“I gotta order more liquor and work on next month’s schedule.” Gabriel pushed out of the booth. “Running Santini Euro is easier. Well, maybe not easier, but I got more help.”
“Thanks for stepping up,” Teddy said.
Gabriel shot them a smile before he took off toward the back.
“Are you hungry?” Teddy asked.
Sydney scooted close. When her thigh brushed against his, adrenaline rocketed through him. “I could eat a bowl of pasta,” she whispered, “or we could get down to biz.”
“What kind of biz?” he murmured, desire taking hold.
She leaned close, whispered in his ear, “Dark and dirty biz.”Then, she waggled her brows. “Food, first, so I have energy for later.”
He flagged down their server, they ordered entrees, and a bottle of sparkling water. While they waited, he asked her about her relationship with Gabriel.
“A few years ago…” she began, her voice not more than a murmur.
He loved the intimacy, even in the crowded restaurant. Loved that she’d placed her hand on his thigh, loved the determination pouring from her eyes.
I’m all-in, and I’m gonna tell her.
“I was working with the special team at Langley,” she continued. “I was sent to Italy on assignment, but given no details. When I got there, the ambassador at the American Embassy set me up with some bogus cover job. My real job was to surveil Gabriel.”
That got his full attention.
“I was told he was the head of the Sicilian Mafia and he’d gone unchecked for too long. The ambassador said he’d turned into a killing machine, along with several other accusations. I trailed Gabriel for weeks, made several reliable connections, but found nothing.”
Teddy knew the truth about his brother. Hewasthe head of Cosa Nostra, and he probablyhadgone unchecked for years.
“Even though I couldn’t find anything,” Sydney said, “I was told to take him out. One night, he caught me spying on him. I thought things were gonna get ugly, but he just wanted to talk. He told me that the ambassador was in tight with the Bratva, thathewas on the take. He said the ambassador was covering up murders, sexual assaults, so I started tailing him. Turns out, Gabriel was right. The Ambassador wanted Gabriel taken out, so the Bratva could move in on his turf.”
The server returned with their bottle of sparkling mineralwater and an antipasto appetizer platter. “Chef made this special for the boss.”
“Grazie,” Teddy said as the waiter filled their water goblets.
When he left, Teddy lifted his glass. “To you, with love.”
She grinned at him. “To you, with love back.” After drinking, she murmured. “Did we just say it?”
“Say what?” Teddy asked, biting back a smile. He knew damn well what they were saying.
“You know, the L-word.”
The air swirled with energy, the desire to pull her close and kiss her took hold. He dipped down, brushed his lips against hers. She kissed him back. On their third kiss, she teased him with the tip of her tongue before she ended the kiss.
He clasped her hand. “I’m falling in love with you.”
“Let me know when you get there.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’m already there.”
His smile made her smile. They shared another kiss, then he murmured, “I’m there. Been there.”
“I want you to say it first,” she whispered.
“I love you, Sydney Austin,” he murmured.
