“I better go. These guys look like they mean business,” Ariel bubbled. Obviously not catching the trouble vibe.
I watched her go over to them and usher them to seats in one of the VIP lounges.
Seconds later, she came back to me with a cautious look on her face. “Hey, they’re asking to speak to the owner.” Her brows rose, and she pursed her lips together. “It was weird. That was the first thing they said.”
“Did they say why?” My pulse quickened.
“No, I handed them a menu, and they didn’t even take it. They just asked to speak to you.”
If that wasn’t weird, I didn’t know what was. Chances were, though, that I was just paranoid. Being kidnapped in the span of one’s life tended to do that to a person. No matter how much time passed. It wasn’t something I was likely to forget.
“It’s cool. I’ll go.” I gave her a little smile to mask my nerves.
With my head held high, I took my stride toward them.
The older man looked at me first when I approached the table.
“Hi, I’m Ava De Luca. I own Delizioso. My maître d’ said you wanted to see me.” Always gracious; that was me.
Being gracious diffused a situation if it got out of hand, it covered fear and nerves, but most importantly allowed me to assess the situation.
Like now.
“Ava De Luca. The name proceeds you,” the man said with a slow easy smile.
“Oh, thank you. Can I help you with something?”
“Just wanted to put a name to a face. That’s important, you know. It’s good to check things out, see what’s what, and… who belongs to whom.”
Who belongs to whom?
That was an odd thing to say.
I glanced at the other two guys and saw the cunning smiles.
“Sure, those things are important.” I tried to say that on an even breath to still my heart, which sped up as my nerves scattered.
“They sure are, Angel Doll.”
Oh God…
If there was one thing in this world that I trusted, it was my instincts. My instincts, which screamed at me. This wasn’t just trouble.
Angel Doll. Claudius was the only person who called me that.
I continued to stare at the man, but I wouldn’t let him see my fear.
“Nice place you have set up here. I’d bet you have some interesting clientele,” he continued.
“I’m proud to say that people seem to like the food. I try my best.”
“Sure, you do, Angel Doll.”
I wished like hell he would stop calling me that.
“I do.” I had to ball my fists at my sides to stop my hands from shaking.
“Bet you got a lot of secret recipes out back, right? Old secret recipes people shouldn’t ask about.”
