Part 57

"Come in."


Marco stepped into the office quietly, noting that Luke was still holding the phone to his face as he signaled for him to take a seat. It had been another busy morning, and an even busier afternoon in which both men had found themselves running around incessantly. 


"Thank you." Luke said, tossing the phone aside and running his hands through his hair. 


"Bad call?" Marco said after a few minutes. Luke sighed and pulled his top drawer open, taking out a cigarette and propping it between his lips. Marco raised his brow, he was sure that Luke quit.


"Don't say a word." Luke said without looking up.


Marco smiled but shook his head. Usually, he'd rib him at least a little but today... today was different. 


"Can I at least tell you about what we found?" Marco said after a few more minutes. 


"Unless it's good, I'm too tired to deal with it." Luke replied. He'd been spending long days at the office, in before anyone else and out way after. It was a shame. A brand new bride at home that he couldn't get enough of and the only time he really saw her was if he could sneak away early enough to catch her for dinner, otherwise she was fast asleep. 


The first few nights, Echo waited up for him. Luke told her she didn't have to do that but she'd insisted, saying that she wanted to wait. It was such a good feeling, even if she was already in bed, to come home and find her smiling at him from where she sat. He almost laughed thinking about the way he found her in bed one night and she just stood up on the bed and practically jumped off of it and into his arms. It caught him off guard. His shy little Echo would just throw her arms around his neck, excited to see him. She'd blushed furiously the first time she'd done it, obviously it was an impulsive thing to do and she regretted it. But he'd loved it so much that he'd insisted she do it every time he caught her in bed. 


Of course she protested and often times refused to do it, but every once in a while, she'd slip up and show him just how happy she was to see him. He was growing used to coming home to her. Used to the way she kissed him, the way she stroked his scar with her thumb or how she immediately curled up next to him in the bed. Even when he came home too late to catch her awake, she'd instinctively pull herself up to him and he'd wrap his arms over her. He hadn't meant to make a habit of coming home that late... but there was Christmas coming up and then their honeymoon. He needed to figure out this thing with the Russo brothers. He needed to be sure she was safe. 


"Depends on what you consider good news." Marco said with a shrug. 


"Alright, out with it." Luke replied. 


"We found them." Marco said, making Luke sit up. 


"You sure?" Luke asked.


"If it's not them, it's their long lost twins." Marco replied. 


"Where?" Luke asked. 


"As of right now, we have eyes in New York, right on them." Marco said. 


"Well? Then let's go. I want them here, now." Luke said but Marco shook his head. 


"It's not that easy." Marco replied. "If we're right and they're in New York, then it also means they have extensive surveillance in the city. Otherwise, they wouldn't know how to avoid you and they wouldn't be able to get those notes to you." 


"I'm aware there's a mole here, but fuck me if I know who it is." Luke said, hitting the desk with his fist. "Every single man, woman, and child within North Town, within our team, is accounted for. Everyone has been vetted and checked, right?"


"Every single one." Marco agreed. "I don't think it's safe to move until we figure out who we can trust, otherwise, we're walking into a trap."


"right." Luke said. 


"And if whoever is here, hiding in plain sight, finds out we're going to New York... then who's to say they won't take someone from here as leverage?" Marco pointed out. Luke looked at Marco sharply. Damn it. It was all true. 


"We need to wait for the right moment, then we sneak someone in." Luke said and Marco nodded. 


"Exactly, in the meantime, I suggest we increase security around your family... particularly Echo and Adelia." Marco said. 


"We get men on Nadia, and double the men at my house." Luke said. 


"I think so." Marco replied, hesitating for a moment. "I think I should double my rounds at the house too. I will check in on the men there personally."


Luke looked up to Marco, his expression indiscernible. Marco had been making daily rounds to the house as it was, something that Luke hadn't asked him to do. Although, if he was honest, he would have never batted an eye at the idea before. But now... Now Marco wanted to be there more often. 


"She's exposed." Marco continued. "They both are and we don't know who is watching or where they will attack from. I would stand guard myself if it wasn't because there is so much to do. We need someone we can trust."


"And that means you? We have plenty of good men, men we have known for years." Luke said. 


"And one of them is in the Russo's pockets. I think right now, at this moment, you and I are the only people we can really trust." Marco said, standing. "Don't worry, I won't let any of my other duties slip."


"I think I need to get home." Luke said, suddenly feeling the need to get to Echo. It was a lot of information, and as much as he tried to push the idea to the back of his mind, he could almost hear Grace's words. Marco was visiting Echo. No... he was checking on her. Luke shook his head. It was hard to get his thoughts straight. 


"Good idea. You look like you need some rest." Marco said, noting the time. "If you go now, I'm sure you can still make it for dinner. She usually eats dinner late."


"Tell our guys to keep a close watch. Start vetting out who we're sending in and make sure we get all the security detail in place." Luke said as he stood. 


"You got it." Marco said. 


"Marco." Luke called out as Marco prepared to exit the office. 


"Yeah?" Marco asked. 


"I'm trusting you." Luke said, catching him off guard. Marco sighed. 


"I know."


----


"Echo!"


"He's home." Adelia said, prompting Echo's head to pop up where she stood hopelessly above the stove. 


"Damn it." She said, wiping her hands off on her apron as she handed her the wooden spoon. Adelia smiled, taking over the task. 


"Don't worry, you're not doing that bad." The cook said from where she was watching nearby. Adelia nodded. 


"Really, it's not that bad." Adelia said with a smile, "It just takes practice."


"Out of all the days for him to come home early." Echo said, looking around. "I don't want him to see this mess."


"Go ahead, Echo." Cook said, "I'll take care of this."


"Thank you." Echo whispered, leaving the room. This was the second time she'd tried to make dinner, and yes, she had done better but she still wasn't ready for Luke to see it. 


"Echo! Where are you?" 


She could heard him out in the foyer and so she quickened her pace, hoping he wouldn't make it to the kitchen. She was much too embarrassed to let him know she couldn't cook... at all. 


"Hey." She said, practically sprinting towards him at the end of hall and hoping her hair wasn't too messy. 


"Hi." He said with a grin as she approached him. She stretched out her arms, hoping to keep him away from the kitchen where at this moment, she could hear the clanging and banging of pans and spoons. Lord, why had she insisted on doing everything herself? She could have let cook help her, she could have let Adelia help her and maybe she wouldn't have made such a mess of things. 


"You're home early." Echo said with a smile. Luke reached out and took her hands, prepared to pull her close but immediately noticing a stain on her blouse. 


"What have you been getting yourself into?" He asked, raising his brow and looking her up and down. Echo glanced down at herself, closing her eyes as she noticed the stain. 


"Oh you know... a little of this." She said, walking to a nearby side table and taking a tissue, "a little bit of that."


"Right..." He said, watching as she tried to wipe her blouse. He tilted his head as she moved, noting another stain... 


"And this one?" He said with a grin, as he patted the spot on her bottom. Echo blushed before turned around in a ridiculous fashion as she tried to see the stain for herself. 


"What...where?" She said, moving in circles, from side to side. Luke couldn't help it. She looked absolutely ridiculous and so he laughed. Echo stiffened, turning to look at him. "Stop it, Luke. I'm serious." 


Luke ran a hand through his hair and put the other at his side. With so much on his mind, he hadn't been able to just relax and right now, the sight of his wife running around and chasing a stain on her bottom was just... amazing. 


"Oh, I hate you." She said, loosing her patience and turning to stomp away. 


"Wait...wait." He said, reaching out and grabbing her arm to whip her back around. "I'm sorry. Come... please."


Echo frowned as she let him pull her in, his free hand now tilting her chin up towards him. 


"Luke... I'll get you dirty..." She said, gulping as she noticed the look in his eyes. 


"I don't mind." He said, staring down at her lips. He dragged his thumb across them, focusing on the bottom. It was such a pretty mouth she had. He loved it. "Now..."


The distinct sound of a stomach growling interrupted whatever it was that was coming next. For a second they just stared at each other and then the sound came again, this time it was Echo that laughed. 


"My..." She said as Luke frowned. 


"I guess I skipped lunch." Luke said as his stomach continued to complain. Echo lost it, trying not to double over but she'd never seen him as anything but fully composed and in control 


"That's no good." She said, shaking her head. "You need food."


"I need you..." He said, pulling her tightly again but sighing. "But first, fuel."


Echo smiled as he took her hand and began to pull her along the hall. 


"Come on, let's see what cook made for dinner." He said with a grin as she they moved. Echo's eyes widened. 


"Actually, why don't we go out for dinner?" Echo said, practically jumping in front of him. Luke stopped. 


"If that's what you want." He said, looking at his watch and then towards the back. "But it smells like dinner is pretty much ready."


"No, it's not... that's nothing." She said almost too eagerly. Luke looked down at Echo, noticing how nervous she looked. 


"Echo, is there something you don't want me to see back there?" He asked, looking back down at the stain on her blouse. Echo let out an exaggerated sigh. 


"Yes." She admitted. "I really don't want you to go back there."


"Okay, I won't." He said, making her look at him in surprise. 


"Really?" She asked. 


"Of course not." He replied, moving around her with a smile and heading into the kitchen. 


"Oh no, Luke!" She called out, trying to stop him. Luke stopped at the door, glancing around and Echo... well, she hung her head as she dragged herself in behind him. 


"What in the world..." He muttered as he saw the mess. At the sink, Adelia was washing pots happily and cook, well she stood with the housekeeper trying to sort out the counter. 


"Alright... I tried... and failed. Okay?" Echo said, mortified at the mess around her. Luke nodded.


"Well, let's see." Luke said, taking her hand and bringing her along towards the stove. 


"Oh, no. Don't. It's terrible." Echo said, as he grabbed a spoon and dipped it into the pot. He brought it to his lips, blowing gently before tasting. "Oh god."


Echo slipped a hand over her eyes, covering them, just barely peeking out to see his expression. 


"So?" She asked, biting her lips.  Luke nodded as he swallowed. 


"Yeah, okay." He said, putting the spoon down. "How about we order in?"


Echo burst out laughing, noting how he was trying to keep a straight face. 


"Oh, yes, please!" she said, as everyone else in the room began to chuckle. 



Comment