Page 71 of Gin & Trouble

The roar of an engine pulled my attention back to the road. A large, black SUV screeched to a halt beneath the sign forEnzo’s Trattoria. I couldn’t tell for certain, but it looked like the same make and model the Marchionnis’ security team used.

Raising to tip toes, I waited for the driver to exit the vehicle.

Police whistles blared. Up ahead, officers seemed to be attempting to clear the sidewalk near the SUV.

A man and a woman emerged from another alley. He had his arm wrapped around her and her head pressed against his chest. I recognized his dark curls and strong jaw instantly.

“Enzo!” Pushing my way forward, I shouted his name over and over.

He glanced in my direction and skimmed the crowd.

I waved my arms to get his attention. “Go inside! It’s not safe!”

Enzo stared at me for a heartbeat.

I reached into my pocket for the test results. To use them like a flag. To get his attention. To make him understand it was important.

The bark of gunshots tore through my eardrums and ricocheted through my skull.

Enzo jolted from the impact and went down.

“Well, well, well…if it isn’t little Frankie Abruzzo?” Pasquale flashed me a shark’s smile. He and his accomplice stood several feet in front of me.

I turned and dove into the sea of screaming, fleeing people.

21

Dante

I rereadFrankie’s text for the fiftieth time.

Dante:Did anyone ever tell you you’re adorable when you talk in your sleep? See you soon. XOXO

I would have preferred to wake up wrapped around her warm, naked body, but I’d take what I could get.

Iris glanced up from my spare computer. “Any word from Frankie?”

“Nothing yet, but I’m sure she’s fine.” I wasn’t thrilled she’d left the building, but I couldn’t keep her hostage forever. Besides, I believed her. She’d lied to help her sisters, not to spy on us for Tommaso.

Now all I have to do is trust her to come back.

Marco stormed into the Batcave, looked from me to Iris, and frowned. “We have a problem.”

“Besides you not knowing how to knock?” I went for levity, not to be a smart-ass, but to lighten the mood for Iris’s sake.

The woman had been through more than enough. She didn’t need to get stuck in the middle of whatever was going on with Marco.

She shot to her feet. “I’ll go…get some lunch.”

He gave her a quick nod before pegging me with a hard stare. “Why didn’t you call me about the shit going down at Enzo’s?”

“Because this is the first I’m hearing about it. The house or the restaurant?” I turned to log into the security feeds. Chances were, whatever had happened had been caught on camera.

“There was a shooting at the restaurant. It’s all over the news. How do you not know this?” He motioned to the bank of monitors.

My world tilted. “Is it Enzo?”

“No, but with Tommaso Abruzzo’s recent departure, I’d like to know what happened.”

---