Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series Read Online Free

story.”
    Carlos stared at the large man in front of him, seeing the questions in his eyes. He was good at reading people and had to admit to himself, this man gave off a trustworthy vibe. Nodding slowly, he jerked his head to the side before turning and moving toward the kitchen doors again.
    Gabe followed him out then waited, not so patiently, while Carlos lit a cigarette and took a long pull on it.
    “She comes some evenings and gets bread and food that hasn’t been used. Occasionally, I’ll slip in something special, but mostly she just comes for the bread. The manager knows and approves so I give her what she needs.” With that he smiled, looking over at the alley.
    “Bet you’d give it to her whether the manager approved or not,” Gabe observed.
    “Yeah,” Carlos said, taking another long drag. “She usually takes more when her old junker truck is working, but like tonight,” he shrugged, “she comes on foot if she has too.”
    “What does she do with the bread?” Gabe asked, intrigued now more than ever.
    “Don’t know. Don’t ask. But I got a feeling it isn’t for her.” At Gabe’s raised eyebrow, Carlos continued. “Jim’s followed her a couple of times when she was on foot and said that she gives some of it away to homeless people on the way.”
    At that, Gabe reared back. “What the fuck?” The thought of the tiny woman moving among the streets at night, offering something to unknown people, floored him. “Is she crazy? Does she have any idea how dangerous that is?”
    With one last drag on his cigarette, Carlos dropped it and crushed the butt under the heel of his boot. “Got a feeling that little one knows what she’s doing. And as long as she comes here looking for handouts, I’ll give ’em to her.” Turning, he walked back into the kitchen, leaving Gabe standing in the dark alley.
    Pulling up the collar of his tux, he walked toward the parking garage and his new truck, thoughts of the pixie swirling through his mind. Pixie? He suddenly remembered a story his mother used to read when he and Vinny were young, about a pixie fairy flying out of the woods to help a boy who had been captured by a witch. While he couldn’t recall the details of the story, he vividly remembered the pictures. And the woman from the alley with her blonde curls blowing wildly around her perfect face and her slightly protruding ears, she looked exactly like the drawing in the book.
    Walking into his apartment, he tossed his keys on the table in the entrance hall. Pulling off his tux as he headed through the bedroom and into the luxury bathroom, he turned on the shower. A few minutes later he walked back through the large apartment to the refrigerator, snagging a water bottle. Taking a long drink, his mind continued to play the meeting with the mysterious woman over and over. And once again, his dick was coming to attention.
    What the fuck am I doing? It was a chance encounter. A one-time meeting. That’s all. Trying to force the thoughts of her out of his mind should have been easy. His Special Forces training had him prepared to clear his thoughts in an instant to re-focus on the mission at hand. Unfortunately, his mind was not prepared to let her go. As though she had become his mission.
    *
    Jennifer’s arms were aching by the time she made it to the first floor of her building. An older man was standing by the back door as she turned into the alley.
    “Miss Jennifer, I was afraid somethin’ had happened,” he exclaimed as he hustled to her aid.
    “Oh, the stupid truck wouldn’t start and I had to walk. I didn’t get as much,” she explained as she handed the box to the older man. “It’s the best I could do, Henry.”
    He bestowed her with a benevolent look, smiling as he took the box from her arms. “Lordy girl, this box is heavy.” Hesitating for just a moment, he looked at her beautiful but tired face. “But it’s appreciated.”
    Gifted with her smile, he just shook his head. “Go on