Page 18 of Renegade (The Santini Assassins #2)

GREYSTONE’S HIRE

GREYSTONE

A s Greystone drove toward the restaurant, he couldn’t stop thinking about Caroline. That kiss had turned him hard, something he couldn’t let happen at work. But damn, he wanted her. Working with her when she was halfway around the world was nothing like partnering up… in person.

Hooking up with her had changed everything.

Every damn thing.

Redirecting his thoughts, he ran through the theories she’d proposed.

All were viable, yet he wasn’t convinced the terrorists were employed at these three-letter agencies, especially the law enforcement ones.

Frustration took hold when he thought about how a network of employees could be aiding the terror cell by building the bombs for them.

After parking in the restaurant lot, he made his way toward the building. Time to quiet his thoughts and work the family business like the boss he was. At Santini Ristorante, he was the friendly GM who made sure guests were well taken care of. Excellent food, great service.

He went inside. As expected, the place was packed.

He slowed at the hostess desk. “Tara, how’s it goin’?”

“Great, boss.”

“Need help?”

“I’m good.”

Addressing the hungry guests waiting for a table, he said, “We’ll get you seated as soon as we can.

” He shot the group a smile, made his way through the dining room.

In the kitchen, he checked in with the head chef, said hello to the staff, then touched base with the servers.

While he was grateful Teddy had given him the job as a cover, he no longer had the time to work there.

I gotta change things up.

He opened the door to their shared office and stopped cold. Sitting on the sofa next to Teddy was his grandmother, Elsa Santini.

His heart melted, flat-out melted. They locked eyes, her face exploded in a radiant smile. She rose and held out her arms. He embraced her, her familiar scent flooding his nostrils with a childhood he’d abruptly left behind.

He kissed one of her wrinkled cheeks, then the other.

Funny, how when he left, sixteen-year-old Greystone thought she was an old woman. Today, as he gazed down at her, she didn’t look much older.

“è bello vederti, nonna,” he said.

“It’s good to see you too, Greystone,” she replied. “Vorrei arrabbiarmi con te per essere rimasto via troppo a lungo, ma sono così felice di vederti.”

“Thank you for not being angry with me,” Greystone said. “I missed you.”

“Anche tu mi sei mancato,” she replied.

“Let’s eat,” Greystone said .

When he gestured for them to leave, Elsa clasped his hand. “I’m not letting you go.”

His heart warmed. She’d told him she wanted to be angry at him for staying away for so long, but she was too happy to see him to stay angry. Being welcomed back into the family by their matriarch meant something to him.

Family mattered then. It mattered even more now.

Teddy ushered them to the owner’s table tucked into the back corner of the main dining room. There, they could spread out in horseshoe-shaped booth, but Greystone didn’t want distance. He wanted his family by his side, something he’d missed for a long, long time.

He put himself in the corner of the booth, facing out. The server hurried over, rattled off the dinner specials and took their drink orders.

While Teddy talked about the latest updates he’d made to the restaurant, Greystone swept his gaze over the diners.

While he doubted the terrorists would be brazen enough to eat there, he wasn’t ruling anything out.

His elite team of operatives was hunting them down.

He had to assume they were doing the same to them.

Everyone in BLACK OPS was a target. Anyone could be followed.

Anyone could be ambushed. If the terrorist soldiers could find an asset hidden in a safe house in San Diego, they could easily find a BLACK OPS Operative.

By being here, am I putting my family at risk?

“The owner’s booth and the small salon were Greystone’s idea,” Teddy said, snapping him back. “I just implemented them.”

“I’m proud of both of you,” Elsa said. “Teddy, when does your semester begin?”

“I took a break from grad school to open the restaurant,” Teddy explained. “I’ll start up again soon.”

“Do you need money?”

Teddy smiled. “No, sto bene, ma grazie. ”

Elsa slid her gaze to Greystone. “Where have you been?”

“Around.”

“Sixteen years is too long,” Elsa said. “Don’t run off again.”

Rather than tell her he didn’t have control over his assignment locations, he replied, “I won’t.”

“I’m sorry about G-pa,” Greystone said.

“Grazie,” she replied. “I stay busy with my friends and I have my boys.” She patted his whiskered cheek. “You’re home, and that makes me very happy. Tell me about you, Greystone.”

The server returned with their drinks and an appetizer. “My apologies for the delay.” He took their entrée order before scooting off.

“Where did you work before Teddy hired you here?” Elsa asked him.

Greystone didn’t talk about himself. The past was gone, he couldn’t discuss his current job, so he’d mention something vague, change the subject, and the conversation would move on.

As he looked from his grandmother to his brother, he wanted them to know he hadn’t been a drifter.

He’d overcome the odds, gotten damn lucky, and made something of his life.

“I joined the Navy,” he said.

Elsa’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful. What did you do?”

“I was a SEAL, then I became a Naval officer and flew jets.”

Silence while they stared at him.

“For real?” Teddy asked. “I can’t tell if you’re shittin’—sorry G-ma—messing with us?—”

“It’s the truth.”

Elsa beamed at him. “I’m very proud of you, Greystone. Those are tough jobs. Very stressful. When did you leave the Navy?”

“I didn’t.”

His grandmother furrowed her brow. “Are you on vacation?”

Again, he glanced at Teddy. Teddy knew he was working the Haqazzii case because they’d been called to the Black Site. Beyond that, Greystone had kept things ambiguous.

Greystone didn’t want to lie to her, but he couldn’t tell her the truth. “I wanted to reconnect with family and Teddy gave me a job.”

“Which he’s killing,” Teddy said.

Wanting to move the subject away from himself, Greystone asked, “Elsa, where do you live?”

“I was living alone, but my house burned down, so I moved in with Carrera and his wife, Amanda May. She goes by Slash.”

Greystone raised his water goblet. Teddy and Elsa raised their wine glasses. “Alla famiglia.”

They tapped glasses. “To family,” Teddy echoed. “Greystone doesn’t drink alcohol.”

“No wine?” Elsa asked.

“No,” Greystone replied.

Alcohol dulled his senses, took him off his game. While he missed the occasional drink, he needed to stay sharp… always.

He kept the conversation rolling, all while keeping an eye on the patrons. He was used to living that way, but it wasn’t always easy looking over his shoulder, being suspicious about everyone, and always packing heat.

When they finished their meals, Teddy offered to drive Elsa home.

“Greystone, why don’t you bring me?” Elsa asked. “Have you seen Carrera yet?”

“Next time,” he promised her.

“We’re having a family dinner soon,” Elsa handed Greystone her cell phone. “Put your phone number in, so I can make sure you’re included.”

He did so, then walked them to Teddy’s car. There, he pulled his grandmother in for a hug and kissed both her cheeks. “Ti amo. ”

She patted his whiskered cheek. “Anch'io ti amo. I love you too.”

He helped her into the car.

“I’ll be back to close,” Teddy said before ducking inside.

After they drove away, Greystone glanced around. Night had fallen. Someone could be hiding in a car with a rifle pointed at his head. Agitation slithered through him, threatening to suffocate him.

He’d been in intense situations before, and he’d gotten through them. He’d get through this one too…

On his way back inside, he checked his phone.

Nothing from Caroline.

Damn .

He hated that she didn’t show, but she’d made the right choice. No way would he send her home to an empty bed. Not when he could be in it with her.

His shift had gone down without a hitch, almost like the restaurant gods were smiling down on him. If Greystone were an optimist, he’d believe the universe was turning in his direction. But he was a realist. They had a good night. Nothing more, nothing less.

After the last customer left, the servers began prepping for the next day’s seating. Greystone was ready to take off. Time was ticking, and he had a group of international killing machines to hunt down. In an attempt to move things along, he got busy stocking top-shelf liquor behind the bar.

“What do you do when you’re not here?” asked the female bartender who was handing him bottles of scotch.

“As little as possible,” he replied.

“We should grab coffee sometime,” she said.

“My life’s complicated.”

“Whose isn’t?”

He said nothing .

“So, I’m off tomorrow,” she persisted. “Do you want to come back to my place tonight?”

When he took the bottle from her, she was gazing up at him with flirty eyes.

“Not a good idea.”

She sighed. “I think it’s a great idea, so if you ever change your mind?—”

The front door opened, a lone man lumbered in. Heavyset, dressed in a decent suit, he stood there with his hands on his hips, like he owned the joint.

“Sorry, we’re closed,” called out a server.

“I’m a Santini,” barked the man. “Who’s in charge?”

Greystone walked out from behind the bar. “I am. Who’re you?”

“Willie Boy Santini. Who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing in my restaurant?”

As he made his way over, Greystone gave him the once-over. Up close, his Willie Boy looked like he’d had a rough life, or he’d done shit to take care of himself.

Mangy dog.

Greystone extended his hand. “Hey, cousin. Greystone Santini.”

Willie Boy’s eyes grew large, then he broke into a grin, his yellowed teeth in desperate need of a dentist.