Page 61 of Renegade
By being here, am I putting my family at risk?
“The owner’s booth and the small salon were Greystone’s idea,” Teddy said, snapping him back. “I just implemented them.”
“I’m proud of both of you,” Elsa said. “Teddy, when does your semester begin?”
“I took a break from grad school to open the restaurant,” Teddy explained. “I’ll start up again soon.”
“Do you need money?”
Teddy smiled. “No, sto bene, ma grazie.”
Elsa slid her gaze to Greystone. “Where have you been?”
“Around.”
“Sixteen years is too long,” Elsa said. “Don’t run off again.”
Rather than tell her he didn’t have control over his assignment locations, he replied, “I won’t.”
“I’m sorry about G-pa,” Greystone said.
“Grazie,” she replied. “I stay busy with my friends and I have my boys.” She patted his whiskered cheek. “You’re home, and that makes me very happy. Tell me about you, Greystone.”
The server returned with their drinks and an appetizer. “My apologies for the delay.” He took their entrée order before scooting off.
“Where did you work before Teddy hired you here?” Elsa asked him.
Greystone didn’t talk about himself. The past was gone, he couldn’t discuss his current job, so he’d mention something vague, change the subject, and the conversation would move on. As he looked from his grandmother to his brother, he wanted them to know he hadn’t been a drifter. He’d overcome the odds, gotten damn lucky, and made something of his life.
“I joined the Navy,” he said.
Elsa’s eyes lit up. “That’s wonderful. What did you do?”
“I was a SEAL, then I became a Naval officer and flew jets.”
Silence while they stared at him.
“For real?” Teddy asked. “I can’t tell if you’re shittin’—sorry G-ma—messing with us?—”
“It’s the truth.”
Elsa beamed at him. “I’m very proud of you, Greystone. Those are tough jobs. Very stressful. When did you leave the Navy?”
“I didn’t.”
His grandmother furrowed her brow. “Are you on vacation?”
Again, he glanced at Teddy. Teddy knew he was workingthe Haqazzii case because they’d been called to the Black Site. Beyond that, Greystone had kept things ambiguous.
Greystone didn’t want to lie to her, but he couldn’t tell her the truth. “I wanted to reconnect with family and Teddy gave me a job.”
“Which he’s killing,” Teddy said.
Wanting to move the subject away from himself, Greystone asked, “Elsa, where do you live?”
“I was living alone, but my house burned down, so I moved in with Carrera and his wife, Amanda May. She goes by Slash.”
Greystone raised his water goblet. Teddy and Elsa raised their wine glasses. “Alla famiglia.”
