Page 53 of Tossed into the Mob
TREYTON
"Table for two?" The hostess smiled.
“Yes, please. We have a reservation by the window.”Brock slipped his arm through mine as the hostess escorted us to a table. “It’s our first time in the city, and we’re so excited.” He squeed. “We’re on our honeymoon.”
The hostess congratulated us, as did some of the people at the surrounding tables.
We were at an upscale restaurant that the kidnapper had chosen for the exchange. It was lunchtime, and the place was crowded with business people, tourists, and couples like us.
Adrian was seated at a booth, three tables away. He adjusted his tie and then fiddled with the cutlery. The briefcase with the ransom money was placed at his side, in the position the kidnappers had demanded. I worried some random person might snatch it.
Hunter was running the mission and had a team at the service entranceand across the road from the main entrance.
"Can I start you with some drinks?" our server asked.
I ordered soda water and juice and took Brock’s hand, gazing lovingly into his eyes. That part was genuine. Of the two of us, Iappeared to be more nervous, whereas Brock was bouncing with excitement. I worried that when the kidnapper appeared, he'd jump up and attack him.
I was so impressed by my mate pretending to be a tourist in love.He was a natural at this subterfuge, much better than me, because I was stiff and awkward wondering if the bad guys would scent my discomfort. Or if my butt looked good in these pants.
What are you talking about?My wolf, like Brock, was really into what we were doing.
It’s a joke, sort of. I was trying to minimize my nervousness by thinking ridiculous thoughts.
Brock leaned across the small table. ”Two men just walked in. Dark suits, scanning the room."
My back was to the entrance, which Grandpa always said was a bad move. “Sit where you can see the door,” he always said. But my wolf could see them and told me not to turn around.
"Hunter, we've got two subjects entering the restaurant. Dark suits, early thirties,” Brock whispered into the disguised microphone.
"Copy that," came Hunter's voice through the earpiece. "We have eyes on the entrance."
Adrian’s face was already drained of color, and he swayed and gripped the table. I worried he was going to faint. Maybe this was the norm for my cousins, but like Adrian, this wasn’t part of my daily routine.
"This is really happening," Brock whispered as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin.
The kidnappers sat down across from Adrian. Shit, I’d assumed they were going to take the money and go. One was saying something to Adrian while the other scanned the diners. Brock hissed at me to look at him. On the one hand, those guyswere unassuming and didn’t stand out from the crowd, but I wouldn’t like to meet them in a storage unit.
Not all murders take place in storage units and not all storage units are unsafe.
Maybe my wolf should pair up with Brock. They were better suited to this scenario than me because my thoughts were zigzagging.
“They’re talking,” I said into the mic.
I plastered a smile on my face as the server returned with the drinks, and we ordered. I chose the first item on the menu, but I’d be sick if I ate anything, and I’d have to secret some food into a napkin or I’d create attention, coming to a restaurant and not eating.
Brock said he was going to the bathroom. I shook my head, whispering it was too dangerous, but he said it was fine. He mouthed, “I’m human.”
Please don’t draw attention to yourself, Brock,I thought to myself.
He’s good at this. He’ll be fine, my beast assured me.
My mate strutted toward the bathroom after asking the server loudly where it was. He hummed as he walked and smiled at people, but I was the one who needed the bathroom because my tummy was tied in knots at him being so close to the bad guys.
Your family are considered bad guys, my wolf not so helpfully pointed out.
I counted the seconds and then the minutes that Brock was gone. Damn, I should never have let him go by himself. Hunter asked what was going on, and I told him I was going to look for my mate.
“Stay where you are. Take a sip of your drink and look as though you’re enjoying yourself.” I recognized the command inhis voice and did as he instructed, though I had to swallow hard to get it down.
