Page 44 of Guarding Grace
It wasn’t easy, but Grace’s safety was on the line, so I exited the car one-hundred-percent focused on the Russo meeting and joined the team on the sidewalk.
“According to Winston’s contact, the restaurant around the corner is the latest Russo headquarters,” Lucas said. “Their intel is that Tall Tony might be out of town, so we could be meeting with one of his sons, which makes this unpredictable.”
“Why?” Winston voiced the question we all had.
Lucas sighed. “Tony and I have a history. He won’t be looking to cross us. But I haven’t dealt with any of the sons, and they could be wild cards. Expect two guards at the door and two inside, probably one more in the back room with the guy in charge. We walk from here. Follow me, single file until we’re inside. Nobody draws a weapon unless I do. I do all the talking. Understood?”
Around the circle, Duke, Winston, Constance, and I all nodded.
Lucas Hawk had a sixth sense about things. I half expected him to look at me and ask what was wrong. Instead he said, “Weapons check.”
Relieved, I inspected my SIG. Lying to the man was nowhere on my list for today.
The rest of the team did the same, and we holstered our weapons.
Lucas touched his ear. “Comms check, Jordy.”
He was the only one of us wearing an earpiece.
Lucas nodded. “Jordy, you’ve got electronic overwatch.Horseshitis the word to call in the cavalry or if you hear things go kinetic.” To the rest of us he explained, “Wellbourne is on standby with six officers, if we need them.”
Lieutenant Wellbourne was our go to at LAPD since he owed Lucas big time. The problem was, if the LAPD group wasn’t already here, they’d likely be too late to the party. But Lucas was calling the shots, so that was the plan we’d follow.
“Execute,” Lucas said as he walked off.
My girl was the one in danger, so I bumped Duke aside to take the position directly behind Lucas.
Duke grunted and followed me with Constance and Winston behind him. As we rounded the corner, two goons on either side of the restaurant door came into view.
We marched on.
The guy on one side of the door saw us and surprised the hell out of me. He pulled open the door and held it as we approached. This was weird times ten.
Maybe Lucas had called ahead and forgotten to mention it.
Inside were two more guards.
“Mr. Hawk,” the taller one said. “May I help you?”
“We’re here to see your boss.”
“All of you?”
“All of us,” Lucas said.
The shorter of the two smiled.
The taller one held his arm open toward a door at the back. “Very well. This way.”
Yes, we had entered theTwilight Zonehere. People like us, armed, were not just invited into the back room to see the head of a crime family.
I wiggled my fingers. Either Lucas had called ahead to arrange this, or we were walking into an ambush.
Duke looked on edge as well.
Constance had her hand close to her weapon.
Winston either didn’t feel the tension or was putting on an act for the bad guys.
