15. Getting Closer #2
“Can you take off this weekend?” Gabriel asked her. “We can jet to Italy, spend the weekend at my oceanfront villa.” He paused. “The one you didn’t break into.”
Her sheepish smile had him kissing her forehead.
“What was that?” Teddy asked looking up from his laptop. “You broke into his home?”
“It was an assignment from the ambassador,” Halston replied.
“Too complicated for me,” Teddy said.
“Welcome to my life,” Halston said.
They thanked their hosts, climbed into Gabriel’s truck, parked in the garage. After backing out, he waited for the door to close before he drove away. Halston had been quiet all morning. Rather than push her, he clasped her hand, gave it a little squeeze.
“What do you think about my renting a house for us?” Gabriel asked.
She glanced over at him, her bright eyes holding his gaze. “I’m staying in my hotel suite and I’d love it if you stayed with me. I’ve got a small kitchen, but I wasn’t using it. We can have some dinners there.”
“I’ll let Evangeline know when I call the meeting for tonight,” he said.
“Where?”
“The group has a safe house. We’ll go together.” After a beat he said, “How are you doing?”
“So much better. I’m not mentioning Bob Smith—Donskoy—but I’m confident the ambassador will ask.”
“Expect that someone told him about the ambush.” He parked behind her SUV at the loading dock of Hotel Dillinger.
She shifted toward him. “If someone snapped a photo, he’ll know I was there. Same if someone described me. I’ve never been caught in a lie. I need Bulgrov to continue trusting me or he won’t keep me in the loop.” She sighed. “For the first time, I’m not sure what to do.”
He wrapped his hand around her thigh. “How can I help?”
“I’ll figure it out, but if you can drop me a block from the embassy, that would be great.”
Once in her hotel suite, she made a call.
Evangeline answered. “Heading to work?”
“Just about,” Halston replied. “Gabriel is with me and you’re on speaker.”
“Hi, G,” Evangeline said.
“Hey, Evangeline.”
“I had a thing happen last night,” Halston said. “We need to talk in person.”
“We have docs you need to see,” Gabriel added.
“Sin and I are meeting a client in New York City,” Evangeline said. “We’ll be back in two days. Let’s talk at the secure location then. How’s eight in the evening?”
“That’ll work,” Halston replied. “I need a second room key. I’m not staying here alone going forward.”
“I’ll call the front desk. Grab the keycard on your way out,” Evangeline said. “I don’t like being in the dark. Are you okay?”
“I am,” Halston replied, “but I wouldn’t be without Gabriel.”
“Will you be safe at work?” Evangeline asked.
He could see Halston thinking while the seconds ticked by.
“Are you there?” Evangeline asked.
“Yes,” Halston said. “I’ll be safe.”
“Stop at the front desk for the key,” Evangeline said. “Silence your personal phone and bring it with you.”
The call ended.
He left her to get changed downstairs in his own hotel suite. When they were both ready, they met in the lobby.
Gabriel had changed from Teddy’s clothing into a black suit, black shirt.
“You look handsome,” she said. “I’m sorry you have to deliver such tragic news to Angelo’s family.”
“Me too,” he replied. “I’m a phone call away.”
“I got this.”
He didn’t want to leave her alone, but he had to back off. Hovering or being over-protective would smother her.
At the front desk, Halston collected the second room key from the clerk.
“To confirm,” Gabriel said, “you want me to move my things into your suite.”
“Yes,” she replied. “I do.”
As they rode down in the service elevator, Halston handed him the keycard to her penthouse suite.
He shot her a little smile. “I’m getting the key to the queendom.”
She chuckled. “You make me laugh. I love that about you. I mean, saving my life can’t be topped, but laughing, that’s a big plus. You are checking so many boxes, Mr. Santini.”
At the truck, he kissed her. One soft kiss that elicited a whisper of a moan.
“Check, check, check. You do know I’m insane, right?” he asked.
She nodded before climbing into the passenger seat of his truck. He got behind the wheel, started it up.
“I can’t stop my heart from choosing you… and I wouldn’t want to,” she said. “I love being with you. It’s addictive. The more I’m around you, the more I like you, the more I want to spend time with you.”
“My world is filled with danger.”
“Yeah, try working in Moscow for nine months, pretending to be a Russian who grew up in an orphanage.”
“Touché.” As Gabriel drove her toward the embassy, he said, “I’m not giving up my position in Cosa Nostra.”
“I’m not asking you to change,” she said.
“Years ago, my dad gave me and Wolfie advice. He said, ‘when you find your person, accept them as they are. The good and the bad. They won’t change for you, no matter how hard you try to make them. If you can’t live with something you don’t like, you gotta walk. ”
“Eyes wide open.” He pulled up to the curb. “Watch your six, baby. Do you want me to pick you up here tonight?”
“I’ll meet you at the hotel. We’ll either make something or eat in the restaurant downstairs. I’ll be disguised as Barbi.”
One quick kiss and she was gone.
She’s the one.
He’d fallen in love with a spy.
Could my life get more complicated?
Forty-minutes later, he pulled up to the Moretti home. While he could have called ahead, he knew the minute Angelo’s mom or dad heard his voice, they’d know. He wanted to delay the inevitable for as long as possible.
This time, no bags of groceries, no flashy bouquet of flowers. Just himself. Dressed in all black. Hidden beneath it all, his Kevlar vest.
He parked at the curb, made his way to the front door. He rang the bell. No answer, so he sent a text.
Mrs. Moretti, I stopped by. Are you home?
Seconds later, the front door opened. A big smile from Angelo’s mom. She looked like she was headed out. A nice outfit, some makeup. She’d done her hair.
“What a nice surprise, G. Come in. I’m taking Nonna to the doctor later this morning, then to lunch at your family’s restaurant.”
He entered, she shut the door behind her. He kissed each of her cheeks. “Salve signora Moretti.” Hello, Mrs. Moretti.
“Is Mr. Moretti home?”
“He’s at the tire shop. He was off yesterday. She patted his cheek. “Where’s that movie-star smile, G?”
He just shook his head.
Per favore, Signore, dammi le parole. Please, Lord, give me the words.
Her light-hearted expression dropped. “Ohgod, no.”
Her knees started to give out. He supported her into the front room, helped her onto the sofa. She was clutching her heart. “Please, Gabriel, tell me you’re here for a different reason.”
“I can’t,” he said. “I’m so sorry. Angelo’s gone.”
A wail from the depths of her soul filled every corner of the room. Gabriel pulled her into his arms and held her while the pain, the loss, and the guilt filled him with agony.
Angelo’s grandmother rushed in. Her face went ashen white and she crossed herself, murmuring in Italian.
Mrs. Moretti rushed over to her mom. Sobbing, the two held each other.
The loss of their boy ripped through Gabriel like a tornado.
With a gentle touch, he brought them to the sofa, sat beside them and did his best to comfort them.
Nonna pulled a tissue from her apron, another for Mrs. Moretti.
They’d blame him. Hell, he blamed himself. This should never have happened. Those bullets were meant for him.
He stayed silent, letting the first round of grief wash over them. As he expected, it was more like a geyser. Tears filled his eyes as he consoled them as best he could. Even his beloved father’s death had been less painful than this.
Losing Angelo was like losing a brother.
His number two.
Many minutes passed before Mrs. Moretti wiped her tear-streaked face, shuddered in a shaky breath. “Tell me what happened.”
He hesitated, uncertain how much information she needed to know.
“The truth,” she said.
“In Italy, we had Bratva—Russian mobsters—taking over and controlling our turf.”
“You don’t need Cosa Nostra anymore,” she said. “You got money. Angelo too.”
“Yes.” Gabriel paused. “Running the organization was something Angelo and I did with pride. We worked hard to take it back. Angelo knew it would be his one day.”
The women nodded along.
“This was a revenge hit. We don’t know who took Angelo out, but we think it could be a woman.”
Mrs. Moretti cleared her throat. “When you find Angelo’s killer, end their life.” She crossed herself. “I will go to hell for that thought… for my wish.”
“We have to find a way to forgive,” Nonna said.
Mrs. Moretti nodded. “Forgive, never forget. You will take care of this, G, no?”
“You have my word,” he promised. “It’s a war, and I will take them all out. I will do it for Angelo.”
“Did he die alone?” Nonna asked.
“No, Nonna, he died in my arms. I was with him when the Lord called him home.”
“Don’t hold the hatred in your heart,” Nonna said. “It’s not healthy.”
Gabriel didn’t want to further upset them.
“Nonna, Mrs. Moretti, you remember my father?”
“Yes, he was a strict man,” Mrs. Moretti said. “Showed no love.”
“I learned love from my grandparents,” Gabriel said.
“I learned love from your family. I learned how to shut off my emotions, do the jobs for my father. I’m going to rely on every ruthless, illegal, and sinister technique and tactic he taught me to avenge Angelo.
I won’t stop until they’ve all paid for the death of my beloved brother. ”
Tears rolled down their cheeks. Gabriel’s throat clogged with emotion, but he fought against it. He’d shed his tears, now he’d do what he did best.