Chapter 2 - THE GIRL THEY WANTEDSalvatore pulled Tessa toward the service corridor.
The three men moved around them like a shield.
The restaurant was no longer a restaurant.
Tables were overturned.
Wine spilled across the marble floor.
Customers crouched under chairs.
A waiter lay motionless near the bar.
Tessa's shoes slipped beneath her.
Salvatore caught her waist.
She stared at him.
He released her immediately.
Then he pointed toward the back exit.
Run.
Tessa didn't move.
“My brother.”
Salvatore shook his head.
“My people are already going to him.”
“You have people watching him?”
“Yes.”
The answer came aloud, low and controlled.
Tessa stared.
“You can speak.”
Salvatore's expression barely changed.
“I can speak.”
“Then why didn't you?”
He looked away.
For a second, something vulnerable crossed his face.
Then it vanished.
“Because speaking makes people forget I'm listening.”
Tessa didn't understand.
She barely had time to ask.
A bullet struck the metal door beside them.
Salvatore pushed her down.
He fired once.
Then twice.
Someone on the other side fell.
“Move.”
They ran.
The kitchen erupted in chaos.
Chefs ducked behind counters.
Pots crashed.
Steam filled the air.
At the rear exit, an armored SUV waited.
Salvatore opened the passenger door.
Tessa hesitated.
“You said my brother is safe.”
“He is.”
“How do you know?”
Salvatore looked directly at her.
“Because the people who were following him are dead.”
She stared at him.
A chill moved through her.
“You killed them?”
“No.”
He paused.
“My men did.”
The SUV sped through Chicago.
Tessa sat beside him, clutching her phone.
No messages.
No calls.
Nothing.
She called Evan.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Still nothing.
Her hands trembled.
Salvatore noticed.
He took out his phone and made a call.
“Status.”
A voice answered.
“She's been moved.”
Salvatore's shoulders loosened slightly.
“Where?”
“Safehouse.”
Tessa turned sharply.
“Put me on.”
Salvatore handed her the phone.
A second later Evan's face appeared.
Tessa nearly sobbed.
“Evan!”
Her brother smiled nervously.
His hands moved quickly.
I'm okay.
Tessa signed back.
Who came?
Evan's expression changed.
He looked toward someone standing beside him.
Then signed:
I don't know.
Tessa frowned.
Tell me what happened.
Evan hesitated.
Then his hands slowed.
They asked about him.
Tessa looked at Salvatore.
Him?
Evan nodded.
He pointed at Salvatore's image on the phone screen.
Then signed something that made Salvatore's face go completely still.
They said Salvatore killed our father.
Tessa stopped moving.
Her mother and father had died years ago.
An accident.
At least that was what she had always believed.
“What does that mean?”
Salvatore reached over and ended the call.
Tessa turned to him.
“Why did you do that?”
“Because Evan doesn't know the whole story.”
“Then tell me.”
Silence.
“Tell me!”
Salvatore stared through the windshield.
“Your parents weren't killed in an accident.”
Tessa's heart stopped.
“What?”
“They were murdered.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“I was there.”
Her entire body went cold.
“You?”
Salvatore finally looked at her.
“I was seventeen.”
Tessa couldn't breathe.
“What happened?”
His eyes darkened.
“Your father was supposed to testify against the Marquetti organization.”
Tessa stared.
“Your family?”
“No.”
“The people you're part of?”
“I wasn't part of them.”
“Then why were you there?”
Salvatore looked away.
“Because your father saved my life.”
Tessa's mouth went dry.
“Then why did he die?”
Salvatore's voice became quieter.
“Because someone thought I had betrayed him.”
The SUV suddenly swerved.
One of the men in front shouted.
“We've got company.”
Tessa looked through the rear window.
Three black vehicles were following them.
One accelerated.
Then another.
Salvatore checked his weapon.
Tessa whispered, “Who are they?”
May you like
Salvatore answered without looking at her.
“The men who killed your parents.”
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