Mob Princess - Tess DiRosa's Story
Copyright© 2025 by Argon
Chapter 22: On the Road
Two hours later, Tess and Ted were in the car, driving back to Powelton Village to pick up Sondra.
“I didn’t plan to railroad you, Ted,” Tess said, when she was waiting at a red light.
“Hey, it saved us all the awkwardness of dancing around the subject. I mean, we’re heading in that direction anyway, aren’t we?”
“Yes, yes, definitely! Umh, Ted, I’m positive now: I love you.”
Ted had to clear his throat first. “Hr-hmm. And I love you, Teresa Carla DiRosa, and each day I spend with you makes me feel it stronger.”
“Shit! We must tell Joey.”
“I already did. He approves,” Ted answered a little smugly. “Come on! He’s the one who counts.”
The light turned green, but Tess did not drive. She looked at Ted. “Okay, let’s settle for a date when we get back. I’d like to have my wedding in the summer, and we must involve your parents in the planning.”
Suddenly, somebody tapped the side window, and Tess’s reflexes had her reach for her shoulder holster. She cracked open the window. “Yes?”
“The shade of green light wasn’t to your liking?” the man inquired with subtle irony.
It took Tess two seconds to process the answer, but then she blushed and grinned sheepishly.
“I’m sorry, Sir. We just decided to get married, and we forgot where we are.”
“Oh, wow! That makes me the first to congratulate the young man. You have great taste!”
“Thank you. We’ll move with the next green light, promise!” Ted smiled back. “Sorry!”
“Never mind! I’m glad I didn’t honk.”
He went back to his car, and Tess chuckled softly. “You turn me into mush, Theodore McNeill.”
Yet, when the lights changed, she continued the drive to her childhood home.
“I guess we’ll arrive late in DC.”
It was really almost six pm before they started the trip back to DC. Too much had to be said, too many hugs had to be exchanged. Tess was almost dizzy when she finally piloted her car towards I-95.
“What a day,” Ted echoed her own feelings.
“No shit!” Tess gave back, but she smiled. “Hey, Sondra, we’ll probably have to fill out some silly form about me being your future sister-in-law.”
“We’ll ask Whiting. Let her sort it out,” Sondra answered placidly. “I don’t think it’s an issue before you guys are really married. Besides, we’re equals even if I’m the senior.”
“We have married couples on the teaching staff, and even on the support staff,” Ted said. “Why is that a problem?”
“It’s only a problem if I write Tess’s evaluations. Which I don’t and won’t. I’ll ask Whiting to make sure,” Sondra returned. “You worry way too fucking much.”
“Balls! That from you?” Tess laughed.
“You should take up knitting, too,” was Sondra’s answer.
Looking at the backseat, Tess saw that her partner was actually knitting again.
“Are you already working on your bridesmaid’s dress?”
“Silly! I will crochet that of course,” Sondra gave back with mock indignation. “I’m doing a pair of socks for Mackinson. It’s never too late to suck up to the boss. I’ve never gotten the chance to shoot a whacko like you did, but now I can knit with the best of them.”
“Doing what works for you, I get it,” Tess nodded. “Damn, you’ve got that one over me!”
“You two are a bit nuts, aren’t you?” Ted asked.
“And you noticed that, when?” Tess laughed.
“Shit! Now your great uncle knows me, and if I break the engagement, he’ll have my knees busted.”
“Tough luck, lover!”
They both had to work on Monday and decided to sleep in their respective places. Once in bed, Tess thought about the day, and realization came to her, that she had committed to become Ted’s wife, a man she hadn’t even known two months ago. True, they clicked on every level so far, but getting married was still a big commitment. She could not even know if Ted would pass the Joey test in a pinch. Sure, he had been an officer, and he had served in country. Yet, being an officer is not the same as being able to duke it out at her side when things were going to shit.
So far, she had not caught any vibes from Ted that suggested a cowardly streak, but could she be sure? Then again, why would she need a hero at her side? Heroes are prone to suffer injuries and death, and she could protect herself against adversity. Plus, she would always have Joey and Felix for support, too. Still, she felt a little less sure of her decisions and commitments when she finally fell asleep.
Thankfully, the next morning saw Tess and Sondra transferred to Perimeter Team 3 — PT 3 —, responsible for crowd monitoring and anti-sniper overwatch. Apparently, their stints with the Close Protection Detail had gone right. This was a definitive move up, although they would do the same things they had done on AT 2 when staying longer, namely watching buildings and streets when POTUS was on the move. Still, they were only a step away from being assigned to CPD, always provided they did not screw up or step on the wrong toe. The closer they got to POTUS, the more they had to deal with the personal aides, press secretaries and other bloated egos.
Since they pretty much knew the overwatch business already and had worked with the perimeter teams, they were just slotted in for a pair of agents who must have screwed up somehow. Nobody told them why and how, but from some comments they overheard, the two had been incommunicado on their post for over five minutes — a cardinal sin.
Meanwhile, Tess and Sondra were detailed for the evening shift at the White House, patrolling the fences and the grounds, carrying small submachine guns under their coats. After dark, they even donned their tactical vests during rounds. It was, they were told, the usual job for newbies on the team. After dark, other agents also provided overwatch from the roof, wearing night vision equipment and holding sniper rifles at the ready.
Both being ambitious to not screw up their first assignment, they kept their eyes peeled, their ears cocked and their mouths shut and circled the building, intersecting with two other pairs of agents who also walked randomly timed circles. It was still cold in early February, but walking the rounds kept them reasonably warm, and no evil supervillain sent his minions after POTUS that night.
At midnight, they were relieved by two agents from PT2 and told to report back at 11 pm the next evening, for the morning shift, 00:00 to 08:00. With four teams on rotation, they would get about 14 hours free after each shift, enough to catch sleep and do their laundry. Of course, if POTUS traveled, all schedules were up in the air, and they would collect O-T like crazy.
Tess could not even call Ted after her shift, and she slept in late, long after his classes started. She therefore sent him a text explaining her new duties and schedule. It would be another two days before they would both be free to have dinner together, but they agreed to just work around their schedules for the time being. It would cramp their style, to be sure, but it could have been worse. After all, Tess could have been assigned to a West Coast field office, and where would that leave them?
Anyway, Ted was a trouper in that regard, and Tess molded her own conduct after him. Seeing each other more or less regularly every three days kept them from taking each other for granted, and the evenings they had together made up in intensity what they lacked in frequency.
March came, and Tess had finagled a week’s leave to attend Lisa’s wedding and visit Holly Murdoch on the way. Eileen came to DC by train to keep Tess company en route, but Ted could not get enough leave to drive with them, but would fly into Spokane on Friday.
Thus, Eileen and Tess headed westward at 6 pm, Tuesday evening, planning to drive in shifts, spelling each other at the wheel and putting in 20 hours of driving. They actually made it to Sioux Falls in the afternoon of Wednesday where Holly was waiting for them. They were ushered in and Tess introduced Eileen to her friend. Holly was just as kind and warmhearted as Tess remembered.
“I’ve readied the guest room for you guys. Are you comfortable sleeping in that queen size together?”
“It’ll be a first for us sharing a bed, but I’ll manage to fight Ellie off,” Tess grinned, setting both her friends off into giggles. “However, if you guys want to give it a shot, you’re welcome. No muss, no fuss, right?”
Eileen’s eyes opened wide at first, but then she looked at Holly who gave her a warm smile.
“I’m game if you are,” she said simply.
Eileen blushed fiercely, but then, a smile spread over her lips. “I’ve had a bit of a dry spell lately,” she admitted.
“Let’s get you wet then,” Holly quipped back, making Tess snort.
“She’s not circumspect, is she?”
“No, but why dance around?”
“Indeed, why,” Eileen nodded. “I’m game, but I don’t like it rough.”
“My kinda girl,” Holly nodded. “First things first. I gotta feed you girls. Then, I wanna hear all about that hunk who caught Tess’s heart. After that, I want to get to know gorgeous Ellie, in and out.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Tess laughed. “Lemme get out to the car. I brought you some wine.”
When Tess woke from the alarm on her phone, dawn light was barely filtering through the curtains, and she stretched for a few moments before throwing back her duvet and padding to the bathroom on bare feet, draining the wine and taking a quick shower. Toweling her hair to a degree of dryness, she then dressed in sweats and made her way to the kitchen, only to step into a scene of domestic bliss. Holly and Eileen were awake — still? — and working side by side at the kitchen counter, preparing a full breakfast, but also exchanging touches every few moments.
Tess’s eyes went wide when she registered how much in sync her friends were. They both turned upon hearing Tess and gave her beaming smiles, Eileen’s accompanied by a fierce blush. Her eyes looked a bit hollow, however.
“Well, I slept very well, thank you, while you guys slept — soundly? I had to put in ear plugs.”
Eileen pointed at the older woman. “She made me.”
“Ellie is incredible,” Holly said, shaking her head. “Shit, she wore me out!”
“I’d say TMI, but fuck that! Tell me all about it!” Tess grinned.
Holly looked into Tess’s eyes and shook her head. “No, I can’t. Last night was Ellie’s and mine. It went a little deeper than we expected.”
Tess held up her hands, stepped close to her friends and kissed their cheeks. “Say no more. I’ll be the soul of discretion. I can eat in the living room or take a run if you guys need more time.”
“No! Park your tushy in a chair and have breakfast with us,” Holly commanded. “Ellie and I will see each other again.”
Eileen nodded emphatically.
“I can drop her off here on the way back,” Tess offered, with no hint of teasing.
“Would you?” Eileen asked shyly. “I don’t have to be back in Philly before next Friday.”
Holly’s eyes lit up. “I’d like that very much.”
“It’s a deal then. Hell, we can take you along to Spokane if you can get free.”
“No way. I’m on duty all Saturday. Thanks for the offer though. Your friend wouldn’t mind?”
“You’d be Ellie’s plus one. Lisa wouldn’t mind, I’m sure.”
“Dig in, you two. I’ve gotta make some calls and call in a few markers.”
A little over an hour later, with the first real light, Tess was driving her X3 along I-90 with her two friends sitting in the rear seats and talking. Another hour later, they had stopped talking and were instead leaning against each other and snoozing. Holly had found somebody on her tac team to take over her Saturday shift and then packed a weekend case, while Eileen had called Lisa to warn her of one additional guest. In the meantime, Tess had used an iron to get Holly’s uniform into wedding shape, all the while chuckling to herself over the unexpected turn of events.
Now, as the small SUV was eating up the miles, that chuckle still bubbled up every few minutes. With her passengers snoring softly in the back seats, Tess kept the pedal down until Whitewood, where she exited I-90 and found a diner. Eileen and Holly woke up sheepishly and apologized for just dozing off and letting Tess drive solo.
“Don’t sweat it, girls,” Tess smiled. “I could see that you needed both the sleep and each other.”
“This is scary. She sounds so empathic. Somebody replaced Tess with a pod,” Eileen remarked but leaned forward to kiss Tess on the cheek. “Thanks, Auntie!”
“You brat!” Tess mock scolded her friend before parking the car in front of the diner. “Potty break!”
After a light meal, they piled back into the X-3, this time with Tess alone in the backseat, with Eileen driving and Holly riding shotgun. Tess had enjoyed a small beer with her meal, and soon she slept the sleep on the righteous, wedged against the passenger door, with a bunched up sweater for a head cushion. In fact, she never woke up until Eileen drove into a service station to gas up.
Holly was next at the wheel, with Tess in the passenger seat, while Eileen got some more shut eye. They had a little under 300 miles to go when Holly threw in the towel. It was half past six when they started again, fortified with fresh XXL coffees and Eileen driving again. She held out until Missoula, where Tess got another coffee and took over for the rest of the trip. Holly played wingman to help Tess stay awake, while Eileen stretched out in the backseat. It was only ten minutes till eleven when they reached Tess’s old Spokane neighborhood and the Airbnb, a small, one-level home two blocks from Lydia’s place, which she had rented for the long weekend.
As they exited the car, stiff after an 18-hour drive, Tess sent a short text to Lisa, telling her that they had arrived and were at their BnB, and would crash immediately. The reply came immediately.
‘Come over for a quick brew!’
That was too tempting, and after unloading the car, the three of them walked the short distance.
Lisa was waiting at the door already and she came running, hugging Tess and Eileen.
“You came, you really came!” she bubbled. “Come, let me introduce you to Lorna!”
“Wait, Lisa! This is Holly Murdoch, from Sioux Falls.”
“Hi, Holly and thanks for coming. We’re gonna have a blast!”
She pulled all of them through the front door and into the hall, where, unmistakably, her bride was standing. She looked even more appealing in real life than on a tablet screen, and Tess shook her hand with a smile.
“Whoa! Lisa snared a real beauty!”
Lorna blushed a little and regarded Tess. “Welcome, and thank you for agreeing to be Lisa’s maid of honor!”
“My pleasure. These are my friends, Eileen O’Bannon and Holly Murdoch. Ellie is my honorary kid sister, and Holly is my Obi-Wan. Since she and Ellie hit it off, we asked her to come along.”
“That’s sweet of you all. Your ... boyfriend? Will he come tomorrow?”
Tess checked her watch. “Today, in fact. He’s leaving right after school, but the flight is almost eight hours from BWI. Take getting there and check-in, and it’s ten hours. He’ll arrive shortly after ten. I’ll pick him up, and you’ll meet him tomorrow.”
“Oh, I hoped you’d...” There was Lydia, coming from the kitchen.
“Hey, I know the house, and I know the foldout sofa. Thank’s, but no, thanks. It’s wonderful to see you, Lydia!”
“That’s thoughtful of you, Tess,” Lorna said decisively. “When you called to let us know of Holly coming along, we phoned around, but we don’t know that many people. The scene here is not as big and open as the one in Philadelphia.”
“Hell, even with just Ellie coming along, things would’ve been cramped, and I didn’t want Lydia to take the foldout in her own house.”
“We think somebody replaced Tess with a pod. She’s so considerate,” Eileen told Lisa in a theater whisper.
“Must be that guy, Ted, who tamed the shrew,” Lisa hazarded. “Hey, grab a beer and sit down!”
They did, and soon a second round appeared, soothing the nerves of the three weary travelers. At one point, Tess went for the john, but when she emerged again, Lisa was standing there, leading Tess into their bedroom.
“I need to talk to you.”
“What’s up, Lisa?”
“Two weeks ago, I had a shoot-out with a woman. We wanted to interview her boyfriend, and when we paid them a visit, both were flying high on Meth. Suddenly she ran for a bedroom and must’ve grabbed an AK. I hit her first, but she was on full auto and perforated the ceiling with a full clip of 7.62 rounds.”
“Clean shooting,” Tess stated.
“Yeah, but she nearly died.”
“Maybe, but you and your partner still live. Who was your partner?”
“A new guy, Steven Masters, transferred from OKC for a new start. He froze up completely. He’s gone already.”
“But you didn’t,” Tess said with emphasis. “You reacted like the good agent you are, and you neutralized the shooter. What’s eating you about it?”
“Somebody upstairs was hit and badly injured, a young boy, only thirteen.”
“Shit! Do you see any other way for you to get out of that jam alive? I mean, the stupid chick went full Rock’n’Roll. She would’ve ended up putting holes in the ceiling anyway.”
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