Chapter 5 - The Snake in the Grass
The peace couldn't last. The Costa Syndicate was bleeding territory to the Volkovs, and Gabriel’s sudden domestic focus was making his lieutenants nervous.
His underboss, a sleek, sharp-eyed man named Marco, cornered Clara in the hallway while Gabriel was out at a sit-down.
“You’re a distraction, sweetheart,” Marco sneered, leaning against the wall. “Gabriel used to be a wolf. Now he’s skipping shipments to practice hand-puppets with a broken kid. You need to pack your bags before the Russians decide to finish what they started at the diner.”
Clara didn't shrink back. She stepped into Marco’s space.
“If you ever call Leo broken again,” Clara said, her voice dripping with ice, “I won't need to wait for Gabriel to handle you. I’ll do it myself.”
Marco chuckled, but there was murder in his eyes. “We’ll see how brave you are when the walls come down, waitress.”
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When Gabriel returned, Clara told him about the interaction. Gabriel didn't yell. He went deathly quiet.
“Pack a bag for you and Leo,” Gabriel ordered, pulling a heavy assault rifle from a hidden wall safe. “We have a rat in the house. And I think I just figured out how the Volkovs knew exactly which diner I was at three weeks ago.”
