24. The Situation Room #3
Halston was a mess. Her insides were jumbled, her mouth had gone bone dry, her palms were clammy. But she steeled her spine, kept her concerns to herself, and watched as the miles ticked by. She felt confident a thumb drive would have a code, but a pocket watch? That seemed unlikely.
In the hour before dawn, they made the forty-minute trip to Dupont Circle in twenty-five.
Gabriel pulled behind the hotel, parked in the loading dock. Together, they ran inside. Up the service elevator, into the lobby, then into a waiting elevator cab. She tapped her keycard for the Penthouse level, the doors closed. As it ascended, he clasped her hand.
“We’ll vacation in Italy,” he murmured. “We’ll take the family jet, spend two weeks doing whatever you want. We’ll stay at my villa—both of them—and relax, have fun. Enjoy each other’s company.”
She loved his voice. Even in the midst of chaos, his deep timbre rumbled through her like rolling summer thunder.
“I’d love that.”
The elevator doors slid open, they hurried down the hall to her suite. He tapped his keycard, the light flashed red. He tried again. No entry permitted. She tapped hers. Same problem.
Halston called the main number of the hotel.
“Good evening, no good morning—” said the hotel clerk.
“I’m in Penthouse 1119,” Halston said. “My keycard isn’t working.”
“I’ll send someone right up.”
“We’re in a rush.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The line went dead.
Gabriel pulled his pistol, aimed it at the doorknob.
“Gabriel, if you shoot out the door, we won’t be leaving here anytime soon.”
She glanced at her phone. Too much time had passed. Gabriel re-holstered his weapon, got down on one knee.
She stared at him. “What are you—”
“I love you like I’ve never loved anyone. I don’t want our lives to separate. I want to make you happy every day, remind you how much I adore you by making you my priority. Marry me, Halston. Be my forever.”
The noise in her head—the anxiety that had her heart beating out of her chest—all stopped.
Nothing but Gabriel, his handsome face turned toward hers.
A smile dancing in his light brown eyes.
How could she say no? Even in the midst of mayhem, she wanted who she wanted.
An international business mogul and the Boss of the Sicilian Mafia.
“I will marry you, Gabriel Santini, and be your forever.” She bent over, kissed him.
He rose, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her with a passion that left her breathless. “I can’t wait to spoil you, every day.”
“Did we just get engaged?”
He smiled, kissed her forehead. “We’re spending the rest of our lives together.”
“Or the next hour.”
He chuffed out a laugh. “We got this. We do.”
A hotel clerk came jogging around the corner. He came to a stop, breathing hard. “Ma’am, may I see your ID please?”
The room was in Evangeline’s name, not hers. “I’m sorry. I don’t have it.”
“Is it in the suite?” asked the employee.
Gabriel pulled his phone, made a call.
Rebel answered. “We’re getting the scientists checked in. Are you here?”
“You’re on speaker and our keycard isn’t working,” Gabriel said. “We’ve got to get to The Situation Room. Can you talk to your employee?”
“It’s Joaquin Dillinger,” Rebel said. “Let them in. I’ll be up there in two minutes.”
“Yes, sir.” The employee swiped his card, the light turned green, and the hotel clerk opened the door.
“Re-key our cards.” Gabriel handed him a folded twenty. We’ll pick them up later.”
“Yes, sir. They’ll be at the front desk.”
Halston hurried into the room, Gabriel close behind.
She opened the cabinet that housed the safe, punched in the security code.
The light turned green, he opened the safe, pulled out his luxury watch box.
He pocketed the timepiece, clasped Halston’s hand.
As they were hurrying out, Rebel came jogging into the room.
“Mr. Dillinger—” blurted the employee.
“Thanks for letting them in,” Rebel replied before he regarded Halston and Gabriel. “Good luck.”
“We got this,” Gabriel said as they rushed out. Down the hall they flew and into the waiting elevator.
As they descended, she said, “I feel confident the answer is in that watch.”
“Why?”
“Everyone was looking for a thumb drive,” she said. “The thumb drive was a red herring. The scientist knew that, so he chose something he always had on him. Something he valued.”
In the lobby, a group of four men and a woman stood by the front door, each dressed in in a dark suit.
“Secret Service,” Gabriel said as they made their way over.
“Mr. Santini, Ms. Devereux, I’m Secret Service Agent Jim Bolden. President Garrison sent us to take you to the White House.”
“We need IDs from everyone,” Gabriel pushed back.
After displaying their photo IDs, they surrounded her and Gabriel, ushered them out front.
With sirens blaring, a caravan of three black SUVs sped toward Pennsylvania Ave.
Five minutes later, the vehicles drove up to the White House gate.
The first one passed through. The second stopped at the guard station.
“Gabriel Santini and Halston Devereux for the President,” said Agent Bolden.
Excitement pounded through her. She’d never been to the White House. Even with it being the worst of circumstances, she couldn’t help but feel like she was a part of something important. Something life changing… for everyone.
“Do you have firearms?” asked the guard.
“I don’t,” Halston replied.
“Yes,” Gabriel said.
The White House security guard regarded the Secret Service agent. “Park over there, a guard will be right over.”
After the caravan parked, she and Gabriel exited the vehicle. A second guard approached carrying a metal box.
“How many weapons do you have?” he asked.
“One,” Gabriel replied.
“Put it in the box.”
Gabriel did as instructed before the guard ran a wand over both of them. “I’d like to pat you down, Mr. Santini.”
“Go for it,” he replied.