Page 16 of Tattletale

“One room tonight, then,” I say.

“Attagirl.” He winks. “Come on.”

He leads me toward the door, hand in hand, when I hear a sharp chime coming from the bar cart. “Lance, wait.”

I double back to Rossi’s phone, my heart swelling and pumping with adrenaline.

The glowing screen displays a text message from a random number.

292-555-0786

Just got word. Luca Accardi’s flight lands at 10:03 p.m. tomorrow.

Private airfield just outside the city. I’ll send the address.

It’s a risk, but I text back. I know this isn’t a question Rossi would ask, but I need more intel.

Rossi

Why a private airfield? Is he wanted in this country?

292-555-0786

Security. His family will be with him.

Rossi

His brothers and father?

292-555-0786

No. His wife and two daughters.

Two daughters to witness their father slain right before their eyes?What poetic fucking justice.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

I whip around to face Lance, giving him a teasing smile. “Did you just call me ‘baby’?”

“Yeah… I’m trying it out.” He shows me a sheepish smile. “What do you think?”

I smirk. “I’ll get used to it.”

He holds his hand out for me. I quickly tuck Rossi’s phone into my coat pocket. Lance doesn’t bother asking about it. Threading my fingers through his again, I’m so elated, I could practically skip.

My best friend just told me he loved me.

I love him, too.

And after ten long years, I finally have my chance to avenge my family.

THREE

LANCE

I’m failingat my mission.

I was to hunt down dinner in New York City at midnight while Cricket took a shower at the hotel. I passed three pizza carts that smelled so good I wanted to mount them, but Cricket is an anomaly and doesn’t like thin-crust pizza. I’ve seen her take down an entire Chicago deep dish solo. If she ever tires of being an assassin, eating competitions would be a solid fallback. She’s a total ringer. No one would expect this tiny little thing to eat like a great white shark.

---