Page 39 of Samson

He smiled at her the way he always did when they were having an exchange. It didn’t matter what she did or said. He always enjoyed it.

“It all makes sense now,” he said.

“You’re delusional.”

“Then why haven’t you served my table?”

“I have.”

“A couple of times in the first few weeks you’ve been here. But not since. Not on purpose, anyway.”

“I can’t help it if you’re not at one of my tables. I’m not the one who sets the roster.”

“It wouldn’t be that hard for Luca to keep you away from me. Do you think you need his protection?”

“I’m pretty sure I can handle you on my own.” When he opened his mouth to respond, she put her hand up. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? You don’t even know what I was going to say.”

“I’m pretty sure I do.”

She was relieved the ambulance pulled up at that moment. Their conversation had gone in a direction that was making her uncomfortable.

Samson replayed the night in his head. He’d enjoyed wiping the smug look off Delilah’s face when the police said they wanted to take him to the station to speak to him down there. She would have enjoyed watching him pushed into the back of the police cruiser. Instead, he’d called Trevors to explain his position.

But when he thought of Simone and the information she’d given him, his smile faltered. If what she said was true andDemir was collecting weapons for an attack, it was possible that hundreds, if not thousands of Christians could lose their lives soon.

He let his thoughts drift back to Delilah as he drove into the parking garage. She’d maintained a subdued outrage as they’d spoken, but he was sure a small part of her had enjoyed it. She’d hid it well, but it was there despite her best efforts.

As he walked to the elevator, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He huffed. Of course they’d pick a night he was distracted to make their move. But he wasn’t distracted enough.

He kept up his pace. Then he saw a flicker of movement from the other direction and dropped to the ground as a round was fired.

He rolled, pulling his own gun when a man charged, and Samson spun, catching the guy on the head with his fist before he turned again and kicked. Another came at him from behind, and he allowed his momentum to push him around as he took him out and dove for cover again.

He fired a couple of rounds and tried to get to his phone so he could call for backup but had to duck as another man jumped for him.

After throwing him off, Samson head-butted another who’d entered the fight. Whatever it was Demir was up to, he’d just over-played his hand and exposed himself. Few things warranted this kind of response when all he’d done was watch the embassy from his car. That meant that whatever was going on, it was big.

Samson licked blood from his lip as he waited for any further attack. When none came, he stood, exposing himself in order to elicit another move if any was coming, but the garage remained silent.

He kept his gun in his hand as he entered the elevator, a little out of breath. Once the doors closed, he put it back in the holster and pulled out his phone.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Trevors said when he answered. “I only just got back to sleep. Don’t tell me you’ve punched out another guy.”

“The night is still young.”

“You are walking a very fine line, my friend.”

“What if I told you I’ve got a present for you? A bunch of presents, actually. I think there’s seven or eight.”

“It’s not my birthday.”

“If you can get someone down to my parking garage now, I’d consider it a personal favor. This is a respectable apartment building. I don’t think they like bodies strewn around the place.”

“What happened this time?”

“You can charge these guys with assault and see what they have to say for themselves.”

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