Page 74 of Dirty Hearts

They were foolish enough to start shooting at us.

Jude and Alex took them down while Dante and Gio had my back. In less than a minute, the men went down, including the associate. In the background, people screamed, probably the staff who were close by.

I looked back to Corey and winced when I saw the blood seeping from his arm. He was howling from the pain. At least he was still alive.

I pushed forward and backhanded him a few times, then I grabbed him up in his neck and got real close in his face.

“It’s no secret I’m looking for Goliath,” I seethed, baring my teeth. “Last time I checked, he and Joe were best buddies. Tell Joe I want to see him. In the meantime, you can get the fuck out of Chicago. You and whoever else is here who shouldn’t be.”

Releasing him, I stood and gave him a kick in his crotch. He howled in more pain.

It didn’t seem like we’d achieved much from coming here tonight, but part of the mission was to let them know that I knew something was up.

More than anything, I wanted a lead on Goliath, but I knew chances were whatever was going on might not lead me to him.

Every year that passed felt like my chances were slipping away.

But I had to take this recent occurrence as something to hold on to. If I could get to Joe, I might get to Goliath, and in the meantime find out whatever the fuck it was that had brought the Manellos and the Antonellas back to these paths.

I’d just have to see what would happen next.

Stepping past the bodies, we left.

Chapter 18

Ava

* * *

Okay…

Focus and concentrate.

I needed to just focus on the restaurant and concentrate on what I was doing. I could take it one hour at a time, take a break, and call Claudius.

Or maybe he would call me. God, I hadn’t been like this since…

Well, not since we’d been together. Not since that time when my brain told me the sun revolved around him and all there was in my world was him.

I was acting like a love-sick teenager. Worse because I hadn’t seen him last night.

I’d worried, but he’d called, and we’d spoken for an hour before I fell asleep. It wasn’t the same as falling asleep in his arms and waking up during the course of the night to look at him asleep, holding me. Relishing the big, strong man holding me like I really belonged to him.

Oh my God. I was doing it again. Daydreaming.

I’d zoned out staring ahead of me at the Degas painting on the furthest corner of the restaurant where there were more dining tables than booths.

Focus and concentrate, Ava.

I moved from the cupboard and carried a box of menus over to the counter behind the bar.

Friday was the big day, and I had everything I needed in store. I just had to organize it. And I had three days.

I’d decided to set out the new menus starting tonight to give my regulars a warm-up. Some of the dishes on the menu were more expensive too, so I thought it would be nice to have the next few days including Friday at a discounted rate so they could try it before the prices went up next week.

I was excited, very excited, and I guess it showed from the permanent afterglow that lit up my face like a lightbulb. That’s what too much sex and things falling into place did to you.To me.

All the stuff had started to come in last week, but I was busy.