“Mrs. Santini. I like that. Sounds powerful.”
“It is. Wait until I take you to Sicily.”
“I thought your empire is in Milan.”
“It is,” Gabriel replied, “but I always pay my respects to the southernmost group of Cosa Nostra.”
One more kiss before Halston rested her head on Gabriel’s muscular chest, ran her fingers over his heated skin. “I don’t want to think about anything outside of you… and this bed.”
“Reality can wait.”
She smiled. “For a little while longer.”
GABRIEL
Gabriel madelove to his fiancée again before they left the comfort of the bed for the spacious hotel bathroom. As she turned on the shower, he checked his phone. Awaiting him was a text from Halston’s brother, Wolf.
Wolf Devereux. Skip the family dinner. Join me for drinks at the Potomac Club 9 PM
“Your brother is uninviting me to dinner,” Gabriel said.
She hurried over. “He is not.”
He showed her the text.
“That’s not like him to be such a jerk.”
Gabriel chuffed out a laugh. “We didn’t get off to a good start.”
“Do you want me to?—”
“It’s fine,” Gabriel said. “He’s got his reasons.”
They got ready, left the suite. The realtor picked them up in the hotel lobby, showed them several homes in the DC, Arlington, and McLean areas. They found three they liked—one being a stand-out favorite—so Gabriel said he’d follow up with the realtor to discuss making an offer.
AT 5:50PM THAT EVENING, Gabriel pulled up to valet parking in front of The Potomac Club, located in the heart of Georgetown.
After exiting his Ferrari, he told the employee, “I’m taking Ms. Devereux inside. Hold my car.”
Into the private club they went.
The feel was old money, the ambiance dark, sophisticated, and elegant.
“I didn’t know this was here,” Halston said.
Wolf had been talking to someone nearby, broke away, and made his way over. After kissing Halston hello, he shook Gabriel’s hand.
“Welcome to my club,” Wolf said.
“Yours?” Halston blurted as she peered around the wood-grained walls and amber-lit wall sconces.
“Signed the paperwork with the broker yesterday,” Wolf said with a grin. As his gaze shifted to Gabriel, the friendly smile fell away. “I thought you weren’t staying, Santini.”
“That’s rude, Wolfie.”
“I’m not,” Gabriel said. “I wanted to make sure Halston got inside okay.”
Wolf flicked his gaze to her. “Are you still in danger?”
