Page 117 of Devious Corruption

“Yeah. It will be good for you, too.” Keith scratches behind his ear. “Look. We’ll tell you everything, but I’m starved. Let’s go get some dinner.”

“I still have an hour before we close.”

“Don’t worry! It’s slow; I’ll take care of it.” Serafina calls from behind the book rack.

I glance over at Dmitri again. He’s still scrolling through his phone, but he’s heard every word of this conversation, I’m sure of it. And by now he’s probably texted Lev to tell him my brothers are here.

Lev will hate me leaving with them. It will probably send him into a rage.

“Okay, sure. Let me grab my coat.”

The restaurant Keith pulls into is nestled in the middle of the Gold Coast.

“Keith, this is like a really expensive part of the city,” I say as he turns into the valet line. “Where’d you get this car, anyway?”

I run my hand over the leather exterior of the Lexus sedan. They didn’t even have a car before this all happened, and now they’re driving around in tailored suits and a luxury vehicle?

The sour feeling that started after I climbed into the back of the car outside the bookstore has spread throughout my whole body.

Something isn’t right.

“Yeah. We got it.” Keith peers at me through the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry, you look good. This fancy clothes your Russian mobster gave you are nice.”

Joey nudges Keith. “Leave her alone, already.”

We pull up to valet, and my door is opened before I can even reach for the handle. I’m helped out, and then the door is shut. Joey and Keith flank me on either side, leading me up the three steps into the Italian Restaurant.

It’s almost as nice as Lev’s restaurant, but there’s less of a warm atmosphere here. It’s all crisp and sharp. Silverware clanks against plates, and glasses clink together in the background, but there’s no merriment. These people aren’t celebrating their lives; they’re trying to survive it.

As they lead me to the back of the restaurant, I get a glimpse of the emblem embroidered on the edge of a tablecloth.

We’re in a DeAngelo restaurant.

I freeze.

“What’s wrong?” Keith demands, trying to pull me along.

“Keith. Why are we here?”

“Dinner. I’m starving.” He gestures with his head. “C’mon, we got a table in the back.”

“Can’t we go somewhere else? Somewhere less…”

“No, they have great food.” Joey promises, but his eyes aren’t meeting mine. His attention flickers to the hallway. “C’mon. You’re going to love the clams.”

“Clams? I’ve never even had clams,” I say, letting them pull me along down a hallway.

We pass the restroom and continue further until the hallway opens to a second lounge area. There are five tables in this room. The largest seats six, and there are already four people sitting at it.

Elana is one of them.

My mouth goes dry when her eyes meet mine. Tears shimmer on the edge of her eyelids.

Something is very wrong here.

“Elana?” I barely get her name out before the door behind me slams shut.

“Ah, good. Everyone’s almost here.” Through another entrance, two more men step inside the room.