“Yesli oni ne delayut togo, chto im govoryat, oni poluchayut pulyu v golovu,” said the Bratva.”If they don’t do what they’re told, they get bullet in head.“Nado posrat'.”I need to take a shit.
He left through the only door in the holding cell.
“If he were the last man on earth, I’d go in the other direction,” Halston murmured under her breath.
Natasha laughed. “Same.”
“How can I help?” Halston asked. “What do you need me to do?”
“The main scientist—Devereux—needs to finish job,” Natasha said. “My English not strong.”
Halston walked closer to the chained group and asked her mom. “Quelles langues parlez-vous?”What languages do you speak?
“Anglais, français, italien, danois, et chinois,” her mom replied.English, French, Italian, Danish, and Chinese.
Since her father only spoke English—and Natasha would understand them—she directed her question to her mother. “Que veulent-ils que Dr Devereux fasse?”What do they want Dr. Devereux to do?
The color drained from her mom’s face as she explained the reason they’d been taken.
This is much worse than I thought.
Halston wanted to awaken from this hellish nightmare, but she had to address the harsh reality… and handle the situation like a boss lady. What other choice did she have?
If she didn’t, they’d end up dead.
Her included.
21
WHERE’S HALSTON?
GABRIEL
Mr. Moretti had asked Gabriel to speak at Angelo’s funeral, so with a heavy heart, Gabriel walked to the front of the church, climbed the stairs, and stood behind the podium. After adjusting the mic, he set his sights on the mourners filling the pews of St. Peter’s Church.
Over two hundred had shown up to honor Angelo Moretti. Angelo would have turned it into a party, had too much to drink, and passed out in one of the pews. But Angelo wasn’t there, and Gabriel would have to do his best to pay tribute his long-time friend and right-hand man.
“Today, we honor the life of Angelo Moretti,” Gabriel began as he acknowledged Mr. and Mrs. Moretti in the front row. “I’m Gabriel Santini, Angelo’s friend since grade school. We met on the playground. Both gritted our teeth through school, looking to get out and conquer the world. When I moved to Italy, Angelo visited me and never left. When I started a business, Angelo was right there, working it like a boss. He was unstoppable, determined, and filled with conviction. He was the friendeveryone wanted to hang with. He was the businessman who didn’t lose a deal. He was a loyal friend, a loving son and brother. He adored his family. His parents and sister, his grandparents, his cousins. He had a soft spot for stray kittens. No matter what he had going on, he’d bring ‘em home, feed them, then take them to his favorite shelter. They nicknamed him the kitten whisperer.”
He paused while a wave of chuckles and sniffles filled the large room.
“Angelo is not replaceable and everyone here knows that,” Gabriel continued. “I miss him. I hate that he’s gone, that he was taken from us. I’ll never get over losing him and I’ll always miss him. Life is darker without Angelo.” He glanced upward. “I love you, my brother.”
He descended from the podium, pausing to pay his respects to Angelo’s parents before he left the sanctuary for his seat.
A few more people spoke, the priest returned to close with mass. The service ended and the attendees filed outside. Next stop, the cemetery.
As Gabriel made his way to his truck, he checked his phone. Nothing from Halston, but he hadn’t expected to hear from her. She’d left her phone at the hotel. Frustration had him gritting his teeth. He hated that he couldn’t check in with her.
“Hey, G,” Angelo’s sister, Cece, called as she hurried toward him in the parking lot. “Can I ride with you?”
“I’m—” the excuse, the lie got stuck in his throat. “Sure, get in.”
“Why don’t you open my door for me?”
He walked over, peered down. “We’re paying respects to your brother, Cece.”
“My father told me you’re going to make me a respectable woman.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “I’m sorry Angelo is gone, but this is a decent outcome.”
