13. Paybacks are Hell #2
“If I’m being honest, the wedding band kinda freaked me out, but this is awesome.” She got busy loading the bullets. “Locked, loaded, and ready.”
After they connected their rings to the app, he helped her into her coat, and they left. As they made their way down the hallway, she clasped his hand. “You surprise me.”
At the elevator bank, he pulled her close, kissed the top of her head, dropped his arm over her shoulder.
She mattered to him… she mattered a lot.
“Sei la mia regina e voglio che tu senta il mio amore, ogni giorno,” he said. You are my queen and I want you to feel my love every day.
She kissed his cheek. “Rendi felice il mio cuore.” You make my heart happy.
On the way to the restaurant, he said, “Do you want to know what I’ve got planned for tonight?”
“No, I like being surprised.”
He pulled into the restaurant parking lot.
“Yes! I was hoping you’d bring me here. Caroline told me what to order and Sydney texted me a list of her favorite dishes. I didn’t eat lunch, so I’d be extra hungry.”
Gabriel loved making her happy. Even more so, he wanted to put her first.
He drove around, parked by the rear exit door. “I didn’t want to put you at risk by dining in the main room, so I made special arrangements for us.”
After bringing her in through the back, he led her down the hallway to the closed steel door.
“It smells amazing,” she said.
He opened the salon door, confirmed the room was devoid of customers, and gestured for her to enter. Once they were inside, he shut the door behind them, brought her to the four-top in the center of the room. He helped her remove her coat before seating her.
Seconds later, the door opened. Teddy entered with two menus.
After hellos, Halston said, “If the main dining room isn’t too busy, I’d love to peek.”
“I got this,” Teddy said.
Leading the way, Teddy escorted her out.
A moment later, she returned. “I cannot wait to dine here.”
“You are dining here,” Teddy said, “and Gabriel secured the room just for you. That steel door and me waiting on you is him making sure you’re safe.”
She beamed at Gabriel. “So thoughtful. Thank you.”
“Good news,” Teddy said. “I got a hit on Pavel Donskoy, alias Bob Smith.”
“Damn, you’re good,” Gabriel said. “Nice work.”
“That’s amazing,” Halston added. “How’d you do that?”
“From the video when G got shot.” Teddy shifted to Gabriel. “You want me to text you his address?”
“No, just tell us.”
Teddy rattled off the street address in Arlington. “There were four that night. How many are left?”
“I took down one during the attack,” Gabriel replied.
“I got number two,” Halston volunteered.
“Jesus,” Gabriel bit out.
“Whoa,” Teddy added, his eyes widening
“Well, I did,” she replied.
“Sin and I took care of number three, Babin,” Gabriel said. “Donskoy and I go back years.” A smile split his face. “This’ll be fun.”
“You think he lives alone?” Teddy asked.
“I do,” Gabriel replied before regarding Halston. “Barbi, what does your gut say?”
“They all lived together,” she replied. “Only Bob Smith is left.”
“Let me take your order,” Teddy said.
Halston didn’t even look at the menu. “Caroline and Sydney told me what to order, so I’m getting the house special—lasagna—but I’d like a small plate of Branzino al Forno.”
“Sea bass,” Teddy said. “Excellent choices.”
Gabriel ordered the dinner special and a bottle of Santini Chianti. “How’s Angelo doing?”
“He’s hanging at the owner’s table,” Teddy said. “I’ll bring your wine and appetizers right out.”
He left, shutting the door behind him.
She placed her arm on the table, wiggled her fingers. He reached across, clasped her hand in his. Even though she hadn’t told him how she felt, he could feel it in her touch, see it in her eyes. For a man who had no patience, he would wait to hear the words. She glanced down at their clasped hands.
“You’re off the market,” she said.
He smiled. “Yes.”
“How does that feel?”
“It feels right. I got lucky.”
“Very,” she replied. “And I’m okay that I settled.”
He chuckled. “Nice.” Then his smile fell away. “My underboss, Angelo, will surveil Donskoy to confirm he lives alone.”
“I agreed to meet him tomorrow, Krov bar, nine o’clock,” Halston said.
Teddy returned with their wine and appetizers.
“Is Angelo still out there?” Gabriel asked.
“A woman joined him in the owner’s booth,” Teddy replied before leaving and closing the door behind him.
Gabriel lifted the wine glass. “I am luckier. To you, with love.”
Her gaze softened. “Do you know how I feel?”
“I do,” he replied.
“I’m glad you know,” she said.
They grew silent while they began eating. After a moment, Halston broke in. “Let’s talk about our plan for Donskoy.”
They discussed it in detail, working through possible scenarios.
“When we’re at Krov, I’ll tell him I want to go back to his place,” Halston said.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Simple, yet calculated,” she replied. “I love it.”
Teddy returned with their entrees, topped off their wine, and checked in with them. They were good, so he left.
She sampled the sea bass first. “This is melting in my mouth.”
He paused to appreciate her. The way she savored the food, the small sip of wine to wash it down. She looked calm, even peaceful. No worry lines around her eyes, no pinched brows either.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
She slid a small bite of lasagna into her mouth. After she swallowed it down, she said, “Caroline was right. This would be my last meal if I could choose one.”
Not expecting that.
“That’s intense. Is that what you’re thinking about? Death?”
“Are you asking for real—”
“For real.”
“I was appreciating the food,” she said.
“The oregano and garlic are strong, but don’t overpower the dish, the intensity of the ripe tomatoes, the full-flavored meat.
Then, my thoughts jumped to drinks with Donskoy and our plan, but the intensity in your eyes made me think about how you feel about me… and how I feel about you.”
“Women are complicated creatures.”
“I am, for sure.” She leaned forward. “Sometimes, I have to stop and think about who I am before I speak. That makes a big difference.” After another bite of fish, she asked, “What were you thinking about?”
“You,” he replied. “I was thinking about you.”
She offered an adorable smile. “A fascinating topic.” Then, the light in her eyes faded. “I’ve guarded my heart for a long time. I’m not sure you’re the right person to protect it… in the long run.”
“You won’t know unless you take the leap.”
She nodded slowly. “I know.”
“You have to trust your gut, your heart. I would hope the way I treat you counts for something.”
She stabbed at the small Caesar salad, piercing the romaine with her fork. “It counts a lot.” After a beat, she asked, “Do you ever get scared?”
“No,” he replied. “I have no fear. You?”
She sipped the wine. “I’m not an emotionally-based person.
I have to think through and solve problems quickly.
I have emotions, but I don’t lead with them.
If I’m freaking out about being found out—like at work—I wouldn’t be able to do my job all while doing my actual job, which is why I’m there in the first place. ”
“You’re very smart,” he said.
“Thank you. You’re very smart. Cunning too.”
“In my world, that’s the only way to be,” he said.
Teddy checked on them, topped off their waters, and cleared the appetizer plates.
“I want you to see my life in Italy,” Gabriel said. “The businesses I built from nothing. I need you to go into this with eyes wide open.”
She took the last bite of lasagna, set down her fork. After she swallowed, she peered at him for a few seconds. “I went into Langley’s database and read your file. I haven’t talked to Sydney, but she was named. I know who you are and what you’re about.”
He laid his hand on the table, palm up. She slid her gaze to his hand, then placed hers on top. He closed his fingers around hers and gave her a little squeeze. “We have time to figure it all out.”
“If we love each other and we choose each other, we’ll make it work.”
He pulled her hand off the table, leaned over, and kissed her soft skin. “Just a warning… if I set my sights on something—anything—a business venture, a home that’s not on the market, an enemy… and now a woman, I will get my way. I do not lose. Ever.”
“I’m not something you can win.”
“No, that’s where you’re wrong. You are the prize of all prizes. The one person I must work to earn and keep her love, respect, friendship, and trust every single day for the rest of my life.”
She said nothing, but the silence didn’t concern him. She had however long she needed to choose him.
And she would. He was one hundred percent confident she would.
His phone rang. “This might be about our evening.” He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket, glanced at the screen, and put the call on speaker. “Hello.”
“Mr. Santini?”
“Yes.”
“We spoke earlier about an evening tour,” said the woman. “While we don’t normally do that, I was able to get a waiver. When can I expect you?”
“I need to run this by my…” He peered into Halston’s contact lens-covered eyes. “Wife.”
Shaking her head, Halston chuckled. “Wow, you are insane, you know that?”
“I’ll call you back.” Gabriel hung up.
“You asked me to be a man, not a mouse,” Gabriel said to Halston. “I will always be honest with you. If I go to a show tonight, I will lose my mind. I can’t sit. I’m too pent up, so I contacted three museums for late-night tours.”
“You did not.”
“The International Spy Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where the dinosaurs are housed.”
She set her napkin on the table, stood, and walked over. He pushed his chair back, and she sat on his lap, put her arms around him and kissed him.
“That is the nicest gift—well, I love the lipstick, the diamond rings are amazing. But you were honest about the theater, so you made other arrangements for us. I’ve never been spoiled, not like this.” She kissed him again. “Thank you.”
“Which one?”
“The Spy Museum and the dinosaur museum.”