Page 1 of Dark Angel
FROM DESTROYER
THE SANTINI ASSASSINS, BOOK THREE
Brothers Gabriel, Greystone, and Teddy Santini on a wetwork mission to take out six Bratva at a Russian restaurant in Arlington.
The six men who’d tracked Gabriel down were part of the Bratva, a ruthless group of Russian mafioso who’d been at war with Cosa Nostra—the Sicilian mafia—for decades.
The fightinghadbeen happening in Italy, but when the men tracked Gabriel to the DC area, he had to stop them. They would target the people Gabriel cared about. His family. And they would execute them one by one until no one, but Gabriel, was left.
And then, they’d kill him. But not before they tortured him first.
The restaurant, located in an older section of Arlington, served authentic Russian cuisine. It had been a popular eatery until the Bratva had shown up. They’d taken over and were going after every store and every business in the area.
“It’s too early for a hit,” Teddy said.
“The restaurant closes at ten,” Gabriel said. “I’ve spent the last week with eyes on the place. The guys are there ‘til two or three every morning.”
Greystone glanced over at him. “Teddy, do you need to see the pics of the men we’re going after again?”
“No,” Teddy replied.
“If someone other than the six opens fire—” Gabriel said.
“We take ‘em out,” Greystone said.
Teddy did not want to kill a woman, but there was no bias in these situations. When lead started flying, no one wantedtheirbody to be the one that stopped it.
“Teddy, when are you killing the restaurant lights?” Gabriel asked.
“Right before we go in,” Teddy replied.
“Nice,” Greystone said.
“Are you guys clear who you’re taking out?” Teddy asked.
“All set,” Greystone said.
“I don’t know how you two can be so damn organized about this,” Gabriel pushed back. “We go in, we take out six men. We take out anyone who shoots at us. Done.”
“If we’re all pumping the first guy we see, the others are shooting us,” Teddy said. “How many of these have you done, G?” Without waiting for an answer, he said, “This has been my life… for years. You and me, we haven’t worked together.”
Teddy loved his brothers. Out of the five—including their cousin Carrera—Gabriel was the loose cannon. He did whatever, whenever, and to whomever. He lived by no rules, except his own. And they changed like the wind. He’d cozied up to the girl of the Bratva leader. He’d had a fling with the enemy’s sister. If he was attracted to a woman, she was fair game.
Did he not get the message? Thingsneverwork out when you sleep with the enemy.
“Gabriel, just go after the two we assigned you,” Greystone said as he and Teddy exchanged glances.
Teddy knew this hit was risky. First, it was too damn early in the evening. And second, he and Greystone should be doing thiswithoutGabriel. Assassinations happened when the boogeyman came out to play, between one and four in the morning.
Greystone drove past the restaurant, circled the block, then found a dark place to park in a nearby shopping center.
“Did you kill the cameras?” Greystone asked.
“I killed the traffic cams,” Teddy said. “Someone at V-DOT probably got an alert and is working to get those back online.”
They exited the vehicle. Teddy opened the back hatch. On went suppressors for their primary weapons. Next, their helmets and black gloves.
Gabriel removed one of the long rifles from the case and cradled it in his arms.
