different reason.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when we started working with her again, it kind of brought back a few things between us from the past—things you probably don’t want to know about,” he explained. “This is the place we went to—resolve some of them.”
“So you’re telling me that you slept with my ex-wife here, and you were foolish enough to bring the entire party to the same place now?” Gabriel asked incredulously. “What were you thinking? Lupo could have this place watched, bugged even. He may be aware right now of just how many of us there are and where he can find us. How much more stupid could you be?”
“Calm down, Gabriel, it can’t be that bad,” Rico said. “She’s by herself and just looking around. If she’d been there on business her henchmen would probably have been with her.”
“I don’t think I’m willing to take that chance,” he said stubbornly. “Since when has Lucretia ever been someone we could trust? Clearly I never could if you’re telling me that things went on between you in the past as well.”
“I never meant for it to happen, you know that,” he insisted. “But damn, Gabriel, the woman may be a bitch but she’s really hot. I’ve never understood how you could have dumped her in the first place.”
“You said it yourself, she’s a bitch,” Gabriel said. “I just couldn’t deal with it anymore.”
Rico nodded. “So, do we stay or do we go? We could easily grab some things and head out.”
“Yes, I believe we must go,” Gabriel decided. “We are too close to the completion of this mission to take a chance on Lucretia’s whims.”
“All right, I’ll tell the men to gather supplies and we’ll be on our way,” he agreed. “Boss, I hope this doesn’t change things between us. I really do love you like a brother. I would do anything for you. You must know that.”
“All is fair in love and war,” Gabriel said wryly. “You are welcome to her, my friend. See if you’re able to tame her where I could not.”
“As to that, I don’t know if she wants me,” he replied. “The last time we spoke we had an argument because I wouldn’t switch sides to Lupo’s team. I told her that loyalty was much more important than love could ever be and she stormed out in a huff. Something tells me it wasn’t exactly the right thing to say.”
“You’re probably right,” Gabriel smirked. “And yet, she came back, as you can see.”
Lucretia had picked up something from the laundry basket that had been left sitting near the washer and dryer on the far side of the room. It appeared to be one of Rico’s T-shirts, and she rubbed it to her cheek as she inhaled its scent. Tears sprung up in her eyes, which she wiped onto the shirt as well.
“I may be a bit of a cynic, but that doesn’t look like the face of a woman who has given up,” Gabriel pointed out.
“No, it doesn’t,” Rico agreed. “But that doesn’t change anything, does it? I’m still going to do things the same way. I promised to help you destroy Lupo and that’s exactly what I aim to do.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The bus stopped just inside the outskirts of northern New York City. Rico didn’t think it would be a good idea to park the thing anywhere too conspicuous, so it was a good twenty yards away from the nearest entrance into the Alphas’ lair. He led everyone inside in groups of five at a time, instructing them to refrain from looking around lest they alert the guards who knew must be around somewhere.
“Stealth is going to be a really big issue,” he explained once everyone was inside. “We go quick, and we go quiet, and we should probably not stick to one group. Obviously Gordral, Gaal-det, Betsy and Gabriel should be among one team, so they can do what we came here for. I will lead the way with another team. The rest of you can divide as you please and follow behind us a bit. I will place Desmond as another leader, since he has at least
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