Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Look at the way Miguel is with Avita.” Shabina indicated the two with a barely perceptible nod of her head. “He’s in love with her.”
Vienna agreed. “I once asked him why he didn’t date her, and he said it was a respect thing. Lucca is very protective of Avita.” She cleared her throat. “Was protective. He said Lucca was like his brother, and the Delgottos had always treated him as if he were a part of their family, even after it came to light that the boys were up to no good together. Lucca’s family still welcomed Miguel with open arms.”
“The Delgottos are wonderful people,” Shabina added. “And I doubt that they would have objections to Miguel dating their daughter.”
“It looks to me as if she reciprocates his feelings,” Zahra said. “Miguel’s a good man and he would work hard for his family. Avita must see that in him.”
“She’s known him all of her life,” Shabina agreed. “It would be nice if their families could find a little happiness in the middle of losing Lucca.”
“It would,” Vienna agreed.
* * *
—
Shabina found baking and cooking with a security team underfoot wasn’t as easy as it was when Rainier was helping her. The men rotated: sometimes Dimitri would be in the kitchen with her, then Zero and Larado would exchange places with the two men, Altair and Torin, who often watched over the café.
Shabina knew Altair had been friends with Rainier for years. His name was Arabic and meant falcon. He had a tattoo of a falcon on his upper right shoulder. Torin was Irish American and had the reddish hair and freckles to prove it. She liked all of them but felt the most comfortable with Larado and Altair.
Each time one of the men entered the kitchen for the first time, they wanted to sample the food or baked goods. She ended up baking double the amount she normally would have. The alarm went off, and then a call came in from the gate that she had visitors.
“Ma’am, I can’t let those men in here with you. It isn’t a safe situation,” Larado said.
He sounded as firm and calm as Rainier. Just as tyrannical. He might be polite, but he wasn’t going to back off.
“It’s necessary for me to hear what they have to say. I’ve got questions that need answers, Larado. I’m not trying to be defiant. My father is involved in this somehow, and I have the right to know what he asked of them. Some of the items on those altars with the murder victims were from Saudi Arabia. They were the ones in possession of the items, at least I believe they were.”
He looked thoughtful but not wholly persuaded.
“All my friends are here. I’m armed. Raine is as well. I’ll have three of the dogs inside with me. We were expecting them.”
“You should have kept me informed.”
Shabina nodded, conceding he was right. She didn’t have to like it, but he was responsible for her safety.
“Rainier isn’t just my employer, ma’am. He’s my friend. You’re the most important person in his world and he’s trusted me with your safety. I can’t take chances with your life, not that I would, even if Rainier hadn’t pulled me out of some tight spots more than once.”
“Would you feel more comfortable if you were in the room with us?” That was a hard concession for her to make, but she understood Larado’s hesitation. If either of the two students pulled out a gun and started firing, someone might get hit before Raine or she was able to neutralize them. On the other hand, the men would be more likely to answer her questions if her personal protectors weren’t standing around looking threatening.
“I’d feel more comfortable if they didn’t enter this house, but I can see your point that you want to question them. I’ll bring Altair inside as well. He speaks Arabic fluently, and if they converse in their language and I miss something they say, he’ll get it.”
“I speak Arabic,” Shabina felt compelled to point out.
Larado ignored her. “I don’t like this, but I’m going along with it because you need answers. Dimitri will be stationed just outside the front door. If it all goes sideways, he’ll take them out.”
There was a finality to his statement and his tone. She could take it or leave it. Shabina nodded her head. “Let them come in, and I’ll do my best to get them out of here quickly.”
Zahra immediately went into the kitchen and positioned herself behind the island. Raine stayed in her chair, but she had the gun in her hand out of sight. Stella and Harlow positioned their chairs a distance apart and partially in the shadows and toward the back of the room where there was cover they could dive behind. Vienna sat on the other side of the room away from Raine. She was also armed.