Page 89 of Above ’N’ Beyond

With surprising strength, his dad squeezed Jamie’s hand. “I love you, son.”

“I love you, too, Dad,” Jamie whispered, leaning down again into his father’s embrace, wishing things could have been different and praying for a miracle. “I always have, and I always will.” No matter what happens tomorrow night.

Chapter Thirty

On the way to the Bistro, Jamie had dropped Jax off at the apartment. He parked in the alley behind the restaurant and cut the engine. Before going inside, he tapped on the puppy cam app. He hadn’t checked it since yesterday. Before admitting to Bella he was an undercover cop.

As he waited for the app to open up, he had a bad feeling. Sure enough, the app didn’t automatically open as it would if he were still logged in. He entered Bella’s login ID and password.

Invalid login. Either the username or password you entered is incorrect.

“Dammit.” Jamie pounded his fist on the wheel. Not that he was surprised, but he’d been hoping just the same.

If Bella removed the sim cards before he or the FBI could grab them, he’d have squat on Paola and the Palumbos. Giuseppe Bonaventura would eventually be re-arrested, but the man would never throw Paola under the bus. Omertà. The Mafia vow of silence punishable by death would keep everyone’s tongues quiet.

As soon as he went inside, the smell of garlicky marinara hit him. He waved to Lou in the kitchen, then caught sight of Bella talking to Sierra in the dining room. They both turned. Sierra smiled and waved.

Bella wore a black skirt and a pink sleeveless blouse. As always, she looked beautiful, and his heart ached at not being able to go to her and sweep her into his arms. From the clenching of her jaw and the irritation on her face, all that would get him was a black eye.

The need to explain more to her was a repeating mantra in his brain, but the stakes were more important than his love life. Convincing her not to remove those sim cards was what mattered most.

“Yo, Fist!” In an irritated gesture, Tony waved him into the banquet room. Jamie had known he’d catch a ration of shit if he was late. Seeing his dad again made it well worth it. “Get in here. We’ve been waitin’ on you.” Paulie, Nicky, and Sammy were already there, seated around one of the tables with Tony. “Close the door.”

Jamie did, then sat next to Tony.

“Here’s the deal,” Tony began. “Tomorrow night at seven, a lot of important people will be here.”

“Who’s coming?” Paulie asked.

Tony held up his hand. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll find out tomorrow.”

Jesus. Tony keeping his guys in the dark this much told him what he already suspected. Whoever was coming tomorrow had to be high-level.

“Fist.” Tony looked at him. “I want you and Paulie working security at the front door. Nicky and Sammy, you guys got the back door. The Bistro will be closed to regular customers, so if they ain’t on the guest list, they ain’t gettin’ in. Got it?”

The other men nodded.

“You sure you don’t want me working security inside?” In the event Bella got to the sim cards before he did, he needed to be here to witness whatever went down. Not nearly as good as a recorded video. It was more of a backup plan.

“No.” Tony shook his head. “The guys coming tomorrow have their own security.”

So much for the backup plan. And the security Tony referred to was most likely armed mob enforcers.

The door opened. Bella came in carrying a tray with glasses and two bottles of wine. Briefly, her gaze locked with Jamie’s, then her expression blanked. She set down the tray and began pouring the wine.

“Thanks, Bella,” Tony said as she handed him the first glass, then moved on to Paulie. “Anyone seen Marco? I’ve been callin’ him for hours.”

Bella’s hand stilled on the second bottle of wine, but she said nothing.

“Not me, boss,” Paulie answered, and everyone else, including Jamie, shook their heads.

Bella filled another glass for Sammy, her hand shaking as she set it on the table.

Tony hitched his head to Nicky. “Go to Marco’s place after we’re done here. Make sure he calls me. And Sammy, you got that thing with you? I know we’re safe here, but sweep the room anyway. Do it again tomorrow before everyone gets here.”

“You got it.” Sammy stood and pulled something from his pocket.

Beneath the table, Jamie fisted a hand on his thigh. “That thing” was about the size of a cell phone but slightly thicker. A bug detection device, different from the one Marco had used on him at Paola’s house.