Thirty minutes later, he and Halston were back at Santini Ristorante, their perfect date having come to a screeching halt in the worst possible way. She was pouring over the video while he paced in the manager’s office. He couldn’t sit, he couldn’t focus his thoughts. He would have to tell Angelo’s family they’d lost their son, then he’d have to bury his friend. Another jolt of agony pelted his chest.
“Check this out,” Halston’s soothing voice broke through his jumbled thoughts.
He sat beside her, followed her gaze.
“This is the woman with Angelo,” Halston began. “She’s wearing a long-rimmed baseball cap at a five-star Italian restaurant. She’s sitting in the booth with her back to the camera. She knew where to sit to make sure she wasn’t easily recognized.”
“Nice work,” he said.
Halston rewound the video to the moment when the woman entered the restaurant and sidled up to Angelo at the bar. “She could be our shooter.” Halston’s piercing gaze brought him back to the present.
He stared at her, his thoughts jumping back to the person emerging from the parking lot, a gun in his outstretched hand. “You think the shooter’s a woman?”
“It’s possible.”
Teddy opened the office door. “You got company.” Evangeline and Sin entered, both dressed in black, each carrying black duffels. “Drinks for anyone?” Teddy asked.
Everyone declined.
“How’re the customers doing?” Gabriel asked.
“All good,” Teddy replied. “The second seating left. I instructed the serversnotto talk about it, but I can’t put duct tape over their mouths.”
“I can,” Halston said as she continued pouring over the surveillance.
“G, how are you doing?” Teddy asked.
“Revenge is the greatest motivator,” Gabriel replied.
“Amen to that,” Sin said as he eased onto the black leather sofa.
Teddy left, shut the door.
Gabriel brought them up to speed in two sentences. “Someone tried to take me out tonight, but killed my underboss,Angelo Moretti. Barbi thinks it could be the woman who had a drink with him earlier in the owner’s booth.”
Earlier, Angelo was with me. Now, he’s gone.
Again, the grief overwhelmed him and he pushed out of the chair, raked his hands through his hair. “This is killing me.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Evangeline said.
“Whatever you need to take him or her out, I’m in,” Sin replied. “I’m a big fan of vengeance.”
“You gotta watch your sixes.” Evangeline opened the black bag and pulled out two vests. “Wear these under your clothes.”
Sin opened the second bag. “Barbi, I’ve got weapons for you.”
Halston eyed the guns. “I’m not proficient with firearms.”
“I’ll help you,” Gabriel said. “First rule, assume the gun is loaded. Second, keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Third, keep your fingeroffthe trigger until you’re ready to fire.”
“This is insane,” she murmured as she approached the weapons Sin had laid on the desk.
One by one, she lifted each of the guns, wrapped her hand around the grip, keeping her finger off the trigger. “I like this one.”
“Nice choice,” Evangeline said. “SIG Sauer. My favorite too.”
“G, do you need anything?” Sin asked.
