Page 60 of Dark Angel
“Not kinda. Full-on.”
She laughed as she handed him a dinner plate.
With full plates of baked fish and oven-roasted chicken, the family sat around the expanded kitchen table.
“Gabriel, please say grace,” Elsa said.
“Lord, please bless this food, keep us safe. We pray for Simone and her bambino. Bless her and Lulu with a healthy child. In Jesus’ name.”
And everyone said, “Amen.”
With tears shimmering in her eyes, Simone walked around the table, and kissed Gabriel on his cheek. “Let it be known, I just changed sides. I’m with G now. Thank you. That was so thoughtful.”
“I’m not leaving,” Gabriel said.
The entire table started groaning and laughing.
“He giveth and he taketh away,” Teddy said.
“Gabriel Alessandro Santini,” Elsa snapped.
“I’m just messin’ with you guys,” Gabriel said as he slid a forkful of fish into his mouth. “Cooked to perfection.”
“Thank you,” Slash said.
Gabriel had spoken the truth. He wasn’t going anywhere. Santini Euro, his wineries, and Santini Spirits would probably operate better without him. He ran them tight, Cosa Nostra the same.
In a few weeks, I’ll fly home, check on things.
While he was disappointed his brothers didn’t step up to help him take out the Russian mob, he was confident he and Angelo would get the job done.
The small talk revolved around Luciano returning to Santini International, headquartered in DC’s clothing district, then it moved to the baby.
“Did you have a gender reveal party while you were gone?” Slash asked.
“We know the sex, but we’re keeping it a secret,” Luciano replied.
The conversation was neutral because the Agitator stayed silent. After dinner, they enjoyed espressos or decaf—and for Simone an herbal tea.
When the family started cleaning up, Slash made an announcement. “G, I called you a ride. The driver will swing by your place so you can grab whatever you need.” A smile ghosted across her pretty face. “Lemme walk you out.”
Everyone stood to say their goodbyes. One by one, he hugged them.
“I’ll miss you bro,” he said to Teddy.
“You too,” he said to his cousin, Carrera.
He slapped Greystone on the back. “Have fun flying your jet.”
“We’ll sync up during our weekly video meetings, fratello,” he told Luciano.
“I’ll fly home when the baby’s born,” he said to Simone.
“Ti amo, nonna,” he said to Elsa.I love you, grandmother.
“I love you more, G,” Elsa replied. “My heart aches when you leave.”
He kissed her cheek, hugged her again before he shot his family a smile and fell in line beside Slash.
