Chapter 6 - The reservation for three
The revelation hung in the air of the study like smoke. Adrian’s jaw clenched so tightly the muscles jumped beneath his skin. Someone inside his own organization. Someone in his house. He turned away from Claire, walking toward the large window that overlooked the sprawling, heavily guarded lawns of the estate.
"Get Nora," Adrian commanded softly. "Take off the uniform. Put on something normal. We are leaving the estate."
An hour later, a sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb of a high-end, exclusive Italian restaurant in downtown Connecticut. The restaurant was owned by the Cole family, a neutral ground where the lighting was warm, the booths were deeply secluded, and the security was invisible but absolute.
Adrian slid out of the vehicle, adjusting his suit jacket. He reached back and lifted Nora out of her car seat. The little girl was now wearing her yellow cardigan over her cream dress, holding her pink purse tightly. She smiled at Adrian, completely unaware of the immense danger swirling around them. Claire stepped out next, wearing a simple but elegant dark coat over a plain dress, her anxiety still visible in the tight line of her mouth.
They walked into the restaurant together. The maître d' froze for a fraction of a second seeing the feared mafia boss carrying a toddler, but quickly recovered, bowing his head and leading them to the most secure booth in the back corner. The warm ambient lighting reflected off the polished mahogany tables.
Adrian sat across from Claire, placing Nora gently in the booth beside him. He ordered food quietly, his eyes constantly scanning the room with slow, deliberate movements. He brought them here to test a theory. If someone inside his crew wanted James dead, they would panic seeing James’s secret family sitting publicly with the boss.
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Across the dining room, sitting in the shadows of a corner table, a man in a gray suit lowered his wine glass. It was Marcus, one of Adrian’s top lieutenants. Marcus stared at the little girl eating crackers next to Adrian. He noticed the bright blue eyes. He noticed the light-brown curls.
Marcus slowly reached into his jacket and pulled out a burner phone. The trap was set, and the rat was about to bite.
