“Show it to me,” Renzo demanded.
Jimmy held up the phone. Renzo scanned the screen and nodded. “Send it.”
Jimmy hit the send key and showed Renzo again.
“Ren, it doesn’t have to be this way. You know I’m good for it. Just give me a little more time.”
Renzo’s eyes narrowed. “You know I don’t make the rules, and mercy isn’t mine to give. I told you how it would be if you didn’t come through. I warned you not to fuck with the family.” He pulled out his own phone and thumbed a message.
“No, Ren, don’t do this.” Jimmy turned from Renzo to me, searching for hope.
I had none to give him.
The building’s fire alarm pealed, deafening in its steady screech. Renzo tensed. Ignoring our booth, waitresses herded diners toward the exits.
Renzo scooted around to Jimmy’s side of the booth. He grabbed Jimmy’s hand and positioned it on the Beretta, raising it to Jimmy’s temple. Jimmy struggled, but Renzo quickly overpowered him and squeezed the trigger. Jimmy’s body jerked. Blood and tissue coated the wall behind him. Jimmy’s gun fell to the seat. Renzo pushed past me and walked back toward the way we’d entered.
Behind us, Jimmy’s cell phone rang, the happy tune competing with the high-pitched squeal of the fire alarm. It was probably Isobel, freaking out about his text.
By the time we reached the kitchen, the staff had been evacuated. No witnesses. Even had they seen us, no local would be stupid enough to testify. Not in this city. Not unless they wanted to end up just like Jimmy. We escaped through the back door. In the chaos, nobody noticed two wiseguys slinking out of the supposedly burning building. Nothing out of the ordinary for Vegas.
We made it back to Renzo’s SUV before his phone buzzed. He took the call and put it up to his ear. “Hey Izzy, you’re up early. Everything okay?”
As Renzo assured his sister he’d find Jimmy and make sure the chooch was okay, I watched out the back window. The restaurant where Jimmy sat with a hole in his head disappeared behind us as we turned the corner.
Eyes full of torture and frustration, Renzo dropped me off in front of my building and took off. It was still early, and I thought about going upstairs and climbing back into bed with Ariana. After what I’d just witnessed, I could use the press of her soft body and the distraction of her warm mouth and tight pussy.
But I had shit to do, so instead, I had the valet bring my Jeep around. As I waited, I got the feeling I was being watched. Ducking behind a pillar, I checked out the area, but didn’t see anyone. The feeling didn’t go away, and by the time I climbed behind the wheel, the hair on the back of my neck was standing up. Worried, I called Angel. He answered and confirmed that he and Markie were both fine.
I hung up and called Ariana.
“You left,” she said, still sounding half asleep.
“Work.”
“Damn. I was kind of hoping we could go for round two.”
That idea had serious potential and had me once again wanting to head upstairs. “Maybe later. What time do you work today?”
“I’m off.”
“All right.” I rubbed a hand through my hair, glancing around. The feeling of being watched had gone away, but I still kept a look out. “Our date with the gym will have to wait.”
“Oh, darn,” she said, not sounding the least bit upset.
I chuckled. “Promise me you’ll call if you need to go anywhere?”
“I can get around this city by myself just fine. Been doing it for a year. And now I’m armed with two elbows, a cell phone, and knowledge of how to use them.” She was such a damn smartass.
“Humor me?” I asked.
She sighed. “Fine.”
I chuckled at her dramatics. “Say the words, babe.”
“I’ll call you if I need to go anywhere.”
“Good.” I went to hang up, but she called out my name to keep me on the line. “Yes?” I asked.
