knew who she was and what he was getting with her. Make-up didn’t change any of it.
Elias lengthened his stride just enough to reach the brass adored white front door of Giovanni’s New Jersey home ahead of her. The gesture was only slightly ruined by Isaac’s near constant huffing.
“Thanks,” she said to Elias and stepped into the lion’s den.
According to Rusty from the Seattle FBI, Dion hadn’t been able to communicate with Giovanni since last night.
Sasha was in the wind.
With any luck, he’d gone back to whatever dark hole he lived in, or maybe he’d succumbed to his wounds. She doubted she was that lucky.
The few lackeys hanging around the entry paused their conversation and gaped at her, flanked by Elias and Isaac.
What had they heard? How much did they know?
“Jo. You’re back,” a jovial man said.
She turned her head toward Chris, a big guy with silver streaks in his black hair and a sport coat that would never button around his middle.
“You thought I’d miss this party?” She grinned at him. Chris was one of the better ones, but at the end of the night he’d still put a bullet in her if he thought she’d stepped out of line.
Elias pressed his fingertips to the small of her back.
Isaac peeled off, going his own way as planned.
Their fate was tied together.
She made some small talk with Chris for a moment, letting others see her there without a care in the world. The show was on.
“Where’s your drink?” Chris scowled. “You gotta get a drink. Go.”
“Alright, you take care, Chris.” She went up on tip-toe to do the idiotic required air kiss on either cheek.
If she had a dick, this wouldn’t be expected, but this was the way of things. Through tonight, at least.
Elias shadowed her away from Chris.
“Who was that?” Elias asked.
“No one. Are you jealous?”
“No, I just don’t know who I’m supposed to care about and who doesn’t matter.”
She turned and splayed her hands on his chest. If she were honest, she was a little turned on by this constant show of faith from Elias. Maybe someday, next week, tomorrow, they’d be able to talk about what they really wanted.
He looked down at her and the scowl eased.
Right about now she was grateful they weren’t wearing comms. It wasn’t worth the risk of getting caught.
“You’re sexy when you’re watching my back,” she said.
Elias’ eyes narrowed. “You’re telling me that now?”
She grinned at him. “It’s nice to focus on something other than, you know.”
He nodded and reached for her, settling his hand on her hip. “Isaac is gone.”
“I expected him to run to his master.”
“You think we can trust him?”
“No. Isaac will look out for himself. He’s a bottom feeder. Right now he thinks that working with us is in his best interest, but I wouldn’t put money on him upholding that. Isaac... I did my homework. He might seem like a cowardly low life. Wrong place, wrong time. But, Isaac’s here because he wanted to attach himself to someone he thought would be powerful. Isaac’s hands are not clean and he will look out for himself.”
Elias closed his eyes. “I don’t know how you did this all on your own.”
She didn’t either, but that was in the past.
He was here with her.
The FBI were positioned a block away in all directions, ready and poised for Elias’ signal.
Then there was more back-up courtesy of Aegis Group.
She knew there was an end coming, she just couldn’t see it. Yet.
“Marjorie-Jo? Where’s my girl?”
She turned, surprised by the hard tone.
Giovanni himself stepped into the archway leading into the main entertaining space in the house. He was dressed in a pale, beige suit with a green shirt and a tie with little Christmas trees on it. He wasn’t even pretending to be his typical, jovial self.
“Boss, merry Christmas.” She pasted on her best cocky smile.
It was time to sell the story.
He blinked at her once, then twice.
“My office.”
She inclined her head and gestured at Elias. “May I introduce my associate first?”
“Later,” Giovanni said.
Jo put her hand over Elias’ and squeezed. They’d talked about this and while she didn’t like being separated, there was no way to remain together and not raise suspicion.
Elias leaned against the wall, arms over his chest.
She winked at him, then turned to follow Giovanni.
The real test started now.
She’d thought this might play out a bit longer, that he’d wait until there were fewer people around to haul her in. Things must be more dire than she realized.
Good.
She wanted Giovanni