At quarterpast two in the morning, Gabriel drove into the parking lot of the family restaurant, cut the engine. Other than Teddy’s truck parked nearby, the lot was empty. After checking for a tail or another ambush, he made his way to the front door, keyed his way inside. The main dining room of Santini Ristorante was dark, but light shone from the back office.
“Teddy,” Gabriel called out.
Teddy stepped into the hallway, his gun by his side. “Did you check for a shadow?”
“All good.”
“How you holding up?” Teddy asked as he pulled Gabriel in for a hug. “You okay?”
Gabriel slapped him on the back. “Good enough to get laid.”
Teddy couldn’t hide his surprise. “You got hella stamina. Did you rip your stitches?”
“She went easy on me.”
The brothers entered the manager’s office. Gabriel’s CANiK pistol waited on the desk. As he pulled a guest chair around, he asked, “Whad’ya find?”
Teddy sank into the executive chair, turned his laptop so Gabriel could see it. Of all the Santinis, Teddy was the most dependable. He was also the most competitive. Bulked out, hewore his blond hair long and his heart on his sleeve. A loyal brother and close friend.
“The four men who attacked you are Bratva, and they’re from around here,” Teddy said. “The one you took out?—”
“Motherfucker number one,” Gabriel interjected.
“He’s got strong ties in Moscow. The other three” —Teddy pulled up the video from the night of the ambush— “they’re all related to the Bratva we gunned down last month. Brothers or cousins, so they won’t stop until they take you out.”
Gabriel smiled. “Bring it on.”
“You’re gonna need an army… and you need to keep a low profile.” Teddy drained his water glass.
Gabriel pushed out of the chair. “My leg’s on fire. I’m gonna grab me a water. Got any painkillers?”
“The doc prescribed you something?—”
“I didn’t take any.” Gabriel opened the desk drawer, pulled out the Tylenol. With two in hand, he headed out of the office. Seconds later, Teddy pulled up alongside him. “You’re limping.”
“I just said my leg hurts.”
Teddy hopped over the bar, handed him a bottle of water.
Gabriel took the meds, drained the water. “You take good care of us, fratello.”
“That’s my job.”
“Shoulda been Mom,” Gabriel said.
“Yeah, we’ve hashed that to death.”
“You’re getting a good mother-in-law,” Gabriel said as he eased onto a barstool.
Teddy’s face lit up. “Yeah, Kathrine and Mark Austin are great.” After a beat he said, “You gotta go into hiding, G.”
Anger ticked through him. He never ran. He didn’t hide either. Of all the Santinis—including their cousin Carrera—Gabriel was the Agitator. He incited chaos, lived for it.
“I’m the one who hung with Dad and Uncle Enzo,” Gabriel said. “I saw all the insanity, up close and personal.”
“Fuck Enzo,” Teddy bit out. “Dad would still be here?—”
“Well, he’s not, but we got each other.” Gabriel tossed a nod behind the bar. “Get me another water.”
