Taken by Vincenzo Read online

  Taken By Vincenzo

  Katrina S. Karter

  Contents

  1. Tatiana Ivanor

  2. Tatiana

  3. Vincenzo Mancini

  4. Tatiana

  5. Vincenzo

  6. Tatiana

  7. Tatiana

  8. Vincenzo

  9. Tatiana

  10. Vincenzo

  11. Tatiana

  12. Vincenzo

  13. Tatiana

  14. Vincenzo

  15. Tatiana

  16. Vincenzo

  17. Tatiana

  18. Vincenzo

  19. Tatiana

  20. Vincenzo

  21. Tatiana

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Taken by Vincenzo

  Copyright © 2020 by Katrina S. Karter

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For information contact :

  http://www.katrinaskarter.com

  1

  Tatiana Ivanor

  I hated Monday mornings like mosquitoes. It was four in the morning and all I wanted to do was roll over in my bed. Glancing outside I can see the stars in the sky. The sky shined bright like black pearls. I just wanted to see the back of my eyelids. Miami was a beautiful city but it’s paradise at night. The sound of the waves crashing the shore seduced me into burrowing into the covers for a quick five-minute wink.

  Dang. A fleeting glance at my cellphone shows I had been sleeping for thirty minutes. Jumping out of my bed, I sprint to the shower. Piling my hair up in a ninja bun, I take the quietest shower I had ever taken. I was barely dry five minutes later as I yank my car keys off the desk and rushed out the door.

  Traffic was at a standstill. The highway looked like the parking lot at the mall on the night before Christmas. I guess Mom was right. Other people on this planet work for a living besides me. She often reminded me of this fact, when I complained about how my coworkers got away with doing nothing while I worked my butt off. I miss her so much. It’s true nothing feels the void of losing your parents. They were gone too soon.

  Running through the double doors of the Dade County Drug Enforcement Agency (D.D.E.A), where all the security officers did was flirt with any woman who paid attention to their sorry pickup lines. Why does the government bother to hire security officers for this site?

  Who would be stupid enough to come here? There were military soldiers armed with weapons stationed at all the gates, just waiting for a threat to national security. The guards weren’t there to provide security to the D.D.E.A., we share the building with the National Security Agency, so the protection was for them. Most people do not think about the Drug Enforcement Agency unless of course, they sell drugs.

  Nobody knows that the Drug Enforcement Agency established this location in partnership with the National Security Agency. Our positions were so top secret that we could not discuss them. Barreling through the glass double doors I swiped my badge and walked through the metal detectors. Once my purse was scanned, I sprinted to the elevators. I attempt to fix my wavy hair that looks like a poodle’s discarded shed hair off a pet store floor.

  I was claustrophobic so having a three-hundred-pound man’s butt pressed against me freaked me out. The elevator was packed. Pressing my back against the cold metal I inched over to get space between the man and myself. He was almost standing on top of me.

  A woman noticed my discomfort and shifted over to stand closer to the left-hand side of the elevator so that I could move. Smiling at her, I mouthed a thank you. Moving, I sighed. Just then I caught sight of my nemesis, Connie Woods. Connie’s nostrils flared when she saw me and the pen, she held in her hand, snapped. Everyone turned around and stared at her.

  Not today Satan. For once, Monday will not be like all the others. This is my season.

  Connie smirked. “Your appearance is why you’ll never get promoted to senior analyst, Tatiana.” Her blue eyes raked over my black leather shoes in my hand and my Converses on my feet.

  Oh, she was a wealth of knowledge on how to be promoted. Connie’s given almost all the senior managers on the second floor more rides than the Greyhound bus. I don’t mean in her little hot pink Mercedes either. She had stepped on everyone to get where she was today. She would sell her own mother if it would guarantee a highly visible promotion at the top of the career ladder.

  “Thanks. I’ll remember that.” Her advice was like snot. It comes in and it quickly runs out. My heart pounded in my chest and I gritted my teeth to keep my mouth closed. I could not afford a human resource complaint. Connie was the kind of person that dishes it out, but she had no intentions of taking it.

  The elevator stopped on the second floor. Connie smirks at me and I grind my teeth. I did not want to be homeless eating cat food, or I would deck her one. I still owed her for stealing my high school sweetheart John and having him ditch me on senior prom night. I guess I should also thank her because Johnny is the biggest hoe in town. The word on the street is that he continues to run around, like a jackrabbit, even after marrying her.

  The elevator stopped and jerked. The doors opened and some people rushed out. I usually took the stairs, but Zumba had my leg muscles feeling like jello. Just as the doors were about to close, Frank Barker walked inside. At least I think its Frank. I wasn’t wearing my contacts, so I was as blind as a bat. Connie giggled. The sound had my nails digging in my palm after a minute of hearing it. Fake people irritate me like a yeast infection. Maybe all the stars have aligned, and I would go unnoticed in here.

  Please don’t notice me. Today is not a good day to catch his eye. I look horrible. Come on stupid elevator get to my floor.

  “Tatiana it’s good to see you. Did you get a workout in this morning?” asked Frank. He leaned up against the metal railing balancing his laptop and briefcase in his hand.

  “I did. How was Mexico?” Biting my lip, I smiled. I shuffled a little closer to the heavy-set man, hoping his bulky figure hid my Converses. My heart skipped a beat.

  Lord, please do not strike me down. It’s just one white lie. I will pray more often and repent for my terrible ways.

  Great. I would run into Frank Baker. After he stepped in the elevator, it smelled like a hot summer day in Hawaii. I was not sure if it was his cologne or aftershave, but it smelled like the ocean. Frank was a heartthrob. Everyone had a crush on him, even me. I had been seventeen when I started interning at the agency, and that was when I met Frank. To my dismay, at the age of twenty-eight my underwear still gets bunched when I see him.

  Anyone wanting to go into the field and obtain a bigger role in protecting the United States as a security analyst had to go through Frank. After I graduate in six months with a master’s in Computer Science, I would be able to apply for an analyst position. A hundred-thousand-dollar salary would allow me to pay my student loans and buy a house like a real adult.

  It would also allow me to support my brother Sergi, and not starve to death when I bail him out of trouble. Ramen noodles had been a staple since high school, but I would like to eat something that isn’t processed food.

  “We got a lot done in Mexico. I’m happy to be back home though,” said Frank.

  Connie cleared her throat. “Frank. I was talking with Stephen about some i
deas for the Columbia project, and I’d like to get on your calendar, today if I’m not imposing.”

  She wanted to get in his pants. He was the only man on the second floor that has not slept with her. I think even the janitor that cleans the restroom has slept with Connie.

  Men fell in bed with her since she was so free with her favors. I don’t judge women who want a different man inside of them, but it was not my style. I have worked hard all my life to get where I want to go, and I do not intend to change now. I was not raised that way. My parents taught me hard work would move mountains.

  Frank glanced at me and then around as a wave of groans murmured through the elevator. Most people couldn’t agree on what to eat for lunch, but everyone agreed that Connie was a home-wrecking, low life skank.

  “I have meetings all day but email Suzie, and she’ll put you on my calendar,” said Frank. He turned and winked at me.

  Why did he wink at me? I wish I could be certain that was a wink. I need my contacts dang it. He couldn’t be flirting with me, could he?

  I touched the base of my neck, pinching my baby hairs to verify this was not a dream. I shifted from one foot to the other, to keep from fidgeting.

  The doors opened. Several people rushed out the elevator. I longed to do the same, but I did not dare. I was late but it would be much worse to advertise that to Frank. No matter what people say, tardiness was not unacceptable. One thing that Connie said was correct; if I wanted this promotion, I had better pull out all the stops like she did.

  I won’t sleep with anyone for the promotion, but I need to prove to upper management that I’m the right person for the job. This was the government, and everything hinged on your past performance with them. How do I prove myself when all the special projects go to Connie?

  Taking a deep breath, I passed behind Connie’s back. Connie had stopped Frank outside the elevator. The impatient look on his face was priceless. She was like a venereal disease. She just kept coming back no matter what cocktail or antibiotic the physician pump into you. I do not like being late, and I was two minutes late. I didn’t intend to make it two more.

  Connie grabbed Frank’s arm. “Sir, just one more question, if you don’t mind.”

  “Actually, send the question through Suzie, as well.” He glanced down at her fingers on his arm and raised his eyebrows. Frank stepped around Connie. His steps were brisk as he glanced at his watch before looking back at me.

  Connie’s face flushed but she dropped her hand. She did not move from the elevator but stood there watching him.

  “Tatiana. I have a special project that I am placing you on. It is a highly visible project that we discussed in Mexico. Everyone’s eyes will be on this project all the way from the Secretary of Defense on down. I’ll have Suzie send you an email so you can meet with everyone,” said Frank.

  He shook my hand. Frank turned and looked behind him at Connie. My mouth dropped open. “Thank you so much. I look forward to hearing the details.”

  He is placing me on a special project. I can finally show the agency what I can do. This is like a dream come true.

  “I’m able to assist her on this project. I have contacts in Mexico and I’m familiar with the political climate,” said Connie. She rushed over to stand next to me.

  Oh no. He is going to saddle me with her. She will be sabotaging my work the entire time. I could already feel her knife in my back.

  Frank sighed. “You’re on several projects already. This project requires a higher-level clearance that you don’t have.”

  “I understand. I can assure you I am clearable. I have a perfect credit score and do not have any debt. In addition, I don’t have any student loans like Tatiana.” She looked at me before turning to Frank.

  Wow. She will do anything to get ahead.

  My face felt hot. I know I should not feel ashamed to have student loan debt, but I did. I struggled to get my security clearance because I owed so much debt to my school. How can your educational debt keep you from getting a job? It was crazy how things worked in the real world.

  He ran his hand through his hair. Frank’s voice strained. “Be that as it may, she’ll be working with the other agencies involved.”

  Connie stuck out her lower lip in a flirty pout. She tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Please consider me if for some reason she can’t pass the clearance process, with her student debt and all.”

  Wincing, I felt a blush creep up my face and neck. I tucked my hair behind my ear and opened my mouth to excuse myself.

  I have got to go. If I do not start walking now, I might crush my back molars. Her audacity knows no bounds, and I am tired of her.

  “Look at the time, I’d better clock in before my boss wonders where I am.” Plastering a smile on my face, I moved to leave.

  Frank grabbed my hand. “Hold on, please. I will send your boss an email and let him know that you were late, because of this meeting.”

  He turned to Connie. His smile fell from his face. “If an opening did arise on this project, you would not be considered. Your personality is strong and wouldn’t be a good fit with the others on the team.”

  “Sir, I get along with everyone here. If there was something that I said that offended you, please accept my apology.”

  Frank shook his head. “No apology needed Connie, but the others on the team paid their way through school and have sizeable student loan debt. They would be offended if one of their peers looked down on them for having to work while going to school.”

  Connie’s ears turned red. “Tatiana knows that I didn’t mean any offense by that comment.”

  I stood straighter and lifted my chin. “It was offensive. Most people do not come from families that have the financial means to pay for their college in cash.”

  “I’ll recommend that Suzie, speak with your supervisor, regarding some interpersonal skill development training, so you’ll be prepared when another opportunity arises. I’d hate for you to be passed up on special projects because others don’t want to work with you.”

  Connie swallowed several times and looked like she wanted to run from the hall. “I’m open to any training that would allow me to showcase my skills and willingness to learn.”

  Frank smiled at her. “I’m glad to hear it. For a second, I was very worried. We take being a team player very seriously here.”

  I left while Frank was still giving Connie a much-needed lesson in humility. I was late but I now had an excuse, so I took my time savoring the fact that I had my very first special project. Things in my life were looking up.

  Arriving at my desk five minutes later did not ruin my high. The day was looking up and nothing could stop me from having an amazing day. I was on the way to living my best life. Every minute I pulled up my email refreshing furiously until it was lunchtime, and I decided that obsessing over the expected email was not the best use of my time. Pushing my chair back, I locked my computer, picked up my cellphone and walked out of the office.

  Heading toward the steps, I drummed my fingers on my cellphone. Who can I tell the good news? After all, it was just Sergi and I. I have not been able to reach my brother for months. But that was not such a bad thing. When my brother’s in my life so was trouble.

  I went through the lunch line in a daze. Scanning the seating area, I did not see anyone I recognized. Most of the time I skipped lunch because I could not afford to spend twelve dollars a day on the food. Smiling, I handed the cashier, two five-dollar bills, and two dollars in quarters.

  After she counted it twice, she tossed the money in the register and waved me on, calling the gentleman behind me. Walking past the first tables, I spotted Connie gossiping to her friends Beth and Mary, so I made a beeline for the tables on the other side.

  Ring. I glanced down at my phone. I did not recognize the number, but I answer it anyway. If it is regarding my student loans, I need to speak with them anyway.

  Why dodge your creditors? They will hunt you down worse than the IRS.
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  “Hello.” I shove a fork full of spinach salad in my mouth. The key to filling up on salad is to load it with vegetables and spinach.

  “Tat. I do not have much time. I want you to know that I love you,” said Sergi.

  Oh god. What had he done?

  Chills ran up my spine. A sense of impending doom swept over me and I gulped. My heart raced. I gripped the phone tight in my hand. I looked around and noticed that some people had stopped eating and were staring at me.

  “Where are you?” I drop my fork on the plate. The clank sound drew several eyes in my direction.

  “I’ve always tried to take care of you like mom and dad wanted, but I’ve messed up this time. I’m not going to be living much longer.”

  Not living? I was used to Sergi calling and demanding money. There was always an emergency or catastrophe that he needed me to save him from. This time was different. Something was happening and this time it was real.

  I had not spoken to Sergi in months and I wanted to file a missing person report on him. I did not because he was always doing something that was not quite legal. He was never one to follow the law, but he had not asked for money.

  “What are you talking about?” I stood up so fast I knocked my diet soda on the floor. Hopping over it, I rushed through the glass door leading outside.

  “I’ve talked too long. If anybody asks you where I am, tell them you haven’t heard from me.”

  He cannot get off the phone without telling me where he is. What is going on?

  “Where are you?” I looked out into the parking lot.

  I was wearing my badge, but I could run upstairs and get my car keys in five minutes. I just needed an address. The silence on the phone was devastating.