Once he left, I flopped my head back against the chair then jerked it over to Wyatt. “I appreciate the save, but tell me you’re not really leaving.”
“Sorry, friend, but this story can’t wait, and I still need to work to keep the lights on. Besides, I’ve already cleared it with Vinni.”
“Of course you did,” I pouted. I hated the idea of him leaving.
“Look,” his expression changed to an easy one as he pulled a duffle bag onto his lap, “I asked my sister to send me a few things so I could leave straight from here. I thought maybe, since things were going in your favor with Elio, you might like to keep these close.” He set the wooden box I had always kept so close to my heart next to me on the chair. “I don’t want to overstep.”
“Wyatt,” I brushed a tear away, feeling like a missing part of me had returned, “thank you.”
“I know what they mean to you.” He smiled as I hopped into his arms for a hug, loving that he thought to bring these to me. “No matter what, if you need me, call me and I’ll come back. Okay?”
“Okay.” I squeezed him hard then ran my fingers over the design on the box. “All my precious memories are in here.” I peeked inside and sighed with relief at the sight. Feeling better, I pulled myself away, not wanting to get lost in my box just now. I turned my full attention back to Wyatt. “Tell me, what’s the story you’re going to be chasing?”
“Well,” he leaned back, “let me tell you.”
“Do you have eyes on her?” I was hunched down using the reflection of the window across the street to watch Stefano’s men outside his hotel. Thankfully, he had a ground-level room, and the maid-service closet was only three doors away from his. Any sounds we made going in would, hopefully, be covered by their chatter and wouldn’t alert any of his men. We had eyes on Antonio’s niece, Val, and were about to make our move.
“Yes, she’s sitting on the couch, wrists tied together.” Vinni grunted as he shifted his position. “All things considered, she seems all right.”
“Any sign of Stefano?”
“No, boss, just two of his men are watching TV across the room from her.”
“Do you really think Stefano left her?” Niccola joined my side and lifted a skeptical eyebrow.
“No, he is impulsive and stupid, and in the right situation, maybe, I think he would leave her.”
“I have eyes on Stefano,” Vinni broke in. “He’s with a blonde at the pool bar.”
I glanced at Niccola as if to saycase in point.
“Good, keep eyes on him. Niccola and I are moving in.”
“Got it.” Vinni hung up, and we raced across the hotel parking lot and straight up to the door. We got inside quietly, with the help of a master key Vinni managed to get yesterday. I popped both men in the forehead. My silencer only allowed a quickpfftsound as it sent blood spatter across the scenic painting on the wall.
Niccola leapt forward to wrap Val’s mouth with his hand to muffle her screams. I leaned down with my knife and cut the zip ties.
“You’re fine. Your uncle Antonio told us what happened.”
Her wild eyes stared at me, and she nodded but then squeezed her eyes shut again as she took in the scene of the massacre.
“You want to get home, right, Val?” She nodded and seemed to gather herself. “Then focus on me because we don’t have much time.” She nodded again.
“Mr. Capri, wait!” She suddenly darted to the bed, dropped to her knees, and pulled out a duffle bag. She fished around inside and took out a small notebook. “Stefano is always writing in this.”
Smart girl.
I pulled her to her feet and tucked the notebook into my breast pocket. My phone vibrated, and I saw it was Vinni warning us that Stefano was on the way back toward the room with the woman.
“Which direction, Vin?” I said quickly into the phone.
“South side.”
“All right.” I motioned for the others to follow me, and just as we turned the corner, I caught sight of Stefano with the blonde on his arm.
“Hey!” One of his men came out of the office in front of me, chomping a mouthful of potato chips. I launched forward, bringing him to the floor, away from view, and wrapped my arm around his neck, causing him to suck in hard. His face went red as he tried to cough the chips from his lungs. Not wanting to waste any more time, I snapped his neck and dropped his fat body at my feet, then I glanced around the corner. We had only seconds to make our escape.
“Holy shit,” Val gasped behind me.