The latter was a surprise.
Once the hit on Mario’s head was lifted, so was the ban on outside involvement.Two weeks after the hit-and-run shooting, an investigation was opened.Johnny was the primary suspect as the photos from the crime scene quickly identified him, but not his dark-haired “accomplice.”
That was buried in lies.No one wanted the Conti name dragged into this fiasco.
And everyone was hoping Johnny would remain a person of interest… permanently.As in, never located, never charged, and certainly never able to talk about the crime.That put pressure on me to find his ass and eliminate any trace of it.
“Love you.Stay safe, and keep me updated about the… you-know-what present.”
“Present?”I asked as she lowered her phone.
“None of your business.Do you own a tux, or at least one of those super-sexy designer suits?”
A man could get whiplash from her topic changes.“I?—”
“Never mind.It was a stupid idea.No one gets that dressed up for the bar.”
I squinted at her.“Are you talking about tonight?”
“Duh.”
“I’ll wear what I usually wear.”The sports team jacket I wore concealed my weapons well.It had an added benefit of making me look like I belonged in this town.
Her face fell a little.
“I could wear a suit jacket.”
Her smile came back.
“And what will you be wearing?”
Ellie tilted her head.“Nothing special.”
That was an outright lie.
The thigh-highstiletto boots should have been the first clue.But the tops of said boots were concealed under an oversized coat that covered almost every inch of her that wasn’t boot.
“Are you wearing anything under there?”
Her grin went wicked.“I bet you’d love to find out, wouldn’t you?”
I adjusted the lay of my tailored jacket.The sleeves had gotten a little too tight and the cuffs rode up to reveal the trigger mechanism for my wrist blade.“How long will it take at your sister’s?”
“Just a few minutes.”
That meant at least a half hour, maybe more.“We’d better leave soon.”
Ellie slipped her hand under my jacket and slid it over my chest.“You clean up nicely.”
If she moved her fingers two inches to the right, she’d touch my shoulder harness.I tugged her hand loose.“Try not to distract me.”
Her lower lip pushed out in a pout.“You’re no fun.”
“Is that what tonight is about?Fun?”
“Of course.”Her wink wasn’t reassuring.
Nor was the untended state of her sister’s mailbox.Ellie waved at the neighbor.“Hey, Hank.”
