I park the Jag and head for the back door of the restaurant. Apollo, one of our guys, lets me in. He’s still a kid, about fourteen, working his way up in the family.
Lucas likes him. He’s caught Gio’s attention too. I think he has a place for him. Tonight, he’s a dish boy. His main job, letting me in the back door.
“He just went into the john. No one else is in there,” Apollo says as I walk by him.
I nod and keep moving. I know the place well enough. Lucas used to own it. He sold it a year ago and uses it now for business he doesn’t want to be tied to.
I pull my Sidekick to check for a text from Gio. I see the go-ahead and move in on my target. I find the bastard singing drunkenly to himself at the urinal. He looks back at me and chuckles.
“Hey, guy. Almost done.” He zips up and looks over his shoulder again. “Great party out there, ain’t it?”
Instead of answering him, I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his neck. He tries to fight me off, but I tighten my hold and lift him off his feet. He kicks at the half wall of the urinal, but it’s no use. I snap his neck and drop him to hang over the wall.
I walk to the sink, wash my hands then send a text to Gio.
Gio
I grunt as I get the text from Jace. I climb out of the Benz Coupe and move through the trees to get to the house Pauly is heading for.
I slip into the back door and shrug my leather jacket off as I scope the place out. It has a modern cabin feel. Nice place. Pauly’s goomar comes from money.
I look up and find what I need. The exposed beam rafters are perfect. I toss my jacket on an accent chair and run at the wall to climb and get up to the rafters. I get up there and perch on the beam then wait.
It doesn’t take long before headlights brighten the house. Seeing the angle I’ll need once Pauly enters the house, I turn, swinging my legs on the other side.
The engine turns off and I ready myself. The key enters the lock and Pauly pushes inside, talking loudly. I drop my upper body down as I pull my guns and start to fire, hanging by my knees and calves. Soon there’s nothing but the sound of my breathing.
I release my legs from the beam and flip, landing on the balls of my feet with my guns aimed at the entrance. Standing up, I holster my guns, and fix my cuffs. Turning, I grab my jacket, toss it on, and head for the back door I came through.
Looking down at my watch as I climb back into the car, I smile. I still have time. I can make it.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
CHAPTER 11
Surprise
Nyla
I rush through my shower, not wanting to miss Jace’s text. My mind goes back to my earlier decision. I truly thought Gio would at least send me a gift.
He didn’t and that stings. These last two years have been so hard. Losing my parents and my best friends and boyfriend all at the same time took something from me.
I dress in a pair of panties and a tank top. Looking in the mirror, I see so much sadness staring back at me. Something has to change. Jace is good for me.
I go to walk out of the bathroom and shut off the light as I step into my bedroom. Out of the corner of my eye I see a figure sitting in my accent chair by the window. I pull a knife from the door panel and toss it.
“Fuck, Ny. You almost got me.”
I gasp as I hear the voice. It’s deeper now, but I would know it anywhere, in any tone.
“Gio?”
He turns on the lamp in the corner. My heart nearly jumps out of my chest. He looks so different, yet the same. He’s taking up the entire chair with his big body and presence.
He’s dressed in all black. Slacks, a dress shirt, and shoes, looking the part of the Don he’ll someday be. Oh my God. What do they eat in Italy?
He has a bit of stubble on his chin, and he’s cut his hair. It’s now in a neat blowout. I love it on him.
He doesn’t move as he sits staring at me, taking me in from head to toe. I’m too in shock to move. He sits forward and places his arms on his thighs.
I cross my thighs and wiggle my toes. His nostrils flare and he sits back. He drags a hand down his face before he beckons me to him with two fingers.