Chapter 25 Holiday Joy #2
“How do you know Tank?” Kathrine asked.
“Greystone has been our son since he was sixteen,” Evelyn said. “Tank is the latest addition to our growing family.”
The parents continued talking as Tank eyed his phone… again.
“Baby, just call him,” Sydney said.
“Who?” Tank replied.
She raised her eyebrows. “Really? That’s how we’re playing this?” She caressed his back, the luxurious Santini cashmere sport coat tickling her fingers. “You’re worried about Gabriel—”
“Aren’t you?”
“No,” she replied. “He’s ruthless, fearless, and completely unpredictable. He acts, then thinks it through hours later, long after he’s eliminated the threat. Why don’t you just call him?”
Tank showed her his phone. He’d called his brother five times in the past two days, sent well over a dozen texts. “He’s never gone dark for this long.”
She leaned up, pressed her lips to his warm ear. “He angered a lot of people. The Bratva doesn’t play nice.”
“Neither does he.”
“Why don’t I call him?” Before she could extract her phone, Dakota and Providence joined them.
“Welcome!” Tank said as he shook Dakota’s hand. “Glad you could make it.”
“We never miss a date night,” Providence said. “Congratulations on a terrific interview, Sydney. I’m looking forward to making you an official part of the team.”
“That’s great!” Sydney said with a smile.
“I’m just waiting for Langley to sign off,” Providence said. “I’ve gotten a lot of resistance. They do not want to lose you.”
“I appreciate that,” Sydney said, “but it’s time for a change.”
“I’d like to bring you on in January,” Providence said before she regarded Tank. “Both of you.”
“Absolutely,” Sydney replied. “Tank?”
“I appreciate the offer,” Tank replied. “I love running the family restaurant and I don’t want to feel stretched for time between the two.”
“That works for us,” Dakota said. “Sin, Stryker, Hawk, and Greystone are brought in to work our high-profile or most dangerous missions.”
“That’s perfect,” Tank replied. “Plus, I’m thinking my brother, Gabriel, might need me.”
“I thought he was running Santini International for Luciano,” Dakota said.
“That was the plan,” Tank said, “but he can’t steer clear of trouble.”
“I’ve got news about your offers on the two houses in Alexandria,” Dakota said.
“Tell us something good,” Sydney said
“Your second choice was accepted with contingencies,” Dakota said.
“Okay,” Tank said.
Dakota grinned. “But your first choice was accepted outright. Congratulations.”
She and Tank broke into smiles, then he pulled her close and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “Congratulations babe, we got our dream house.”
“Yay,” Sydney exclaimed. “I love that it’s in the same neighborhood as my mom and dad, and Hawk and Addison.”
“Did I hear our names?” Hawk asked as he and Addison joined them.
“We’re going to be your neighbors!” Sydney explained. “We bought a house that’s halfway between you guys and my parents. It’s a smaller townhome with a killer view of the Potomac.”
Tara joined their group, offered a sweet smile. “Hi everyone.” She regarded Tank. “Dinner is ready to be served.”
Tank stood on a chair and whistled. “Family, friends, it’s time for take our seats. There are name cards on all the tables.”
Grey bulled his way over, clearing a path. Behind him came Caroline and Elsa, holding hands.
Tank kissed Elsa’s cheeks. “Ciao, nonna.”
Hello, grandmother.
“Ciao, Theodore. Non sei venuto a trovarmi.”
Hello, Theodore. You didn’t come visit me.
“Mi dispiace. Avevo un lavoro da fare.”
I’m sorry. I had a job to do.
“Greystone mi ha detto che hai fatto bene,” Elsa said. “I’m proud of you.”
Greystone told me you did well.
“Grazie,” he said. “You remember Sydney.”
Elsa smiled sweetly. “Caroline told me you and Teddy work well together.”
Sydney peered up at Tank. “Very well.”
She waited to see if he’d tell his grandmother about their engagement, but he stayed quiet.
“Where’s our table?” Grey asked.
“The long one by the door,” Tank replied. “I put Elsa in the middle along with Kathrine and Mark, Evelyn and Sean. Luciano, Simone, and the four of us.”
Everyone made their way to their assigned tables. Once seated, the servers filled water goblets, then returned with bottles of Santini red and white wines.
As the wine glasses were being filled, Tank stood.
“Welcome to the Santini holiday gathering,” Tank said.
“This year, we’d like to welcome Greystone’s mom and dad—Evelyn and Sean Baker—along with Sydney and Caroline’s parents—Kathrine and Mark Austin.
” He peered down at Sydney. “Sydney Austin, you make my life better and I know spending a lifetime together is the best decision we could ever make.”
The chatter ceased, all eyes on Tank.
“I proposed to Sydney,” Tank continued, “she said yes, but it didn’t feel official.” He regarded her. “I know you said that a traditional engagement ring wouldn’t work with your… um… career, but Caroline had a drawing from when you were kids—”
“Wow,” Sydney whispered.
He fished a ring box from his pocket. “It’s a placeholder, so if you don’t like it, no worries.”
He dropped to one knee, opened the box. Inside was a beautiful, dazzling eternity band of alternating black and white diamonds set in platinum.
She grinned at him, then planted one on him. “You are uh-mazing. I love you for doing this.”
“Sydney Annalise Austin, will you marry me?”
She grinned down at him. “Yassssss, absolutely!”
He slid the ring on her finger. As he rose, he pulled her into his arms, and kissed her while the group applauded.
When the kiss ended, she murmured, “This is an awesome surprise. Love you so much.”
With a smile, he said, “Love you back, baby.”
After they sat down, the servers returned with platters of lasagna, chicken parm, spaghetti with Santini-style meatballs, and manicotti, along with the restaurant’s signature holiday Italian fish dish— Baccalà alla Napoletana.
Tank stood, raised his wine glass. “Alle nostre famiglie e ai nostri amici, la nostra famiglia allargata, vi vogliamo bene a tutti.”
Sydney joined him. “To our families and to our friends—who are our extended family—we love you all.”
After everyone toasted, they began serving themselves. Happy conversations filled the air, the festive energy had Sydney smiling, her joy uncontainable.
“I love seeing you like that,” Tank said.
She leaned close, dropped a soft kiss on his lips. “We’re having fun, babe. Fun.”
“Crazy, huh?”
As they shared a smile, the front door of the restaurant banged open, the bitter cold air sending a chill slicing through her.
Gabriel staggered in covered in blood. He glanced around, his gaze landing on Grey, then her, and stilling on Tank.
“I got a problem,” he said, before collapsing on the restaurant floor.
And just like that, Sydney’s storybook ending took a dark turn as Tank, Grey, and Luciano jumped into action.
Sydney flicked her gaze to Caroline.
“This is bad,” Caroline murmured.
Sydney felt certain that G. had brought the problem back with him. She glanced around the dining room at the BLACK OPS. Their expressions—concern, surprise, and frustration—told her everything she needed to know.
Gabriel, the aggravator, had unleashed a new pack of hounds from Hell. And she had every confidence they were coming to exact their revenge.
“Oh, Gabriel, what have you done now?” Sydney murmured under her breath. “What horrors have you brought home with you?”