Shadow Reaper
Page 52

 
“You did, Agnese. You know you did. You told Amo and me that she was a genius and would have no problems catching up, that you might be struggling to stay in front of her.” Lucia sounded very earnest and innocent. It was all Emmanuelle could do not to laugh.
 
Nicoletta’s eyes widened. She didn’t call attention to Emmanuelle by looking at her, but she clearly wanted to. The things Signora Moretti had said about her clearly shocked her.
 
Signora Moretti made several faces at Lucia in a desperate attempt to quiet her.
 
“Are you okay, cara? Here, sit down.” Lucia offered one of the plush chairs, patting the back of it. “Do you have seizures?”
 
Anyone else would be blasted for asking such a question, but Lucia was just too sweet and innocent for anyone to think she was deliberately teasing them.
 
Nicoletta turned her face away from the two older women, struggling not to smile. Emmanuelle decided to take pity on Lucia and Agnese. She moved slightly, stepping just out of the shadow. Signora Moretti spun around, her eyes going wide with shock.
 
“Emmanuelle! Seriously. I’ve told you and your brothers to stop doing that. You could give an old lady a heart attack.” Dramatically she pressed her hand over her heart.
 
“You aren’t that old,” Lucia pointed out. “Amo and I have ten years on you at least.”
 
Agnese drew herself up to her full height. “I taught school. All those Ferraro boys. And Emme. That alone added a good ten years to my age.” She pretended to shudder. “Just what interest does your family have with this girl?” she demanded of Emmanuelle.
 
Nicoletta stiffened.
 
Emmanuelle shrugged. “Stefano knew her stepfather. The service, I think.” She lied smoothly. It was the story they’d all agreed on. “You can talk to him.” No one, not even Signora Moretti, would want to question Stefano about his personal business.
 
“She hasn’t had schooling.” Agnese changed tactics. “Totally neglected, I say.”
 
Emmanuelle flashed her sweetest smile. “Fortunately, as you’ve pointed out several times, Nicoletta truly is a genius and she’ll have no problem catching up. Didn’t you tell me, Lucia, that Nicoletta had done one semester’s worth of work in a couple of months?”
 
Amo coughed and turned away. Agnese glared. “I’m certain I didn’t say such a thing several times. I don’t believe in making children have enormous fat heads. Nicoletta could easily become vain with her intelligence and looks…” She trailed off, scowling. Clearly she hadn’t meant to give that compliment, either. “Actually” – she recovered quickly, turning her sharp gaze on Emmanuelle – “I want to know about this woman Ricco showed up with the other morning. He’s never brought a woman around. He was acting very much the way Stefano acted with Francesca. Although, after seeing all those pictures of him with the Lacey twins in the magazines, I can’t imagine a decent woman taking him on.”
 
Emmanuelle took a deep breath to keep from losing her temper with the older woman. Signora Moretti had a kind heart, but sometimes it was difficult to get past her mouth. Emme rarely allowed anyone to get away with putting a family member down.
 
Enrica cleared her throat, and Emmanuelle spun around to face the window. One of two men she had been keeping an eye on separated himself from his companion and started across the street toward the shop. His friend, trying to look inconspicuous, glanced down the street and then up at the roof of the building next to the one he lounged in front of.
 
Emmanuelle followed his gaze upward and caught the glint of something shiny. Her heart jerked hard. There were a lot of civilians. “Nicoletta, right now, take Lucia and Signora Moretti into the back of the shop. Enrica is going with you. Don’t get near the windows or door until she gives you the go-ahead. I’ll be behind you with Amo.”
 
“I have no intention —”
 
“Agnese.” Emmanuelle didn’t have time to pull her punches. The man she hadn’t taken her eyes from was almost to the sidewalk in front of the shop.
 
“No need to get snippy, Emme Ferraro,” she snapped and pulled a small revolver from her purse. “I understand completely. Let’s move.” She sounded like a general rallying her troops.
 
It was all Emmanuelle could do not to roll her eyes. The last thing she needed was for Agnese to shoot someone. “Go,” she said to Enrica.
 
“I protect you,” Enrica said stubbornly.
 
Emmanuelle hissed her displeasure, but there was no time to argue. Fortunately, Nicoletta understood the urgency and grabbed Lucia’s hand. “Go,” she said to Signora Moretti and rushed Lucia and the other woman into the back room, Agnese holding the gun with surprising assurance.
 
Enrica flattened herself against the wall. Emmanuelle faded into the shadows, leaving Amo busy tidying up the shop. He glanced up as the customer walked in. The man was wearing a suit he didn’t look comfortable in. He looked carefully around the store, spotted Enrica partially hidden behind a rack with scarfs hanging from it. She appeared very interested in them.
 
Amo smiled at the newcomer as he approached him. “May I help you? I’m Amo Fausti, the owner. You are?” He held out his hand.
 
The man hesitated, looking around him and then taking the extended hand. “Coop,” he said gruffly, clearly still looking for the others.
 
“Looking for something for your wife?” Amo persisted.
 
Coop shook his head, frowned and then shrugged. “Girlfriend. Shop’s a little out of my expertise.”
 
Emmanuelle shifted just enough to allow him to see her. Coop stiffened. He was caught between Emmanuelle and Enrica very neatly. Amo had stepped well out of his reach, pretending to examine jewelry in a case.
 
“These pieces are all one of a kind,” Amo said, the polite salesman.
 
Coop didn’t bother to pretend anymore. He abruptly swung on his heel, cursing, and hurried from the shop. Emmanuelle, keeping back from the window to prevent a marksman from getting a shot at her, watched as a car with four men inside parked across the street.
 
“We’ve got to go now,” she said. “Don’t bother to lock up, Amo. Enrica, check the alley, make sure it’s clear. If not, keep the others inside. I’ll clear it for us. Amo, hurry. Right. Now.”
 
Enrica pushed past Amo, disappearing into the back room. Emmanuelle brought up the rear, keeping an eye on the front door. As she did so, her phone vibrated. Ricco’s code for the family under attack. It had to be going on simultaneously. She sent up a little prayer that her family members survived as she coded in she understood and was under attack as well.
 
“We’ve got at least two covering the alley,” Enrica said. “Massive firepower. Might be one on the roof right next to the fire escape above the flower shop. I’ll take the rear and keep anyone from coming in from the front. Good hunting.”