, wearing a stage crew identifying t-shirt, walked in carrying a harp case.

“Here you go, safe and sound,” he said.

The harp case was not as large as Vinny had expected, then realized that when she was on stage she was not dwarfed by a large harp.

“It’s a Celtic harp,” came her soft voice from beside him. He glanced down at her, seeing her smile as she walked over and placed her hands on the case. As she was getting ready to open it, another man pushed his way into the room. An older gentleman, tall and reed-thin, he made his way directly toward Annalissa.

“Mr. Feinstein,” she cried, rushing to the man’s outstretched arms. “I wasn’t sure you’d be able to get back here.”

“Oh my dear, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. You were superb.”

Annalissa felt a presence come up behind her. Glancing upwards, she saw the tight look on Vinny’s face. Rushing to explain, she said, “This is my teacher, Mr. Maurice Feinstein.”

Vinny shook the older man’s hand and then moved back allowing them to visit.

Annalissa opened up the harp case and she and Mr. Feinstein looked over the harp carefully, checking to make sure it was well protected. Todd moved over next to Vinny and said, “We haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Todd Levine, her manager. I knew her father was hiring someone to escort her back to Richland, but you should know that his priority is Easnadh. The harp. It’s an antique Celtic harp and worth quite a bit of money.”