Chapter 13 In Love #2
Rather than answer, she slid into the booth. When Rocco started to slide in next to her, Tank stopped him. “Not next to my woman.”
I love being his.
Sydney bit back a smile.
“My bad,” Rocco said. “I see a pretty lady, I’m magnetically drawn to her. You dig?”
Tank sat next to Sydney as Sin slid in next to her on the other side, leaving Rocco on the opposite side of the horseshoe.
“This convo never happened,” Sin said. “I get even a whisper you’re talking—” Sin made the slit-your-throat gesture.
“Yo, baby,” Rocco said, “we’re good, compadre.”
The server appeared. “Mr. Santini, how are you doing, sir?”
Tank acknowledged him with a nod before addressing Sydney. “Sierra, what are you drinking?
“Santini chianti,” she said, lowering her voice.
“A shot of top-shelf bourbon,” Tank said.
“Bourbon for me,” Sin added.
“I’ll take a beer, whatever you got on tap,” Rocco added before he glanced at Tank. “Are we eatin’ or what?”
“Do you need a menu, sir?” asked the waiter.
“Only if we’re eatin’,” Rocco replied as he sniffed.
When the other three declined a menu, the server left.
Rocco glanced around. “Time for some blow. Where’s the john?”
“You do drugs in my bathroom, I’ma take you out back,” Tank said on a growl.
“Rocco,” Sin bit out, the annoyance in his voice catching Sydney’s attention. “Do you know who you’re selling your rifles to?”
“Hellooooo, I don’t think the people doin’ biz’ness with me are givin’ me their for-real names. If that’s the case, there are shitloads of Mr. Smiths in town.” Rocco chuckled, then snorted several times.
“Do you meet any of your customers?” Tank pressed him.
“I sell outta my truck, so yeah, I do,” Rocco replied.
Tank showed Rocco a photo of one of Muhammad’s lieutenants. “Ever do business with him?”
Rocco studied the picture. “Nah, he don’t look like someone I seen before.”
Tank was showing him another when the server returned with their drinks, so he set his phone face down. After the server left, Tank showed him the pic.
“I know him,” Rocco said. “He’s bigger ‘round the middle, but yeah, he bought a buncha rifles off me.”
“How many?” Tank asked.
“Half dozen,” Rocco replied. “Coulda been eight.”
“When?” Sin asked.
“Four, five weeks ago.” Rocco guzzled the beer. “Whew, that hit the spot, you know what I mean, girlie?” He smiled at Sydney, and she eyed the gold grillz covering his teeth. “Coulda been two months back. Hell, I don’t keep a book, if ya know what I mean. Where you been hiding baby doll?”
“Around,” Sydney replied.
Rocco slid his beady eyes toward Tank. “You two a thing, huh?”
“You lay a finger on my woman, I chop it off,” Tank said. “You eye-fuck her, I gouge out your orbs.”
“Jesus,” Sin murmured.
“Whoa, yeah.” Rocco glanced at Tank’s massive arms pressing against his black leather jacket. “Chill, my man. Just like to check, and check again. You gotta be persistent in life, right?”
Sydney leaned over. “Yo, I’m not interested. Stop checkin’.”
“I need to talk to that guy,” Tank said.
“Yeah, so I don’t keep no contact list or nothin’.” Rocco chugged down more beer. “They find me. We set up a time. We meet. They either buy rifles, or they don’t.”
“Show me his phone number,” Sin said.
“I don’t keep ‘em, you know. I ain’t got no names in my burner neither. I’m like vape, man. I’m there, then, poof, I’m gone.” He shot Sydney another gold-filled grin.
Rocco showed Sin, then Tank how he had no numbers in his phone. “I erase ‘em.”
Tank and Sin continued to pepper Rocco with questions, but he stayed vague. Beyond confirming one of Haqazzii’s men had bought the illegal firearms, they’d learned nothing more. No names, no phone numbers.
One big fat nada.
Rocco finished his drink, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and pushed out of the booth. “You got a real nice place, Mr. Santini, and a super fine lady. You musta done somethin’ right.” He sauntered toward the front.
“He was useless,” Sin said before downing the shot of bourbon. “I’ll put a tail on him to see if he’s telling the truth.”
“I’m gonna make sure he’s gone.” Tank pushed out of the booth.
“I’m taking off,” Sin said.
Tank regarded Sydney.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I got two pieces on me, and I’m staying right here.”
“Nice work today,” Sin said to her.
Tank pointed a finger at her. “Do. Not. Move.”
The love that passed between them was palpable. She felt it, she could see it in his eyes. When her lips curved up, he smiled back.
I’m falling in love…
Is it too soon to tell him?
TEDDY
Teddy and Sin headed toward the front of the restaurant. Once outside, Teddy spotted Rocco in the parking lot smoking a cigarette while talking on his phone.
“He reeks of trouble,” Sin said.
“I appreciate your doing this,” Teddy said.
Sin shook Teddy’s hand before pulling out his phone. “I’m here to help. You’ve got a mountain to climb…” —he flashed his movie-star smile— “but you’re a Santini. You’ll get it done.”
With that, Sin strode into the parking lot, his phone pressed to his ear.
The front door of the restaurant opened, four men stepped outside. Teddy scanned their faces, then circled back to the one he recognized.
When the man caught his gaze, he grinned.
“Looky who’s hanging in the ‘hood,” said Burt Goodson, Teddy’s poker pal. “We’re headed back to my hotel suite for a little poker. You in? Stakes are high, but it’s gonna be a fun night.”
“Can’t,” Teddy said, his thoughts still focused on Rocco and the guns he sold to someone in the Haqazzii terror cell.
“You sure?” Burt asked. “I got myself the Presidential suite at Hotel Dillinger. It’s a sweet place to crash. You can’t steal away for a few?”
“No.”
“Alright, alright,” Burt said. “You be good, Tank.”
“Can’t do that either.” Teddy went inside, stopping to check in with Tara. “How are you doing?”
“Better. Burt’s been super sweet checking on me.” Tara paused. “The company I’ve got my side-hustle with picked me for an all-expense-paid vacay in Hawaii over Christmas. I know asking for time off during the holidays is the worst, but I’m dying to go!”
“You must be killing it if you got a free trip.”
She beamed. “I’ve never even flown on a plane before!”
Teddy needed more staff—not less—during the busy season, but he didn’t want to get into it with her now. “Put in for it and we’ll see what we can work out.”
En route back to his booth, Teddy stopped to say hello to the regulars, checked in with a few other diners. He was the bossman and the face of the restaurant. All smiles, he made sure his guests were having a great evening.
As Teddy set his sights on Sydney, she was waiting. Even from across the spacious room, he could feel the love. Powerful, deliberate, and raw. It was like she was staring into the depths of his soul.
Except I don’t have one.
His attention jumped to the man sitting in the booth with her. Gabriel had cozied right up to her.
Troppo dannatamente vicino, fratello. Too damn close, brother.
Had G recognized Sydney, even with her disguise? If he had, was she still in danger of being tracked down by King A?
The hair on the back of his neck prickled.
As he got closer, her gaze intensified, the corners of her mouth tugged up. Teddy flashed her a smile.
“Hey, brother,” Teddy said easing into the booth. “What’s the latest?”
“I invited…” Gabriel regarded Sydney, “what’s your name?”
“Sierra,” Sydney replied.
“Sierra’s all-in when I pay a visit on the ants I told you about.”
Confounded, Teddy stared at his brother. “What are you talking about?”
“Ho delle persone che mi perseguitano,” Gabriel murmured.
Right, the Bratva are stalking him.
Teddy slid his gaze to Sydney. “You’re in on that?”
“Hell, yeah,” Sydney replied. “Sounds fun, like a caper.”
Both men laughed.
“I’d call it a lot of things—” Gabriel said.
“A caper isn’t one of them,” Teddy said, finishing his brother’s sentence. “G, have dinner with us.”
“I gotta order more liquor and work on next month’s schedule.” Gabriel pushed out of the booth. “Running Santini Euro is easier. Well, maybe not easier, but I got more help.”
“Thanks for stepping up,” Teddy said.
Gabriel shot them a smile before he took off toward the back.
“Are you hungry?” Teddy asked.
Sydney scooted close. When her thigh brushed against his, adrenaline rocketed through him. “I could eat a bowl of pasta,” she whispered, “or we could get down to biz.”
“What kind of biz?” he murmured, desire taking hold.
She leaned close, whispered in his ear, “Dark and dirty biz.” Then, she waggled her brows. “Food, first, so I have energy for later.”
He flagged down their server, they ordered entrees, and a bottle of sparkling water. While they waited, he asked her about her relationship with Gabriel.
“A few years ago…” she began, her voice not more than a murmur.
He loved the intimacy, even in the crowded restaurant. Loved that she’d placed her hand on his thigh, loved the determination pouring from her eyes.
I’m all-in, and I’m gonna tell her.
“I was working with the special team at Langley,” she continued. “I was sent to Italy on assignment, but given no details. When I got there, the ambassador at the American Embassy set me up with some bogus cover job. My real job was to surveil Gabriel.”
That got his full attention.
“I was told he was the head of the Sicilian Mafia and he’d gone unchecked for too long. The ambassador said he’d turned into a killing machine, along with several other accusations. I trailed Gabriel for weeks, made several reliable connections, but found nothing.”
Teddy knew the truth about his brother. He was the head of Cosa Nostra, and he probably had gone unchecked for years.