He had no idea, but he was self-centered enough to not take the chance.
“A misunderstanding,” he said softly. “I’m sure the Russians must have been behind it.”
“Let’s put it behind us then, shall we?” Rinaldo’s voice floated from my right, but I could hear the odd tenor in the sound. He still wasn’t sure – he didn’t know if we had won or not, but I knew we had.
Just the battle, not the war. This was far from over.
“Put those down, boys,” Greco said. “We don’t want to be late for dinner.”
Three guns dropped towards the ground, but I didn’t alter my position at all. Even as all four of them backed out of the office, turned and raced for the elevator, the business end of my Beretta stayed trained to his face.
I did not take chances.
Never again.
I stood still as my heart pounded, and the adrenaline in my system started to sour. My eyes stayed locked on the hallway, daring one of them to try to come back. The lighted numbers at the top of the elevator showed their descent back to the first floor, and I still watched to make sure none of the elevators started to rise again. When they didn’t, I listened for the echo of footsteps on the stairwell.
“I think they’re gone,” Rinaldo said.
I didn’t move.
“Arden, they’re not coming back. Look at the security cameras.”
My fingers twitched on the handle of the gun, and my index finger flexed slightly.
“Evan.”
“Just making sure,” I said simply.
“Well, I’m pretty sure.”
I nodded, took a step back, and lowered my weapon. When my eyes turned to the monitors, I could see them in a long, black car leaving the parking lot.
“They knew you were going to be alone,” I said.
“Yes, I think that’s correct.”
“Who knew Mario was across town?” I asked.
“A handful,” Rinaldo replied. “There were six others besides Mario and myself in the room when he had to leave. All loyal men, though.”
I looked over at him and raised an eyebrow.
“One of them isn’t.”
He nodded.
“Apparently.”
Rinaldo went through the list of people who knew about Mario’s sudden absence, and it didn’t make me feel any better at all. Two were family in the quite literal sense. Another pair dealt with some of the side businesses – money laundering, mostly. Jonathan and Terry were also on the list
I couldn’t consider either one as definitely innocent or definitely guilty – I was too biased against both of them, just in different directions. If I found out about Jonathan being treacherous, I’d have to kill him. On the other hand, I wanted to find out Terry was a rat because he was annoying and I wanted him dead, anyway. I’d shoot first, never bother to ask any questions, and then get burned later if I was wrong.
It was probably best I didn’t get involved in this one.
“I need you to do a little side job for me,” Rinaldo said.
He must have been reading my mind, but not in a way I considered favorable.